Dormition Fast.
VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
You have shone forth today* in manifest splendour on Mount Tabor like the radiant sun,* O Saviour, Word of the Father,* showing Your friends that You are He who in His lovingkindness* assumed human nature, O Christ.* Wherefore, we glorify Your loving dispensation,* O almighty Jesus, Saviour of our souls.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Today the angels of heaven rejoice with men,* celebrating Your glorious effulgence, O Christ,* and Your appearance upon Mount Tabor,* whereat You stood in the presence of Moses and Elijah, and Peter, James, and John,* who hymned You, O Christ who loves mankind,* almighty Jesus, Saviour of our souls.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Let all the worldly and supernatural order* now be moved to praise Christ our God* who has dominion over both the living and the dead;* for, divinely transfigured, He stood on Tabor* in the presence of the first heralds of the law and grace,* as He, the Saviour of our souls, was well pleased to do.
Tone 1
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Having served the Word blamelessly, O venerable one,* you were offered to the Lord as a sacrifice of sweet savour, consumed by material fire;* and you have been counted worthy of the joy of heaven,* where ever pray in behalf of those* who honour you, O Lawrence.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Having laid yourself up as a treasure for the Lord* and submitted to His words, O divinely blessed one,* you richly distributed inviolate wealth to the poor, O wise martyr,* wisely and wondrously enduring torments.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Let Lawrence now be splendidly praised:* the beauty of the martyrs, the glorious and wondrous warrior,* the well-spring of miracles, the helper of the oppressed,* the star of great radiance,* the sacred martyr.
Tone 2, Glory… Now…
O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away* with the realization of grace.* For as the bush had burned without being consumed,* so you gave birth while a virgin* and you remained a virgin.* Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.* Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,* the Saviour of our souls.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
O God, You are my defender* and Your mercy goes before me.
verse: Deliver me from my enemies, O God; save me from those who rise up against me.
Aposticha
Tone 2
Ineffably has the Lord shown forth* the glory of His divinity on Mount Tabor* to those disciples whom He wished.
Yours are the heavens,* and Yours is the earth.
Come, let us make haste with the disciples* to the heights of the virtues,* that with them we too may be counted* worthy of grace.
Tabor and Hermon* shall rejoice in Your name.
O all you born of earth,* let us cleanse our hearts,* that straightway there may come to us* the glory of the grace of the threefold Sun.
Tone 4, Glory… Now…
Taking Your disciples up to a lofty mountain before Your crucifixion, O Lord,* You were transfigured before them,* desiring in Your lovingkindness and authority to show forth the splendour of the resurrection,* which You also grant us in peace, O God,* as You are merciful and love mankind.
Troparia
Tone 4
Your martyr, Lawrence, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.
Tone 7, Glory… Now…
You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Giver of Light, glory to You!
DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING
Antiphon 1
Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; Your lightning lit up the world.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
You have clothed Yourself in praise and splendour; You robe Yourself in light as with a cloak.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Glory… Now… Only-begotten Son…
Antiphon 3
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Son of God, transfigured on the mount, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, transfigured on the mount, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, transfigured on the mount, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Entrance
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, transfigured on the mount, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Giver of Light, glory to You!
Troparion, Tone 4: Your martyr, Lawrence, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 2: As a bright and unerring star you appeared to the world* proclaiming with your rays the Sun, that is, Christ, O martyr, Lawrence,* and you have extinguished all error.* But to us you give light, praying without ceasing for all of us.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* and Your disciples saw Your glory as much as they could;* that when they saw You crucified* they might know that You suffered willingly*, and might proclaim to the world* that You are truly the brightness of the Father.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
How great are Your works, O Lord, You have made all things in wisdom.
verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord, my God, You are exceedingly great. (Psalm 103:24,1)
Epistle
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Yours are the heavens, and Yours the earth.
verse: Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, they will walk in the light of Your countenance, O Lord. (Psalm 88:12,16)
Gospel
Matthew 20:29-34
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify the Lord transfigured on the mountain.
And the Irmos, Tone 4: Your giving birth was revealed as incorrupt; for it was God who came forth from your womb; He appeared on earth in the flesh, and made His dwelling among us. Thus, O Mother of God, all of us magnify you.
Communion Hymn
We will walk in the light of Your face, O Lord,* and rejoice in Your name forever.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 88:16,17)