GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140, In Tone 4
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Having torn asunder death’s dominion by Your own death, * You have granted life unto mortals by Your glorious arising, * raising up the race of mankind by Your descent into Hades. * Wherefore, we chant unto You a hymn of thanksgiving and praise, * as we celebrate the feast of Your light-bearing Resurrection on the third day, * during which the honoured mid-point has dawned upon us, ** O Life-giver, Jesus, gracious Benefactor of our souls.
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Before Your venerable Cross and Passion, * for the people’s benefit You have wrought wondrous miracles. * And at the Mid-feast set by the Law, * O almighty Savior, as it is written, * You cried unto all: * Come unto Me all you that thirst; * and partake of the divine and life-bearing waters. * For I shall grant streams of wisdom, strength, and life unto all * who draw near unto Me in faith, * since it was My good pleasure to assume the form of a man, ** as the Lover of mankind.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Like one bedridden I lay infirm in my sins, * weakened in my noetic members, * O most merciful Christ, my God. * But since You willingly became a man in Your love for mankind, * now invisibly raise me up, * as You did him who was paralyzed, * that I may profitably walk the divine paths of Your commandments, * O Savior, who before Your Passion made clear unto the Hebrew people, * through an abundance of miracles, ** that as God, You willingly suffered in the flesh.
In Tone 4,
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
With the rod of grace * you drew men forth * from the deep of vanity, * O most wondrous James, * obedient to the command of your Teacher, * who illumined your whole mind * and showed you forth * as an apostle and an honored and divine herald * of His unapproachable divinity, O all-blessed one.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
With the rod of grace * you drew men forth * from the deep of vanity, * O most wondrous James, * obedient to the command of your Teacher, * who illumined your whole mind * and showed you forth * as an apostle and an honored and divine herald * of His unapproachable divinity, O all-blessed one.
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
The effulgence of the Spirit * descended upon you in the form of fire * and made of you, O blessed one, * a habitation of God * who dispels the darkness of ungodliness with might * and enlightens the world * with the radiance of your all-wise words, * O James, initiate of the mysteries, * leader of the apostles, who beheld Christ with your own eyes.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
The effulgence of the Spirit * descended upon you in the form of fire * and made of you, O blessed one, * a habitation of God * who dispels the darkness of ungodliness with might * and enlightens the world * with the radiance of your all-wise words, * O James, initiate of the mysteries, * leader of the apostles, who beheld Christ with your own eyes.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Illumining those who sleep in the darkness of ignorance * with the splendours of your preaching, * O glorious James, * you showed them forth * as children, by faith, of our Master and God, * whose suffering and death you emulated; * and, as you are an all-wise herald of God * and His true disciple, * you have a share in His glory.
In Tone 8
Glory…
Come, let us praise James with hymns of psalms:* the preacher of heavenly mysteries and expounder of the Gospel;* for he was revealed as a river of the mystical Paradise,* watering spiritual furrows with heavenly streams,* revealing them to bear fruit to Christ God,* who, by his prayers, grants cleansing, enlightenment and great mercy!
In Tone 2
Now…
When You came into the temple at Mid-feast, O Christ God, * You taught the people, saying: * He that believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live. * And the Jews, together with the Pharisees and Sadducees and Scribes, * gnashed their teeth and said: * Who is this man that speaks blasphemies? * For they knew not that You are He who is glorified from before all ages, * together with the Father and the Spirit, ** O our God, glory be to You.
Readings: (1) James 1:1-12; (2) James 1:13-27; (3) James 2:1-13
Aposticha
In Tone 8
Blessed, God-seer James, after you listened to the voice of the Word,* you paid no heed to the service and customs of your father,* for you left behind the life of earthly cares and passed over the spiritual sea!* You stirred its depths with the precepts of godliness and with your heavenly thunder,* apostle most blessed of God!
Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the universe!
All-blessed James, by your deeds you served the Word,* the cause of life and of the future age.* Truly you deprived Israel of its first born privilege* when it forsook the worship of the true God,* while recalling it to sonship as the new Israel!
The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims His handiwork!
You are now appointed a prince over all the earth,* as it is written of you, glorious one,* since you became a disciple of the Creator of all.* In fervent zeal, you suffered murder by the transgressor’s sword,* taking you from the revered company of the twelve apostles.
In Tone 5, Glory…
How great is your infinite compassion, O Lover of Mankind;* for because of Your long-suffering You were struck by Your enemies;* You were touched by an Apostle* and deeply pierced by those who denied You.* How did You become incarnate?* How were You crucified, O Sinless One?* Teach us to cry out as Thomas:* My Lord and my God, glory to You!
In Tone 3, Now…
At Mid-feast we glorify Him * who has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. * In the midst of two thieves did Life hang upon a Tree; * He was silent to the one who blasphemed, * but to the other who believed, * He cried aloud, saying: * Today you shall be with Me in Paradise. * He descended into the grave, despoiled Hades, ** and arose on the third day, saving our souls.
Troparia
In Tone 3
O James, worthy of all praise,* chosen apostle of Christ and only brother of the beloved theologian;* ask God to bestow on those who hymn you forgiveness of sins* and to grant our souls great mercy.
In Tone 8
Glory… Now…
At the mid-point of the Feast, O Saviour,* water my thirsty soul with streams of true godliness;* for You cried out to all: Let any who thirst, come to Me and drink.* Source of life, Christ our God, glory to You!
DIVINE LITURGY
After the priest has exclaimed, Blessed be the Kingdom… and the people have responded, Amen, the clergy sing the Paschal Troparion once and the people repeat it. Then, the clergy sing the first half, and the people conclude it.
Paschal Troparion
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: At the mid-point of the Feast, O Saviour,* water my thirsty soul with streams of true godliness;* for You cried out to all: Let any who thirst, come to Me and drink.* Source of life, Christ our God, glory to You!
Troparion, Tone 3: O James, worthy of all praise,* chosen apostle of Christ and only brother of the beloved theologian.* Ask God to bestow on those who hymn you forgiveness of sins* and to grant our souls great mercy.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 2: When you heard God’s voice calling out to you,* you spurned the love of your father* and fled to Christ with your kinsman, O glorious James.* With him you were favoured to see the Lord’s divine transfiguration.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: At the mid-point of the Feast according to the Law,* Maker of all things and Master,* You said to those present, O Christ God:* Come, and draw the water of immortality.* And so we fall before You crying out with faith: Grant us Your mercies , for You are the source of our life.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their word unto the ends of the world. (Psalm 18:5)
verse: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands.
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Great is our Lord and great is His strength;* and of His knowledge there is no end. (Psalm 146:5,1)
Epistle: Acts 10:34-43; Acts 12:1-11
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: The heavens shall confess our wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints. (Psalm 88:6)
verse: God is glorified in the council of the saints.
verse: Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God our Saviour.
verse: For God is the great Lord and the great king over all the earth. (Psalm 94:1,3)
Gospel: John 8:12-20; Luke 5:1-11
Hymn to the Mother of God
Virginity is alien to mothers and child-bearing is foreign to virgins; yet in you, O Mother of God, both of them came together. Therefore, we and all the nations of the earth without ceasing magnify you.
Communion Hymn
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their word unto the ends of the world.(Psalm 18:4) * He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood* abides in Me and I in him, says the Lord. (John 6:56) * Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.
Instead of Blessed is He Who comes… we sing:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Instead of We have seen the true light… we sing:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Instead of May our mouths be filled… we sing three times:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Instead of Blessed be the name of the Lord… we sing three times:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
At the dismissal, instead of Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen. we chant:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
After the final Amen, the Troparion Christ is risen is sung as at the beginning of the Liturgy, but with the addition:
And to us He has granted life eternal;* we bow down before His resurrection on the third day.