Apostles’ Fast.

VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no appointed psalms to be chanted tonight.

At Psalm 140

Tone 1

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

О glorious apostles, divinely chosen disciples of Christ, teachers of the whole world,* who found the Lord God, who is the Mediator between God and mankind:* to Him did you cleave in godliness,* and throughout the world you manifestly preached Him as God* and as a supremely perfect man.

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

O most wise apostles, divinely chosen disciples of Christ, teachers of the whole world:* By your prayers strengthen me, that I may obey the teachings of God;* and ever help me to walk the narrow path,* that I may achieve a most spacious rest in paradise.

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

I hymn as eyewitnesses and preachers of the Word* Peter the first enthroned, Paul, and James,* Andrew and Philip, Simon, Bartholomew and Thomas,* Matthew and John, and Mark and Luke who recorded the Gospels,* who with the seventy others* are the divinely chosen choir.

Tone 8

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

O most blessed father David,* who eminently irradiate your mind with abstinence,* you took wing to the First Cause of good things* and were shown to be a pillar of light,* with godly understanding ever illumining with your words and deeds* all who have recourse to you.* therefore, we honour and bless you.

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

Like a right melodious bird you established your shelter* in the branches of a tree, O father,* frozen by the cold and burned by the heat;* and you therefore received golden wings of dispassion and perfection,* and have made your abode in the heights of heaven,* ever praying for us who praise you.

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

Having utterly consumed the pleasures of the flesh* with the divine ember of dispassion,* you remained unconsumed, O venerable one,* holding burning embers in your hand before the face of the emperor,* who was amazed at your radiance.* Therefore, great favour has been given you by God,* who through grace has made you a great intercessor, O blessed one.

Tone 6, Glory…

O venerable father, word of your corrections has gone forth into all the earth;* therefore, you have obtained the reward of your labours in the heavens,* have destroyed legions of the demons, and attained to the ranks of the angels,* whose life you blamelessly emulated.* As you have boldness before Christ God,* beg for peace for our souls.

Now…

Envying your flock, О most pure one,* the wicked adversary ever strives to make it his food;* but, О Theotokos, deliver us from his harm.

Prokeimenon, Tone 5

O Lord, save me by Your name,* and in Your power be a judge for me.

verse: O God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth.

Aposticha

Tone 1

The harmonious harp of the apostles, played by the Holy Spirit,* abolished the abominable sacrifices of the demons;* and, proclaiming the one Lord,* it has delivered the nations from the delusion of idolatry,* and taught them to worship the consubstantial Trinity.

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.

Together let us praise Peter and Paul,* Luke and Matthew, Mark and John,* Andrew and Thomas,* Bartholomew and Simon the Canaanite, James and Philip;* and let us laud the whole choir of the disciples,* as is meet.

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.

О all-praised martyrs, the earth did not hide you,* but heaven received you,* and to you were opened the gates of paradise.* And since you have entered therein, you delight in the tree of life.* Pray to Christ, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy.

Tone 8, Glory…

We, the multitudes of monks, honour you as our guide, O David our father;* for by your steps we have truly learned to walk aright.* Blessed are you who, labouring for Christ, denounced the power of the enemy,* O converser with the angels and companion of the venerable and the righteous.* With them entreat the Lord, that our souls find mercy.

Now…

I flee to your protection, O holy Virgin Theotokos,* for I know that through thee I shall obtain salvation;* for you are able to help me, O pure one.

Troparia

Tone 8

The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O father,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh, which passes,* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* and so, O Venerable David,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.

Glory… Now…

O pure Mother of God, you are the gate of spiritual life,* save from all dangers those who run to you with confidence* to glorify your holy birthgiving* for the salvation of our souls.

DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 8: The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O father,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh, which passes,* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* and so, O Venerable David,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.

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

Kontakion, Tone 2: Divinely armed with purity of spirit* and mightily wielding the lance of unceasing prayers,* you overcame the powers of demons,* Venerable David, pray without ceasing for all of us.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.

verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:15,12)

Epistle

Romans 8:22-27

Alleluia, Tone 6

verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.

verse: His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)

Gospel

Matthew 10:23-31

Communion Hymn

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