The Holy Great Rulers Constantine and Helen, Equals-to-the-Apostles.

When

May 21, 2025

All Day

Polyeleos Feast. Leave-taking of Mid-Pentecost.

VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING

Paschal Beginning

Kathisma Reading

Blessed is the man… is chanted

At Psalm 140

Tone 4

Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

There is come now the middle of those days* which commence with the saving Arising* and which are sealed by the sacred Pentecost.* Illumined by both feasts and joining both,* we come to render glory and honour beforehand* to the regal Ascension.

Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

Sion heard and rejoiced when it received the glad tidings of Christ’s Resurrection,* and all of her faithful offspring greatly rejoice upon beholding Him,* who by the grace of the Spirit* washes away the stain of the murder of the Christ,* preparing to solemnly celebrate* the joyous Mid-festival of both feasts.

If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

The bountiful pouring forth of the Spirit upon all,* is now at hand as the Scripture says.* This is proclaimed by the mid-point of the blessed season* after Christ’s death, burial and arising,* when He gave to His disciples His unfailing and true promise,* which revealed most clearly the coming of the Comforter.

Tone 4

I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

You gave Your precious cross as a most powerful weapon to the emperor.* Through it he reigned righteously on earth, shining with godliness.* And by Your compassion he was counted worthy of Your heavenly kingdom.* Therefore with him we glorify Your dispensation, almighty Jesus,* Saviour of our souls, and Lover of mankind!

From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

As the King of kings, the Lord who reigns over all,* You, Lover of mankind, granted Your servant the wisdom of Solomon* the meekness of David, and the orthodox faith of the Apostles!* Therefore we glorify Your dispensation, almighty Jesus,* Saviour of our souls, and Lover of mankind!

Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

Emperor of eternal memory,* first you willingly submitted the purple to Christ,* recognizing Him as true God and King of all,* the great Benefactor and Source of victory.* You saw Him set above every principality and power.* Therefore Jesus made the kingdom prosper for you, lover of virtue,* for He is the Saviour of our souls, and Lover of mankind!

Tone 2, Glory…

Constantine the great, most powerful emperor, * you received the finest of rich gifts from God making you pre-eminent.* Enlightened by the rays of the most Holy Spirit through baptism,* you appeared invincible while you reigned,* receiving the world as a free gift of the Creator.* You ruled the city with faithfulness.* Since therefore you have boldness before Him,* never cease to pray to Christ* that all who celebrate your memory in faith* may be granted forgiveness of sins and great mercy!

Tone 6, 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 You send down Your great mercy to us.

Readings

(1) 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30; (2) Isaiah 61:10-62:5; (3) Isaiah 60:1-16

Aposticha

Tone 2

You received the sceptre from God, Constantine, first emperor of Christians.* The hidden symbol of salvation appeared to you on earth. * Having the life-giving Cross as an invincible weapon, blessed saint,* you brought all the nations to the feet of Rome,* and yourself were led to God.

I have exalted one chosen out of the people!

The womb that bore you is truly blessed and sanctified, divinely crowned Constantine:* beloved of the world, and joy of Christians!* You are the glory, wealth and champion of orphans and widows,* the protector of the lowly and those in need;* you restore the afflicted, and rescue those in bonds!

God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness!

With longing and love for Christ,* the mother of a sweet offspring made haste to come to holy Sion,* to the sacred place where our Saviour was crucified in His desire to save us.* Raising the Cross there, she cried, rejoicing:* glory to Him who has given me what I desired!

Tone 8, Glory…

Brightly shining moon and star of evening, * you were turned from unbelief to faith in the true God.* You were led to sanctify the people and city.* Beholding the figure of the Cross in the sky, you heard from above:* Conquer with this Cross in which lies victory over your enemies!* Receiving wisdom from the Holy Spirit, you were anointed as holy emperor,* anointing and supporting the Church of God,* father of orthodox emperors, Constantine,* equal to the apostles whose relics pour forth healing:* ever intercede for our souls!

Tone 8, Now…

When You were teaching at Mid-feast, O Saviour, the Jews spoke saying:* Having never studied, how is this man learned?* For they knew not that You are the Wisdom that fashioned the world.* Glory be to You.

Troparion

Tone 8

After seeing the image of Your cross in the heavens, O Lord,* and receiving like Paul the summons that was not from men,* Your apostle among kings entrusted into Your hands the imperial city.* Always save it in peace by the prayers of the Mother of God,* only Lover of mankind.

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 WEDNESDAY 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!

Troparion, Tone 8: After seeing the image of Your cross in the heavens, O Lord,* and receiving like Paul the summons that was not from men,* Your apostle among kings entrusted into Your hands the imperial city.* Always save it in peace by the prayers of the Mother of God,* only Lover of mankind.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 3: Today Constantine and Helen his mother reveal the cross,* the all-precious wood which shames those who refuse to believe.* Rulers with faith possess it as a weapon against foes;* a glorious standard frightful in battle revealed for the sake of all.

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)

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Epistle

Acts 13:13-24; Acts 26:1-5, 12-20

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)

verse: I have exalted one chosen from among My people. (Psalm 88:20)

Gospel

John 6:5-14; John 10:1-8

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.* Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.

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.