Leave-taking of the Encounter. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.

VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 1

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

The Creator of all, our Deliverer, is borne into the temple by His Virgin Mother;* therefore, the elder, receiving Him, cried out with joy:* Now You may let Your servant depart in peace, O Good One,* as You have willed!

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

Symeon, taking from the Virgin into his arms* Him who was begotten before all the ages,* cried out: I have beheld, O Saviour,* the light of Your glory which shines upon the ends of the earth!* Now You may let Your servant depart in peace, O Good One,* for 1 have seen You today!

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

Symeon, taking in his arms the Saviour* who in the fullness of time was born for the salvation of men,* cried out, rejoicing:* I have seen the Light of the gentiles, the Glory of Israel!* Now You may let me depart from things here, by Your command, as You have said,* in that You are God.

Tone 6

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

Shining with the light of beneficent virtues, O most sacred one,* you were mystically set as a light upon the candle-stand of the divine Church,* illumining it with your sacred teachings, O father.

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

The Holy Spirit, sanctifying you, O sacred Boucolus,* through you imparts sanctity, enlightenment, and deliverance to those who approach with faith, O God-bearer.

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

Preaching the utter goodness of our God, O wise one,* you bless afflicted people with grace, leading them to the Saviour,* as a most sacred priest.

Tone 5, Glory… Now…

Examine the Scriptures, as Christ our God said in the Gospels,* for therein do we find Him born, wrapped in swaddling bands,* laid in a manger, fed with milk,* receiving circumcision, and carried by Symeon,* not in a semblance or guise, but appearing in truth to the world.* To Him do we cry out:* O pre-eternal God, glory be to You!

Prokeimenon, Tone 6

My help is from the Lord,* Who made heaven and earth.

verse: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come.

Aposticha

Tone 2

Bearing the Creator and Master as a Babe in her arms,* the pure and all-pure Virgin* enters the temple.

Now You may dismiss Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word, in peace.

Receive, O Symeon, the Lord of glory* as you were told by the Holy Spirit.* For, lo! He is come!

A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people, Israel.

O good God, now have my eyes beheld Your promise!* O You who love mankind,* make speed to release me, Your servant!

Tone 5, Glory… Now…

The Ancient of Days, having become a babe,* is borne by the Virgin Mother into the temple,* fulfilling the requirement of His own law;* and Symeon, receiving Him, said:* Now You may let Your servant depart in peace, according to Thy word;* for my eyes have seen Your salvation, O Holy One!

Troparia

Tone 4

The sincerity of your deeds has revealed you to your people* as a teacher of moderation,* a model of faith, and an example of virtue.* Therefore, you attained greatness through humility,* and wealth through poverty.* O Father and Archbishop Bucolus,** ask Christ our God to save our souls.

Tone 1, Glory… Now…

Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,** who grants is resurrection.

DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 1: Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,* who grants us resurrection.

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, Boucolus.* 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.

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, Boucolus.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 1: By Your birth, You sanctified a virgin womb* and fittingly blessed the hands of Simeon.* You have come also now and saved us, O Christ our God;* give peace to Your community in time of war,* and strengthen its rulers, whom You love,* for You alone,* are the Lover of mankind.

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, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. (Luke 1:46,48)

Epistle

2 John 1:1-13

Alleluia, Tone 8

verse: Now, O Master, You dismiss Your servant in peace according to Your word.

verse: For my eyes have seen Your salvation, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people, Israel. (Luke 2:29,32)

Gospel

Mark 15:22-25, 33-41

Hymn to the Theotokos

O God-bearing Virgin, hope of Christians, protect and guard and save all those who put their trust in you.

and the Irmos, Tone 3: In the law, the shadow, and the scriptures, we the faithful see a figure: every male child that opens the womb shall be sanctified to God. Therefore do we magnify the first-born Word and Son of the Father who is without beginning, the first-born Child of a Mother who had not known man.

Communion Hymn

I will take the chalice of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 116:13)