Great Fast Day 7. The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated today.

English Text Source: Royal Doors www.royaldoors.net

GREAT VESPERS

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

At Psalm 140, 

Tone 1

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

Accept our evening prayer, O holy Lord,* and grant us forgiveness of sins,* for You alone manifested the resurrection* to the world.

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

O you people, walk around Sion and encompass her.* And there give glory to Him who is risen from the dead.* For He is our God* who delivers us from our sins.

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

Come you people, praise and worship Christ.* Glorify His resurrection from the dead;* for He is our God who delivered the world* from the deceit of the enemy.

Tone 6

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

The prophets, inspired by Your Spirit, O Lord,* foretold that You, whom nothing can contain or grasp,* and who has shone forth in eternity before the morning star* from the immaterial and bodiless womb of the Father,* was to become a child,* taking flesh from the Virgin,* being joined to men and seen by those on earth.* At the prayers of these Your prophets,* in Your compassion count us worthy of Your light,* for we sing the praises* of Your ineffable and holy Resurrection.

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

The divinely-inspired prophets preached You in word and honoured You in works,* and they received as their reward a life without end.* For they steadfastly refused, O Master,* to worship the creation instead of You, the Creator;* They renounced the whole world for the Gospel’s sake,* and in their suffering they were conformed to Your Passion which they had foretold.* At their intercessions, count us worthy to pass through the period of the Fast without offence,* for You alone are rich in mercy.

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

You who are uncircumscribed, O Master, in Your divine nature,* were pleased in the last times to take flesh and be circumscribed;* and in assuming flesh, You have also taken on Yourself all its distinctive properties.* Therefore we depict the likeness of Your outward form,* venerating it with an honour that is relative.* So we are exalted to the love of You,* and following the holy traditions handed down by the apostles,* from Your icon we receive the grace of healing.

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

As a precious adornment* the Church of Christ has received the venerable and holy icons of the Saviour Christ,* of God’s Mother and of all the saints.* Celebrating now their triumphant restoration,* she is made bright with grace and splendour,* and drives away all heretics.* With great rejoicing* she gives glory to God who loves mankind,* and who for her sake* has endured His voluntary Passion.

Tone 2

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

Valiantly enduring the present torments,* rejoicing in that for which they longed,* the holy martyrs said one to another:* If we do not shed our garments, we shall not put off the old man.* Winter is cruel, but paradise is sweet;* the ice is painful, but the acquisition of the Kingdom is delightful.* Then, let us not give way, O warriors!* Let us endure but a little while,* that we may be crowned with crowns of victory by Christ God,* the Saviour of our souls.

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

Casting off all their garments and entering the lake with trembling,* the holy martyrs said one to another:* Let us not spare today our corruptible garments,* that we may attain the paradise which we lost!* Having once been clothed because of the pernicious serpent,* let us now unclothe ourselves for the resurrection of all;* let us disdain the frigid ice and despise the flesh,* that we may be crowned with crowns of victory by Christ God,* the Saviour of our souls!

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

Seeing tortures as delight,* running to the frozen lake as to a warm spring, the holy martyrs said:* Let us not fear the season of winter,* that we may avoid the fearsome fire of Gehenna;* let our legs be consumed, that they may dance eternally;* let our arms be cut off, that they may stretch themselves forth to the Lord;* let us not spare our mortal nature;* let us submit to death, that we may be crowned with crowns of victory by Christ God,* the Saviour of our souls.

Tone 2, Glory…

The grace of truth has shone upon us;* the mysteries darkly prefigured in the times of old have now been openly fulfilled.* For behold, the Church is clothed in a beauty that surpasses all things earthly,* through the icon of the incarnate Christ that was foreshadowed by the ark of testimony.* This is the safeguard of the orthodox faith;* for if we hold fast to the icon of the Saviour whom we worship,* we shall not go astray.* Let all who do not share this faith be covered with shame;* but we shall glory in the icon of the Word made flesh,* which we venerate but worship not as an idol.* So let us kiss it, and with all the faithful cry aloud:* O God, save Your people* and bless Your inheritance.

Tone 1, Now…

Let us sing a hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary,* glory of the whole world!* She was herself formed by human seed,* yet she became the Mother of the Master, the Gate of heaven,* the theme of the angels’ hymn and beauty of the faithful.* She was seen as being heavenly* and the Tabernacle of the Godhead.* She indeed tore down the wall of enmity between God and man,* and brought peace in its place.* She opened up the kingdom of heaven.* Let us therefore cling fast to her for she is the anchor of faith,* and let us receive as our stronghold the Lord Who was born of her.* Be of good cheer, then, and have confidence, O people of God,* for He will fight our enemies for us,* He is all-powerful!

Readings

(1) Isaiah 43:9-14;  (2) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9; (3) Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-24; 6:1-3.

Aposticha

Tone 1

O Christ, by Your passion we have been freed from suffering;* and by Your resurrection we have been delivered from corruption.* O Lord, glory to You!

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

Let all creation rejoice, let the heavens be glad,* let the nations clap their hands with joy.* For Christ our Saviour, in His love for mankind,* has nailed our sins to the Cross;* He has put Death to death,* and by raising our fallen forefather, Adam,* He has given life to all mankind.

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

O God, You are above all understanding;* You are King and Lord of heaven and earth.* Yet of Your own free will,* You allowed Yourself to be crucified because of Your love for mankind.* When You descended below,* Hades was filled with bitterness as You confronted it;* but the souls of the just received You with great joy.* Adam arose when he saw You, his Creator, down in the depths.* What a wonder this is!* You are the life of all and have tasted death* in order to dispel the darkness of the world with Your light.* O Lord, risen from the dead,* glory to You!

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

The myrrh-bearing women were filled with grief* as they hastened with spices to Your tomb;* but they did not find Your most pure body.* Instead, they found an angel* who proclaimed Your unique and glorious resurrection,* and commanded them to announce to Your apostles:* The Lord is risen,* granting great mercy to the world.

Tone 6, Glory…

In hymnody let us praise the forty passion-bearing martyrs, O faithful,* and with sweet singing let us cry out to them, saying:* Rejoice, O athletes of Christ:* Hesychius, Meliton, Heraclius, Smaragdus and Domnus,* Eunoicus, Valens and Vivianus, Claudius and Priscus!* Rejoice, Theodulus, Eutychius and John,* Xanthius, Helianus, Sisinnius, Cyrion, Angius, Aetius and Flavius!* Rejoice, Acacius, Ecditius, Lysimachus, Alexander, Elias and Candidus,* Theophilus, Dometian and godly Gaius and Gorgonius!* Rejoice, Leontius and Athanasius, Cyril and Sacerdon,* Nicholas and Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Chudion and Aglais,* for you have boldness before Christ our God, O most honoured martyrs!* Beseech Him earnestly that they that keep your most precious memory with faith may be saved

Tone 2, Now…

Advancing from ungodliness to the true faith,* and illumined with the light of knowledge,* let us clap our hands and sing aloud,* offering praise and thanksgiving to God;* and with due honour* let us venerate the holy icons of Christ;* of the all-pure Virgin and the saints,* whether depicted on walls, on wooden panels or on holy vessels,* rejecting the impious teachings of the heretics.* For, as Basil says,* the honour shown the icon passes to the prototype it represents.* At the prayers of Your undefiled Mother and of all the Saints,* we beseech You, Christ our God,* to bestow upon us Your great mercy.

Troparia

Tone 1

Though the stone was sealed by the Judeans* and soldiers guarded Your most pure body,* You arose, O Saviour, on the third day* and gave life to the world.* And so the heavenly powers cried out to You, O Giver of Life:* Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ!* Glory to Your Kingdom!* Glory to Your saving plan!* O only Lover of mankind.

Tone 1, Glory…

O forty soldiers of Christ and honorable martyrs,* you went through fire and water, O mighty warriors,* and have come to live with the angels.* Join them in praying to Christ for those who praise you.* Glory to Him who strengthened you!* Glory to Him who crowned you!* Glory to Him who heals us through you!

Tone 2, Now…

We bow before Your most pure image, O kind Lord,* and beg pardon for our sins, O Christ our God.* Of Your own will You consented to ascend the Cross in the flesh* to free Your handiwork from enslavement to the enemy.* In thanksgiving we cry aloud to You:* by coming to save the world, our Saviour, You filled all things with joy.

 

SUNDAY MATINS

Usual Beginning

Hexapsalm

Great Litany

God the Lord, Tone 1

Troparia, Tone 1

Though the stone was sealed by the Judeans* and soldiers guarded Your most pure body,* You arose, O Saviour, on the third day* and gave life to the world.* And so the heavenly powers cried out to You, O Giver of Life:* Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ!* Glory to Your Kingdom!* Glory to Your saving plan!* O only Lover of mankind. (2)

Tone 1, Glory…

O forty soldiers of Christ and honorable martyrs,* you went through fire and water, O mighty warriors,* and have come to live with the angels.* Join them in praying to Christ for those who praise you.* Glory to Him who strengthened you!* Glory to Him who crowned you!* Glory to Him who heals us through you!

Tone 2, Now…

We bow before Your most pure image, O kind Lord,* and beg pardon for our sins, O Christ our God.* Of Your own will You consented to ascend the Cross in the flesh* to free Your handiwork from enslavement to the enemy.* In thanksgiving we cry aloud to You:* by coming to save the world, our Saviour, You filled all things with joy.

Psalter Reading

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

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn, Tone 1

While watching Your grave, the soldiers became as dead men* from the lightning flash of the Angel* who appeared and proclaimed to the women the Resurrection.* We glorify You, the destroyer of corruption;* we fall down before You, who has risen from the grave* and who alone are our God.

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

You were willingly nailed to the Cross, O Compassionate one,* and laid in a tomb as a mortal, O Giver of life.* By Your death, O Powerful one,* You have smashed its might;* for gatekeepers of Hades trembled before You;* You have raised with You the dead from every age,* for You alone love mankind.

Glory… Now…

All we who with love flee for refuge to your goodness* know you to be the Mother of God* and after childbirth still truly Virgin;* for we sinners have you as our protection;* we have you as our salvation in misfortunes,* as the only All-immaculate one.

Psalter Reading

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

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn, Tone 1

The women came to Your tomb at dawn* and seeing a vision of an Angel they trembled;* the tomb became resplendent with life;* and amazed by the miracle, they returned to the disciples and proclaimed the Resurrection:* for Christ has despoiled Hades,* as alone almighty and all powerful,* raising up those in corruption,* dispelling the fear of condemnation* by the power of the Cross.

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

O Life of all, You were nailed to the Cross;* O immortal Lord, You were numbered among the dead,* arising on the third day, O Saviour,* raising Adam from corruption;* wherefore the heavenly Powers cried out to You:* O Giver of life, Glory to Your sufferings, O Christ;* glory to Your Resurrection;* glory to Your condescension,* O only Lover of mankind’.

Glory… Now…

O Mary, holy tabernacle of the Master,* raise us up who have fallen into the pit of wicked despair, of transgressions and afflictions;* for you are the salvation,* the help and the mighty protection of sinners,* and you save your servants.

Polyeleos

Magnification

We exalt you,* O holy forty Martyrs,* and we honour the precious sufferings God,* that you have endured for Christ our God.

verse: God is for us a refuge and strength, a helper close at hand, in time of distress.

verse: Many are the trials of the just ones, but from them all, the Lord will rescue them.

verse: We went through fire and through water, but then You brought us relief.

verse: The just will flourish like the palm tree and grow like a Lebanon cedar.

verse: The just will rejoice in the Lord and fly to Him for refuge. All the upright hearts will glory.

Glory… Now…

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to You, O God! (3)

Evlogitaria

Small Litany

Hypakoe, Tone 1

The Thief’s repentance plundered Paradise,* but the Myrrh-bearers’ lamentations announced the joy that You have risen, O Christ God,* granting the world great mercy.

Sessional Hymns

Tone 4

O forty divine martyrs of Christ,* like the greatest of stars you ever illumine the honourable firmament of the Church* and enlighten the faithful.

O wondrous athletes, passing over torment with most manly intent,* you passed through fire and water, and crossed over to the wide spaces of salvation,* receiving the Kingdom of Heaven as an inheritance.* Wherein you make divine supplication in our behalf, O wise forty.

Tone 5

Adornment of the holy martyrs!* Lo! the divinely assembled company of the forty warriors of four-fold radiance!* Tried by fire and intense cold,* the wise ones were truly shown to be soldiers of Christ, the King of all;* and they entreat Him that we be saved. (2)

Glory… Now…

I weep now before the Judgment, O pure one,* mindful of my wicked and evil deeds,* of the abyss of my transgressions* which has grown in size from my youth, stifling my mind.* But by their intercession grant me remission,* and vouchsafe that I obtain salvation.

Hymn of Ascent, Tone 1

Antiphon 1

When I am afflicted,* I cry to You, O Lord,* hearken to my pains.

For those who dwell in the desert* the longing for God never ceases,* for they are far from the vanity of this world.

Glory… Now…

To the Holy Spirit, as to the Father and the Son,* are due honour and glory;* thus let us sing to the Trinity,* a single power.

Antiphon 2

Having lifted me up to the summit of Your laws,* make me shine with virtues, O God,* that I may sing Your praises.

Take me with Your right hand, O Word,* guard me and keep me,* lest the fire of sin scorch me.

Glory… Now…

In the Holy Spirit all creation is made new* and hastens back to its original condition;* for He is equal in strength* to the Father and the Word.

Antiphon 3

With those who said to me:* Let us journey to the courts of the Lord,* my Spirit was gladdened and my heart rejoices.

In the house of David is great fear;* for when the thrones are set therein,* all the tribes and nations of the earth will be judged.

Glory… Now…

To the Holy Spirit must be offered honor, adoration, glory, and power,* as befits also the Father and the Son;* for the Trinity is a Unity,* one in essence, but not in Hypostases.

Prokeimenon, Tone 1

I myself will arise, says the Lord.* I will grant them the salvation for which they thirst.

verse: The words of the Lord are words without alloy.

Let everything that lives, Tone 1

Gospel

John 20:19-31

Hymn of Resurrection

Psalm 50

Verses at Psalm 50

Tone 8, Glory…

Open to me the doors of repentance, O Giver of Life.* As we worship in Your temple this morning,* teach us how to purify the temples of our bodies,* and in Your compassion, purify me by the goodness of Your mercies.

Now…

Lead me to the paths of salvation, O Mother of God,* for I have condemned myself with shameful sins* and have wasted all my life in slothfulness.* By your intercession purify me from all sinfulness.

Tone 6

Have mercy on me, God, in Your kindness. In Your compassion blot out my offense.

When I think upon the multitude of my evil deeds,* I tremble for the terrible day of judgment.* But trusting in the compassion of Your mercy, O Lord,* I cry to You like David:* Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy.

Canon

Ode 1

Irmos: Your warrior hand is glorious in strength, O deathless one!* All-powerful, in manner fit for God,* it broke the enemy in pieces,* and devised for Israel a strange, new way through the deep.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

He, who with pure hands divinely working in the beginning formed me from the earth, spread out those hands upon the cross, and from the earth recalled my corruptible body which he had received from the Virgin.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

He, who divinely breathing into me implanted within me a soul, suffered dissolution for me, and delivered his soul to death; loosing the age-old bonds and raising me with himself, he made me glorious in incorruption.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Hail, fount of grace! Hail, ladder and gate of heaven! Hail, bearer of the light, vessel of gold, mountain unhewn and bearer of Christ, the giver of life to the world!

Irmos: Come, O people, let us chant a song to Christ God, who divided the sea* and guided the people whom He had led forth from the bondage of Egypt, for He has been glorified!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

With hymns inspired by God I praise the divinely-crowned regiment of the martyrs of Christ, radiantly celebrating the annual commemoration of the forty, for He has been glorified!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Rejecting every title on earth, the forty desired the title of Christian, from where they now dwell in the Highest.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Living in Christ and despising the flesh and the world, you therefore put off the old man and this transitory vesture, and clothed yourselves in the garment of incorruption.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Who is able fittingly to recount your conceiving which surpasses recounting? For you, all-pure one, gave birth in the flesh to God, the Saviour of us all, who has revealed Himself to us.

Irmos: Through the deep of the Red Sea,* marched dry shod Israel of old,* and by Moses’ outstretched hands,* raised in the form of a cross,* the power of Amalek was routed in the wilderness.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

Leaping up with joy, let us the faithful cry aloud today: How marvellous are Your works, O Christ! How great is Your might! For You have made us of one mind and brought about concord.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

O Godly-wise people, come let us celebrate a day of joy; for heaven and earth now rejoices, with all the hosts of angels and all mankind, each making festival.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

Seeing this great blessing we have received, let us clap our hands; for the divided members of Christ have been brought together, and we give praise to God Who has bestowed peace.

Glory…

Today a festival of victory hath been granted to the Church, through the divinely-inspired intent and council of Michael and Theodora, who piously uphold the faith of our Sovereigns.

Now…

The swords of impious heresies have failed: For in deep reverence, O all-immaculate pure One, gazing now upon your temple, beauteously adorned with icons, we rejoice with a most holy joy.

Katavasia: Through the deep of the Red Sea,* marched dry shod Israel of old,* and by Moses’ outstretched hands,* raised in the form of a cross,* the power of Amalek was routed in the wilderness.

 

Ode 3

Irmos: You alone, knowing the frailty of mortal man, tenderly took its form;* gird me with power from on high, crying to you:* Holy is the living temple of your pure glory,* O Lover of man!

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

O Good One, you are my God, in pity for the fallen you determined to come down to me; you have raised me up by your crucifixion, crying to you: Holy is the Lord of glory, in goodness beyond compare!

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

O Christ divinely existing life as God compassionate you clothed yourself with me, corrupted one; coming down to the dust of death, O Lord, you broke the chains of man’s mortality and on the third day, rising, clothed the dead with incorruption.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

When by the all-holy Spirit, O Virgin, you conceived God in your womb, you remained unconsumed by the fire; for to Moses the lawgiver, the bush burning yet unconsumed clearly foretold you who received the fire unendurable.

Irmos: Establish us within You, O Lord,* who has slain sin by the Tree,* and plant the fear of You* in the hearts of us that hymn You.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Disdaining the army and life, the comeliness of their bodies and wealth, the right glorious forty martyrs inherited Christ instead of all of these things.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

When the forty martyrs were beaten mercilessly with stones at the command of the tormentors, through the Spirit of God the stones were hurled back against them that commanded that they be beaten.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

The serpent of him that invented blasphemy spoke through the lips of the tormentors, but his God-opposing mouth is broken by the rocks hurled against the martyrs.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Without seed you conceived God in your womb, giving birth to Him that was ineffably incarnate; and even the hosts of Heaven dare not gaze upon Him, O pure Ever-virgin.

Irmos: Your Church, O Christ, rejoices in You crying aloud:* You, O Lord, are my strength,* my refuge and foundation.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

No longer now are the impious heretics exalted in their pride: For the power of God has firmly established Orthodoxy.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

Let the prophets sprinkle upon us today the life-giving dew from heaven, at the restoration of the faith.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

In godly harmony, let the mystical trumpets of Christ’s apostles sound forth, proclaiming the re-establishment of the precious icons.

Glory…

Let us sing in praise of Christ, Who has appointed a devout and pious Empress to rule over us, together with her heir, crowned by God.

Now…

Shine now upon the faithful who have gathered in your holy house, O most pure One, the light of grace, we pray you.

Katavasia: Your Church, O Christ, rejoices in You crying aloud:* You, O Lord, are my strength,* my refuge and foundation.

 

Kontakion, Tone 6

You left the crowds of this world* and joined the Master in heaven, O forty martyrs.* Passing through fire and water,* you reaped glory and honour in heaven, O blessed saints.

Ikos

Unworthy as I am, I fall down before Christ Almighty, our Creator and God, who sits upon an unapproachable throne, who stretched out the heavens as it were a curtain, who established the earth, who gathered the waters in the bodies thereof, who created all things out of nothing, who grants breath and life to all, who receives hymnody from the archangels, is worshipped by the angels and is glorified by all; and offering up entreaty, I beg the grace of eloquence, that even I may piously hymn the saints whom He Himself showed forth as victors, granting them glory from the heavens and a multitude of crowns.

Sessional Hymn, Tone 8

Having served Christ in martyrdom as warriors and cast down the enemy through suffering,* in your deeds you fulfilled the words of the Prophet:* you went manfully through fire and water, finding refreshment, life incorruptible.* Therefore, adorned with heavenly crowns, you rejoice with the choirs of the bodiless ones, O blessed and all-praised passion-bearers.* Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins* to them that honour your holy memory with love.

Tone 1, Glory… Now…

Depicting Your divine form in icons, O Christ,* we openly proclaim Your birth,* Your ineffable miracles and Your voluntary Crucifixion.* From whence devils are driven out in fear* and their fellow-workers – the heretics, lament in shame.

 

Ode 4

Irmos: Habbakuk with the foreseeing eyes apprehended you,* the mountain by divine grace overshadowed,* and proclaimed the Holy One of Israel to come forth from you* for our salvation and remaking.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Who is this Saviour that comes from Edom, crowned with thorns, with garments reddened, hanging on a tree? He is the Holy One of Israel for our salvation and remaking.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

See, disobedient people, and be ashamed! He, whom you, as an evildoer, madly begged Pilate to hang upon the cross, he, as belongs to God, has dissolved the power of death and risen from the tomb.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

O Virgin, we know you as a tree of life, for there sprang from you not the death-bearing fruit of food for mortal men but fruition of life eternal for the salvation of us who sing to you.

Irmos: I have heard report, O Lord, of Your dispensation,* and have glorified You who alone love mankind.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

“O most iniquitous ones, you are made vainly to offer such a bad bargain!” said the sufferers.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Sharpened swords and wild beasts, fire and the cross did the tormentors offer to the saints of Christ.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

“The fire of Gehenna is frightful to us, but we are not afraid of any of our fellow servants here present,” said the athletes.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

We beseech you, O all-pure one who conceived God without seed: ever pray for your servants.

Irmos: Beholding You, the Sun of righteousness,* lifted up upon the cross,* the Church now stands arrayed and worthily cries aloud:* Glory be to Your power, O Lord!

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

Through the divine descent of the Comforter sanctify Your temple, and by His coming banish the delusion of heresy, O plenteously merciful Word of God.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

Deliver Your people from the aggression of the impious, and enkindle within them a zeal for piety, as they cry aloud to You in faith: Glory to Your power, O Lord.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

Seeing the churches of God radiant with the sacred depictions and images of Christ and the Theotokos, we rejoice with a holy joy.

Glory…

Adorned with her royal crown, the Empress, out of a true love for the Kingdom of Christ, has restored in all the churches His most pure icon and the images of the saints.

Now…

You bore the Divine Word incarnate, O divinely glorious One, revealed as one full of grace, wherefore we consecrate your bright and splendid temple.

Katavasia: Beholding You, the Sun of righteousness,* lifted up upon the cross,* the Church now stands arrayed and worthily cries aloud:* Glory be to Your power, O Lord!

 

Ode 5

Irmos: O Christ, you have illumined the ends of the earth* by the brightness of your coming and made them radiant with joy by your cross;* enlighten with the light of the knowledge of you* the hearts of those who with right belief sing your praise.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The Jews put to death on the tree of the cross the great shepherd of the sheep and the Lord; but he rescued the dead from the power of death, terrified sheep in Hell.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

When you announced the glad tidings of peace by your cross and proclaimed deliverance to the captives, my Saviour, then, O Christ, you put to shame him who held them in thrall and by your divine rising showed him naked and destitute.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

All-praised, do not despise the prayers of those who faithfully entreat you but receive and present them, O pure one, to your Son, our God and only benefactor; for in you we have gained a protector.

Irmos: O Lord, Bestower of light and Creator of the ages:* guide us in the light of Your commandments, for we know none other God than You.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Through the most mindless savagery of the tormentors, the athletes, condemned to spend the night in the open air in the cold, chanted a hymn of thanksgiving to God.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Rejoicing, the forty martyrs endured the painful ice, standing in the lake, yet strengthened with the hope of divine crowns.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

The serpent which before had made its nest in the waters, driven out became an object of scorn for the forty martyrs of Christ, for he was deprived of his deadly strength.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

To you who gave birth to Christ, the Creator of all, we cry aloud: Rejoice, O pure one! Rejoice, you that have shone forth the Light upon us! Rejoice, you that contained the infinite God!

Irmos: You, O Lord, who came into the world,* art my light,* a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance* those who sing Your praises in faith.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

Firmly establish Your church, O Lord, that unto the ages of ages she may stand unshaken by the tempest of heresy.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

O You Who alone are good and the source of goodness, raise up the horn of the Orthodox who honour Your image.

Glory…

The never-setting light of piety has shone forth upon us, by the divinely-inspired commandment of our faithful pastors.

Now…

Renew for us the ancient splendours, O most pure Mother of God, and sanctify this your dwelling with your grace.

Katavasia: You, O Lord, who came into the world,* art my light,* a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance* those who sing Your praises in faith.

 

Ode 6

Irmos: The deepest abyss has surrounded us, there is none to deliver,* we are counted as sheep for the slaughter;* save your people, our God,* for you are the strength and restoring of the weak.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

By the fault of the first-fashioned man, O Lord, we were grievously wounded; by your stripes, O Christ, by which for our sakes you were wounded, we are healed; for you are the strength and restoring of the weak.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

You have brought us up from Hell, O Lord, you have crushed the all-devouring whale by your might and laid low his strength, O All-powerful; for you are life and light and resurrection.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

O pure Virgin, our forefathers rejoice in you, and regain through you that Eden which they destroyed by transgressions; for you are chaste before your bearing and after the birth.

Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Your loving-kindness:* Lead me up from corruption, O God!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

With joy the author of enmity snatched him that fell away from the forty as he had the wretched Judas from the twelve apostles and man from Eden.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Being shameless, the devil rages in vain, for as of old by the thief and Matthias, so now by one in the office of guardsman is the tyrant also rent asunder.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Vain-minded and worthy of lamentation is he who missed both lives, for thawed by the fire, he departed into the unquenchable fire.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

O Virgin, you gave birth without knowing man, and remain forever a virgin, revealing images of your Son and God, the true Deity.

Irmos: The church cries out to You O Lord,* “I will sacrifice to You with a voice of praise”* having been cleansed of the blood of the demons’* by the blood that for mercy’s sake flowed from Your side.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

The Master’s countenance is depicted, honoured with faith, and venerated; whereby the Church regains her boldness before God, reverently glorifying the Saviour.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

The Church of Christ has been delivered from the darkness of heresy: putting on a robe of gladness, she is clothed in the light of divine grace.

Glory…

The Orthodox people have regained the light and glory which it had of old, through the decree of the Empress Theodora and her pious son the Emperor Michael.

Now…

Who of old commanded Moses to make the ark of the covenant, came to dwell within you, as if in a noetic ark: He alone is supremely glorified, making your temple glorious with miracles.

Katavasia: The church cries out to You O Lord,* “I will sacrifice to You with a voice of praise”* having been cleansed of the blood of the demons’* by the blood that for mercy’s sake flowed from Your side.

 

Kontakion, Tone 8

The uncircumscribed Word of the Father* became circumscribed when He took flesh of you, O Mother of God,* and when He restored the divine image to its ancient glory,* He suffused it with the beauty of God.* Therefore, confessing our salvation in deed and word,* we portray it in images.

Ikos

Enlightened by this mystery of God’s providence, the divinely-inspired prophets foretold it of old; and this they did for our sakes, who see the fulfilment of the ages. Receiving through this mystery divine knowledge, we know one Lord and God, glorified in three Hypostases, and Him alone do we worship; we have one faith, one baptism, and clothed in Christ, we confess in deed and word our salvation, depicting it in the holy icons.

 

Ode 7

Irmos: We, the faithful, discern you, Mother of God, as furnace of intellect:* for as he, the most highly exalted, kept safe the three children* so in your womb he re-fashioned man wholly,* God of our fathers, praised and glorious above all.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The earth shuddered with fear, the sun fled and with it the light darkened, the sacred veil of the temple was torn in two and the rocks were split; for the righteous one was fixed to the cross, God of our fathers, praised and glorious above all.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Of your own will for us you became as one with no help and wounded among the dead, O most highly exalted, and freed us all; and with your strong hand you raised us up with yourself, God of our fathers, praised and glorious above all.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Hail, spring of ever-living water! Hail, paradise of delight! Hail, fortress of the faithful! Hail, unwedded one! Hail, joy of all the world from whom has sprung for us the God of our fathers, praised and glorious above all!

Irmos: When the golden image was worshipped on the plain of Dura,* Your three children despised the godless command,* and, cast into the midst of the fire, bedewed they sang:* Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

The guard set over the forty martyrs was struck with awe, beholding their crowns; and, rejecting that which bound him to life, taking wing with the love of Your manifest glory, with the martyrs he sang: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Hastening to the soul-destroying bath, he that loved his life dies; but he that loved Christ, being a most exemplary apprehender of those things which he beheld, sang with the martyrs as in a bath of incorruption: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

When the noetic fire flared up in the minds of the forty, the most subtle madness of the impious was consumed, as it were melting wax. And to You, O Christ, they sang: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

On Mount Sinai Moses foresaw you, O pure one, as a burning bush which, without being consumed, bore the unbearable radiance of the ineffable Being who, as One of the holy Hypostases thereof, united Himself to the coarseness of our flesh.

Irmos: In the Persian furnace the youths and descendants of Abraham,* burning with a love of piety rather than by a flame of fire,* cried aloud saying:* Blessed are You in the temple of Your glory, O Lord.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

Let the hosts of angels share in the joy of the Church, that with love and divine wisdom, they may cry aloud: “Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of Your glory.”

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

The triumphant assembly and Church of the firstborn rejoices now as it beholds the people of God with one accord crying aloud: “Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of Your glory.”

Glory…

Delivered from the dark heresies of the past through the decision of the honoured Empress Theodora, we cry aloud: “Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of Your glory.”

Now…

O all-pure One, you are exalted above the choirs on high, for alone among women you have become Mother of the Creator of all. Wherefore in joy we cry aloud: “Blessed are you among women, O all-immaculate Lady.”

Katavasia: In the Persian furnace the youths and descendants of Abraham,* burning with a love of piety rather than by a flame of fire,* cried aloud saying:* Blessed are You in the temple of Your glory, O Lord.

 

Ode 8

Irmos: In the fiery oven as in a smelting furnace* the Israelite children shone bright with the beauty of godliness purer than gold,* and they said: Bless the Lord, all his works,* praise and highly exalt him throughout all the ages.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

O Word of God, maker and transformer of all by your will, changing the shadow of death into everlasting life by your Passion, we, all your works, unceasingly praise you as Lord, and highly exalt you throughout all the age ·.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Rising on the third day from the grave, O Christ, you demolished the destruction and misery within the gates and strongholds of Hell. All your works unceasingly praise you as Lord, and highly exalt you throughout all the ages.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Let us sing to her who without seed and above nature brought forth Christ the precious pearl from the divine lightning, and let us say: Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and highly exalt him throughout all the ages.

Irmos: God who descended into the fiery furnace for the Hebrew children* and transformed the flame into anew,* hymn You as Lord,* O you works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Savagely inciting every creature against the athletes, the enemy has been put to shame by them all, for the forty martyrs unceasingly hymn and exalt the Lord supremely for all ages.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Cruelly were the members of your bodies crushed for Christ, and you were offered to God as a divine holocaust; with the angels you ever hold chorus, O martyrs, hymning Christ for all ages.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

With steadfast intent the Christ-loving mother took upon her shoulder him to whom she had given birth; and she offered him up as the fruit of piety, a martyr among martyrs, emulating the sacred action of Abraham.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

“Make you journey running straight to everlasting life, O my son,” the Christ-loving mother cried out to her Christ-loving child, “for I could not bear to see you appear in second place before Christ, the Judge of the contest!”

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

The Son who is not parted from the bosom of the Father, yet who made His abode in your maternal womb, O pure Virgin Bride of God, we hymn and exalt supremely for all ages!

Irmos: Having spread his hands, Daniel closed the lions’ jaws in their den;* while the zealously pious youths, girded with virtue,* quenched the power of the fire and cried aloud:* Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

Keeping the laws of the Church that we have received from the Fathers, we write icons, and with our lips and heart and we venerate them as we cry aloud: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

The honour and veneration shown to the icon, is ascribed to the prototype it represents, following the divinely-inspired teachings, wherefore with faith we cry aloud to Christ: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.

Let us bless Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the Lord!

Her mind enlightened by the illumination of the divine Spirit, the honoured Empress, filled with the fruits of divine wisdom, and with love of the splendour of Christ’s Church, along with all the faithful, blesses Jesus, the God-Man.

Now…

Illumined by rays of noetic light, Your holy house overshadows all with the cloud of the Spirit, and sanctifies the faithful who sing with one accord: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.

We praise, bless and worship the Lord, chanting and supremely exalting Him throughout all ages.

Katavasia: Having spread his hands, Daniel closed the lions’ jaws in their den;* while the zealously pious youths, girded with virtue,* quenched the power of the fire and cried aloud:* Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.

 

Magnificat

 

Ode 9

Irmos: The bush ever burning and never consumed* was the type of your pure child-bearing;* quench now for us the raging furnace of temptations, we pray you,* that we may unceasingly magnify you, Mother of God.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

O how the lawless and disobedient people, devising evil, made right the accursed and ungodly man and condemned the righteous, the Lord of glory, to the tree! Worthily, we magnify him!

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

O Saviour, innocent Lamb, taking away the sins of the world, risen on the third day, we glorify you, together with the Father and your divine Spirit; acknowledging you as God, we magnify you, the Lord of glory.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Save your people, Lord, whom you purchased with your precious blood. Grant strength to the king against his enemies, Lover of man, and bestow peace on your churches through the prayers of the Mother of God.

Irmos: O faithful, let us with hymns magnify in oneness of mind the Word of God,* who from God came in His ineffable wisdom to renew Adam* who had grievously fallen into corruption,* and who was ineffably incarnate for our sake of the holy Virgin.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Stripped naked and beaten with stones for Christ’s sake, you endured the wintry air, icy water and crushing of your limbs; and having been consumed by fire, O forty martyrs, you shine forth in the rushing river like beacons.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Having acquired the Cross as a staff of divine power, the forty athletes cried out to Christ: O Master, almighty Conqueror, crown us by Your own hand, that we may all magnify You unceasingly with hymns!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

The pain of the ice and boundless cruelty of the cold did you endure, O forty martyrs; but paradise is sweet, for the bosom of the Patriarch Abraham warms you in the eternal mansions.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

The multitudes of angels entreat your Son, O Virgin Bride and Mother. Accept our supplication, O you that alone are the hope of the faithful; grant peace to the world, and victory and salvation to us that love you.

Irmos: A cornerstone not cut by hand O Virgin,* was cut from thee the unhewn mountain:* even Christ, Who has joined together the disparate natures;* therefore rejoicing we magnify you, O Theotokos.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

Seeing the honourable Church once more adorned with divinely-written images, let us make haste and with reverence cry aloud to God: We magnify You, O Thrice-Holy One.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

As a mark of glory and honour, the Church possesses Your Cross and the honourable icons, and depictions of the saints, and with joy and gladness O Master, she magnifies You.

Glory…

Shine upon our rulers with Your divine glory, O compassionate One, and encompass them about with the protection of the angelic hosts, bringing into subjection, the haughtiness of the heathen, O Master.

Now…

The condemnation of our first mother Eve has been abolished, since you, O pure One, beyond understanding, have given birth to the Master of all; and now we kiss His likeness in the icons.

Katavasia: A cornerstone not cut by hand O Virgin,* was cut from thee the unhewn mountain:* even Christ, Who has joined together the disparate natures;* therefore rejoicing we magnify you, O Theotokos.

Small Litany

Holy is the Lord

Hymn of Light

Though the doors were locked, O Lord,* You entered and filled Your apostles with the Holy Spirit,* and breathing over them, You gave them Your peace.* You said to them: Whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven;* whose sins you bind, they are bound.* After eight days You showed Thomas Your hands and Your side.* With them, therefore, we cry to You: You are my Lord and my God!

Glory…

Let us hymn as is meet the company of forty,* the victorious regiment, the array of the holy martyrs,* for by fire, ice and water they have put to shame the regiments of the adversary* and have received crowns of glory from Christ the Saviour.

Now…

Leap for joy and clap your hands,* and with gladness sing aloud:* How strange and wonderful are Your works, O Christ!* And who can tell of all Your mighty acts, O Saviour,* Who has united in harmony and with one accord the Church!

Praises

Stichera of the Praises

Tone 1

We sing the praise of Your saving Passion, O Christ,* and we glorify Your Resurrection.

Having endured the Cross,* and destroyed death* and risen from the dead,* grant peace to our lives, O Lord,* as You alone are All-powerful.

Having despoiled Hades* and raised mankind by Thy Resurrection, O Christ, ** grant that with pure hearts we may praise and glorify Thee.

As we glorify Your divine condescension,* we praise You, O Christ:* For You were born of a Virgin,* yet You were not separated from the Father;* as man You suffered and willingly endured the Cross;* arising from the grave, as though coming forth from Your bridal chamber,* that You might save the world.* O Lord, glory be to You!

O Lover of mankind,* the Church now rejoices in You, her Bridegroom and Founder,* for by Your divine Will You have delivered her from the error of idolatry,* and by Your precious Blood You have betrothed her to Yourself.* With joy she accepts the restoration of the holy icons,* and with faith she sings in praise of You* and in faith renders You glory.

Having restored the representations of Your flesh, O Lord,* affectionately kissing them, we elucidate the great mystery of Your dispensation.* For You did not appear to us, O Lover of mankind, merely in outward semblance,* as say the followers of Mani, the enemies of God,* but in the full and true reality of the flesh;* and so the icons that depict Your flesh* lead us to the desire and love of You.

A feast of joy and gladness has been revealed to us today.* For the dogmas of the true Faith shine forth,* rendering the Church of Christ bright with splendour,* adorning her with the holy icons which have now been restored;* whereby God has granted to the faithful unity of mind.

Tone 6

Moses, in the season of abstinence,* received the Law and proclaimed it to the people.* Elijah by fasting closed the heavens;* and the three Children of Abraham through fasting overcame the lawless tyrant.* Count us also worthy, O Christ,* through fasting to attain the Feast of Your Resurrection, as we cry aloud:* Holy God, Holy and Mighty, and Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.

Tone 6, Glory…

Moses, in the season of abstinence,* received the Law and proclaimed it to the people.* Elijah by fasting closed the heavens;* and the three Children of Abraham through fasting overcame the lawless tyrant.* Count us also worthy, O Christ,* through fasting to attain the Feast of Your Resurrection, as we cry aloud:* Holy God, Holy and Mighty, and Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.

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 ON SUNDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 1: Though the stone was sealed by the Judeans,* and soldiers guarded Your most pure body,* You arose, O Saviour, on the third day,* and gave life to the world.* And so the heavenly powers cried out to You, O Giver of Life:* Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ!* Glory to Your kingdom!* Glory to Your saving plan,* O only Lover of mankind.

Troparion, Tone 1: Be swayed by the pains that the saints have suffered, for You, O Lord,*, and heal all our pains,* O Lover of mankind, for this we pray.

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

Kontakion, Tone 6: Leaving behind every army on earth,* you cleaved to the Master in heave,* O Forty passion-bearers of the Lord.* For passing through fire and water* you rightly received glory from heaven* and a myriad of crowns, O blessed saints.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 8: The uncircumscribed Word of the Father* became circumscribed when He took flesh of you, O Mother of God,* and when He restored the divine image to its ancient glory,* He suffused it with the beauty of God.* Therefore, confessing our salvation in deed and word,* we portray it in images.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

Blessed are You, Lord God of our fathers,* and praised and glorified is Your Name for ever.

verse: For You are righteous in everything You have done to us. (Daniel 3:26,27)

Prokeimenon, Tone 5

You, O Lord, will guard and will keep us, from this generation and for ever.

Epistle: Hebrews 11:24-26,32-40; 12:1-2; Hebrews 12:1-10

Hebrews 11:24-26,32-40; 12:1-2 (NRSV)
Brothers and Sisters, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-10 (NRSV)
Brothers and Sisters, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons?— “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by him. For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time at their pleasure, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: Moses and Aaron are among His priests and Samuel among those who call upon His name.
verse: They called on the Lord, and He heard them. (Psalm 98:6)
verse: Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing now to His name, give glory to His praise. (Psalm 65:2)

Gospel: John 1:43-51; Matthew 20:1-16

John 1:43-51 (NRSV)
At that time Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Matthew 20:1-16 (NRSV)
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place; and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Hymn to the Mother of God
In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices: the angelic ranks and all the human race. Sanctified temple and spiritual paradise, virgins’ pride and boast, from whom God is made flesh and became a little Child; and He who is our God before all ages, He made your womb a throne, and He made it wider that all the heavens. In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices. Glory be to you.

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)