AT VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 8, Podoben “O Lord, even though at the tribunal…”

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

O Lord, though Thekla was added to the windows of You love,* yet, standing noetically in the highest before Your throne,* she marvelled at Your incomparable majesty* which has been manifested in Your love for mankind,* that You may save our souls.

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

O Lord, though Thekla was added to the windows of You love,* yet, standing noetically in the highest before Your throne,* she marvelled at Your incomparable majesty* which has been manifested in Your love for mankind,* that You may save our souls.

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

O Lord, though Thekla was involuntarily separated from her teacher Paul,* yet during her suffering, stripped of her garments, she had You abiding with her,* and was covered with Your glory;* and crowned by Your hand, she defends our souls.

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

O Lord, though Thekla was involuntarily separated from her teacher Paul,* yet during her suffering, stripped of her garments, she had You abiding with her,* and was covered with Your glory;* and crowned by Your hand, she defends our souls.

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

O Lord, though Thekla made haste to the bound Apostle Paul,* yet she rejected the bond of attachment to earthly things,* and with the chain of the might of Your love she bound herself fast to You,* the Saviour of our souls.

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

O Lord, though your pure protomartyr was committed to the fire,* yet she was not consumed therein, having You as a cooler of the flames;* and, preserved by the hand of You, the Savior of our souls,* she remained unconsumed amid many wild beasts.

Tone 6, Glory…

In your athletic struggles you trampled the enemy underfoot, O most blessed Thekla,* and having set at naught his wiles as a struggler,* you fled from Thamyris and betrothed yourself to Christ your true Lover.* O converser with Paul and fellow sufferer with Stephen,* as among women have boldness, O protomartyr of Christ,* by your supplications deliver from misfortunes* those that keep your all-festive memory.

Now…

The eye of my heart longingly seeks you, O Sovereign Lady;* do not disdain my feeble sigh. * At the hour when your Son shall judge the world, * be my protection and helper.

Aposticha

Tone 8

Fervently loving You on earth, О Lord,* Your apostles considered all to be but dung,* that they might acquire You alone;* and they gave their bodies over to wounds for You;* wherefore, glorified, they pray for our souls.

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.

О Lord, You magnified the memory of the apostles on earth,* for assembling them together, we all glorify You;* since by their prayers and for their sake,* You grant healings, peace and great mercy to the whole world.

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.

What virtue, what praise is due the saints?* For they bowed their heads beneath the sword for the sake of You* who bowed down the heavens and descended;* they shed their blood for You who emptied Yourself and assumed the form of a servant;* they humbled themselves even to death, emulating Your poverty.* By their prayers, О God, have mercy upon us* in the multitude of Your compassions.

Glory… Now…

Tone 8, Glory…

You trampled down the assault of the lions,* and you put Thamyris to shame, O much suffering protomartyr;* and you followed after your Bridegroom, crying out:* I have fled to the fragrance of Your myrrh, O Christ!* Wherefore, seeking out Paul, you received a gift from heaven* and were given a crown by God, the Judge of the contest;* and you pray unceasingly, that forgiveness of sins be given to them* that with faith keep your sacred memory.

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 4

You were enlightened by the words of Paul, bride of God, Thekla,* and your faith was confirmed by Peter, chosen one of God.* You became the first sufferer and martyr among women,* by entering into the flames as into a place of gladness.* For when you accepted the Cross of Christ,* the demonic powers were frightened away.* All-praised one, intercede before Christ God* that our souls may be saved!

Glory… Now…

O Virgin Mother of God,* we acknowledge that the Word of the Father, Christ our God,* was incarnate of you, the only pure one and the only blessed one.* Therefore, we sing to you a hymn of praise and we exalt you.

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: O bride of God, Thekla, you were instructed by the words of Paul;* you were made firm in the faith by Peter.* You have become a protomartyr among women* and one of the first to suffer.* You walked into the flames as into a cool garden;* the beasts and the brutes shunned the cross of your armour.* Praiseworthy Thekla, beg Christ to 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: O glorious Thekla, virginity was your splendour,* the crown of martyrdom your adornment, and faith your trust.* You turned a burning fire into refreshing dew,* and with your prayers you appeased the pagan fury, O first woman-martyr.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.

verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)

Epistle

Ephesians 5:33-6:9

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

Luke 4:16-22

Communion Hymn

Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)