Apostle’s Fast

VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no appointed psalms to be chanted tonight.

At Psalm 140

Tone 3, Podoben “Great is the power of Your martyrs…”

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

O heavenly father, accept me as You did the repentant prodigal son,* though I sin greatly and embitter You,* the good Master who are merciful by nature;* and make me one of Your hirelings.

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

I have passed the time of my life in slothfulness* and have drawn nigh to the end, wretch that I am.* I give no thought to the judgment which awaits me,* nor to my falling away from God.* But, having turned me back to You, О Saviour,* rescue me from them.

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

From Gehenna, from the gnashing of teeth and every other eternal retribution* deliver my lowly soul, О supremely good Lord;* that with faith I may hymn the merciful God,* who by nature is the Lover of mankind.

Tone 8, Podoben: “What shall we call you…”

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

What shall we call thee, O glorious one? * True hierarch and sacred teacher, * confirmation of the Orthodox, * and eye of the Church, * beacon which shineth forth a noetic light, * one who wast glorious among the martyrs, * O champion of truth, * and great accuser of falsehood. ** Pray thou that our souls be saved!

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

What shall we call thee, O holy hierarch? * A river which proceedeth from the noetic Eden, * watering the earth * with spiritual dews, * cup which is full of divine water * which drowneth the followers of Arius, * pillar of fire which guideth the new people * by divine grace. ** Pray thou that our souls be saved!

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

What shall I call thee, O Eusebius? * Bestower of piety * and destroyer of impiety, * adornment of passion-bearers and joy of priests, * sickle which cutteth down the tares * and gathereth in the wheat of heaven, * ever-flowing fount of miracles * which relieveth the burning heat of infirmities. ** Pray thou that our souls be saved!

Glory… Now…

O most immaculate and pure one, * who have given birth to the unbearable Fire * Who burns up sins * and bedews the faithful: by your supplications * consume the tinder of my boundless offenses, * and with the dew cool my soul, * which is withering away through the passions, * that with a loud voice I, your servant, * may magnify your mercy and your power.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

And now bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.

verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.

Aposticha

Tone 3

Our evening hymn do we bring to You, O Christ,* with incense and spiritual songs,* have mercy on us and save 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.

Save me, O Lord my God, for You are the salvation of all:* The storm of the passions disquiets me,* and the yoke of my transgressions weighs heavily upon me.* Stretch out Your helping hand and lead me up to the light of compunction,* for You alone are compassionate and the Lover of mankind.

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.

Great is the power of Your Cross, О Lord!* For it was planted in one place, yet works throughout the whole world;* making apostles of fishermen and martyrs of the heathen,* that they might pray for our souls.

Tone 3, Glory… Now…

О Lady, intercessor for all who pray to you:* in you we find boldness, of you do we boast, and in you have we place all our hope.* Entreat Him who was born from you* on behalf of your unprofitable servants.

Troparion, Tone 4

Having shared the way of life of the apostles,* and having become a successor to their thrones,* labouring you found the divinely inspired way to contemplation.* Therefore, forthrightly ministering the word of truth,* you shed your blood for the faith, O hieromartyr, Eusebius.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

Glory… Now…

To the One who was reared in the Temple,* close to the Holy of Holies,* and who was full of faith, wisdom, and perfect virginity,* Gabriel, the captain and leader,* offered esteem and greetings from heaven when he said:* Rejoice, O blessed One! Rejoice, O glorified One!* The Lord is with you.

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: Having shared the way of life of the apostles,* and having become a successor to their thrones,* labouring you found the divinely inspired way to contemplation.* Therefore, forthrightly ministering the word of truth,* you shed your blood for the faith, O hieromartyr, Eusebius.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

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

Kontakion, Tone 4: Having piously lived among the hierarchs,* and having trod the path of suffering,* you extinguished the sacrifices to idols* and were a defender for your flock, O godly one.* Therefore, venerating you, we sincerely cry to you:* “Rescue us from dangers by your prayers, O our father, Eusebius.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The venerable ones will exult in glory* and they shall be joyful in their beds.

verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; let His praise be in the assembly of the venerable ones. (Psalm 149:5,1)

Epistle

Romans 12:4-5, 15-21

Alleluia, Tone 2

verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice.

verse: For the Lord has chosen Sion; He has chosen it for His dwelling. (Psalm 131:9,13)

Gospel

Matthew 12:9-13

Communion Hymn

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