VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 8, Podoben “What shall we call you…”

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

O all-praised martyr and athlete,* having cast down carnal passions by abstinence,* you slew the serpent foe by your contest,* astonishing the angels with your suffering,* and causing men to rejoice in your ordeal, O adornment of monastics, vessel of virginity.* Pray that Christ God save and enlighten our souls!

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

What shall we name you, O glorious one?* Bride of Christ who shone forth in the virtues of virginity,* chosen daughter of the heavenly Jerusalem,* dweller and converser with angels,* one who delights in the noetic bridal chamber,* O much-suffering Anastasia, adornment of monastics.* Pray that Christ God save and enlighten our souls!

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

You endured the extraction of your teeth,* the severing of your hands, feet, and breasts,* your limbs being cut off by iniquitous torturers;* yet you lifted up your eyes to the comeliness of your Bridegroom,* enduring pain in manner past nature.* O much-suffering Anastasia, incorrupt Bride of Christ,* pray that He save and enlighten our souls!

Tone 8, Podoben “O most 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.

O divinely wise father Abraham, being like to Abraham in spirit,* you moved from your father’s land, O blessed one,* rejecting the desires of the flesh;* and, joyfully enclosing your body in a small hut,* you furnished your soul with wings to fly to the heavens,* where you have manifestly found your life.

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

O venerable father Abraham,* who, in accordance with your name, acquired the soul of Abraham,* endured temptations, strengthened by divine love;* and united to God by love, you inherited the promised land,* adorned with the splendours of the virtues.* Wherefore, rejoicing, we celebrate your memory.

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

O venerable father Abraham,* by divine providence you drew forth the woman* who was cruelly devoured by the serpent through deception,* and who was dragged down into the pit of destruction;* and you presented her, saved, to God.* All marvelled at her repentance,* piously glorifying the all-good God.

Glory… Now…

“What is this sight which my eyes behold, O Master?* Do You that sustain all creation, being lifted up on the Tree, die, granting life to all?”* The Theotokos said, weeping, when she saw the God and man,* who had shone forth from her ineffably,* lifted 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 3

I bow down, О Christ, before Your precious Cross:* the guardian of the world, the salvation of us sinners,* the great purification and boast of the whole world.

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.

The tree of disobedience put forth death for the world;* but the Tree of the Cross put forth life and incorruption.* Wherefore, we worship the crucified Lord, crying:* Let the light of Your countenance be signed upon us!

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.

The prophets, the apostles of Christ and the martyrs* enlightened and taught the erring nations to hymn the consubstantial Trinity,* and made the children of mankind companions of the angels.

Tone 3, Glory… Now… Podoben “Great is the power of Your Cross…”

When Your Mother, the unblemished Ewe-lamb who gave You birth,* saw You lifted up upon the Cross, О my Christ,* she lamented and cried out, weeping: “Show me not to be childless,* whom You preserved pure even after giving birth!”

Troparia

Tone 4

Your lamb, Anastasia, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy save our souls.

Tone 8, Glory…

In you, O holy father Abraham, the faithful image of God shone forth,* for you carried your cross and followed Christ.* You taught by your deeds how to spurn the body, for it passes away;* and how to value the soul, for it is immortal. *Therefore, your soul is forever in happiness with the angels.

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: Your lamb, Anastasia, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy save our souls.

Troparion, Tone 8: In you, O holy father Abraham, the faithful image of God shone forth,* for you carried your cross and followed Christ.* You taught by your deeds how to spurn the body, for it passes away;* and how to value the soul, for it is immortal. *Therefore, your soul is forever in happiness with the angels.

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

Kontakion, Tone 3: In the body, you were like an angel on earth,* and by your asceticism, you were like a tree well-rooted.* You grew in beauty, being watered with self-renouncement.* O father Abraham, you exorcised the devil by your tears;* therefore, you resembled a vessel of the Holy Spirit.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 3: O venerable Anastasia, you were purified by the waters of virginity* and washed by the blood of your martyrdom.* Therefore, you grant healing to those who suffer from sickness* and salvation to those who come to you with love.* It is Christ who bestows upon you this power* because He is ever-generous with his grace.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The venerable ones will exult in glory* and they shall by 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

Colossians 1:18-23

Alleluia, Tone 6

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

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

Gospel

Luke 8:22-25

Communion Hymn

Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)