VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING
Paschal Beginning
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 1
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The Word, who is consubstantial with God the Father,* has fashioned all things and grants life to all,* came forth from the Virgin, and assumed our flesh,* willingly becoming a man.* Since He is by nature good, He has poured forth for all* His wise teachings of ineffable wisdom.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
As the Master of the Law, You entered the court of the temple,* there You taught at Mid-feast, as is written, O Christ;* speaking with authority, You rebuked and censure dthe mindless scribes,* and all were amazed by the wisdom found in Your words* and by all the marvels* that were wrought by You.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Christ, the Bestower of Wisdom, the Giver of all good things,* who pours forth divine streams from a never-ending spring,* cries out: Come to Me, all that thirst,* draw forth and drink the water of life.* And thus shall rivers of grace and divine gifts* issue freely from within yourselves.
Tone 8
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
As a servant of the Word, a glorious minister,* an all-radiant luminary of the whole world, O divinely blessed one,* by your word you brought an end to the irrational corruption of ungodliness;* therefore, with divine words do we joyfully glorify and celebrate your holy memory,* offering praise to the Almighty.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
The divine Apostle Paul, splendidly praising you with divine laudations,* sets your valour before the faithful,* speaking first of all to show you forth as most wise disciples of the Word of God* and His true kinsmen,* O glorious Junia and blessed Andronicus, favourites of God.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Illumining the whole earth with sacred preaching,* you dispelled the gloom of vainglory* and have directed to the light of divine knowledge* those who from of old were sunk in the darkness of ungodliness,* O divine apostles, guides to salvation and intercessors for all* who ever honour you with faith.
Tone 1, Glory…
The mid-point of the days of Pentecost has come.* Wherein Christ disclosed His divine might in part,* in that He strengthened the paralytic* and by a word raised him up from his bed.* In a God-befitting manner He wrought miracles in a body of clay,* and has granted to mankind everlasting life and great mercy.
Tone 3, Now…
O Lady most honourable,* how could we but be rapt in wonder* at your giving birth to the Incarnate God* who, without a mother, was born of a Father before all ages?* You gave Him birth in the flesh without a father,* without a man’s instrumentality.* He is God and man whose two natures are intact,* neither one losing any of its properties.* Therefore, O Virgin Mother,* intercede with Him to save the souls* of those who believe and profess in true faith* that you are the Mother of God.
Aposticha
Tone 3
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.
The Lord is King, He is clothed with majesty;* the Lord is clothed with strength and He has girded Himself.
By Your Resurrection, O Lord,* the universe has been filled with light* and Paradise has been opened again,* while all creation, singing Your praise,* each evening offers hymns to You.
For He established the world* which shall not be shaken.
I glorify the power of the Father and the Son,* and I praise the authority of the Holy Spirit,* undivided, uncreated Godhead,* consubstantial Trinity,* that reigns from ages to ages.
Holiness becomes Your house, O Lord,* for length of days.
By Your passion, O Christ, You darkened the sun,* and by the light of Your Resurrection* You have made the whole universe radiant.* We beseech You to accept our evening hymn,* O Lover of mankind.
Tone 1, 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 3
Holy apostles, intercede with the merciful God* to grant to our souls forgiveness of sins.
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 SATURDAY 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 12:1-11
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 8:31-42
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.