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.

Tone 4

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

О holy Bishop Methodius,* you took upon yourself task of teaching the law of grace.* By holy letters you brought together and handed on these teachings to your people and your flock,* that by them they could read and contemplate the holy Scriptures,* and they blessed the Lord.* We, therefore, bless you worthily.

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

О holy Bishop Methodius,* you took upon yourself task of teaching the law of grace.* By holy letters you brought together and handed on these teachings to your people and your flock,* that by them they could read and contemplate the holy Scriptures,* and they blessed the Lord.* We, therefore, bless you worthily.

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

О blessed Methodius,* you followed the words of the Lord,* and truly blessed the Father,* who gave birth to the Word in essence,* and sent forth the all-holy Spirit.* You continue to profess this, crying aloud,* “Truly the Comforter proceeds from the Father and not from the Son.”* Therefore, О divine preacher,* you stand with the fathers of the First Council in their same profession,* pray with them to the Saviour, that he may save us all.

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

О father Methodius,* you received apostolic grace from God in abundance.* You were counted worthy of the wonder of prophecy,* seeing the future as if it were present.* Rejoice, О glorious father,* sight of the blind, expeller of demons and healer of the sick.* Grant us forgiveness of sins and great mercy.

Tone 1, Glory…

О bishop Methodius, renowned citizen of the land of Moravia,* glory and boast of the northern countries,* your lofty preaching calls us together.* Come, О feast-lovers, let us rejoice in faith and exult with him* on the feast of his glorious falling asleep.* May he offer unceasing prayer to Christ our God,* that our souls may be delivered from all troubles and dangers.

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!

Readings: (1) Deuteronomy 1:8-17; (2) Deuteronomy 10:14-21; (3) Wisdom 3:1-9

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.

Tone 8, Glory…

Come, О feast-lovers,* let us rejoice and exult with holy hymns,* the falling asleep of the bishop Methodius, the enlightener of Moravia,* the equal-to-the apostles of the Slavic peoples.* Behold, he rejected the pleasures of the world,* and took the apostolate of the cross on his shoulders,* together with his brother, enlightening the Slavic nations.* After his falling asleep, he received from God the reward of righteousness,* and prays without ceasing,* that our souls may be delivered from all troubles and dangers.

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 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.

Tone 4, Glory…

O Christ, bestow from above Your mercies* to those who radiantly feast Your bishop’s falling asleep.* Through the intercession of our father Methodius,* Your holy disciple,* open to us the doors of the Kingdom* and loose the chains of our many sins.

Now…

O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created man,*and saved our souls from death.

 

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)

Tone 4, Glory…

O Christ, bestow from above Your mercies* to those who radiantly feast Your bishop’s falling asleep.* Through the intercession of our father Methodius,* Your holy disciple,* open to us the doors of the Kingdom* and loose the chains of our many sins.

Now…

O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created man,*and saved our souls from death.

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

Exaltation

We extol you,* O bishop Methodius,* and we venerate your holy memory,* for you pray for us to Christ our God.

verse: Your priests shall be clothed with holiness; Your faithful shall ring out their joy.

verse: Hear all you nations, pay heed, all you inhabitants of the earth!

verse: They are happy who dwell in Your house, forever singing Your praise.

Glory… Now…

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

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.

Sessional Hymns

Tone 1

O bishop Methodius, as the servant of Christ, the Master of all,* you instructed the people and enlightened them* through the holy baptism to profess Him.* Therefore, we call you a preacher of truth,* an hierarch and ambassador of Christ.

Tone 4

From early youth you have taken up your cross and piously followed Christ,* subduing the desires of the flesh.* As a bishop, O ambassador of Christ,* you glorified the Lord and His most pure Mother.* Therefore, after your death,* He glorified you with numerous miracles.

Tone 8, Glory… Now…

Having subdued the passions of the flesh,* O holy one, you have shown yourself to be a God-like hierarch* gloriously tending your flock.* Through baptism you enlightened and taught them to worship one God in three persons.* Because of this, even after your departure,* you grant healing to those who hasten to you for help, O bishop Methodius;* implore Christ our God to grant forgiveness of sins* to us who lovingly keep your sacred memory.

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

Mark 16:1-18

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, 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.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

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.

Irmos: When Israel passed through the waters as upon dry land* and escaped the malice of the Egyptians,* they cried out:* Let us sing to our Redeemer and our God.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

You have abandoned me due to my abundant lusts, having each day taken enjoyment in them like the rich man. Wherefore I pray to You, O Saviour; deliver me from the fire as you once delivered Lazarus.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I am clothed in sensual pleasures, O Saviour, like the rich man who once vested himself in fine linen, gold, and golden clothing, but send me not into the fire, as You did him.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Having taken pleasure in the riches and sweet things of this corruptible life, the rich man of old was condemned to torments, whereas the needy Lazarus obtained consolation.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

The hosts of angels and mortals ceaselessly praise you, O Mother unwedded, for you carried their creator as a babe in your arms.

Irmos: I shall open my mouth, and be filled with the Spirit,* and utter discourse to the Queen and Mother;* and be seen radiantly keeping festival,* joyfully praising her wonders.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

With love I celebrate your light-giving and holy memory, send down to me the unapproachable light of Christ ,O venerable one, before Whom you now stand, and deliver me from the manifold temptations of life.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

He Who fled to the Egyptians in the flesh, the un-circumscribable and eternal One, has revealed you to be a most radiant beacon issuing forth from whence He once dwelt; Egypt.

Glory…

Not knowing the divine commandments, you sullied the divine image of God within you, but, O all-praised one, through divine providence, you cleansed it once again, rendering yourself godlike by your godly actions, O venerable one.

Now…

O my God, great is Your loving-kindness, and ineffable Your condescension! For, by the intercessions of Your Mother, You rendered the former harlot as pure and spotless, as the angels.

Katavasia: I shall open my mouth, and be filled with the Spirit,* and utter discourse to the Queen and Mother;* and be seen radiantly keeping festival,* joyfully praising her wonders.

 

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.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

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.

Irmos: You are the rampart* of those who hasten to You;* the inhabitants of darkness find their light in You;* and my soul praises You, O Lord.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O Christ, as You saved Lazarus from the flames, also deliver me, Your unworthy servant, from the fire of Gehenna.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O Lord, in passions and lusts I am as wealthy as the rich man, yet in my lack of virtues I am as poor as Lazarus. But save me.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The rich man clothed himself in scarlet and fine linen, lusts, and sins, for which sake he was cast into the flames.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Grant to us help, by your intercessions O all-pure one, who can deliver us from every evil circumstance.

Irmos: O Lord, You suspend the earth over the waters;* and when creation saw You suspended on the Cross,* it trembled in fear and cried out:* None is holy as You, O our God.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

You drew near to the gates of destruction by your inexcusable actions; but He Who of old, by the power of His Godhead, smashed to pieces the gates of Hades, opened to you the gates of repentance, O all-honoured one; for He Himself is the Gate of life.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

She who was once a weapon of sin, O Longsuffering One, has now been revealed to be a weapon of Your Cross, O Compassionate One, for by venerating it, she conquered all the weapons and cunning of the devils.

Glory…

He who shed His own blood as a ransom for the sake of all, in the waters of your tears cleansed you who were grievously sickened with the leprosy of your wicked deeds, for He is the cause of all that is.

Now…

That which has come to pass within you, O Virgin, transcends description: For the Word of the Father came to dwell within you, granting by His word alone, the remission of sins to all those who transgress.

Katavasia: O Theotokos, living and plentiful fount,* establish in spiritual fellowship those who sing hymns to you,* and in your divine glory* grant them crowns of glory.

 

Kontakion, Tone 3

Once you were filled with every impurity,* now through repentance you have been revealed as a bride of Christ,* following the angelic life, you crushed demons with the weapon of the Cross.* Therefore, O glorious Mary, you have been shown to be a bride of the Kingdom.

Ikos

As the lamb and daughter of Christ we now praise you in our hymns, O ever-memorable Mary. Sprung from the race of the Egyptians, you fled from all their delusions and alone offered yourself to the Church as an example of perfection, in abstinence and prayer struggling above that which is the measure of man’s nature, wherefore the only Pantocrator has exalted you, your life and actions, O most-glorious Mary.

 

Sessional Hymns, Tone 8

All the rebelliousness of the flesh did you subdue by your ascetic labours,* showing the manly wisdom of your soul.* Desiring to behold the Cross of the Lord, O all-honoured one,* you crucified yourself to the world,* eagerly seeking to emulate the angels in their way of life.* Wherefore with faith we honour your memory, O all-blessed one,* and beseech you to pray on our behalf,* that we may be granted the full remission of our sins* by your intercessions.

Glory… Now…

Let us hymn the heavenly gate and ark,* the all-holy Mountain and the Cloud of light,* the heavenly Ladder and the spiritual Paradise,* the Deliverance of Eve and the great Treasure of the whole world.* For through her was wrought the salvation of the world* and the remission of man’s ancient sins.* Wherefore we cry aloud to her:* “Pray to your Son and God, that remission of sins be granted to those* who devoutly worship your all-holy offspring.”

 

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.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

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.

Irmos: O Lord, I have heard of the mystery of Your work of salvation;* I meditated on Your deeds and glorified Your divinity.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The rich man took delight in sumptuous food and raiment, while Lazarus longed to be fed with the crumbs that fell from his table.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

With their tongues the dogs licked the sores of Lazarus the beggar, showing themselves to be more compassionate to the poor than the rich man.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Before the gates of the rich man, O Saviour, Lazarus once lay wretched and suffering from his wounds, but now he is glorified.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Beseech Him whom you bore, O most pure one, that those who hymn you may be saved from the machinations of the deceiver, for you alone are our sure protector.

Irmos: Foreseeing Your divine condescension and Your death on the Cross,* the prophet Habakkuk was perplexed and cried out:* By Your descent into Hades, O God of goodness,* You have broken the power of the tyrants;* for You are the almighty King.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

O Creator of the mortal nature of man, since You are a fount of mercy and a wealth of compassion, O Lover of mankind, You had compassion upon her that fled to You for refuge, snatching her away from the destroying beast.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

Hastening to see the Cross, you were illumined by its effulgence O Mary, and having communed with it, by the divine manna of Him who was crucified thereon, you became crucified to the world, O right wondrous one.

Glory…

Previously guilty of leading many astray by wicked lust, you now shine forth like the sun, manifesting yourself as a guide to all transgressors, O venerable one.

Now…

You have surpassed the mind of the noetic heavenly powers of the King of all; for transcending the laws of nature, O pure one, you gave birth to the Lawgiver and Fashioner of all things.

Katavasia: He who sits in glory upon the throne of the Godhead,* Jesus the true God,* is come in a swift cloud* and with His sinless hands* he has saved those who cry:* Glory to Your power, O Christ.

 

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.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

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.

Irmos: Why have You driven me far from your face, O inaccessible Light?* The outer darkness has enveloped me, wretched creature that I am.* Make me return, I pray You,* and direct my paths toward the light of Your law.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

When the rich man saw Lazarus resting in the bosom Abraham, rejoicing in light and glory, he cried aloud: “O Father Abraham, have mercy on me, for I am condemned to the fire and my tongue burns in bitter torment.”

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

“During thy life,” said Abraham to the rich man, “you rejoiced living sumptuously; wherefore you are now eternally tormented in the fire, while Lazarus the beggar rejoices in unending gladness.”

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The life of the rich man was one of delusion in pleasure, and I, like the rich man, also live a sumptuous life, but I beseech of Your compassion, O Lover of mankind, that I may be delivered from the fire, as You once saved Lazarus.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Possessing maternal boldness before your Son, O all-pure one, we beseech you who are from our lineage, turn not away from us, for you alone do we Christians bring before the Lord, as a God-pleasing intercessor on our behalf.

Irmos: Contemplating Your unsetting light,* which You, O Christ, in Your goodness, have shown us by your coming,* the prophet Isaiah kept watch before You and cried out in the middle of the night:* The dead shall rise and from their tombs they shall be raised up,* and the whole earth shall rejoice.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

Moses once shone in glory on Mount Sinai, for having mystically beheld the most glorious hind-parts of God, he himself became a reflection of the strange mystery; and now, fervently falling down before the image of the most-pure one, the vessel which contained the Manna from heaven, Mary undertakes the angelic life.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

Having longed, like the psalmist, to see the majesty of the temple, the noetic tabernacle of Your glory, she who defiled the temple cried; “By the noetic prayers O Christ, and of her who became Your temple, without knowing a man, make me a temple of the all-creating Spirit.”

Glory…

With the baited hook of the flesh, she caught the eye of many, and by short-lived sensual pleasure she made them food for the devil, but in truth having been caught by the divine grace of the precious Cross, she became the most sweet food of Christ.

Now…

Having learned of the mystery concerning you, the choir of the prophets has, with mystical divinely spoken words, O most-pure one, prophesied concerning you in many ways. And now Mary, having fallen down before the most pure image of you, the Vessel that received the divine Manna, she has become a sure intercessor for us sinners before God.

Katavasia: All creation stands in awe of your divine glory;* for you, O Virgin who has not known wedlock,* contained within your womb* the God of all,* and gave birth to the timeless Son,* bestowing peace, upon all who hymn you.

 

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.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

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.

Irmos: Grant Your forgiveness, O Saviour, despite the number of my sins;* draw me out of the abyss of evil, I pray You;* for it is to You that I cry:* O God of my salvation, hear me, O Lord.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The rich man condemned himself to the flames of fire by his life of pleasure; but Lazarus the poor man chose poverty in this present life, and so was deemed worthy of unending joy.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Lazarus was deemed worthy to dwell in the bosom of Abraham, enjoying eternal life, O Christ; but the rich man was condemned to the fire, to be tormented in both soul and body.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The rich man was condemned to the fire because of Lazarus, condemn me not, wretched as I am, but I pray You, O Lover of mankind, grant me, like Lazarus, O Lord, Your light.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

May we be delivered from grievous sins, by your prayers, O pure Mother of God, and may we be granted the divine enlightenment of the Son of God, who ineffably took flesh from you.

Irmos: I am thrust down into the abyss of sin,* and I can no longer endure the wrath of the seas.* As Jonah, I cry to You:* Save my life from the pit.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

The armies of the angels rejoice, O holy Mary, seeing in you a life equal to their own, and crying out they give glory to the Lord.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

The host of dark spirits tremble at the strength of your patient endurance, marvelling at how a woman naked and alone, has been able to wondrously overcome them.

Glory…

You have shone forth like the sun, O all-praised Mary, illumining the desert with your wonders, also make me radiant with light.

Now…

The angels, illumined by the glory of your Offspring, O Virgin, proclaim to all; peace on earth and good will toward mankind.

Katavasia: Celebrating the divine and solemn feast of the Mother of God* O you divinely wise,* let us come, clapping our hands,* and glorify God who was born of her.

 

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.”

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.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

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

Irmos: The Hebrew youths who came from Judah to Babylon* trampled on the flames in the furnace by their faith in the Trinity,* and they sang:* Blessed are You, O God of our fathers.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Like Job of old, who sat on a dung heap full of decaying filth and worms, Lazarus lay before the gates of the rich man, crying: “O God of our fathers, blessed are You.”

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

An outcast at the gate of the heartless rich man, Lazarus of old, longed for the crumbs that fell from his table, yet no man gave to him; and in place of this he was granted to dwell in the bosom of Abraham.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O my Christ, I pray You, deliver me from the lot of the heartless rich man, and number me with Lazarus the poor man, that I may be deemed worthy to cry to You with thanksgiving “O God of our fathers, blessed are You.”

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

You appeared incarnate from the virginal womb for our salvation. Wherefore we acknowledge Your mother as the Theotokos, and with thanksgiving cry aloud: “O God of our fathers, blessed are You.”

Irmos: Formerly in the furnace of Babylon,* the Youths did not fear the fire into which they had been thrown;* but they walked in the flames, and covered with dew, they sang:* “Blessed are You, O God of our fathers.”

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

Wise Zosimas, greatest among the fathers, wandered in the desert wilderness and was counted worthy to see the venerable mother, and cried aloud; “O God of our fathers, blessed are You.”

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

“For what, O father,” said the venerable one to the staretz, “did you come to see a woman who is a stranger to every manner of virtuous action,” and she cried aloud; “O God of our fathers, blessed are You.”

Glory…

You put to death, O blessed one, the rebelliousness of your passions, and now having striven to the safe haven of passionlessness, You cry aloud; “O God of our fathers, blessed are You.”

Now…

In ways transcending speech, O most-pure one, you conceived while yet remaining a virgin, and brought forth into the world the salvation, Christ our God. Wherefore we and all the faithful magnify you in songs.

Katavasia: Refusing to worship created things in place of the Creator,* the divinely wise youths bravely trampled down the threatening fire* and rejoicing they sang aloud:* O supremely hymned Lord and God of our Fathers, blessed are You.

 

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.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

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.

Irmos: In his fury the tyrant of the Chaldeans* had the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual* for the faithful servants of the Lord;* but when he saw them saved by a more powerful force, he cried out:* O Youths, bless your Creator and Redeemer;* praise Him, you priests; and all you people, exalt Him for all ages.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

In clothes of scarlet raiment, fine linen and purple, the rich man of old splendidly clothed himself in wretchedness, while the poor man Lazarus lay a pitiable outcast at his gate, longing to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table; and no man gave to him. But now he reigns with Christ in glory.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Lazarus lay at the gates of the rich man, his body putrid with sores: He longed to eat, and no man gave him food; but the dogs, moved by compassion, licked his sores and wounds. Wherefore he has been deemed worthy of joy in Paradise.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I have grown rich in sensual pleasures, like the rich man of old, clothing himself each day in scarlet; and I have condemned myself by taking pleasure and being deceived by the sweet things of this life, O Compassionate One. Wherefore I pray to You, O Christ, deliver me from the eternal fire throughout all ages.

Most holy Trinity our God glory be to You.

The threefold light of the Godhead shines with a single radiance, from one Hypostatic essence, The Father without beginning, the Son of the same essence as the Father, and the co-enthroned consubstantial Spirit, O you children bless, you priests praise, and you peoples supremely exalt throughout all ages.

Irmos: May the heavens shudder with fear,* and may the foundations of the earth tremble,* for the God of heaven is numbered among the dead* and lies in the narrow confines of the tomb.* O Youths, bless the Lord; praise Him, you priests;* and let the whole nation exalt Him forever.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

He Who searches the depths of the heart, and who, before we came into being, foresees all things concerning us, has freed from a life of bondage the woman who fled to You, O Saviour; in need of Your love for mankind she cried out to You with never-silent voice: “O you priests bless Him, and you people supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

Honourable is the change of life that has brought you to a better way! O divine the love that has taught you to despise the sensual pleasures of the flesh! O all-praised Mary, fervent and divine in the faith, which we faithfully praise and supremely exalt throughout the ages.

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

You received a recompense for your sufferings, and a reward for your labours, O honoured Mary, by which you slew the murderous enemy: and now with the angels you cry aloud with never-ceasing hymns supremely exalting Christ throughout the ages.

Now…

For the sake of His goodness the Lord of all the ages has completely renewed me within your womb, O pure one, without commingling that which is unique to each nature. Wherefore, as the cause of our salvation, with hymns we praise you throughout all ages.

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

Katavasia: The Offspring of the Theotokos saved the holy children in the furnace.* He who was then prefigured has now been born on earth,* and He gathers all creation to hymn you:* all you works praise the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all 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.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

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.

Irmos: O Mother of God and spouseless Virgin,* by your word you ineffably conceived the true God.* You are higher than the most pure powers;* with our unceasing hymns, we extol you.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I pray You, O Christ, make me like Lazarus the beggar, banishing my desire for sensual pleasure, since You are God in essence: and make me as wealthy as the rich man, only, in the virtues, that with faith I may magnify You in hymns.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Rich and unmerciful, my mind has despised faith in Your commandments, O Lover of mankind, and been cast out before the gates. But since You are a fellow sufferer, and lovingly compassionate, raise it up as once You raised up Your friend Lazarus, who was four days dead.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

All have learned the meaning of this parable of the Lord, let us, the faithful despise the lack of compassion of the rich man, that we may escape torments, and eternally rejoice in the bosom of Abraham.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

The invisible God have you carried in your arms, He who is praised in the heavens and by all of creation, by you we have been granted salvation at all times, wherefore with faith we magnify you.

Irmos: Do not weep for me, O Mother,* even though you have seen lying in the tomb* the Son to whom you gave birth in a wondrous manner;* for I shall arise and be glorified;* and in my divine glory, I shall forever exalt the faithful who love you* and sing the praises of your glory.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

You more easily endured your labours in the wilderness; strengthened by the almighty strength of Christ, quenching the impure thoughts that came to you, by the streams of your godly tears, O mother, the summit of ascetics and glory of the venerable saints.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

With rays of exceeding brightness, the only birth-giver of Christ the light, the pure virgin, shone upon you, making thee frightening to your enemies, O honoured one; and revealing you to us all, O Mary, as the beauty of ascetics, and the foundation of venerable saints.

Glory…

Having wisely abandoned all the things of this world, you became a sacred dwelling of the Spirit: Beseech Christ the Redeemer, that we who faithfully celebrate your memory may be freed from the grief of worldly passions.

Now…

In a manner transcending nature, O Virgin, you have been freed from the laws of nature, and brought forth on earth a newborn Child, Who is the Giver of the Law and the Ancient of Days. Wherefore, O noetic heaven of the Creator of all, with faith and love we call you blessed.

Katavasia: Let every mortal born on earth, radiant with light, in spirit leap for joy;* and let the host of the angelic powers celebrate and honour the holy feast of the Mother of God,* and let them cry aloud:* Rejoice! O Theotokos, pure Ever-Virgin.

 

Small Litany

Holy is the Lord

Hymn of Light

When the myrrh-bearing women saw the stone rolled away, they rejoiced;* for they saw a young man sitting at the grave who said to them:* Behold, Christ is risen!* Say to Peter, the disciple of the Lord:* Hasten to the mountain in Galilee;* there you shall see Christ* as He had said to His friends.

Glory… Now…

O blessed Methodius, having received the tri-radiant light,* you have become a great luminary of the Church, enlightening those,* who in faith adore the one God in the Holy Trinity.

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.

Tone 8

O bishop Methodius,* you have reached the summit of divine understanding* and, having drawn near to God* and having received filial adoption from Him,* you heal incurable diseases* and drive away the unclean spirits.* For this reason,* with joyful hearts we celebrate your memory,* glorifying Christ, who has exalted you.

O bishop Methodius,* you have reached the summit of divine understanding* and, having drawn near to God* and having received filial adoption from Him,* you heal incurable diseases* and drive away the unclean spirits.* For this reason,* with joyful hearts we celebrate your memory,* glorifying Christ, who has exalted you.

O most-blessed father Methodius,* you were a rule of the priesthood, a model of purity,* a stronghold of the monks, a support of the Church,* a torch of love, a throne of compassion, a source of miracles,* a tongue of fire, a sweet-spoken mouth,* a vessel of the divine Spirit,* and a intellectual paradise.

Tone 6

O holy and thrice-blessed hierarch Methodius,* good shepherd and disciple of the Chief Shepherd, Christ,* who laid down His life for His sheep!* By your prayers, beseech the Lord* that He may grant us great mercy.

Tone 1

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

The Kingdom of God is not food and drink,* but righteousness and abstinence with holiness:* And so the rich shall not enter into it,* but those who invest their treasures into the needful hands of the poor.* This is what David the Prophet has taught us, saying:* “The righteous man shows mercy all the day long;* his delight is in the Lord, and walking in the light he shall not stumble.”* All this was written for our admonition,* that we fast and undertake the doing of good deeds;* that in place of earthly things the Lord may grant us heavenly things.

Glory…

The Kingdom of God is not food and drink,* but righteousness and abstinence with holiness:* And so the rich shall not enter into it,* but those who invest their treasures into the needful hands of the poor.* This is what David the Prophet has taught us, saying:* “The righteous man shows mercy all the day long;* his delight is in the Lord, and walking in the light he shall not stumble.”* All this was written for our admonition,* that we fast and undertake the doing of good deeds;* that in place of earthly things the Lord may grant us heavenly things.

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.

Troparion, Tone 8: The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O mother,* for taking up the Cross, you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond the flesh, which passes,* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* And so, O venerable Mary,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.

Troparion, Tone 4: O Christ, bestow from above Your mercies* to those who radiantly feast Your bishop’s falling asleep.* Through the intercession of our father Methodius,* Your holy disciple,* open to us the doors of the Kingdom* and loose the chains of our many sins.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: Let us hymn the godly and faithful Methodius,* and lovingly call him blessed;* the pastor of the Slavs and the precious servant of the Trinity,* the one who banished heresy,* for he prays on behalf of all of us.

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)

Prokeimenon, Tone 1
My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart understanding.

Epistle: Hebrews 9:11-14 (NRSV)
Brothers and sisters, when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!

Hebrews 7:26-8:2 (NRSV)
Brothers and sisters, For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. Now the main point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent that the Lord, and not any mortal, has set up.

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: Mark 10:32-45 (NRSV);
At that time, Jesus took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.” James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

John 10:9-16 (NRSV)
The Lord said,  I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

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)*  The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)