Saint with Six Stichera.

VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no appointed psalms to be chanted tonight.

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.

Earnestly let us bless the glorious Bartholomew,* the never-setting star of the Sun of great splendour,* the animate heaven which proclaims the saving glory of God,* the divine preacher, the beacon of the nations,* the river which pours forth a stream of understanding* and waters the hearts of the faithful.

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

Your paths were revealed in the sea, O apostle,* and shown to be beyond the understanding of men;* for, cast into the sea in a casket,* you made your way to the West, O most renowned Bartholomew,* right glorious martyrs following you from the East on either side,* and rendering homage to you, at the behest of the Master of all.

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

With your wondrous ascents you purified the water,* and arrived at the island of Lipari,* pouring forth myrrh, O glorious one,* and healing incurable diseases;* and you became for the faithful in that place a saviour and refuge,* a deliverer and intercessor before the King and Saviour of all,* O Apostle Bartholomew.

Tone 4, Podoben “You have given a sign…”

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

Proclaiming the one Godhead in three Hypostases, you roiled the sea of polytheism,* and those drowning in the abyss of ungodliness you guided to calm havens, O blessed one.* Wherefore, you have received heavenly recompense,* entreating Him who loves mankind, in behalf of those who hymn you.

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

Having illumined your mind with divine radiance,* you travelled with the sun like a ray thereof, with Paul illumining the benighted, O godly Titus;* and with him you delivered the world from deepest night.* Wherefore, we call you blessed, as a God-pleasing hierarch,* a divine apostle and fervent intercessor.

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

Hailing from Crete and returning to there,* you established the true faith there as an unshakable foundation,* and edified the faithful there by the divine power of heaven, O blessed Titus,* first hierarch of your homeland, companion of Paul* and consolation of the faithful.

Tone 1, Glory…

Forsaking earthly things, followed after Christ;* and having been marked by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,* you were sent by Him to the nations who were perishing,* to turn the people to the light of the knowledge of God, O Apostle Bartholomew.* And having completed the divine feats of your suffering and undergone divers tortures,* you surrendered your soul to Christ, whom you entreat, O most blessed one,* that He grant us great mercy.

Tone 1, Now…

О immaculate Mary who surpasses every mind, most exceedingly pure chariot:* By your all-powerful intercessions guide me who am beset and hemmed in by many sins,* to the broad expanse of repentance;* for as the Mother of the Mighty One* you can accomplish all things.

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 2

Like the prodigal son I have sinned against You, О Saviour.* Accept me who am penitent, О Father.* Have mercy on me, О God!

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.

With the cry of the publican I cry out to You, О Christ my Saviour:* Cleanse me as You did him,* and have mercy on me, О God!

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.

Having hated the pleasures of the earth,* the passion-bearers were granted the good things of heaven* and became fellow citizens with the angels.* By their supplications, О Lord, have mercy and save us.

Tone 2, Glory… Now…

Rejoice, O Theotokos Mary,* indestructible and surpassingly holy temple;* as the prophet cries out:* Holy is your temple, wondrous in righteousness!

Troparia

Tone 3

Holy apostles, intercede with the merciful God* to grant to our souls forgiveness of sins.

Glory… Now…

Gabriel was rapt in amazement as he beheld your virginity* and the splendour of your purity, O Mother of God,* and he cried out to you:* By what name shall I call you? I am bewildered, I am lost.* I shall greet you as I was commanded to do:* Rejoice, O Woman full of grace!

DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 3: Holy apostles, intercede with the merciful God* to grant to our souls forgiveness of sins.

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

Kontakion, Tone 4: As a star most bright the Church forever possess you,* O Apostle Bartholomew,* for she is illumined by the frequent gift of your miracles.* And so we call out to Christ:* “Save those who venerate in faith the memory of Your apostle,* O most merciful One!”

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: As a companion of Paul, you declared the word of divine grace to us. * Ever-memorable and truly great Titus, * we render a song of honour to you. * Now pray unceasingly for all of us.

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

2 Corinthians 5:10-15

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

Mark 1:9-15

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)