Post-feast of the Encounter.

VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY 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.

Let us now celebrate the saving grace of the ineffable manifestation of God;* for Christ God, becoming immutably a child through the Virgin Maiden,* is now borne by His Mother to God the Father in the temple;* and Symeon, receiving Him in his arms, embraces Him.

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

You were seen by the prophets, O Jesus,* for of old they beheld You as far as they were able;* but now, O Word of God, of Your own will You have appeared in the flesh, through the Virgin Mary, to all the world* and have revealed Your salvation to all those descended from Adam,* in that You love mankind.

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

O Christ who of old ordained the law of Mount Sinai,* fulfilling the provisions of the law now on Mount Sion* You have desired to be borne into the temple,* a babe in the flesh,* in the arms of the Theotokos, with the whole-burnt offerings;* and were given into the arms of Symeon.

Tone 4

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

You preserved your body uncorrupted for Christ thy Bridegroom,* adorned with the beauties of virginity, O Agatha, bride of God;* and, luminous with the splendours of martyrdom,* you have made your abode in the bridal chamber of God.* Wherefore, we celebrate your universal triumph,* glorifying the Saviour who ever glorifies you.

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

You endured the severing of your breasts,* the burning of fire and the laceration of your body, O glorious one,* gazing with the eyes of thy heart toward thine eternal rewards,* the blessedness which comes therefrom* and the imperishable crown, which has now been given you by Christ,* for whom you suffered, O much suffering athlete.

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

The uncontrollable raging of the savage fire you halted by your supplications,* O you of goodly renown,* and you saved the city which venerates your precious relics, O martyr,* from whence it receives rivers of healings through the divine Spirit.* For, suffering therein, you brought low the enemy* and received the crown of victory, O most lauded one.

Tone 8, Glory…

An all-glorious miracle took place during the martyrdom of the most glorious Agatha,* the martyr of Christ God, like that of Moses.* For, obtaining the law of the people, on the mountain* he received letters inscribed by God on tablets;* but here an angel from heaven, an intelligence venerable and acting freely,* brought an inscribed scroll to her grave,* showing forth honour from God* and deliverance for her native land.

Now…

He who is borne upon the cherubim and is hymned by the seraphim,* borne into the temple of God today in accordance with the law,* sits in the arms of the elder as on a throne,* and as God receives gifts from Joseph:* a pair of turtle-doves — the undefiled Church and the people newly-chosen from among the gentiles;* and two young pigeons — the beginning of the Old and the New.* And Symeon, finally receiving the fulfilment of the promise made to him* and blessing the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos,* foretold in imagery the sufferings she would endure* and asked from God deliverance, crying out:* “Now let me depart, O Master, as You told me before;* for I have seen You, the pre-eternal Light,* the Saviour and Lord of the Christian people!”

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 6

Receive in your arms, O Symeon, the Creator of all things!* O elder, take up Christ, to whom the Virgin Maiden gave birth without seed,* to the joy of our race.

Now, O Master, You have kept Your promise; let Your servant go in peace.

Assembling, O people, let us hymn God, the Creator of the law,* before whom the multitudes of angels tremble,* the only Benefactor and Bestower of the law,* for the salvation of our souls.

A light to reveal You to the gentiles, and the glory of Your people, Israel!

Now, O Master, let Your servant go in peace, as You said;* for I have beheld You, the pre-eternal Light of revelation for the nations and Israel, O Christ,* and of my bodily union.

Tone 2, Glory… Now…

Him Whom the ministers on high entreat with trembling* has Symeon now received in his material arms;* and he announced that God had united Himself to men.* And, seeing God as a heavenly man, transported from the things of the earth, he cried out with joy:* “O Lord who reveals the never-waning light to those in darkness,* glory be to You!”

Troparia

Tone 4

Your lamb Agatha, Jesus, calls out to You in a loud voice:* I love You, my Bridegroom,* and in seeking You I endure suffering.* In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You,* and died so that I might live with You.* Accept me as a pure sacrifice, for I have offered myself in love!* By her prayers, save our souls, since You are merciful!

Tone 1

Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,* who grants us resurrection.

DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 1: Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,* who grants us resurrection.

Troparion, Tone 4: Your lamb Agatha, Jesus, calls out to You in a loud voice:* I love You, my Bridegroom,* and in seeking You I endure suffering.* In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You,* and died so that I might live with You.* Accept me as a pure sacrifice, for I have offered myself in love!* By her prayers, save our souls, since You are merciful!

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

Kontakion, Tone 4: May the Church cry out, robed today in a garment of precious porphyry,* made of the blood of the pure martyr Agatha:*Rejoice, Agatha, pride of Sicily!

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 1: By Your birth, You sanctified a virgin womb* and fittingly blessed the hands of Simeon.* You have come also now and saved us, O Christ our God;* give peace to Your community in time of war,* and strengthen its rulers, whom You love,* for You alone,* are the Lover of mankind.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3

My soul magnifies the Lord,* and my spirit has rejoiced in God, My Saviour.

verse: Because he has regarded the humility of His handmaid; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. (Luke 1:46,48)

Epistle

1 John 4:20-5:21

Alleluia, Tone 8

verse: Now, O Master, You dismiss Your servant in peace according to Your word.

verse: For my eyes have seen Your salvation, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people, Israel. (Luke 2:29,32)

Gospel

Mark 15:1-15

Hymn to the Theotokos

O God-bearing Virgin, hope of Christians, protect and guard and save all those who put their trust in you.

and the Irmos, Tone 3: In the law, the shadow, and the scriptures, we the faithful see a figure: every male child that opens the womb shall be sanctified to God. Therefore do we magnify the first-born Word and Son of the Father who is without beginning, the first-born Child of a Mother who had not known man.

Communion Hymn

I will take the chalice of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 116:13)