AT VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

No psalms are appointed to be chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 5, Podoben “Rejoice…”

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

I weep and am downcast, envisioning the dread sentence of the Word,* for which I, a wretch, have not the least reply for my guilt.* Therefore, I pray: Before the unseemliness of my end overtake me,* before I am mowed down by death,* before I must needs be condemned to the place* where the fire is unquenchable and the darkness is absolute,* where are the worm and gnashing of teeth, and sinners are consumed,* О my Christ, grant me great mercy and deliverance from my offenses.

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

Disdaining Your laws and the Scriptures, wretch that I am,* I have rejected Your commandments, О God my Creator.* How will I ever avoid the torment which is to come, О Saviour!* Therefore, before my end grant me forgiveness and a shower of tears,* imparting true compunction to me, О Saviour.* As You are the supremely good God,* drive far from me the hordes of the demons* who seek to drag me down into the abyss of Hades, for I entreat You:* Take not Your almighty hand from me!

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

Woe is me! How have I been darkened in mind?* How have I withdrawn from You and, wretch that I am, enslaved myself to sin;* and, enslaved to the passions, given myself wholly over to carnal pleasure* which lives within me, who am passion-fraught?* Now I await my departure from this life and the coming reckoning.* О supremely good Lord, grant me tearful repentance* and release from my countless transgressions,* for with faith I beseech You who grants the world great mercy.

Tone 4, Podoben “You have granted a sign…”

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

Your all-festive commemoration has radiantly shone forth like the sun, O venerable one, illumining the thoughts of the faithful with the splendour of your wonders and enlightening them with the rays of your virtuous works, O all-blessed one. Wherefore, celebrating it, we joyously honour and faithfully bless you, the boast of monks.

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

You lived as an earthly angel, you who are most rich, and laid waste to your body as though it belonged to another, ever divinely instructing yourself with vigils and the remembrance of death, O father, and growing through great ascents to thine ultimate desire. Wherefore, you have truly drawn nigh to perfection itself.

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

A wonder past comprehension took place at the time of your repose, O wondrous one of venerable wisdom, when a choir of saints suddenly stood before you, O father; for your countenance shone like the sun, O wise one, revealing your luminous form and the purity of your soul, assuring all of what manner of repose you received.

Tone 8, Glory…

We honour you as the instructor of a multitude of monks, O Sisoës our father; for, following your steps, we have truly learned how to walk the straight path. Blessed are you who laboured for Christ, and denounced the power of the enemy, O converser with angels and companion of the venerable and the righteous. With them entreat the Lord, that He have mercy upon our souls!

Tone 8, 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!

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 5

O Lord, I cease not to sin,* nor do I perceive Your love for mankind which You have granted me.* Vanquish my lack of discernment, O You who alone are good,* 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.

O Lord, from reverent fear of You I tremble,* yet I cease not from committing sins.* Who, when called to trial, does not fear the judge?* Or who, desiring to be healed, angers the physician, as I do?* O longsuffering Lord, have compassion upon my weakness,* 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.

Not caring for all earthly things, and manfully braving tortures,* you were not disappointed in your goodly hopes,* but became inheritors of the kingdom, of heaven, О all-praised martyrs.* Having boldness before God the Lover of mankind,* ask peace for the world and great mercy for our souls.

Glory… Now…

O strange, awesome and great mystery!* The Uncircumscribable One has made His abode within a womb,* and a Mother remains a Virgin even after birthgiving,* for from her she gave birth to God Incarnate.* To Him, then, let us cry aloud,* to Him let us raise a hymn, chanting with the angels:* Holy are You, O Christ God, who was incarnate for our sake!* Glory be to You!

Troparia, Tone 8

The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O father,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh, which passes,* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* and so, O Venerable Sisoes,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.

Glory… Now…

Rejoice, O woman who at the angel’s greeting contained the Joy of the world!* Rejoice, for you gave birth to your Creator and Lord!* Rejoice, for you were made worthy to become the Mother of God.

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 8: The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O father,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh, which passes,* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* and so, O Venerable Sisoes,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: Divinely armed with purity of spirit* and mightily wielding the lance of unceasing prayers,* you overcame the powers of demons,* Venerable Sisoes, pray without ceasing for all of us.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.

verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:15,12)

Epistle

1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11

Alleluia, Tone 6

verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.

verse: His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)

Gospel

Matthew 13:54-58

Communion Hymn

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