VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 8, Podoben “O all glorious wonder…”

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

O divinely wise Theodosius,* commander in the army of the heavenly King,* you assembled a regiment of the venerable as spiritual soldiers.* And blessing their struggles, we offer them hymns of praise and cry aloud, saying:* As you have boldness before God, the Master of all,* ask great mercy for our souls, and peace for the whole world.

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

A wondrous sight is seen by noetic eyes:* the most blessed fathers, the spiritual warriors possessed of wings of flame,* come down from the heavens and hasten to our aid,* arraying themselves against the prince of this world.* Let us fall down before them, crying aloud:* We invoke you, O our tireless helpers:* make haste to deliver us from the enemies which assail us,* and grant us deliverance from tribulations.

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

Surrounding your flock with the armies of heaven, O Theodosius our venerable father,* repel the attacks of the enemy;* for they ever take counsel to destroy it with evil assaults.* But as you are quick to help,* grant assistance to us who have recourse to you and ask of you deliverance;* and forsake us not amid the griefs of the visitation of evils.

Tone 8, Podoben “Your martyrs…”

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

Having wisely abandoned the adornments of the world,* Moses of great renown subdued the carnal passions by the mighty pangs of abstinence,* and having cast down the greatly crafty one,* he received a crown of victory.* Through his prayers, O Lord, grant great mercy to all.

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

You possessed exemplary abstinence,* all-night standing, a vigilant eye and mind* which perceived the beauty of God, O blessed Moses.* Wherefore, you have received the grace of healing, that you may cure cruel sufferings.* For this cause we beg you, O father:* Ask for great mercy for all.

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

Covered by the hand of God, O father Moses,* you passed unscathed through the wiles, assaults, and pursuit of the demons,* and, adorned with dispassion, you have been numbered among all the venerable.* Pray that great mercy be granted to those who honour you with faith.

Tone 8, Glory…

O our most blessed fathers, who stand before the throne of the three-Sunned Godhead,* shining richly with unapproachable radiance:* from sufferings and misfortunes free us who today stand with love on earth* and hymn your assembly with voices of praise;* in that you are the sure mediators and advocates before God for our souls.

Tone 8, Now…

Behold the groaning of my contrite heart, O Bride of God,* and accept, and reject not, the lifting up of my hands,* O pure and all-immaculate Virgin Mary,* as you are full of love for mankind;* that I may hymn and magnify you who have exalted our race.

Prokeimenon, Tone 5

O Lord, save me by Your name,* and in Your power be a judge for me.

verse: O God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth.

Aposticha

Tone 2

Throughout the whole world You magnified the names of Your preeminent apostles, О Saviour,* for they learned heavenly things and imparted ineffable healings to mortals.* They who were fishermen healed diseases by their handkerchiefs alone;* they who were Jews theologized the doctrines of grace.* For their sake, О You who are full of loving-kindness,* grant us great mercy.

In the morning, fill us with Your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Give us joy to balance our affliction for the years when we knew misfortune. Show forth Your work to Your servants; let Your glory shine on their children.

We, who are ever assailed by the actions of the unrighteous,* yet truly find refuge in You, who are God,* offer to You the voice of Your disciples, saying:* Save us, О our Instructor, for we are perishing!* And we pray: Show now to our enemies that You protect and save from misfortunes* those who have recourse to the supplications of the apostles,* overlooking their sins in Your great goodness.* О Lord, glory be to You!

Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands, give success to the work of our hands.

Great is the glory you have acquired by faith;* for you not only vanquished the enemy in your sufferings,* but in death you drive away evil spirits and heal the infirm, О physicians of souls and bodies.* Pray to the Lord, that our souls may find mercy.

Tone 1, Glory…

Having escaped the stormy tumults of life,* attained to the serenity of the holy cave,* and pleased the Lord there by love of labour,* you have now become citizens of Sion on high* and sons of the kingdom of God.* O God-bearing fathers, pray that those who ever honour your assembly with love* may receive a portion of your glory.

Now…

Joy of the ranks of heaven,* and mighty intercession for men on earth, O all-pure Theotokos:* save us who have recourse to you,* for on you, after God, have we set our hope, O Theotokos.

Troparia

Tone 4

Let us honour today the spiritual sun and the radiant moon of the first leaders of the Caves,* with the whole assembly of the venerable;* for, illumining the firmament of the Church,* they enlighten those who languish in the darkness of the passions,* and by their supplications they grant help from Christ God amid all tribulations,* and ask deliverance for our souls.

Tone 1, Glory…

Dweller of the wilderness and angel in the body,* you were a wonder-worker, our God-bearing Father Moses!* You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil and prayer:* healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith:* glory to Him who gave you strength!* Glory to Him who granted you a crown!** Glory to Him who through you grants healing to all!

Now…

You have borne the fire of the Godhead without being burned;* you have given birth to the Lord, the Source life,* O Mother of God and woman full of grace,* save all those who exalt you.

DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: Let us honour today the spiritual sun and the radiant moon of the first leaders of the Caves,* with the whole assembly of the venerable;* for, illumining the firmament of the Church,* they enlighten those who languish in the darkness of the passions,* and by their supplications they grant help from Christ God amid all tribulations,* and ask deliverance for our souls.

Troparion, Tone 1: Dweller of the wilderness and angel in the body,* you were a wonder-worker, our God-bearing Father Moses!* You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil and prayer:* healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith:* glory to Him who gave you strength!* Glory to Him who granted you a crown!* Glory to Him who through you grants healing to all!

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

Kontakion, Tone 4: You upbraided your people and spat on the devil * and brought them light brighter than the sun. * You guide our souls by the light of your life and thought.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 8: O venerable saints of the Caves,* favourites of God chosen from among the generations of men,* who in the virtues shone forth upon these mountains:* the earth did not conceal you,* but heaven has been opened to you as a dwelling in paradise;* Therefore, on the day of your commemoration* we offer up hymns of praise to God who has glorified you.* As you have boldness,* by your supplications deliver from all misfortunes* us who honour your assembly,* for you are our helpers and mediators before God.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.

verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:15,12)

Epistle

2 Corinthians 7:1-10

Alleluia, Tone 6

verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.

verse: His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)

Gospel

Mark 1:29-35

Communion Hymn

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