Saint with Six Stichera.

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.

Looking toward the beauties of paradise,* and richly delighting in meadows of incorruption,* you blossomed forth the knowledge of God for the world;* and partaking thereof with spiritual love, O venerable one,* we grow spiritually in soul.

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

Looking toward the beauties of paradise,* and richly delighting in meadows of incorruption,* you blossomed forth the knowledge of God for the world;* and partaking thereof with spiritual love, O venerable one,* we grow spiritually in soul.

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

Having written of the coming of the Judge with streams of tears,* you teach all to light the lamps of their souls,* announcing the arrival of the Bridegroom,* that we may all clothe ourselves with splendid vesture* to greet Christ the Bridegroom.

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

Having written of the coming of the Judge with streams of tears,* you teach all to light the lamps of their souls,* announcing the arrival of the Bridegroom,* that we may all clothe ourselves with splendid vesture* to greet Christ the Bridegroom.

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

Protecting your body with abstinence,* you mortified the movements of the passions, O father,* by prayers and vigils. The power of the Spirit which dwelled within you* has shown you to be a spiritual beacon* for the whole world.

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

Protecting your body with abstinence,* you mortified the movements of the passions, O father,* by prayers and vigils. The power of the Spirit which dwelled within you* has shown you to be a spiritual beacon* for the whole world.

Tone 6, Glory…

Having resolved to forsake the tumults of life, O ever-memorable Ephrem,* you attained to the desert with love of stillness;* and thereby led actively to God,* you shone forth as a lamp upon the world,* and poured forth the words of life upon men.* Never cease to make us steadfast by your prayers, O venerable father,* that our souls may be delivered from the alien foe.

Now…

Beholding our Life hanging upon the Tree,* the most immaculate Theotokos cried out, lamenting maternally:* “O my Son and my God, save those who hymn You with love!”

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 8

О Christ God who was lifted up upon the Cross,* You saved the race of mankind.* We glorify Your sufferings!

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.

You were nailed to the Cross, О Christ God,* opening the gates of paradise.* We glorify Your divinity!

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.

Your martyrs, О Lord, were no longer mindful of the things of life,* but ignored their tortures for the sake of the life which is to come,* and were shown to be inheritors thereof;* therefore, they rejoice with the angels.* By their supplications grant great mercy to Your people.

Tone 4, Glory…

Making your couch wet with your tears, as did the prophet,* and achieving repentance by instruction of life,* by your works and discourses you have shown us the fear of judgment;* and, assembling, we all honour your memory, O most blessed one,* doer of all-glorious deeds of the Lord, O ever-memorable Ephrem.* We entreat you now: pray to Christ God in behalf of our souls.

Now…

When she beheld You, the Lamb and Shepherd, upon the Tree,* the Ewe-lamb who gave You birth lamented* and exclaimed to You maternally:* “How is it that You have been suspended upon the tree of the Cross, O Longsuffering One?* How is it that Your hands and feet have been pierced with nails by the iniquitous, O Word,* and that You have shed Your blood, O Master?”

Troparia

Tone 8

Your abundant tears made the wilderness bloom,* and your sufferings made your labours fruitful a hundredfold;* you became a shining torch over the world.* O venerable father Ephrem,* pray to Christ our God that He may save our souls.

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: Your abundant tears made the wilderness bloom,* and your sufferings made your labours fruitful a hundredfold;* you became a shining torch over the world.* O venerable father Ephrem,* pray to Christ our God that He may 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 8: Ever conscious of the hour of judgment,* you shed tears of bitter lament, O Ephrem.* You actively embraced the life of silence which you loved so dearly.* By your actions you have taught us.* You have spurred the lazy to repentance.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.

verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:15,12)

Epistle

2 Peter 3:1-18

Alleluia, Tone 6

verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.

verse: His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)

Gospel

Mark 13:24-31

Communion Hymn

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