Liturgical Propers

GREAT VESPERS Kathisma Reading “Blessed is the man…” is sung.   At Psalm 140 In Tone 2 Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name. Come, let us worship the Word of God begotten of the Father before all ages, And incarnate of the Virgin...

GREAT VESPERS Kathisma Reading “Blessed is the man…” is sung.   At Psalm 140 In Tone 1 Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name. The doors being shut and the disciples assembled, You appeared to them as almighty, Jesus, our God....

THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PASCHAL MATINS The clergy, fully vested as for Divine Liturgy in bright vestments, come before the altar in the usual order and all together they make a bow. A light is struck within the Altar, the First Priest lights the...

In the early Church, Holy Saturday was the day when catechumens were baptized. In the Byzantine tradition, this took place at the Vespers with Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil which we still have on Holy Saturday. This service is the original “Easter Vigil.” In recent...

According to the Typikon, Vespers should begin at 4:00 pm. Many Ukrainian parishes have a custom of holding this service in the late morning, and I often wondered why. When I spent Holy Week in L’viv in 1991, I suddenly understood: the early time was set to allow...

Let us be honest, and admit that Holy Thursday in the Byzantine liturgical tradition is not entirely successful! The day has become overloaded, and what should be the principal theme has suffered as a result. That principal theme is, of course, the Last Supper, at...

Today at Matins we hear the Gospel warning of the dangers of rejecting Christ, that we should not be like those who “loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” We should he moved, yet again, not to take the grace of God for granted in our lives. Since we...

Today at Matins, we hear the Gospel in which Jesus delivers a ringing, frightening denunciation of religious hypocrisy. We, who have the richest liturgical tradition in Christendom, should listen to this Gospel lesson attentively. Our wonderful, magnificent worship...

On Holy and Great Monday, at Matins we hear the Gospel which recounts the lack of faith of the leaders, and the faith of the sinners. The lesson ends with the warning: “the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.” We must...

This is the authentic feast of Christ the King. On Palm Sunday, Jerusalem received Jesus Christ as the Messianic King. Even in the temple itself, the children cried out the royal acclamation “Hosanna,” which had not been heard since the end of the Macchabean monarchy...

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS At Psalm 140 In Tone 8 Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name. Having come to the end of the forty days, we beseech You, O Lord and Lover of humankind: May we also behold the holy week of Your passion,...

Great Vespers for the feast is served in the evening on Tuesday, March 24.   At Psalm 140 In Tone 2 Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice! All the arrows of the Enemy have pierced my over-burdened heart; it now lies in the tomb of...

GREAT VESPERS Kathisma Reading “Blessed is the man…” is sung.   At Psalm 140 In Tone 8 Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name. O Christ, during this spiritual service, we sing to You these evening prayers, commemorating the...

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts At Psalm 140 In Tone 6 10. Departing from Your divine precepts as from Jerusalem, and going down to the passions of Jericho, travelling by way of the cares of this life on the pathways of dishonour, I fell prey to the thievery of...

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts At Psalm 140 In Tone 3 10. Even more than all others, I have sinned of my own will, and for that, I am condemned; the arrogance of my flesh is the enemy of my soul. O guide for those who have lost their way and light for those...

GREAT VESPERS Kathisma Reading “Blessed is the man…” is sung.   At Psalm 140 In Tone 7 Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name. Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, Who destroyed the power of death and enlightened the human race;...

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts At Psalm 140 In Tone 7 10. I have enslaved the dignity of my soul to the passions, and have become like the beasts; I can no longer raise my eyes to You, O God most high. But, like the Publican I bow to the earth, and I cry to......

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts At Psalm 140 In Tone 4 10. The Fast that brings integrity has now run half its course. These past days have proved acceptable, and now we see the need of the days to come. Our perception of their value will make them yield more...

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts At Psalm 140 In Tone 8 6. Today, as we pass the middle of Lent, by the might of the Cross let us glorify the mighty God and Saviour Who was lifted up in the midst of the earth. As we look, show us Your sufferings, Master, and Your...

GREAT VESPERS Before the beginning of the service, the Precious Cross is brought from the table of the Prothesis or the sacristy and placed on the Holy Table. A candle is lit and left burning in front of it.   Kathisma Reading “Blessed is the man…” is sung....

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts At Psalm 140 In Tone 7 10. Like the prodigal, I have turned away from Your grace; I have wasted the riches of Your goodness, O Lord. I now run to You and cry out: I have sinned , O Lord, have mercy on me. 9. Like the prodigal, I......

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS At Psalm 140 In Tone 4 10. Like the prodigal I squandered my paternal inheritance, and now I am in desolation. I dwell in the land of the wicked. In my folly, I became like the unreasoning beasts, stripped of all divine grace. So I...

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...