VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4, Podoben “As one valiant among the martyrs…”

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

Lifted up upon the Cross, pierced by a spear,* Your fingers bloodied, О supremely good Master, You signed our emancipation;* and tearing apart the record of the sins of Adam, our forefather,* You freed human nature.* О Compassionate One, we hymn Your goodness, which passes understanding.

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

We hymn Your sufferings, О Jesus our Master:* the Cross, the spear and the reed, the sponge and the nails,* the beatings, the purple robe and the crown of thorns,* the spittings and mockery which You willingly endured.* I magnify Your long-suffering, О only Innocent One, Bestower of life,* and I glorify You with faith, О Lover of mankind.

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

I bow down before Your precious Cross, kissing it with love, О Supremely good One,* and I glorify Your condescension, boundless mercy,* ineffable compassions and rich goodness, which pass understanding,* for thereby You have saved the race of mankind,* which was held fast in the darkness of transgressions.* Glory to Your crucifixion, О Christ!

Tone 8, Podoben “O all-glorious wonder…”

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

The glorious Athenogenes, vested in the splendid raiment of the priesthood,* showed it to be yet more pure when dyed in his blood.* Entering into the holy temple therewith,* appearing before Him Who sees all things* and ministering to Him with the immaterial ranks,* he is illumined with divine communion and we call him blessed.

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

The all-wise Athenogenes has through faith led to Christ a choir of athletes* who suffered steadfastly and finished the course.* And with them having vanquished the one of great craft,* he has been received into the choir of martyrs, deified by communion;* and he prays ever in behalf of us* who ever keep his sacred memory.

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

The ten divinely elect disciples suffered,* bringing low the uprisings of the passions by feats of fasting,* and they slew the serpent,* having acquired Athenogenes as a sacred instructor through the power of God.* By their supplications, O Compassionate One,* save us who ever trust in You, the all-good One.

Glory… Now…

“What is this sight which I behold with my eyes, O Master?* Do You, who sustain all creation, die, lifted up upon the Tree,* giving life to all?”* said the Theotokos, weeping, when she beheld the God-man who shone forth ineffably from her* suspended upon the Cross.

Prokeimenon, Tone 1

Your mercy, O Lord, shall follow me* all the days of my life.

verse: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. In green pastures He gives me repose.

Aposticha

Tone 4

You have given Your Cross to us as an invincible weapon, О Christ;* and with it we triumph over the assaults of the alien one.

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.

Ever possessing Your Cross as a help, О Christ,* we easily trample underfoot the snares of the enemy.

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.

As you have boldness before the Saviour, О saints,* unceasingly pray for us sinners,* asking remission of transgressions and great mercy for our souls.

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

The most pure one, beholding Christ, the Lover of mankind, crucified,* His side pierced by a lance,* cried out, lamenting: What is this, O my Son?* How have these thankless people rewarded You for the good things You have done for them?* Do You hasten to leave me childless, O most Beloved?* I marvel, O Compassionate One, at Your voluntary crucifixion!

Troparia

Tone 4

Having shared the way of life of the apostles,* and having become a successor to their thrones,* labouring you found the divinely inspired way to contemplation.* Therefore, forthrightly ministering the word of truth,* you shed your blood for the faith, O hieromartyr, Athenogenes.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

Glory… Now…

O Virgin, all immaculate Mother of Christ God,* a sword pierced your all-holy soul* when you saw your Son and God willingly crucified.* Therefore, O blessed One,* never cease to pray to Him* that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.

DIVINE LITURGY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: Having shared the way of life of the apostles,* and having become a successor to their thrones,* labouring you found the divinely inspired way to contemplation.* Therefore, forthrightly ministering the word of truth,* you shed your blood for the faith, O hieromartyr, Athenogenes.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

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

Kontakion, Tone 4: Having piously lived among the hierarchs,* and having trod the path of suffering,* you extinguished the sacrifices to idols* and were a defender for your flock, O godly one.* Therefore, venerating you, we sincerely cry to you:* “Rescue us from dangers by your prayers, O our father, Athenogenes.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The venerable ones will exult in glory* and they shall be joyful in their beds.

verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; let His praise be in the assembly of the venerable ones. (Psalm 149:5,1)

Epistle

1 Corinthians 2:9-3:8

Alleluia, Tone 2

verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice.

verse: For the Lord has chosen Sion; He has chosen it for His dwelling. (Psalm 131:9,13)

Gospel

Matthew 13:31-36

Communion Hymn

The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear*. Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)