GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 3
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
By Your Cross, O Christ our Saviour,* the power of Death has been vanquished* and the deceit of the devil has been destroyed.* Therefore, mankind, saved by faith,* offers You hymns of praise forever.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Lord, all creation has been enlightened by Your resurrection,* and Paradise has been reopened;* therefore, all creation extols You* and offers You hymns of praise forever.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
I glorify the powers of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;* and I praise the dominion of the undivided Divinity,* the consubstantial Trinity,* Who reigns forever and ever.
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
We adore Your precious Cross, O Christ,* and with hymns of praise we glorify Your Resurrection;* for by Your wounds we have all been healed.
In Tone 1
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
We pray to the Creator today,* with the words given us by Christ,* who taught us to pray each day:* Our Father who art in heaven,* give us this day our daily bread,* and overlook all our sins.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
We pray to the Creator today,* with the words given us by Christ,* who taught us to pray each day:* Our Father who art in heaven,* give us this day our daily bread,* and overlook all our sins.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
On Mount Sinai You gave stone tablets.* Today in Nazareth You read the prophecy,* O Christ our God in the flesh.* You took and opened the scroll* to teach the people that the Scriptures* were fulfilled in Yourself.
In Tone 5
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O venerable Father,* you found a beautiful ladder to heaven* while Elias found a chariot of fire.* He did not leave his ascent for others;* but after death, however, you have left your pillar.* O heavenly man and earthly angel,* ever-watchful beacon to the whole world,* O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O venerable Father,* even if the pillar could talk,* it would never stop proclaiming your toils, your labours, and you weeping.* Even though it held you,* it was sustained by your tears, watered as a tree.* At your endurance the angels crowd about,* people stand in awe and demons tremble.* O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O venerable Father,* by the might of the Holy Spirit,* you imitated your Master,* as on a cross you ascended the pillar.* The Lord erased the condemnation written against us;* you destroyed the rise of passions.* The Lord was a lamb, and you a victim;* the Lord was on a cross, and you on a pillar.* O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.
In Tone 6, Glory…
Divine Grace hovered over your relics, O holy Simeon.* We will hasten towards the sweet fragrance of your miracles,* drawing from them the healing of illnesses.* O venerable Father, plead with Christ our God for our souls.
In Tone 3, Now…
O Lady most honourable,* how can we but be rapt in wonder* at you giving birth to the Incarnate God* who, without a mother, was born of the Father before all ages?* You gave Him birth in the flesh without a father,* without a man instrumentality.* He is God and man whose two natures are intact,* neither one losing any of its properties.* Therefore, O Virgin Mother,* intercede with Him to save the souls* of those who believe and confess in true faith* that you are the Mother of God.
Readings
(1) Isaiah 61:1-9; (2) Leviticus 26:3-24; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15
Aposticha
In Tone 3
O Christ, Who darkened the sun by Your passion* and enlightened all creation by Your resurrection,* accept our evening prayer; for You love mankind.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
O Lord, Your life-giving Resurrection has enlightened the entire universe* and has revived Your creation which lay in corruption.* Therefore, we, who have been released from the curse of Adam, cry out to You:* Almighty Lord, glory to You!
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O God, although in Your divine nature You are unchangeable,* yet in Your human nature You underwent change by suffering in the flesh.* All creation was prostrate with fear* when it saw You hanging on the Cross,* and it groaned in sorrow as it sang the praises of Your long-suffering.* But You descended into Hades and arose on the third day,* granting life and great mercy to the world.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
You suffered death, O Christ, to deliver mankind from death.* And when You arose from the dead on the third day,* You enlightened the world* and resurrected all who acknowledge You as God.
In Tone 5, Glory…
O venerable Father,* you found a beautiful ladder to heaven* while Elias found a chariot of fire.* He did not leave his ascent for others;* but after death, however, you have left your pillar.* O heavenly man and earthly angel,* ever-watchful beacon to the whole world,* O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.
Now…
O King, You are eternal and remain forever.* Receive the petitions of us sinners as we pray for salvation.* O Lover of Mankind,* grant Your abundance to the earth with temperate and mild weather.* Fight with the faithful against all enemy attacks as You helped David;* for they have entered the tabernacle and defiled Your most holy place, O Saviour.* But grant victory over them, O Christ our God,* through the prayers of the Theotokos,* for You are ever the victory and boast of orthodox Christians.
Troparia
In Tone 3
Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice,* for the Lord has done a mighty deed with His arm.* He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead;* He saved us from the abyss of Hades* and granted great mercy to the world.
In Tone 1, Glory…
O venerable saint, you became a pillar of endurance,* rivalling the forefathers: Job in afflictions and Joseph in trials,* and while still in the body you lived the life of the Bodiless ones.* O Symeon our father,* entreat Christ God to save our souls.
In Tone 2, Now…
Fashioner of all creation* You fixed times and seasons by Your own authority;* bless the crown of the year, O Lord, with Your goodness,* preserving our nation and Your city in peace;* and save us through the prayers of the Mother of God.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 3: Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice,* for the Lord has done a mighty deed with His arm.* He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead;* He saved us from the abyss of Hades* and granted great mercy to the world.
Troparion, Tone 1: Rejoice, Virgin Mother of God, full of grace,* harbour and protection of the human race:* from you the Redeemer of the world was incarnate.* For only you – ever blessed and glorified – are Mother and Virgin.* Pray to Christ our God to grant peace to the world.
Troparion, Tone 1: O venerable saint, you became a pillar of endurance,* rivalling the forefathers: Job in afflictions and Joseph in trials,* and while still in the body you lived the life of the Bodiless ones.* O Symeon our father,* entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion, Tone 3: You rose from the tomb, O compassionate Lord,* and led us out from the gates of death.* Today Adam exults and Eve rejoices,* and the prophets together with the patriarchs* unceasingly acclaim the divine might of Your power.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 2: Seeking things above, you joined yourself to those on high;* you made your pillar a fiery chariot,* through which, O venerable one, you became a companion of the angels.* With them, unceasingly implore Christ God on our behalf.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: You dwell on high, O Christ the King,* Creator and Builder of all that is seen and unseen.* You made seasons and time and the day and night.* Now bless the crown of the present year.* Guard and protect our country, this city and your people,* O Lord, so rich in mercy.
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Sing to our God, sing; sing to our King, sing.
verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; shout unto God with the voice of joy. (Psalm 46:7,2)
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Great is our Lord and great is His strength;* and of His knowledge there is no end.
Epistle
1 Corinthians 15:1-11; 1 Timothy 2:1-7
Alleluia, Tone 3
verse: In You, O Lord, have I hoped that I may not be put to shame for ever. (Psalm 30:2)
verse: Be a protector unto me, O God, and a house of refuge to save me. (Psalm 30:3)
verse: To You, O God, is due a hymn in Sion, and to You shall a vow be paid in Jerusalem. (Psalm 64:2)
verse: You will bless the crown of the year with Your goodness. (Psalm 64:12)
verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments. (Psalm 111:6-7)
Gospel
Matthew 19:16-26; Luke 4:16-22
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* You will bless the crown of the year* with Your goodness. (Psalm 64:12)* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear. (Psalm 111:6-7)* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.