Nativity Fast.

VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4 [optional Podoben “Called from on high…”]

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

Manifestly illumined by the brightness of the Spirit of God,* most blessed Paramon,* you despised the total darkness of idolatry.* When your time had come, most blessed one,* you approached the suffering before you with a courageous mind!* Revealed as victorious, you cast down the prideful enemy of all mortals,* as you magnified Christ!* Entreat Him to 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.

Witnessing a great multitude slaughtered for the King and God of all, * you burned with divine zeal, Paramon, crying out:* I am ever a true servant of Christ!* Understand, evil tyrants,* for behold, I was summoned and now I come* to be slain like an innocent lamb!* Therefore, do not be deceived:* I am forced to become an acceptable sacrifice to Him* Who for my sake was freely slain in the flesh!

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

The honoured choir of athletes,* three hundred seventy in number,* with faith cast down the falsehood of the evil-doers’ idolatry.* You also were crowned with them,* having struggled with a courageous mind, Paramon,* and rejoicing, you joined the choirs of the bodiless hosts!* Ever pray with them that we who honour and bless you* may be delivered from all sorrow and dangers!

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

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

The martyrs dispelled the darkness of ungodliness,* showing forth the light of divine knowledge to all mankind.

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

With orthodox teachings as with divine rays* you enlightened the Church of the Lord,* О most wise pastors.

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

Ever dwelling in trackless wastes,* you broke the nets of the demons,* О venerable fathers.

Tone 7, Glory… Now…

Immaculate Mother of God,* you became a mother outside the laws of nature,* remaining a virgin in a way that exceeds all description* and human understanding.* The wonder of your birth-giving could not be told in human language,* for your conception of Christ blinded intelligence,* and your birth-giving exceeded understanding:* for whenever God so desires, the laws of nature are broken.* Wherefore, we all firmly believe that you are the Mother of God,* and we eagerly beseech you to intercede for the salvation of our souls.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

O God, You are my defender* and Your mercy goes before me.

verse: Deliver me from my enemies, O God; save me from those who rise up against me.

Aposticha

Tone 7

Despising every earthly thing, O holy martyrs,* and bravely preaching Christ before the tribunal,* you received your reward from Him for your sufferings.* Since you have boldness before God,* we beseech you to pray to Him as one almighty,* that He save the souls of those who flee to you for help.

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.

O all-praised martyrs, you spiritual sheep,* living offerings and sacrifices acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.* You were not buried in the earth, yet heaven has received you;* O you who have become companions of the angels* we entreat you to pray with them to God our Saviour,* that peace be granted to the world, and that our souls be saved.

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.

In the beginning You formed man according to Your image and likeness,* and You made him dwell in Paradise as ruler over Your creation.* But through the envy of the devil he was deceived* and partook of the fruit, transgressing Your command.* Wherefore, O Lord, You have condemned him to return again to the earth* from whence he was taken,* and to ask of You a peaceful repose.

Tone 7, Glory… Now…

О you who alone received the uncontainable Word of God,* and have given birth to Him incarnate:* Pray that our souls be saved.

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.

Glory… Now…

O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created,* and saved our souls from death.

DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY 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.

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

Kontakion, Tone 4: You washed your soul clean of all impurity* by following the divine mandates.* This is how you endured your martyrdom.* You refused to offer sacrifice to any idol;* therefore, they pierced you with a spear.* This is how you followed Christ.* O blessed Paramon, pray for all of us.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

To the saints who are in His land, the Lord has made wonderful all His desires in them.

verse: I foresaw the Lord in my sight, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. (Psalm 15:3,8)

Epistle

Galatians 1:3-10

Alleluia, Tone 4

verse: The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of their afflictions.

verse: The afflictions of the just are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliver them. (Psalm 33:18,20)

Gospel

Luke 9:37-43

Communion Hymn

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