Nativity Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.

VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 7 [optional Podoben “No longer are we forbidden the tree of life…”]

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

Of old, a tree drove me from paradise,* but now a tree has restored me to paradise* when You were crucified, О Christ.

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

О awesome wonder!* How can the Creator, standing before a created being,* be condemned and crucified for the salvation of mankind?

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

О Cross of Christ,* the amazement of the holy angels and the great wounding of the demons:* Save your servants!

Tone 1 [optional Podoben “O all-praised martyrs…”]

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

O most blessed Alypius, from your childhood you offered your life to Christ our God,* and, strengthened by Him, you submitted the passions of your flesh to your mind,* subjecting what is worse to that which is higher.* Pray that the Lord grant our souls* peace and great mercy.

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

O divinely wise Alypius,* you were shown to be a magnificent beacon,* illumining the earth with the splendours of your wonders and your godly deeds.* After your repose the unwaning Light received you.* Pray that Christ grant to our souls* peace and great mercy.

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

You were an immovable pillar for monks, O wise one,* standing higher than your pillar,* vexed by the heat of the day and cold and by many fasts.* You received the divine gifts of the Spirit to heal infirmities* and to drive out the most cruel passions.* Pray that Christ grant to our souls* peace and great mercy.

Tone 1, Glory… Now…

The unblemished ewe-lamb and Mistress,* as she beheld her Lamb on the Cross, bereft of form and beauty,* lamenting, said: Woe is me!* Where has beauty set, O You who are most sweet?* Where is Your splendour?* Where the shining grace of Your image,* O my Son most beloved?

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 7

No longer are we forbidden the Tree of life,* for we have Your Cross as our hope.* О Lord, glory be to You!

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.

Suspended upon the Tree, О Immortal One,* You broke the snares of the devil.* О Lord, glory be to You!

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.

Caring nothing for all the things of earth, О holy martyrs,* and having manfully preached Christ at the tribunal,* you received from Him rewards for your torments;* but as you have boldness, beseech Him,* as the almighty God, that He save the souls of us who flee to you, we pray.

Tone 7, Glory… Now…

Once you beheld your son upon the Tree,* your heart was pierced by a lance of sadness,* O most-pure One.

Troparia

Tone 4

Your martyr, Alypius, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.

Glory…

Sated with miracles, the whole world blesses you today.* Drunk with your blood, the earth keeps a holiday.* The Christians of Kiev rejoice at the dedication of your Church, O martyr George,* O chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit who pleased Christ.* Beg Him to forgive the sins* of those who come to your Church with faith and prayer.* Beg Him to give peace to the world and mercy to our souls.

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 martyr, Alypius, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: As a bright and unerring star you appeared to the world* proclaiming with your rays the Sun, that is, Christ, O martyr, Alypius,* and you have extinguished all error.* But to us you give light, praying without ceasing for all of us.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.

verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I make my petition to You. (Psalm 63:11,2)

Epistle

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Alleluia, Tone 4

verse: The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; and he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon.

verse: They who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish the courts of our God. (Psalm 91:13,14)

Gospel

Luke 12:48-59

Communion Hymn

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