Apostle’s Fast
AT VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
There are no appointed psalms to be chanted tonight.
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
We celebrate your holy memory, passion-bearing martyr,* knowing you to be an incorrupt bride adorned by the Holy Spirit!* We bow down in faith before your relics* and ever receive healing for our passions* as we honour you in confidence, most praised Aquilina.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
You offered the severing of your limbs as a gift to your Bridegroom!* Therefore, most honoured one, * He counted you worthy of the all brilliant bridal chambers.* The transcendent One enlightens you with divine glory.* You stand before Him, rejoicing, Aquilina!* Earnestly pray to Him on behalf of us* who glorify your suffering with faith.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
You were inspired by God, Aquilina,* and held fast by the desire of your Creator.* You showed His suffering with your own flesh, all-praised one,* enduring each triple wave of pain!* Now as you live in the heavens,* wearing a crown that does not perish,* your glory is immune to pain!* And you look upon what the ranks of angels see!
Tone 1
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
The triumphal solemnity of the martyrs* drowned a multitude of the demons in the streams of their blood,* caused all the abominable sacrifices to cease,* and set at naught the deception of the idols, for they suffered patiently.* And they now entreat Christ to grant our souls* peace and great mercy.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
With wise words and doctrines the most sacred pastors* taught all to glorify the threefold Godhead in Unity,* divinely avoiding the commingling and division of Its Hypostases;* and they now pray that peace and great mercy* be granted our souls.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
The company of the venerable lulled carnal desires to sleep* and restrained their onslaughts, showing their life to be angelic;* wherefore, they now join chorus in the habitations of heaven,* entreating Christ to grant our souls* peace and great mercy.
Glory… Now…
Let us sing a hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary,* glory of the whole world!* She was herself formed by human seed,* yet she became the Mother of the Master, the Gate of heaven,* the theme of the angels’ hymn and beauty of the faithful.* She was seen as being heavenly* and the Tabernacle of the Godhead.* She indeed tore down the wall of enmity between God and man,* and brought peace in its place.* She opened up the kingdom of heaven.* Let us therefore cling fast to her for she is the anchor of faith,* and let us receive as our stronghold the Lord Who was born of her.* Be of good cheer, then, and have confidence, O people of God,* for He will fight our enemies for us,* He is all-powerful!
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
O God, You are my defender* and Your mercy goes before me.
verse: Deliver me from my enemies, O God; save me from those who rise up against me.
Aposticha
Tone 1
O all-praised martyrs, you were not buried in the earth,* yet heaven has received you;* the gates of Paradise were opened to you,* and entering within you have partaken of the tree of life.* Pray to Christ that He grant peace* and great mercy to our souls.
Blessed are they whom You have chosen* and taken to Yourself, О Lord.
What pleasure in this life remains unmarked by sorrow?* What glory can endure upon this earth unchanged?* All is feebler than a shadow,* more deceptive than a dream;* for death in a single moment takes away all things.* But in the light of Your countenance, O Christ,* and in the joy of Your beauty,* grant rest to those whom You have chosen,* for You are the Lover of mankind.
Their souls shall dwell* amid good things.
No man is free from sin,* none save You, who alone art immortal.* Therefore, O compassionate God,* grant to Your servants a dwelling-place in the Light,* with the choirs of Your angels.* In Your loving-kindness overlook their transgressions,* and grant them forgiveness.
Glory… Now…
Truly wondrous beyond understanding* are the mighty works of your birthgiving, O Bride of God,* of which all the prophets proclaimed,* and your conception and birth giving are most glorious, O all-hymned one,* whereby your Offspring has incomprehensibly and ineffably saved the world,* in that He is merciful.
Troparion, Tone 4
Your lamb, Aquilina, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy save our souls.
Glory… Now…
O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created,* and saved our souls from death.
AT DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Your lamb, Aquilina, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy 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 2: We, all the faithful, have found your shrine to be a place of spiritual healing,* and we cry aloud to you: “O glorious virgin martyr, Aquilina,* pray unceasingly to Christ our God for all of us!”
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.
verse: verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)
Epistle
Romans 3:28-4:3
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and He was attentive to me, and He heard my prayer.
verse: He brought me out of the pit of misery and the mud of the swamp. (Psalm 39:2,3)
Gospel
Matthew 7:24-8:4
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)