VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no psalms chanted this evening.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4, Podoben “Called from on high…”

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

O glorious Codratus, as a sacred hierarch,* as a divine preacher, as a divinely chosen witness of the sufferings of Christ,* and a co-heir of the ineffable glory which is to be revealed,* you have most wisely preached the sacred Gospel, O most sacred one,* and with light have guided them that are in the darkness of ignorance.* Therefore, joyously keeping festival, we honour your most sacred and holy memory,* O blessed God-bearer.

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

Having most gloriously been taught divine things,* like the sun you traversed the earth in the lightning flashes of your preaching,* O initiate of the sacred mysteries,* and enlightened the souls of them that were in darkness,* and thus drove away the prince of darkness and his terrible demons,* who could not endure the radiance, or the divine grace,* or the all-accomplishing activity of the Spirit which dwelled within you,* O sacred hierarch Codratus, blessed intercessor for them that praise you.

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

Strengthened by your confession of God,* adorned with the beauties of wounds,* driven from your Athenian flock by wicked men, O most blessed one,* like a saving spring you watered the earth* and showed forth as fertile hearts that before were frozen by the darkness of vanity,* in that you are an apostle and a disciple of Christ,* O sacred hierarch Codratus most true, supplicant in behalf of them that praise you.

Tone 1, Podoben “Joy of the ranks of heaven…”

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

Having cast down the vanity of idols by your sacred discourse,* you made unstable hearts steadfast by faith and guided them to life, O hierarch,* and having suffered under the law,* you became a martyr of the Lord, O Phocas.

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

Having dyed your sacred vesture in the blood of your sacred body, O most sacred father,* you truly received from Christ a twofold crown, most blessed one,* and with the angels you hold chorus in the heavens,* praying that we be saved.

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

You illumine the whole world with the rays of your miracles, O father;* you ever help them that are at sea, and dispel the carnal weakness of every soul,* having received grace from the Lord,* O divinely blessed martyr Phocas.

Tone 4, Glory…

From your childhood you loved the Lord, O most blessed Phocas, wise hieromartyr,* for, taking the weapon of the Cross upon your shoulders,* you unwaveringly travelled the path of salvation,* and by Him you were shown to be one that dwells with the angels,* an opponent of the demons, and a most radiant intercessor for the world.

Now…

Theotokion; or this Stavrotheotokion:

O Mother, beholding Me hanging upon the Tree, your Son and God,* who fixed the earth immovably upon the waters* and fashioned all creation,* do not lament Me, for I shall arise and be glorified,* and with might shall I lay waste to the kingdom of hell;* I shall destroy its power,* and I shall deliver its prisoners from the wickedness, in that I am compassionate;* and I shall lead them to My Father, for I am the Lover of mankind.

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 6

At Your fearful Coming, O Christ,* may we not hear the words: I know you not.* For though, O Saviour, we have put our trust in You,* from negligence we have not kept not Your commandments;* yet we entreat You, spare our souls.

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.

I have no repentance and I have no tears.* Wherefore I entreat You, O Christ God:* before the end is here* turn me back and grant me compunction,* that I may be delivered from the torments of Hades.

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.

Your martyrs did not deny You, О Lord,* nor did they depart from Your commandments.* By their prayers have mercy on us.

Glory… Now…

Like the Archangel, let us the faithful* hymn the bridal-chamber of heaven, the portal truly sealed:* Rejoice, for whose sake have budded forth to us Christ the Saviour of all,* the Bestower of life and God!* With your arm O Lady cast down the tyrants, our godless foes,* O most pure one, O hope of Christians!

Tone 3

O holy apostle Codratus,* intercede with the all-merciful God* that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.

Tone 4, Glory…

You participated in the ways of the apostles,* and were enthroned as their successor!* You discovered action an entrance into vision,* inspired one of God.* Therefore directing the word of truth,* you suffered for the faith to the shedding of your blood!* Bishop and Martyr Phocas, pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved!

Now…

To the One who was reared in the Temple,* close to the Holy of Holies,* and who was full of faith, wisdom, and perfect virginity,* Gabriel, the captain and leader,* offered esteem and greetings from heaven when he said:* Rejoice, O blessed One! Rejoice, O glorified One!* The Lord is with you.

DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 3: O holy apostle Codratus,* intercede with the all-merciful God* that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.

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, Phocas.* 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.

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, Phocas.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 8: O Lord, the cosmos offers you Codratus,* a precious prince of priests and a courageous bearer of death.* The world honours his memory with hymns,* seeking absolution for its sins* through his intercession, O compassionate Lord.

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

Galatians 4:28-5:10

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

Mark 6:54-7:8

Communion Hymn

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