Dormition Fast. Saint with Six Stichera.

VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 8, Podoben “O most glorious wonder…”

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

O Stephen, first among the martyrs to suffer,* foundation of them that minister as deacons, elect of the apostles:* with unwaning light illumine them that celebrate your radiant festival with splendour,* bestowing grace and mercy upon your servants, O martyr,* guiding them to everlasting life by your supplications.

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

O Stephen, martyr of Christ,* receiving upon your head a crown of graces* in accordance with your name,* having adorned your neck with a necklace of virtues as with one of gold,* you became an all-wise habitation of wisdom,* which you cherished, laying it up as something you loved;* wherefore, you have been honoured with glory and grace.

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

O most honoured Stephen, first of the martyrs to suffer,* crowned with glory and grace, O apostle,* when you were stoned you offered to our King and Goda precious crown,* noetic and of greater value than gold and precious stones.* Sweet are your deeds and name.* Remember all of us.

Tone 2

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

First among deacons and first among martyrs*were you shown to be, O most holy Stephen;* for your path was to holy things,* and you lead many martyrs to the Lord.* Wherefore, heaven was opened to you, and God appeared to you.* Entreat Him that our souls be saved.

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

In sanctity were thou clothed, O blessed Stephen,* protomartyr and protodeacon, converser with the angels.* Intercede with the sinless Saviour and Lord, and pray for us.

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

Let us honour the protodeacon Stephen,* the protomartyr and valiant favourite of Christ;* for, standing in the midst of the iniquitous,* he beheld the Son at the right hand of the Father.

Tone 6, Glory…

First among martyrs and deacons were you shown to be, O apostle Stephen,* adornment of athletes, confirmation of the faithful, glory of the righteous.* As you stand before the throne of Christ, the King of all,* ask that they that celebrate your honoured memory be accounted worthy* to be cleansed of their sins and to inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Tone 6, 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 7

O God, You are my defender* and Your mercy goes before me.

verse: Deliver me from my enemies, O God; save me from those who rise up against me.

Aposticha

Tone 6

Those who suffered martyrdom for You, O Christ,* endured a multitude of torments,* and they ever intercede on behalf of our souls.

Blessed are they whom You have chosen* and taken to Yourself, О Lord.

You Cross, O Lord, was an invincible weapon of the martyrs.* They saw death before them:* but, gazing upon the life that is to come,* they became strengthened with hope in You.* By their intercessions have mercy upon us.

Their souls* shall dwell amid good things.

Your command was to me my beginning and foundation.* For You willed to fashion me as a living creature* from natures visible and invisible:* You have made my body from the earth,* and given me a soul by Your divine and quickening breath.* Therefore, O Saviour, grant rest to Your servants in the land of the living,* in the tabernacles of the righteous.

Tone 8, Glory…

Rejoice in the Lord, O crown-bearer Stephen,* emulator of the Master;* for you were the first martyr of Christ our King* and abolished the deception of the iniquitous Jews;* and you pray to the Lord in our behalf.

Now…

O pure Virgin, portal of the Word,* Mother of our God:* pray thou that we be saved.

Troparia

Tone 4

O martyr Stephen, your head was crowned with a kingly crown* on account of all the struggles you endured for Christ our God.* You beheld the vision of your Saviour seated at the right hand of God.* Do not cease to intercede with Him for the salvation of our souls.

Glory… Now…

O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created,* and saved our souls from death.

DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: O martyr Stephen, your head was crowned with a kingly crown* on account of all the struggles you endured for Christ our God.* You beheld the vision of your Saviour seated at the right hand of God.* Do not cease to intercede with Him 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 6: O blessed Stephen worthy of all praise,* you are the very first to have been planted in the earth by the Divine Gardener,* the very first to have shed your blood for Christ,* the very first to have been crowned with the crown of victory by Christ in heaven.* You are the first to have suffered for Christ and to have received a martyr’s reward.

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

Romans 13:1-10

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: The heavens shall confess our 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

Matthew 12:30-37

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)