GREAT VESPERS
ON TUESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

According to Lenten schedule

At Psalm 140

In Tone 1

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

You stretched out your most pure hands upon the Cross, Lord,* gathering the ends of the earth.* Therefore, I cry to You:* Gather together my scattered reasoning,* enslaved and beguiled by passions.* Show me to be a partaker of Your sufferings,* by being purified through abstinence.

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

Of old, the fast strengthened the holy youths,* and as it is written,* showed them to be stronger than the burning fire!* Fast, therefore, my humble soul!* Kindle in yourself love towards the Master!* So will you be able to avoid the future Gehenna,* and burn up the wicked passions.

In Tone 3

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

The time of Lent is a time of gladness!* With radiant purity and pure charity* filled with resplendent prayer and all good deeds,* let us sing with joy:* Most holy Cross of Christ that blossomed the sweetness of life,* enable us all to bow down before you with pure hearts,* granting us purification and great mercy!

In Tone 2

3. 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.

2. 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, Tone 6

Lord, save Your people* and bless Your inheritance.

verse: To You, Lord, will I call, my God!

Reading I

Genesis 4: 8-15

Prokeimenon II, Tone 7

The Lord shall give strength to His people,* the Lord shall bless His people with peace!

verse: Offer to the Lord, you mighty; offer young rams to the Lord!

Reading II

Proverbs 5: 1-15

Readings for the Martyrs

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

Aposticha

In Tone 3

You were crucified in the flesh, Lord,* crucifying our old man with Yourself.* Your side was pierced with a spear,* and the serpent that enticed man was speared to death.* Nail my flesh to the fear of You,* wound my soul with Your love,* that fully understanding Your Passion,* I may strictly fulfill the order of Lent,* closing not only my mouth, the entrance of food,* but also the doors of any other sins!* For my past transgressions I will offer You* a contrite soul and a broken heart!* Deliver me from them, 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.

You were crucified in the flesh, Lord,* crucifying our old man with Yourself.* Your side was pierced with a spear,* and the serpent that enticed man was speared to death.* Nail my flesh to the fear of You,* wound my soul with Your love,* that fully understanding Your Passion,* I may strictly fulfill the order of Lent,* closing not only my mouth, the entrance of food,* but also the doors of any other sins!* For my past transgressions I will offer You* a contrite soul and a broken heart!* Deliver me from them, 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.

The prophets, apostles, and martyrs of Christ* taught us to praise the consubstantial Trinity!* Having enlightened the nations that had gone astray,* they made sons of men companions of the angels!

Glory… Now…

Seeing your Son suspended on the wood,* you cried out, blameless one:* My Child, ordained from all eternity!* Where has your radiant goodness gone//* which enriched human nature?

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 called 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 WEDNESDAY EVENING

At Psalm 140

In Tone 1

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

O faithful, to undertake a spiritual fast,* we must speak no deceit with our tongues* nor place obstacles in the path of each other.* But by repentance let us brighten the lamp of our souls,* that with tears we may call out to Christ:* Forgive our trespasses, for You love humankind.

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

O faithful, to undertake a spiritual fast,* we must speak no deceit with our tongues* nor place obstacles in the path of each other.* But by repentance let us brighten the lamp of our souls,* that with tears we may call out to Christ:* Forgive our trespasses, for You love humankind.

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

O martyrs, worthy of praise,* though the earth may not have covered you, heaven received you,* opening to you the gates of Paradise, where you dwell,* delighting in the Tree of Life.* Beseech Christ to grant our souls peace and great mercy.

In Tone 3

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

Through the prayers of the divine apostles, O righteous Lord,* grant that this time of the Fast may be well spent.* In Your kindness grant repentance to our hearts,* that we all may be saved and give glory to You.

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

Your coming will be great and fearful, O Lord,* when You shall sit in just judgment.* Do not pass sentence on me,* for I am already condemned;* but show Your divine favour toward me,* through the intercession of Your apostles.

In Tone 6

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 apostles of Christ who shine your light on all mortals,* you are the treasuries of the holy knowledge of God.* Through your prayers deliver from temptation those who praise you.* Guide us successfully through the course of this Fast;* direct our lives in peace,* so that with our eyes lifted up to the Passion of Christ,* we may with courage give praise to our God.

In Tone 1

4. 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!

3. 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!

2. 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…

Attend to the groaning of my broken heart, O bride of God.* Accept the lifting up of my hands.* Do not reject me, O Mary, spotless Virgin, full of love,* so that I may praise and magnify* Him, who in you magnified the human race.

Prokeimenon I, Tone 8

Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord,* exult, O you just!

verse: Blessed are those whose offence is forgiven, whose sin is remitted.

Reading I: Genesis 4:16-26

Prokeimenon II, Tone 1
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us* as we have hoped in You.
verse: Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just; for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.

Reading II: Proverbs 5:15-6:3

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)