Nativity Fast

AT VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

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.

As a splendid receptacle of the Spirit and one illumined by Him,* O Obadiah of vision most divine,* you were enriched by the image of prophecy,* the foreknowledge of things to come, and the knowledge of the truth.* Pray now that He grant 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.

Of the primary traits and essential proofs by which God is depicted* the glorious and honourable prophets partake as a gift secondarily* through communion and grace when the Lord illumines His favoured ones* with His effulgence.

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

Full of never-waning light,* beholding glory which transcends understanding and reason,* and standing before the Master of all,* you were a glorious prophet and a divine herald of God.* Entreat Him that He grant 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 firmer than a pillar, stronger than brass, and mightier than iron;* for, when heated by fire, each of them disintegrates and is straightway destroyed, overcome by force thereof;* but your unwavering right hand, outstretched over the burning coals, O most wise one,* triumphed most gloriously.

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

As though you were a priest standing before God and coming before Him,* not with another’s blood, but with your own most of all, O blessed one,* you offered an incense of sweet savour with your martyr’s hand,* not to demonic illusions, but to Christ, the Saviour and Master,* who reigns forever.

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

A priest who offers and a lamb which is offered:* we joyously call you both, O most lauded one;* for as both were you immolated in the fire of torment* as an unblemished sacrifice to God.* Entreat Him that He save them that ever honour your most glorious memory.

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

With the showers of the all-holy Spirit* bedew my thought, O all-pure one,* who gave birth to Christ, the gentle Rain from heaven,* who, by His compassions, washes away the incalculably boundless iniquities of men;* dry up the wellspring of my passions, and ever vouchsafe to me a torrent* of the sweetness of life by your supplications.

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…

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 2

Celebrating the memory of your prophet Obadiah, O Lord,* we beg You to save our souls through his intercession.

Tone 4, Glory…

O Lord our God, your holy martyr Barlaam* has deserved the crown of immortality* on account of his good fight.* Armed with your strength, he has vanquished his persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through his supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.

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 2: Celebrating the memory of your prophet Obadiah, O Lord,* we beg You to save our souls through his intercession.

Troparion, Tone 4: O Lord our God, your holy martyr Barlaam* has deserved the crown of immortality* on account of his good fight.* Armed with your strength, he has vanquished his persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through his supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 1: Receiving clarity of mind from divine illumination,* the great Obadiah sees the future through the Holy Spirit.* We piously and wisely keep his memory today,* and venerate him to find light for our hearts.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4: You became a renowned person because of your might,* and you offered yourself like incense as a sacrifice in the fire to Christ.* You received a crown of honour, O martyr Barlaam;* now pray for us at all times.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.

verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I make my petition to You. (Psalm 63:11,2)

Epistle

1 Timothy 3:1-13

Alleluia, Tone 4

verse: The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of their afflictions.

verse: The afflictions of the just are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliver them. (Psalm 33:18,20)

Gospel

Luke 16:1-9

Communion Hymn

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