VESPERS ON FRIDAY 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.
O martyred athlete, blessed Onesiphorus,* you confessed Christ God, suffering greatly before the tribunal of the iniquitous,* enduring the wounds of blows and the immolation of your whole body.* You have been crowned with the wreath of victory* by the hand of the Creator of life, O all-praised one.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O martyred athlete Porphyrius,* by the grace and power of the Spirit,* you dyed a purple robe for yourself in baths of your blood,* and, arrayed as such, you were shown to be most splendid,* reigning with our one God, who reigns forever, O glorious one.* Beseech Him now that we all be saved.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O right victorious martyrs,* for the Life of all you were slain in sacred manner,* and, rejoicing, you were stretched out on a searing gridiron,* made fast to horses and dragged about, and you thus received a blessed end.* You are glorified and blessed, O ever-blessed ones, who ever pray for us.
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.
You honourably subjected your soul* to the uprisings of the flesh through ascetic feats of fasting, and you followed Christ, and dwelled most devoutly in the midst of the fasters, O Matrona,* quenching the burnings of pleasure with divine showers of tears,* enkindling a most intense desire for the Creator.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You erected a sacred habitation in many for the use of God,* being yourself a temple of the Spirit, O all-wise one,* and by your spiritual purity you have guided souls to the beneficial struggles of fasting,* and you have brought them, saved, to the Master as a dowry, O Matrona.* With them we faithfully honour you.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
The maidens loved the Bridegroom and Lord, submitting to His teaching;* and having disdained in the Spirit the weakness of the flesh,* with diligence they piously restrained the passions,* and with you, O Matrona, have been led into the heavenly bridal chamber of God,* ever rejoicing.
Tone 7, Glory… Now…
Immaculate Mother of God,* you became a mother outside the laws of nature,* remaining a virgin in a way that exceeds all description* and human understanding.* The wonder of your birth-giving could not be told in human language,* for your conception of Christ blinded intelligence,* and your birth-giving exceeded understanding:* for whenever God so desires, the laws of nature are broken.* Wherefore, we all firmly believe that you are the Mother of God,* and we eagerly beseech you to intercede for the salvation 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 7
Despising every earthly thing, O holy martyrs,* and bravely preaching Christ before the tribunal,* you received your reward from Him for your sufferings.* Since you have boldness before God,* we beseech you to pray to Him as one almighty,* that He save the souls of those who flee to you for help.
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.
O all-praised martyrs, you spiritual sheep,* living offerings and sacrifices acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.* You were not buried in the earth, yet heaven has received you;* O you who have become companions of the angels* we entreat you to pray with them to God our Saviour,* that peace be granted to the world, and that our souls be saved.
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.
In the beginning You formed man according to Your image and likeness,* and You made him dwell in Paradise as ruler over Your creation.* But through the envy of the devil he was deceived* and partook of the fruit, transgressing Your command.* Wherefore, O Lord, You have condemned him to return again to the earth* from whence he was taken,* and to ask of You a peaceful repose.
Tone 7, Glory… Now…
О you who alone received the uncontainable Word of God,* and have given birth to Him incarnate:* Pray that our souls be saved.
Troparia
Tone 4
O Lord, Your martyrs in their sufferings* have received imperishable crowns from You, our God;* for, possessed of Your might, they set at naught the tormentors* and destroyed the feeble audacity of the demons,* by their prayers save our souls.
Tone 8, Glory…
In you, O venerable mother Matrona, the faithful image of God shone forth,* for you carried your cross and followed Christ.* You taught by your deeds how to spurn the body, for it passes away;* and how to value the soul, for it is immortal.** Therefore, your soul is forever in happiness with the angels.
Now…
O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created,* and saved our souls from death.
DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: O Lord, Your martyrs in their sufferings* have received imperishable crowns from You, our God;* for, possessed of Your might, they set at naught the tormentors* and destroyed the feeble audacity of the demons,* by their prayers save our souls.
Troparion, Tone 8: In you, O venerable mother Matrona, the faithful image of God shone forth,* for you carried your cross and followed Christ.* You taught by your deeds how to spurn the body, for it passes away;* and how to value the soul, for it is immortal.** Therefore, your soul is forever in happiness with the angels.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 8: You passed through the storm of life without faltering, chosen and godly mother,* guided to the harbour of life, where you sing hymns to the Deliverer!* You ever pray for us,* that Christ may grant us grace and mercy:** you preserve the flock which you painstakingly gathered!
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
Galatians 1:3-10
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
Luke 9:37-43
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)