Nativity Fast. Saint with Six Stichera. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.

VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no appointed psalms to be chanted tonight.

At Psalm 140

Tone 5

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

Rejoice, rule of hierarchs,* unshaken confirmation of the Church,* glory of the orthodox, wellspring of miracles,* inexhaustible stream of love,* most radiant beacon, organ of the Spirit,* intellect divine, meek and guileless,* adorned with true simplicity, heavenly man and earthly angel,* labourer in the vineyard, true friend of Christ!* Beseech Him to grant great mercy to them that honour you!

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

Rejoice, rule of hierarchs,* unshaken confirmation of the Church,* glory of the orthodox, wellspring of miracles,* inexhaustible stream of love,* most radiant beacon, organ of the Spirit,* intellect divine, meek and guileless,* adorned with true simplicity, heavenly man and earthly angel,* labourer in the vineyard, true friend of Christ!* Beseech Him to grant great mercy to them that honour you!

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

O Spyridon, glory of the fathers,* you were truly shown to be meek and an heir to the land of the meek.* By the sinews of your wise and simple words* you strangled Arius, the most wicked and demented enemy, by divine grace.* And, having clarified the divine dogma for all,* and extolled by the Spirit that which leads to salvation,* and most manifestly enlightened all the orthodox,* you indicated to all the faithful to glorify the One Word* as truly the Only Begotten of the all-unoriginate Father,* who grants the world great mercy.

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

O Spyridon, glory of the fathers,* you were truly shown to be meek and an heir to the land of the meek.* By the sinews of your wise and simple words* you strangled Arius, the most wicked and demented enemy, by divine grace.* And, having clarified the divine dogma for all,* and extolled by the Spirit that which leads to salvation,* and most manifestly enlightened all the orthodox,* you indicated to all the faithful to glorify the One Word* as truly the Only Begotten of the all-unoriginate Father,* who grants the world great mercy.

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

Having slain the carnal passions,* you raised the dead by the grace of God,* and changed a serpent into gold,* and restrained the raging of the river by thy prayer, O father,* Appearing to the afflicted emperor by night,* you healed him by drawing nigh to his heart when the Lord glorified you most gloriously.* We honour your memory with a mighty voice* and reverence the divine and sacred shrine of your relics,* from where flows forth a divine stream of healings and great mercy.

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

Having slain the carnal passions,* you raised the dead by the grace of God,* and changed a serpent into gold,* and restrained the raging of the river by thy prayer, O father,* Appearing to the afflicted emperor by night,* you healed him by drawing nigh to his heart when the Lord glorified you most gloriously.* We honour your memory with a mighty voice* and reverence the divine and sacred shrine of your relics,* from where flows forth a divine stream of healings and great mercy.

Tone 1, Glory…

The Virgin, beholding Your unjust sacrifice, weeping, cried out to You,* O Christ: O my Child most sweet, how is it that You die unjustly?* How is it that You, who suspended all the earth upon the waters,* are Yourself suspended upon a Tree?* O most merciful Benefactor, I pray You, leave me not alone* who am Your Mother and handmaid!

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

Tone1

The Cross was set up on Golgotha,* and 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 in it, 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.

By the supplications of all the saints and the Theotokos, О Lord,* grant us peace, and have mercy upon us,* in that You alone are compassionate.

Tone 2, Glory…

O father Spyridon, venerable and wise,* by your virtues have you been shown to be a divine treasure of hierarchs.* Being an intercessor of the Church, you cast out the chief of the heretics* and, in council, crushed the blasphemy of Arius to the earth.* Therefore, working wonders in word and deed,* beseech Christ that our souls be saved.

Now…

She that knew not wedlock, beholding You nailed to the Tree of the Cross, O Jesus,* weeping said: O sweet Child, why have You left me,* who gave You birth, alone, O unapproachable Light of the all-unoriginate Father?* But haste now and glorify Yourself,* that they that glorify Your divine Passion* may receive divine glory!

Troparia

Tone 1

You showed yourself a defender of the First Council and a worker of miracles. * You summoned the woman back from the grave and turned the snake into gold. * Angels came to minister beside you, O priestly father, * when you offered your ardent prayers. * Glory to Him who strengthened you! * Glory to Him who chose you! * Glory to Him who heals us through you!

Glory… Now…

O pure One, we have obtained your protection.* Through your intercession, we have been kept from harm* and surrounded at all times with the grace of your Son’s cross.* Therefore, we exalt you with great devotion.

DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: The truth of your deeds made you for your flock a rule of faith* and an image of meekness,* a teacher of continence.* And so you gained the heights through humility,* riches through poverty,* father and bishop, Spiridon* Intercede with Christ, our God,* for the salvation of 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: O thunder of justice, spiritual trumpet,* planter of faith and destroyer of heresies,* servant of the Trinity, great hierarch Spiridon,* forever standing in the company of the angels,* pray without ceasing for all of us.

Prokeimenon, Tone 1

My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart understanding.

verse: Hear these things, all you nations; give ear all you inhabitants of the world. (Psalm 28:4,2)

Epistle

2 Timothy 1:1-2, 8-18

Alleluia, Tone 2

verse: The mouth of the just man shall meditate wisdom and his tongue shall speak judgment.

verse: The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps will not falter. (Psalm 36:30,31)

Gospel

Luke 19:12-28

Communion Hymn

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