Nativity Fast. Saint with Six Stichera.

VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no appointed psalms to be chanted tonight.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4

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

You became a most sacred vessel of the divine Spirit,* having cleansed your soul of the passions, O most sacred one.* Hence, you received the holy and divine anointing,* becoming a hierarch, a divinely wise leader of the people,* and an invincible martyr of Him who endured sufferings for our sake* and have  poured forth dispassion, O athlete Eleutherius.

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

Seeing you finishing well the contest,* she who gave you birth desired to run the same race as you;* and, embracing you in the midst of the arena, O wise one,* she was slain like a heifer.* With her we entreat you, O all-blessed Eleutherius:* Beseech the Lord and Saviour in our behalf.

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

You prevailed over your body, which was wounded by blows* and brought into contact with fire;* for you furnished your mind with wings through invincible desire* and the most comely beauty of the Divine One who loves us,* by whose sweet desire you were wounded,* O adornment of martyrs, ornament of hierarchs, converser with angels,* O athlete Eleutherius.

Tone 2

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

O Paul, adornment of monastics, beauteous scion of the wilderness,* boast of the venerable, pride of Mount Latros, confirmation of the faithful:* by your supplications to the Master* deliver from every evil circumstance and condemnation to the fire* those who with love celebrate your most honoured memory* and kiss the shrine of your relics.

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

Having made yourself a temple of the Trinity, O divinely blessed father,* you erected a temple dedicated to the Trinity;* and having entered the trackless wilderness of Mount Latros, as Moses did Mount Sinai,* you made your abode thereon, where, receiving the divine law,* you truly instructed multitudes of monastics, O most wondrous one,* with great excellence.

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

As you have boldness before God, pray, O venerable one,* that the flock which you gathered together with great effort* be preserved from the temptations of the enemy and the assaults of the heathen,* from fire and sword and every attack of the evil one;* for, having you as our guardian and protection, O blessed one,* we have acquired you as our hope with God.

Tone 2, Glory… Now…

Theotokion

O all-holy Bride of God, in your womb you bore the only infinite God* who in His goodness became man without becoming finite.* Therefore, I beseech you: Rescue me from the passions which oppress me,* that, treading the straight and narrow path,* I may reach that which leads to life, O Virgin.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

And now bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.

verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.

Aposticha

Tone 2

Like the prodigal son I have sinned against You, О Saviour.* Accept me who am penitent, О Father.* Have mercy on me, О God!

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.

With the cry of the publican I cry out to You, О Christ my Saviour:* Cleanse me as You did him,* and have mercy on me, О God!

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.

Having hated the pleasures of the earth,* the passion-bearers were granted the good things of heaven* and became fellow citizens with the angels.* By their supplications, О Lord, have mercy and save us.

Tone 2, Glory… Now…

Rejoice, O Theotokos Mary,* indestructible and surpassingly holy temple;* as the prophet cries out:* Holy is your temple, wondrous in righteousness!

Troparia

Tone 4

O holy priest-martyr Eleutherius,* you lent yourself to the apostles’ way of life* and succeeded them on their throne.* Inspired by God, you found the way to contemplation through the practice of virtue.* Therefore, you became a perfect teacher of truth,* fighting for the faith unto the shedding of your blood.* Intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.

Glory…

You were numbered among the monks and a companion of angels,* and so we raise this song to you, O glorious Paul.* Pray that we may find mercy for our souls.

Now…

To the One who was reared in the Temple,* close to the Holy of Holies,* and who was full of faith, wisdom, and perfect virginity,* Gabriel, the captain and leader,* offered esteem and greetings from heaven when he said:* Rejoice, O blessed One! Rejoice, O glorified One!* The Lord is with you.

DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: O holy priest-martyr Eleutherius,* you lent yourself to the apostles’ way of life* and succeeded them on their throne.* Inspired by God, you found the way to contemplation through the practice of virtue.* Therefore, you became a perfect teacher of truth,* fighting for the faith unto the shedding of your blood.* Intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.

Troparion, Tone 4: You were numbered among the monks and a companion of angels,* and so we raise this song to you, O glorious Paul.* Pray that we may find mercy for our souls.

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

Kontakion, Tone 2: We all sing a hymn of praise to you, O holy one,* splenduor of bishops and an example of victory.* We beseech you, O priest-martyr, to deliver from danger* all those who celebrate your memory with fervour.* Intercede unceasingly for all of us.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion. Tone 8: You acted maturely from your childhood and spurned the goods of the world.* You became a temple of the Trinity in your quest for the divine life.* You enlighten those who come to you,* and so we sing: Rejoice, O generous father Paul.

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 2:20-26

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 19:37-44

Communion Hymn

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