Post-feast of the Dormition

AT VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no psalms appointed this evening.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4, Podoben “Called from on high…”

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

Having conceived Life, O Theotokos,* you die in accordance with the law of nature* and pass over from earth to the heavens* at the behest of Him who was incarnate* of your all pure and divine blood.* Wherefore, the apostles of godly eloquence all came from the ends of the earth* and stood before you to bury you, exclaiming to you in hymnody:* Rejoice, O animate throne of the King of all* and precious ark of His holy place!* Rejoice, O you who alone gave birth to the Saviour of our souls!

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

When the apostles of the Saviour, the habitations of the most pure Light,* the beacons dispelling the night of polytheism,* learned through the Spirit that you, O blessed one,* the divine cloud from whence the unwaning Light shone forth,* were translated from among the things of this earth to transcendent joy,* they arrived on clouds, conducting you to the life-bearing tomb* with songs of parting, O Theotokos, our hope.

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

Let creation hold festival in supplication!* The Queen of all has passed over to the noetic kingdom* to reign with Him who reigns over all creation.* The kingdom of Hades been destroyed because of her,* and we have been borne up from the earth* and counted worthy to dwell with the angels.* All noetic nature has come together for her dormition:* patriarchs and prophets, the apostles, and martyrs.

Tone 2, Podoben “When from the Tree…”

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

When the immolation wrought by the godless* was consuming every land, O blessed one,* then you were set afire by the fervour of the Spirit,* and preached the Word who, in His goodness,* wrapped Himself in flesh taken from the divine Virgin Maiden.* Wherefore, strengthened by the power of grace,* you endured fire, torments, and cruel persecutions.

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

When the ignominious foe strove with flattery to sway you from your intention,* then, adorned with courage, you opposed him steadfastly,* and endured the pangs which brought you to a rest without pain,* to the kingdom of heaven and everlasting delight,* O right laudable martyr Myron.

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

When the enemy flogged you with thongs of hide,* laying waste your sacred flesh with continuous lashings, O martyr,* you directed your gaze to Christ, the Judge of the contest,* who stretched forth to you His hand of divine power.* Wherefore, having finished the race, you received great honours,* O all-valiant athlete Myron.

Tone 2, Glory… Now…

As she was more exalted than the heavens,* more glorious than the cherubim and higher in honour than all creation,* and in her exceeding purity became the dwelling-place of the ever-existent Essence,* she surrenders her most holy soul into the hands of her Son today.* By her are all things filled with joy;* and He grants us great mercy.

Aposticha

Tone 2

Accompanying with hymns your precious body which was acceptable to God,* the divine apostles cried aloud:* to where do you now go, O Mistress?

Arise, O Lord, into Your rest,* You and the ark of Your holiness.

Come, O you who are born of earth,* let us form a chorus, chanting hymns of parting* at the repose of the Theotokos today.

The Lord has sworn in truth to David,* and He will not annul it.

The earth was blessed by your burial, O Virgin;* and the air was sanctified by thy strange ascent,* when you died according to the law of nature.

Tone 2, Glory… Now…

The all-immaculate Bride and Mother of Him in whom the Father was well-pleased,* who was foreordained by God to be the habitation of His unconfused Union,* commits her all-pure soul to God the Creator.* The hosts of the incorporeal ones bear her aloft, and she passes over to life,* in that she is the Mother of the Life,* the light of the Light unapproachable,* the salvation of the faithful and the hope of our souls.

Troparia

Tone 4

Your martyr, Myron, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.

Tone 1, Glory… Now…

In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death.

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 1: In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death.

Troparion, Tone 4: Your martyr, Myron, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.

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

Kontakion, Tone 2: As a bright and unerring star you appeared to the world* proclaiming with your rays the Sun, that is, Christ, O martyr, Myron,* and you have extinguished all error.* But to us you give light, praying without ceasing for all of us.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God,* unceasing in her intercession and unfailing hope of patronage,* for, as the Mother of Life, she was transferred to life* by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.

verse: Because he has regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold, all generations shall call me blessed. (Luke 1:46-48)

Epistle

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Alleluia, Tone 8

verse: Rise up, O Lord, to the place of Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness.

verse: The Lord swore an oath to David, and will not go back on His word. (Psalm 131:8,11)

Gospel

Mark 3:6-12

Hymn to the Theotokos

Seeing the pure one’s falling asleep, angels marvelled in wonder how the Virgin could ascend from earth to heaven.

And the Irmos: O pure Virgin, in you are conquered the bounds of nature,* for childbirth remains virginal and death is betrothed to life.* Virgin after childbearing and alive after death, O Mother of God,* never cease to save your inheritance.

Communion Hymn

I will take the chalice of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 115:13)