BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.3.6//EN TZID:America/Winnipeg X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Winnipeg BEGIN:VEVENT UID:505@liturgy.royaldoors.net DTSTART;TZID=America/Winnipeg;VALUE=DATE:20260629 DTEND;TZID=America/Winnipeg;VALUE=DATE:20260630 DTSTAMP:20260624T175410Z URL:https://liturgy.royaldoors.net/events/monday-june-29-2026-the-holy-glo rious-all-praiseworthy-and-chief-apostles-peter-and-paul/ SUMMARY:Monday\, June 29\, 2026\; The Holy\, Glorious\, All-Praiseworthy a nd Chief Apostles Peter and Paul. DESCRIPTION:All-Night Vigil Feast\n\nGREAT VESPERS\n\nKathisma Reading\n\nB lessed is the man… is sung.\n\nAt Psalm 140\n\nTone 2\n\nOut of the dept hs I cry to You\, O Lord\;* O Lord\, hear my voice!\n\nWhat crowns of prai se shall we weave for Peter and Paul?* They were separated in the body but united in spirit\,* and outstanding as the preachers of God.* The one ind eed led the apostles\,* while the other laboured more than all the rest.* Christ our God\, showing great mercy\,* fittingly crowns them with immorta l glory.\n\nLet Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.\n\nWhat crowns of praise shall we weave for Peter and Paul?* They were separated in the body but united in spirit\,* and outstanding as the preachers of Go d.* The one indeed led the apostles\,* while the other laboured more than all the rest.* Christ our God\, showing great mercy\,* fittingly crowns th em with immortal glory.\n\nIf You mark iniquities\, Lord\, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.\n\nWhat crowns of pr aise shall we weave for Peter and Paul?* They were separated in the body b ut united in spirit\,* and outstanding as the preachers of God.* The one i ndeed led the apostles\,* while the other laboured more than all the rest. * Christ our God\, showing great mercy\,* fittingly crowns them with immor tal glory.\n\nI have waited for You as You have commanded\; my soul patien tly relies on Your promise\,* for it has trusted in the Lord.\n\nWith what beautiful hymns shall we praise Peter and Paul?* They are wings of divine knowledge\,* spreading out to the far ends of the earth* and soaring alof t to heaven.* They are two heads of the Gospel of grace\,* two feet of the preaching of the truth\,* two rivers of wisdom and two arms of the Cross\ ,* through which the merciful Christ casts down the pride of demons.\n\nFr om the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.\n\nWith wh at beautiful hymns shall we praise Peter and Paul?* They are wings of divi ne knowledge\,* spreading out to the far ends of the earth* and soaring al oft to heaven.* They are two heads of the Gospel of grace\,* two feet of t he preaching of the truth\,* two rivers of wisdom and two arms of the Cros s\,* through which the merciful Christ casts down the pride of demons.\n\n For with the Lord there is mercy\, and with Him there is plentiful redempt ion\;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.\n\nWith what be autiful hymns shall we praise Peter and Paul?* They are wings of divine kn owledge\,* spreading out to the far ends of the earth* and soaring aloft t o heaven.* They are two heads of the Gospel of grace\,* two feet of the pr eaching of the truth\,* two rivers of wisdom and two arms of the Cross\,* through which the merciful Christ casts down the pride of demons.\n\nPrais e the Lord\, all the nations\;* proclaim His glory\, all you people.\n\nWi th what spiritual songs shall we praise Peter and Paul?* They slew the god less tongues of idolaters.* They are fearful swords of the Spirit and nota ble ornaments of Rome\,* nourishers of the whole world* and the God-inspir ed tablets of the new covenant.* Christ\, in His great mercy\, has proclai med their honour in Sion.\n\nStrong is the love of the Lord for us\;* eter nally will His truth endure.\n\nWith what spiritual songs shall we praise Peter and Paul?* They slew the godless tongues of idolaters.* They are fea rful swords of the Spirit and notable ornaments of Rome\,* nourishers of t he whole world* and the God-inspired tablets of the new covenant.* Christ\ , in His great mercy\, has proclaimed their honour in Sion.\n\nTone 4\, Gl ory…\n\nChrist asked three times: Peter\, do you love Me?* Thereby He sa tisfied the three-fold denial\;* and Simon\, understanding the mystery\, c ried to the Lord:* You know all things\; You know that I love You.* After this\, Christ said to him:* Feed my sheep\, feed my lambs\;* feed those sh eep which I have fashioned for salvation with my own blood.* Therefore\, O blessed Apostle of God\,* beseech Him to grant us great mercy.\n\nNow…\ n\nO Mother of God\, because of You* David the Prophet became an ancestor of God\;* he foretold and sang a joyous hymn of praise* and cried out to H im who worked wonders in you:* “The Queen stood at your right hand.”* God revealed you as a life-giving mother\,* when He chose to be incarnate of you without a father.* He renewed in man His image* which the passions had corrupted.* He found the lost sheep in the mountains\,* carried it on His shoulders\,* offered it to the Father\,* generously numbered it among the powers of heaven\,* and saved the whole world\, since He is Christ of great and rich mercy.\n\nReadings\n\n(1) 1 Peter 1: 3-9\; (2) 1 Peter 1: 1 3 – 19\; (3) 1 Peter 2: 11-24\n\nLytia\n\nTone 2\n\nCome today\, O assem blies of the faithful\,* O choirs full of praise\, O beautiful gathering\, * O chosen craftsmen of grace\,* we are crowning Peter and Paul with worth y praises.* They sowed the Word in its fullness\;* through them the grace of the Spirit was poured out abundantly.* And being the vine of the true v ineyard\,* they divided up for us a ripe cluster\, making our hearts joyfu l.* Let us sing to them with clear expression\,* and with a clean conscien ce let us say:* Rejoice\, O destroyers of the unwise* and the servants of the spiritual ones.* Rejoice\, O intermediaries for the good who banish ev il.* Let us beseech them to always pray to the Creator and Teacher* to gra nt an enduring peace to the world* and great mercy to our souls.\n\nLet us praise as intercessors for the world\,* the teachers and foundations of t he Church of Christ\,* its true pillars and walls\,* trumpets of the divin e teachings and sufferings of Christ\,* the prime apostles Peter and Paul. * They travelled throughout the earth\,* as though with a plough\, sowing the faith\,* and planted a knowledge of God in all\,* revealing the Word o f the Trinity.* O Peter\, rock of foundation\, and Paul\, O chosen vessel\ ,* you were harnessed together to the will of Christ.* You raised up all c reation to a knowledge of God:* the nations\, the cities\, and the islands .* Indeed\, you lifted up anew the Hebrews into the Church\,* and now you pray that our souls be saved.\n\nO Peter\, the first of the glorious apost les and rock of faith!* wondrous Paul\, orator and lamp stand of the holy churches\,* standing before the divine throne\,* pray to Christ for us.\n\ nO Paul\, spokesman of the Lord and foundation of doctrine!* Once you were a persecutor of Jesus the Saviour\,* and then indeed you were among the f irst of the apostles\, O blessed one.* You saw the ineffable One\, O wise Apostle.* You were transported up to the third heaven\, and you exclaimed: * Come with me and do not be deprived of the good things.\n\nTone 3\n\nO c itizens of the heavenly Jerusalem\,* behold the rock of faith and the orat or of the Church of Christ\,* the two men of the Trinity and fishers of th e world\,* today are departing from the earth.* Suffering the passion\, th ey ascend to God\,* and they pray to Him with confidence to save our souls .\n\nTone 5\, Glory…\n\nThe wisdom of God and the Word who is co-eternal with the Father* has truly foretold in the Gospel\, O all-praiseworthy Ap ostles\,* that you are the two most fruitful vines\;* for you bore in your branches the ripe and beautiful cluster* from which we believers are now nourished* and whose taste brings us both sweetness and delight.* Therefor e\, O Peter\, rock of faith\, and Paul\, pride of the universe\,* strength en the flock that became yours through your teachings.\n\nNow…\n\nWe ble ss you\, O Theotokos and Virgin\;* and we faithful ones glorify you always .* You are the ineffable city\, the mighty wall\,* the powerful mediatrix\ , and the haven of our souls.\n\nAposticha\n\nTone 1\n\nO glorious apostle Paul\,* who can describe your bondage and sorrow in the cities\,* your tr ibulations and hardships\,* your vigils and sufferings?* You have suffered hunger\, thirst\, and cold\,* nakedness and scourging with rods\,* the cr ossing of wilderness\, shipwreck and stonings.* You have both angelic and human character\,* bearing all with the help of Christ who strengthened yo u\,* so that you might gain the world for Christ\, your Lord.* We\, who ce lebrate your memory in faith\,* beseech you to intercede for the salvation of our souls.\n\nTheir utterance has gone forth into all the earth\, and their words unto the ends of the world.\n\nO glorious apostle Paul\,* who can describe your bondage and tribulations in the cities?* Who can tell th e hardships and struggles you went through in the preaching of Christ* tha t you might win all people and present the Church to Christ?* O apostle Pa ul\, teacher of the Churches\,* pray that the Church may be strengthened b y your teachings* until the end of time.\n\nThe heavens tell the glory of God\, and the firmament declares the work of His hands.\n\nLet us extol Pe ter and Paul\,* the two great luminaries of the Church\;* for they have sh one forth with the firmness of faith\,* transcending the sun in brilliance .* By the rays of their preaching* they led the Gentiles from ignorance to divine knowledge.* Therefore\, one of them was nailed upon the cross\,* t hus making his way into heaven* where he received the Kingdom from Christ himself.* The other was beheaded with the sword and carried to the Saviour \,* where he received the blessing that he deserved.* Both declared that t he unjust ones laid hands against the Lord.* By their powers\, therefore\, O Christ our God\,* take your anger away from us and make firm our faith\ ,* for You are the Lover of Mankind.\n\nTone 6\, Glory…\n\nToday a delig htful feast has shone forth to the ends of the earth\,* the all-solemn mem orial of the most wise and first apostles\, Peter and Paul.* Therefore\, l et Rome receive the glad tidings\, rejoicing\;* and let us feast on this s olemn day\, crying out to them:* Rejoice\, O Peter\, apostle and special f riend of the Teacher\, Christ our God.* Rejoice\, O truly beloved Paul\,* preacher of the faith and teacher of the universe.* Because of your privil ege\, O holy ones\,* beseech Christ our God to save our souls.\n\nNow…\n \nChrist the Lord\, our Creator and Redeemer\,* came forth from your womb\ , O most pure Virgin.* He clothed himself in our human flesh* to set us fr ee from the original curse of Adam.* Therefore\, O Mary\, we praise you\, without ceasing\,* as the true Virgin Mother of God\,* and we sing with th e angels:* Rejoice\, O Lady\, advocate\, protector\, and salvation of our souls.\n\nTroparia\n\nTone 4\n\nAs the leaders of the apostles* and teache rs of the whole world\,* intercede with the Master of all* to grant peace to the world* and to our souls great mercy. (2)\n\nTone 4\n\nRejoice\, Mot her of God\, Virgin Mary\, full of grace!* The Lord is with you.* Blessed are you among women\,* and blessed is the fruit of your womb.* For you hav e borne Christ\, the Saviour and Redeemer of our souls.\n\n \;\n\nFEST AL MATINS\n\nThe Lord is God\, Tone 4\n\nTroparion\, Tone 4\n\nAs the lead ers of the apostles* and teachers of the whole world\,* intercede with the Master of all* to grant peace to the world* and to our souls great mercy. (2)\n\nGlory… Now…\n\nThe eternal mystery\, unknown even to the angel s* has been revealed to those who live on earth through you\, O Mother of God:* for God has become incarnated in unconfused unity* and accepted free ly the Cross\, through which He raised the first man\,* and saved our soul s from death\n\nSESSIONAL HYMN I\n\n(Tone 8) Having put aside fishing in t he deep\,* you received from the Father himself the revelation of the Inca rnation of the Word.* Thus you confidently cried out in faith to your Crea tor:* I know that You are the Son of God\, consubstantial with Him.* There fore\, you were truly revealed as the rock of faith and a trustee of the k eys of grace.* Intercede\, therefore\, O apostle Peter\, with Christ our G od* to grant forgiveness of sins* to those who lovingly celebrate your hol y memory.\n\nGlory…\n\n(Tone 1) We worthily exalt the all-praiseworthy P eter and Paul\,* the defender of the rock of the Church and the net of the world.* They have the keys to heaven* because they have illumined the wor ld in the belief of the Trinity.* Glory to Him who glorified you!* Glory t o Him who strengthened you!* Glory to Him who gave you gifts for eternal l ife!\n\nNow…\n\n(Tone 1) O most holy Virgin\, heavenly are your hands* w ith which you carried the Creator* who became incarnate through his goodne ss.* Now extend your hands and beseech Him* to deliver from temptation\, p assion\, and danger* all those who lovingly praise you and cry out:* Glory to Him who dwelled in you!* Glory to Him who came forth from you!* Glory to Him who delivered us through your birth-giving!\n\n \;\n\nSESSIONAL HYMN II\n\n(Tone 8) Having received from Christ a calling from heaven\,* you were revealed as a preacher of the Light.* By your teachings you enlig htened the good will of all* because you uprooted the servitude to the wri tten law.* You illumined the faithful in their knowledge of the Spirit.* B ecause of this\, you ascended worthily to the third heaven and attained Pa radise.* Therefore\, O apostle Paul\, intercede with Christ our God* to gr ant forgiveness of sins* to those who lovingly celebrate your holy memory. \n\nGlory…\n\n(Tone 4) As the stars brighten the entire earth\,* you giv e light by your shining rays\,* the teachings of your holy preaching\,* O heavenly mystics and apostles of the Lord.\n\nNow…\n\n(Tone 4) Let us\, the faithful\, praise the Theotokos* who is the fervent intercessor of tho se in trouble.* She is our help and our reconciler with God.\n\n \;\n\ nPolyeleos\n\nExaltation\n\nWe extol you\,* O Peter and Paul\, Apostles of Christ.* By your teachings you have enlightened the whole world* and have drawn the ends of the earth near to Christ.\n\nverse: The heavens proclai m the glory of God\, and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.\ n\nverse: For the kingdom is the Lord’s\; He is ruler of the nations.\n\ nverse: Through all the world their voice resounds\; their message reaches to the ends of the earth.\n\nverse: God stands in the divine assembly. In the midst of the gods He gives judgment.\n\nGlory… Now…\n\nAlleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to You\, O God! (3)\n\n \;\n\nSesssional Hymns\, Tone 8\n\nLet us praise Peter and the most wise Paul\,* great lamp stands and lights\, who were revealed as the first of the disciples.* The y glistened by means of the fire of the divine Spirit* and burned up the w hole cloud of deceit.* Therefore\, they worthily showed themselves to be s oldiers of the kingdom on high* and sharers of the throne of grace.* We\, therefore\, cry out to them:* O Apostles of Christ our God\,* obtain remis sion of the sins* of those who lovingly celebrate your memory.\n\nGlory… Now…\n\nO Virgin\, most honoured in song\,* am defiled because of iniqu ity\,* for I have entertained evil thoughts in my mind.* O immaculate brid e of the Trinity\,* and inviolate mother of the Deliverer\,* and the recep tacle of the Comforter\,* hasten to deliver me from these things and from doing evil.* Make me a bright abode of good deeds\,* of light-bearing and incorruptible things.* Cast away the darkness of passion\,* and by your pr ayers make me worthy to partake of the Most High* and of the Light which k nows no evening.\n\n \;\n\nProkiemenon\, Tone 4\n\nThrough all the wor ld their voice resounds\; their message reaches to the ends of the earth.\ n\nverse: The heavens proclaim the glory of God\, and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.\n\n \;\n\nVerses after Psalm 50\n\nGlory …\n\n(Tone 6) Through the prayers of the holy leaders of the apostles\,* O merciful Lord\,* cleanse me from the multitude of my transgressions\n\n Now…\n\n(Tone 6) Through the prayers of the Theotokos\,* O merciful Lord \,* cleanse me from the multitude of my transgressions.\n\nHave mercy on m e\, God\, In your kindness. In your compassion\, blot out my offence.\n\n( Tone 6) With hymns of praise let us venerate Peter\, the rock of faith\,* and Paul\, a true teacher and mystic of Christ.* Both were preachers of tr ue piety and very brilliant stars of the Church\,* because they sowed the true word in the hearts of the faithful\,* bestowing fruitfulness to all.* Now they entreat Christ our God that our souls be saved.\n\n \;\n\nCa non\n\nOde 1\n\nIrmos No one is like You\, O Lord\, in glory: for by Your strong right arm\, You have delivered the people whom You inherited.\n\nHo ly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nToday\, with inspired hymns let us sing fitting praises to the leader of the Apostles\, who was among the first called by Christ.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nO b lessed Apostle Peter\, the Lord God foreknew you from all eternity\, and H e chose you to preside as the first among equals over His Church.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nNeither flesh nor blood\, but the F ather\, inspired you to confess the divinity of Christ as you acknowledged Him to be the true Son of God Most High.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nLet us sing of the Mother of our God\, as the ineffable div ine chariot and holy mountain\, who remained a virgin after giving birth.\ n\nIrmos: The staff which Moses cut divided the element which cannot be di vided\; and the sun shone upon soil it had never seen before\; the waters swallowed up the treacherous enemy\; Israel crossed over the impassable se a\, with the hymn\, “Let us sing to the Lord\, for He is gloriously triu mphant!”\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nO blessed Apostle Paul\, as Christ had called things out of nothingness into being\, so in His divine knowledge did He choose you from your mother’s womb to carry His Name\, which is above all names\, to the Gentiles\, for He is glorious ly triumphant!\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nAnnouncing to you the disappearance of error and the future enlightenment in the Faith\ , Christ who had been radiant in light on the mountain\, blinded your bodi ly eyes\; but He allowed your soul to see the Trinity\, for He is glorious ly triumphant!\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nCircumcised o n the eighth day\, filled with zeal for the traditions of your fathers\, o f the race of Israel\, of the tribe of Benjamin\, as regards the Law\, a P harisee\; but you counted all of that as dung that you might gain Christ\, for He is gloriously triumphant!\n\nGlory… Now…\n\nHoly Mother of the Most High God\, being of a royal tribe\, you conceived the God who rules over all\, O Lady\, and ineffably gave birth to Him in the flesh: preserve me from danger as I sing to your Son\, for He is gloriously triumphant!\n \nKatavasia I shall open my mouth\, and it will be filled with the Spirit\ , and I shall sing a hymn to the Queen and Mother\; and I shall celebrate with splendour and sing with joy of her wonders.\n\n \;\n\nOde 3\n\nIr mos: We do not glory in our wisdom\, nor in the power found in treasures\, but in the incarnate Wisdom of the Father\, for no one is holy but You\, O Jesus Christ!\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nO apostle P eter\, the sweet lips of Christ our God declared you blessed\, and He desi gnated you to be the steward of His Kingdom\; thus we sing to you.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nUpon the rock of your confession o f faith in God\, the Lord Jesus has placed the unshakeable foundation of H is Church in which we glorify you.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nAlthough he has a body\, Peter surpasses the ranks of the angels\, for Christ said that he would be seated as a judge with Him at His glorio us Second Coming.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nO pure Vi rgin who bore God in the flesh\, strengthen me who am tossed about by the assault of my passions\; for there is no other helper but you.\n\nIrmos: Y ou are the strength of those who run to You\, O Lord\; You are the Light o f those in darkness\, and my spirit sings Your praise!\n\nHoly Apostle Pau l\, pray to God for us!\n\nAs a foundation for the souls of the faithful\, you have given the Pearl of Great Price\, the Cornerstone\, the Lord and Saviour.\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nCeaselessly bearing the death of Jesus in your body\, you have been made worthy to share also in His true life.\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nO blessed Paul\, intercede that the splendour of the believers be built upon the fo undation of your virtues.\n\nGlory… Now…\n\nO pure Virgin\, as your fo retold\, all generations call you blessed for in you they have found salva tion.\n\nKatavasia O Theotokos\, living and over-flowing fountain\, streng then those who applaud you in this spiritual gathering\; and in your holy feast\, make them worthy of crowns of glory.\n\n \;\n\nHypakoe\, Tone 8\n\nO Apostle Paul\, was there a prison that did not see you chained\, or a church that did not hear you preach? Damascus glories for having been a witness when you were thrown to the ground by a heavenly light. Rome exul ts in pride for possessing your blood. Tarsus\, your birth-place\, overflo ws with joy\, for it reveres your swaddling-clothes. Together with Peter\, the Rock of Faith\, O Paul\, glory of the world\, come forth from Rome an d strengthen us!\n\n \;\n\nOde 4\n\nIrmos: You are our God\, incarnate of the Virgin\, and You have made our nature Godlike: we praise You in so ng as we say\, “Glory to Your power\, O Lord!”\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nAs Christ promised\, He made you a divine fisher o f men\, and He placed in your hands the helm of His Church.\n\nHoly Apostl e Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nO Peter\, the life-giving Lord Jesus gran ted you the power to loose and to bind\; at your prayer\, may He grant me pardon.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nO Peter\, pray earn estly that the Kingdom of Christ be opened to those who honour your divine memory with faith.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nO Lady worthy of our hymns\, divine Mother of God\, cleanse my thoughts through y our intercessions and make me fruitful\, O Mother of the God of all.\n\nIr mos: You tread the sea with the Apostles as Your steeds\, O Lord\, taking their reins in Your hands\; and Your descent has become salvation for the faithful who sing\, “Glory to Your power\, O Lord!”\n\nHoly Apostle Pa ul\, pray to God for us!\n\nLike a ravaging lion\, Saul once came down upo n the Church of Christ\; but\, seized by the voice of the Lamb of God\, he became a shepherd of the flock which he had once persecuted.\n\nHoly Apos tle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nHe who was to enlighten the universe bec ame blind\; Ananias was sent to him to give him sight in body and soul\, O God\, who revealed him to be a chosen vessel of election.\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nDamascus was rightly glorified because of P aul: for from it\, as once from Paradise\, a great river of divine waters has gone forth and has refreshed the whole earth with the knowledge of God .\n\nGlory… Now…\n\nAs the Virgin Mother said\, the Lord has put down the mighty from their seat and has filled the hungry with good things\; an d they sing in faith\, “Glory to Your power\, O Lord!”\n\nKatavasia: P erceiving the ineffable\, divine design of the Most High\, the Incarnation from the Virgin\, the prophet Habakkuk cried out\, “Glory to Your power \, O Lord!”\n\n \;\n\nOde 5\n\nIrmos: You purchased us as Your own p eople by Your blood\, O Lord: grant us Your peace and keep Your flock in h armony.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nHaving acquired int imacy with God through love\, the unlettered fisherman was filled with His favour to the point of working wondrous miracles through divine grace.\n\ nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nFor love of You\, O Lord\, Yo ur divine Apostle possessed neither gold nor silver\, but only his virtues as his treasure\; and he was enriched with the power to work miracles.\n\ nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nYour powerful word restored t he legs and steps of the lame man: for through the divine Spirit\, you wor ked wondrous miracles.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nO pu re Virgin\, in uniting Himself to the flesh which was taken from you\, God became man in the Person of the Son\, but He remained unchanged in His bo diless nature.\n\nIrmos: Enlighten us\, O Lord\, by Your commandments\; li ft Your mighty arm\, O Lover of Mankind\, and grant us Your peace.\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nYou chose true glory\, O holy Apost le Paul\, by ceaselessly carrying the Cross of Christ our King as your onl y sign of victory.\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nFor you\, to live is Christ\; and to die is great profit. By love\, you have been c rucified with Him who was crucified for us\, O most glorious Paul.\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nIn truth\, you rejoice always in th e Lord\, O honourable Paul\, who have put off the body and gone away to Ch rist our God\, the Giver of Life.\n\nGlory… Now…\n\nHail\, true treasu re of virginity! Through you\, our first father was delivered from the cur se\, and our first mother was called back to Paradise.\n\nKatavasia: The u niverse was amazed at your divine glory\, for you\, O Virgin who knew not wedlock\, have borne in your womb the God of all and have given birth to a n eternal Son\, who grants salvation to those who praise you.\n\n \;\n \nOde 6\n\nIrmos: O Christ\, Jonah who spent three days in the whale was a prophecy of You\, O Immortal One\, who voluntarily spent three days in th e womb of the earth.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nO Chri st\, as You once stretched out Your hand and saved Peter walking on the wa ters\, bear me up as I sink in a storm of temptations.\n\nHoly Apostle Pet er\, pray to God for us!\n\nO Peter\, like the merchant in the Gospel\, yo u abandoned all for the sake of the true goods\, and you obtained Christ\, the Pearl of great price.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\n O Peter\, you brought about an end to those who foolishly tried to tempt t he All-Holy Spirit\, whose Divinity you were the first to make clear\, O b lessed Apostle.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nFor us\, yo u have brought into the world in the flesh the Word of God\, who transcend s all being\; therefore\, with our lips and heart\, we proclaim your divin e maternity.\n\nIrmos: I pour out my prayer before the Lord and tell Him o f all my affliction. For my soul is filled with evils\, and my life has dr awn near to the grave. Like Jonah\, I beseech You\, O God: “Snatch my li fe from corruption!”\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nYou r enounced all pleasures here below\, being rapt with love for Christ\, your Master\; and in your desire that all come to salvation\, you were willing to be lost yourself\, separated from Him. O blessed Paul\, intercede for us all.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nO blessed apostle P aul\, Christ rightly granted you citizenship in heaven\, for you had no de sire for this passing city here below\, O faithful servant of the Lord and steward of His divine Mysteries.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nAs a noble imitator of his Master\, holy Paul put on Christ and bec ame all things to all men in order to win and save all peoples. He truly c aught the very ends of the earth in his nets for Christ.\n\nGlory… Now …\n\nThe Lord regarded you when He was renewing my being\; for He is mig hty and has done great things\, as you said\, O pure Mother of God. In His love for mankind\, He has saved me from the pit through you.\n\nKatavasia : Come\, divinely-inspired: let us clap our hands and celebrate this holy and most honourable feast of the Mother of God and glorify God who was bor n of her.\n\n \;\n\nKontakion\, Tone 3\n\nO Lord\, You have taken up t o their eternal rest and to the enjoyment of Your good things the two infa llible preachers of divine truths and leaders of the Apostles\, for You ha ve accepted their struggles and their deaths as being better than any holo caust\, O You who alone know the secrets of hearts!\n\n \;\n\nIkos\n\n O Saviour\, grant eloquence to my tongue and open my mouth: fill it with Y our Spirit and grant my heart compunction that I may be the first to follo w the things that! say and do the things that I teach\; for You have said that whoever does that which he teaches is truly great among men. For if! do not do what! say\, then! am only a sounding brass. Therefore\, teach me what to speak and grant that! may do what is right\, O You who alone know the secrets of hearts.\n\n \;\n\nOde 7\n\nIrmos: In the beginning\, t he eternal Word was with the Father and the Spirit\, the only-begotten Son \; blessed are You\, O God of our Fathers\, and exalted above all forever! \n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nHaving learned through div ine Providence how to imitate the compassion of Christ\, O Peter\, you wer e able to endure the storm of your denial before His Passion.\n\nHoly Apos tle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nChrist called you first and loved you g reatly\; risen from the tomb\, He first appeared to you as the illustrious prince of the Apostles.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nBy questioning you three times\, the Master strengthened your love for Him\, thus healing your triple denial before His Passion.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter \, pray to God for us!\n\nAs witness to your love for Christ\, O Peter\, y ou took the Word who knows all things\, being eternal\; and He entrusted t o your care His beloved flock.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us! \n\nYou conceived in the flesh God the Word\, who shone forth from the Fat her from before all ages\; we all call you blessed\, as the Mother of the God of all!\n\nIrmos: On the plain of Dura of old\, the tyrant enkindled a furnace to punish those faithful to the Lord\; but in it\, the three youn g men sang hymns to the one true God\, triply praising Him and saying\, “Blessed are You\, O God of our Fathers!”\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nO Christ\, he whom You called last has become the crown and perfection of Your apostles\, for he surpassed them all in his zeal. T ogether with him\, the people of the Church sing out to You: “Blessed ar e You\, O God of our Fathers!”\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us !\n\nAlthough Paul\, who ended as a captive\, had once persecuted Your Chu rch\, his former impudence was surpassed by his zeal in his last days\; fo r he gathered together the nations to sing to Christ\, “Blessed are You\ , O God of our Fathers!”\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nL eaving Jerusalem\, you preached the Gospel to all\; then you went around t he whole world\, O holy Paul\, teaching even to the boundaries of Illyricu m and crying aloud: “Blessed are You\, O God of our Fathers!”\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nTaken up in ecstasy\, you reached th e third heaven\, O blessed one\, and heard ineffable words\, as you cried aloud\, “Glory to the Most High Father\, and to the Son\, His image\, en throned with Him\, and to the Spirit of God who searches all depths!”\n\ nGlory… Now…\n\nChrist our God descended upon you\, O Virgin\, like de w on the fleece\; and He came forth from you bearing our flesh\, uniting t hat which had been separated formerly\, and granting peace on earth as in heaven\, as the blessed God of our Fathers.\n\nKatavasia: The three young men\, divinely inspired\, refused to worship creatures instead of the Crea tor. But with courage they trampled upon the threatening fire and sang joy fully\, “Blessed are You\, O all-praised Lord\, the God of our Fathers! ”\n\n \;\n\nOde 8\n\nIrmos: You uphold all things by Your ineffable power\, O Christ: You sprinkled dew upon the young men in the furnace as t hey sang\, ‘All you works of the Lord\, bless the Lord!”\n\nHoly Apost le Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nO Peter\, the Master foretold that they would stretch out your hands and fasten you to a cross\; He commanded you to follow Him as you sang\, “All you works of the Lord\, bless the Lord! ”\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nBy a word of grace\, yo u raised up Aeneas\, who had been paralyzed\; and by a miracle you made Ta bitha rise from the dead\; then both cried aloud\, ‘All you works of the Lord\, bless the Lord!”\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\n O Christ\, You showed Peter that the nations were to be cleansed by the li ght of the Holy Spirit\; cleanse my heart as I sing aloud\, “All you wor ks of the Lord\, bless the Lord!”\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God fo r us!\n\nBy One of the Divine Persons dwelling in your womb\, God has been totally united to myself\, O Virgin\; and we all magnify you as the Mothe r of God.\n\nIrmos: He who was glorified on the holy mountain and revealed to Moses in the burning bush the mystery of the ever-Virgin Mother\, is t he Lord: sing to Him and exalt Him throughout all the ages!\n\nHoly Apostl e Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nCaptured by Your love\, Paul underwent a w ondrous change\; for it was no longer he who lived\, O God of compassion\, but You lived within him throughout all the ages.\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nYou betrothed the Church as a Bride presented to Ch rist\, her Bridegroom\, O Apostle Paul\, and you led her to the wedding ba nquet\; therefore she glorifies you throughout all the ages.\n\nWe bless t he Lord\, Father\, Son and Holy Spirit.\n\nYou fought the good fight and r an the race in faith\; joyfully you went to Christ\, O holy Paul\, and fro m Him you received the merited crown for your justice.\n\nNow…\n\nHail\, fiery throne of the Lord\, unwedded Bride\, radiant cloud which bore Chri st\, the Sun of Justice\, whom we exalt throughout all the ages!\n\nWe pra ise\, we bless\, and we worship the Lord\, hymning and supremely exalting Him throughout all ages!\n\nKatavasia: The maternity of the Theotokos pres erved the three young men in the furnace. Then it was prefigured\, but now that it is accomplished\, it brings the whole world together to sing: “ O works of the Lord\, praise and exalt Him forever!”\n\nMagnificat\n\nOd e 9\n\nIrmos: O most glorious Bride and most holy Theotokos\, you have bor n the Creator of all things visible and invisible: with hymns\, we magnify you!\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nYour very shadow heal ed the sick of their illnesses\, O holy Peter\, manifesting your great pow er\; thus we magnify you.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nB y his prodigies\, contrary to God\, Simon Magus exalted himself to the hea vens\; but by the ineffable power of God\, O holy Peter\, you have put him down\; and we call you blessed.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for u s!\n\nBy your intercession\, O holy Apostle\, obtain remission of sins\, e nlightenment of heart and joy in spirit for those who celebrate your sacre d memory.\n\nHoly Apostle Peter\, pray to God for us!\n\nO Virgin who conc eived our God\, you are truly called Theotokos\; as is right\, we the fait hful glorify you with one accord\, and in hymns we magnify you.\n\nIrmos: You surpassed our limited nature in conceiving the Lord\, your Creator\, a nd you became the gateway to salvation for the world\; thus\, O Theotokos\ , with ceaseless hymns we magnify you!\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nO holy Paul\, we bow down and honour the chains that you bore\, condemned as an evildoer for the sake of Christ\; and we venerate on your body the wounds you bear as a wondrous conqueror.\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nHaving lifted your anchor to pass to Him who cheris hed above all things\, you dwell with Him now as His servant. We entreat y ou to draw us to yourself by your prayers.\n\nHoly Apostle Paul\, pray to God for us!\n\nNo longer in dark sayings nor as in a mirror do you see Chr ist\, but now He is seen face to face\, revealing to you a perfect underst anding of His Divinity.\n\nGlory… Now…\n\nYou received the bodiless Wo rd when He willed to recreate my nature\; you gave birth to Him in the fle sh\, O Virgin\; wherefore\, O Theotokos\, we ceaselessly magnify you.\n\nK atavasia: Let every human being take up a torch\, and let him dance in spi rit\; and let the immaterial spirits celebrate this holy feast of the Moth er of God and cry out: “Rejoice\, O all-blessed and pure and ever-Virgin Theotokos.”\n\nHymn of Light\n\n(Tone 2) Come\, let us extol the apostl es Peter and Paul\,* those divine leaders of the apostles and lights of th e universe\,* the preachers of the faith and two trumpets of the Word of G od\,* the interpreters of teachings\, pillars of the Church\, and those wh o refute error. Twice\n\nGlory… Now…\n\n(Tone 2) The great and amazing mystery of your birth-giving\, O virgin Theotokos\, favoured of God\,* wa s preached by the prophets\, taught by the apostles\, and confessed by the martyrs.* It is praised by the angels and worshiped by human beings.\n\nA t the Praises\n\nTone 4\n\nWhen the incarnate Saviour asked the twelve dis ciples:* Who do people say that I am?* Peter\, the elect of the apostles\, having received grace from heaven\,* proclaimed You clearly\, speaking of your Godhead\, saying:* You are Christ\, the Son of the living God.* Ther efore\, it is proper to bless him\, for he received the revelation from ab ove.* Indeed\, he justly received the power to bind and loosen sins.\n\nCh rist\, the Word of God\,* the revelation of the Father\, asked all of you: * Who do you say that I am?* Peter then answered:* You are the Son of the living God* for You preached the Word of God to all.* He replied: Blessed are you\, Simon\, son of Jonah.* You received your reward from God because you glorified Him in faith.* In return He has called upon you to receive riches.* He placed you as the solid rock and foundation of the Church.\n\n Your call came from on high and not from mortals.* When the darkness of th e earth covered the eyes of your body* and the sadness of evil flourished openly\,* then the heavenly Light shone forth in your mind’s eye\,* reve aling the beauty of piety.* Therefore\, you recognized Christ our God who brought light out of darkness.* Entreat Him to save and enlighten our soul s.\n\nO preacher of Christ and proud bearer of his cross\,* you greatly de sired the divine love above all things* since it binds its lovers to the B eloved.* You were also called a prisoner of Christ\;* you were strengthene d by temptations* which you considered sweeter than all nourishment.* Beca use you lived only for your Master\,* you were made worthy of forgiveness at death.* Entreat Him to save and enlighten our souls.\n\nTone 6\, Glory …\n\nThe most honourable feast has arrived\,* the feast of the Church of Christ\,* the feast of the intercessors of our salvation.* Therefore\, le t us mystically rejoice\, saying to them:* Rejoice\, for you have become t he light of those in darkness\,* shining splendours of the Spiritual Sun.* Rejoice\, O Peter and Paul\, unshakable foundations of divine teachings\, * friends of Christ and chosen vessels.* Be present among us in an invisib le manner* and grant spiritual gifts to those who praise your feast with h ymns.\n\nNow…\n\nO Mother of God\, you are the true vine laden with the fruit of life.* Therefore\, we implore you\, O Lady\,* to intercede togeth er with the apostles and the saints* so that we may obtain mercy for our s ouls.\n\n \;\n\nAT DIVINE LITURGY ON SUNDAY MORNING\n\nTroparia and Ko ntakia\n\nTroparion\, Tone 4: As the leaders of the apostles* and teachers of the whole world\,* intercede with the Master of all* to grant peace to the world* and to our souls great mercy.\n\nGlory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit\, now and for ever and ever. Amen\n\nKonta kion\, Tone 2: You received Your inspired and steadfast preachers\, Your c hief disciples\,* into the enjoyment of Your good things and into repose.* You\, Who alone know the heart\, accept their labours and death* more gla dly than any holocaust.\n\nProkeimenon\, Tone 8\n\nTheir utterance has gon e 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 th e work of His hands. (Psalm 18:5\,2)\n\nEpistle 2\n\nCorinthians 11:21-12: 9\n\nAlleluia\, Tone 1\n\nverse: The heavens shall confess Your wonders\, O Lord\, and Your truth in the church of the saints.\n\nverse: God is glor ified in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 88:6\,8)\n\nGospel\n\nMatthew 16:13-19\n\nHymn to the Mother of God\n\nO my soul\, magnify Peter the sol id rock of Christ’s Church and Paul her chosen vessel.\n\nand the Irmos\ , Tone 4: You\, most glorious Bride and all holy Mother of God\,* in song do we magnify\;* for the Maker of all things seen and unseen* was born of you.\n\nCommunion Hymn\n\nTheir utterance has gone forth into all the eart h\,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia\, alleluia\,* a lleluia. (Psalm 18:5) END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Winnipeg X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Winnipeg BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20260308T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR