AT GREAT VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

Blessed is the man… is chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4, Podoben “Called from on high…”

Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

When He who tries the hearts of men* perceived your godly mind, O apostle,* with His divine foreknowledge, He delivered you from injustice and the world;* then, making you a universal light,* and commanding you to illumine and shine upon the ends of the whole world,* He manifestly counted you worthy to write His divine Gospel.* Entreat Him that He save and enlighten our souls.

Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

When He who tries the hearts of men* perceived your godly mind, O apostle,* with His divine foreknowledge, He delivered you from injustice and the world;* then, making you a universal light,* and commanding you to illumine and shine upon the ends of the whole world,* He manifestly counted you worthy to write His divine Gospel.* Entreat Him that He save and enlighten our souls.

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

When the unoriginate Word called you away from your tax-booth to be His disciple,* He cried out to you, commanding you to follow Him* and promising you a share in His kingdom;* then, O most blessed one, forsaking all things* and abandoning the tumult of the crowd,* you steadfastly followed after him.* And now, O God-seer, you are manifestly full of the ineffable vision of Him.* Beseech Him that He save and enlighten 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 unoriginate Word called you away from your tax-booth to be His disciple,* He cried out to you, commanding you to follow Him* and promising you a share in His kingdom;* then, O most blessed one, forsaking all things* and abandoning the tumult of the crowd,* you steadfastly followed after him.* And now, O God-seer, you are manifestly full of the ineffable vision of Him.* Beseech Him that He save and enlighten our souls.

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

Of old the prophets’ clear vision perceived you to be a holy stone,* rolling upon the earth and crushing the snares of the deceiver;* and the hypostatic Wisdom, O most wise one,* made you a light to the world and a preacher of righteousness and truth,* radiant with the beams of the three-sunned Light, O most honoured one.* Entreat Him that He save and enlighten our souls.

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

Of old the prophets’ clear vision perceived you to be a holy stone,* rolling upon the earth and crushing the snares of the deceiver;* and the hypostatic Wisdom, O most wise one,* made you a light to the world and a preacher of righteousness and truth,* radiant with the beams of the three-sunned Light, O most honoured one.* Entreat Him that He save and enlighten our souls.

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

O servant of the all-divine Wisdom,* when the unapproachable Light came in the flesh as was His will,* dispelling the gloom of ignorance,* then, summoned, you followed His life-bearing commands,* being a keeper of these in manner past understanding,* a beacon of the Church, and a dwelling-place of Christ, O Matthew.* Beseech Him that He save and enlighten our souls.

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

You were shown to burn up deception with a tongue of fire,* O Matthew most lauded and all-wise,* receiving the advent of the Comforter, who makes you radiant by His essence;* hence, you have astonished the every thought of those who listen to your words,* relating to men the mighty works of the Almighty.* And now your sound has gone forth into all the earth, O divinely inspired one.* Entreat Him that He take pity on all who sing to you.

Tone 4, Glory…

When Christ called you to heavenly discipleship,* you diligently followed Him, O God-pleaser,* casting aside without hesitation every exercise of earthly care;* for, receiving with goodly submission an understanding worthy of the heavenly kingdom,* you put aside a base life and vain glory.* And having been made an evangelist out of a publican,* you were shown to be a light to those in darkness and a guide to salvation for the lost.* And you are a most fervent intercessor for the whole world* and the saving protector of those who honour you, O Matthew.

Now…

O 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 Him 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.

Readings

(1) 1 Peter 1:2-2:6; (2) 2:21-3:9; (3) 4:1-11

Aposticha

Tone 4, Podoben “You have given a sign…”

With the trumpet of your words you summoned men* to the knowledge of God, O ever-lauded one;* and, having driven the assemblies of the deceived from the earth,* you guided the faithful to a unity of mind.* and pray now that those who ever celebrate your honoured memory with faith* may be delivered from corruption and misfortunes.

Their sound has gone forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

Christ our God, who armed you with the fiery tongue of the Holy Spirit* showed you forth, O apostle, as a mighty opponent of falsehood,* by which you have received the splendid honours of grace.* Entreat Him that those who with faith ever celebrate your honoured memory* be delivered from corruption and misfortunes.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands.

Penetrating the depths of the Spirit, O apostle,* you grasped inexhaustible riches,* and from them drawing forth abundant grace,* you have evangelically bestowed it upon all of us.* And now you pray that those who with faith ever celebrate your honoured memory* be delivered from corruption and misfortune.

Tone 6, Glory…

Like a high-flying eagle you most gloriously soared from the depths of evil* to the uttermost heights, O most lauded Matthew;* for you followed in the steps of Christ who has covered the heavens with virtue* and filled the whole earth with His knowledge.* You showed yourself to be an ardent emulator of Him, proclaiming His glad tidings* that peace, life, and salvation are given to those who piously submitted to the precepts of God.* Likewise guide us there who please the Creator and call you blessed.

Now…

Christ 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 free 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 the angels:* Rejoice, O Lady, advocate, protector, and salvation of our souls.

Troparia

Tone 3

O Matthew, proclaimer of God’s word,* you earnestly turned from the tax collector’s booth* and followed the Master, who out of His love* appeared to us on earth and summoned you.* You shone to the world as chosen apostle and loud herald of the Good News.* Because of this we feast your memory;* pray to God all-merciful* for the forgiveness of sins.

Glory… Now…

We sing your praises, O Virgin,* for, as the Mother of God, you always intercede for the salvation of the human race.* It is from you that our God and your Son took flesh.* Then, by suffering the passion on the cross,* and out of love for mankind, He delivered us from corruption.

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 3: O Matthew, proclaimer of God’s word,* you earnestly turned from the tax collector’s booth* and followed the Master, who our His love* appeared to us on earth and summoned you.* You shone to the world as chosen apostle and loud herald of the Good News.* Because of this we feast your memory;* pray to God all-merciful* for the forgiveness of sins.

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

Kontakion, Tone 4: Casting off the yoke of the custom house* you yoked yourself to justice;* revealed as an excellent merchant* you gained wisdom—wealth from on high.* From whence you preached the word of truth,* arousing sluggish souls by describing the hour of judgment.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hands. (Psalm 18:5,2)

Epistle

1 Corinthians 4:9-16

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: The heavens shall confess our wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints.

verse: God is glorified in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 88:6,8)

Gospel

Matthew 9:9-13

Communion Hymn

Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)