AT VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

No psalms are appointed to be chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 8

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

The Spirit of God has been poured forth upon us, the faithful,* as, moved by Him, the honoured Joel said in prophecy;* and he discloses the revelation of divine mysteries and prophesies.* And we who have received His activity* are illumined with divine radiance and with the grace of God.

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

Full of divine eloquence, the wondrous Joel issues forth from Your house* like a well-spring watering men’s souls, O Master,* and has let fall upon us the sweetness which delights our thoughts,* in that he has been exalted by the Spirit* and elevated by virtue to divine heights.

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

With your boldness as a prophet and your noetic closeness to God, O Joel,* by which you see heavenly visions,* move Him to pity for us who with faith celebrate your memory, O glorious one,* asking remission of transgressions,* a share in divine delights and great mercy.

Tone 6

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

Beholding the sufferings of the right victorious martyrs,* full of divine boldness you entered enter the arena, O Varus,* and preached Christ, who became a man for our sake;* and you were not afraid of death or the torments that lay before you.* Wounded and mercilessly dismembered, you rejoiced with perfect understanding, O wise one,* looking toward the glory which abides for those who love God.

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

Seeing your flesh and blood falling away, O athlete,* you most valiantly endured as though another were suffering in your stead.* Bound to a tree, you endured the laceration of the iniquitous most patiently;* and you committed your spirit into the hands of God,* astonishing those who beheld you with your steadfast opposition.* Therefore, we honour you, O wise Varus, whose courage was so great,* and who cast down the tyrant with your pangs.

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

The wondrous Cleopatra, having embalmed you with spices, interred you in the earth,* and raised up to you a holy church, celebrating your feast, O wondrous Varus,* and entreating you with faith.* Her children you enrolled in the noetic army,* adorned with glory and numbered among the choirs of the saints,* whose portion you vouchsafe also to us* who piously celebrate your festival, O right wondrous martyr.

Tone 6, Glory… Now…

Rejoice, O root bedewed!* Rejoice, O staff of Aaron* who budded forth the never-fading* and ever-living Flower,* O pure Maiden,* thou right fruitful garden* who shone forth from the root of Jesse* the Tree of life,* and dost nurture mortals with noetic bread!* Rejoice, O most precious robe of purple,* Bride of God, the King of heaven,* most radiant crown,* adornment of hierarchs!* Rejoice, thou who alone art most pure!

Aposticha

Tone 4

I wish to wash away the record of my sins with tears, O Lord,* and please You the rest of my life through repentance;* but the enemy deceives me and fights against my soul.* Before the end and I utterly perish, save me, O Lord.

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.

Who, among the tempest-tossed, having taking refuge in Your harbour,* will not be saved, O Lord?* Or who, that ails and falling down in Your infirmary, will not be healed?* O Maker of all that is, and Physician of the ailing,* before the end, may I not utterly perish, save me, O Lord.

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.

О Christ God, who are glorified in the memorials of Your saints,* be entreated by them,* and send down upon us great mercy.

Glory… Now…

Rejoice, O cloud of Light!* Rejoice, radiant candlestick!* Rejoice, jar wherein the Manna was kept!* Rejoice, staff of Aaron!* Rejoice, bush unburned!* Rejoice, bridal-chamber!* Rejoice, O throne!* Rejoice, holy mountain!* Rejoice, refuge! Rejoice, divine table!* Rejoice, mystic portal!* Rejoice, O joy of all!

Troparia

Tone 2

You knew beforehand of the appearance of God in the flesh,* and the descent of the Holy Spirit.* You announced the impending judgment, O prophet Joel.* By your prayers save from all sorrow those who venerate you.

Tone 4, Glory…

You saw the army of martyrs suffer according to the Law,* and displaying your might you sought to endure it as well.* You longed to die for Christ,* and you received the martyr’s victory from Him, O Varus.* Therefore, pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.

Now…

To the One who was reared in the Temple,* close to the Holy of Holies,* and who was full of faith, wisdom, and perfect virginity,* Gabriel, the captain and leader,* offered esteem and greetings from heaven when he said:* Rejoice, O blessed One! Rejoice, O glorified One!* The Lord is with you.

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

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 John,* 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 John, 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

Colossians 2:13-20

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

Luke 9:18-22

Communion Hymn

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