AT VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 1, Podoben “O all-praised martyrs…”
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Throughout all the earth your proclamation of salvation has gone forth,* O glorious apostles of the Lord,* illumining the ends of all the earth with the radiance of grace,* and dispelling the gloom of deception.* Wherefore, make supplication, that He grant to our souls* peace and great mercy.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
The most godly Stachys, the preacher and apostle of Christ,* and the wondrous Apellius, Aristobulus and Urban,* Amplias and the divine Narcissus,* who preached the most Holy Trinity,* have enlightened the nations and delivered from bondage* all who bless them with faith.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O most radiant beacons of Christ, most pure vessels* who, through your faith, contained all the effulgence of the Spirit,* O pillars of the Church, all-glorious heavens* declaring the glory of God:* entreat Him that He grant to our souls* peace and great mercy.
Tone 4, Podoben “As one valiant among the martyrs…”
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
You were shown to be a divine habitation* by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, O glorious Epimachus,* and, receiving from Him the ability to accomplish healings,* you richly imparted health to the sick who ever cry out:* O Jesus, Bestower of life,* You are the gladness, the glory and boast of Your martyrs.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
With boldness you preached the truth, O glorious one,* as a most lawful warrior of Christ,* unafraid of the bestial rage of him who judged you.* By your divinely inspired words you put to shame* him who commanded you to worship gods who do not exist, O athlete,* and preached to all our God who reigns over all.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
In that your feet are beautiful, they were adorned* to traverse the path of martyrdom unhindered,* and, finishing your course, you preserved the faith,* and have received a crown from the hand of the Master.* Entreat Him that those who with faith celebrate your all-honoured memory* may be delivered from corruption and tribulations.
Tone 4, Glory…
I have been cast down to the ground,* I have been slain by sins, by passions, spiritual and bodily;* wherefore, I am covered with the darkness of despair.* But raise me up now, guiding me to the life of incorruption and to the homeland on high,* where the pure voice of those who keep festival is heard,* O all-holy Bride of God.
Tone 5, Now…
A symbol of the undefiled Virgin and bride* was revealed in the Red Sea.* There, Moses divided the waters;* here, Gabriel is the messenger of the miracle.* There, the Israelites crossed the deep and their feet were not even wet;* here, the Virgin gives birth to Christ without human seed.* There, the sea remained uncrossed after the passing of Israel;* here, the immaculate remained incorrupt after giving birth to Emmanuel.* Therefore, O immortal God, who appeared in the flesh as true Man,* have mercy on us!
Aposticha
Tone 5
Intercede on our behalf, O holy martyrs,* that we may be delivered from our sins:* for to you is granted the grace to pray on our behalf.
Blessed are they whom You have chosen* and have taken to Yourself, О Lord,
Your souls, O holy martyrs, were filled with an insatiable love;* not denying Christ you endured great sufferings and torment,* and casting down the tyrants’ pride,* you kept the faith unaltered and unharmed,* and dwelling now in the heavens,* you have boldness before Christ,* pray that He grant us great mercy.
Their souls shall dwell* amid good things.
I called to mind the words of the Prophet:* ‘I am but dust and ashes.’* I went also to the tombs, and saw the naked bones, and said:* ‘Which now is the king or the soldier,* the rich man or the beggar,* the upright or the sinner?’* But grant rest with the righteous, O Lord, to the souls of Your servants,* since You are the Lover of mankind.
Glory… Now…
O you who are full of grace,* intercede by your supplications,* and beg that a multitude of compassions be granted to our souls* and the cleansing of our many sins,* we entreat you.
Troparia
Tone 3
Holy apostles, intercede with the merciful God* to grant to our souls forgiveness of sins.
Tone 4, Glory…
Your martyr, Epimachus, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.
Tone 5, Now…
Rejoice, Virgin, impassable gateway of the Lord!* Rejoice, protective wall of those who take refuge in you!* Rejoice, peaceful haven untroubled by storms!* Rejoice, O Virgin who has not known wedlock* and yet has given birth in the flesh to your Creator and God!* O Mother of God, never cease to intercede* for those who praise and worship your Son.
AT DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 3: Holy apostles, intercede with the merciful God* to grant to our souls forgiveness of sins.
Troparion, Tone 4: Your martyr, Epimachus, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 4: You became branches of Christ’s vineyard, o wise ones,* bearing the grapes of good works,* and pouring forth for us* the wine of salvation.* Receiving it and filled with gladness,* we celebrate your precious memorial.* Therefore pray that we may be granted great mercy and forgiveness of sins,* O apostles of the Lord.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: As a bright and unerring star you appeared to the world* proclaiming with your rays the Sun, that is, Christ, O martyr, Epimachus,* and you have extinguished all error.* But to us you give light, praying without ceasing for all of us.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hands. (Psalm 18:5,2)
Epistle
2 Corinthians 8:1-5
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: The heavens shall confess our wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints.
verse: God is glorified in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 88:6,8)
Gospel
Luke 8:16-21
Communion Hymn
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)