Apostle’s Fast

AT VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no appointed psalms to be chanted tonight.

At Psalm 140

Tone 2

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

Wholly you brought yourself * to Him Who gave you perfect life, O most blessed one, * as a living and animate whole-burnt offering, * a sacrifice most pure and well-pleasing. * Wherefore, you have become a right acceptable intercessor, * rescuing from the tempest all who hymn you with faith* and call upon you, O martyr Theodore.

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

Diligently did you cultivate the seed of the Word * which was sown in your soul, * and increasing it through the pangs of your suffering; * and wisely storing it in the granaries of heaven, you found incorruptible delight, * now revelling in it, O blessed one, * by your mediations before Christ * save those who hymn you with faith.

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

O martyr and passion-bearer of Christ, * by your entreaties save those who are in divers needs, * repelling every evil circumstance, * driving away soul-destroying grief, * and beseeching mercy and grace for us, * that, saved by your intercessions, * we may hymn your honoured struggles rejoicing,* O Theodore.

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 were shown to be a courageous spiritual athlete, * an invincible warrior * by the Holy Spirit, * having cast down the aggressor by the wisdom of your words * and by the wise and patient manifestations of your deeds. * Therefore, you received crowns of victory * and have been joined to the choirs on high, * O great martyr Theodore.

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

You were a pillar of godly piety, * O most noetically rich martyr, * detesting the temples of the impious, * brought as a most perfect lamb and most acceptable immolation * to Him who was blamelessly sacrificed for your sake, * Who glorified your holy memory, * and bestowed you as a treasury of miracles * upon those who are in the world, O Theodore.

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

Lifted up upon a cross, * your flesh lacerated, * wounded with sharp arrows, * beset with pain by means of all manner of the tormentors’ skills, * you were shown to be unbowed and invincible * by the power of Him who was nailed to the Cross, * O Theodore, the glory of the martyrs.

Tone 5, Glory…

Today the honoured memory of Christ’s passion-bearer has shone forth* more brightly than the morning star,* invisibly illumining the hearts of the faithful,* and dispelling the clouds from their souls* through the activity of the grace of the Spirit.* To Him let us cry aloud, O ye that love the martyrs:* you divinely bestowed grace which has been revealed to the faithful,* and which has shed a multitude of miracles upon those who flee to you, O blessed Theodore!* Unceasingly entreating Christ,* that those who honour your memory with faith,* fail not to obtain eternal blessings.

Tone 1, Now…

О immaculate Mary who surpasses every mind, most exceedingly pure chariot:* By your all-powerful intercessions guide me who am beset and hemmed in by many sins,* to the broad expanse of repentance;* for as the Mother of the Mighty One* you can accomplish all things.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

And now bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.

verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.

Aposticha

Tone 1

Great is the abyss of my many transgressions, О Saviour,* and I sink grievously because of my offenses.* Grant me Your hand, as You did to Peter, О God.* Save me and have mercy upon me!

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.

In that I have been condemned for wicked thoughts and deeds, О Saviour,* grant me the thought of returning to You, О God,* that I may cry aloud: Save me, О good Benefactor,* and have mercy upon me!

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.

Through the prayers of all the saints and the Theotokos,* О Lord, grant us Your peace,* and have mercy upon us,* in that You alone are compassionate.

Tone 8, Glory…

O all ye faithful,* let us bless as is meet the great and noble martyr Theodore,* as the namesake of God’s gifts and the heir of His blessedness,* the champion of the world,* for he entreats Christ God on behalf of our souls.

Now…

Taking up the cry of the Archangel Gabriel, let us say: * Rejoice, O Mother of God, * who has given birth to Christ, * the bestower of life upon the world!

Troparion, Tone 2

Great are the achievements of faith!* In the fountain of flames, the holy martyr Theodore rejoiced as by the water of rest* for having been baked as a whole-burnt offering* he was brought to the Trinity as a sweet bread.* By his prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Glory… Now…

O Mother of God, you are a fountain of mercy;* count us worthy of your compassion;* look upon a people who have sinned;* manifest your power as you always do.* Because of our trust in you, we cry out to you* as once did Gabriel, the commander of the angels.

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 2: Great are the achievements of faith!* In the fountain of flames, the holy martyr Theodore rejoiced as by the water of rest* for having been baked as a whole-burnt offering* he was brought to the Trinity as a sweet bread.* By his prayers, O Christ God, 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: You accepted the faith of Christ in your heart as a breastplate* and trampled the enemy’s power, O long-suffering martyr Theodore.* You were crowned for all eternity with a wreath from heaven* as the invincible one.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.

verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I make my petition to You. (Psalm 63:11,2)

Epistle

Romans 7:1-13

Alleluia, Tone 4

verse: The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; and he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon.

verse: They who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish the courts of our God. (Psalm 91:13,14)

Gospel

Matthew 9:36-10:8

Communion Hymn

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