Polyeleos Feast.

 

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading

“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 1

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

The Fountain of wonders came to the well at noon,* to ensnare the daughter of Eve.* Once, Eve had been driven out of Paradise by the serpent’s guile;* now a woman of Samaria came to draw water.* The Saviour saw her and said to her:* Give me a drink of water* and I will fill you with the waters of eternal life!* She ran to the town and proclaimed to the crowd:* Come and see the Messiah, the Lord!* He is the Saviour of our souls!

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

The Fountain of wonders came to the well at noon,* to ensnare the daughter of Eve.* Once, Eve had been driven out of Paradise by the serpent’s guile;* now a woman of Samaria came to draw water.* The Saviour saw her and said to her:* Give me a drink of water* and I will fill you with the waters of eternal life!* She ran to the town and proclaimed to the crowd:* Come and see the Messiah, the Lord!* He is the Saviour of our souls!

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

The Lord of compassion came to the well* and conversed with a woman of Samaria.* She said: Give me Your water that I may never thirst again!* I will drink from the Fountain of joy and redemption!* Life-giving Lord, glory to You!

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

The Word of the Father,* the co-eternal Son without beginning,* came and sat by the well,* though He is the Fountain of healing!* A Samaritan woman came to draw water;* when the Saviour saw her, He said to her:* Give me a drink!  Go, call your husband!* She thought she was speaking not to God, but to a man:* She said: I have no husband!  trying to evade Him,* but the teacher said: You speak the truth,* for you have had five husbands,* and the one living with you now is not even a husband.* She was amazed by His words and ran back to the town!* She said to the crowd: Come, see the Messiah!* He grants the world great mercy!

In Tone 4

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

You gave Your precious cross as a most powerful weapon to the emperor.* Through it he reigned righteously on earth, shining with godliness.* And by Your compassion he was counted worthy of Your heavenly kingdom.* Therefore with him we glorify Your dispensation, almighty Jesus,* Saviour of our souls, and Lover of mankind!

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

You gave Your precious cross as a most powerful weapon to the emperor.* Through it he reigned righteously on earth, shining with godliness.* And by Your compassion he was counted worthy of Your heavenly kingdom.* Therefore with him we glorify Your dispensation, almighty Jesus,* Saviour of our souls, and Lover of mankind!

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

As the King of kings, the Lord who reigns over all,* You, Lover of mankind, granted Your servant the wisdom of Solomon* the meekness of David, and the orthodox faith of the Apostles!* Therefore we glorify Your dispensation, almighty Jesus,* Saviour of our souls, and Lover of mankind!

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

Emperor of eternal memory,* first you willingly submitted the purple to Christ,* recognizing Him as true God and King of all,* the great Benefactor and Source of victory.* You saw Him set above every principality and power.* Therefore Jesus made the kingdom prosper for you, lover of virtue,* for He is the Saviour of our souls, and Lover of mankind!

In Tone 2, Glory…

Constantine the great, most powerful emperor, * you received the finest of rich gifts from God making you pre-eminent.* Enlightened by the rays of the most Holy Spirit through baptism,* you appeared invincible while you reigned,* receiving the world as a free gift of the Creator.* You ruled the city with faithfulness.* Since therefore you have boldness before Him,* never cease to pray to Christ* that all who celebrate your memory in faith* may be granted forgiveness of sins and great mercy!

In Tone 6, Now…

Jesus met the Samaritan woman by Jacob’s well!* He wraps the earth in clouds, yet He asks for water from her!* Wonder! He Who rides on the cherubim speaks with an adulterous woman!* He Who suspended the earth on the waters asks for a drink!* He Who causes the lakes and springs to overflow is weary with thirst!* Truly He desires to set the woman free from the enemy’s snares!* He drowns her sins in the waters of life,* for He alone is the compassionate Lover of mankind!

Readings

(1) 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30; (2) Isaiah 61:10-62:5; (3) Isaiah 60:1-16

Aposticha

In Tone 2

You received the sceptre from God, Constantine, first emperor of Christians.* The hidden symbol of salvation appeared to you on earth. * Having the life-giving Cross as an invincible weapon, blessed saint,* you brought all the nations to the feet of Rome,* and yourself were led to God.

I have exalted one chosen out of the people! 

The womb that bore you is truly blessed and sanctified, divinely crowned Constantine:* beloved of the world, and joy of Christians!* You are the glory, wealth and champion of orphans and widows,* the protector of the lowly and those in need;* you restore the afflicted, and rescue those in bonds!

God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness! 

With longing and love for Christ,* the mother of a sweet offspring made haste to come to holy Sion,* to the sacred place where our Saviour was crucified in His desire to save us.* Raising the Cross there, she cried, rejoicing:* glory to Him who has given me what I desired!

In Tone 8, Glory…

Brightly shining moon and star of evening, * you were turned from unbelief to faith in the true God.* You were led to sanctify the people and city.* Beholding the figure of the Cross in the sky, you heard from above:* Conquer with this Cross in which lies victory over your enemies!* Receiving wisdom from the Holy Spirit, you were anointed as holy emperor,* anointing and supporting the Church of God,* father of orthodox emperors, Constantine,* equal to the apostles whose relics pour forth healing:* ever intercede for our souls!

Now…

In Your unsearchable plan, Christ our God,* You were seen on earth!* When the woman of Samaria heard Your words, Lover of mankind,* she left her jar at the well and ran to the town.* She said: Come and see Him Who knew every secret hidden in my heart!* Could He be the long-awaited Messiah,* Who will grant us great mercy?

Troparion

In Tone 8

After seeing the image of Your cross in the heavens, O Lord,* and receiving like Paul the summons that was not from men,* Your apostle among kings entrusted into Your hands the imperial city.* Always save it in peace by the prayers of the Mother of God,* only Lover of mankind.

In Tone 4, Glory… Now…

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.”

 

DIVINE LITURGY

After the priest has exclaimed, Blessed be the Kingdom… and the people have responded, Amen, the clergy sing the Paschal Troparion once and the people repeat it. Then, the clergy sing the first half, and the people conclude it.

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

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 8: After seeing the image of Your cross in the heavens, O Lord,* and receiving like Paul the summons that was not from men,* Your apostle among kings entrusted into Your hands the imperial city.* Always save it in peace by the prayers of the Mother of God,* only Lover of mankind.

Kontakion, Tone 8: Drawn to the well by faith,* the Samaritan woman beheld You, the Water of Wisdom,* and drinking abundantly of You,* she inherited the heavenly Kingdom for ever,* becoming everlastingly glorious.

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

Kontakion, Tone 3: Today Constantine and Helen his mother reveal the cross,* the all-precious wood which shames those who refuse to believe.* Rulers with faith possess it as a weapon against foes;* a glorious standard frightful in battle revealed for the sake of all.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 8: Though You descended into a tomb, O Immortal One,* yet You destroyed the power of Hades;* and You rose as victor, O Christ God,* calling to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice!* and giving peace to Your Apostles:* You, who grant Resurrection to the fallen.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3

Sing to our God, sing; sing to our King, sing.

verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; shout unto God with the voice of joy. (Psalm 46:7,2)

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their word unto the ends of the world. (Psalm 18:5)

Epistle

Acts 15:35-41; Acts 26:1-5, 12-20

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

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)

verse: I have exalted one chosen from among My people. (Psalm 88:20)

Gospel

John 10:27-38; John 10:1-8

Hymn to the Mother of God

The Angel cried out to the One full of Grace: O chaste Virgin, rejoice! And again I say, Rejoice! Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day, and raised the dead. Let all people rejoice! Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Exult now and be glad, O Sion! And you, O chaste Mother of God, take delight in the resurrection of your Son.

Communion Hymn

Receive the Body of Christ;* taste the fountain of immortality.* Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1).* Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their word unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)

Instead of Blessed is He Who comes… we sing:

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

Instead of We have seen the true light… we sing:

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

Instead of May our mouths be filled… we sing three times:

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

Instead of Blessed be the name of the Lord… we sing three times:

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

At the dismissal, instead of Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen. we chant:

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

After the final Amen, the Troparion Christ is risen is sung as at the beginning of the Liturgy, but with the addition:

And to us He has granted life eternal;* we bow down before His resurrection on the third day.