GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 6
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
O Christ, You won the victory over Hades,* You ascended the cross so that You might raise up with Yourself* all those who dwelt in the darkness of death.* Almighty Saviour, You are free from death* and bestow life by Your divine light.* We, therefore, beseech You to have mercy on us.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
Today Christ has conquered Death.* He has risen from the grave as He had foretold,* bestowing great joy upon the world.* Therefore, let us all lift up our voices and sing:* O Fount of Life, O Light whom no one can approach,* Almighty Saviour, have mercy on us.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
O Lord, where can we sinners flee from You,* for You are present in all creation?* You are present in heaven, for it is Your dwelling place.* Your power prevails in Hades where You conquered Death.* O Master, Your sustaining hand touches even the depths of the sea.* Where, then, can we take refuge except in You?* We, therefore, prostrate ourselves before You and pray:* O Lord, risen from the dead, have mercy on us.
In Tone 2
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Come, let us greatly rejoice in the Lord* as we tell of this present mystery.* The middle wall of partition has been destroyed;* the flaming sword turns back, the cherubim withdraw from the tree of life,* and I partake of the delight of Paradise* from which I was cast out through disobedience.* For the express Image of the Father, the Imprint of His eternity,* takes the form of a servant,* and without undergoing change He came forth from a Mother who knew not wedlock.* For what He was, He has remained, true God:* and what He was not, He has taken upon Himself,* becoming man through love for mankind.* Unto Him let us cry aloud:* God born of a Virgin, have mercy on us.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
When the Lord Jesus was born of the holy Virgin,* all the world was enlightened.* The shepherds watched in the fields,* the Magi adored and the angels praised in song;* but Herod was troubled:* for God has appeared in the flesh,* the 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.
Your Kingdom, O Christ our God, is a Kingdom of all the ages,* and Your rule is from generation to generation.* Made flesh of the Holy Spirit and made man of the ever-Virgin Mary,* You have enlightened us by Your coming.* Light of Light, Brightness of the Father,* You made the whole creation shine with joy.* All that has breath praises You, the Image of the glory of the Father.* O God who are, and who have ever been,* who have shone forth from a Virgin,* have mercy on us.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
What shall we offer You, O Christ,* who for our sakes has appeared on the earth as man?* Every creature made by You offers You thanks.* The angels offer You a hymn; the heavens, a star;* the Magi, gifts; the shepherds, their wonder;* the earth, its cave; the wilderness, the manger:* and we offer You a Virgin Mother.* O pre-eternal God, have mercy on us.
In 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.
Let us praise David the King, the ancestor of God,* because from him came forth the branch who is the Virgin.* From her bloomed the Flower, Christ,* Who summoned Adam and Eve from corruption.* He is compassionate towards all.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
In his advanced years,* Joseph clearly saw the prophecies fulfilled.* It was truly a strange betrothal;* and he received a revelation from the angels who cried out:* Glory to God Who sent down peace upon the world.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Let all of us praise the relative of the Lord, James the Apostle,* who bravely suffered martyrdom as a bishop.* By his prayers, O Christ our God,* Who was wrapped in swaddling clothes in the cave,* save all those who extol You.
In Tone 6
Glory…
We are commemorating the noble David and James:* the king and prophet, the apostle and first bishop;* because by their teachings we have been delivered from error.* Let us sing the praises of Christ* Who came forth from the Virgin* and became incarnate to save our souls.
In Tone 6
Now…
Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?* Who would not sing a hymn of praise* to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?* The Only-begotten Son Himself,* begotten of the Father before all ages,* was made flesh out of you in a manner* that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!* And for our sake, He who is God by nature* assumed the nature of a man.* He is not divided into two persons;* He is understood to have two natures* without commixion or confusion.* O noble and blessed Woman,* intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.
Aposticha
In Tone 6
O Christ our Saviour,* the angels in heaven sing the praises of Your resurrection;* make us on earth also worthy* to extol and glorify You with a pure heart.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Almighty God, You destroyed the brazen gates and bars of Hades,* and raised up fallen mankind.* Therefore, with one accord, we cry out:* O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
Christ willed to renew us from our corruption of old* by being nailed to a cross and placed in a tomb.* When the women came to anoint His body they tearfully cried out:* O, what sorrow afflicts us!* O Saviour of All, how could You consent to occupy a grave?* If you truly willed this, then why did You allow Your body to be stolen?* How were You removed?* What place now conceals Your life-bearing body?* O Lord, appear to us as You promised* and put an end to our tears.* As they were lamenting, an angel appeared and cried out to them:* Do not weep, but tell the apostles that the Lord is risen,* granting sanctification and great mercy to the world.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Christ, You were crucified of Your own free will,* and by Your burial You imprisoned Death.* As God, You rose in glory on the third day,* granting life and great mercy to the world.
In Tone 6
Glory…
The remembrance of Your Nativity* brings happiness to priests and might to kings.* Let us also boast of it and say:* Our Father, Who art in heaven,* hallowed be Thy Name, O Lover of mankind.
Now…
Today the invisible nature is united with our visible nature through the Virgin.* Today the infinite Essence is wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem.* Today God is guiding the Magi by a star* so that they might worship Him.* With the gold, frankincense, and myrrh,* He is foretelling His three-day burial.* Let us cry out to Him:* Having become incarnate from the Virgin,* save our souls, O Christ God.
Troparia
In Tone 6
Angelic powers were upon Your tomb* and the guards became like dead men;* Mary stood before Your tomb* seeking Your most pure body.* You captured Hades without being overcome by it.* You met the Virgin and granted life.* O Lord, risen from the dead,* glory be to You!
In Tone 2
Glory…
O Joseph, announce to David, the ancestor of God, the news of the miracle:* You saw a virgin giving birth.* With the shepherds, you gave praise and with the Magi you worshipped;* they too were warned by an angel.** Pray to Christ our God to save our souls.
In Tone 4
Now…
Your Nativity, O Christ our God,* made the light of knowledge dawn on the world:* through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star* to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness,* and to know You, the Dawn from on high.* Glory to You, O Lord.
DIVINE LITURGY
Antiphon 1
I will confess You, Lord, with all my heart,* I will declare all Your wondrous deeds.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
In the council of the just and the congregation,* great are the works of the Lord, conforming to His will in every way.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
His work is filled with praise and majesty,* and His righteousness endures forever.
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, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Entrance
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 6: Angelic powers were upon Your tomb* and the guards became like dead men;* Mary stood before Your tomb* seeking Your most pure body.* You captured Hades without being overcome by it.* You met the Virgin and granted life.* O Lord, risen from the dead,* glory be to You!
Troparion, Tone 4: Your Nativity, O Christ our God,* made the light of knowledge dawn on the world:* through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star* to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness,* and to know that You, the Dawn from on the high.* Glory to You, O Lord.
Troparion, Tone 2: O Joseph, announce to David, the ancestor of God, the news of the miracle:* You saw a virgin giving birth.* With the shepherds, you gave praise and with the Magi you worshipped;* they too were warned by an angel.* Pray to Christ our God to save our souls.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 3: Today the divine David is filled with gladness;* Joseph along with James offers praises* for having received a crown through their kinship with Christ they rejoice* and sing of the One who inexpressibly was born on earth,* crying out, “O Gracious One, save those who worship You.”
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 3: The Virgin today gives birth to Him who is above all being;* the earth offers the cave to Him whom no one can approach;* Angel with shepherds give Him glory,* while Magi make their way with a star,* for to us is born a little Child – the pre-eternal God.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.
verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)
Epistle
Galatians 1:11-19
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: Lord, remember David and all his meekness.
verse: How he swore an oath to the Lord, and vowed to the God of Jacob. (Psalm 131:1,2)
Gospel
Matthew 2:13-23
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify Christ the King born in a manger.
and the Irmos: A strange and glorious mystery do I behold:* the cave is heaven;* the Virgin, the throne of the cherubim;* the manger, a dwelling place* in which is laid Christ, the God Whom nothing can contain.* Singing His praises, we magnify Him.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest (Psalm 148:1).* Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous (Psalm 32:1).* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.
Instead of “Blessed is He who comes…” we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin.
Instead of “We have seen the true light…” we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin.
Instead of “May our mouths…” and “Blessed be the Name…” we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin. (3)