Cheesefare Friday. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.

VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 6

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

О my long-suffering God and Lover of mankind,* greatly merciful and compassionate,* how did You endure to be slain and put to death on the Tree for the race of mankind?* I glorify Your loving-kindness.

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

You endured smiting, crucifixion, and mockery, О Long-suffering One,* desiring to deliver all from the deceiver;* and You bore them all, О only supremely good Bestower of life.

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

You ascended the Cross, О Shepherd,* and stretched forth Your arms, crying out:* “Come to me and be enlightened,* О you who have been darkened by deception, for I am the Light!”* Glory be to You, О only Bestower of light!

Tone 4

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

Desiring a blessedness which is past understanding,* you reckoned abstinence to be food, poverty to be wealth,* lack of acquisitiveness to be abundant possessions,* and humility to be glory, O wondrous one.* Wherefore, you also received your desire in accordance with your understanding,* abiding in the tabernacles of the saints, O Basil.

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

You completed the immutable course of abstinence, and kept the Faith.* Wherefore, you have been adorned with a crown of righteousness, O father,* which Christ has prepared for you,* awarding you recompense in accordance with your merits,* and bestowing upon you honours and rewards for your pangs.* Beseech Him, O divinely inspired one, that He save our souls.

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

You cast off all love of pleasure which enslaved your body, O divinely wise one,* harrowing your senses with the pangs of abstinence,* with terrible living conditions, the endurance of temptations,* and the withstanding of evil circumstances;* and thereby you have received never-ending delight,* everlasting sweetness and ineffable joy.

Glory… Now…

Beholding Christ, who loves mankind, crucified, His side pierced by a spear,* the all-pure one cried out, weeping:* “What is this, O my Son?* What have the thankless people done to You in return for the good You have done for them?* You make haste to leave me childless, O most Loving One.* I marvel at Your voluntary crucifixion, O Compassionate One!”

Prokeimenon, Tone 6

My help is from the Lord,* Who made heaven and earth.

verse: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come.

Aposticha

Tone 2

For those who steadfastly venerate the Cross of Christ,* it is a bridle restraining all manner of sensuality, and a law of abstinence.* For, ever looking upon Him who was crucified thereon,* they crucify the flesh with its passions and lusts.* Let us also flee from such things;* fasting in purity, that we become one with Him,* who out of love for mankind* has made Himself one with us by suffering the Passion,* enabling us to share in His own passionlessness;* for He has great mercy

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.

For those who steadfastly venerate the Cross of Christ,* it is a bridle restraining all manner of sensuality, and a law of abstinence.* For, ever looking upon Him who was crucified thereon,* they crucify the flesh with its passions and lusts.* Let us also flee from such things;* fasting in purity, that we become one with Him,* who out of love for mankind* has made Himself one with us by suffering the Passion,* enabling us to share in His own passionlessness;* for He has great mercy

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.

Having no desire for earthly pleasure, O passion-bearers,* you were granted heavenly blessings,* and became fellow-citizens with the angels.* By their prayers, O Lord, have mercy on us and save us.

Glory… Now…

When you beheld, O pure Virgin, the unblemished Vine,* whom you conceived within your womb, hanging upon the Tree,* lamenting, you cried aloud:* O Child, O sweetness which drives away the drunkenness of the passions,* O Benefactor, grant this for the sake of me who has given birth to You, by Your divine comforting,* since You are Compassionate.

Aposticha

Tone 2

For those who steadfastly venerate the Cross of Christ,* it is a bridle restraining all manner of sensuality, and a law of abstinence.* For, ever looking upon Him who was crucified thereon,* they crucify the flesh with its passions and lusts.* Let us also flee from such things;* fasting in purity, that we become one with Him,* who out of love for mankind* has made Himself one with us by suffering the Passion,* enabling us to share in His own passionlessness;* for He has great mercy

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.

For those who steadfastly venerate the Cross of Christ,* it is a bridle restraining all manner of sensuality, and a law of abstinence.* For, ever looking upon Him who was crucified thereon,* they crucify the flesh with its passions and lusts.* Let us also flee from such things;* fasting in purity, that we become one with Him,* who out of love for mankind* has made Himself one with us by suffering the Passion,* enabling us to share in His own passionlessness;* for He has great mercy

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.

Having no desire for earthly pleasure, O passion-bearers,* you were granted heavenly blessings,* and became fellow-citizens with the angels.* By their prayers, O Lord, have mercy on us and save us.

Glory… Now…

When you beheld, O pure Virgin, the unblemished Vine,* whom you conceived within your womb, hanging upon the Tree,* lamenting, you cried aloud:* O Child, O sweetness which drives away the drunkenness of the passions,* O Benefactor, grant this for the sake of me who has given birth to You, by Your divine comforting,* since You are Compassionate.

Troparia

Tone 1

Dweller of the wilderness and angel in the body,* you were a wonder-worker, our God-bearing father Basil!* You received heavenly gifts* through fasting, vigil and prayer:* Healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith:* Glory to Him Who gave you strength!* Glory to Him Who granted you a crown!* Glory to Him Who through you grants healing to all!

Glory… Now…

O pure One, we have obtained your protection.* Through your intercession, we have been kept from harm* and surrounded at all times with the grace of your Son’s cross.* Therefore, we exalt you with great devotion.