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 1

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

Nailed to the Cross as a man, О Christ God,* You deified human nature and slay the serpent, the author of evil.* Becoming accursed in that You are compassionate,* You freed us from the curse which has its origin in the tree.* And You came that You might give blessing* and great mercy to all.

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

Though You are exalted far above all honour, О Master,* You deigned to be dishonoured, enduring a violent death upon the Tree,* that when You died in the flesh, О Almighty,* through it the race of mankind might embrace immortality* and receive again its primal life.

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

О most precious Cross, purification of all the faithful,* sanctify all who bow down before you and glorify Christ,* who stretched out His most pure hands upon you in His ineffable loving-kindness,* and who has gathered together all the ends of the earth.

Tone 1

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

O all-glorious martyr Menas,* when you were smitten on your heels,* your eyes put out, and your divinely eloquent tongue removed,* you endured steadfastly, looking for divine rewards.* Therefore, pray that God grant to our souls* peace and great mercy.

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

The glorious Hermogenes loved the severing of his hands and the removal of his feet;* and, gazing at the fire he showed forth a mightier ardour of heart, cleaving to God.* To Him does he now pray, that He grant our souls* peace and great mercy.

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

Your members broken, O wise saints,* you were cast into the depths of the sea;* and by the hand of the Most High* you were guided to the calm haven of sweetness,* having drowned the malice of the serpent.* Therefore, pray that God grant our souls* peace and great mercy.

Tone 1, Glory… Now…

Once, the undefiled Virgin,* beholding on the Tree Him to whom she had given birth from her seedless womb,* unable to bear the wounding of her womb,* said, rending her hair:* How is it that You who hold all creation in the palm of Your hand* are lifted up on the Cross like one condemned,* O You who desire to save mankind* in whatever way is possible?

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 1

The Cross was set up on Golgotha,* and has blossomed forth immortality for us from the ever-flowing fountain* of the Saviour’s side.

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 precious Cross of the Saviour is for us an indestructible rampart;* for, placing our trust therein,* we all are 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.

О how good was your barter, О saints!* For you traded your blood and inherited heavenly things;* and having undergone trials for a time, you rejoice everlastingly.* Of a truth your commerce was good!* For, having forsaken corruptible things, you received those things which were incorrupt;* and joining chorus with the angels, you unceasingly hymn* the consubstantial Trinity.

Glory… Now…

Upon beholding the Lamb lifted up upon the Cross,* the immaculate Virgin cried aloud, weeping:* “O my Child most sweet, what is this new and most glorious sight?* How is it that You who hold all things in Your hand* have been nailed to the Tree in the flesh?”

Troparia

Tone 8

Through mortification and penance,* the holy martyrs of Christ have overcome the disorder of their burning passions.* During their lifetime they received the grace of healing the sick.* after their death they have the power of performing miracles.* It is indeed a great marvel that healing should come forth from mere bones.* glory to the Creator, to God alone.

Glory… 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 WEDNESDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 8: Through mortification and penance,* the holy martyrs of Christ have overcome the disorder of their burning passions.* During their lifetime they received the grace of healing the sick.* after their death they have the power of performing miracles.* It is indeed a great marvel that healing should come forth from mere bones.* glory to the Creator, to God alone.

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

Kontakion, Tone 1: Let us sing holy hymns of praise in honour of the glorious martyrs;* for they have honoured the Lord and fought for his glory,* thus deserving to be counted among the angels in heaven.* Now they shower us with their miracles.

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

1 Timothy 5:22-6:11

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 18:15-17, 26-30

Communion Hymn

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