Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.

VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalm are chanted.

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.

As is meet, O right glorious ones,* you were truly shown to be a divinely assembled regiment,* a sacred army, a godly company, a holy nation,* a legion of martyrs inspired by God, a comely gathering,* an unbreakable alliance, inhabitants of the city on high.* Therefore, you are called blessed, as is fitting.

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

Assembling together, let us all honour Nicander and Hesychius,* Athanasius and Mamas, the divine Barachius and Callinicus,* Theogenes and Nicon, Longinus and Theodore,* Valerius and Xanthius, Theodulus, Callimachus and Eugene,* the godly Theodochus and Ostrychius.

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

Together let us hymn with faith the true witnesses:* the valiant Hieron, the glorious Epiphanius, Maximian and Ducitius,* Claudian and Theophilus, and the godly Gigantius,* Dorotheus and Theodotus, Castrycius, Anicetas and Themelius,* as well as Eutychius.

Tone 6, Podoben “Having set all aside…”

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

Having set aside all the folly of the passions* and made your flesh subject to your spirit,* you became become a rule of virtue,* the confirmation of monastics, a model for fasters,* the adornment of the venerable.* And now you behold the ineffable beauty of your Creator,* ever nurtured by the Spirit on the beauties of heaven.* Therefore, having assembled, we celebrate your honoured and most festive memory* in hymns, with sweet songs.

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

You cut off all the heavy burden of matter* and the greatly tumultuous turbulence of the flesh,* and, controlling your breathing, O wise one,* you remained unaffected by the passions, strong as a pillar,* through spiritual breastplates and valorous mind.* And now you have truly received the divine vision and splendour* and have taken your place before Him whom you desired,* delighting in His never-ending radiance, deified by your posture.

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

Loving the light, like Elijah and John the luminary,* you observed stillness in the mountains and arid deserts,* ever learning divine ascent and excelling in the way of the virtues.* Therefore, you have attained your ultimate desire, O all-wise one,* and, rejoicing, you stand before the thrice-radiant light of the Trinity;* and receiving divine splendour directly from there,* you pray with boldness in behalf of our souls.

Tone 5, Glory…

O venerable father, you gave neither sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids,* until you freed free your soul and body from the passions* and prepared yourself to be a dwelling-place of the Spirit;* and Christ, coming with the Father, made His abode within you.* As you are a favourite of the consubstantial Trinity,* O great preacher Lazarus our father, pray in behalf of our souls.

Tone 5, Podoben “Rejoice…”

Now…

The ewe-lamb, beholding her Lamb hastening to the slaughter,* followed quickly, crying out to Him these things:* To where do You go, O Jesus, my child most sweet?* To where, O Long-suffering One, do You run this rapid course so straight?* O sinless Jesus, greatly Desired One, most merciful Lord:* grant speech to me, Your handmaid.* O my compassionate Son most beloved,* pass me not by in silence who gave birth to You in strange manner.* O most compassionate God, grant great mercy to the world!

Prokeimenon, Tone 6

My help is from the Lord,* Who made heaven and earth.

verse: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come.

Aposticha

Tone 4

You have given Your Cross to us as an invincible weapon, О Christ;* and with it we triumph over the assaults of the alien one.

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.

Ever possessing Your Cross as a help, О Christ,* we easily trample underfoot the snares of the enemy.

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.

О Christ God, who are glorified in the memorials of Your saints,* entreated by them send down upon us great mercy.

Tone 6, Glory…

O venerable father, the sound of your corrections have gone forth into all the earth;* therefore, you have found the reward for your labours in the heavens,* you have destroyed legions of demons,* you have attained to the ranks of the angels and blamelessly emulated their life.* As you have boldness before Christ, entreat peace for our souls.

Tone 6, Podoben “On the third day…”

Now…

The Virgin, Your pure Mother,* beholding the most iniquitous men who unjustly nailed You to the Tree, O Saviour,* was wounded in her womb as Symeon foretold.

Troparia

Tone 4

O Lord our God, your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Tone 8, Glory…

Your falling tears and constant prayers soaked the pillar,* and the thoughts of your heart produced fruit a hundred-fold.* You were a shepherd, and you obtain remission for all.* O father Lazarus, beg Christ our God to save our souls.

Now…

When the Mother beheld upon the cross* the Lamb, the Shepherd, and the Saviour of the world,* she exclaimed tearfully:* The world rejoices at the sight of its redemption,* but my heart is afire as I see Your pain on the cross,* which You accept for the sake of all, O my Son and my God!

DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: O Lord our God, your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Troparion, Tone 8: Your falling tears and constant prayers soaked the pillar,* and the thoughts of your heart produced fruit a hundred-fold.* You were a shepherd, and you obtain remission for all.* O father Lazarus, beg Christ our God to save our souls.

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

Kontakion, Tone 8: The radiant choir of martyrs in festal robes* adorns the Church today by their presence among us.* We celebrate their precious memory* and beg favour from you, O Saviour.* By their prayers keep us from all troubles* so that we can sing to you: Alleluia!

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4: The Church of Christ praises you with a host of psalms,* for you have become one of her lights.* Do not cease your prayers to Christ,* that we may obtain the remission of our sins.

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

Colossians 4:10-18

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

Luke 10:1-15

Communion Hymn

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