Leave-taking of the Transfiguration. Dormition Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.

VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4

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

O Lord, when You were transfigured before being crucified,* Mount Tabor was made to resemble heaven;* for a cloud was extended as a canopy,* and the Father bore witness to You.* Peter, James, and John were present there,* the same three apostles who were to be with You* at the time of the betrayal of Judas,* so that, having seen You in glory,* they would not be dismayed at the time of Your suffering.* Likewise, O Lord, make us worthy to recognize You as our God* in the same sufferings You endured in Your great mercy,* and to adore You.

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

O Lord, when You were transfigured before being crucified,* Mount Tabor was made to resemble heaven;* for a cloud was extended as a canopy,* and the Father bore witness to You.* Peter, James, and John were present there,* the same three apostles who were to be with You* at the time of the betrayal of Judas,* so that, having seen You in glory,* they would not be dismayed at the time of Your suffering.* Likewise, O Lord, make us worthy to recognize You as our God* in the same sufferings You endured in Your great mercy,* and to adore You.

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

O Lord, as a preparation to Your crucifixion,* You led some of Your disciples to a high mountain* and became transfigured before them,* enlightening them with the light of Your glory.* In this way, You showed the reality of the resurrection* You are to grant to us in Your love for mankind* and in Your almighty power as God.* Make us worthy of this resurrection, O God* for You are gracious and the Lover of mankind.

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

O Lord, as a preparation to Your crucifixion,* You led some of Your disciples to a high mountain* and became transfigured before them,* enlightening them with the light of Your glory.* In this way, You showed the reality of the resurrection* You are to grant to us in Your love for mankind* and in Your almighty power as God.* Make us worthy of this resurrection, O God* for You are gracious and the Lover of mankind.

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

O Lord, when You were transfigured on a high mountain* in the presence of Your foremost disciples,* You radiated with glory,* showing how those who lead an outstanding life of virtue* will be made worthy of the glory of heaven.* Elijah and Moses, conversing with the Lord,* showed Him to be the Lord of the living and the dead,* God who spoke through the Law and the Prophets,* the same to whom the Father’s voice bore witness* out of the bright cloud, saying:* “Hear Him, for it is He, who through His Cross despoiled Hades* and granted eternal life to the dead.”

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

Indeed, O Lord, the mountain that had been dark with smoke* today becomes honourable and holy because You stood on it.* The mystery hidden from the beginning of the world* becomes manifest in Your transfiguration before Peter, James and John.* They fell with their faces to the ground,* unable as they were to bear the light of Your countenance* and the splendour of Your clothing.* A further marvel was the vision of Moses and Elijah,* conversing with You on Your future,* and the voice of the Father bearing witness and saying:* “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!* He is the One who will convey great mercy upon the world.”

Tone 6, Glory… Now…

O Christ our God, when You willed to prefigure Your resurrection,* You chose three disciples, Peter, James, and John;* and You went up with them to Mount Tabor.* At the moment of Your Transfiguration, O Saviour,* the mountain was flooded with light,* and Your disciples fell with their faces to the ground;* for they could not bear the sight of Your countenance* upon which no one may gaze, O Word.* Angels attended with trembling and awe;* the heavens were afraid;* and the earth shook to its very foundations* when they saw the Lord of glory come upon the earth.

Prokeimenon, Tone 1

Your mercy, O Lord, shall follow me* all the days of my life.

verse: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. In green pastures He gives me repose.

Aposticha

Tone 1

He who mysteriously spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai* and said: “I Am Who Am,”* today manifests Himself to His disciples on Mount Tabor* and reveals through His person* that human nature was re-established in its original splendour.* As witnesses to this grace and partakers of this joy,* He raised up Moses and Elijah,* the forerunners of the glorious and saving Resurrection* made possible by the Cross of Christ.

The heavens are Yours, the world is Yours. You founded the earth and all it holds.

When David, the forefather of the Lord,* foresaw in spirit Your coming in the flesh,* he invited the whole creation to rejoice,* crying out prophetically:* O Saviour, Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Your name,* for indeed You ascended the mountain with Your disciples.* Through Your Transfiguration* You returned Adam’s nature to its original splendour,* restoring its very elements to the glory and brilliance of Your divinity.* Therefore, we cry out to You:* O Creator of all, glory to You!

Tabor and Hermon shout with joy at Your name.

O Christ without a beginning,* when on the Mount of the Transfiguration,* Your disciples saw the Light that was Yours* and Your unapproachable divinity,* they were rapt in amazement and completely changed.* They were enrobed in a radiant cloud,* and they heard the Father’s voice* confirming the mystery of Your incarnation;* for even after coming in the flesh,* You remained the only-begotten Son and the Saviour of all.

Tone 6, Glory… Now…

O Lord, today on Mount Tabor,* You have manifested the glory of Your divinity* to Your chosen disciples, Peter, James, and John;* they saw Your clothing radiant as light* and Your face more brilliant than the sun.* Unable to bear Your overwhelming radiance or look upon You,* they fell to the ground* and heard a voice bearing witness from heaven:* “This is My beloved Son who came into the world to save His people.”

Troparion

Tone 7

You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God* O Giver of Light, glory to You!

DIVINE LITURGY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

Antiphon 1

Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.

Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; Your lightning lit up the world.

Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

You have clothed Yourself in praise and splendour; You robe Yourself in light as with a cloak.

Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

Glory… Now… Only-begotten Son…

Antiphon 3

Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour.

Son of God, transfigured on the mount, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.

Son of God, transfigured on the mount, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.

Son of God, transfigured on the mount, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Entrance

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.

Son of God, transfigured on the mount, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Giver of Light, glory to You!

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

Kontakion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* and Your disciples saw Your glory as much as they could;* that when they saw You crucified* they might know that You suffered willingly*, and might proclaim to the world* that You are truly the brightness of the Father.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

How great are Your works, O Lord, You have made all things in wisdom.

verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord, my God, You are exceedingly great. (Psalm 103:24,1)

Epistle

1 Corinthians 16:4-12

Alleluia, Tone 8

verse: Yours are the heavens, and Yours the earth.

verse: Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, they will walk in the light of Your countenance, O Lord. (Psalm 88:12,16)

Gospel

Matthew 21:28-32

Hymn to the Mother of God

O my soul, magnify the Lord transfigured on the mountain.

And the Irmos, Tone 4: Your giving birth was revealed as incorrupt; for it was God who came forth from your womb; He appeared on earth in the flesh, and made His dwelling among us. Thus, O Mother of God, all of us magnify you.

Communion Hymn

We will walk in the light of Your face, O Lord,* and rejoice in Your name forever.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 88:16,17)