GREAT VESPERS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

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

At the sound of the cymbals, let us sing resounding hymns,* anticipating the feast of her departure.* Let us lift our voices in a brilliant chorus before her sepulchre.* For the Mother of God and the golden Tabernacle* now prepares to pass from earth to heaven,* to the new life and the divine splendour.

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

O choir of the holy apostles,* you are gathered together from the ends of the earth.* The Living City of the One who reigns over all* departs in glory to the heavens.* She goes to rejoice with her Son, the King.* With the angelic hosts, sing a farewell hymn to her divine burial.

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

O choir of the holy priests,* O kings, princes, and ranks of virgins, now come together!* All you people, let us come before her holy tomb and sing a hymn,* for the Queen of all entrusts her soul into the hands of her Son* to be taken to the heavenly home.

3. 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, when you accepted the ascetic life for your salvation,* then you were enlightened invisibly from heaven* and were shown to be an exorciser of evil spirits.* By divine will you received gold,* which, in your generous mercy, you gave to those in need.* You filled their empty vessels with produce,* preparing for the Saviour, those who were in distress.* O preacher of the faith of Christ our God,* pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls.

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

The appearance of your holy relics came like a great light,* understood to be like the angelic splendour.* The great Stephen ran quickly with longing and joy,* seeing them coming in the distance.* He found your body whole and incorrupt* and glorified Christ our God.* O Father, pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls.

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

When those who wished to bear your body* came to the cave where you were buried,* they rejoiced on opening the tomb;* for they saw your most holy remains whole and untouched by corruption,* the hair framing your glorious face,* and your eyes and mouth joined in praises of Christ our God.* Pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls.

In Tone 6

Glory…

In faith we are all called together to celebrate this feast.* Let us hasten today to commemorate* the transferal of your holy relics, O venerable Father,* and let us say:* Rejoice, O consecrated dwelling of the divine Spirit and pillar of piety;* rejoice, boast of ascetics,* for you increased the talent given you by God;* rejoice, bright beacon to the world and our consolation.* As you now stand before the throne of Christ,* beg Him to deliver us from all trouble and distress* and to attain the future glory;* for we celebrate your memory in faith.

In Tone 4

Now…

O pure and most holy Virgin,* the choirs of angels in heaven and the assembly of people on earth* sing the praise of your glorious Dormition;* for you have become the Mother of the Creator of all, Christ our God.* We beg you to intercede constantly for us;* for, next to God, we have placed our hope in you,* O most glorious and ever-virgin Mother of God.

Readings

(1) Wisdom 5:15-6:3; (2) Wisdom 3:1-9; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15

Aposticha

In Tone 2

O marvellous wonder! O new sign of mystery!* How is it that the life-bearing Maiden* has been given over to death* and is now being concealed in a tomb?

Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest, You and the ark of your strength.

May all creatures sing out* because the Virgin, the daughter of Adam,* is going up into heaven.

The Lord swore an oath to David; He will not go back on his word.

Let us imagine the Virgin’s bier* surrounded by the apostolic choir,* and let us sing at her departure.

In Tone 8

Glory…

The multitude of monks praise you as their teacher,* O Theodosius our Father,* for by your paths you truly showed us the way we should go.* You are a blessed servant of Christ;* you unmasked the power of the enemy.* O dweller with angels and companion of the monks and the just,* pray with them that the Lord grant mercy to our souls.

In Tone 2

Now…

She is higher than the heavens,* more glorious than the Cherubim,* and more honourable than all creation.* Her outstanding purity became the dwelling place of the eternal divinity.* Today she places her all-pure soul into the hands of her Son.* With her, the universe is filled with joy,* and the grace of salvation is given to us.

Troparia

In Tone 8

Raised in virtue, O Father Theodosius,* from childhood you loved the monastic life* and attained your desire courageously.* You lived in a cave adorning your life with fasting and radiance* and abided in prayer like the bodiless powers.* You shone like a beacon in the land of Rus’.* Entreat Christ God to save our souls.

In Tone 4

Glory… Now…

O peoples, dance with joy and clap your hands with fervour.* Gather today in eagerness and jubilation, and sing with glee;* for the Mother of God is about to rise in glory,* going up from the earth into heaven.* It is to her we always sing hymns of praise,* for she is the Mother of God.

DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 8: Raised in virtue, O Father Theodosius,* from childhood you loved the monastic life* and attained your desire courageously.* You lived in a cave adorning your life with fasting and radiance* and abided in prayer like the bodiless powers.* You shone like a beacon in the land of Rus’.* Entreat Christ God to save our souls.

Troparion, Tone 4: O peoples, dance with joy and clap your hands with fervour.* Gather today in eagerness and jubilation, and sing with glee;* for the Mother of God is about to rise in glory,* going up from the earth into heaven.* it is to her we always sing hymns of praise,* for she is the Mother of God.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 4: Today the whole universe dances with joy* at your glorious memory, O Mother of God,* and it cries out to you:* Rejoice, O virgin, pride of Christians.

Now and forever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 3: Today we revere the star of Rus’, blessed Theodosius,* who shone from the east and same to the West;* for he enriched this whole land and all of us* with gentleness and miraculous wonders* by the practice and the grace of the monastic rule.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.

verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:15,12)

Epistle

Hebrews 13:7-16

Alleluia, Tone 2

verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice.

verse: For the Lord has chosen Sion; He has chosen it for His dwelling. (Psalm 131:9,13)

Gospel

Matthew 11:27-29

Communion Hymn

The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)