The Holy Myrrhbearer and Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene; Return of the Relics of the Hieromartyr Phocas.
Divine Liturgy
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion Tone 1: In keeping His commandments and laws, holy Mary Magdalene,* you followed Christ, Who for our sake was born of a Virgin,* and in celebrating your most holy memory today,* we receive forgiveness of sins by your prayers!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion Tone 4: When God, Who is transcendent in Essence,* came with flesh into the world, Myrrhbearer,* He received you as a true disciple for you turned all your love toward Him;* henceforth you would yourself work many healings.* Now that you have passed into heaven, never cease to intercede for the world!
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.
verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)
Epistle
1 Corinthians 13:4-14:5
Brothers and Sisters, love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church. Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and He was attentive to me, and He heard my prayer.
verse: He brought me out of the pit of misery and the mud of the swamp. (Psalm 39:2,3)
Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16
The Lord told this parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear*. Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)
Vespers
Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You!
Heavenly King, Advocate, Spirit of Truth, Who are everywhere present and fill all things, Treasury of Blessings, Bestower of Life, come, and dwell within us; cleanse us of all that defiles us, and O Good One, save our souls.
Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Trinity most holy, have mercy on us. Cleanse us of our sins, O Lord* pardon our transgressions, O Master; look upon our weaknesses and heal them, O Holy One; for the sake of Your Name.
Lord, have mercy. (3)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (12)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Come, let us bow in worship before the King, our God.
Come, let us bow in worship before Christ, the King, our God.
Come, let us bow in worship and fall down before the very Lord Jesus Christ, our King and God.
Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul! You are very great O Lord, my God;
Clothed in pomp and brilliance; arrayed with light as with a cloak.
Stretching out the sky as a tent-cloth, covering Your lofty halls with water.
You make the clouds Your conveyance. You surge on the wings of the wind.
You make spirits Your messengers, and flaming fires Your attendants.
You settle the earth on its firm foundation; it shall stand unmoved from age to age.
The abyss covers it like a garment; waters stand over the mountains.
At Your rebuke they will take flight; at the peal of Your thunder they will fear.
They hurdle the hills and run down the dales, to the place You have chosen for them.
You have set up a boundary not to be passed; they shall never return to cover the earth.
Down in the gullies You make springs to rise; water shall go down between the mountains.
They shall give drink to the beasts of the field; wild asses will seek them to quench their thirst.
The birds of the sky will abide by them; from among the rocks they will raise their song.
From Your lofty halls You refresh the mountains; the earth shall be fed with the fruit of Your works.
You make green pastures for the cattle and food-plants for the service of all,
So that bread may be brought forth from the earth, and wine that gladdens the heart of man.
So that oil may put a gleam upon his face; and that bread may strengthen the heart of all.
The trees of the plain will be satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted.
The sparrows will build their nests in them; and the herons will call them their home.
To the deer belong high mountains, to rodents, the shelter of the rocks.
You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows the time of its setting.
You establish darkness, and it is night wherein the forest creatures prowl around.
Young lions roar for their prey, and call out to God for their meat.
As the sun rises, they will come together, and lay themselves down in their dens.
Man will go out to his labour and work until eventide.
How great are Your works, O Lord, in wisdom You have wrought them all.
The earth is filled with Your creatures. Even the wide and open sea itself, within it there are countless creeping things, living beings small and large.
Upon it there are ships a-sailing, and that great beast You made to have fun.
All of them look up to You, to give them their food in due time.
You provide and they gather up; You open Your hand and they are full.
You hide Your face and they cringe; You suspend their breath, and they die and return to their dust.
You send forth Your breath and they live; You renew the face of the earth.
May the Lord’s glory endure for ever: may the Lord rejoice in His works;
He looks upon the earth and makes it quake; He touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will praise my God as long as I last.
Would that my thoughts be pleasing to Him: and I will rejoice in the Lord.
May sinners vanish from the earth, and may the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
The sun knows the time of its setting. You establish darkness, and it is night.
How great are Your works, O Lord, in wisdom You have wrought them all.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to You, O God! (3)
Litany of Peace
Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For peace throughout the world, for the well-being of God’s holy churches and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the most holy universal Pontiff, (name), the Pope of Rome, our most blessed Patriarch, (name), our most reverend Metropolitan, (name), our God-loving Bishop, (name), for the reverend priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, and all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our nation under God, for our government, and for all the military, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this city, for every city and country and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For favourable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the seafarers and travellers, for the sick and the suffering, for those held captive, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and misfortune, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help and save, have mercy, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life, to Christ our God.
All: To You, O Lord.
Priest: For all glory, honour, and worship befit You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Psalm 140
O Lord, I have cried to You, hear me. Hear me, O Lord! O Lord, I have cried to You, hear me. Receive the voice of my prayer when I call upon You. Hear me, O Lord!
Let my prayer rise like incense before You, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord!
Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth and a portal around my lips.
Incline my heart away from evil dealings, from finding excuses for sinful deeds.
In company with those who work iniquity, let me not partake of what they choose.
May the just chasten me with justice and reprove me; may the oil of the wicked never touch my head.
Yet even then shall I pray for their welfare. Their rulers were swallowed near the rock.
My words will be heard, for they were sweet. As a lump of clay broken on the ground, so their bones were strewn near the grave.
On You, Lord, O Lord, my eyes are fixed. In You have I trusted; take not my life.
Keep me from the snare that was set for me, and from the stumbling-blocks of the wicked.
The wicked shall fall into their own nets, while I remain alone until I can escape.
Psalm 141
With my voice I cried to the Lord; with all my voice I implored the Lord.
Before Him I pour out my supplications; before Him I declare my distress.
When my breath was escaping me, then You knew my paths;
On the road upon which I was walking, they set up snares for me.
I looked to my right and observed there was no one friendly to me;
Even flight was denied me; there was no one to take care of my life.
I cried out to You, O Lord, and said: You are my hope, my share in the land of the living.
Listen to my supplication, for I am laid very low.
Deliver me from my oppressors, for they have overwhelmed me.
Lead my soul forth from prison that I may give thanks to Your name.
The just shall gather around me when You give me my due reward.
Psalm 129
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice!
Let Yours ears be attentive to the voice of my prayer.
At Psalm 140
Tone 8, Podoben “O all-glorious wonder…”
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Bearing myrrh with tears, O Mary Magdalene,* on reaching the divine sepulchre you saw an angel of glory* who proclaimed the divine resurrection of the Bestower of life* and the deliverance of all.* Wherefore, you hastened to make announcement to the eleven, saying joyfully:* Leap up, for Christ has risen!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Serving Christ God, who had become like to us for our sake, O all-lauded one,* and setting your soul and mind afire with continual radiance, you became light.* And, beholding the strange vision of Him hanging upon the Cross,* you said, weeping:* “How is it that Life now accepts a voluntary death?”
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
We celebrate your sacred memory, O you who learned of Christ* and who preached His precepts for the deliverance of men’s souls, O most glorious Mary;* and we venerate with faith the shrine of your relics,* which pours forth inexhaustible grace and enlightenment* upon those who have recourse to it with love, O blessed of God.
Tone 4, Podoben “You have given a sign…”
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
You offered yourself wholly to Him* who, for your sake, endured His salvific suffering, O all-lauded father,* and you made haste with diligence* to be well-pleasing to Him in the blood of martyrdom* and to cleave to Him.* Hence, crowned by Him, you have been glorified* and enriched by the working of miracles, O all-wise one.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
By your endurance of suffering, O Phocas,* you cast down the arrogance of the iniquitous and the worship of the demons,* manifestly proclaiming the Saviour of all,* illumining the thoughts of the faithful* and dispelling the darkness of the vanity of idolatry* with the enlightenment of your miracles* and the splendour of your struggles, O blessed of God.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
We who are beset by misfortunes,* by the waves of life and the abyss of transgressions,* and are assailed by the tempest of grief,* having you as a haven of salvation, pray with faith:* by your supplications save us who honour your holy memory* from every evil circumstance,* entreating the Lord and Master, who loves mankind.
Tone 6, Glory…
Being the first to behold the divine resurrection of the First Cause of good things,* who in the goodness of His heart has deified our nature,* O Mary Magdalene, you showed yourself to be also the first evangelist,* crying out to the apostles:* “Setting aside your grief, take courage!* Come and behold the risen Christ* who grants the world great mercy!”
Now…, Podoben “Having set all aside…”
The unblemished ewe-lamb, the immaculate Mistress,* when of old she beheld her Lamb upon the tree of the Cross,* exclaimed maternally and, marvelling, cried aloud:* “O my Child most sweet!* What is this new and all-glorious sight?* How have the thankless assembly betrayed You to the tribunal of Pilate?* How does he condemn You to death, who are the life of all?* Yet I hymn Your ineffable condescension, O Word!”
Deacon: Wisdom! Stand aright!
Hymn of Light
Tranquil Light, of the holy glory of the immortal heavenly, holy blessed Father, O Jesus Christ: as we come upon the sunset, as we see the evening light, we sing to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. At all times You are worthy of being hymned by joyful voices; O Son of God, You are the giver of life. For this the whole world glorifies You.
Prokeimenon
Deacon: Let us be attentive!
Priest: Peace be with all.
Deacon: Wisdom! Let us be attentive!
Tuesday Evening, Psalm 22, Tone 1
Your mercy, O Lord, shall follow me* all the days of my life.
v. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. In green pastures He gives me repose.
Deign, O Lord
Deign, O Lord, to keep us this evening without sin.
Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name for ever. Amen.
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us because we have set our hope in You.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your commandments.
Blessed are You, O Master, make me understand Your commandments.
Blessed are You, O Holy One, enlighten me with Your laws.
O Lord, Your mercy endures forever; do not despise the work of Your hands.
It is proper to praise You, and hymns belong to You.
Glory belongs to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Litany of Supplication
Deacon: Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help and save, have mercy, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That this whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: For the forgiveness and remission of our sins and offenses, let us ask the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: For all that is good and beneficial for our souls and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: That we may spend the rest of our lives in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: For a Christian end to our lives, one that is painless, unashamed, and peaceful; and for a good defence at the awesome tribunal of Christ, let us ask.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life, to Christ our God.
All: To You, O Lord.
Priest: For You, O God, are gracious and You love mankind, and we glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Priest: Peace to all of you.
All: And with your spirit.
Deacon: Bow your heads to the Lord.
All: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord our God, You lowered the heavens when You came down for the salvation of the human race. Now look upon Your servants and upon Your inheritance; for they have bowed their heads to You, the Judge, both awesome and loving. They do not await human help but look for Your mercy and are ready to receive Your salvation. Guard them at all times, this evening and tonight, against all enemies, against the devil’s assaults, against vain thoughts and evil dreams. May the might of Your kingdom be blessed and exalted, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Aposticha
Tone 7
No longer are we forbidden the Tree of life,* for we have Your Cross as our hope.* О Lord, glory be to You!
I have lifted up my eyes to You enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God until He has mercy on us.
Suspended upon the Tree, О Immortal One,* You broke the snares of the devil.* О Lord, glory be to You!
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we have been filled with shame; our soul is all too full of the mockery of the rich, of the contempt of the proud.
Caring nothing for all the things of earth, О holy martyrs,* and having manfully preached Christ at the tribunal,* you received from Him rewards for your torments;* but as you have boldness, beseech Him,* as the almighty God, that He save the souls of us who flee to you, we pray.
Tone 8, Glory…
As a disciple who faithfully ministered to Christ God,* who in the excess of His compassion willingly assumed my poverty,* Mary Magdalene, when she beheld Him stretched out upon the Tree and enclosed in the sepulchre,* cried aloud, shedding tears:* “What strange sight is this, O You who give life to the dead?* How is it that You are reckoned among the dead?* What myrrh shall I bring to You who have removed from me the stench of the demons?* What tears shall I shed for You who have wiped away the tears of our first mother?”* Yet, O King of all, You appeared as a gardener,* taking away the burning heat with the dew of Your words,* and said to her:* “Go to My brethren and declare to them the joy of glad tidings;* for I shall ascend to the Father, My God and your God,* that I may bestow great mercy upon the world!”
Now…, Podoben “O all-glorious wonder…”
Seeing You nailed to the Cross, O Jesus,* and voluntarily accepting suffering,* the Virgin, Your Mother, O Master, cried aloud:* “Woe is me, O my sweet Child!* How is it that You unjustly endure wounds, O Physician who heals human weakness* and has delivered all from corruption* in Your lovingkindness?”
Hymn of Simeon
Now, O Master, You have kept Your promise; let Your servant go in peace. With my own eyes I have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of every people; a Light to reveal You to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people, Israel!
Trisagion Prayers
Lector: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Trinity most holy, have mercy on us. Cleanse us of our sins, O Lord; pardon our transgressions, O Master; look upon our weaknesses and heal them, O Holy One; for the sake of Your Name.
Lord, have mercy. (3)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven,* hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Troparia
Tone 1
The honourable Mary Magdalen followed after Christ,* who for our sake was born of the Virgin,* keeping His precepts and laws.* Wherefore, celebrating your most holy memory today,* through your supplications we receive remission of sins.
Tone 4, Glory…
As you shared in the ways of the apostles and occupied their throne,* you found your activity to be a passage to divine vision,* O divinely inspired one.* Wherefore, ordering the word of truth,* you suffered for the faith even to the shedding of your blood.* O hieromartyr Phocas, entreat Christ God,* that our souls be saved.
Now…
O Virgin, all immaculate Mother of Christ God,* a sword pierced your all-holy soul* when you saw your Son and God willingly crucified.* Therefore, O blessed One,* never cease to pray to Him* that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.
Litany of Supplication
Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, in the greatness of Your compassion, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy. (3)
Deacon: We also pray the most holy universal Pontiff, (name), Pope of Rome, our most blessed Patriarch, (name), our most reverend Metropolitan, (name), our God-loving Bishop, (name), for those who serve or have served in this holy church, for our spiritual fathers, and for all our brethren in Christ.
All: Lord, have mercy. (3)
Deacon: We also pray for our nation under God, for our government, and for all the military.
All: Lord, have mercy. (3)
Petitions may be added here.
Deacon: We also pray for the people here present who await Your great and bountiful mercies, for those who have been kind to us, and for all orthodox Christians.
All: Lord, have mercy. (3)
Priest: For You are a merciful and loving God, and we give glory to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Daily Dismissal
Deacon: Wisdom!
All: More honourable than the cherubim* and by far more glorious than the seraphim;* ever a virgin, you gave birth to God the Word,* O true Mother of God, we magnify you.
Priest: Glory be to You, O Christ our God, our hope, glory be to You.
All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,* now and for ever and ever. Amen.* Lord, have mercy. (3)* Give the blessing.
Priest: Christ our true God, through the prayers of His immaculate Mother; the holy, glorious, and all-praiseworthy apostles; of Saint, (name, whose church it is), and of Saint, (name, whose day it is) and of all the saints, will have mercy and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.
All: Amen.