GREAT VESPERS ON MARCH 24

Kathisma
The first Kathisma is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 8

10. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

O Lord, You willingly stretched out Your hands upon the Cross;
now grant us the compunction to venerate it worthily.
Illumine our hearts with Your brightness,
by fasting and prayer. temperance and good deeds;
for You are good, and You love mankind.

9. The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

O Lord, in the abundance of your love,
Wipe out the multitude of my sins;
ln this new week of the bright Fast.
grant that my soul may be purified,
and that 1 may see and venerate Your holy Cross,
O Lord and Lover of mankind.

In Tone 3

8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

O wonder, surpassing all the wonders of old!
We behold the Cross where Christ was crucified in the flesh.
The world bows before its brightness and cries out:
O the power of the Cross!
The sight of it puts demons to flight;
its image burns them as a fire.
I bless you, O precious Cross.
I venerate you and, in fear. I bow before you;
and I give thanks to God for life eternal
which He grants to me through you.

In Tone 6

7. Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

Gabriel stood in your presence, O holy Virgin,
and revealed the eternal plan to you.
He greeted you and announced:
Rejoice, O earth that has not been sown!
Rejoice, O burning bush that was not consumed!
Rejoice, O unsearchable depth!
Rejoice, O bridge which leads to heaven;
O high ladder which Jacob saw!
Rejoice, O vessel of divine manna!
Rejoice, O invocation of Adam!
The Lord is with you.

5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

Gabriel stood in your presence, O holy Virgin,
and revealed the eternal plan to you.
He greeted you and announced:
Rejoice, O earth that has not been sown!
Rejoice, O burning bush that was not consumed!
Rejoice, O unsearchable depth!
Rejoice, O bridge which leads to heaven;
O high ladder which Jacob saw!
Rejoice, O vessel of divine manna!
Rejoice, O invocation of Adam!
The Lord is with you.

4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

Gabriel stood in your presence, O holy Virgin,
and revealed the eternal plan to you.
He greeted you and announced:
Rejoice, O earth that has not been sown!
Rejoice, O burning bush that was not consumed!
Rejoice, O unsearchable depth!
Rejoice, O bridge which leads to heaven;
O high ladder which Jacob saw!
Rejoice, O vessel of divine manna!
Rejoice, O invocation of Adam!
The Lord is with you.

3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

The blameless Maiden said to the captain of the heavenly hosts:
You appear to me as a mortal,
and your words go beyond human thought.
You have said that God is with me,
and that He shall take up abode in my womb.
Tell me then, how am I to become a holy temple for the Infinite One,
the Lord Who rides on the Cherubim?
Do not mislead me with deceit,
for I have known no pleasure and have not approached wedlock.
Therefore, how shall I give birth to a child?

2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

The blameless Maiden said to the captain of the heavenly hosts:
You appear to me as a mortal,
and your words go beyond human thought.
You have said that God is with me,
and that He shall take up abode in my womb.
Tell me then, how am I to become a holy temple for the Infinite One,
the Lord Who rides on the Cherubim?
Do not mislead me with deceit,
for I have known no pleasure and have not approached wedlock.
Therefore, how shall I give birth to a child?

1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

The archangel then said to her:
Whenever God wills, the order of nature is overcome,
and that which is beyond human power is accomplished.
Therefore, O most pure and everlasting One, believe my true words.
She then cried out, saying:
Let it now be done to according to your word,
and I will give birth to the One Who is without flesh.
He will take flesh from me,
so that by the union He may raise the human race to the original dignity,
for He alone is all-powerful.

Glory… Now…

The archangel Gabriel was sent from heaven
to bring to the Virgin glad tidings of her conception.
When he came to Nazareth,
he marvelled at the miracle and thought to himself:
How is it that He Whom the heavens cannot comprehend
is now being born of a virgin?
The One Who has heaven for a throne and earth for a footstool
is being enclosed within a virgin’s womb.
He, upon whom the six-winged Seraphim and the many-eyed Cherubim cannot gaze,
wills to become incarnate of her by a single word.
The Word of God is at hand.
Then why do I stand by and not say to the Virgin:
Rejoice, O Full of Grace; the Lord is with you!
Rejoice, O pure Virgin and Maiden Bride!
Rejoice, O Mother of the Life!
Blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Great Prokeimenon

You have given an inheritance, O Lord, to those who revere You.
verse: From the ends of the earth I have cried to You.
verse: I will take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
verse: So I will sing praises to Your Name forever.

Readings

Genesis 28:10-17
Ezekiel 43:27-44:4
Proverbs 9:1-11

Lytia

In Tone 1

In the sixth month, the leader of the heavenly armies
was sent to you, O holy Virgin,
to announce the word of salvation to you and say:
Rejoice, O Woman Full of Grace; the Lord is with you!
You shall give birth to the Son Who was begotten of the Father before all ages.
He is the One Who will save His people from their sins.

In the sixth month, the archangel Gabriel was sent from heaven
to Nazareth, a village of Galilee,
to bring the good news of joy to the Virgin.
Drawing near to her, he cried out, saying:
Rejoice, O Woman Full of Grace; the Lord is with you!
Rejoice, O vessel of the infinite nature,
for your womb contains the One Whom even the heavens could not contain.
Rejoice, O holy Virgin, through whom Adam is called back to Paradise,
Eve is freed from bondage, and the world filled with joy;
for in you the human race now rejoices.

The archangel Gabriel was sent by God from heaven
to the spotless Virgin in Nazareth of Galilee
to joyfully announce her marvelous conception.
The bodiless servant was sent to the living City and the spiritual Door
to reveal the coming of the Master and His descent among us.
The heavenly soldier was sent to the living Palace of Glory
to prepare a dwelling place for her eternal Creator.
Drawing near to her, he cried out, saying:
Rejoice, O throne of fire which surpasses the chariot of the Lord in glory.
Rejoice, O heavenly seat of our King.
Rejoice, O precious chalice and uncut mountain,
for the fullness of the divinity comes to dwell in you
through the good will of the Father and the operation of the most Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, O Woman Full of grace; the Lord is with you!

In Tone 2, Glory… Now…

Today Gabriel announces the good news to the Woman Full of Grace:
Rejoice, O Virgin who has not known wedlock;
do not fear the strangeness of my appearance,
for I am an archangel.
Formerly, the serpent was the cause of grief to Eve,
but now it is great joy that I announce:
You shall remain a virgin, and yet you shall give birth to the Lord.

Aposticha

In Tone 4

In the sixth month the Archangel was sent to the pure Virgin
and with his greeting “Rejoice!” he brought good tidings,
that the Deliverer would come forth from her.
And so, accepting his salutation with faith,
she conceived You, the pre-eternal God,
who was pleased to become man ineffably,
for the salvation of our souls.

Sing to the Lord, bless His Name. Proclaim His help day by day.

The Theotokos heard a voice she knew not,
when the Archangel brought her the glad tidings of the Annunciation;
and accepting the salutation with faith, she conceived You, the pre-eternal God.
Therefore in great rejoicing we also cry to You:
O God, who without change has been made flesh from her,
grant peace to the world, and to our souls great mercy.

Sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord all the earth.

Lo, our restoration is now made manifest to us:
God is ineffably united to men.
At the words of the Archangel error is laid low;
for the Virgin receives joy, and the things of the earth have become heaven.
The world is loosened from the ancient curse.
Let the creation rejoice exceedingly and raise its voice to sing:
O Lord, our Maker and Deliverer, glory to You.

Glory… Now…

Today there come glad tidings of joy: it is the feast of the Virgin.
Things below are joined to things above.
Adam is renewed, Eve set free from her ancient sorrow;
and the Tabernacle of the human nature which the Lord took upon Himself,
making divine the substance He assumed, is consecrated as a Temple of God!
O mystery! The manner of emptying is unknown,
the fashion of His conceiving is ineffable.
An angel ministers at the wonder; a virgin womb receives the Son.
The Holy Spirit is sent down; the Father on high gives His consent;
and so the covenant is brought to pass by common counsel.
In Him and through Him are we saved,
and together with Gabriel let us cry aloud to the Virgin:
“Rejoice, you who are full of grace: the Lord is with you.
From you has Christ our God and our Salvation taken human nature,
rising it up to Himself.
Pray to Him that our souls may be saved.”

Troparion

In Tone 4
Today is the crown of our salvation,* and the unfolding of the eternal mystery;* the Son of God becomes the Virgin’s Son,* and Gabriel brings the tidings of grace.* With him let us also cry to the Mother of God:* Rejoice, Full of grace! The Lord is with you! Thrice

VESPERS WITH DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ON MARCH 25

At Psalm 140

In Tone 8

10. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

Today as we pass the middle of the Fast
by the power of the Cross,
let us glorify the might of God our Saviour
who was lifted on the Cross in the middle of the earth,
and let us say:
Grant that we may contemplate your Passion and holy Resurrection, O Lord,
granting us your forgiveness and great mercy.

9. The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

Today as we pass the middle of the Fast
by the power of the Cross,
let us glorify the might of God our Saviour
who was lifted on the Cross in the middle of the earth,
and let us say:
Grant that we may contemplate your Passion and holy Resurrection, O Lord,
granting us your forgiveness and great mercy.

8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

Let us mortify our bodily passions
by tuning away from food
and setting our pleasures aside;
let us venerate the wood of the holy Cross.
Clearly it is set before our eyes so that we may bow low before it;
by divine grace it sanctifies the universe.
Let us cry out to the God of tenderness:
We thank You, O Lord.
who save our souls by your Cross.

7. Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

Let us mortify our bodily passions
by tuning away from food
and setting our pleasures aside;
let us venerate the wood of the holy Cross.
Clearly it is set before our eyes so that we may bow low before it;
by divine grace it sanctifies the universe.
Let us cry out to the God of tenderness:
We thank You, O Lord.
who save our souls by your Cross.

6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

On this day let us bow before the Cross and all say joyfully:
Rejoice, new tree of life.
Rejoice, sceptre of Chris our King.
Rejoice, heavenly glory of mankind.
Rejoice, strength of our faith.
Rejoice. invincible trophy.
Rejoice, vanquisher of the Enemy.
Rejoice, radiance of brightness.
Rejoice, glory of martyrs.
Rejoice. strength of the just and holy ones.
Rejoice, splendour of angels.
Rejoice, holy Cross of the Lord.

In Tone 4

5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

In the sixth month, the archangel was sent to the pure Virgin.
Telling her to rejoice, he announced the good tidings
that the Saviour would be born of her.
Having accepted his greeting, she conceived the eternal God
who ineffably deigned to become incarnate
for the salvation of our souls.

4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

The Mother of God, upon hearing, did not understand
the message of the archangel
because he was speaking the words of glad tidings to her.
She accepted his greeting with faith
and conceived You, the eternal God.
Therefore, we joyfully sing to You:
O God, You became incarnate, without change, from her;
and You grant peace and great mercy to the world.

3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Behold, the promised One now manifests himself to us.
It is beyond comprehension that God unites himself to the human race.
At the word of the archangel, deceit is cast out
because the Virgin receives the Joy.
The things of the earth become like heaven;
the world is freed of the original curse.
Let creation rejoice,
and may voices cry out:
O our Creator and Deliverer,
O Lord, glory to You!

In Tone 1

2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

The archangel Gabriel, the spirit who sees God face to face,
gazes upon the brilliant, saving, and gleaming Light.
He sings heavenly and awesome hymns with the ranks on high.
He implores God to grant peace and great mercy to our souls.

1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

The great mystery, previously unknown to the angels and hidden from eternity,
is made known to you alone, O Gabriel.
When you came to Nazareth, you told it to the pure One.
Together with her, implore God to grant peace
and great mercy to our souls.

You made the winds your messengers, and flaming fire your ministers.

O prince of angels, all-perfect Gabriel,
you are filled with the divine brightness.
You fulfil the wishes and commands of the Almighty.
Save those who lovingly venerate you.
Always ask God to grant peace and great mercy to our souls.

In Tone 6, Glory… Now…

The archangel Gabriel was sent from heaven
to bring to the Virgin glad tidings of her conception.
When he came to Nazareth,
he marvelled at the miracle and thought to himself:
How is it that He whom the heavens cannot comprehend
is now being born of a virgin?
The One who has heaven for a throne and earth for a footstool
is being enclosed within a virgin’s womb.
He, upon whom the six-winged Seraphim and the many-eyed Cherubim cannot gaze,
wills to become incarnate of her by a single word.
The Word of God is at hand.
Then why do I stand by and not say to the Virgin:
Rejoice, O Full of Grace; the Lord is with you!
Rejoice, O pure Virgin and maiden bride!
Rejoice, O Mother of the Life!
Blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Prokeimenon I, Tone 7
Hear my voice, O God, as I complain.
verse: Guard my life from dread of the foe.

Reading I
Genesis 8:21-9:7

Prokeimenon II, Tone 8
You keep your pledge with wonders, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the earth and of far distant isles.
verse: To You our praise is due in Zion, O God.

Reading II
Proverbs 11:19- 12:6

Reading III
Exodus 3:1-8

Reading IV
Proverbs 8:22-30

Small Ektenia

Trisagion Hymn

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Proclaim from day to day* the good tidings of our God’s salvation.
verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 95:2,1)

Epistle
Hebrews 2:11-18

Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: He will descend like rain on a fleece, and like drops dripping on the earth.
verse: Let His name be blessed through the ages; His name exists before the sun. (Psalm 71:6, 17)

Gospel
Luke 1:24-38

Hymn to the Mother of God
O earth, announce good news of great joy; praise God’s glory, O heavens.
and the Irmos: Let no hand of the profane touch God’s living ark,* but instead let the lips of those who are believers* sing out ceaselessly in the words of the angel,* crying out with great joy to the Mother of God:* Hail, O Full of Grace! The Lord is with you.

Communion Hymn
For the Lord has chosen Sion;* He has chosen it for His dwelling. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 131:13)