Polyeleos Feast.

VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted

At Psalm 140

Tone 2

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

With what wreaths of praise shall we crown Peter and Paul,* who were separate of body yet united in spirit,* the foremost of the preachers of God,* the one as leader of the apostles, and the other as one who laboured more than the rest?* For Christ our God, who has great mercy,* truly crowns them with diadems of glory as is meet.

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

With what beauties of song shall we hymn Peter and Paul?* They are the wings of divine knowledge* who soared above the ends of the earth and were borne up to the heavens,* the hands of the grace of the Gospel, the rivers of wisdom, the arms of the Cross,* by which Christ, who has great mercy,* has cast down the pride of the demons.

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

With what spiritual hymns shall we praise Peter and Paul?* They have closed the ever-gaping mouths of the ungodly,* they are the dreadful swords of the Spirit,* the splendid adornments of Rome, the nurturers of the whole world,* the noetic and divinely graven tablets of the new covenant,* whom Christ, who has great mercy, proclaimed in Sion.

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.

As witnesses and beholders of the incarnation of the Word,* you are blessed, O disciples most rich;* for you have appeared to the world, as bright as lightning,* and pour forth the sweetness of the noetic mountain.* As separate and ever-flowing rivers of paradise* you irrigate the Churches of the nations with divine waters.

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

Like rays shining with spiritual lustre* you were sent throughout the whole world,* abundantly showing forth the working of miracles,* O you who were servants of the mysteries of Christ,* divine graven tablets of the law ordained by God,* inscribed by the grace of God,* O initiates of divine mysteries who are most rich.

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

The pen of the fishermen has effaced the arrogance of the philosophers* and the prating of the orators,* while manifestly setting forth the glad tidings of the good mysteries,* the divinely wise teachings of the dogmas,* the partaking of eternal nourishment,* the delight of the angels,* and everlasting glory.

Tone 6, Glory…

The most honoured feast of the apostles has arrived for the Church of Christ,* bringing salvation to us all.* Therefore, mystically plaiting hymns for them, let us say:* Rejoice, O lamps to those who are in darkness,* shedding forth rays of the noetic Sun!* Rejoice, O Peter and Paul, unshakable foundations of the divine doctrines,* friends of Christ, precious vessels!* Come into our midst, vouchsafing immaterial gifts* to those who praise your feast with hymns.

Now…

Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?* Who would not sing a hymn of praise* to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?* The Only-begotten Son Himself,* begotten of the Father before all ages,* was made flesh out of you in a manner* that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!* And for our sake, He who is God by nature* assumed the nature of a man.* He is not divided into two persons;* He is understood to have two natures* without commixion or confusion.* O noble and blessed Woman,* intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

And now bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.

verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.

Aposticha

Tone 4

Your have given Your honoured apostles to Your Church, O Lord, as a boast,* and therein they shine forth the noetic luminaries Peter and Paul,* as stars of the Word, illumining the whole world.* By them You have enlightened the darkness of the West,* O Almighty Jesus, Saviour of our souls.

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

You have granted confirmation to Your Church, O Lord:* the steadfastness of Peter, the understanding and splendid wisdom of Paul,* and the truly divine proclamation of them both, which dispels  the deception of the Greeks.* Therefore, initiated into the mysteries by them both, we hymn Thee,* O Almighty Jesus, Saviour of our souls.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands.

You have given to the sinful a model of repentance: Your two apostles;* for the one denied You at the time of Your suffering, yet repented,* while the other opposed the preaching of You,* but later came to believe.* And both are preeminent among the assembly of their peers,* O Almighty Jesus, Saviour of our souls.

Tone 6, Glory…

A joyous feast has shone forth today upon the ends of the earth:* the most honoured commemoration of the all-wise and preeminent apostles Peter and Paul.* Therefore, Rome, joining chorus, rejoices in hymns and songs;* and we celebrate, O brethren, observing this most honoured day, crying:* Rejoice, O apostle Peter, true friend of your Teacher, Jesus Christ our God!* Rejoice, O most beloved Paul, preacher of the Faith and teacher of the whole world!* As you have boldness, O two holy and chosen ones,* entreat Christ our God, that our souls be saved.

Now…

O Theotokos, you are the true vine who has budded forth for us the Fruit of life.* With the holy apostles entreat Him, we pray you, O Mistress,* that He have mercy upon our souls.

Troparion

Tone 8

O saints, your message has spread throughout the world* for receiving the Spirit in tongues of fire you torched the idols’ deceit.* With the net of your words you caught those who were lost and brought them to faith.* Therefore the heavens declare your glory* and the firmament which God created adds its voice* and we with them cry out feasting your memory.* Save us all, O God, by the prayer of your twelve apostles.

DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 8: O saints, your message has spread throughout the world* for receiving the Spirit in tongues of fire you torched the idols’ deceit.* With the net of your words you caught those who were lost and brought them to faith.* Therefore the heavens declare your glory* and the firmament which God created adds its voice* and we with them cry out feasting your memory.* Save us all, O God, by the prayer of your twelve apostles.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: Christ the Rock today valiantly glorifies the rock of faith,* the most splendid of the disciples, along with Paul and the council of the twelve.* As we celebrate their memory with faith we glorify the One who glorified them.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

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

verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hands. (Psalm 18:5,2)

Epistle

1 Corinthians 4:9-16

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: The heavens shall confess Your wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints.

verse: God is glorified in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 88:6,8)

Gospel

Mark 3:13-19

Communion Hymn

Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)