VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

Paschal Beginning

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4

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

At the Well, Christ met the Samaritan Woman,* He asked her for water that He might quench His thirst,* thirsting for her amendment and for her salvation, which was fulfilled in deed.* Having asked this woman to draw up water that He might drink,* He filled her with the draught of life,* whereupon she told those in the town:* Lo, the One spoken of in the Law,* the Messiah and Christ, has appeared as a man,* and has ineffably made known the secrets of my hidden and unspoken thoughts.

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

Lo, the Messiah and Christ is seen upon earth,* He of whom the Law had written was to come,* thus said the Samaritan Woman to the townsfolk;* He has told me of the deeds which I have done.* He told me of the hidden things in the depths of my heart.* Therefore, the people made haste that they might see that of which she had spoken,* which in every respect was revealed as truth,* and they were amazed and convinced by what they beheld.

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

O God, You who as Master once walked about Paradise at the sixth hour,* did the daughter of our mother Eve behold again at the sixth hour,* as You sat by the well and source of water.* You asked her to draw that You might drink,* and grant her to partake of the living Water, which she did;* Whereupon she abundantly partook of that water which gives life,* and then preached in the city of Your water’s abundance.

Tone 4

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

Reigning like a king, you received the kingdom which abides forever, O glorious Basiliscus,* and you stand before the King of hosts, rejoicing with all the armies of the angels.* And with them, O blessed one,* you unceasingly chant divine hymnody,* radiantly illumined by splendours and divine communion.

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

When, rejoicing, you walked the path of martyrdom, O all-praised one,* they pierced your feet with nails, binding them fast;* and therewith you trampled upon the head of the enemy* and utterly crushed it, O glorious one,* and you mightily tread the paths of heaven,* showing yourself to the Master as a victor.

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

Your supplication first caused a barren tree to put forth fruit,* and a spring put forth living water;* by the fountain of your blood the earth was sanctified,* and the air was hallowed by the passage of your soul, O you who are most rich.* Therefore, with faith, O Basiliscus,* we celebrate your holy and most festive day,* whereon you struggled lawfully.

Tone 1, Glory… Now…

At the sixth hour the Well-spring of miracles* came to the well to capture the fruit of Eve,* for Eve at this same hour departed from Paradise* through the deceit of the serpent.* The Samaritan woman, therefore, drew nigh to draw water,* and the Saviour, upon seeing her, said to her:* Give Me water to drink, and I shall fill you with living water.* And running to the city, that prudent woman at once announced to the multitudes:* Come, behold Christ the Lord, the Saviour of our souls.

Aposticha

Tone 4

You have shattered the gates of Hades, O Lord,* and by Your death You have destroyed the dominion of death;* delivering mankind from corruption,* granting the world life, incorruption,* and great mercy.

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

You enlightened the choir of the Apostles with the Holy Spirit, O Christ.* Through them wash away the filth of our sins, O God,* and have mercy on us.

God is wondrous* is all His saints

Since you possess boldness before the Saviour, O Saints,* intercede unceasingly on behalf of us sinners,* and ask for the remission of our sins* and great mercy for our souls.

Tone 2, Glory… Now…

When the compassionate Lord came to the well,* the Samaritan woman entreated Him, saying:* Grant me the water of faith,* and I shall receive the waters of the font of baptism unto rejoicing and redemption.* O Giver of life, Lord, glory be to You.

Troparion

Tone 4

Your martyr, Basiliscus, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

When the disciples of the Lord learned from the angel* the glorious news of the resurrection* and cast off the ancestral condemnation,* they proudly told the apostles:* “Death has been plundered!* Christ our God is risen,* granting to the world great mercy.”

DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY 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 4: When the disciples of the Lord learned from the angel* the glorious news of the resurrection* and cast off the ancestral condemnation,* they proudly told the apostles:* “Death has been plundered!* Christ our God is risen,* granting to the world great mercy.”

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

Kontakion, Tone 8: Drawn to the well by faith,* the Samaritan woman beheld You, the Water of Wisdom,* and drinking abundantly of You,* she inherited the heavenly Kingdom for ever,* becoming everlastingly glorious.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 8: Though You descended into a tomb, O Immortal One,* yet You destroyed the power of Hades;* and You rose as victor, O Christ God,* calling to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice!* and giving peace to Your Apostles:* You, who grant Resurrection to the fallen.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3

Sing to our God, sing; sing to our King, sing.

verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; shout unto God with the voice of joy. (Psalm 46:7,2)

Epistle

Acts 14:20-27

Alleluia, Tone 4

verse: Poise yourself and advance in triumph and reign in the cause of truth, and meekness, and justice.

verse: You have loved justice and hated iniquity. (Psalm 44:5,8)

Gospel

John 9:39-10:9

Hymn to the Mother of God

The Angel cried out to the One full of Grace: O chaste Virgin, rejoice! And again I say, Rejoice! Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day, and raised the dead. Let all people rejoice! Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Exult now and be glad, O Sion! And you, O chaste Mother of God, take delight in the resurrection of your Son.

Communion Hymn

Receive the Body of Christ;* taste the fountain of immortality.* Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)

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.