VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4, Podoben “As one valiant among the martyrs…”

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

О glorious ones, who with a most mighty understanding* waged war, arraying yourselves against the wicked foe,* for having valiantly armed yourselves with the weaponry of the Spirit,* you destroyed all the might of the demons,* who seize men’s souls like plunder;* wherefore, we honour you throughout the ages, О apostles.

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

Spreading out the net of the Faith in the form of the Cross,* Your twelve divine apostles dragged all the nations to the knowledge of You, О Christ,* and dried up the salty sea of the passions;* I beseech You: By their wholly well-pleasing supplications* recall me from the depths of transgressions.

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

With divine hymns let the divinely chosen and all-honourable twelve apostles be praised:* Peter, Paul and James, Luke and John, Matthew and Thomas,* Mark, Simon and Philip, the most glorious Andrew and Matthias,* with the godly and most wise Bartholomew,* and the seventy others.

Tone 8, Podoben “What shall we call you…”

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

What shall we call you, Pimen?* Example for monastics, performer of healings!* Wounder of the soul’s passions with blows of abstinence!* Dweller and converser with the angels!* Inhabitant of the city on high!* Vessel of virtues and support of the pious!* Pray that our souls may be saved!

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

What shall we say of you, Pimen?* Dweller in the wilderness and lover of silence!* Uprooter of passions and guide of monks!* Flood of the divine spirit’s instruction!* Unfading lamp of discernment!* True worker of wonders, healing all kinds of passions!* Pray that our souls may be saved!

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

You were a lamp of discernment, wise one,* illumining the souls of those who rightly came to you:* you showed them the path of life!* Therefore, Pimen, we who celebrate your holy feast * bless you with praises.* Boast of the fathers and adornment of ascetics!* Pray that our souls may be saved!

Tone 6, Glory…

The sound of your teachings has gone out into all the earth,* venerable father!* Therefore you have found the reward of your labours in the heavens.* You destroyed the hosts of demons* and reached the ranks of angels whose life you blamelessly followed!* Since you have boldness before Christ our God,* entreat peace for our souls!

Tone 4, Now…

O all-pure one, who have contained the infinite God in your womb* who, in His love for mankind, has become a man,* and has received our substance from you, deifying it:* disdain me not who am now sorrowing, but quickly take pity* and free me from diverse enemies and the malice of the evil one.

Prokeimenon, Tone 5

O Lord, save me by Your name,* and in Your power be a judge for me.

verse: O God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth.

Aposticha

Tone 4

You enlightened the choir of the apostles with the Holy Spirit, О Christ God.* By them wash away the defilement of our sin, and have mercy on us.

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.

Thy Holy Spirit revealed the illiterate disciples to be teachers, О Christ God,* and set at naught the deception of the pagans with their greatly eloquent harmony,* in that He is almighty.

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.

O martyrs of the Lord,* you animate sacrifices, noetic whole-burnt offerings, perfect offerings to God,* you lambs who know God and are known of Him,* and to whose fold the wolves have no entry:* Pray that with you we also may be tended by the water of peace.

Tone 8, Glory…

We honour you, Pimen our father,* the instructor of a multitude of monks!* We have indeed learned to walk rightly in your footsteps!* You are blest, for having laboured for Christ,* you denounced the power of the enemy!* Converser with the angels,* companion of the venerable and righteous ones!* Together with them, entreat the Lord that He may grant mercy to our souls!

Now…

I flee to your protection, O holy Virgin Theotokos, * for I know that through you I shall obtain salvation; * for you are able to help me, O pure one.

Troparia

Tone 8

Your abundant tears made the wilderness bloom,* and your sufferings made your labours fruitful a hundredfold;* you became a shining torch over the world.* O venerable father Pimen,* pray to Christ our God that He may save our souls.

Glory… Now…

O pure Mother of God, you are the gate of spiritual life,* save from all dangers those who run to you with confidence* to glorify your holy birthgiving* for the salvation of our souls.

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 8: Your abundant tears made the wilderness bloom,* and your sufferings made your labours fruitful a hundredfold;* you became a shining torch over the world.* O venerable father Pimen,* pray to Christ our God that He may 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: Divinely armed with purity of spirit* and mightily wielding the lance of unceasing prayers,* you overcame the powers of demons,* Venerable Pimen, 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

Galatians 1:1-10; 1:20-2:5

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

Mark 5:1-20

Communion Hymn

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