Mid-Pentecost; The Holy Martyr Isidore. Acts 14:6-18; John 7:14-30.

GREAT VESPERS

At Psalm 140, In Tone 4

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

There is come now the middle of those days* which commence with the saving Arising* and which are sealed by the sacred Pentecost.* Illumined by both feasts and joining both,* we come to render glory and honour beforehand* to the regal Ascension.

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

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

Sion heard and rejoiced when it received the glad tidings of Christ’s Resurrection,* and all of her faithful offspring greatly rejoice upon beholding Him,* who by the grace of the Spirit* washes away the stain of the murder of the Christ,* preparing to solemnly celebrate* the joyous Mid-festival of both feasts.

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

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

The bountiful pouring forth of the Spirit upon all,* is now at hand as the Scripture says.* This is proclaimed by the mid-point of the blessed season* after Christ’s death, burial and arising,* when He gave to His disciples His unfailing and true promise,* which revealed most clearly the coming of the Comforter.

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

Tone 6, Glory… Now…

Having come together at the Mid-feast* between Your Resurrection and the divine coming of Your Holy Spirit, O Christ,* we praise the mysteries of Your wonders.* Therefore, on this day You send down Your great mercy to us.

Readings

(1) Micah 4:2, 3; 6:1-5, 8; (2) Isaiah 55:1-13; (3) Proverbs 9:1-11

Litany of Fervent Supplication

‘Vouchsafe, O Lord…’

Litany of Demands

Aposticha

Tone 1

The mid-point of the days of Pentecost has come.* Wherein Christ disclosed His divine might in pare, in that He strengthened the paralytic* and by a word raised him up from his bed.* In a God-befitting manner He wrought miracles in a body of clay,* and has granted to mankind* everlasting life and great mercy.

Remember Your congregation,* which You have purchased from the beginning.

You, the Wisdom of God, came to the temple at Mid-feast,* teaching and reproving the disobedient Jews, the Pharisees, and Scribes,* and with boldness You cried to them:* He that thirsts, let him come to Me and drink living water,* and he shall never again thirst to eternity.* From him that believes in My goodness,* rivers of eternal life shall pour forth from his noetic belly.* O how great is Your goodness and compassion,* O Christ our God! Glory be to You.

Tone 2

God is our King before the ages,* He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

When the Mid-feast had come, Jesus went up into the temple* and taught the disobedient Jews, saying:* He that thirsts, let him come to Me and drink living and everlasting water,* and he shall never again thirst to eternity.* He that believes in Me, rivers shall flow from his noetic belly,* and he shall have the light of life.

Tone 8, Glory… Now…

When You were teaching at Mid-feast, O Saviour, the Jews spoke saying:* Having never studied, how is this man learned?* For they knew not that You are the Wisdom that fashioned the world.* Glory be to You.

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!

Great Dismissal

AT MATINS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

Usual Beginning

Hexapsalm

Great Litany

God the Lord, Tone 8

Troparia

Glory… Now…

Psalter Reading

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn, Tone 4

The Lord, Who perceives the hidden though thoughts of all hearts, * while standing within the temple cried aloud * declaring the truth to those who had lied: * Why do you seek to apprehend Me, the Life-giver? * Thus with boldness He cried at Mid-feast. ** “Judge not by appearance, but judge rightly, you lawless ones.”

Glory… Now…

Psalter Reading

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn, Tone 5

On the day of the Mid-feast of Pentecost, * the Lord of all stood in the temple, * and spoke with boldness to the Hebrews, * openly censuring them as their King and God, * with a just rebuke of their presumptuousness. * But in His boundless compassion, ** He has bestowed His great mercy upon us all.

Glory… Now…

Hymn of the Resurrection (once)

Psalm 50

Canon, Tone 8

Ode 1

Canon I

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 be to You our God, Glory to You.

The great benefactions and gifts, the graces and divine illuminations of Your incomprehensible and divine Incarnation, do You abundantly pour forth and shine upon us, O Master.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

At Mid-feast You have come, O Christ, manifestly sending forth the radiant flashes of Your Godhead; for You are the joyous Festival of the saved and the Cause of our salvation.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You are become wisdom, righteousness from God, and redemption for us, O Lord. You do convey us from earth to the height of Heaven, and do grant us the Divine Spirit.

Most holy Theotokos save us.

Your flesh knew not corruption in the sepulchre, O Master. Rather, inasmuch as it was formed without seed, it received not corruption, for in a transcendent manner it was not subject to the order of nature.

Canon II

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Clap your hands, O nations; lament, O Hebrews. For Christ, the Giver of Life, has broken asunder the bonds of Hades, and has raised up the dead and healed sicknesses by a word. This is our God, Who grants life to them that believe in His Name.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You show a wonder by changing the water into wine, O Master, Who change the rivers of Egypt into blood. You also raise up the dead, accomplishing this sign in these latter times. Glory be to Your ineffable counsel, O Saviour; glory be to Your self-abasement, whereby You have renewed us.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You are an ever-flowing stream of true life, O Lord; You are our Resurrection. Willingly You become weary, O my Saviour, and willingly You thirst, submitting to the laws of nature. And when You came to Sichar in the flesh, You ask the Samaritan woman for water, that You might drink.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You bless the loaves and multiply the fish, O incomprehensible God; You fill the people bounteously and promise an ever-flowing spring of wisdom to them that thirst. You are our God, O Saviour, Who give life to them that believe in Your Name.

Glory…

I glorify the Three Who are co-beginningless and of equal sovereignty: the Father, Who is beginningless God; the Son, Who is co beginningless; and the Spirit, Who is co-eternal with the Son; one essence in three Hypostases. I praise and honour one supreme sovereign Principle of the beginningless Godhead and Essence.

Now…

You alone contain within your womb the Creator, O Birthgiver of God, ineffably conceiving Him in the flesh yet remaining a Virgin, while your virginity in no wise suffered harm. Do you ever entreat Him unceasingly on behalf of your flock, since He is your Son and God.

Katavasia: You make the sea a wall; * You overwhelm boastful Pharaoh in the deep * together with his chariots. * You save the people dry-shod, O Lord, * and lead them forth to a mountain of sanctification, as they cried: * We shall sing a song of victory to You, our God, * for You have been glorified.

Ode 3

Canon I

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

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You open to the Church the springs of life-creating waters, O Good One, and cry: If any zealous man thirst, let him come and drink.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You say plainly that You wouldst be lifted up from earth to Heaven, and You promise to send the Holy Spirit from thence.

Most holy Theotokos save us.

The Lord, Who by nature is life-creating and Who was born of a Virgin, has granted incorruption to all the faithful, since He is compassionate.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Do not judge a judgment according to appearance, O Jews; thus, as it is written, said the Master when He came to the temple and taught at the Judaic Mid-feast.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Do not judge a judgment according to appearance, O Jews, for Christ is come. The Prophets named Him: He that comes from Sion and has restored the world.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Even though you believe not His Words, O Jews, be convinced by the works of the Master. Why do you deceive yourselves and disregard the Holy One, of Whom Moses wrote in the Law?

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

If the Messiah must assuredly come, O ye Jews, then the Messiah has now come, Who is Christ. Why do ye deceive yourselves and disregard the Righteous One, of Whom Moses wrote in the Law?

Glory…

We worship You, O Father, Who are beginningless in Your essence, and we piously praise Your beginningless Son and the all-holy Spirit, O Three Who are by nature one God.

Now…

Though You are one of the Trinity, You assume flesh, neither undergoing change in Your essence nor burning the uncorrupted womb of her that gave birth to You, O Lord, Who are wholly God and Fire.

Katavasia: My heart is established in the Lord, * my horn is exalted in my God, * my mouth is enlarged against mine enemies, * and I rejoice in Your salvation.

Sessional Hymn, Tone 8

At Mid-feast You stood in the temple’s court in a god-befitting manner * and cried aloud: * Let him who suffers thirst now draw to Me and drink. * He that drinks of the sacred water that I shall give, * from within shall the springs of My teachings flow forth. * Whosoever believes that the Divine Father has sent Me, * and that I came forth from Him, * with Me he shall be glorified. * Therefore we cry to You: * Glory be to You, O Christ God, * Who causes the streams of Your great love for mankind, * to abundantly well forth to us, Your servants.

Glory… Now…

You, O Saviour, pour out for all the world living waters of wisdom and endless life, * inviting all to partake and to drink thereof; * for he who receives and keeps Your holy law * quenches the coals of deception. * Wherefore, he shall not thirst throughout the ages, * nor fail to be filled with You, O Master King of Heaven. * For this we glorify Your power, O Christ God, * asking that the forgiveness of sins ** be abundantly granted to us, Your servants.

Ode 4

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

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Having shattered the gates of death by Your might, You have made known the ways of life; and You open the gates of immortality to them that cry with faith: Glory be to Your power, O Lord.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Since You Who are beginningless do have in the grasp of Your hand the beginning of all things, and do hold fast their middle and final end as well, You stand in the midst and cry aloud: Come, O you of godly mind; enjoy the divine gifts.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Since You as God have authority over all things, and as one mighty destroy the dominion of death, O Christ, You promise to send the Holy Spirit, Who proceeds from the Father.

Most holy Theotokos save us.

O all-immaculate Mother who knew not wedlock, you do bestow grace abundantly upon those who praise you; and from the Word Who is before the ages and Who was born from you, you do entreat for the forgiveness of their offences. The Second Canon:

Canon II

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

If the Messiah must come, then Christ is the Messiah, O lawless ones; Why do you not believe in Him? Behold, He is come, and the things He does bears witness to Him: He made the water into wine and strengthened the paralytic by a word.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Since you do not understand the Scriptures, you are all deceived, O lawless Hebrews; for Christ is truly come and has enlightened all mankind, showing forth many signs and wonders among you. In vain do you deny Him Who is the true Life.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Christ cried to the Jews: One work have I shown to you, and already marvel. You circumcise a man even on the Sabbath, He says; Why then do you accuse Me, Who have raised up a paralytic by a word?

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

I have done many works; for which work, then, do you stone Me? cried Christ to the Jews, reproaching them. For by a word I have made a man completely whole; judge not according to appearance, O you men.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You Who work through the Apostles and Who, together with the Spirit, do Yourself rest in the Prophets, O Christ, You immaculate Offspring of the Father’s nature, You lead the nations up to knowledge of You through Your signs.

Glory …

O Trinity, undivided Unity; beginningless Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; You Trinity in Unity; O life-creating, uncreated God, equal in honour and in rank: Save those who praise You, and deliver them from dangers and afflictions.

Now…

O Bride of God and pure Virgin Mother, who contain God in your womb while He yet remained uncircumscribed: Cease not to intercede on our behalf, that through you we may be delivered from adversities, for to you do we ever flee for refuge.

Katavasia: With noetic eyes the Prophet Habbakuk * foresaw Your coming, O Lord; * wherefore he cried aloud: * “God shall come out of Theman!” Glory to Your power! * Glory to Your condescension!

Ode 5

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

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Having reached the middle of the divine feasts, let us be godly-wise and zealously adorn ourselves with the perfection of divine virtue.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

How truly sacred is this present feast; for it marks the mid-point of the great feasts and does shine forth from both.

Most holy Theotokos save us.

The mind of the Archangel is not able to comprehend Your ineffable and most pure birth-giving from a Virgin, O my greatly merciful Saviour. The Second Canon

Canon II

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Having adorned Your Apostles with miracles and magnified Your disciples with wonders throughout the World, You have glorified them and bestowed upon them Your Kingdom, O our Saviour.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

The disciples have enlightened all the ends of the earth with miracles and teachings, and in diverse ways they preached the word of Your Kingdom, O Christ Saviour.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

We send up praise to Your Kingdom, and we offer a hymn to You Who appear on earth for our sake and enlightened the World and restore Adam.

Glory…

Glory be to You, O holy Father, unbegotten God. Glory be to You, O timeless, only-begotten Word. Glory be to You, O Divine Spirit, of one throne and of one essence with the Father and the Son.

Now…

Your womb is become a holy table which holds the Heavenly Bread, he that eats of it dies not, as the Nourisher of all has said, O Birthgiver of God.

Katavasia: O Lord our God, bestow Your peace upon us; * O Lord our God, take us for Your possession; * O Lord, besides You we know none other: * and we call upon Your Name.

Ode 6

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 be to You our God, Glory to You.

The mid-point of Pentecost has come this day. By the former feast it is illumined with the most divine radiance of the divine Pascha, and by the latter feast it is made to shine with the grace of the Comforter.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

While standing in the temple, O Christ, You spoke to the assemblies of the Jews and reveal Your own glory, thereby manifesting Your consubstantiality with the Father.

Most holy Theotokos save us.

Be you my protection and mine unshaken rampart, O only Mother of God. Redeem me from the stumbling-blocks of the world, and illumine me by your divine effulgence. The Second Canon

Canon II

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

O Jesus, Who takes care for all the ends of the earth, You go up to the temple at Mid-feast, as John has said, and taught the multitudes the Word of truth.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You open Your lips, O Master, and preach to the world the most-pure Father and the all-holy Spirit, preserving Your kinship with both even after Your Incarnation.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You accomplish the work of the Father and confirm Your words by Your deeds, for You perform healings and signs, O Saviour, raising the paralytic, cleansing lepers, and resurrecting the dead.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

The beginningless Son received a beginning and became a man, taking upon Himself that which is proper to our nature. And at Mid-feast He taught and said: Hasten to the ever-flowing Spring, that you may draw forth life.

Glory…

We all glorify the one Godhead in Trinity, the uncreated and undivided essence in three Hypostases, even the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Who while being Three are One.

Now…

We praise you who remain a virgin after giving birth; you alone do we glorify as both Virgin and Mother, O pure Maiden, Bride of God; for from you God truly became incarnate and thus Quickened us.

Katavasia: The billows of life trouble me like the waters of the sea, * O Lover of Mankind. * Wherefore, like Jonah I cry to You, O Word: * Raise up my life from corruption, O compassionate Lord.

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.

Ikos

With the streams of Your Blood do You Water my soul, which is grown dry and barren because of mine iniquities and offences, and show it forth to be fruitful in virtues. For You tell all to draw nigh to You, O all-holy Word of God, and to draw forth the water of incorruption, which is living and which washes away the sins of those who praise Your glorious and divine arising. To them that know You as God, O Good One, grant from on high the strength of the Spirit, which verily was borne by Your disciples, for You are truly the Well-spring of life for all.

Ode 7

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 be to You our God, Glory to You.

Having dispelled the power of death by Your might, O Saviour, You have made known to all mankind the path of life. With thankfulness they cry to You: Blessed are You in the temple of Your glory, O Lord.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Beholding You bearing flesh, the assemblies of the Hebrew people did not recognize You, O Word of God; but we sing to You: Blessed are You in the temple of Your glory, O Lord.

Most holy Theotokos save us.

Rejoice O sanctified and divine tabernacle of the Most High; for through you, O Theotokos, joy has been granted to those who cry: Blessed are you among women, O most immaculate Lady.

Canon II

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You Who are rest for all grow weary in the flesh; You Who are the well-spring of miracles willingly thirst. You seek after water, O Jesus, promising living water.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You converse with a Samaritan woman, O Lord, thereby reproving the mindlessness of the lawless Hebrews, insofar as she believed You to be the Son of God, and they denied You.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

O Saviour, You ever-living well-spring, You promise to grant living water which springs forth, the water of immortality, to those who with faith receive Your Spirit, which proceeds from the Father.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

With five loaves You fed the thousands that hungered, and made the child’s morsels to be more than enough for yet another multitude, O Saviour. Thus showing Your glory to Your sacred disciples.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

He that eats Your Bread shall live forever, and he that drinks Your Blood abides in You, my Saviour, and You abide in him, and You shall raise him up at the last day.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You made Your dispensation wondrous, O Master, confirming by miracles Your divine authority. You drive out illnesses, raise up the dead, and enlighten the blind, since You are God.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You cleanse the lepers and restore the lame; You strengthen the paralytics and heal the blood-streaming woman, and walk upon the sea. Thus showing Your glory to Your sacred disciples.

Glory…

We worship Your timeless Father and the grace of the Spirit, which You as God apportion to Your Apostles, sending them forth to preach, O Lord. Both

Now…

You contain within your womb the uncontainable Word, you suckle at your breasts Him that nourishes the world and hold in thine arms our Sustainer, O pure Birth-giver of God.

Katavasia: The Chaldean furnace, burning with fire, * was bedewed by the Spirit * through the presence of God; * and the children chanted: * O God of our fathers, Blessed are You!

Ode 8

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 ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Having arisen from the grave as one comely, and adorned with the glory of the Godhead, O Lord, You appear to Your Apostles and promise to send the power of the Spirit to those who cry aloud: Bless ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

In a manner befitting You, since You as God are the Supreme Author of life, You slay Hades and well forth eternal life to all, wherefore the graces of these radiant days now constitute a most clear image of the everlasting life of those who cry: Bless ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You cause rays of righteousness to shine upon the world like the sun, O Christ, in that You send Your Apostles to the world. Bearing You, the incomprehensible Light, they drove away the darkness of ignorance, and cried: Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.

Most holy Theotokos save us.

Behold now, a prince and ruler has manifestly come from the tribe of Judah; for you, O all-immaculate one, have given birth to Him Who is the Expectation of the nations which were set aside for Him before time. O you who have borne Christ, to Whom we chant: Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.

Canon II

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Come, O ye peoples, and behold Him Who is praised upon a throne of glory, being blasphemed by lawless people. And as ye behold Him, praise Him as the Messiah, Who was foretold by the Prophets.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

You are truly the Christ, Who have come into the world. With You there is salvation and the remission of the failings of our fathers; You are indeed the Life of those who have come to believe in You.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

As it is written, the Wisdom of God came into the temple at Mid-feast and taught that He is truly Christ the Messiah, from Whom there comes salvation.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

On the Sabbaths and on all days Christ wrought manifest signs, healing those in diverse illnesses. But the deceitful people were consumed with malice and wrath.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

The Jews bitterly reviled Christ and said: On the Sabbath did this Man has healed the paralytic who had lain sick for many years, therefore He has transgressed the Law.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Christ said to the Jews: Did not Moses in giving you the Law command that ye be circumcised? Yet ye circumcise on the Sabbath, lest the Law of your fathers be broken.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

They that were wholly ungrateful and who of old had sojourned in the wilderness, out of malice cast blasphemies at their Benefactor. They wagged their unjust tongues while they meditated vain things.

Let us bless the Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Of a truth, the Trinity is one God, without the Father leaving that which is proper to Himself and assuming Sonship, nor with the Son transforming His attributes into procession. But I glorify the Three apart and together, as Light and God, throughout the ages.

Now…

Tell us, O Theotokos: How did you give birth to Him Who has shone forth timelessly from the Father and Who is praised together with the Holy Spirit? – except in a manner known only to Him Who was well-pleased to be born from You.

Katavasia: Seated upon the throne of glory, * and unceasingly glorified as God, * O ye angels and heavens bless, ** hymn and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!.

The Song of the Theotokos (Magnificat) is not sung.

Ode 9

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

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Since we have learned from Christ a new and unprecedented way of life, let us all be especially diligent to preserve it until the end, that We may enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

O Life-Giving Saviour, You clothe my mortal nature with the garment of immortality and the grace of incorruption, and raise it up together with Yourself. You lead it to the Father, having dispelled my warfare of many years.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Since we have been restored again to the life of Heaven by virtue of the mediation of Him Who emptied Himself even so far as to assume the form of a servant and has exalted us, let us magnify Him as is meet.

Most holy Theotokos save us.

All we the faithful have put our trust in you, and we acclaim you with songs of praise as the root, source, and cause of incorruption, O Virgin, for you well forth for us the Hypostatic Immortality.

Canon II

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

At the Judaic Mid-feast, O my Saviour, You go up to Your temple and teach all. And the Jews marvelled and said: How does this Man know letters, having never learned?

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

My Redeemer performed wonders and signs, welling forth gifts of healings. He drove away illnesses and healed the ailing, but the Jews raged with frenzy at the multitude of His miracles.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

My Redeemer cried out as He reproached the disobedient Jews: Judge not according to appearance, but judge ye a righteous judgment. For the Law also commands that every man be circumcised, even if it be on the Sabbath.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

As You promise, O Saviour, You grant the greater miracles to Your disciples when You send them to preach Your glory to the nations. And they proclaimed to the world Your grace and Resurrection and Incarnation.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

Christ said to the Jews: If ye circumcise a man on the Sabbath that the Law might not be broken, why are ye now angry with Me, in that by a word I have made a man completely whole? Ye judge according to the flesh.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

O Word, Who heal the withered hand by a word, do You heal the earth of my heart, which has long ago become parched, and show me forth as one fruitful, that I also might bring forth fruit in fervent repentance, O Saviour.

Glory be to You our God, Glory to You.

I lie upon my bed of pain, O Word. Make me to stand aright by cleansing my leprous heart and enlightening the eyes of my soul, even as You raise up the paralytic who lay upon his bed.

Glory…

It is alien to the lawless to reverence the beginningless Trinity, even the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the uncreated Omnipotence, through Whom the whole world was established by the might of His power. Both

Now…

You, O Virgin Mother, contained in your womb Christ, the Giver of life, Who is One of the Trinity; Whom all creation praises and before Whom the thrones on high tremble. Do you beseech Him, O all-blessed one, that our souls be saved.

Katavasia: 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.

Hymn of Light, Tone 3

O You Who has the never-emptying wine-bowl of gifts, * grant that I may draw water for remission of my sins. * For with great thirst am I taken, ** O only lovingly compassionate One. (Twice)

Stichera of the Praises, Tone 4

Praise Him for His powerful deeds,* praise His surpassing greatness.

The Divine Wisdom and Might, * the effulgent Light of the Father, * the eternal Word, the Son of the living God, * came in the flesh into the temple * and imparted His holy words of instruction to the Jews, * those ungrateful and grievous ones, * and amazed by the wealth of His Wisdom, they cried out saying: * By What means does He know letters, ** since He has not been taught by any man?

O praise Him with sound of trumpet,* praise Him with lute and harp;

Praise Him with timbrel and dance,* praise Him with strings and pipes.

The Messiah and Lord of all * shut the mouths of the lawless scribes, * and rebuked the Jews as He cried out to them: * Judge not according to appearances, * O you lawlessly disobedient ones. * For on the Sabbath I raised up and cured him that was paralyzed. * Wherefore I am the Lord of the Law and the Sabbath. * Why seek then to slay Me, Who have raised up the dead?

Tone 1

O praise Him with resounding cymbals, praise Him with clashing of cymbals.* Let everything that lives and that breathes give praise to the Lord.

Nabutheus was killed with stones, * by the lawless and grievous ones, * from among the nation of the ungrateful Jews. * They sawed Esaias asunder with a saw fashioned from wood. * And they cast into the mire Jeremiah, the wise one. * And, on lifting up their own Lord upon the Cross, * they cried out saying: * You Who would destroy the temple, ** save Yourself and we shall believe You.

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

Having been enlightened by the Resurrection of Christ the Saviour, O ye brethren, * and having reached the midst of the feast of the Master, * let us truly keep the commandments of God, * that we may be deemed worthy to celebrate the Ascension ** and be vouchsafed the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Great Doxology

Trisagion Prayers

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.* O Source of Life, Christ our God, glory to You!

Insistent Litany

Litany of Supplication

Great Dismissal

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.* O Source of Life, Christ our God, glory to You!

+Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. 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 3
Great is our Lord, and great is His strength;* and of His knowledge there is no end.
verse: Praise the Lord, for a psalm is good; may praise be sweet to Him. (Psalm 146:5,1)

Epistle: Acts 14:6-18 (NRSV);
In those days, Paul and Barnabus fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country; and there they continued proclaiming the good news.
In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And the man sprang up and began to walk. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: Remember Your congregation which You acquired from the beginning.
verse: But God is our king before the ages; He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. (Psalm 73:2,12)

Gospel: John 7:14-30 (NRSV)
About the middle of the festival of Pentecost Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. The Jews were astonished at it, saying, “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” Then Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.
“Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?” The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?” Jesus answered them, “I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man’s whole body on the sabbath? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

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
Those who eat My flesh and drink My blood* abide in Me and I in them, says the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (John 6:56)

Instead of “Blessed is He Who comes…” and “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. (3)

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. (3)

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.

April 29; Mid-Pentecost

Mid-Pentecost; The Holy Martyr Isidore. Acts 14:6-18; John 7:14-30.

GREAT VESPERS

AT MATINS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

DIVINE LITURGY

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