GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading: “Blessed is the man…” is sung.

At Psalm 140; In Tone 5

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

With Your precious cross, O Christ,* You have put the Devil to shame.* With Your resurrection You have deadened the sting of sin,* and have saved us from the gates of death.* We, therefore, glorify You, O only-begotten Son of God.

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

O Christ, who granted resurrection to mankind,* You were led like a lamb to the slaughter.* Then the princes of Hades were struck with terror* as they saw the gates of their tearful domain being lifted up;* for Christ, the King of Glory, entered therein* and exclaimed to those in chains: Go forth from here!* And to those in darkness: Go forth into the light!

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

What a great wonder!* The Creator of invisible beings suffered in the flesh for mankind,* and rose from the dead as immortal.* Come, therefore, all you nations and adore Him;* for through His compassion we have been freed from the snares of the Devil,* and we have learned to praise the one God in three Persons.

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

We offer to You our evening worship,* O Light whom the darkness of night can never extinguish.* For in these latter days Your radiance has appeared to the world,* shining in Your flesh as light reflected from a mirror.* Your brilliance has descended even to the depths of Hades and dissolved its gloom.* O Lord, Giver of Light, glory to You;* for You have shown the radiance of Your resurrection to all the nations.

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

Let us glorify Christ, the Author of our Salvation;* for by His resurrection from the dead,* the world has been delivered from the deception of Satan.* The choirs of angels rejoice as the treachery of evil spirits vanishes.* Fallen Adam arises, and the devil is vanquished.

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

Those who guarded the tomb of Christ* were told by the evil men who hired them:* Take this silver and keep silent.* Tell no one of the resurrection of Christ;* rather tell everyone that while you were sleeping His body was stolen.* But who has ever heard of a body being stolen,* a body which had already been anointed?* Why would anyone take a body from the grave naked,* and leave the burial shroud in the tomb?* Do not deceive yourselves, O people of Judea.* Study the teachings of the prophets,* and you will come to understand that Jesus Christ is Almighty God,* and truly the Saviour of the world.

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

O Lord our Saviour,* who subjected hell and conquered Death,* and enlightened the world through Your precious cross,* have mercy on us.

In Tone 6

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

The divinely-eloquent Paul ordains you, most blessed one,* as his namesake and follower!* You are adorned with his character and piety,* his endurance through tribulations!* Aflame with his zeal, you are a champion of orthodoxy!* Now you are glorified with him in the heavenly mansions!

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

You strangled the ungodly Arius and the impious Macedonius* with the strong cords of your teachings!* With your true words of doctrine,* you strengthened multitudes of the orthodox faithful, hieromartyr and father!* Therefore, the Lover of mankind accepted your brilliant confession,* revealing you to be a dweller in His Kingdom!

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

Christ has crowned you with a bright wreath of righteousness, blessed bishop!* You have kept the faith; you have finished your course,* and He has adorned your confession, truly wondrous one!* Therefore, since you have received your inheritance in heaven,* Pray to the Saviour for those who sing praises to you!

In Tone 1, Glory…

Clothed in the vestments of a bishop, venerable father,* you imitated your namesake, Paul.* You endured persecution and tribulations;* by constant toil you overthrew the blasphemous teachings of Arius!* You suffered for the Unoriginate and Consubstantial Trinity;* you cast down the impious Macedonius who fought against the Spirit!* You gave a clear explanation of the orthodox faith to all,* for you are united with the immaterial angels.* Together with them, pray that our souls may be saved!

In Tone 5, Now…

A symbol of the undefiled Virgin and bride* was revealed in the Red Sea.* There, Moses divided the waters;* here, Gabriel is the messenger of the miracle.* There, the Israelites crossed the deep and their feet were not even wet;* here, the Virgin gives birth to Christ without human seed.* There, the sea remained uncrossed after the passing of Israel;* here, the immaculate remained incorrupt after giving birth to Emmanuel.* Therefore, O immortal God, who appeared in the flesh as true Man,* have mercy on us!

Aposticha; In Tone 5

O Christ our Saviour,* we lift up our voices in song to glorify You.* For, in Your love for mankind,* You became incarnate without leaving heaven;* You accepted the cross and death;* You cast down the gates of Hades;* and on the third day You arose from the dead* for the salvation of our souls.

The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

O Giver of Life,* streams of forgiveness, life, and salvation* poured forth from Your pierced side upon us all.* By accepting physical death, You granted us immortality;* by lying in the tomb, You freed us from Hades,* and as God, by rising from the dead,* You raised us with Yourself in glory.* Therefore, we cry out to You:* O Lover of mankind, glory to You!

For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.

O Lover of mankind,* Your crucifixion and descent into Hades are most wondrous.* For, as God, You thereby conquered the power of Hades,* and raised up in glory, with Yourself, those who were long imprisoned there.* You reopened Paradise and enabled them to enter.* Grant forgiveness of sins to us* who glorify Your resurrection on the third day,* for You alone are all-merciful.

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.

O Lover of mankind,* You accepted suffering in the flesh* and rose from the dead on the third day.* Therefore, heal the passions of our flesh,* raise us from our dreadful iniquities, and save us.

Glory… Now…

O most pure Virgin,* you are the temple, the gate, the palace, and the throne of the King.* Christ, our Redeemer and Lord,* appeared through you to those who slumbered in darkness.* For He, as the Sun of Righteousness,* wished to enlighten those whom He created with His own hands* according to His own image.* Therefore, O Lady, whom we always praise in song,* we beseech you to intercede with Christ for the salvation of our souls;* for, as His Mother, you can approach Him with the greatest confidence.

Troparia; In Tone 5

Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word,* co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,* and born of the Virgin for our salvation.* For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death* and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.

In Tone 3, Glory…

For confessing the divine faith, the Church has likened you to another Paul among her priests!* Abel cries out to the Lord together with you, as does the holy blood of Zacharias.* Beseech Christ God, holy father,* that He may grant our souls great mercy!

Now…

We sing your praises, O Virgin;* for, as the Mother of God, you always intercede for the salvation of the human race.* It is from you that our God and Your Son took flesh. * Then, by suffering the passion on the Cross,* and out of love for mankind, He delivered us from corruption.

 

SUNDAY MATINS

Usual Beginning

Hexapsalm

Great Litany

God the Lord, Tone 5

Troparia, Tone 5

Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word,* co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,* and born of the Virgin for our salvation.* For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death* and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection. (2)

In Tone 3, Glory…

For confessing the divine faith, the Church has likened you to another Paul among her priests!* Abel cries out to the Lord together with you, as does the holy blood of Zacharias.* Beseech Christ God, holy father,* that He may grant our souls great mercy!

Now…

We sing your praises, O Virgin;* for, as the Mother of God, you always intercede for the salvation of the human race.* It is from you that our God and Your Son took flesh. * Then, by suffering the passion on the Cross,* and out of love for mankind, He delivered us from corruption.

Psalter Reading

Stasis I: Psalms 9, 10
Stasis II: Psalms 11, 12, 13
Stasis III: Psalms 14, 15, 16

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn I, Tone 5

Let us celebrate the Cross of the Lord,* let us honour His holy Burial with hymns,* and let us exulting, glorify His Resurrection.* For with Himself He has raised the dead from their graves,* and as God having despoiled the dominion of death* and the might of the devil,* He has shone forth light upon those in Hades.

Arise, O Lord my God, let Your hands be lifted on high; forget not Your poor to the end.

O Lord, You who put death to death, was called dead;* You who have emptied the tombs was placed in a tomb;* above, the soldiers stood guarding the grave,* below, You raised the dead from all ages.* O Lord, All-powerful and Incomprehensible,* glory be to You!

Glory… Now…

Rejoice holy mountain upon which God has walked;* Rejoice! living bush unconsumed by fire;* Rejoice! O only bridge of creation to God, who leads mortals to eternal life;* Rejoice! Maiden undefiled, who has born without wedlock* the salvation of our souls.

Psalter Reading

Stasis I: Psalm 17
Stasis II: Psalms 18, 19, 20
Stasis III: Psalms 21, 22, 23

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn II, Tone 5

O Lord, after Your Resurrection on the third day,* and after the worship of the Apostles, Peter cried to You;* The women had courage, and I was afraid;* the Thief confessed You as God, and I denied You:* will You no longer call me a disciple,* or will You once again declare me a fisher of the deep?* Receive me in my penitence, O God, and save me!’

I will confess You, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all You wonders.

O Merciful Lord, the lawless Ones nailed You between two condemned thieves* and pierced Your side with a lance,* but You, who destroyed the gates of Hades,* suffered burial and arose on the third day;* The women ran to see You and announced the Resurrection to Your Apostles.* O supremely exalted Saviour whom the Angels hymn,* O blessed Lord, glory be to You.

Glory… Now…

The Bride who knew not wedlock, the Birthgiver of God,* who turned Eve’s grief to joy,* we the faithful hymn and worship,* for you have redeemed us from the ancient curse.* And now, O All-hymned most holy one,* cease not to make intercession for the salvation of our souls.

Polyeleos

Evoglitaria

Small Litany

Hypakoe, Tone 5

The Myrrh-bearing women, amazed in their minds by the vision of the Angel* yet enlightened in their souls by the divine Resurrection,* announced the glad tidings to the Apostles:* Proclaim among the nations the Resurrection of the Lord,* who works in us through wonders,* and who grants us great mercy.

Gradual Hymns, Tone 5

Antiphon 1

When I am troubled I sing to You like David,* O my Saviour:* Deliver my soul from a deceitful tongue.

Blessed is the life of those* who dwell in the desert places,* Divine love gives them wings.

Glory… Now…

By the Holy Spirit all things are unshaken,* both visible and invisible;* for He has sovereign power,* being undeniably one of the Trinity.

Antiphon 2

Lift up yourself to the mountains,* O my soul;* go to that place from whence comes our help.

Let Your right hand hover over me,* O Christ,* and guard me from every misfortune.

Glory… Now…

Let us sing to the Holy Spirit, as we contemplate God:* You are God, life, love, light, and intellect,* You are goodness,* and You reign to the ages.

Antiphon 3

Filled with great joy at the words of those who say to me:* “Let us go into the courts of the Lord,”* I offer up my prayers.

Fearful things are accomplished in the house of David;* for a fire is found there,* burning every shameful thought.

Glory… Now…

To the Holy Spirit belongs the lordship of life,* for from Him every living being hath its breath,* as also from the Father* together with the Son.

Prokeimenon, Tone 5

Arise, O Lord my God, lift up Your hand*, for You shall reign forever.

verse: I will confess to You, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will recount all Your marvellous works.

Let everything that lives, Tone 5

Gospel

John 21:15-25

Hymn of Resurrection

Psalm 50

Verses at Psalm 50

Canon, Tone 5

Ode 1

Irmos: Christ, who breaks the battles,* with uplifted arm shook horse and rider into the Red Sea,* but Israel he saved,* singing a song of victory.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The congregation of the Hebrews preserved no mother’s love for you who gave them every good; they crowned you with thorns, O Christ, you who had loosed from the punishing thorns the first ancestor of man.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Giver of life, you bent down to the pit without danger of falling and raised me up who had fallen; you bore with my evil-smelling corruption, O Christ, yourself untouched, and made me fragrant with the sweet oil of the divine nature.

Glory… Now…

The curse is lifted, sorrow has ceased; O blessed one and full of grace, you have caused joy to spring up for the faithful for from you Christ has flowered, our blessing for ever.

 

Ode 3

Irmos: Your command fixed firm the earth upon nothing* and sovereignty poised its vast bulk;* make firm your Church on the immovable rock of your commandments,* O Christ, alone good and Lover of man.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Those who sucked honey from the rock brought you gall for your wonders in the wilderness, O Christ. Vinegar for manna the ungrateful sons of Israel gave you in exchange for your deeds of goodness.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Covered of old by a light-radiant cloud they laid life, O Christ, in the grave: but, you rose of your own power, and you granted mystically to all the faithful the Spirit’s overshadowing shining from above.

Glory… Now…

Mother of God, virginally and without a mother’s pain you bore him, the outshining of the untouched Father; therefore, since you conceived the Word made flesh, in true faith we proclaim you Bearer of God.

 

Ode 4

Irmos: Habakkuk in prophecy, O Christ, apprehending your divine emptying, in trembling awe cried out to you: For the salvation of your people, to make safe your anointed, you have come.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

O Good One, the most bitter streams of Meribah you sweetened by a tree, and thus in sign prefigured your pure cross which slays the bitter taste of sin.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

You accepted a cross for the tree of knowledge, my Saviour, gall for sweet food, and for the corruption of death you shed the blood of God.

Glory… Now…

Untouched, you conceived incorruptibly in your womb; a Virgin, guarded to bring forth God in the flesh, you bore a child without pain and were virgin after the birth.

 

Ode 5

Irmos: To you, clothed with light as a garment,* early I rise and cry out.* Lighten my darkened soul,* O Christ, only compassionate.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

In dishonour and inglorious form, of his own will the Lord of glory hung upon the cross, and inconceivably thus procured for me divine glory.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

You have changed my clothing for the garment of incorruption, O Christ, for uncorrupted you tasted the corruption of death in the flesh, and on the third day rose from the tomb.

Glory… Now…

Mother of God, you set free our first father’s nature from the curse, for without seed you gave birth to Christ our righteousness and redemption.

 

Ode 6

Irmos: Lord Christ, calm the soul-destroying waves of the raging sea of passions* and, O compassionate, lead me up from corruption.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Our first ancestor fell into corruption, Lord Christ, tasting forbidden fruit; and he was brought back to life by your Passion.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

You, the life, came to Hell and to the corrupter became corruption; thus, Lord Christ, through corruption you brought, as fountain springing, resurrection.

Glory… Now…

The Virgin bore a child and after bearing still was pure; holding him up in her arms who supports the whole creation she is truly Virgin Mother.

 

Kontakion

You, my Saviour, descended to Hades,* and as the Almighty, You shattered its gates.* With Yourself You, as the Creator, raised the dead and shattered the sting of death,* and delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Mankind.* And so we cry out: “Save us, O Lord.”

Ikos

The women heard the angel’s words, shed their lamentations, changed to gladness, trembling, saw the resurrection. And Christ drew near in greeting: Joy to you, take courage, I have overcome the world, and set the prisoners free. Run to the disciples and ay: I go before you into Galilee to pr claim the good news. Therefore we all cry out to you: Save us, O Lord.

 

Ode 7

Irmos: The Lord of the fathers, most highly exalted,* quenched the fire and rained his dew* on the young men in unison singing:* Blessed are you, O God.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Clothed with flesh as bait for the hook, by your divine power you dragged the serpent down, and brought back those who cried: Blessed are you, O God.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

He, the unbounded, who brought into being and knitted together the boundless immensities of earth, in the flesh was concealed in the grave; and we sing to him: Blessed are you, O God.

Glory… Now…

All-holy, you bore one person in two natures, God has taken bodily form and we sing to him: Blessed are you, O God.

 

Ode 8

Irmos: The young men in the furnace devised a chorus of all creation for you, the Creator of all,* and in song they proclaimed it:* All you his works, sing to the Lord,* and highly exalt him throughout all the ages.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

As if it were against your will, of that so longed for cup of your saving Passion you prayed that it might not be: two wills to two natures corresponding you bear, O Christ, throughout all the ages.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

At your descent, Creator of all, Hell the fool gave up all those who of old had been slain by deceit, and who now, O Christ, highly exalt you throughout all the ages.

Glory… Now…

O Virgin, beyond thought, in divine and human manner, by the word you bore the Lord, while remaining virgin; we, his creatures, bless and highly exalt you throughout all the ages.

 

Magnificat

 

Ode 9

Irmos: Rejoice and sing, Isaiah,* the Virgin has conceived and bears a son, Emmanuel,* God and man, his name the Dayspring;* we magnify him and we call the Virgin blessed.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Fallen man, Lord Christ, you assumed; wholly joined to him in a virginal womb, sin alone excepted, wholly you have freed him from corruption by your pure sufferings.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Your pure and life-giving side, Lord Christ, was emptied of the blood which flowed from God, and sacrifice to idols ceased; and all we of the earth bring to you the sacrifice of praise.

Glory… Now…

Not God bodiless, nor yet mere man, the pure and honourable Maid bore to us, but perfect man and perfect God, in very truth; we magnify him, together with the Father and the Spirit.

 

Small Litany

Holy is the Lord

Hymn of Light (Gospel)

After His resurrection the Lord asked Peter three times:* Do you love Me?* Then the Lord set Peter as a shepherd over His sheep.* When Peter saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following Him,* he asked the Lord: What about him?* And the Lord said: If I want him to wait until I come again,* what is that to you, O Peter, my beloved?

Glory… Now…

What an awesome mystery; what a dazzling wonder!* Death has been abolished completely by death.* O Word, Who then will not praise,* and who will not glorify Your resurrection?* Who will not praise the Theotokos* who gave birth to You in the flesh and in purity?* Therefore, by her prayers, save us all from Hades.

Praises

Stichera of the Praises, Tone 5

You came forth from the grave, O Lord,  which had been sealed by the transgressors of the law,* just as You were born of the Theotokos.* For the bodiless angels did not know how You were incarnate.* Likewise, the guardian soldiers did not see the moment of your Resurrection;* for these two marvels were concealed from the curious minds* but were revealed to those who worshiped the mystery in faith.* Therefore, grant joy and great mercy to us who offer You praise.

O Lord, You demolished the gates of everlasting damnation,* and You broke asunder the chains of the grave.* You rose from the tomb leaving your wrappings in the grave* in testimony of your three-day burial;* and leaving the guards watching at the tomb,* You preceded your disciples into Galilee.* Great is your mercy, O Lord whom the whole world cannot contain.* O Saviour, have mercy upon us.

O Lord, who suffered for us,* the women hastened to your tomb to behold You.* When they arrived, they saw an angel sitting on the stone of the grave.* He said to them: The Lord is risen!* Go and tell the disciples that the Saviour of our souls is risen from the dead.

O Lord and Saviour,* You came into the midst of your disciples though the doors were closed* just as You came out of the sealed tomb,* showing the sufferings of the flesh which You accepted;* for You submitted to suffering patiently since You are of the seed of David.* But since You are the Son of God, You saved the world.* Great is your mercy, O Lord whom the whole world cannot contain.* O Saviour, have mercy on us.

O Lord, the King of ages and Creator of all,* who accepted crucifixion and burial in the body for our sakes* to deliver us all from Hades,* You are our God, and besides You we know no other.

O Lord God, who shall proclaim your dazzling wonders?* Or who shall declare your divine mysteries?* For You were willingly Incarnate for our sakes,* manifesting the might of your power.* By your cross You opened paradise to the thief;* by your death You crushed the bars and bolts of Hades;* and by your Resurrection You enriched all creation.* Therefore, O compassionate One, glory to You!

The myrrh-bearing women reached your tomb early in the morning,* seeking to anoint You, O immortal Word.* When they were instructed by the words of the angel,* they turned back with joy* to tell the apostles clearly that You had risen, O Life of all,* and had given the world forgiveness and great mercy.

The guards, keeping watch over the God-bearing tomb, said to the Pharisees:* Woe to your vain counsel, for you sought to keep the boundless One.* You have laboured in vain;* for you thought that you could hide the Resurrection of the crucified One, *but you only showed it more clearly.* Woe to your foolish secret meeting.* Why do you take counsel to hide what cannot be hidden?* it would be better that you listen to us* and choose to believe in that which happened.* An angel, resplendent like lightning,* descended from heaven and rolled away the stone,* and from fear of him we were encompassed by death.* To the courageous myrrh-bearing women he said:* Do you not see the guards as dead, the seals broken, and Hades emptied?* Why do you then seek as dead,* Him who abolished the victory of Hades and broke the thorn of death?* Go quickly and tell the good news of the Resurrection to the apostles, • and shout fearlessly, saying:* in truth the Lord is risen, the One who gives us great mercy.

In Tone 8, Glory…

When You showed Yourself to the disciples* after Your resurrection, O Savior,* You appointed Simon to watch over Your sheep* as a recompense for His love;* You asked him to tend the flock with care.* You said to him: If you love Me, O Peter,* feed my lambs and feed my sheep.* But at once he inquired concerning the other disciple,* revealing him to be the beloved.* Therefore, by the intercession of both, O Christ,* keep Your flock from the ravaging wolves.

In Tone 2, Now…

You are truly most blessed, O virgin Mother of God.* Through the One who was incarnate of you,* Hades was chained, Adam revived, the curse wiped out,* Eve set free, Death put to death,* and we ourselves were brought back to life.* That is why we cry out in praise;* Blessed are You, O Christ our God,* who finds in this your good pleasure. Glory to You!

Great Doxology

Trisagion Prayers

Troparion, Tone 2

Today salvation has come to the world.* Let us sing to Him who is risen from the tomb,* the Author of Life who has crushed Death by his death* and bestowed on us victory and great mercy.

Insistent Litany

Litany of Supplication

Great Dismissal

 

DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 5: Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word,* co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,* and born of the Virgin for our salvation.* For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death* and to raise the dead by His glorious resurrection.

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

Kontakion, Tone 5: You, my Saviour, descended to Hades,* and as the Almighty, You shattered its gates.* With Yourself You, as the Creator, raised the dead and shattered the sting of death,* and delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Mankind.* And so we cry out: “Save us, O Lord.”

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 5: Rejoice, O impassable door of the Lord!* Rejoice, O rampart and protection of those who have recourse to you!* Rejoice, O tranquil haven and Virgin,* who gave birth in the flesh to your Maker and God!* Fail not to intercede for those* who sing and worship the Child you bore.

Prokeimenon, Tone 5
You, O Lord, will guard us 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: Galatians 6:11-18 (NRSV)

 

A reading from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians.

Brothers and Sisters, see what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Alleluia, Tone 5
verse: Your mercies, O Lord, I will sing for ever; from generation to generation I will announce Your truth with my mouth.
verse: For You have said: Mercy shall be built up for ever; in the heavens Your truth shall be prepared. (Psalm 88:2,3)

Gospel: Luke 16:19-31 (NRSV)
The Lord told this parable: “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)