Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 8
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Martyr and athlete, Hermolaus,* once you hid yourself in fear from the evil ones.* You rejoiced to reveal the hidden mystery of devotion and understanding* to the passion-bearer Panteleimon.* Then you revealed yourself and zealously died for Christ* who was well-pleased to suffer for us in his goodness.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Martyr and athlete, Hermolaus,* you desired a holy life in sanctity.* You became a bishop of the almighty Jesus,* and by your life-bearing sermons and grace* you saved the people from the darkness of impurity.* You have passed over to the heavens, washed in the blood of your suffering,* blessed one of God!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Let us praise in faith with holy words the martyrs of the Lord,* Hermippus, Hermolaus and Hermocrates!* They suffered in a wonderful way, killing the evil one* and washing themselves in the water of baptism!* They were not defiled again with other impurities.* Therefore let us keep the feast* and celebrate their memory!
Tone 4
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Rome presents you as a garden of sweet-smelling flowers,* greatly-suffering Parasceve,* perfuming the thoughts of the faithful* with the fragrance of your virtues,* ever dispelling the stench of the passions with grace!* You are the beauty of martyrs, glorious one,* the boast of virtues and a sea of miracles!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Greatly suffering Parasceve,* you have been given to all by Christ our God as a priceless treasure!* You suffered in Rome and remained there.* Glorious martyr, by your assistance, * you drive the wickedness of demons from men!* Therefore today we all bless you and praise your holy sufferings.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Preserved by the power of Christ, most glorious Parasceve,* you ignored the pain of your body.* You entered upon your struggle with a courageous intention,* paying no heed to your feminine weakness!* Strengthened by hope, together with those who came before you,* you have received illumination!
Tone 6, Glory…
O most glorious Parasceve, victorious virgin martyr,* through your mediations before God,* pray that, those who celebrate your suffering as is meet* may be delivered from temptations, and tribulations* and the judgment which is to come,* O most hymned martyr.
Now…
Seeing You nailed to the Tree, the most pure one cried out:* “O my Son and God, what is this exceedingly glorious and strange report of You,* that You endured in Your great mercy?”
Prokeimenon
Tone 6
My help is from the Lord,* Who made heaven and earth.
verse: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come.
Aposticha
Tone 8
О Christ God who was lifted up upon the Cross,* You saved the race of mankind.* We glorify Your sufferings!
I have lifted up my eyes to You enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God until He has mercy on us.
You were nailed to the Cross, О Christ God,* and opened the gates of paradise.* We glorify Your divinity!
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we have been filled with shame; our soul is all too full of the mockery of the rich, of the contempt of the proud.
You sanctify everyplace, О martyrs of the Lord, and heal every infirmity.* Pray now, that our souls be delivered from the nets of the enemy,* we beseech you.
Glory… Now…
The unblemished heifer, beholding her Bullock willingly nailed upon the Tree,* cried out aloud, lamenting piteously:* Woe is me, O my most beloved Child!* How has the ungrateful assembly of the Jews rewarded You,* desiring to leave me childless and bereft of You,* O my most beloved Child?
Troparia
Tone 4
O Lord our God, Your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with Your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Tone 3, Glory…
Your personal pledge is like a marriage, for you promised your fidelity to the one faith,* and you inherited life, O Parasceve, the martyr named for Christ.* From your heritage you bestow health,* and you pray for the salvation of our souls.
Now…
O Mother of God, we have obtained your Son’s cross as a staff of power* with which to strike down the boastings of the enemy.* Therefore, we exalt you without ceasing.
DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Be swayed by the pains that the saints have suffered for You, O Lord,* and heal all our pains,* O Lover of mankind, for this we pray.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: Appearing as radiant lights, O godly martyrs,* you illumine all creation with the brilliance of your miracles,* healing infirmities, always dispelling deep darkness* and praying unceasingly to Christ our God for all of us.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
To the saints who are in His land, the Lord has made wonderful all His desires in them.
verse: I foresaw the Lord in my sight, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. (Psalm 15:3,8)
Epistle
2 Corinthians 1:12-20
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of their afflictions.
verse: The afflictions of the just are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliver them. (Psalm 33:18,20)
Gospel
Matthew 22:23-33
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)