Sunday Vespers - Part 2

Priest: For a Christian end to our lives, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good account of ourselves before the awesome judgment seat of Christ, let us ask the Lord. People: Grant this, O Lord. 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 you are a good 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: Peace be with all. People: And with your spirit. Priest: Let us bow our heads to the Lord. People: To you, O Lord. Priest: May the might of your kingdom be blessed and glorified, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. (The people then sing the resurrection aposticha of the Octoechos. “Glory” of the Saint (if celebrated), then the “Now and forever” and the Theotokion of the tone; otherwise “Glory… Now and forever” with the Theotokion of the tone.) Resurrection Aposticha Of The Eight Tones First Tone By your passion we were set free from our passions, O Christ, and by your resurrection we were redeemed from corruption. O Lord, glory to you. The Lord reigns: he has clothed himself with honor; the Lord has clothed and girded himself with strength. Let creation rejoice, the heavens be glad, the nations clap their hands with joy. For Christ our Savior, in his love for mankind, has nailed our sins to the cross, put death to death, and given us life by raising the fallen Adam, father of all mankind. For he has established the world and it shall not be moved. You are beyond all understanding, King of heaven and earth, and because of your love for us all, you were crucified of your own will. Hades was filled with bitterness when it met you below, and the souls of the just rejoiced at receiving you. What a miracle this is! That the life of all should taste death in his desire to give light to the world that cries and says: Glory to you, O Lord, risen from the dead. Holiness becomes your house, O Lord, for length of days. The myrrh‑bearing women brought spices, and hastened in mourning to your tomb. And when they found your immaculate body gone and learned from the angels of the new and strange miracle, they said to the apostles: The Lord is risen, granting great mercy to the world. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion Behold, the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled. As a virgin you gave birth, and after giving birth you remained as before. For it was God who was born, and the nature of mankind was thereby restored. O Mother of God have compassion for us your servants, you who bear in your arms the compas­sionate One. Entreat him, that our souls may be saved. Second Tone Your resurrection, O Christ our Savior, has illumined the entire earth and has recalled your creation. O almighty Lord, glory to you. The Lord reigns; he has clothed himself with splendor; the Lord has clothed and girded himself with strength. By the wood of the cross, O Savior, you abolished the curse of the tree, and by your burial you have destroyed the dominion of death, and have enlightened mankind by your resurrection. Therefore, we cry to you: Glory to you, O Christ our God, the Giver of life. For he has established the world, and it shall not be moved. When you appeared, O Christ, nailed upon the cross, you altered the beauty of created things. Cruelly the soldiers pierced your side with a lance; and the Jews asked that your tomb might be sealed. But you, O Lord, because of your mercy submitted to the tomb and rose on the third day. Therefore, glory to you. Holiness becomes your house, O Lord, forever. O Christ, Giver of life, for the sake of us mortals you willingly endured the passion and descended into Hades with power, snatching from the hands of the tyrant those who awaited you there, granting them an abode in paradise. Therefore, to us who give glory to your rising on the third day, grant pardon of our sins 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 Here is a new miracle greater than all the miracles of old! For who has ever known a mother to bear a child without the help of man, and hold in her arms him who encompasses the whole of creation? It was the will of God to be born, and you most pure Virgin, have carried him, an infant in your arms. The boldness of a mother is yours. Pray, therefore, to him unceasingly for us who honor you, and entreat him to have mercy on us and save our souls. Third Tone By your passion, O Christ, you have darkened the sun. By your resurrection, you have given all things light. Accept our evening hymn, O lover of mankind. The Lord reigns; he has clothed himself with honor; the Lord has clothed and girded himself with strength. Your life‑giving resurrections O Lord, has brought light to the entire earth aid revived your creation that lay in corruption. Therefore, we, released from the curse of Adam, cry aloud: Glory to you, almighty Lord. For he has established the world and it shall not be moved. Suffering in the flesh, you, O God, who by nature cannot be changed, have changed yourself. Creation, unable to bear the sight to you hanging, was prostrate with fear, and it groaned as it sang the praises of your long‑suffering. You descended into Hades, and rose on the third day, granting life and great mercy to the world. Holiness becomes your house, O Lord, for length of days. You, O Christ have suffered death to deliver us from death, and you arose on the third day from the dead resurrecting with yourself those who acknowledge you as God. And you have enlightened the world. Lord, glory to you. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion By the will of the Father, you have, without seed, conceived by the Holy Spirit the Son of God, who was begotten of the Father without a mother before the world began. He was born for our sake in the flesh of you without a father. Therefore, never cease to intercede to deliver our souls from danger. Fourth Tone Ascending upon the cross, O Lord, you abolished our ancestral curse; and descending into Hades, you set free those in eternal bonds. And you bestowed on humankind incorruption and life. We therefore praise and glorify your resurrection on the third day. The Lord reigns; he has clothed himself with honor; the Lord has clothed and girded himself with strength. Hanging upon the tree, O only mighty One, you shook all creation, and when you were laid in the tomb, you raised up those dwelling there and bestowed life and incorruption on our kind. Therefore, we praise and glorify your resurrection on the third day. For he has established the world, and it shall not be moved. The lawless people who gave you, O Christ, to Pilate condemned you to be crucified, and showed themselves thankless towards their benefactor. But you willingly suffered burial, and of your own will you arose as God on the third day, and bestowed on us everlasting life and great mercy. Holiness becomes your house, O Lord, for length of days. The women who sought you came in tears to your tomb, and when they found you not, they lamented and exclaimed: Our Savior and King of all, how is it that you have been stolen away? Where is your life‑giving body? But an angel then stood before them and replied: Do not weep, but go and proclaim the good tidings that the Lord is risen and grants us joy for he alone is compassionate. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion Look down, most pure Virgin, upon the supplica­tions of your servants, and crush the assaults of our enemies, delivering us from all affliction. You are the only sure and secure anchor that we have, and you are our protection. Never permit us who call upon you, our Lady, to be put to shame. Hasten to fulfill the entreaties of those who in faith cry to you: Rejoice, O Lady, helper of all, the joy and protection, and the salvation of our souls. Plagal of the First Tone We lift up our voices in song to magnify you, Christ Savior, who became incarnate yet were never separated from heaven. For you, O Lord who love all, suffered the cross and death for our sake; and destroying the gates of Hades, you rose on the third day and saved our souls. The Lord reigns; he has clothed himself with honor; the Lord has clothed and girded himself with strength. Your pierced side, O Giver of life, poured streams of remission, life, and salvation upon us all. By accepting death in the flesh, you have granted us immortality; by taking up your abode in the tomb, you have set us all free, and as God you have raised us up with you in glory. Therefore, we cry aloud; Glory to you, Lord and loving God. For he has established the world, and it shall not be moved. Your crucifixion and descent into Hades are strange, O loving God. For after despoiling Hades, you as God raised up in glory with yourself those held captive in times of old, and you opened paradise and permitted them to enjoy it. Cleanse us, therefore, from sin, who glorify your resurrection on the third day and make us worthy to dwell in paradise, for you alone are merciful. Holiness becomes your house, O Lord, for length of days. For our sake you accepted suffering in the, flesh and rose on the third day from the dead.. Heal the passions of our flesh and raise us from our grievous iniquities and save us, 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 Most reverent Virgin, you are the temple and the gate, the palace and the throne of kings. Christ the Lord, my deliverer, appeared through you to those asleep in darkness, for he, the Sun of Righ­teousness, wished to enlighten those he created in his own image with his own hands. Therefore, having the boldness of a mother towards a son, we entreat you to ever intercede with him to save our souls. Plagal of the Second Tone Angels in heaven sing the praises of your resurrection, Christ our Savior. Grant that we too on earth may with pure hearts glorify you. The Lord reigns; he has clothed himself with honor; the Lord has clothed and girded himself with strength. After smashing the gates of brass and breaking the bolts and bars of Hades, you, almighty God, raised up fallen mankind. Therefore, with one accord, we cry: O Lord, risen from the dead, Glory to you. For he has established the world, and it shall not be moved. Wishing to lift us out of the ancient corruption, Christ was nailed upon the cross and laid in the tomb. In tears the women bearing myrrh searched for him and said lamenting: Woe to us! O Savior of all, how did you consent to stay in a tomb? And as you stayed there willingly, how were you stolen? How were you moved? What place now hides your life‑giving body? O Master, appear to us as you have promised, and dry up the fountain of our tears. Thereupon as they wept, an angel came to them and cried: Cease your weeping and tell the apostles that the Lord is risen, granting the world forgiveness and great mercy. Holiness becomes your house, O Lord, for length of days. Crucified according to your will and despoiling death by your entombment, O Christ, you rose in glory on the third day as God, granting the world life everlasting and great mercy. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion Most holy Virgin, Christ the Lord, Creator and Redeemer, proceeded from your womb, and clothing himself in me and set me free from the ancient curse of Adam. Therefore, most‑pure Virgin, we praise you without ceasing as Mother of God and true Virgin with the greeting of the angel: Rejoice! Lady, advocate, defender, and salvation of our souls. Grave Tone Rising from the tomb, Savior of the world, you have, together with your flesh, raised up mankind. Glory to you, O Lord. The Lord reigns; he has clothed himself with honor; the Lord has clothed and girded himself with strength. Come, let us worship him, who rose from the dead and enlightened all. For by his resurrection on the third day he set us free from the tyranny of Hades, granting us life and great mercy. For he has established the world, and it shall not be moved. You have descended into Hades, O Christ, despoiling death. Rising on the third day, you have also raised us up, and we glorify your almighty resurrection, O Lord and loving God. Holiness becomes your house, O Lord, forever. O Lord, what an awful sight it was to see you lying as if asleep in the tomb. Yet you rose on the third day in power also raising Adam who cried: Glory to your resurrection, O only loving God. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion All of us who dwell on earth, taking refuge under your protection, O Lady, cry aloud to you: O Theotokos, you are our hope. Deliver us from our countless sins and save us. Plagal of the Fourth Tone You ascended the cross, Jesus, and came down from heaven and went to your death, O life eternal. You are the true light to those in darkness and the resurrection of all those who have fallen. Our enlightener and Savior, glory to you. The Lord reigns; he has clothed himself with honor; the Lord has clothed and girded himself with strength. Let us praise Christ who has risen from the dead. For he took upon himself soul and body, and by his passion separated them one from the other. He despoiled Hades when his pure soul descended there. But the holy body of our Redeemer lay uncorrupted. For he has established the world, and it shall not be moved. We glorify your resurrection from the dead, O Christ, in psalms and hymns, for by it you have freed us from the torments of Hades, and have, since you are God, granted us eternal life and great mercy. Holiness becomes your house, O Lord, for length of days. O Lord of all, incomprehensible creator of heaven and earth, through your passion on the cross you have freed me from passion. After en­during burial, you rose in glory, raising up Adam with your almighty arm. Glory to your resurrection on the third day, by which you have endowed us with eternal life and granted us pardon of our sins, for you alone are compassionate. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion O Virgin unwedded, O Mother of God on high, you ineffably conceived God in the flesh. Receive the petitions of your suppliants, all-­blameless Lady, and grant us all purification of our transgressions. Accept now our supplication and pray that we may all be saved. Ode of Symeon (After the completion of the aposticha, the priest in­tones the Ode of Symeon, Luke: 29‑32.) Priest: Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for the glory of your people Israel. People: Amen. People: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (3). Glory to Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. All‑holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. People: Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your 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 yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. (Immediately the people sing the resurrection apolytikion of the tone, “Glory” the troparion of the saint; “Now and always” the Theotokion of the tone or otherwise “Glory… Now and always” the Theotokion.) Resurrection Apolytikia and Theotokia Of the Eight Tones First Tone Though the tomb was sealed by a stone and soldiers guarded your pure body, yet you arose on the third day, giving life to the world. Therefore, O Giver of life, the heavenly powers praise you: Glory to your resurrection, O Christ! Glory to your kingdom! Glory to your plan of redemption, O only loving God. At the sound of Gabriel’s voice calling out to you: Hail, Virgin, the Master of all became incarnate in you, the holy Tabernacle as David the righteous said. By bearing your Creator, you have shown yourself to be more spacious than the heavens. Glory to him who dwelled in you! Glory to him who came forth from you! Glory to him who by your childbirth has set us free! Second Tone O life immortal, when you descended unto death, you destroyed Hades with the splendor of your divinity, and when you raised the dead from the depths of darkness, all the heavenly powers shouted: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to you. Your mystery O Theotokos, is most glorious and surpasses all understanding. For sealed with purity and inviolate in virginity, you are acknowledged without doubt to be the mother who gave birth to the true God. Beseech him to save our souls. Third Tone Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord has shown the power of his reign: he has conquered death by death, and become the first born of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of Hades, and has granted the world great mercy. We sing your praise, O Virgin Theotokos. You intercede for the salvation of our race; for by taking flesh of you and by the cross, your Son and our God has delivered us from corruption as a loving God. Fourth Tone The joyful news of your resurrection was told to the women disciples of the Lord by the angel. And throwing off the ancestral curse, they boastingly told the Apostles: death has been vanquished, Christ our God is risen, bestowing great mercy on the world. The mystery hidden from all ages and unknown to the angels was made manifest to those on earth through you, O Theotokos. God took flesh in a union without confusion, and for our sake he willingly accepted the cross. Thereby he raised the first‑created man and saved our souls from death. Plagal of the First Tone O faithful, let us give praise and worship to the Word, co‑eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. Of his own will he mounted the cross in the flesh, suffered death, and raised the dead through his glorious resurrection. Rejoice! Impassable gateway of the Lord. Rejoice! wall and protection of those who take refuge in you. Rejoice! you who have not known wedlock and have given birth to your Son and Maker and God in the flesh. Cease not in your intercession on behalf of those who praise and worship your Son. Plagal of the Second Tone The angelic powers appeared at your tomb, and those guarding it became as dead. Mary stood at your grave seeking your pure body. You stripped the power ‑of Hades, yet remained untouched by its corruption. You met the Virgin and bestowed life. O Lord, who rose from the dead, glory to you. You called your mother blessed when you went of your own will to your passion shining upon the cross. Seeking Adam, you said to the angels: Rejoice with me, for the lost piece of silver has been found. O God, you have ordered all things wisely, glory to you. Grave Tone Through your cross you destroyed death and opened paradise to the thief. You transformed the sorrow of the Myrrh‑bearers, Christ our God. You commanded the apostles to proclaim that you have risen from the dead, and granted great mercy to the world. You are praised by all the world, O Virgin, and are the treasure house of the resurrection. Lead those who have put their faith in you out of the pit and abyss of their offenses. Before bearing a child you were a virgin, and in childbirth and after childbirth you remained a virgin. By giving birth to salvation, you have saved us who were guilty of sin. Plagal of the Fourth Tone O merciful Lord, you descended from on high and endured the three‑day burial to free us from our passions. O Lord, our life and resurrection, glory to you. O good Lord, for our sake, you were born of a virgin and endured crucifixion, despoiling death by death, and, as God, you have shown forth the resurrection. Do not despise the work of your hands. Show your love for all, O merciful Lord. Accept the intercession made on our behalf by the Theotokos who gave birth to you, and, our Savior, save your despairing people. Priest: Wisdom. Reader: Father, bless. Priest: Blessed are you, Christ our God, always now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Reader: Make firm, Lord our God, the holy and pure faith of the pious Orthodox Christians, together with the Holy Church and this city forever. Priest: All Holy Theotokos, save us. Reader: More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word. We magnify you, the true Theotokos. Priest: Glory to You, Christ our God and our hope, glory to you. May Christ our true God, who rose from the dead as a good, loving and merciful God, have mercy upon us and save us, through the intercessions of his most pure and holy Mother; the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven; the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist; the holy, glorious, and praise­worthy Apostles; the holy, glorious, and triumphant Martyrs; our holy God‑bearing Fathers; the holy, and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; of Saint (of the day) whose memory we com­memorate today, and all the saints. Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. People: Amen.