Nativity Fast.

VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no appointed psalms to be chanted tonight.

At Psalm 140

Tone 1

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

Beholding the condescension of God, all the earth is glad:* the magi bring Me gifts;* the sky proclaims it from on high with a star; the angels render glory;* the shepherds, piping, are amazed;* the manger holds Me like a fiery throne.* Seeing these things, O Mother, rejoice!

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

O my unoriginate Son,* ineffable Offspring of the all-unoriginate Father,* clad in the likeness of my aspect,* You have come, the Light of revelation for the nations.* For You come to make rich humanity which has become poor through poverty, by which You are clad.* I hymn Your loving-kindness, O Lord!

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

Beholding Me as a Babe resting in your arms, O Mother, be glad;* for I have come to take away all the pain of Adam,* which he suffered because of the evil counsel of the serpent,* tasting of the tree, finding himself removed from the sweetness of paradise,* and prey to corruption.

Tone 8

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

Disdaining the beautiful things of the world* and sparing not your flesh for them, O honoured one,* you committed yourself wholly to minister to the saints in godly manner,* patiently tending their sores amid their sufferings,* and most wisely urging them with your wise words to be courageous.* Pray that our souls be saved.

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

You dispensed your transitory wealth to those in need, O honoured one,* fervently seeking those things which are eternal,* and following the divine steps of Christ with undaunted faith;* and you cried out: I have been wounded with desire for You, O Immortal One!* Show me forth a partaker of the divine glory of Your sufferings,* as You are compassionate and love mankind.

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

Having endured a blessed suffering, O Anastasia,* you truly ever cleanse our sufferings with the outpourings of your healings.* Therefore, we call you blessed, as is meet;* we lovingly celebrate your memory,* and bow down before your relics, drawing forth sanctity therefrom.* Pray that our souls be saved.

Tone 2, Glory…

Having suffered at the tribunal, you received the gift of resurrection, O all-praised Anastasia.* For, routing a multitude of demons, you committed them to the sea,* O right-wondrous athlete and martyr.

Tone 4, Now…

Adorn yourself, O Bethlehem! Sing, O city of Sion!* Rejoice, O wilderness, betrothing yourself beforehand to joy!* For the star shall come to Bethlehem, announcing Christ who is to be born;* the cave shall receive Him whom nothing can contain;* and the manger is ready to accept Life everlasting.* To Him let us all chant and cry aloud:* Save our souls, O Jesus our God, who has become incarnate for our sake!

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

Christ comes to crush the evil one,* to enlighten those in darkness,* and to loose those in bonds.* Let us go forth to meet Him!

God shall come out of Teman, and the Holy One out of a mountain overshadowed and densely wooded.

Dance, O Sion!* Adorn yourself well, O cave!* Make ready, O Bethlehem!* For, lo! the Virgin comes to give birth to the Christ!

O Lord, I have heard Your report, and I was afraid; O Lord, I considered Your works, and I was amazed.

Sing praise and glory, you nations of the gentiles!* O magi, make haste in earnest, bearing gifts,* while the shepherds pipe.

Tone 4, Glory…

As the namesake of the life-bearing resurrection of Christ,* you most excellently fulfilled your calling with an honourable life, strengthening your nature.* Acquiring courage through wisdom, you wove for yourself a robe dyed purple in your blood;* and, bearing the Cross royally, like a sceptre,* you reign with God the Saviour, O most blessed Anastasia.* Entreat Him that He illumine us with His divine glory.

Now…

Rejoice, O Isaiah, receiving the word of God;* and prophesy to the maiden Mary, that she is the bush which burned with fire* yet was not consumed by the radiance of the Divinity.* Adorn yourself well, O Bethlehem! Open wide thy gates, O Eden!* O magi, come see Salvation wrapped and laid in the manger!* The star of the life-giving Lord who saves our race* has shone upon the roof of the cave.

Troparia

Tone 4

Your lamb, Anastasia, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy save our souls.

Glory… Now…

Bethlehem, make ready, for Eden has been opened for all.* Ephrathah, be alert, for the Tree of life  has blossomed forth from the Virgin in the cave.* Her womb has become a spiritual paradise* wherein the divine Fruit was planted,* and if we eat of it we shall live and not die like Adam.* Christ is coming forth to bring back to life* the likeness that had been lost in the beginning.

DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: Bethlehem, make ready, for Eden has been opened for all.* Ephrathah, be alert, for the Tree of life has blossomed forth from the Virgin in the cave.* Her womb has become a spiritual paradise* wherein the divine Fruit was planted,* and if we eat of it we shall live and not die like Adam.* Christ is coming forth to bring back to life* the likeness that had been lost in the beginning.

Troparion, Tone 4: Your lamb, Anastasia, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy save our souls.

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

Kontakion, Tone 3: Today, the Virgin is on her way to the cave* where she will give birth in a manner beyond understanding* to the Word who is in all eternity.* Rejoice, therefore, O universe, when you hear it heralded.* With the angels and the shepherds, glorify Him who chose to be seen as anew born babe* while remaining God in all eternity.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: We, all the faithful, have found your shrine to be a place of spiritual healing,* and we cry aloud to you: “O glorious virgin martyr, Anastasia,* pray unceasingly to Christ our God for all of us!”

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.

verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)

Epistle

Hebrews 3:5-11, 17-19

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and He was attentive to me, and He heard my prayer.

verse: He brought me out of the pit of misery and the mud of the swamp. (Psalm 39:2,3)

Gospel

Luke 20:27-44

Communion Hymn

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