Abstention from meat and foods that contain these ingredients

VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 8

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

О most glorious wonder!* The Life-bearing Tree, the most holy Cross is revealed today, lifted up on high.* All the ends of the earth glorify it, and the hordes of the demons are affrighted.* О what a gift has been given to mortals!* Thereby, О Christ, save our souls, in that You alone are compassionate.

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

О most glorious wonder!* Like a vine full of life, bearing the Most High,* the Cross is seen today uplifted from the earth.* Thereby have we all been drawn to God,* and death has been utterly slaughtered.* О most honoured Tree, whereby, glorifying Christ,* we have received the immortal sustenance which was in Eden!

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

О the great goodness which You have for us, О good Jesus!* How did You abase Yourself, become a man,* and will to suffer, enduring the Cross and violent death for Your useless servants?* We offer the Cross to You as a worthy and divinely fitting gift;* and giving thanks, we, the faithful, glorify You.

Tone 5, Podoben “O venerable father…”

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

O right wondrous and venerable mother Euphrosyne,* desiring gladness, you tread the path which brings it;* for you traded riches for great poverty,* a betrothed in the flesh for One who lives eternally,* corruptible food for abstinence,* rest for the pangs of ascetic endeavour,* that which is in the world for the life of heaven,* which you have received with the wise virgins, keeping your lamp continually alight,* and vouchsafed the bridal-chamber as a virgin,* in that you are the bride of Christ, O most lauded one.

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

Quenching the thirst of your mind with the streams of your tears,* you produced the fruits of virtue through fasting,* and as a most comely vine you have given rise to beautiful grapes, O honoured one.* Manifestly delighting our spiritual senses with the divine juice thereof,* we take true delight in your likeness and rejoice with divine gladness,* putting aside the drunkenness of sin, and crying out to you, O most honoured one:* Ever entreat Christ, that He grant unity of mind, peace, and great mercy to the whole world.

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

O strange vision difficult for nature to accept!* How did you hide from the ancient seducer of Eve and his cruel machinations,* dwelling in the midst of men with perfect mind?* How did you pass through the fire without being consumed?* How did you conceal your womanly weakness,* strengthened by the divine power of Him who took our weakness upon Himself* and shone forth from the Maiden who knew not wedlock?* Beseech Him, joining chorus with the angels,* that He grant unity of mind, peace, and great mercy to the whole world.

Tone 2, Glory…

As the bride of Christ, you preserved the pure treasure of your purity* unsullied by men, O most blessed Euphrosyne;* for having caused the beauty of your body to wither away through feats of fasting,* You adorned your soul with the goodly countenance of grace;* for, having manifestly concealed your womanhood under the guise of a man,* you hid from the pursuit of Belial, living an angelic life.* Ask peace for those who praise you with love,* in that you are the namesake of gladness, O divinely blessed one.

Now…

When you beheld hanging upon the Tree the most ripe Cluster,* whom you bore as a babe in your womb without being cultivated,* you exclaimed, lamenting and crying aloud* O my Child and Benefactor, through Your divine consolations* pour forth the sweetness whereby all the drunkenness of the passions is made sober,* for the sake of me who gave You birth,* in that You are compassionate.

Aposticha

Tone 8

О Christ God who was lifted up upon the Cross,* You saved the race of mankind.* We glorify Your sufferings!

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.

You were nailed to the Cross, О Christ God,* and opened the gates of paradise.* We glorify Your divinity!

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.

You sanctify everyplace, О martyrs of the Lord, and heal every infirmity.* Pray now, that our souls be delivered from the nets of the enemy,* we beseech you.

Tone 5, Glory…

Come, all you who love virginity and are zealots of purity!* Come, phalanx of monks and choir of venerable women,* and together let us all chant to the all-blessed Euphrosyne with faith:* Rejoice, you who in a woman’s body contended manfully!* Rejoice, you who put the enemy to shame by chastity and loved Christ!* Rejoice, precious stone, namesake of gladness!* O venerable mother, never cease to pray for those who honour your memory.

Now…

When of old she beheld her Lamb lifted up upon the Cross,* the unblemished ewe-lamb, the immaculate Mistress,* exclaimed maternally and, marvelling, cried out:* What is this new sight most strange, O my sweet Child?* How is it that the people, bereft of grace, are betraying You to the tribunal of Pilate* and condemning You, the Life of all, to death?* Yet I sing of Your ineffable Condescension, O Word!

Troparia

Tone 8

The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O mother,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh which passes* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* And so, O venerable woman, Euphrosyne,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.

Glory… Now…

When the Mother beheld upon the cross* the Lamb, the Shepherd, and the Saviour of the world,* she exclaimed tearfully:* The world rejoices at the sight of its redemption,* but my heart is afire as I see Your pain on the cross,* which You accept for the sake of all, O my Son and my God!

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 8: The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O mother,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh which passes* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* And so, O venerable woman, Euphrosyne,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: For love of the Lord, O venerable woman,* you scorned the desire for rest and enlightened your soul through fasting,* for you have mightily conquered the beasts.* Through your prayers thwart the rage of fiends.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.

verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)

Epistle

Ephesians 6:18-24

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me, and He heard my prayer.

verse: He brought me out of the pit of misery and the mud of the swamp. (Psalm 39:2,3)

Gospel

Luke 4:22-30

Communion Hymn

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