VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
As the last successor of the Theologian* you followed in his steps, hastening from the East and appearing in the West,* illumining all with the lightning flashes of divine preaching;* and, departing there from the world, O most wise one,* you shone forth to God, crowned with the splendour of grace.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
As the last successor of the Theologian* you followed in his steps, hastening from the East and appearing in the West,* illumining all with the lightning flashes of divine preaching;* and, departing there from the world, O most wise one,* you shone forth to God, crowned with the splendour of grace.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
In sacred manner were your relics given to your city, O most wise God-bearer,* and they were all the more splendidly hallowed by your suffering,* illumining with grace in their return to us,* becoming the cause of our solemnities,* filling with divinely inspired gladness* and delighting with sweet fragrance those who honour you piously.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
In sacred manner were your relics given to your city, O most wise God-bearer,* and they were all the more splendidly hallowed by your suffering,* illumining with grace in their return to us,* becoming the cause of our solemnities,* filling with divinely inspired gladness* and delighting with sweet fragrance those who honour you piously.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Before, you shone forth from the East upon the lands of the West,* more brightly than the morning-star;* and now, in the return of your divine relics,* you have spread forth beams of light upon the earth out of the evening sky,* and entreat Christ to deliver from corruption and misfortunes* those who with faith celebrate your most honoured memory.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Before, you shone forth from the East upon the lands of the West,* more brightly than the morning-star;* and now, in the return of your divine relics,* you have spread forth beams of light upon the earth out of the evening sky,* and entreat Christ to deliver from corruption and misfortunes* those who with faith celebrate your most honoured memory.
Tone 8, Glory…
O God-bearing Ignatius,* soaring aloft to Christ whom you desired,* you have received the reward of the sacred ministry of the Gospel of Christ,* which you completed in the shedding of your blood.* Therefore, as the wheat of the immortal Husbandman,* you were ground by the teeth of the wild beasts and hast been shown to be sweet bread for Him.* Pray for us, O blessed athlete.
Now…
Behold the groaning of my contrite heart, O Bride of God,* and accept, and reject not, the lifting up of my hands,* O pure and all-immaculate Virgin Mary,* as you are full of love for mankind;* that I may hymn and magnify you who have exalted our race.
Prokeimenon
Tone 5
O Lord, save me by Your name,* and in Your power be a judge for me.
verse: O God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth.
Aposticha
Tone 8
Fervently loving You on earth, О Lord,* Your apostles considered all to be but dung,* that they might acquire You alone;* and they gave their bodies over to wounds for You;* wherefore, glorified, they pray for our souls.
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.
О Lord, You magnified the memory of the apostles on earth,* for assembling them together, we all glorify You;* since by their prayers and for their sake,* You grant healings, peace and great mercy to the whole world.
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.
What virtue, what praise is due the saints?* For they bowed their heads beneath the sword for the sake of You* who bowed down the heavens and descended;* they shed their blood for You who emptied Yourself and assumed the form of a servant;* they humbled themselves even to death, emulating Your poverty.* By their prayers, О God, have mercy upon us* in the multitude of Your compassions.
Tone 1, Glory…
O your steadfast and adamantine soul, O right blessed Ignatius!* For, with unwavering desire for Him who loves you, you said:* “There is not within me the fire of the love of material things;* rather there is in me living water which speaks in me, saying within me:* Come to the Father.* Therefore, afire with the divine Spirit,* you permitted the wild beasts to separate thee quickly from the world* and send you to Christ whom you desired.* Entreat Him that He save our souls.
Now…
Rejoice, O Virgin, joy of the forefathers,* gladness of the apostles and martyrs,* and protection of us your servants!
Troparia
Tone 4
Having offered yourself as a sanctified gift to God,* you were thrown to the ravenous animals.* You received the crown of victory from God for this.* Save those who honour you as a pastor for Christ,* a teacher and a companion of martyrs.
Glory… Now…
O Virgin Mother of God,* we acknowledge that the Word of the Father, Christ our God,* was incarnate of you, the only pure one and the only blessed one.* Therefore, we sing to you a hymn of praise and we exalt you.
DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Having offered yourself as a sanctified gift to God,* you were thrown to the ravenous animals.* You received the crown of victory from God for this.* Save those who honour you as a pastor for Christ,* a teacher and a companion of martyrs.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Rising in the east today* and enlightening all the world by your teachings,* you were graced with martyrdom, O heavenly Ignatius.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The venerable ones will exult in glory* and they shall be joyful in their beds.
verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; let His praise be in the assembly of the venerable ones. (Psalm 149:5,1)
Epistle
1 John 1:8-2:6
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice.
verse: For the Lord has chosen Sion; He has chosen it for His dwelling. (Psalm 131:9,13)
Gospel
Mark 13:31-14:2
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear*. Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)