GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 8
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
O Christ, during this spiritual service,
we sing to You these evening prayers,
commemorating the mercy You have shown us
by Your resurrection.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Lord, O Lord, do not cast us away from Your face;
but in Your kindness have mercy on us
through Your resurrection.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Rejoice, O holy Zion,
the Mother of Churches and the dwelling-place of God;
for you were the first to receive the forgiveness of sins
through the resurrection.
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Christ the Word was begotten by God the Father before all ages;
yet in these latter times,
He freely willed to take flesh from the Virgin who did not know man.
By His death on the cross and His resurrection,
He saved mankind from the ancient curse of death.
In Tone 2
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The evil taste of the tree in Eden long ago
condemned our first parents to a covenant of terror:
death was introduced to the human race.
But now we have been raised to the better portion of life without end, by the holy Cross.
At its exaltation, we praise the Lord who was raised on it,
raising the world with Himself!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
You carried Your deluded flock on Your shoulders;
offering it to Your Father, Saviour.
You numbered it with the angels, in the Holy Spirit,
through Your precious and life-bearing Cross!
You resisted the tree with your Tree!
Now, in faith, we raise it on high.
We glorify You; on it You were lifted up,
raising us with Yourself!
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Let us stand in the presence of God, faithful;
let us attend to spiritual things,
gazing in spirit on the place of the skull with purified minds.
We mortals shall join with angels
to see the holy wood exalted
on which Christ our God voluntarily stretched out His hands
to gather all us prisoners
and raise us to the heavenly places!
In 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 adorned your soul, glorious martyr,
with the beauties of virginity and the blood of martyrdom.
You were betrothed to the Creator
Who truly has preserved you incorrupt for the ages.
Therefore you join the choir with the ranks of archangels and angels,
the apostles, prophets and martyrs,
most praised Euphemia.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You were bound to wheels of torture,
torn in pieces by wild beasts.
your mind was sharpened with fire and water by the Spirit of God;
you courageously drowned the princes of darkness with the streams of your blood!
You hastened to the spiritual bridal chambers,
offering your suffering as a dowry to your Bridegroom, virgin!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Though you have died, you live forever, martyr,
and have poured streams of blood to the praise of the Lord,
watering the faithful and illumining them with understanding,
but drowning the unbelieving enemy.
Therefore the divine scroll of the teachings of the Church was given to you/
and you preserve and hold it forever.
In Tone 6, Glory…
Today the four ends of the earth are sanctified
by the exaltation of the four arms of Your Cross, Christ our God.
Your faithful people are exalted in strength
and dash in pieces the devil’s might.
You are great, and wonderful are Your works!
Glory to You, O Lord!
In Tone 8, Glory… Now…
Out of his love for mankind
the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt with men,
for He assumed a human body from the pure Virgin
and was seen in the flesh He received from her.
He is the One and only God having two natures but not two persons.
Wherefore we profess and declare the truth
that Christ our God is perfect God and perfect Man.
O Mother, who knew not carnal union,
intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.
Aposticha
In Tone 8
O Jesus, You descended from heaven
so that You might ascend the cross.
O immortal Life, You came to die.
You are the true light to those who live in darkness,
and You are the resurrection of the fallen.
Therefore, O Saviour of all, we glorify You.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. * Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Let us glorify Christ, the Saviour of our Souls
Who arose from the dead.
For He took upon himself a soul and a body,
and during His passion He separated the one from the other.
His pure soul went down to conquer Hades,
while His holy body lay uncorrupted in the grave.
For He has made the world firm. * which shall not be moved.
O Christ, we glorify Your resurrection with psalms and hymns.
For by Your victory over death
You delivered us from the sufferings of Hades,
and as God You granted us eternal life and great mercy.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, * for length of days.
O Lord of all, Creator of heaven and earth,
You are above all understanding.
Through Your passion on the cross
You freed us from the sufferings of Hades.
And, after condescending to be buried, You arose in glory;
and with Your mighty arm You also raised up Adam.
O most merciful Lord, we glorify You;
for by Your resurrection on the third day
You granted us remission of sins and eternal life.
In Tone 8, Glory… Now…
Moses prefigured the Cross and defeated Amalek;
David ordered worship at your footstool.
So today we sinners fall in worship
before Your precious feet, O Christ.
We cry to You, the crucified One:
Lord, make us worthy, with the thief, of Your kingdom!
Troparia
In Tone 8
You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.
In Tone 1, Glory… Now…
Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance,* grant victory to Your faithful people against enemies,* and protect Your community by Your Cross.
DIVINE LITURGY
Antiphon 1
O God, my God, hear me; why have You forsaken me? The words of my transgressions put salvation far from me.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
O God, I will call to You by day but You will not listen; and by night, yet it will not be foolish of me.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
But You, the praise of Israel, dwell in the holy place.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Glory… Now… Only-begotten Son…
Antiphon 3
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Entrance
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.
Troparion, Tone 1: Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance.* Grant victory to Your faithful people against enemies,* and protect Your community by Your cross.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 8: When You rose from the tomb,* You also raised the dead and resurrected Adam.* Eve exults in Your resurrection,* and the ends of the world celebrate Your rising from the dead,* O most merciful One.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: By Your own choice, O Christ our God,* You were lifted on the cross.* Grant Your mercies to Your new community* that bears Your Name.* By Your power gladden the faithful people,* and grant them victory against enemies.* May they have the help of Your instrument of peace,* the invincible sign of victory.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Exalt the Lord our God,* and bow in worship at the footstool of his feet, for it is holy.
verse: The Lord reigns, let the people tremble. (Psalm 98:5,1)
Epistle
Galatians 2:16-20
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: Remember Your congregation which You acquired from the beginning.
verse: But God is our king before the ages; He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. (Psalm 73:2,12)
Gospel
Mark 8:34-9:1
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify the most precious cross of the Lord.
And the Irmos, Tone 8: You are a mystical Paradise, O Mother of God, who though untilled, have brought forth Christ. He has planted upon earth the life-giving Tree of the Cross. Therefore today as we raise it on high we bow low and we magnify you.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* Let the light of Your countenance, O Lord,* shine upon us.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 4:7)
At the end of Liturgy we sing:
To Your Cross, O Master, we bow in veneration, and we glorify Your holy Resurrection. (3)
Неділя після Воздвиження чесного Хреста; Св. влкмчц. Євфимії всехвальної. 16 вересня.
Антифон 1
Стих 1: Боже, Боже мій, зваж на мене, чому ти оставив мене? Далеко від спасення мого слова гріхопадінь моїх (Пс 21,2).
Приспів: Молитвами Богородиці,* Спасе, спаси нас.
Стих 2: Боже мій, закличу вдень і не вислухаєш, і вночі, і не в безумство мені (Пс 21,3).
Приспів: Молитвами Богородиці,* Спасе, спаси нас.
Стих 3: А ти у святому живеш, хвало ізраїлева (Пс 21,4).
Приспів: Молитвами Богородиці,* Спасе, спаси нас.
+Слава Отцю, і Сину, і Святому Духові. І нині, і повсякчас, і на віки вічні. Амінь..Єдинородний Сину
Антифон 3: Приспів празника (15-20 вересня)
Приспів: Спаси нас, Сину Божий, що плоттю розп’явся, співаємо Тобі: Алилуя.
Вхідне:
Прийдіте поклонімося і припадім до Христа. Спаси нас, Сину Божий, що плоттю розп’явся, співаємо Тобі: Алилуя.
Тропарі і Кондаки
Тропар (глас 8): З висоти зійшов Ти, Милосердний,* і триденне погребення прийняв Ти,* щоб нас звільнити від страждань.* Життя і воскресіння наше,*Господи, слава Тобі.
Тропар (глас 1): Спаси, Господи, людей Твоїх і благослови насліддя Твоє, перемоги благовірному народові на супротивників даруй і хрестом Твоїм охорони люд Твій.
+Слава Отцю, і Сину, і Святому Духові.
Кондак (глас 8): Коли Ти воскрес із гробу,* то й померлих підняв,* і Адама воскресив;* радіє Єва воскресінням Твоїм* і кінці світу прославляють* Твоє з мертвих воскресіння,* Багатомилостивий.
І нині, і повсякчас, і на віки вічні. Амінь.
Кондак (глас 4): Вознісся Ти на хрест волею Своєю. Новому людові Твоєму, що Твоє ім’я носить, даруй щедроти Твої, Христе Боже. Возвесели силою Твоєю благовірний народ, перемоги на супротивніків дай йому, що за посібник має Твоє оружжя миру, непоборну перемогу.
Прокімен (глас 7):
Возносіть Господа Бога нашого і поклоняйтеся підніжжю ніг Його, бо святе воно (Пс 98,5).
Стих: Господь возцарився, нехай гніваються люди (Пс 98,1).
Апостол: (Гл 2,16-20):
Браття і Сестри, довідавшися, що людина оправдується не ділами закону, а через віру в Ісуса Христа, ми й увірували в Христа Ісуса, щоб оправдатися нам вірою в Христа, а не ділами закону; бо ніхто не оправдається ділами закону. Коли ж, шукаючи оправдання у Христі, виявилося, що й ми самі грішники, – то невже Христос – служитель гріха? Жадним робом! Бо коли я знову відбудовую те, що зруйнував був, то я себе самого оголошую переступником. Я бо через закон для закону вмер, щоб для Бога жити: я –розп’ятий з Христом. Живу вже не я, а живе Христос у мені. А що живу тепер у тілі, то живу вірою в Божого Сина, який полюбив мене й видав себе за мене.
Алилуя (глас 1):
Стих: Пом’яни соньм Твій, що його придбав Ти іздавна (Пс 73,2).
Стих: Бог же – цар наш перше віку, вчинив спасіння посеред землі (Пс 73,12).
Євангеліє: (Мр 8,34-9,1):
Сказав Господь: “Коли хтось хоче йти за мною, хай зречеться себе самого, візьме на себе хрест свій і йде слідом за мною. Бо хто хоче спасти свою душу, той її погубить; а хто погубить свою душу мене ради та Євангелії, той її спасе. Бо яка користь людині здобути світ увесь, а занапастити свою душу? Що бо людина може дати взамін за власну душу? Хто, отже, буде соромитися мене й моїх слів перед цим родом перелюбним та грішним, того посоромиться і Син Чоловічий, коли прийде у славі Отця свого з святими ангелами.” І сказав їм: “Істинно кажу вам: Є деякі з отут присутніх, що не зазнають смерти, аж поки не вздріють Царства Божого, що прийде у могутності.”
Замість Достойно:
Величай, душе моя, Господа, пречесний хрест Господень.
Ірмос (глас 8): Таїнственний рай Ти, Богородице, що невоздільно виростила Христа. Він на землі насадив хресне життєносне древо. Йому, що Його нині возносять, поклоняючись, Тебе величаємо.
Причасний:
Хваліте Господа з небес, хваліте Його на висотах (Пс 148,1). Знаманувалося на нас світло лиця Твого, Господи (Пс 4,7). Алилуя (х3).
Після Літургії співаємо:
Хресту Твоєму поклоняємось, Владико, і святеє восекресіння Твоє славимо (x3).