Our Holy Father Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople (390)
Polyeleos Feast.
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 4
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
By your words of wisdom, Gregory the theologian,* you have glorified Him who is worshipped in Trinity:* the consubstantial Godhead: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!* You have withered the vanity of false philosophers,* boldly proclaiming the truth with your godly preaching.
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
By your words of wisdom, Gregory the theologian,* you have glorified Him who is worshipped in Trinity:* the consubstantial Godhead: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!* You have withered the vanity of false philosophers,* boldly proclaiming the truth with your godly preaching.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Let us sing the praises of the prince of bishops,* the great teacher of the church of Christ,* the mighty organ of the Spirit of God;* the well-tuned lyre, the sweet-sounding harp:* rejoice, depth of divine grace!* Rejoice, heavenly and exalted mind:* Gregory, father and theologian!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
You ascended the mountain of virtue, renouncing all earthly cares.* With dead works you held no fellowship;* as Moses received from the hand of God the tables of the law of life,* so you were given the pure dogmas of your theology,* by which you teach us heavenly mysteries,* Most wise father Gregory.
In Tone 1
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The grave, the means of forgetfulness, did not close your mouth, father Gregory,* for you have been revealed as the voice of theology,* declaring now to the whole world the teachings of the faith!* Pray that peace and great mercy may be granted to our souls!
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
The grave, the means of forgetfulness, did not close your mouth, father Gregory,* for you have been revealed as the voice of theology,* declaring now to the whole world the teachings of the faith!* Pray that peace and great mercy may be granted to our souls!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You wisely turned from the hostile and treacherous flesh,* and mounting the heaven-bound chariot, father Gregory,* you were drawn by the virtues as by four horses!* You soared aloft into ineffable beauty!* Now as you delight in it,* grant our souls peace and great mercy!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Through grace you were a faithful mediator between God and men.* Now, as you brought Christ, mercifully turned toward us, father Gregory,* by your bold prayers, never cease to pray to Him, venerable one,* that He may grant our souls peace and great mercy!
In Tone 6
Glory…
Faithful, let us assemble!* Let us celebrate in spiritual songs the prince of bishops and the glory of patriarchs,* the interpreter of the words and thoughts of Christ.* Let us honour him whom God exalted with a heavenly mind:* rejoice, fountain of theology and river of wisdom;* the abyss of divine contemplation!* Rejoice, brilliant star, enlightening the world with true doctrine!* Rejoice, fearless opponent of error and powerful defender of truth!* Most wise Gregory the theologian, never cease to pray to Christ our God* for those who celebrate your God-pleasing and honourable memory* with faith and love!
Now…
Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?* Who would not sing a hymn of praise* to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?* The Only-begotten Son Himself,* begotten of the Father before all ages,* was made flesh out of you in a manner* that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!* And for our sake, He Who is God by nature* assumed the nature of a man.* He is not divided into two persons;* He is understood to have two natures* without commixion or confusion.* O noble and blessed Woman,* intercede with Him that He may mercy on our souls.
Readings
(1) Proverbs 10:6-8; 8:6-21; (2) Wisdom 8:17-21; 9:1-4; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15
Aposticha
In Tone 5
Opening your mouth, directed by the Word of God,* you have partaken of the Spirit of Wisdom:* full of grace, you proclaimed divine doctrine, thrice-blessed Gregory.* You have imitated the ceaseless worship of the angelic host,* preaching on earth the triune and undivided Light.* Illumined by your divine teaching we confess the one Godhead in Trinity,* pray for the salvation of our souls.
My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
With your tongue of fire, divinely-inspired Gregory,* you burned to ashes the false teachings of the enemies of God.* You have appeared to us as a man with divine words,* speaking in the spirit of the mighty works of God,* writing for us of the hidden mystery of the Trinity of Persons,* equal in power and one in essence.* You have enlightened the ends of the earth as a radiant sun:* never cease to pray for the salvation of our souls.
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
Rejoice, river of God, full of the waters of grace,* gladdening the ransomed people of Christ the King with divine teaching:* rejoice, torrent of delight and inexhaustible sea of truth,* faithful and just guardian of doctrine, undefeated warrior of the holy Trinity,* organ of the Holy Spirit and ever-vigilant mind,* your words explain the deep mysteries of the Scriptures:* pray to Christ, that He may grant our souls great mercy!
In Tone 8
Glory…
You have cultivated the hearts of believers by your words, Gregory:* you have yielded abundant fruit for God:* an ever-green pasture of righteousness.* You have torn out by the roots the thorns of heresy,* cleansing the world by your divine reasoning.* We faithful in joy offer praise to you:* inspired lyre and ever-vigilant mind,* faithful shepherd of the flock of Christ,* never cease to pray to the Word, theologian,* that He will deliver from the wolf all those who honour your memory.
Now…
O Virgin, You have never known wedlock,* Yet You conceived God in the flesh* in a manner which words can never describe.* You thus became the Mother of God on high.* O Immaculate Lady, receive the supplication of your servants* and grant us the cleansing of our sins.* Accept now our prayers and beseech God to save all of us.
Troparia
In Tone 1
Like a shepherd’s flute, O Father Gregory* your theology vanquished the trumpets of orators,* for searching the depths of the spirit,* beauty of speech was increased in you.* Pray Christ God that our souls may be saved.
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!
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Like a shepherd’s flute, O Father Gregory* your theology vanquished the trumpets of orators,* for searching the depths of the spirit,* beauty of speech was increased in you.* Pray Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 3: O glorious saint, your tongue, versed in theology,* loosed the webs of vain philosophers;* you adorned the Church with a robe of true belief woven on high.* Wearing it she cries with us, your children:* Rejoice, O Father, highest mind of theology.
Prokeimenon, Tone 1
My mouth shall speak wisdom* and the meditation of my heart understanding.
verse: Hear these things, all you nations; give ear all you inhabitants of the world. (Psalm 48:4,2)
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: Give heed, O my people, to my law, incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
verse: I will open my mouth in parables, and proclaim secrets from of old. (Psalm 77,1-2)
Gospel: John 10:9-16
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)