AT VESPERS ON FRIDAY 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.
As is meet, O right glorious ones,* you were truly shown to be a divinely assembled regiment,* a sacred army, a godly company, a holy nation,* a legion of martyrs inspired by God, a comely gathering,* an unbreakable alliance, inhabitants of the city on high.* Therefore, you are called blessed, as is fitting.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Assembling together, let us all honour Nicander and Hesychius,* Athanasius and Mamas, the divine Barachius and Callinicus,* Theogenes and Nicon, Longinus and Theodore,* Valerius and Xanthius, Theodulus, Callimachus and Eugene,* the godly Theodochus and Ostrychius.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Together let us hymn with faith the true witnesses:* the valiant Hieron, the glorious Epiphanius, Maximian and Ducitius,* Claudian and Theophilus, and the godly Gigantius,* Dorotheus and Theodotus, Castrycius, Anicetas and Themelius,* as well as Eutychius.
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.
Having set aside all the folly of the passions* and made your flesh subject to your spirit,* you became become a rule of virtue,* the confirmation of monastics, a model for fasters,* the adornment of the venerable.* And now you behold the ineffable beauty of your Creator,* ever nurtured by the Spirit on the beauties of heaven.* Therefore, having assembled, we celebrate your honoured and most festive memory* in hymns, with sweet songs.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You cut off all the heavy burden of matter* and the greatly tumultuous turbulence of the flesh,* and, controlling your breathing, O wise one,* you remained unaffected by the passions, strong as a pillar,* through spiritual breastplates and valorous mind.* And now you have truly received the divine vision and splendour* and have taken your place before Him whom you desired,* delighting in His never-ending radiance, deified by your posture.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Loving the light, like Elijah and John the luminary,* you observed stillness in the mountains and arid deserts,* ever learning divine ascent and excelling in the way of the virtues.* Therefore, you have attained your ultimate desire, O all-wise one,* and, rejoicing, you stand before the thrice-radiant light of the Trinity;* and receiving divine splendour directly from there,* you pray with boldness in behalf of our souls.
Tone 5, Glory…
O venerable father, you gave neither sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids,* until you freed free your soul and body from the passions* and prepared yourself to be a dwelling-place of the Spirit;* and Christ, coming with the Father, made His abode within you.* As you are a favourite of the consubstantial Trinity,* O great preacher Lazarus our father, pray in behalf of our souls.
Tone 6, Now…
Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?* Who would not sing a hymn of praise* to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?* The Only-begotten Son Himself,* begotten of the Father before all ages,* was made flesh out of you in a manner* that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!* And for our sake, He who is God by nature* assumed the nature of a man.* He is not divided into two persons;* He is understood to have two natures* without commixion or confusion.* O noble and blessed Woman,* intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.
Aposticha
Tone 6
Those who suffered martyrdom for You, O Christ,* endured a multitude of torments,* and they ever intercede on behalf of our souls.
Blessed are they whom You have chosen* and taken to Yourself, О Lord.
You Cross, O Lord, was an invincible weapon of the martyrs.* They saw death before them:* but, gazing upon the life that is to come,* they became strengthened with hope in You.* By their intercessions have mercy upon us.
Their souls* shall dwell amid good things.
Your command was to me my beginning and foundation.* For You willed to fashion me as a living creature* from natures visible and invisible:* You have made my body from the earth,* and given me a soul by Your divine and quickening breath.* Therefore, O Saviour, grant rest to Your servants in the land of the living,* in the tabernacles of the righteous.
Tone 6, Glory…
O venerable father, the sound of your corrections have gone forth into all the earth;* therefore, you have found the reward for your labours in the heavens,* you have destroyed legions of demons,* you have attained to the ranks of the angels and blamelessly emulated their life.* As you have boldness before Christ, entreat peace for our souls.
By the prayers of her that gave birth to You, O Christ,* and of Your martyrs and apostles, the prophets and holy hierarchs,* the venerable, the righteous and of all the saints,* grant rest to Your departed servants.
Troparia
Tone 4
O Lord our God, your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Tone 8, Glory…
Your falling tears and constant prayers soaked the pillar,* and the thoughts of your heart produced fruit a hundred-fold.* You were a shepherd, and you obtain remission for all.* O father Lazarus, beg Christ our God to save our souls.
Now…
O gracious Lord, for the sake of mankind You were born of a virgin;* through Your death on the cross You conquered Death;* and through Your resurrection You revealed Yourself as God.* O merciful Lord, do not disdain those whom You have created with Your own hands,* but show forth Your love for mankind.* Accept the intercession which the Mother who bore You makes in our behalf.* O Saviour, save Your despairing people!
AT DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: O Lord our God, your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Troparion, Tone 8: Your falling tears and constant prayers soaked the pillar,* and the thoughts of your heart produced fruit a hundred-fold.* You were a shepherd, and you obtain remission for all.* O father Lazarus, beg Christ our God to save our souls.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 8: The radiant choir of martyrs in festal robes* adorns the Church today by their presence among us.* We celebrate their precious memory* and beg favour from you, O Saviour.* By their prayers keep us from all troubles* so that we can sing to you: Alleluia!
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: The Church of Christ praises you with a host of psalms,* for you have become one of her lights.* Do not cease your prayers to Christ,* that we may obtain the remission of our sins.
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
2 Corinthians 11:1-6
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 9:1-6
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)