The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (321-23)

GREAT VESPERS ON MONDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

According to Lenten schedule

At Psalm 140

In Tone 8

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

Today, as we pass the middle of Lent,* by the might of the Cross* let us glorify the mighty God and Saviour* Who was lifted up in the midst of the earth.* As we look, show us Your sufferings, Master,* and Your precious Resurrection,* granting us purification and great mercy.

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

Let us humble our fleshly passions* by turning away from food and laying our pleasures aside.* Let us kiss the tree of the Cross in faith.* It reveals itself through veneration,* and sanctifies all with divine grace!* So let us sing to the Lord:* We give thanks to You, tender-hearted One,* for You are saving our souls through the Cross!

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

As we all venerate the Cross, let us cry:* Rejoice, Tree of life!* Rejoice, holy sceptre of Christ!* Rejoice, heavenly glory of man!* Rejoice, majesty of faith!* Rejoice, invincible weapon!* Rejoice, vanquisher of enemies!* Rejoice, shining radiance which saves the world!* Rejoice, great glory of martyrs!* Rejoice, power of saints!* Rejoice, light of the angels!* Rejoice, precious Cross!

In Tone 2

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

Bravely enduring the present happenings and rejoicing in things hoped for,* the holy martyrs said to each other:* We have not stripped ourselves of a garment,* but we have put off the old person.* The winter is bitter but Paradise is sweet.* Although the chill is painful, it becomes sweet enjoyment.* Let us not bow down, O captains.* We suffer a little at present* that we may receive the crowns of victory from Christ,* since He is God and the Saviour of our souls.

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

Throwing off their garments and going into the lake without trembling,* the holy martyrs said to each other:* Since we have lost Paradise,* let us not care for a corruptible garment today.* Having once been clothed in corruption through the serpent,* let us now beseech resurrection for all.* Let us despise the icy destroying cold and scorn the flesh,* that we may receive the crowns of victory from Christ* for He is God and the Saviour of our souls.

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

Looking upon the tortures as pleasures* and hastening towards the icy lake as towards the heat,* the holy martyrs said to each other:* Let us stand fearless in the winter season* that we may escape the dreadful fire of Hades.* Let a foot be burnt that it may rejoice forever;* let a hand be lost that it may be lifted towards the Lord;* let us not spare the dying nature.* Let us now accept death* that we may receive crowns of victory from Christ,* for He is God and the Saviour of our souls.

Glory…

Bravely enduring the present happenings* and rejoicing in things hoped for,* the holy martyrs said to each other:* We have not stripped ourselves of a garment,* but we have put off the old person.* The winter is bitter but Paradise is sweet.* Although the chill is painful, it becomes sweet enjoyment.* Let us not bow down, O captains.* We suffer a little at present* that we may receive the crowns of victory from Christ,* since He is God and the Saviour of our souls.

Now…

O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away* with the realization of grace.* For as the bush had burned without being consumed,* so you gave birth while a virgin* and you remained a virgin.* Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.* Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,* the Saviour of our souls.

Prokeimenon I, Tone6

Hear my voice, O God* when I pray to You.

verse: Deliver my soul from fear of the Enemy!

Reading I

Genesis 8: 21-9:7

Prokeimenon II, Tone6

Hear us, O God* our Saviour!

verse: A song is due to You, O God, in Zion!

Reading II

Proverbs 11:19-12:6

Readings for the Martyrs

Isaiah 43:9-14; Wisdom 3:1-9; Wisdom 5:15-6:3

Aposticha

In Tone 8

The Pharisee used many words in praising himself and was cast aside,* but the humble Publican prayed in silence and was justified!* From this example, learn the truth, my soul!* Accept humility as a way of life* for Christ promised grace to the humble,* for He is the Lover of mankind!

I have lifted up my eyes to You enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God until He has mercy on us.

The Pharisee used many words in praising himself and was cast aside,* but the humble Publican prayed in silence and was justified!* From this example, learn the truth, my soul!* Accept humility as a way of life* for Christ promised grace to the humble,* for He is the Lover of mankind!

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we have been filled with shame; our soul is all too full of the mockery of the rich, of the contempt of the proud.

Entreat our God, martyrs of the Lord,* and beseech great bounties for our souls,* and purification of our many transgressions!

In Tone 6

Glory…

Faithful, let us praise the forty passion-bearing Martyrs in hymns!* Singing in harmony let us cry out to them saying:* “Rejoice, O athletes of Christ:* Hesýchius, Méliton, Heráclius, Smarágdus and Domnus;* Euónicus, Válens and Vivianus;* Claudius and Priscus!* Rejoice, Theódulus, Euthýchius and John,* Xanthéas, Hiliánus, Sisínius, Kýrion, Angíus, Aétius and Flavius!* Rejoice, Acácius, Ecdíkius, Lysimáchus, Alexander,* Elías and Candidus,* Theóphilus, Dométian and Gáius* with the Godly Gorgonius!* Rejoice, Leóntius and Athanasius,* Cýril and Sacerdon,* Nicholas and Valerius,* Philóctimon, Sevérian, Chudíon and Aglaius!* You have boldness before Christ our God, most honored Martyrs.* Beseech Him earnestly* that those who keep your most precious memory with faith may be saved!

Now…

O Mother of God, you are the true vine laden with the fruit of life.* Therefore, we implore you, O Lady,* to intercede together with the apostles and the saints* so that we may obtain mercy for our souls.

Troparion

In Tone 1

Be swayed by the pains that the saints have suffered for You, O Lord,* and heal all our pains,* O Lover of mankind, for this we pray.

Glory… Now…

O Holy Tabernacle, when Gabriel cried out to you:* Rejoice, O Virgin, full of grace,* the Lord of All became incarnate of you,* as the righteous David had foretold.* In bearing your Creator, you have shown yourself to surpass the vastness of the heavens.* We, therefore, cry out: Glory to Him Who dwelt in you!* Glory to Him Who came forth from you!* Glory to Him Who has set us free* through your life-giving birth!

 

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS ON TUESDAY EVENING

At Psalm 140

In Tone 6

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

You endured the Cross and passion* in the midst of the earth, merciful Lord,* granting all men redemption and freedom from passions.* Therefore on the middle day of the fast,* we set Your Cross before us and venerate it with rejoicing!* Glorious with the light of divine virtues,* may we be counted worthy to see Your passion and life-giving Resurrection,* only merciful Word of God.

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

Nailed upon the Cross,* Your side pierced with a spear,* You were counted as a lifeless corpse,* and given gall to drink, long-suffering Master,* who sweetened the waters of Marah by the hand of Moses!* Therefore I entreat You and pray:* Uproot the bitter passions from my understanding,* sweeten my mind with the honey of repentance,* and grant that I may worship at Your holy passion.

In Tone 1

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

Today we see the mighty Cross placed before us* which Moses once prefigured with outstretched arms,* putting Amalek to flight!* Peoples, let us touch it trembling, with pure minds and lips,* for Christ was raised up on it when he slew death!* May we all be counted worthy of His grace,* and praising the Saviour of all with hymns inspired by God,* let us pray that we may come to His saving Resurrection!

In Tone 4

  1. Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

Come, let us worship the life-giving Cross of Christ our God,* for today it is set before us.* Death is wounded through the Cross,* and the power of the Resurrection newly revealed to us who have fallen.* Let us cry to our Deliverer:* You suffered of Your own will for our sake* to save the whole creation.* Glory to You, our God!

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

Your Cross, Saviour,* has been given to Christians as an invincible power;* the hosts of the enemy are put to flight through it,* and Your Church, O Christ, rightly confessing the true faith,* is seen overshadowed with peace.* We kiss it, and raise our fervent cry to You:* Make us also worthy of the inheritance of Your saints!

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

Cleansing the feelings of our souls with tears,* making them pure through fasting,* come, let us bow before the wood of the Cross!* For through abstinence it pacifies the rebellion and destructive impulses of the flesh.* And let us cry to Him Who was crucified:* Savior, make us worthy to adore the light of Your Resurrection on the third day!

In Tone 1

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

Let us in faith raise a magnificent song as is fitting* to the all-praised Codratus and the great Cyprian,* with the two named Dionysius and Anectus,* together with Crescens and the glorious Paul!* They are divinely crowned athletes of the Lord* and our most fervent intercessors!

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

Let us in faith raise a magnificent song as is fitting* to the all-praised Codratus and the great Cyprian,* with the two named Dionysius and Anectus,* together with Crescens and the glorious Paul!* They are divinely crowned athletes of the Lord* and our most fervent intercessors!

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

Today another choir of holy martyrs appears: victorious and triumphant!* A brilliant assembly of divine passion-bearers,* a steadfast regiment, a chosen army!* Codratus is its captain.* He is revealed as an all-glorious conqueror!

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

All-praised Codratus, with your cutting words* you slashed through the twisted webs of the philosophers’ wisdom like fog!* You taught in faith and suffered in patience for Christ.* Well-adorned in both teaching and suffering,* you have been crowned with the passion bearers!

In Tone 8

Glory… Now…

Today, the Lord of glory, the Master of creation* is nailed to the Cross and his side is pierced.* He Who is the sweet drink of the Church tastes gall and vinegar!* The One Who crowned the heavens is crowned with thorns;* He is vested in a robe of mockery.* The Creator of the earth is struck with human hands.* He accepts scourging, spitting and buffeting,* all for the sake of me, who stand condemned!* He is my compassionate Deliverer and God,* Who saves the world from deceit!

Prokeimenon I, Tone 6

Sing to God;* praise His name!

verse: Cast a highway for Him who goes up to the high places!

Reading I

Genesis 9: 8-17

Prokeimenon II, Tone 6

Let Your salvation, O God* receive me.

verse: Let the poor see and be glad!

Reading II

Proverbs 12: 8-22

Prokeimenon, Tone 5

You, O Lord, will guard and will keep us, from this generation and for ever.

verse: Save me, O Lord, for there is no longer left a just man. (Psalm 11:8,2)

Epistle

Hebrews 12:1-10

Alleluia, Tone 4

verse: Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.

verse: For You, O God, have tested us, You have tried us by fire as silver is tried. (Psalm 65:2,10)

Gospel

Matthew 20:1-16

Communion Hymn

Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)