Nativity Fast.
VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
There are no appointed psalms to be chanted tonight.
At Psalm 140
Tone 3
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O heavenly father, accept me as You did the repentant prodigal son,* though I sin greatly and embitter You,* the good Master who are merciful by nature;* and make me one of Your hirelings.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
I have passed the time of my life in slothfulness* and have drawn nigh to the end, wretch that I am.* I give no thought to the judgment which awaits me,* nor to my falling away from God.* But, having turned me back to You, О Saviour,* rescue me from them.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
From Gehenna, from the gnashing of teeth and every other eternal retribution* deliver my lowly soul, О supremely good Lord;* that with faith I may hymn the merciful God,* who by nature is the Lover of mankind.
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.
The wondrous Habakkuk became wholly divine,* receiving the outpouring of the Spirit!* Seeing the dishonesty of the judges and their unjust judgment* he was displeased,* exhibiting the rightness of the justice of Christ the Master,* with divine love and burning thoughts,* enflamed with righteous anger!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
The honoured Habakkuk, standing on divine watch,* heard the ineffable mystery of your coming to us, O Christ!* He manifestly prophesied the preaching to come about You,* foreseeing the all-wise apostles as horses trampling the sea* of the many nations of the gentiles.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Rejoicing in the Lord God, your Saviour,* divinely eloquent and glorious one,* you were filled with gladness, receiving the outpouring of heavenly radiance;* spiritually illumined with deifying light!* By your prayers deliver from perils and misfortunes* those who celebrate your most glorious memory with faith!
Tone 3, Glory… Now…
О most pure one, who has dominion over all creation,* by your fervent intercession and maternal prayer free my mind,* which is grievously beset by the passions,* and enslave me to your Son and God.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
And now bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.
verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.
Aposticha
Tone 3
Our evening hymn do we bring to You, O Christ,* with incense and spiritual songs,* have mercy on us and save our souls.
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.
Save me, O Lord my God, for You are the salvation of all:* The storm of the passions disquiets me,* and the yoke of my transgressions weighs heavily upon me.* Stretch out Your helping hand and lead me up to the light of compunction,* for You alone are compassionate and the Lover of mankind.
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.
Great is the power of Your Cross, О Lord!* For it was planted in one place, yet works throughout the whole world;* making apostles of fishermen and martyrs of the heathen,* that they might pray for our souls.
Tone 3, Glory… Now…
О Lady, intercessor for all who pray to you:* in you we find boldness, of you do we boast, and in you have we place all our hope.* Entreat Him who was born from you* on behalf of your unprofitable servants.
Troparia
Tone 2
Troparion, Tone 2: As we celebrate the memory of Your prophet, Habakkuk,* O Lord, we beseech You through him: “Save our souls!”
Glory… Now…
O Mother of God, you are a fountain of mercy;* count us worthy of your compassion;* look upon a people who have sinned;* manifest your power as you always do.* Because of our trust in you, we cry out to you* as once did Gabriel, the commander of the angels.
DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 2: As we celebrate the memory of Your prophet, Habakkuk,* O Lord, we beseech You through him: “Save our souls!”
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Enlightened by the spirit* your pure heart, having seen the distant in the present* became a vessel of brilliant prophecy;* and so we honour you, O blessed and glorious prophet, Habakkuk.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
You are a priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.
verse: The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.” (Psalm 109:4,1)
Epistle
Hebrews 3:5-11, 17-19
Alleluia, Tone 5
verse: Moses and Aaron are among His priests and Samuel among those who call upon His name.
verse: Light is risen for the just and joy for the righteous of heart. (Psalm 96:11)
Gospel
Luke 20:27-44
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)