Our Venerable Father Leo, Bishop of Catania. – Royal Doors Liturgical Services

When

February 20, 2026

All Day

Day 5 of the Great Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain these ingredients. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.

VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 2

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

I have been darkened by the adversary’s deceits, O my Christ,* enlighten me, O enlightener of the faithful,* who darkened the sun as You hung upon the Cross,* granting deliverance, so that as I walk in the light of Your precepts* I may purely behold the saving rays of Your resurrection!

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

Hanging as a vine upon the tree, O Saviour,* You satisfied the earth with the wine of incorruption,* wherefore, I cry to You:* I have been drunk always and darkened with sinfulness.* Satisfy me with the sweet and true drink of compunction,* and strengthen me now through abstinence from pleasures* O my gracious Saviour and Lover of mankind!

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

Great are the wonders of the Cross!* it planted abstinence firmly in the church,* and uprooted Adam’s lack thereof in paradise,* one tree in Eden brought death to mankind,* but another on Golgotha granted eternal life to the world.* The Cross is the fountain of paradise* which released Your life-bearing blood and water.* By Your cross, gladden our Lenten joy, O God of Israel* as one abundant in mercy.

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.

O Lord, You showed forth the holy hierarch in the world* as a successor to the apostles in word and deed,* and a preacher of correct doctrine;* wherefore, You have made him an instructor of hierarchs* and a partaker of Your incorrupt glory.

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

Holding you as a living pillar* and a proclaimer of the right teachings of the Word, O Leo,* the Church of Christ ever remains unshaken, beholding the truth thereof,* and glorifying the Lord, the Master of all,* who has glorified you.

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

O Lord, You, the Word, showed forth the holy hierarch* as a sharp sword against the impious, and for Your orthodox faith;* and cutting down false teachings therewith,* You increased pious teaching in the world, O Master.

Glory… Now…

When the ewe-lamb and Virgin beheld You, the Lamb, led to the slaughter,* she followed with tears, O Word, and cried out:* “To where do You hasten, O my Child?* I will go with You, O You who are most sweet!* For I cannot endure not to see You, O my most merciful Jesus!”

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4

I will bless the Lord who gives me understanding,* moreover, even till night have my reins instructed me.

verse: Keep me, O God, for in You have I hoped!

Reading I

Genesis 2:4-19

This is the book of the genesis of heaven and earth when they were made, in the day the Lord God made heaven and earth, before any plant of the field was on earth and before any herb of the field sprang up. For God had not sent rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; but a fountain came up from the ground and watered the whole face of the earth. Then God formed man out of dust from the ground, and breathed in his face the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Then the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man He formed. Besides this, God caused every tree beautiful to the sight and good for food to grow from the ground. Also, in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of learning the knowledge of good and evil. Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it separated into four heads. The name of the first is Pishon. It circles all the land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good. The carbuncle and the emerald are there as well. The name of the second river is Gihon. It circles all the land of Ethiopia. The name of the third river is Tigris. It flows over against the Assyrians. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

Then the Lord God took the man He formed and put him in the garden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded Adam, saying, “You may eat food from every tree in the garden; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not eat; for in whatever day you eat from it, you shall die by death.”

And the Lord God said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Also, God formed out of the ground all the wild animals of the field and all the birds of heaven, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. Thus whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.

Prokeimenon II, Tone 4

Keep me, O Lord as the apple of your eye,* in the shelter of Your wings will You shelter me.

verse: Hearken O Lord, to my righteousness, attend to my supplication, give ear to my prayer, which comes not from deceitful lips.

Reading II

Proverbs 3:1-19

My son, do not forget my laws,
But let your heart keep my words;
For length of days, and years of life and peace
They will add to you.
Do not let almsgiving and faithfulness forsake you,
But hang them upon your neck;
And you will find grace
And provide good things before the Lord and men.
Trust in God with all your heart,
And do not exalt your own wisdom.
In all your ways know wisdom,
That she may cut a straight path for you;
And your foot will not stumble.
Do not rely on your own discernment,
But fear God, and turn away from every evil.
Then there shall be healing for your body
And care for your bones.
Honor the Lord from your righteous labors,
And offer Him the firstfruits from the fruits of your righteousness,
That your storehouses may be filled with abundance of grain,
And your winepresses may gush with wine.

My son, do not despise the instruction of the Lord,
Neither grow weary under His reproof.
For whom the Lord loves He instructs,
And chastises every son He receives.
Blessed is a man who finds wisdom,
And a mortal who sees discernment;
For the profits gained from wisdom are better
Than the treasures of gold and silver.
And wisdom is more valuable than precious stones,
And nothing evil will withstand her;
She is well known to all who come near her,
And no honor is worthy of her.
For length of days and years of life are in her right hand,
And in her left hand are riches and glory;
Righteousness proceeds from her mouth,
And she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.
Her ways are good ways,
And all her paths are in peace.

Aposticha

Tone 4

Desiring to commune of the divine Pascha,* the Pascha not from Egypt, but from Sion,* let us renounce the drink of sin through repentance!* Let us gird our loins with the mortification of pleasures!* Let us cover our feet with shoes that tread no evil path!* Let us be confirmed with the shield of faith!* Let us not imitate the enemies of the Master’s Cross!* Rather, let us pursue victory over the devil through fasting* for the sake of our Saviour, who showed us the way!

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.

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.

You are glorified in the memory of Your martyrs, O Christ God,* they entreat You on our behalf,* to send down upon us Your great mercy!

Glory… Now…

Beholding You nailed to the Cross, O Lord, the ewe-lamb,* Your Mother marvelled and cried out: “What is this that I see, O my Son most desired?* How have You been rewarded by the unfaithful and iniquitous assembly* which has enjoyed Your many miracles?* Yet glory to Your ineffable condescension, O Master!”

MATINS ON FRIDAY MORNING

Sessional Hymn I, Tone 3

Choosing to suffer Crucifixion and death,* You have set up the Cross in the midst of creation.* When You had consented, O Saviour,* that Your body should be nailed to the wood, the sun hid its rays.* Seeing this, the thief confessed You as God and cried out to You:* ‘O Lord, remember me’;* and because of his faith he was granted Paradise.

Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool for He is holy.

You were exalted, Lamb of God, upon the cypress, the pine and the cedar,* so as to save those who worship in faith Your voluntary Crucifixion.* Glory be to You, O Christ our God.

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

Through your faith you shine as radiant lights,* O physicians of the true worship of God, holy and glorious martyrs.* You were not terrified by the torments of the tyrants,* but you cast down the blasphemous teachings of idolatry,* taking up the true Cross as your emblem of victory.

Glory… Now…

By Your own free choice, O compassionate Christ,* You have endured a shameful death upon the Cross;* and when Your Mother saw You, she was wounded in her heart.* Through her prayers, O Lord, alone supreme in love,* through Your tender mercy have pity on the world and save it,* for You take away its sin.

Sessional Hymn II, Tone 2

By Your passion You have granted all mankind freedom from passions!* By Your divine Cross You have put to death the passions of my flesh;* count me worthy also, O Lord, to see Your holy resurrection.

Glory…

By Your passion You have granted all mankind freedom from passions!* By Your divine Cross You have put to death the passions of my flesh;* count me worthy also, O Lord, to see Your holy resurrection.

Now…

Guarded by the precious Cross of your son, O pure Lady Theotokos,* we easily turn away all the assaults of the enemy!* Therefore, we rightly call you blessed,* for you are the mother of light and the only hope of our souls!

Sessional Hymn III, Tone 2

You are the source and fountain of purity, O Merciful Lord;* Preserve us in the fast.* Behold us as we fall down before You,* look upon the lifting up of our hands,* for You stretched out Your hands upon the tree* and were crucified for the sake of all those born on earth,* O only Lord of the angelic powers!

Glory…

Now…

Beholding You, O Christ, stretched dead upon the tree,* Your Virgin Mother cried out with bitter tears:* O my son, what is this fearful mystery?* How do You give eternal life to all,* and yet willingly suffer a shameful death upon the Cross?

Canon, Tone 2

Ode 5

Irmos: O Christ my Saviour, the enlightenment of those lying in the darkness of sin.* I rise early to hymn You, O King of Peace,* enlighten me with Your radiance,* for I know no other God than You.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Seeing the sinfulness that is in me, the deceitful enemy works within me and urges me to sin: For he truly rejoices over my perdition. But I entreat You, O Saviour, grant me amendment of life that I may destroy him!

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

By Your Cross You have triumphed over the powers of darkness, deliver me from their wickedness, for I am fallen into the depth of sin and a pit of iniquity; but by Your mercy, I hope to be saved.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O Christ, You hung dead upon the cross: restore life to my soul, deadened through sin, and count me worthy to attain Your holy resurrection in peace, obediently fulfilling Your commandments.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us!

O Pure maiden, you are a light to me in my infirmity and the salvation of my darkened soul; Save me, O save me, for I perish! Clothe me, corrupted by my grievous sins, in a garment of incorruption!

Irmos: The night is far spent, the day is at hand:* Your light has shone upon the world!* Therefore, the ranks of angels sing Your praises,* and all things glorify You, O Lord!

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!

You alone are immortal yet accepted to be crucified in the flesh at the place of the skull, fashioning mankind anew, O Lord, and granting him immortality.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!

When creation beheld the offense of Your passion, O Lord, it was wholly changed, lamenting Your murder by Your own people. But You patiently endured these things to save the whole of creation!

Glory…

O all-holy Trinity, we worship You: You are our refuge and our strength. We sing Your praises, O You Who are a Unity in essence: Send down upon us the forgiveness of our sins.

Now…

Rejoice, O Theotokos, maiden of many names: Tabernacle, vessel of manna and altar-table, light-bearing Candlestick; the burning bush, and the mountain overshadowed by God!

Glory to You, our God, glory to You!

Saying farewell to the world and all that is in it, let us now be crucified with Christ; let us endure outrage, mockery, and other sufferings, that we may be glorified in Him.

Katavasia: The night is far spent, the day is at hand:* Your light has shone upon the world!* Therefore, the ranks of angels sing Your praises,* and all things glorify You, O Lord!

Ode 8

Irmos: God Who descended into the fiery furnace with the Hebrew children,* and transformed the flame into dew,* do works hymn,* and supremely exalt as Lord throughout all ages.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

In Your compassion You humbled Yourself on the cross, raising up with Yourself the one who had fallen of old through eating from the tree. Wherefore You are glorified, O Lord, and we sing Your praises throughout the ages!

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Through heedlessness I have fallen into the heavy sleep of sin, but, O my Christ, who for my sake fell asleep on the Cross, awaken me, that the night of death not consume me.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Blinded by sensual pleasures, I bear within me a darkened soul, and the crafty enemy laughs upon seeing me. But give me light, O Christ, and ever deliver me from his malice.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us!

I have wasted my life in wantonness, and my soul is heavy with the drowsiness of sin. I flee to your unsleeping intercession, O most pure Virgin: let me not slumber in the sleep of death!

Irmos: To Him Who of old prefigured the miracle of the Virgin,* to Moses in the burning-bush on Mount Sinai,* let us sing, bless and supremely exult* throughout all ages.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!

Crowned with thorns, O Christ, and clothed in a scarlet robe, You have shone with glory, Surpassing in beauty all the sons of men.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!

You drank gall and vinegar, and from Your divine side You have poured a double stream of life and incorruption upon those who praise and glorify You in faith forever.

Let us bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Lord!

O Godhead, one in Trinity, Undivided in nature yet divided in persons, Power that shall never be destroyed, Father, Son, and Spirit, we sing Your praises forever!

Now…

O pure Birthgiver of God, gate of heaven and door of salvation, accept the prayer of all Christians who call you blessed throughout all ages.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You!

The Cross, the sceptre of Christ and strength of the Church, the victory of kings and guardian of Christians! You are my light, and my boast throughout all ages.

We praise, bless, and worship the Lord, hymning and supremely exalting Him throughout all ages!

Katavasia: To Him Who of old prefigured the miracle of the Virgin,* to Moses in the burning-bush on Mount Sinai,* let us sing, bless and supremely exult* throughout all ages.

Magnificat

Ode 9

Irmos: You do we magnify, O blessed and most pure Theotokos,* who through your virginal womb ineffably brought forth God incarnate,* the Luminary Who shone forth before the sun* and has come to us in the flesh.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Hateful thoughts have covered my soul with leprosy: cleanse it, O Word of God, with the sprinkling of Your blood, and since You suffered a shameful crucifixion for my sake, O Christ, make me a partaker in Your glory.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I am bowed down to the earth, O Christ, by the burden of my sinful deeds, and in a gloomy despondency I cry out to You, O Lover of mankind: “By Your precious blood heal the incurable wounds of my soul that I may sing the praises of Your divinity.”

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I have made iniquity my food and heedlessness my drink, and I continue without any change. I take pleasure in abstaining from food to no purpose. Such is not the fast of which the Lord has spoken.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us!

You have destroyed the sentence of condemnation passed upon mankind of old; you are the restoration of our first mother Eve, the cause of our reconciliation to God, our bridge to the creator! Wherefore we magnify you, O Theotokos!

Irmos: To the pure and most pure mother and Virgin,* do we the faithful devoutly chant with hymns,* and as the Theotokos* we magnify her.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!

Creation quaked when You were crucified upon the tree! For as God, in Your loving-kindness, You suffered in the flesh for our salvation.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!

Great is the might of Your Cross, O Lord, for signing ourselves with it we drive away at once the power of the demons.

Glory…

Unity of three co-equal persons, undivided Trinity, Sovereign nature, Father, Son, and Divine Spirit, save us all.

Now…

Rejoice, O Theotokos, mercy-seat of the world! We sinners, ever fleeing to you for refuge gain reconciliation with God.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You!

By the divine power of Your Cross, Lord, Give me the strength to purely and blamelessly offer to You this time of fasting.

Katavasia: To the pure and most pure mother and Virgin,* do we the faithful devoutly chant with hymns,* and as the Theotokos* we magnify her.

Aposticha, Tone 8

Let us receive the proclamation of lent with joy!* For if our forefather Adam had kept the fast,* we would not have been deprived of paradise.* The fruit which killed us was beautiful to behold and pleasurable to eat,* let us not therefore be fooled by our eyes,* for after food is eaten, it is of no value.* Let us flee from intemperance,* so that we may not be conquered by passions after having our fill.* Let us sign ourselves with the blood of the One Who, for our sake,* was voluntarily led to death,* so that the destroyer might not touch us.* So we will partake of the sacred Pascha of Christ* for the salvation of our souls.

In the morning, fill us with Your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Give us joy to balance our affliction for the years when we knew misfortune. Show forth Your work to Your servants; let Your glory shine on their children.

Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands.

What shall we call you, O saints?* Cherubim, for Christ rested in you?* Or seraphim, since you glorify Him ceaselessly?* Angels, for you renounced the flesh?* Or powers, since you perform miracles?* Many are your names, and great are your gifts!* Pray that our souls be saved.

Glory… Now…

Creation was changed, O Saviour, when it beheld You crucified on Golgotha.* It shook and trembled, not able to endure the sight.* The pure Virgin, Your Mother, lamenting cried aloud:* “Woe is me, my child, my sweetest Saviour!* What is this new and strange and glorious sight?”