Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING
Paschal Beginning
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 5
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The all-holy mid-feast of the Saviour’s Resurrection* has now appeared like the brightness of noon,* shining upon the world with the divine grace of Christ’s arising,* flashing forth with unerring signs of incorruption* revealing His Ascension into the heights.* The most bright feast of Pentecost is manifestly radiant* with the Holy Spirit’s descent to us.* Therefore it bestows upon our souls peace and great mercy.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Having reached the feast of Mid-Pentecost,* the Lord now imparts the streams of His great compassion,* like a Divine River of Glory, crying aloud to all:* “You that are thirsty, come to Me and draw forth abundantly.* For I am a well-spring of empathy and an abyss of mercy,* pouring forth forgiveness upon the world,* purging sins, and expunging maladies.”* And He saves them that keep the memorial of His Resurrection,* and protects them that honour and with love celebrate His Ascension in glory,* granting to our souls peace and great mercy.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Having stood within the temple’s court,* He who is the uncircumscribable God and Lord,* who by nature is God,* and for our sake became incarnate, and circumscribed in the flesh* poured forth for all mankind vivifying teachings,* saying: Be purified in your souls;* Quench the burning heat of the passions.* Let no one be deprived of this draught,* for upon him that drinks I bestow the divine grace* of an immortal and better heavenly Kingdom,* which he shall share with Me, the Creator,* and thus be glorified.
Tone 6
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
The Master who of old appointed the ascent of the clouds,* later, having come down into Egypt on the light cloud,* foretold that His chosen ones would shine forth, caught up on the clouds,* in that they are divinely wise.* And with them our father Theodore the sanctified,* the unshakable pillar, steadfast in virtue,* shining with the all-radiant effulgence of Christ,* prays with boldness in behalf of our souls.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Egypt, which before was driven insane by demonic sacrifices and passions,* is now adorned with ranks of fasters* and is shown to be bedecked with diverse beauties and divine virtues.* Among them has shone forth the namesake of divine gifts,* the venerable Theodore, who beheld and pleased God,* and who, emulating Christ in wondrous humility,* prays with boldness in behalf of our souls.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
From his youth, the wise Theodore, the great faster, the divinely wise,* showed forth asceticism, abstinence, humility, patience,* the avoidance of evil and the acquisition of the virtues,* in that he is a lover of divine love,* and the wondrous one, rejoicing, has transcended all things visible,* being exalted by his manner of life;* and, conversing with God, he now prays with boldness in behalf of our souls.
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 send down Your great mercy unto us.
Aposticha
Tone 3
The tree of disobedience sprouted forth death for the world,* but the Tree of the Cross blossomed forth life and incorruption.* Therefore, we worship You, the crucified Lord;* let the light of Your countenance* be signed upon us, O Lord.
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.
By Your Cross, O Christ our Saviour,* the dominion of death has been abolished,* the devil’s deception has been dispelled,* while mankind, saved by faith,* each evening offers hymns 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.
O Lord, in truth great is the power of Your Cross,* for affixed in one place, it manifests itself throughout the world;* and from fishermen has it shown forth Apostles,* and from the nations, Martyrs,* that for our souls they all might offer intercession.
Tone 8, Glory… Now…
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 unto 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.
Troparion
Tone 1
A dweller in the desert, an angel in the flesh and a wonder-worker* were you thou shown to be, O our God-bearing father Theodore.* Having received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer,* you heal the infirm and the souls of those who have recourse to you with faith.* Glory to Him who has given you strength!* Glory to Him who has crowned you!* Glory to Him who works healings for all through you!
Tone 8, Glory… Now…
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!
DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING
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.
First Antiphon
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,* sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Say unto God, “How awesome are Your works!* Because of the greatness of Your strength Your enemies will flatter You.”
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Let all the earth worship You and sing to You,* let it sing to Your name, O Most High!
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Glory… Now… Only-begotten Son…
Third Antiphon
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour
Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
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 10:44-11:10
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 8:21-30
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… we sing:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Instead of 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.
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.
At the dismissal, instead of Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen. we chant:
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs giving life.
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.