Our Venerable Father Athanasius of Athos
English Source: Royal Doors www.royaldoors.net
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 2
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
What praises are worthy of you, O Athanasius?* Your virtues are your true adornment,* and you were filled with grace by the light flowing from God.* You are a sword cutting down the rebellious passions,* a radiant pillar of divine contemplation,* a flame of abstinence enkindling on the lampstand of your soul* the divine precepts of the One who gives life to all mankind!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
What praises are worthy of you, O Athanasius?* Your virtues are your true adornment,* and you were filled with grace by the light flowing from God.* You are a sword cutting down the rebellious passions,* a radiant pillar of divine contemplation,* a flame of abstinence enkindling on the lampstand of your soul* the divine precepts of the One who gives life to all mankind!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
With what praises can we worthily crown you, O Athanasius? * You are an eagle soaring on the wind,* carried like a heavenly being on the wings of divine contemplation.* You are a stronghold of humility,* and an unshakable rampart of discernment,* truly majestic in your nobility of soul,* an intercessor before Christ our God* that He protect your spiritual children in His compassion.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
With what praises can we worthily crown you, O Athanasius? * You are an eagle soaring on the wind,* carried like a heavenly being on the wings of divine contemplation.* You are a stronghold of humility,* and an unshakable rampart of discernment,* truly majestic in your nobility of soul,* an intercessor before Christ our God* that He protect your spiritual children in His compassion.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
By the radiance of your gifts, you are like a morning star,* guiding those who are blinded by the passions* toward the never setting Light, O father Athanasius, wise in God.* Since you increased the talent entrusted to you,* Christ made you a physician of souls:* able to lance festering wounds with the scalpel of your words,* you restore health to the faithful who have recourse to you.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
By the radiance of your gifts, you are like a morning star,* guiding those who are blinded by the passions* toward the never setting Light, O father Athanasius, wise in God.* Since you increased the talent entrusted to you,* Christ made you a physician of souls:* able to lance festering wounds with the scalpel of your words,* you restore health to the faithful who have recourse to you.
In Tone 6, Glory…
Your life was filled with the grace of God, O father Athanasius,* and your passing was truly holy.* Today, the whole community of the Holy Mountain assembles.* Seeing you lifeless upon your bed, it cries aloud in tears:* Grant one last word to your servants.* Tell us: how can you leave your sons,* whom you have loved as a compassionate father?* Although the tomb will cover you on earth,* we who wholeheartedly venerate you will have you in heaven* as a protector and intercessor before Christ our God!
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 have mercy on our souls.
Readings
(1) Wisdom 3:1-9; (2) Wisdom 5:15-6:3; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15
Aposticha
In Tone 5
Hail, O venerable father Athanasius,* who exult with the angels in their choirs,* for you lived their life on earth as you practiced the virtues,* showing the purity of an unblemished mirror* which receives the radiant lights of the Holy Spirit.* Thus you had the gift of prophecy,* foreseeing all in the divine light of Christ;* entreat Him to grant our souls great mercy.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.
Hail, O leader of ascetics, their invincible protector!* Cutting down the passions at their roots:* and valiantly withstanding the attacks of the demons, O Athanasius,* you triumphed over their deadly conduct.* You clearly showed the might and invincible power of the Cross of the Saviour.* With this as your armour, you conquered all the adversaries* opposing the divine manifestation of Christ in the flesh;* entreat Him to grant our souls great mercy.
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.
Pillar of fire supported by the virtues, cloud overshadowing those in the desert,* you led the monks of Athos from earth to heaven.* You split the sea of the passions with the staff of the Cross.* You put the devil to flight, like another Amalek, O blessed father.* Without hindrance, you found the heavenly mount and a never-failing inheritance,* where you rejoice with the angels before the throne of Christ;* entreat Him to grant our souls great mercy.
In Tone 6, Glory…
He is the jewel of the holy fathers, the glory of Christian ascetics,* the fountain of divine miracles, our fervent intercessor before God.* Come, O feast-lovers, let us sing him our praises and say:* Hail, emblem and rule of monastic life,* and its most precise model!* Hail, O flaming torch, illumining the earth with your virtues!* Hail, consolation of the afflicted and fervent protector of the wretched!* You never cease to intercede before Christ our God, O Athanasius,* on behalf of your fold and for all the faithful* who venerate your sacred dormition.
Now…
Christ the Lord, our Creator and Redeemer,* came forth from your womb, O most pure Virgin.* He clothed Himself in our human flesh* to set us free from the original curse of Adam.* Therefore, O Mary, we praise you, without ceasing,* as the true Virgin Mother of God,* and we sing with the angels:* Rejoice, O Lady, advocate, protector, and salvation of our souls.
Troparia
In Tone 3
O Athanasius ever glorious,* the ranks of angels marvelled at your life in the flesh* for you with your body engaged the unseen foe,* and wounded the legions of demons.* For this Christ rewarded you with lavish gifts.* Therefore, pray, O Father, that our souls be saved.
Glory… 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.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 3: O Athanasius ever glorious,* the ranks of angels marvelled at your life in the flesh* for you with your body engaged the unseen foe,* and wounded the legions of demons.* For this Christ rewarded you with lavish gifts.* Therefore, pray, O Father, that our souls 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 8: Your flock invokes you, O God-inspired Father,* as one graced with special insight into things unseen* and as a true herald* putting into practice the word that you taught.* Yield not in praying for your servants* that God would free them from every harm and attack.* For they cry out to you:* Rejoice, O Father Athanasius.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.
verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:15,12)
Epistle
Galatians 5:22-6:2
Alleluia, Tone 6
verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.
verse: His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)
Gospel
Luke 6:17-23
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)