Pre-feast of Theophany. Our Holy Father Sylvester, Pope of Rome (335).
English Source: Royal Doors www.royaldoors.net
VESPERS
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Let us piously sing the prefestive hymns* of the honourable baptism of our God.* Behold, He desires to come in the flesh to His own Forerunner,* and to ask for the baptism of salvation* for the re-creation of those who are enlightened through the faith* and who are partakers of the Spirit.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Christ is revealed and God appears, as it is written;* He comes to His servant to be baptized.* O River Jordan, O land and sea, O mountains and hills,* be filled with happiness;* O hearts of the faithful,* joyfully celebrate and receive the great Light.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O all-powerful Lord,* how will the streams of the river receive You?* As it is written, You are the river and the stream of peace;* how will You enter the stream without a garment?* For You are the One who covers the heavens with clouds;* You are the One who stripped away all evil of the enemy* and who clothed the human race with immortality.
Tone 8
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O holy Father Sylvester, bishop of God,* through the light of the priesthood you were enlightened.* You have illumined the faithful through your clear teachings* in order to honour the dwelling of the three Persons in one nature;* you also cast away the darkness of heresies.* For this reason, we rejoice today* and gloriously celebrate your light-bearing memory.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O holy Father Sylvester, bearer of God,* you revealed yourself to be a pillar of fire.* You convoked a sacred council and were the cloud which gives shade.* You led the faithful away from the Egyptian heresy* and always brought them to the divine land by your true teaching.* Therefore, we venerate your blessed and all-holy memory.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O holy Father Sylvester, herald of God,* by the streams of your prayers you firmly silenced the many-faced serpent.* We are amazed at your priestly work.* You brought a multitude of pagans to God;* you quieted the harshness of the heretics;* you publicly performed great miracles before them.* Therefore, we venerate you and call you blessed.
Tone 6, Glory… Now…
Christ the Truth is coming to the Jordan* to be baptized by John,* and the Baptizer says to Him:* I should be baptized by You, but You are coming to me.* I do not dare to put straw to the fire.* O Master, sanctify me by your divine Theophany.
Aposticha
Tone 1
Radiant was the feast that has just passed;* but more brilliant, O Saviour, is the one approaching.* The first had an angel as a herald;* this one has John the Forerunner.* The first had blood spilled and had Bethlehem lament as one who was childless;* the second has blessed waters recognized to be a bath having many children.* Before, the star proclaimed to the Magi;* now, the Father shows You to the world,* that You are incarnate and are openly coming again.* O Lord, glory to You!
Tone 2
I think of You from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon.
Again Jesus cleanses himself in the Jordan.* Above all, He cleanses our sins* because He is coming to wash away the decree written against Adam.* The Lord says to John:* O Baptizer, come and serve the Fountainhead of the wondrous mystery.* Come, extend your hand quickly* and touch the head of Him who crushed the head of the serpent,* the One who opened up Paradise,* which, by the tasting of the fruit of the tree,* was closed through the guile of the serpent.
Tone 3
The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and trembled.
Resplendent is the feast which has passed;* but more glorious is the present day.* On that day the Magi adored the Saviour;* on this, the glorious servant baptizes the Master.* There, the shepherds sang in amazement;* here, the voice of the Father proclaims Him to be the Only-begotten Son.
Tone 3, Glory… Now…
O come all you faithful ones.* Leaving the regions of Judea, we shall cross the wilderness of the Jordan;* and today we shall see Him who revealed himself in the flesh for our sake.* In the streams of the Jordan,* He is asking the Forerunner for baptism.* John refuses and cries out in fear:* I do not dare to touch the divine Fire with my hand of clay.* The Jordan and the sea fled, O Saviour, and then returned.* And I, how shall I place a hand on your head which even the Seraphim fear?* The Jordan fled when Elisha received the mantle of Elijah;* how will it not go into the Abyss* and into the depths when it sees You unclothed in the stream?* How will the Jordan not burn me when I touch the fire?* The Jordan then cries out to John:* Why do you hesitate to baptize my Lord?* Why do you delay the purification of so many people?* He has already sanctified all creation.* Let me also be sanctified together with the nature of the waters.* For this reason, He has come into the world.
Troparia
Tone 4
The sincerity of your deeds has revealed you to your people* as a teacher of moderation,* a model of faith, and an example of virtue.* Therefore, you attained greatness through humility,* and wealth through poverty.* O Father and Archbishop Sylvester,* ask Christ our God to save our souls.
Glory… Now…
Make ready, O Zabulon,* and prepare yourself, O Nephtali;* O River Jordan, stop and receive with joy* the Master coming to be baptized.* O Adam, rejoice with the first mother, Eve,* and do not hide yourselves as before in Paradise.* For, having seen you unclothed,* Christ has appeared to clothe you with the first robe;* He has appeared to renew all creation.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Make ready, O Zebulon,* and prepare yourself, O Nephtali;* O river Jordan, stop and receive with joy* the Master coming to be baptized.* O Adam, rejoice with the first mother, Eve,* and do not hide yourselves as before in paradise.* For having seen you unclothed* Christ has appeared to clothe you with the first robe:* He has appeared to renew all creation.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Today the Lord stood in Jordan’s current telling John:* Do not be afraid to baptize Me,* for I have come to save Adam, the first man.
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 28:4,2)
Epistle: Hebrews 12:25-26; 13:22-25
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: The mouth of the just man shall meditate wisdom and his tongue shall speak judgment.
verse: The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps will not falter. (Psalm 36:30,31)
Gospel: Mark 10:2-12
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)