Apostle’s Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain these ingredients.
VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 8
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
О most glorious wonder!* The Life-bearing Tree, the most holy Cross is revealed today, lifted up on high.* All the ends of the earth glorify it, and the hordes of the demons are affrighted.* О what a gift has been given to mortals!* Thereby, О Christ, save our souls, in that You alone are compassionate.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
О most glorious wonder!* Like a vine full of life, bearing the Most High,* the Cross is seen today uplifted from the earth.* Thereby have we all been drawn to God,* and death has been utterly slaughtered.* О most honoured Tree, whereby, glorifying Christ,* we have received the immortal sustenance which was in Eden!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
О the great goodness which You have for us, О good Jesus!* How did You abase Yourself, become a man,* and will to suffer, enduring the Cross and violent death for Your useless servants?* We offer the Cross to You as a worthy and divinely fitting gift;* and giving thanks, we, the faithful, glorify You.
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.
You were revealed to be a tablet of the Spirit of God, O divinely blessed father,* bearing the doctrines of God engraved upon your divine mind;* and in disclosing them you illumined those languishing in ignorance.* Therefore, by your supplications, O father,* ask great mercy for us all.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Having dyed your priestly raiment in the streams of your divine blood, O Dorotheus,* you have now entered, rejoicing, into the temple of heaven,* to appear before our God, who bestows crowns upon those who have suffered.* Earnestly entreat Him that He send down great mercy upon all.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Angelic was your life and splendid your martyrdom,* for which you were deemed worthy to rejoice with the angels, O father Dorotheus,* illumining the land with divine miracles and teachings.* Therefore, in your entreaties ask God to grant great mercy to all.
Tone 8, Glory… Now…
Beholding You nailed to the Cross and voluntarily accepting suffering, O Jesus,* Your Virgin Mother, O Master, cried aloud: Woe is me, my sweet Child!* How is it that You endure unjustly inflicted wounds,* O Physician who heals the infirmities of mankind,* delivering all from corruption in your tender compassion?
Prokeimenon
Tone 6
My help is from the Lord,* Who made heaven and earth.
verse: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come.
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,* and opened 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.
You sanctify everyplace, О martyrs of the Lord, and heal every infirmity.* Pray now, that our souls be delivered from the nets of the enemy,* we beseech you.
Glory… Now…
The unblemished heifer, beholding her Bullock willingly nailed upon the Tree,* cried out aloud, lamenting piteously:* Woe is me, O my most beloved Child!* How has the ungrateful assembly of the Jews rewarded You,* desiring to leave me childless and bereft of You,* O my most beloved Child?
Troparion, Tone 4
Having shared the way of life of the apostles,* and having become a successor to their thrones,* labouring you found the divinely inspired way to contemplation.* Therefore, forthrightly ministering the word of truth,* you shed your blood for the faith, O hieromartyr, Dorotheus.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.
Glory… Now…
O pure One, we have obtained your protection.* Through your intercession, we have been kept from harm* and surrounded at all times with the grace of your Son’s cross.* Therefore, we exalt you with great devotion.
AT DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Having shared the way of life of the apostles,* and having become a successor to their thrones,* labouring you found the divinely inspired way to contemplation.* Therefore, forthrightly ministering the word of truth,* you shed your blood for the faith, O hieromartyr, Dorotheus.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of 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 4: Having piously lived among the hierarchs,* and having trod the path of suffering,* you extinguished the sacrifices to idols* and were a defender for your flock, O godly one.* Therefore, venerating you, we sincerely cry to you:* “Rescue us from dangers by your prayers, O our father, Dorotheus.
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
Romans 5:17-6:2
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
Matthew 9:14-17
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear*. Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)