GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 4
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
We never cease to adore Your life-giving Cross, O Christ our God,
And we glorify Your resurrection on the third day.
For You, Almighty One, have thereby restored the corrupted nature of all
and reopened the way to heaven,
since You alone are gracious and You love mankind.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Saviour, You have absolved the penalty of disobedience,
committed through the tree of Eden,
by willingly being nailed to the tree of the Cross.
As Almighty God, You descended into Hades
and broke asunder the bonds of death.
We, therefore, venerate Your resurrection from the dead,
and joyfully cry out to You:
Almighty Lord, glory to You!
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
O Lord, You have battered down the gates of Hades,
and by Your death You have dissolved the realm of death.
You have freed mankind from corruption,
bestowing life, incorruption, and Your great mercy upon the world.
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Come, all you people,
let us sing the praises of our Saviour’s resurrection on the third day.
For we have, thereby, been delivered from the invincible bonds of Hades,
and we have received incorruption, together with eternal life.
Therefore, we cry out to You
after Your crucifixion, burial, and resurrection:
Save us by Your resurrection, for You love mankind.
In Tone 6
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
We keep your memory, pure One, crying “Rejoice!” with the voice of Gabriel.
We honour your passing to life, Mother of the Lord.
Remember those who sing to you!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
The uncontainable August wisdom of God
has wondrously built a house for himself
by taking his abode in you, O Theotokos,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now he has taken you to dwell in his courts, O all-praised One.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
I come to you in prayer, Mother of the God of all.
Deliver me from every temptation, Theotokos.
Guard all Christian people by the might of your Son.
In Tone 1
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
You were revealed as a model of courage!
You dared to go before the assembly
to give yourself over to the arena of suffering.
You went there as a general, most wealthy martyr Andrew.
You ever pour the water of healings upon the faithful,
for you receive grace from the heavens.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You are manifested as the namesake of courage!
You struggled valiantly, engaging the enemy.
You destroyed him as another pharaoh
engulfing his whole army in the streams of your blood!
Therefore, truly wondrous one,
pray that God may grant our souls peace and great mercy!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Glorious one, you brought a great army to God the giver of all good.
They struggled and together with you,
through death have found undying glory!
Pray with them, all-glorious one,
that he may grant our souls peace and great mercy!
In Tone 4, Glory…
At your departing, Virgin Theotokos
to him who was ineffably born of you,
James, the first bishop and brother of the Lord was there,
and so was Peter, the honoured leader and chief of the disciples,
and the whole sacred fellowship of the apostles.
In discourses that showed forth heavenly things
they sang the praises of the divine mystery of the dispensation of Christ,
and they rejoiced, greatly-venerated Virgin,
as they buried your body.
On high the most holy angelic powers bowed in wonder,
saying to one another: open wide your gates
and receive her who bore the Creator of heaven and earth!
So we too cry out to you, gracious Lady:
raise up all Christian people and save our souls!
In Tone 4, Now…
O Mother of God, because of You David the Prophet
became an ancestor of God;
he foretold and sang a joyous hymn of praise
and cried out to Him who worked wonders in you:
“The Queen stood at your right hand.”
God revealed you as a life-giving mother,
when He chose to be incarnate of you without a father.
He renewed in man His image which the passions had corrupted.
He found the lost sheep in the mountains, carried it on His shoulders,
offered it to the Father, generously numbered it among the powers of heaven,
and saved the whole world, since He is Christ of great and rich mercy.
Aposticha
In Tone 4
In being lifted upon the Cross, O Lord,
You abolished the curse which we had inherited from our ancestors.
By going down into Hades,
You freed from eternal captivity those imprisoned there,
and granted incorruption to the human race.
We, therefore, praise Your life-giving and redeeming resurrection.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
By hanging on the Cross, O Almighty One,
You shook the whole creation to its foundations.
When You Yourself were laid in the grave,
You raised to life those who had been lying in the graves,
and You granted life and incorruption to mankind.
We, therefore, praise and glorify Your resurrection on the third day.
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O Christ, the lawless people showed their ingratitude to You, their Benefactor,
by delivering You to Pilate who condemned you to be crucified.
But You willingly suffered death and burial;
and, as God, You rose by Your own power on the third day,
granting us everlasting life and great mercy.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
The women, shedding bitter tears, came to see You in Your tomb;
and not finding Your body, they lamented, saying:
O Saviour and King of All, how were You stolen?
What place holds Your life-bearing body?
An angel answered them, saying:
Do not weep, but go and proclaim that the Lord is risen,
filling our hearts with joy;
for He alone is most compassionate.
In Tone 5, Glory… Now…
Come, all of those who love to keep the feasts,
come, and let us form a choir!
Come, let us crown the church with songs,
as the Ark of God goes to her rest.
For today heaven opens wide
as it receives the mother of him who cannot be contained!
The earth, as it yields up the source of life,
is robed in blessing and majesty.
The hosts of angels, present with the fellowship of the apostles,
gaze in great fear at her who bore the cause of life,
now that she is translated from life to Life!
Let us all venerate and implore her:
Lady, do not forget your ties of kinship
with those who keep in faith the feast of your all-holy Dormition!
Troparia
In Tone 4
When the disciples of the Lord learned from the angel* the glorious news of the resurrection* and cast off the ancestral condemnation,* they proudly told the apostles:* “Death has been plundered!* Christ our God is risen,*granting to the world great mercy.”
In Tone 1, Glory… Now…
In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: When the disciples of the Lord learned from the angel* the glorious news of the resurrection* and cast off the ancestral condemnation,* they proudly told the apostles:* “Death has been plundered!* Christ our God is risen,* granting to the world great mercy.”
Troparion, Tone 1: In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 4: My Saviour and Deliverer from the grave* as God raised out of bondage the children of the earth* and shattered the gates of Hades;* and as Master, He rose on the third day.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God,* unceasing in her intercession and unfailing hope of patronage,* for, as the Mother of Life, she was transferred to life* by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
How great are Your works, O Lord* You have made all things in wisdom.
verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, You are exceedingly great. (Psalm 103:24,1)
Epistle
1 Corinthians 16:13-24
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: Poise yourself and advance in triumph and reign in the cause of truth, and meekness, and justice.
verse: You have loved justice and hated iniquity. (Psalm 44:5,8)
Gospel
Matthew 21:33-42
Hymn to the Mother of God
Seeing the pure one’s falling asleep, angels marvelled in wonder how the Virgin could ascend from earth to heaven.
And the Irmos: O pure Virgin, in you are conquered the bounds of nature,* for childbirth remains virginal and death is betrothed to life.* Virgin after childbearing and alive after death, O Mother of God,* never cease to save your inheritance.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)
13-а Неділя по Зісланні Св. Духа. Постпразденство Успіння Пресвятої Владичиці нашої Богородиці і приснодіви Марії
Тропарі і Кондаки
Тропар (глас 4): Світлу про воскресіння розповідь від ангела почувши* і від прадідного засуду звільнившись,* Господні учениці, радіючи, казали апостолам:* Здолано смерть, воскрес Христос Бог,* що дає світові велику милість.
Тропар (глас 1): У різдві дівство зберегла ти,* в успінні світу не оставила ти, Богородице.* Переставилася ти до життя, бувши Матір’ю Життя.* І молитвами твоїми* ізбавляєш від смерти душі наші.
+Слава Отцю, і Сину, і Святому Духові.
Тропар (глас 4): Спас і мій визволитель,* як Бог, із гробу воскресив землян від узів* і розбив брами адові* та воскрес на третій день, як Владика.
І нині, і повсякчас, і на віки вічні. Амінь.
Кондак (глас 2): В молитвах невсипущу Богородицю* і в заступництвах незамінне уповання* – гріб і умертвіння не втримали.* Бо як Матір Життя до життя переставив той,* хто вселився в утробу приснодівственну.
Прокімен (глас 4):
Які величні діла Твої, Господи!* Все премудрістю сотворив Ти (Пс 103,24).
Стих: Благослови, душе моя, Господа! Господи, Боже мій, Ти вельми великий (Пс 103,1).
Прокімен (глас 3):
Величає душа моя Господа* і возрадувався дух мій у Бозі, Спасі моїм (Лк 1,46-47).
Апостол: (1Кр 16,13-24):
Браття і Сестри, чувайте, стійте у вірі, будьте мужні, кріпіться. Нехай усе у вас діється в любові. А благаю вас, брати: Ви знаєте родину Степани, що вона первісток Ахаї і що вони віддали себе святим на службу; то щоб і ви також піддавалися таким людям і кожному, хто трудиться та працює з ними. Я тішуся приходом Степани, Фортуната й Ахаїка: вони вашу неприявність заступили, бо заспокоїли мій дух і ваш. Отож, шануйте таких. Вітають вас Церкви азійські, Вітають вас у Господі сердечно Акила і Прискилла з їхньою домашньою Церквою. Всі брати вас вітають. Вітайте один одного святим цілунком. Привіт моєю рукою, Павловою. Як хтось не любить Господа, анатема на нього! “Маран ата!” Благодать Господа Ісуса з вами! Любов моя з усіма вами у Христі Ісусі. Амінь.
Алилуя (глас 4):
Стих: Натягни лук і наступай, і пануй істини ради, лагідности і справедливости (Пс 44,5)
Стих: Ти полюбив правду і зненавидів беззаконня (Пс 44,8).
Стих: Воскресни, Господи, в упокій твій, ти і кивот святині твоєї (Пс 131,8).
Стих: Клявся Господь Давидові істиною і не відречеться її (Пс 131,11).
Євангеліє: (Мт 21,33-42):
Сказав Господь притчу оцю: “Був один чоловік-господар, що насадив виноградник. Він обвів його огорожею, видовбав у ньому чавило, вибудував башту, винайняв його виноградарям і відійшов. Коли ж настала пора винозбору, послав він слуг своїх до виноградарів, щоб узяти від них плоди, йому належні. А виноградарі, схопивши його слуг, кого побили, кого вбили, кого ж укаменували. Тоді він послав інших слуг, більше від перших, але ті вчинили й з ними те саме. Наприкінці послав до них свого сина, кажучи: Матимуть пошану до мого сина. Та виноградарі, узрівши сина, заговорили між собою: Це спадкоємець. Нумо, вб’ємо його й заберемо собі його спадщину. І взявши його, вивели геть з виноградника й убили. Отож, коли прибуде господар виноградника, що зробить з тими виноградарями?” “Лютих люто вигубить”, – відповіли йому, – “а виноградник винаймить іншим виноградарям, що будуть давати йому плоди його своєчасно.” Тоді Ісус сказав їм: “Чи в Письмі не читали ви ніколи: Камінь, що відкинули будівничі, став каменем наріжним? Від Господа це сталось і дивне в очах наших.”
Замість Достойно: Ангели, бачучи успіння Пречистої, здивувалися, як Діва возходить з землі на небо.
Ірмос (глас 1): Перемагаються закони природи у тобі, Діво чиста: бо дівственне є різдво, і смерть наперед заповідає життя; по різдві діва, і по смерті жива. Спасаєш завжди,` Богородице, насліддя твоє.
Причасний:
Хваліте Господа з небес, хваліте Його на висотах (Пс 148,1). Чашу спасіння прийму і ім’я Господнє призову (Пс 115,13). Алилуя (х3).