BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.3.3//EN
TZID:America/Winnipeg
X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Winnipeg
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:453@liturgy.royaldoors.net
DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton;VALUE=DATE:20260508
DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton;VALUE=DATE:20260509
DTSTAMP:20260428T032732Z
URL:https://liturgy.royaldoors.net/events/friday-may-8-2026-the-holy-apost
 le-and-evangelist-john-the-theologian/
SUMMARY:Friday\, May 8\, 2026\;   The Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the 
 Theologian
DESCRIPTION:Polyeleos Feast\nAT GREAT VESPERS WITH LYTIA ON THURSDAY EVENIN
 G\nAt Psalm 140\n\nTone 4\n\nLead my soul forth from prison* that I may gi
 ve thanks to Your name.\n\nCome\, see Him of whom Moses in the Law spoke o
 f old\,* Jesus\, the Messiah who has appeared out of His tender compassion
 \,* and as a man\, spoke to me at the well.* In truth this is Christ God\,
  who has come into the world.* Thus spoke the Samaritan woman to those in 
 Sichar.\n\nThe just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
 \n\nWhen those in the city had partaken of the sweet water* that poured fo
 rth from the mouth of the woman\,* they quickly hastened to come to the we
 ll to drink from that bountiful Fount\,* and to see the ever-flowing Well-
 spring* which refreshes parched souls that are thirsty for life.\n\nOut of
  the depths I cry to You\, O Lord\;* O Lord\, hear my voice!\n\nHaving beh
 eld the Fount of life\,* who was one in form and nature with mortal man\,*
  all they that were in the city cried to the woman:* Not only on account o
 f your words do we believe\,* but we have come to know that this is the ev
 erlasting redemption* and salvation of the world.\n\nTone 1\n\nLet Yours e
 ars be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.\n\nThe beholder of ineffable 
 revelations* and recounter of the most sublime mysteries of God\,* the son
  of Zebedee\, who set down in writing the Gospel of Christ\,* has taught u
 s to theologize* concerning the Father\, the Son and the Holy Spirit.\n\nI
 f You mark iniquities\, Lord\, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is
  that You may be revered.\n\nThe beholder of ineffable revelations* and re
 counter of the most sublime mysteries of God\,* the son of Zebedee\, who s
 et down in writing the Gospel of Christ\,* has taught us to theologize* co
 ncerning the Father\, the Son and the Holy Spirit.\n\nI have waited for Yo
 u as You have commanded\; my soul patiently relies on Your promise\,* for 
 it has trusted in the Lord.\n\nThe harp of heavenly songs played by God\,*
  the recorder of mysteries\, the divinely eloquent mouth\,* beautifully ch
 ants the hymn of hymns\;* for\, moving his lips as though they were string
 s\,* and using his tongue as a plectrum\,* he prays that we be saved.\n\nF
 rom the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.\n\nProcla
 iming with your thunderous tongue* the hidden Word of divine wisdom\, O be
 loved of God\,* you ever cry out\, continually moving your lips:* In the b
 eginning was the Word!* And you instruct every man in the knowledge of God
 .\n\nTone 8\n\nFor with the Lord there is mercy\, and with Him there is pl
 entiful redemption\;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.\
 n\nO divinely wise father Arsenius\,* having girt your mind round about wi
 th abstinence\,* you caused it to ascend to the primal Cause\,* and\, fors
 aking the turbulence of the world and shunning its tumults\,* you truly mi
 ngled purity of mind with the utmost desire\, O blessed and all-wise one.\
 n\nPraise the Lord\, all the nations\;* proclaim His glory\, all you peopl
 e.\n\nO divinely wise father Arsenius\,* having girt your mind round about
  with abstinence\,* you caused it to ascend to the primal Cause\,* and\, f
 orsaking the turbulence of the world and shunning its tumults\,* you truly
  mingled purity of mind with the utmost desire\, O blessed and all-wise on
 e.\n\nStrong is the love of the Lord for us\;* eternally will His truth en
 dure.\n\nO venerable father Arsenius\, seeking after God\,* and piously de
 siring to be illumined by His radiant effulgence\,* you abandoned all the 
 splendour of high position and the imperial palace\,* and received an immo
 rtal inheritance\,* abiding now with Christ\, O divinely blessed one.\n\nT
 one 1\, Glory…\n\nO you of the race of man\,* let us offer goodly praise
  as is meet to the beloved and virginal John\,* the son of thunder\, the f
 oundation of the words of God\, the author of theology\,* the first preach
 er of the truth of the dogmas of the wisdom of God\;* for having the Divin
 e continually within him\, he said:* In the beginning was the Word\,* Who 
 is inseparable from the Father and of the same essence with the Father\,* 
 revealing to us through himself the orthodoxy of the Holy Trinity.* And he
  has likewise shown us that He creates with the Father* and bears life and
  the light of Truth.* O awesome wonder! O uttermost wisdom!* For\, full of
  love\, he was also filled with theology through glory\, honour and faith\
 ,* as a founder of our pure Faith.* Wherefore\, we shall receive everlasti
 ng blessings on the day of judgment.\n\nTone 6\, Now…\n\nBy Jacob’s We
 ll\, Jesus found the Samaritan woman.* He that covers the earth with cloud
 s asked water of her.* O wonder! He that rides on the Cherubim speaks with
  a harlot woman\, asking for water\,* He who has suspended the earth upon 
 the waters.* He who causes springs and pools of waters to flow forth seeks
  water\,* for He wished to draw to Himself her that was truly ensnared by 
 the contending enemy\,* and to impare the water of life to her* who was so
 rely inflamed with unseemly deeds\,* for He alone is compassionate and the
  Lover of mankind.\n\nReadings\n\n(1) 1 John 4:9-16\; (2) 1 John 4:20-5:5\
 ; (3) 1 John 3:21-4:6\n\nLytia\n\nTone 1\n\nRivers of theology poured fort
 h from your honoured mouth\, O apostle\,* and the Church of God\, watered 
 thereby\, worships the consubstantial Trinity in Orthodoxy.* Pray now to t
 he Trinity\, O theologian John\,* that our souls be made steadfast and sav
 ed.\n\nThe garden of purity has emitted for us the myrrh of sweet fragranc
 e on this present feast\,* that we may cry out to him: O Apostle John\,* w
 ho reclined against the Master's breast\,* who has rained down discourse u
 pon the world* and preserved the Virgin as the apple of your eye\,* beseec
 h Christ\, that He grant us great mercy.\n\nO disciple of the Saviour\, vi
 rgin and theologian\, when Christ God was crucified* He committed the Virg
 in Theotokos to your care\, in that you are virginal\;* and you preserved 
 her as the apple of your eye.* Wherefore\, pray that our souls be saved.\n
 \nAs an eyewitness to ineffable mysteries\, you cried out\, exclaiming:* 
 “In the beginning the pre-eternal Word was with God\, and He was God!”
 * O Apostle John\, intimate and faithful friend of Christ\,* delight of th
 e Trinity\, unshakable confirmation of Ephesus and Patmos\, our help.* Pra
 y\, O most blessed theologian\, that the people who ever celebrate your me
 mory with faith* be delivered from wicked enemies\, material and noetic.\n
 \nTone 5\n\nO venerable father\, having heard the voice of the Gospel of t
 he Lord\,* you forsook the world\, holding riches and glory to be as naugh
 t.* Wherefore\, you cried out to all:* “Love God and you shall find eter
 nal grace.* Prefer nothing to His love\, that when He shall come in His gl
 ory\,* you shall find rest with all the saints.”* By his supplications\,
  O Christ\, preserve and save our souls.\n\nTone 4\, Glory… Now…\n\nRe
 clining against the breast of Christ the Teacher at the Lord's supper\,* O
  beloved disciple\, you thereby came to know ineffable things\,* and has t
 hundered forth your heavenly voice for all to hear\,* saying: “In the be
 ginning was the Word\,* and the Word was with God\, and the Word was God:*
  Christ God\, the Saviour of our souls\,* the Light of truth Who enlighten
 s every man* who comes into the world.”\n\nAposticha\n\nTone 4\n\nTheolo
 gizing concerning the Son of the Most High\,* Who with the Father is equal
 ly everlasting and of the same essence\,* immutable Light from Light\, the
  impress of the hypostasis of the Father\,* Who shone forth timelessly and
  dispassionately from Him\,* the Creator and Lord of all the ages\, Christ
  our God\,* you preached to the world\, O beloved\,* as the One Who brough
 t light forth out of darkness.* Entreat Him that He save and enlighten our
  souls.\n\nTheir sound has gone forth into all the earth\, and their words
  to the ends of the world.\n\nReceiving the light of the Comforter\,* illu
 mined therewith you theologized and proclaimed to all\, O beloved\,* that 
 He proceeds from the Father* and through the Son is revealed to mankind\,*
  equal in honour\, equally enthroned* and of the same essence with the uno
 riginate Father and God the Word.* Wherefore\, we honour you in hymns as t
 he foundation of the divine Faith\,* which you preserve unshaken through y
 our supplications to the Lord.\n\nThe heavens declare the glory of God\, a
 nd the firmament proclaims the work of His hands.\n\nHaving ascended to th
 e summit of theology\,* you learned the ineffable mysteries of God:* the s
 ingle essence of the Godhead\,* His single glory\, kingdom and dominion\, 
 ever distinct in three Hypostases\,* yet essentially indivisible and unite
 d in unconfused divine unity.* And\, rendering glory\, O theologian\,* you
  preached the indivisible Trinity.* Entreat Him that He save and enlighten
  our souls.\n\nTone 6\, Glory…\n\nO apostle of Christ\, evangelist and t
 heologian\,* as an initiate of ineffable mysteries you have thundered fort
 h upon us* the ineffable doctrines of wisdom\,* explaining to the faithful
  that He was in the beginning\,* and discounting that there was a time whe
 n He did not exist\,* thus rejecting the words of the heretics.* And as yo
 u were shown to be the beloved intimate and friend of Christ\,* like the e
 loquent Isaiah and Moses the God-seer\,* pray earnestly for our souls\, in
  that you have boldness before God.\n\nTone 6\, Now…\n\nThus says the Lo
 rd to the woman of Samaria:* If you knew the gift of God\,* and who it is 
 that says to you: Give Me water to drink\,* you would have asked Him\, and
  He would have given to you to drink\,* that you might never thirst unto e
 ternity\, says the Lord.\n\nTroparia\n\nTone 2\n\nO beloved apostle of Chr
 ist our God\,* hasten\, deliver a people without defense.* He who received
  you when you leaned upon His breast accepts you as you bow in prayer.* Im
 plore Him\, O Theologian\, to scatter the cloud of nations that besets us\
 ,* asking peace and great mercy for us. (2)\n\nTone 4\n\nRejoice\, Mother 
 of God\, Virgin Mary full of grace!* The Lord is with you.* Blessed are yo
 u among women\,* and blessed is the fruit of your womb.* For you have born
 e Christ\, the Saviour* and Deliverer of our souls.\nAT GREAT MATINS ON FR
 IDAY MORNING\nTroparia\, Tone 4\n\nWhen the disciples of the Lord learned 
 from the angel* the glorious news of the resurrection* and cast off the an
 cestral condemnation\,* they proudly told the apostles:* “Death has been
  plundered!* Christ our God is risen\,* granting to the world great mercy.
 ”\n\nO beloved apostle of Christ our God\,* hasten\, deliver a people wi
 thout defense.* He who received you when you leaned upon His breast accept
 s you as you bow in prayer.* Implore Him\, O Theologian\, to scatter the c
 loud of nations that besets us\,* asking peace and great mercy for us.\n\n
 Tone 8\, Glory…\n\nWith the streams of your tears you cultivated the bar
 ren desert\,* with deep sighs your toils bore fruit a hundred-fold.* You b
 ecame a beacon\, shining throughout the world by your wonders\,* our vener
 able Father\, Arsenius.* Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.\,
 \n\nTone 4\, Now…\n\nWhen the disciples of the Lord learned from the ang
 el* the glorious news of the resurrection* and cast off the ancestral cond
 emnation\,* they proudly told the apostles:* “Death has been plundered!*
  Christ our God is risen\,* granting to the world great mercy.”\n\nPsalt
 er Reading\n\nSmall Litany\n\nSessional Hymns\, Tone 1\n\nAs the disciple 
 of Christ\, the Master of all\, you taught the people and illumine the wor
 ld\, guiding them to the knowledge of Him\, O apostle. Wherefore\, we all 
 call you the preacher of the Truth and Theologian\, the friend of Christ\,
  who reclined against His breast.\n\nTone 4\, Glory… Now…\n\nOn seeing
  You lifted up upon the Tree of the Cross\, * Your undefiled Mother struck
  up a maternal lament * and cried out\, O Word of God: * What is this new 
 wonder\, O my Son\, * this strange marvel? * How  You taste of death\, O 
 Life of all? * desiring to quicken the dead\, ** since You are compassiona
 te.\n\nPsalter Reading\n\nSmall Litany\n\nSessional Hymns\, Tone 5\n\nWith
  hymns and sacred praises let us all hymn the most honored John\, the apos
 tle and disciple of Christ\, who preached that the Father divinely begat C
 hrist\, our Redeemer and King\; for he prays unceasingly\, that our souls 
 find mercy.\n\nTone 4\, Glory… Now…\n\nFrom an earthly and corruptible
  well\, * the Samaritan Woman usually came to draw water\, * but instead s
 he drew living water: * For she found there seated beside the well * that 
 well-spring of the Patriarch Jacob\, ** which doth quench the raging fever
  of all the world.\n\nPolyeleos\n\nMagnification\n\nWe magnify you\, O Apo
 stle of Christ and evangelist John the Theologian\, and we honour the pang
 s and labours\, with which you struggled in the proclamation of the Gospel
  of Christ.\n\nverse: The heavens proclaim the glory of God\, and the firm
 ament declares the work of His hands.\n\nGlory… Now…\; Alleluia\, alle
 luia\, alleluia\, glory be to You\, O God (3)\n\nSessional Hymns\, Tone 8\
 n\nReclining against the breast of Jesus\, you received boldness\, asking 
 as a disciple: “Who is Your betrayer. Lord?” And since you were exceed
 ingly beloved\, O most praised one\, He manifestly indicated the traitor t
 o you with a sop of bread. Wherefore\, as an initiate of ineffable mysteri
 es\, you teach the incarnation of the Word to the ends of the earth. O apo
 stle and theologian\, entreat Christ God that He grant forgiveness of sins
  unto those who celebrate your holy memory with love.\n\nGlory… Now…\n
 \nLet us hymn the heavenly gate and ark\, * the all-holy mountain\, the cl
 oud of light\, the heavenly ladder\, * the spiritual Paradise\, the redemp
 tion of Eve\, * the great treasure of the world\; * because salvation for 
 the world and forgiveness of ancient offences were wrought in her. * There
 fore we cry unto her: * Intercede with your own Son and God to grant forgi
 veness of offences ** to those who devoutly worship your most holy Offspri
 ng.\n\nGradual Hymns\, Tone 4\, First Antiphon\n\nAntiphon 1\n\nFrom my yo
 uth do many passions war against me\;* but do You Yourself defend* and sav
 e me\, O my Saviour.\n\nYou haters of Sion shall be shamed by the Lord\;* 
 for like grass\, by the fire* shall you be withered.\n\nGlory… Now…\n\
 nIn the Holy Spirit\, every soul is quickened\,* and\, through cleansing\,
  is exalted* and made radiant* by the Triple Unity in a hidden sacred mann
 er.\n\nProkiemenon\, Tone 4\n\nTheir utterance has gone forth into all the
  earth\, and their words unto the ends of the world.\n\nverse: The heavens
  tell the glory of God\, and the firmament declares the work of His hands.
 \n\nLet everything that lives\, Tone 4\n\nGospel\n\nJohn 21:15-25\n\nHymn 
 of Resurrection\n\nPsalm 50\n\nVerse at Psalm 50\, Tone 2\n\nO virgin theo
 logian\, * beloved disciple of the Savior\, * by your supplications save u
 s from all harm\, we pray\, ** for we are your flock.\n\nCanon\n\nThe Cano
 n for the Saint\, with the Katavasiae\, is given below.\n\nA fuller Canon 
 for the day may be accessed here.\n\nOde 1 \n\nIrmos: The wonderworking s
 taff of Moses\, * striking and dividing the sea in the figure of a cross\,
  * once drowned Pharaoh the pursuing charioteer\, * while it saved the fle
 eing people of Israel * as they fled on foot\, * chanting a hymn to God. 
  \n\nHoly Apostle and Evangelist John\, pray to God for us. \n\
 nIn so far as you were pure and beloved of the incorruptible light\, you r
 eclined\, resting against His breast\, and with boldness of soul drew fort
 h from the Abyss of wisdom the light of understanding\, O blessed Apostle 
 John. \n\nGlory… \n\nTheologizing supra-naturally\, you thundered fort
 h\, O beloved of Christ: “In the beginning was the Word\, as alive and h
 ypostatic as His Father\; and the Word was God\; and the Word became flesh
 \, and remained God immutable” \n\nNow… \n\nIf we flee from beneath 
 your protection\, O most pure one\, we are buried beneath all the perils w
 hich befall us. Wherefore\, we now beseech you: From the depths of our tra
 nsgressions raise up us who have fallen\, by your divine entreaties O pure
  one. \n\nKatavasia: It is the Day of Resurrection\, let us be radiant\, 
 O people\; Pascha\, the Lord’s Pascha: for from death to life\, and from
  earth to heaven\, Christ God has brought us\, as we sing the song of vict
 ory. \n\nOde 3 \n\nIrmos: O Christ fortify me on the rock of Your comm
 andments\, * You who in the beginning established the heavens with und
 erstanding * and established the earth upon the waters\, * for there is 
 none holy save You\, O only Lover of mankind. \n\nHoly Apostle and Evan
 gelist John\, pray to God for us. \n\nAmong fishermen you became a fisher
  of men and a theologian\, O wise John\, setting aside the love of your fa
 ther and that of the world\, and with divine desire you followed the Word 
 and Master. \n\nGlory… \n\nHaving purified the eyes of your soul
 \, O theologian\, you behold the ineffable glory which emanates f
 rom the Word\, the only-begotten Son of the Father\, through Whom al
 l things are wisely accomplished by the divine Spirit. \n\nNow… \
 n\nWe flee beneath your saving refuge\, O Virgin Theotokos\, and find salv
 ation from the assaults of the enemy by your supplications\; whereby we ar
 e delivered from the torment which is to come\, O pure one. \n\nKatavasia
 : Come\, let us drink a new drink\, not one miraculously brought forth fro
 m a barren rock but the Fountain of Incorruption\, springing forth from th
 e tomb of Christ\, in Whom we are strengthened. \n\nSmall Litany \n\nKo
 ntakion\, Tone 3 \n\nFrom Rome you shined forth like a great sun\, * and 
 reaching the imperial city\, O most blessed one\, * you illumined it with 
 your words and deeds\, * dispelling all the darkness of ignorance. ** Wher
 efore\, we honor you\, O venerable Arsenius\, you glory of the fathers. \
 n\nIkos \n\nHearkening to the voice of the Lord\, and forsaking the beaut
 ies of this world\, O divinely wise one\, you entered upon the monastic li
 fe\, emulating the life of the angels. Wherefore\, you were revealed to be
  wholly transformed\, an angel in the body\, offering to Christ fasting an
 d tears\, blameless prayer and all night vigil\, thus becoming a temple of
  the Trinity\, a model for monks\, an instructor in the virtues and a ferv
 ent advocate for those who ever honor you. Therefore\, we honor you\, O ve
 nerable Arsenius\, you glory of the fathers. \n\nSessional Hymns\, Tone 
 8 \n\nHaving reclined against the breast of Wisdom and learned an underst
 anding of things\, you thundered forth divinely: “In the beginning was t
 he Word!”\, being the first to record the beginningless begetting\, you 
 have proclaimed to all the incarnation of the Word. Wherefore\, fishing fo
 r the nations\, using your tongue as a net\, you have taught the ends of t
 he earth by the grace of the Spirit\, enlightening them with miracles. O t
 heologian and apostle\, entreat Christ God\, that He grant forgiveness of 
 sins unto those who with love celebrate your holy memory. \n\nGlory… \
 n\nFleeing the tumults of the world and perfecting your life in stillness\
 , you mortified the passions and furnish your mind with wings to soar alof
 t to God\, revealed to be a pillar of fire and luminary for all the faithf
 ul who honor you\, showing yourself to be a fruitful tree watered by showe
 rs of tears. O God-bearing Arsenius\, entreat Christ God\, that He grant f
 orgiveness of sins unto those who honor your holy memory with love. \n\nT
 one 6\, Now… \n\nLet Heaven joyfully resound and exult now\, * a
 nd let all things here upon earth dance in gladness\; * for from a
  Virgin\, Christ God has appeared as a man. * By His death He has
  redeemed mortal mankind from corruption. * By great signs He sho
 ne forth upon the Samaritan woman. * Requesting water\, He bestowe
 d on her the source of healings\, ** since He is the Lover of man
 kind. \n\nOde 4 \n\nIrmos: You\, O Lord\, are my strength and You are my
  power\, * You are my God and You are my joy\, * You Who\, while never lea
 ving the bosom of Your Father\, * has visited our poverty. * Therefore wit
 h the Prophet Habbakuk I cry to You\, * ‘Glory to Your power\, O Lover o
 f mankind!’ \n\nHoly Apostle and Evangelist John\, pray to God for us.
  \n\nThe Lord called you the son of thunder and granted you through the S
 pirit to thunder forth that He was ineffably begotten of the Father divine
 ly and unapproachably\; wherefore\, with hymns we glorify your most festiv
 e memory as is meet\, O theologian. \n\nGlory… \n\nYou mounted to the 
 heights by the virtues\, O apostle\, and behold the only-begotten Word shi
 ning forth with glory in the flesh\, He Who doth sit eternally in the boso
 m of the Father\; and you were deemed worthy to hear the voice of the Fath
 er\, bearing witness that He was His Son. \n\nNow… \n\nAs I now flee t
 o your aid\, O all-immaculate one\, let not your useless servant\, be put 
 to shame\; for you do I have as an intercessor before God and an impregnab
 le bulwark. I pray that through you I may enjoy the tranquility and divine
  life which is to come. \n\nKatavasia: On divine watch let the God-inspi
 red Habakkuk stand with us and show forth the light bearing angel clearly 
 saying: Today salvation is come to the world\, for Christ is risen as Almi
 ghty. \n\nOde 5 \n\nIrmos: O Light never-waning\, * why have You turned 
 Your face from me * and why has the alien darkness surrounded me\, * wretc
 hed though I be? * But do guide my steps I implore You * and turn me back 
 towards the light of Your commandments. \n\nHoly Apostle and Evangelist J
 ohn\, pray to God for us. \n\nBeholding the most pure Light Who shone for
 th amid the darkness of the world\, you were transformed by love\; and as 
 a beacon of piety\, O John\, you illumined with the light of theology gene
 rations of the multitudes of nations. \n\nGlory… \n\nHaving learned th
 at the shadowy law was given by Moses\, but that divine grace came about t
 hrough Christ our God\, O beloved son of thunder\, you proclaimed His divi
 nity with the precise language of theology. \n\nNow… \n\nYou are my pr
 otection and might\, my confirmation and indestructible rampart\, O most p
 ure one\, and I call upon you: night and day preserve me from all the harm
  wrought by Belial\, that I may glorify you with faith and love. \n\nKata
 vasia: Let us awake in the deep dawn\, and instead of myrrh\, offer a hymn
  to the Master\, and we shall see Christ\, the Sun of Righteousness\, Who 
 causes life to dawn for all. \n\nOde 6 \n\nIrmos: The abyss of my sins a
 nd the storm of my transgressions * disquieten me and thrust me down * i
 nto the depths of despondency\; * but stretch forth Your mighty arm\, * 
 to me as You did to Peter\, * and save me\, O my Guide.  \n\nHoly Apo
 stle and Evangelist John\, pray to God for us. \n\nIsaiah beheld 
 in an image the Ember of the divine fire which purified his lips\, and He 
 was deemed worthy of prophecy\; and you\, O blessed John\, were revealed a
 s he who reclined upon the breast of the incarnate Word of God. \n\nGlory
 … \n\nThe only-begotten Word Who sits in the bosom of the Father was se
 en incarnate\, O blessed John\, and told you\, as the beloved initiate of 
 His mysteries\, that you wouldst behold the incorporeal God Whom no-one ca
 n look upon. \n\nNow… \n\nIllumine my soul\, O all-hymned Virgin Theo
 tokos\, having given birth to the Effulgence of the Father’s glory\; for
 \, having your true grace\, we abstain from all blasphemous rhetoric. \n\
 nKatavasia: You descended into the nethermost pares of the earth\, and sha
 ttered the eternal bars that held the fettered\, O Christ\, and on the thi
 rd day* like Jonah from the whale\, You arose from the tomb. \n\nSmall L
 itany \n\nKontakion\, Tone 2 \n\nO virgin apostle\, who can recount your
  mighty works?* For you pour out wonders and healings* and you pray for ou
 r souls as Theologian and friend of Christ.\n\nIkos \n\nIt is an unattain
 able thing of boldness\, to study the heights of heaven and to plumb the d
 epths of the sea\; for as it is impossible to calculate the number of the 
 stars and the sands of the shore\, so is it impossible to speak sufficient
 ly of the theologian\, whom Christ loves and has crowned with so many cro
 wns. For\, reclining against His breast\, he ate with Him at the mystical 
 supper\, in that he is a theologian and friend of Christ. \n\nOde 7 \n\n
 Irmos: Once in Babylon the fire stood in awe of God’s condescension\; *
  for which sake the youths in the furnace\, * dancing with joyous steps as
  in a meadow\, chanted: * O God of our fathers\, Blessed are You! \n\nHol
 y Apostle and Evangelist John\, pray to God for us. \n\nYou cons
 idered gold and riches to be like grass\, O all-blessed one\, and by the a
 ction of God you transformed hay into gold when you theologized concerning
  the Creator and Lord\, crying: O God of our fathers\, Blessed are You! \
 n\nGlory… \n\nThe Holy Spirit Who proceeds from the beginningless
  Father have we accepted as indivisible from You\, O only-begotte
 n Word of God\; whereby You called upon the apostles to cry alo
 ud: O God of our fathers\, Blessed are You! \n\nNow… \n\nYou we
 re the temple and palace of Christ the King\; you alone were the couch of 
 Solomon\, which\, as saith the Scriptures\, sixty of the mighty surrounded
 . And with you\, O Virgin they cry aloud chanting: O God of our fathers\, 
 Blessed are You! \n\nKatavasia: He who delivered the Children from the fu
 rnace\, became man\, suffers as a mortal\, and through His Passion clothes
  mortality with the beauty of incorruption\, He is the only blessed and mo
 st glorious God of our fathers. \n\nOde 8 \n\nIrmos: In his wrath the Ch
 aldean Tyrant made the furnace blaze\, * with heat fanned sevenfold for th
 e servants of God\; * but when he perceived that they had been saved by a 
 greater power * he cried aloud to the Creator and Redeemer\; * ‘ye chil
 dren bless\, ye priests praise\, * ye people\, supremely exalt Him through
 out all ages’.  \n\nHoly Apostle and Evangelist John\, pray to 
 God for us. \n\nAs your most glorious memory is magnificent and rightly
  renowned\, O herald of the divinity of Christ\, it shineth forth upon the
  Church\, perfuming her with godliness. Wherefore\, rejoicing O ye faithfu
 l\, we cry aloud: O ye youths bless\, O ye priests praise\, O ye people\, 
 supremely exalt Him throughout all ages! \n\nLet us bless the Lord: Fathe
 r\, Son\, and Holy Spirit. \n\nHaving the theologian as the leader of our
  choir\, O Christ\, We declare You\, Who were theologized by him\, with t
 he Father and the Spirit\, to be God\, and hymning the unity in governance
  thereof\, we cry aloud: O ye youths bless\, O ye priests praise\, O ye pe
 ople\, supremely exalt Him throughout all ages! \n\nNow… \n\nO all-imm
 aculate one\, you have given birth to God the Word in the flesh. Him do yo
 u beseech\, that He deliver me from the fire\; for\, lo! my whole life has
  become a burden and I have become wholly enslaved to cruel sins. Wher
 efore\, I flee to you\, O Virgin\, and call upon you\, the joyous one. \n
 \nWe praise\, bless\, and worship the Lord\, singing and exulting 
 Him above all for ever. \n\nKatavasia: This chosen and holy day
  is the first of the Sabbaths\, the queen and lady\, the feast of fe
 asts\, and the festival of festivals\, wherein we bless Christ throu
 ghout the ages. \n\nThe Song of the Theotokos (Magnificat) is not sung
 . \n\nOde 9 \n\nIrmos: Heaven was stricken with awe\, * and the ends of
  the earth were filled with amazement\, * for God has appeared in the fles
 h\, * and your womb was rendered more spacious than the heavens. * Wherefo
 re\, the ranks of men and of angels * magnify you as the Theotokos.  \n\
 nHoly Apostle and Evangelist John\, pray to God for us. \n\nStan
 ding before the Cross of the Master and the pure Virgin Theotokos\, the be
 loved disciple\, the pure instrument of theology\, in that he himself was 
 virginal\, accepted the commission to care for her\, and\, becoming the gu
 ardian of the immaculate Theotokos\, he is now blessed as is meet. \n\nGl
 ory… \n\nThe Most pure One\, loving your honoured and blameless life as
  is meet\, accepted you\, who lived angelically on earth\, together with y
 our brother\, O blessed John\, and declared you the son of His own Mother\
 , the Theotokos. With her we all call you blessed. \n\nNow… \n\nBe you
  a pillar of salvation for me\, O pure one\; render the hordes of the de
 mons impotent\, cutting off the tumult of temptations and misfortunes\, gr
 anting me pure freedom\, and bestowing upon me divine gifts in abundance.
  \n\nKatavasia: Shine\, shine\, O new Jerusalem\, for the glory of th
 e Lord has risen upon you! Exult now and be glad\, O Sion! And yo
 u\, O chaste Mother of God\, take delight in the resurrection of 
 your Son. \n\nSmall Litany\n\nHymn of Light\n\nIn the flesh You fell asl
 eep\, as a mortal man\, O King and Lord\, on the third day You arose\, rai
 sing Adam from corruption\, and destroying death: O Pascha of incorruption
 \, the Salvation of the world!\n\nGlory… \n\nAs a son of thunder you pro
 claimed theology to all mankind\, saying: “In the beginning was the Word
 !”\, O Apostle John\; for\, reclining against the breast of your Master 
 with faith and drawing forth therefrom streams of theology\, you have wate
 red all creation.\n\nNow…\n\nOn coming to Samaria\, O Savior\, You Almig
 hty One\, spoke there with a woman and ask of her water\, though for the J
 ews You hadst of old brought forth springs from a cloven rock. You brought
  her to faith in You\, and now she doth ever enjoy eternal life in the Hea
 vens.\n\nPraises\n\nStichera on the Praises\, Tone 4\n\nTo carry out the s
 entence pre-ordained:* this honour is for all His faithful.\n\nUnto them t
 hat fear You\, O Lord\, * You have given Your precious Cross as an ensign\
 , * O Lover of mankind\, * whereby You have triumphed over the dominions o
 f darkness and its powers\, * returning us to the ancient blessedness of o
 ur former state\; * and for this cause\, we glorify your economy and love 
 for mankind\, * O my Jesus\, Almighty Lord\, ** the true Savior of our sou
 ls.\n\nPraise God in His holy place\, praise Him in His mighty heavens.\n\
 nO Christ the Savior\, * with Your Cross\, guide us to Your truth\, * and 
 deliver us from the snares of the enemy\; * O You who are risen from the d
 ead * raise us also who have fallen through sin\, * by the stretching out 
 of Your hand\, * O Lord\, at the behest of the prayers of Your Saints.\n\n
 Praise Him for His powerful deeds\,* praise His surpassing greatness.\n\nP
 recious is the death of Your Saints\, O Lord\; * for shattered by sword an
 d fire and frost\, * they shed their blood\, having placed their hope in Y
 ou\, * that they might receive the reward of their labors. ** They endured
  and received great mercy from You\, O Savior.\n\nTone 8\n\nO praise Him w
 ith sound of trumpet\,* praise Him with lute and harp\;\n\nO most wise and
  blessed John\, * in the magnitude of your ardor for the love of Christ * 
 you were the greatest of all\, * a beloved disciple * of the Word Who sees
  all things * and judges the whole world with the scales of justice\; * an
 d you were illumined\, in body and mind\, * with the purity and the beauti
 es of virginity\, ** O divinely blessed one.\n\nPraise Him with timbrel an
 d dance\,* praise Him with strings and pipes.\n\nWith spiritual hymns let 
 us now praise * the most honorable John * as a servant of Christ\, * the f
 lower of virginity\, * the pleasant dwelling-place of precious virtues\, *
  the instrument of wisdom\, * the temple of the Spirit\, * the radiant mou
 th of grace\,* the most resplendent eye of the Church.\n\nO praise Him wit
 h resounding cymbals\, praise Him with clashing of cymbals.* Let everythin
 g that lives and that breathes give praise to the Lord.\n\nReclining again
 st the breast of Christ\, * you drew forth the waters of theology and wisd
 om\, * and having watered the world with them\,* O most excellent John\, *
  you have caused the sea of ungodliness to dry up * by the proper understa
 nding of the Trinity\; * and becoming an animate pillar of cloud\,* you  
 guide us unto the heavenly inheritance.\n\nGlory…\n\nO evangelist John\,
  peer of the angels\, virgin theologian instructed by God\, in an orthodox
  manner you preached to the world\, concerning the most pure side which po
 ured forth blood and water\, from whence we obtain life everlasting for ou
 r souls.\n\nTone 6\, Now…\n\nThe Well-spring of the principle of life\, 
 Jesus\, our Saviour\,* came to the well of the Patriarch Jacob\,* and soug
 ht water from a Samaritan woman that He might drink thereof.* And when she
  addressed Him* and said that the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans
 \,* the wise Creator diverted her by the sweetness of His words\,* so that
  she would seek from Him everlasting water\,* which\, when she received it
 \, she proclaimed to all\, saying:* Come and see the Knower of things hidd
 en\,* God who is come in the flesh to save mankind.\n\nGreat Doxology\n\nT
 roparion\, Tone 4\n\nO beloved apostle of Christ our God\,* hasten\, deliv
 er a people without defense.* He who received you when you leaned upon His
  breast accepts you as you bow in prayer.* Implore Him\, O Theologian\, to
  scatter the cloud of nations that besets us\,* asking peace and great mer
 cy for us.\n\nTone 8\, Glory…\n\nWith the streams of your tears you cult
 ivated the barren desert\,* with deep sighs your toils bore fruit a hundre
 d-fold.* You became a beacon\, shining throughout the world by your wonder
 s\,* our venerable Father\, Arsenius.* Pray to Christ God that our souls m
 ay be saved.\n\nTone 4\, Now…\n\nWhen the disciples of the Lord learned 
 from the angel* the glorious news of the resurrection* and cast off the an
 cestral condemnation\,* they proudly told the apostles\;* “Death has bee
 n plundered!* Christ our God is risen\,* granting to the world great mercy
 .”\n\nInsistent Litany\n\nLitany of Supplication\n\nGreat Dismissal\nAT 
 DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING\nAfter the priest has exclaimed\, Blessed
  be the Kingdom… and the people have responded\, Amen\, the clergy sing 
 the Paschal Troparion once and the people repeat it. Then\, the clergy sin
 g the first half\, and the people conclude it.\n\nPaschal Troparion\n\nChr
 ist is risen from the dead\,* trampling death by death\,* and to those in 
 the tombs* giving life.\n\nTroparia and Kontakia\n\nTroparion\, Tone 4: Wh
 en the disciples of the Lord learned from the angel* the glorious news of 
 the resurrection* and cast off the ancestral condemnation\,* they proudly 
 told the apostles:* “Death has been plundered!* Christ our God is risen\
 ,* granting to the world great mercy.”\n\nTroparion\, Tone 2: O beloved 
 apostle of Christ our God\,* hasten\, deliver a people without defense.* H
 e who received you when you leaned upon His breast accepts you as you bow 
 in prayer.* Implore Him\, O Theologian\, to scatter the cloud of nations t
 hat besets us\,* asking peace and great mercy.\n\nGlory be to the Father\,
  and to the Son\, and to the Holy Spirit.\n\nKontakion\, Tone 2: O virgin 
 apostle\, who can recount your mighty works?* For you pour out wonders and
  healings* and you pray for our souls as Theologian and friend of Christ.\
 n\nNow and for ever and ever. Amen.\n\nKontakion\, Tone 8: Drawn to the we
 ll by faith\,* the Samaritan woman beheld You\, the Water of Wisdom\,* and
  drinking abundantly of You\,* she inherited the heavenly Kingdom for ever
 \,* becoming everlastingly glorious.\n\nProkeimenon\, Tone 3\n\nSing to ou
 r God\, sing\; sing to our King\, sing.\n\nverse: Clap your hands\, all yo
 u nations\; shout unto God with the voice of joy. (Psalm 46:7\,2)\n\nProke
 imenon\, Tone 8\n\nTheir utterance has gone forth into all the earth\, and
  their words unto the ends of the world.\n\nEpistle\n\nActs 15:5-34\; 1 Jo
 hn 1:1-7\n\nAlleluia\, Tone 4\n\nverse: Poise yourself and advance in triu
 mph and reign in the cause of truth\, and meekness\, and justice.\n\nverse
 : You have loved justice and hated iniquity. (Psalm 44:5\,8)\n\nverse: The
  heavens shall confess our wonders\, O Lord\, and Your truth in the church
  of the saints.\n\nGospel\n\nJohn 10:17-28\; John 19:25-27\; 21:24-25\n\nH
 ymn to the Theotokos\n\nThe Angel cried out to the One full of Grace: O ch
 aste Virgin\, rejoice! And again I say\, Rejoice! Your Son has risen from 
 the tomb on the third day\, and raised the dead. Let all people rejoice! S
 hine\, shine\, O new Jerusalem\, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon 
 you! Exult now and be glad\, O Sion! And you\, O chaste Mother of God\, ta
 ke delight in the resurrection of your Son.\n\nCommunion Hymn\n\nReceive t
 he Body of Christ\;* taste the fountain of immortality.* Praise the Lord f
 rom the heavens\; praise Him in the highest.* Their utterance has gone for
 th into all the earth\,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alle
 luia\, alleluia\,* alleluia.\n\nInstead of Blessed is He Who comes… we s
 ing:\n\nChrist is risen from the dead\,* trampling death by death\,* and t
 o those in the tombs* giving life.\n\nInstead of We have seen the true lig
 ht… we sing:\n\nChrist is risen from the dead\,* trampling death by deat
 h\,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.\n\nInstead of May our mouths 
 be filled… we sing three times:\n\nChrist is risen from the dead\,* tram
 pling death by death\,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.\n\nInstead
  of Blessed be the name of the Lord… we sing three times:\n\nChrist is r
 isen from the dead\,* trampling death by death\,* and to those in the tomb
 s* giving life.\n\nAt the dismissal\, instead of Glory be to the Father an
 d the Son and the Holy Spirit\, now and forever and ever. Amen. we chant:\
 n\nChrist is risen from the dead\, trampling death by death\,* and to thos
 e in the tombs giving life.\n\nAfter the final Amen\, the Troparion Christ
  is risen is sung as at the beginning of the Liturgy\, but with the additi
 on:\n\nAnd to us He has granted life eternal\;* we bow down before His res
 urrection on the third day.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Edmonton
X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Edmonton
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
DTSTART:20260308T030000
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:MDT
END:DAYLIGHT
END:VTIMEZONE
END:VCALENDAR