Sunday Vespers - Part 1 | Liturgical Texts of Greek Orthodox Church

The Service Of The Sunday Vespers Priest: Blessed is our God always, now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Reader: Come, let us worship and bow down before our King and God. Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and God. Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ himself, our King and God. Psalm 103 (104) Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord, my God, you are very great. You are clothed in praise and honor; who covers yourself with light as with a garment, spreading out the heavens as a curtain. You cover your chambers with the waters; you make the clouds your chariot; you walk on the wings of the wind, you make the angels spirits, and your ministers a flaming fire. You established the earth on its sure foundation; it shall never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters shall stand on the hills. At your rebuke they shall flee; at the voice of your thunder they shall be alarmed. They go up to the mountains and down to the plains, to the place which you founded for them. You have set a boundary which they shall not pass, neither shall they turn again to cover the earth. You send forth fountains among the valleys; the waters shall run between the mountains. They shall give drink to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys shall quench their thirst. By them the birds of the heavens shall have their habitation; they shall sing among the rocks. You water the mountains from your chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your miracles. You make grass grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man that you may bring bread out of the earth, and wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face cheerful, and bread which strengthens man’s heart. The trees of the plain shall be full of sap, even the cedars of Lebanon which you have planted. There birds will build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees. The high mountains are a refuge for stags, and the rock for the rabbits. You appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows his going down. You make darkness and it is night; in it all the wild beasts of the forest will creep about. Young lions roar for prey, and seek their food from God. The sun rises, and they gather together, and lie down in their dens. Man goes forth to his work, and to his labor until the evening. O Lord, how great are your works. In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is filled with your creation. This great and wide sea, in which are innumerable living things both small and great. There sail the ships, and there is Leviathan which you have made to play there. All wait for you, to give them their food in due season. When you give it to them, they will gather it up; when you open your hand, they shall be filled with goodness. But when you have turned away your face, they shall be troubled. When you take away their breath, they fail, and return to their dust. You sent forth your Spirit, and they are created; and you renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works; who looks upon the earth and makes it tremble; who touches the mountains and they smoke. I will sing praises to the Lord all my life; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be sweet to him; I will rejoice in the Lord. May sinners and wicked men disappear from the earth and may they be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. (Again) The sun knows its going down. You make darkness, and it is night. O Lord, how great are your works. In wisdom you have made them all. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to you, O God (3). Lord, you are our hope, glory to you. The Great Litany Priest: In peace let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: For the peace of God and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: For peace in the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: For our Archbishop (Name), and our Bishop (Name), the honorable presbyters, the deacons in the service of Christ, and all the clergy and laity, let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: For our country, the president, and all those in civil authority and public service, let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: For this parish and city, for every city and town, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: For favorable weather, an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and temperate seasons, let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: For travelers by land, sea and air, for the sick, the suffering, for captives, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy upon us and protect us, O God, by your grace. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever‑virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God. People: To You, O Lord. Priest: For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. (Then the people begin singing: “Lord, I have cried out to you” in the designated tone:) Psalm 140 (141) People: Lord, I have cried out to you, hear me. Hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried out to you, hear me. Receive the voice of my prayer when I cry out to you. Hear me, O Lord. Let my prayer be set forth as incense before you, the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord. (If the commemorated saint has a doxastikon, we sing six resurrection stichera from the Octoechos and four of the saint; “Glory” of the saint, and “Now and always” and the Theotokion of the Octoechos. If the saint has no doxastikon, we sing seven resurrection stichera and three from the saint, “Glory… Now and always” and the Theotokion of the tone.) Psalm 141 Verse 1. Bring my soul out of prison that I may give thanks to your name. Verse 2. The righteous will surround me; for you will deal bountifully with me. Psalm 129 (130) Verse 3. Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord. Lord, hear my voice. Verse 4. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. Verse 5. If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you. Verse 6. For your name’s sake I have waited for you, O Lord; my soul waits for your word. My soul has trusted in the Lord. Verse 7. From the morning watch 'til night from the morning watch let Israel trust in the Lord. Verse 8. For with the Lord is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption; and he shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities. Psalm 116 (117) Verse 9. Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise him, all you people. Verse 10. For his mercy has been abundant toward us; and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Resurrection Stichera of The Eight Tones First Tone Accept our evening prayers, holy Lord, and grant us remission of our sins, for you alone revealed the resurrection to the world. Encircle Zion, people, and surround her. Give glory to him who is risen from the dead, for he is our God and has delivered us from our iniquities. Come, people let us praise and worship Christ, glorifying his resurrection from the dead, for he is our God and has delivered the world from the deception of the enemy. Heavens, be glad! Foundations of the earth, sound the trumpets! Hills, shout for joy! For behold, Emmanuel has nailed our sins to the cross and he, the Giver of life, has put death to death by raising up Adam, as a loving God. Let us praise him who of his own will was crucified for us in the flesh. He suffered, was buried and rose from the dead. Let us say: Confirm your Church in the true faith and bring peace to our lives, O Christ, for you are good and loving God. As we the unworthy stand before your life-giving sepulcher, we offer a hymn of praise to your ineffable compassion, Christ our God. For you are without sin and have accepted the cross and death in order to grant the world resurrection, as a loving God. Let us praise the Word who is without beginning and is co‑eternal with the Father. He came forth ineffably from the Virgin’s womb and for our sake he willingly accepted the cross and death and rose in glory. Let us say: Glory to you, O Lord, Giver of life and Savior of our souls. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion Let us praise Mary the Virgin, glory of all the world and doorway to heaven, who, begotten of man, gave birth to the Lord, and who, adornment of the faithful, is hymned by the angelic hosts. For she has been shown to be heaven and the temple of the Godhead. She is the one who, breaking down the wall of enmity, ushered in peace and threw open the Kingdom. With her as the anchor of our faith, we have a defender in the Lord to whom she gave birth. Take courage, therefore, people of God, take courage, for he, the Almighty, will defeat your enemies. Second Tone Come, let us adore God the Word, begotten of the Father before all ages, who took flesh from the Virgin Mary. For he willingly suffered the cross and submitted himself to burial, and he rose from the dead and saved me, the one who has gone astray. Our Savior Christ blotted out the bond that pledged us to the decree by nailing it to the cross, and he abolished the dominion of death. Let us worship his third day resurrection. Together with the Archangels, let us praise the resurrection of Christ. He is the Deliverer and Savior of our souls. He will come again in awesome glory and mighty power to judge the world he fashioned. The angel proclaimed you Master, crucified and buried. And he said to the women: Come and see the place where the Lord lay. For he is risen as he foretold, for he is almighty. Therefore, we worship you who alone are immortal. Have mercy on us, O Christ, Giver of life. You have abolished the curse of the tree by your cross, and by your burial you have done away with the dominion of death, while by your rising you have enlightened mankind. Therefore, we cry out to you: Glory to you, O Christ, our God and benefactor. The gates of death opened before you in fear, O Lord, and the gatekeepers of Hades, beholding you, were filled with awe. You destroyed the gates of brass and crushed the posts of iron. You led us out of the valley of the shadow of death and broke our chains. Let us open our mouths and sing hymns of salvation. Come and fall down in the house of the Lord and say: Pardon our sins, you who hung upon the cross and rose from the dead, and yet are forever in the bosom of the Father. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion At the coming of grace, the shadow of the law passed away. Just as the bush that burned was not consumed, so have you given birth and remained a virgin. Instead of a pillar of fire, the Sun of Righteousness shone forth; instead of Moses, Christ, the salvation of our souls appeared. Third Tone Your cross, Christ Savior, has destroyed the power of death and has abolished the deception of the devil. Therefore mankind saved by faith, offers you hymns of praise forever. All of creation has been enlightened by your resurrection, O Lord, and paradise has once again been opened. Therefore, all creation extols you and offers hymns of praise forever. I glorify the might of the Father and the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit, the undivided, uncreated Godhead, the consubstantial Trinity that reigns to the ages of ages. We worship your precious cross, O Christ, and praise and glorify your resurrection, for by your wounds we have all been healed. We praise the Savior who took flesh from the Virgin, for he was crucified for our sake and rose on the third day, bestowing on us his great mercy. Going down to those in Hades, Christ gave them the good news saying: Take courage, I am now triumphant. I am the resurrection. I shall lead you forth, for I have broken the gates of death. We who are unworthy to stand in your immaculate house send up to you our evening hymn, O Christ our God, and call upon you from the depths to deliver your people from the hands of their adversaries. You have enlightened the world by your third‑day resurrection, O loving God. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion How can we not be amazed at your giving birth to God and man in one, most‑holy Virgin? For although you have never known man, you have brought forth without blemish and without a father a son in the flesh, begotten of the Father without a mother before all ages. He suffered no change, confusion or division, but kept in full the properties of each nature. Therefore, Lady, Virgin‑Mother, entreat him to save the souls of those who in the true faith acknowledge you to be the Theotokos. Fourth Tone Ever venerating your life‑giving cross, O Christ our Lord, we glorify your resurrection on the third day. By it you have restored corrupt human nature, O mighty One, and have reopened for us the upward path to heaven, for you only are a good and loving God. Having willingly been nailed to the wood of the Cross, you abolished the penalty of disobedience committed through the tree, and by descending into Hades you have broken the bonds of death. Therefore, we worship your resurrection from the dead, and, rejoicing, we cry: Almighty Lord, glory to you. You demolished by your Death, O Lord, the gates of hades; you dissolved the realm of death; and freed the human race from corruption, granting the world life and incorruptibility and Great Mercy. Come, all you people, let us sing the praises of the Savior’s resurrection on the third day by which we have been delivered from the unbreakable bonds of Hades. Having received incorruption and life, we cry out: You who were crucified, buried, and rose save us by your resurrection, O only loving God. Angels and men, O Savior, sing the praises of your third‑day rising, for it has shed light to the ends of the world. Delivered from the bondage of the enemy, we all cry out: Almighty Savior, Creator of life, save us by your resurrection, O only loving God. You have shattered the gates of brass. You have broken asunder the chains and raised up fallen humankind, O Christ our God. Therefore, we cry with one voice: O Lord, who rose from the dead, glory to you. Your birth from the Father is timeless and eternal, O Lord; your incarnation from the Virgin is ineffable and beyond all understanding; and your descent into Hades put fear into the devil and his angels. On the third day you rose, having trampled upon death, and granted us incorruption and your great mercy. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion David the prophet, forefather of God through you, cried out in song concerning you to the One who has done magnificent things for you. The Queen stands at your right hand. For God, who gladly became man through you without a father, has proclaimed you mother and host of life, so that he might restore in us his image which was corrupted by passion. Having found the stray sheep caught in the mountains, he laid it on his shoulders and brought it to the Father. By his own free will he placed it among the heavenly hosts. Christ, who has great and abundant mercy, O Theotokos, will save the world. Plagal of the First Tone By your precious cross you have put the devil to shame, O Christ. By your resurrection, you have annihilated the sting of sin. You have saved us from the gates of death. O only‑begotten Son, we glorify you. He who granted the human race resurrection was led like a lamb to the slaughter. The princes of hell trembled before him and the gates of agony were opened. For Christ the King of glory entered in, declaring to those in bonds: Go forth, and to those in darkness: Show yourselves. Let light surround you. What a mighty wonder! In his love for humankind, the Creator of invisible things suffered in the flesh, and he who is immortal, rose. Come, all you nations, and let us worship him. We have learned to praise one God in three persons who in his compassion delivered us from error. O Light who never fades, we offer you this evening worship, for in the fullness of time you filled the world with light, your flesh being a mirror of your splendor. You descended to Hades, dispelled the darkness, and made manifest to all nations the light of the resurrection. O Lord, Giver of light, glory to you. Let us glorify Christ, the author of our salvation, for by his rising from the dead the world has been saved from error; the choir of angels rejoices; the error of demons takes flight; fallen Adam is raised; and the devil is destroyed. The guards were thus instructed by the evildoers: keep hidden the resurrection of Christ; take the pieces of silver and say that, as we were sleeping, the body was stolen from the tomb. But who has ever seen or heard that a body, especially a body anointed and naked, was stolen from a tomb and the grave clothes left lying there? Be not deceived, O Jews, study the words of the prophets, and learn that he is in truth the Redeemer of the world and God almighty. Lord, our Savior, you have despoiled Hades, trampled down death, and enlightened the world through your holy cross. Have mercy on us. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion In times past, the image of the unwedded Bride was inscribed in the Red Sea. There, Moses parted the waters; here, Gabriel took part in the miracle. Then, Israel rode dry‑shod through the deep; now the Virgin has without seed given birth to Christ. After the passing of Israel, the sea remained impassible, after the birth of Emmanuel, the blameless Virgin remained incorrupt. You, O God, who are, have forever been and have appeared as man, have mercy on us. Plagal of the Second Tone Triumphant over Hades, O Christ, you ascended upon the cross to raise up with yourself those dwelling in the darkness of death. Free from among the dead, you pour forth life from your own light. Almighty Savior, have mercy on us. Today, Christ, having trampled upon death, according to his word, rose up bestowing joy upon the world, so that all of us shouting this hymn might say: O Fount of life, light that no person may approach, O almighty Savior, have mercy on us. Where shall we sinners fly from you, O Lord, who are everywhere in creation? Into heaven? Your abode is there. Into hell? You have trampled upon death. Into the uttermost parts of the sea? Your hand reaches there, O Master. We run to you and falling before you we pray: You, who rose from the dead, have mercy on us. We exult in your cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify your resurrection. You are indeed our God; we know no other Lord but you. Ever blessing the Lord, we praise his resurrection. For by enduring the cross, he destroyed death by death. Glory be to your might, O Lord, for you have destroyed the power of death, and you have renewed us through your cross, bestowing on us life and incorruption. Your burial, O Christ, burst asunder the bonds of Hades; your resurrection from the dead gave light to the world. To you, O Lord, be glory. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion Who will not call you blessed, most holy Virgin? Who will not sing praises of your wondrous birth‑giving? For the only‑begotten Son, timelessly having shone forth from the Father, came forth from you who are pure. And having been ineffably made flesh, he, who by nature is God, for our sake became also by nature man: not in two divided persons, but in two natures without confusion. O honored and all blessed one, beseech him to have mercy on our souls. Grave Tone Come, let us rejoice in the Lord who destroyed the power of death and enlightened mankind; and let us cry along with the angels: Glory to you, our Creator and our Savior. On our account, O Savior, you endured the cross and the tomb. As God you put death to death by death. Therefore, we worship your resurrection on the third day. Glory to you, O Lord. On beholding the resurrection of the Creator, the apostles, marveling, sang an angelic song of praise: This is the glory of the Church. These are the riches of the kingdom. Glory be to you, O Lord, who suffered death for us. Though you, O Christ, have been taken captive by evil men, you are my God and I am not ashamed. I do not deny that your back was scourged, nor will I hide that you were nailed to the cross. I boast of your resurrection, for your death is my life. Almighty and loving God, glory to you. Fulfilling the prophecy of David, Christ revealed to his disciples the majesty of his habitation in Zion. He showed himself praised and glorified forever with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Formerly, as the Word without flesh, and then incarnate for our sake and slain as man he rose in power as a loving God. As God and Master, O Christ, by your will you descended into Hades despoiling death; and on the third day you rose, raising with you Adam, held captive by the chains of hell and of corruption, who cried and said: Glory be to your resurrection, O only loving God. You were laid in the tomb as if asleep, O Lord, and after three days you rose in mighty strength, raising up with you, as almighty, Adam from the corruption of death. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion You, O Theotokos, have been acknowledged as a mother above and beyond nature, and you remain a virgin beyond words and understanding. No tongue can explain the miracle of your giving birth. For your conceiving was wondrous, pure One, and the manner of your child‑bearing impossible of understanding. For when God so wills, the order of nature is overthrown. Therefore, we all acknowledge you as the mother of God, and fervently beseech you: make supplication that our souls may be saved. Plagal of the Fourth Tone We offer up to you, O Christ, our evening hymn and spiritual worship, for it has pleased you to have mercy on us by your resurrection. Lord, Lord, cast us not away from your presence, but be pleased to have mercy on us by the resurrection. Rejoice, O holy Zion, mother of churches and dwelling place of God, for you were the first to receive remission of sins by the resurrection. Begotten before all ages of God the Father, the Word, who in latter times took flesh of a virgin, willingly endured death by the cross and by his resurrection saved us who had been subject to death. We glorify your resurrection from the dead, O Christ, by which you have set free the race of Adam from the torment of Hades and, as God, have granted to the world eternal life and your great mercy. Glory to you, O Christ, Savior, only begotten Son of God who were nailed to the cross and on the third day rose from the tomb. We offer you glory, O Lord, who of your own will have endured the cross for our sake; and we worship you, almighty Savior, who love mankind. Cast us not away from your presence, but hear us and save us by your resurrection. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion In his love for mankind, the King of heaven appeared upon earth and dwelled among us. For he took flesh from the pure Virgin, and thus incarnate he came forth from her. The only Son is he: two‑fold in nature, but not in person. For this reason proclaiming him to be truly perfect man and perfect God, we confess Christ to be our God. Therefore, beseech him, O virgin Mother, to have mercy on our souls. O Joyful Light (While the doxastikon is being sung, the priest exits from the sanctuary:) Priest: Wisdom. Let us stand. (And he sings the O Joyful Light:) Priest: O joyful light of the holy glory of the immortal Father, the heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ. Now that we have reached the setting of the sun and behold the evening light, we sing to God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is fitting at all times to praise you with cheerful voices, O Son of God, the Giver of life. Behold, the world sings your glory. Priest: The evening prokeimenon. People: The Lord reigns; he has clothed himself with honor (3). Prokeimena (The following are the Prokeimena of the rest of the days of the week:) On Sunday Evening Behold now, bless the Lord all you servants of the Lord. On Monday The Lord will hear me when I cry out to him. On Tuesday Your mercy, O Lord, shall follow me all the days of my life. On Wednesday O God, by your name save me, and judge me by your might. On Thursday My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. On Friday O God, you are my helper, and your mercy shall go before me. (On major feast days there are also readings.) Priest: Let us all say with our whole soul, and with our whole mind, let us say. People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray you, hear us and have mercy. People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy; we pray you, hear us and have mercy. People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Let us pray for pious and Orthodox Christians. People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Let us pray for our Archbishop (Name) and our Bishop (Name). People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Let us pray for our brethren, priests, hieromonks, deacons, and monastics, and all our brotherhood in Christ. People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Let us again pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy church, and for all our fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters who are asleep here in the Lord and for the Orthodox everywhere. People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Let us again pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, protection, and forgiveness of the sins of all pious and Orthodox Christians living and visiting in this community and city, and everywhere on earth. People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Let us again pray for those who do charitable work, for those who serve in this holy house, for those who labor, teach, and sing, and for all the people here present who await your great and rich mercy. People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: For you are a merciful and loving God, and to you we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Priest: O Lord, keep us this evening without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is your name to the ages. Amen. O Lord, let your mercy be upon us for we have set our hope in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are you, Master, grant me understanding of your commandments. Blessed are you, Holy One, enlighten me with your commandments. Lord, your mercy is forever. Do not despise the works of your hands. To you is due praise, to you is due song, to you is due glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Priest: Let us complete our prayer to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and protect us, O God by your grace. People: Lord, have mercy. Priest: For a perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless day, let us ask the Lord. People: Grant this, O Lord. Priest: For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord. People: Grant this, O Lord.

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Sunday Vespers - Part 1

Liturgical Texts of Greek Orthodox Church

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