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.
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
We exult in Your Cross, O Christ,* and we sing the glory of Your Resurrection.* For You are our God, and we have no other Lord but You.
Tone 6
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The feast of Christ’s birth has passed.* It shone more brightly than the sun!* The day of His manifestation is on its way.* That day will be even more radiant.* There the shepherds gave glory with the angels, worshipping God made Man;* here John’s right hand will touch the Master, as he cries out in fear:* Sanctify both me and the waters, only merciful One!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Make ready, river Jordan!* Behold, Christ God approaches to be baptized by John.* He will crush the heads of invisible dragons in your waters.* Rejoice, wilderness of Jordan!* Dance with gladness, mountains!* The eternal Life has come to recall Adam!* Voice crying in the wilderness, John the forerunner, cry:* Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight!
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Desert of Jordan, rejoice exceedingly! * Blossom as the lily!* A voice is heard within you: * Prepare the way of the Lord!* He who weighs the mountains in scales* and the wooded valleys in a balance,* who fills all things in His divinity,* approaches to be baptized by a servant.* The Giver of riches has become poor!* Eve was told in days of old:* You shall bring forth children in pain,* but now the Virgin hears:* Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord who has great mercy is with you!
Tone 8
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Seeing that the words of your tongue are now fully realized,* I admire the truth and bless you, O Prophet.* You are truly to be admired;* for you enlightened the world by your splendorous voice,* announcing beforehand the redemptive coming of the Lord.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You lived on earth as if you were an angel.* Likewise, you were enriched with a name signifying an angel.* You joined spiritual goodness to physical goodness,* O all-blessed Prophet, Malachi.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O Lord, I offer Your prophet to You* as an intercessor and suppliant.* Through his pleas and prayers, O generous One,* remit the sins of a hopeless soul;* for You are compassionate and kind by essence and nature.
In Tone 8
Glory…
How glorious is the marvel!* He who baptizes by fire and the Spirit is coming to the Jordan,* neither as God alone nor mere man, but in two natures;* the one, the same, and the only-begotten Son.* In His humanity He seeks baptism from a mortal,* and in His divinity He takes away the sin of the world* and grants great mercy to all.
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 5
Glory… Now…
Christ our God is coming to the Jordan River to be baptized.* He desires to cleanse us of our sins by His Theophany,* for He alone is gracious and the Lover of mankind.
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 divinely inspired Malachi, you announced the coming of Christ,* and you spoke of His dominance over the Law.* How clearly you informed us:* The Lord is surely coming; seek Him in the temple with joy.* Beg Him now to save our souls.
In Tone 4
Now……
Make ready, O Zebulon,* and prepare yourself, O Nephtali;* O river Jordan, stop and receive with joy* the Master coming to be baptized.* O Adam, rejoice with the first mother, Eve,* and do not hide yourselves as before in paradise.* For having seen you unclothed* Christ has appeared to clothe you with the first robe:* He has appeared to renew all creation.
DIVINE LITURGY
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: Make ready, O Zebulon,* and prepare yourself, O Nephtali;* O river Jordan, stop and receive with joy* the Master coming to be baptized.* O Adam, rejoice with the first mother, Eve,* and do not hide yourselves as before in paradise.* For having seen you unclothed* Christ has appeared to clothe you with the first robe:* He has appeared to renew all creation.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 6: With His life-giving hand* Christ our God, the Giver of life,* raised all the dead from the murky abyss* and bestowed resurrection upon humanity.* He is for all the Saviour,* the resurrection and the life, and the God of all.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Today the Lord stood in Jordan’s current telling John:* Do not be afraid to baptize Me,* for I have come to save Adam,* the first man.
Prokeimenon, Tone 6
Save Your people, O Lord,* and bless Your inheritance.
verse: Unto You I will cry, O Lord my God, lest You turn from me in silence. (Psalm 27:9,1)
Epistle
2 Timothy 4:5-8
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: God, be merciful to us and bless us.
verse: Make the light of Your face shine upon us and have mercy on us. (Psalm 66:2)
Gospel
Mark 1:1-8
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)