VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 6

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

You became ministers of the great mysteries of God,* О theologians and disciples who beheld God,* and have received the grace of healings;* curing the diseases of all.

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

You are the great refuge and protection of our souls* and the expulsion of evil spirits, О apostles of the Lord who beheld God;* wherefore, we ever honour you.

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

From every evil circumstance, from harm wrought by the demons,* from transgressions and wretched captivity,* deliver those who honour you with faith,* О divine and blessed apostles.

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 Lord, You showed forth the holy hierarch in the world* as a successor to the apostles in word and deed,* and a preacher of correct doctrine;* wherefore, You have made him an instructor of hierarchs* and a partaker of Your incorrupt glory.

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

Holding you as a living pillar* and a proclaimer of the right teachings of the Word, O Leo,* the Church of Christ ever remains unshaken, beholding the truth thereof,* and glorifying the Lord, the Master of all,* who has glorified you.

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

O Lord, You, the Word, showed forth the holy hierarch* as a sharp sword against the impious, and for Your orthodox faith;* and cutting down false teachings therewith,* You increased pious teaching in the world, O Master.

Glory… Now…

Behold the groaning of my contrite heart, O Bride of God,* and accept, and reject not, the lifting up of my hands,* O pure and most immaculate Virgin Mary, as you are full of love;* that I may hymn and magnify you who has exalted our race.

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 6

Once, the apostles trolled the depths of the sea with nets, О Lord,* and likewise the heights of the kingdom for the sake of their doctrines.* In the first, they skilfully tested the unfathomable depths;* and in the other they attained through faith Your infinite bosom,* and they proclaimed Your timeless Son to the world.* By their supplications and those of all the saints,* have mercy on us.

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.

Once, when Your disciples were tempest-tossed in a boat, О Christ,* they cried out: “O Master, save us! For we are perishing!” *And we now cry aloud:* We pray You, О our Saviour and Lover of mankind,* deliver us from our tribulations!

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.

Your Cross was the invincible weapon of the martyrs, О Lord;* for they looked upon imminent death, foreseeing the life which is to come,* and they were strengthened by hope in You.* By their prayers have mercy upon us!

Glory… Now…

The eye of my heart longingly seeks you, O Lady;* disdain not my feeble sigh.* At the hour when your Son shall judge the world,* be my protection and helper.

Troparia

Tone 4

The truth of your deeds made you for your flock a rule of faith* and an image of meekness, a teacher of continence.* And so you gained the heights through humility,* riches through poverty, father and bishop, Leo.* Intercede with Christ, our God, for the salvation of our souls.

Glory… Now…

O Virgin Mother of God,* we acknowledge that the Word of the Father, Christ our God,* was incarnate of you, the only pure one and the only blessed one.* Therefore, we sing to you a hymn of praise and we exalt you.

DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: The truth of your deeds made you for your flock a rule of faith* and an image of meekness,* a teacher of continence.* And so you gained the heights through humility,* riches through poverty,* father and bishop, Leo.* 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 2: O thunder of justice, spiritual trumpet,* planter of faith and destroyer of heresies,* servant of the Trinity, great hierarch Leo,* forever standing in the company of the angels,* pray without ceasing for all of us.

Prokeimenon, Tone 1

My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart understanding.

verse: Hear these things, all you nations; give ear all you inhabitants of the world. (Psalm 28:4,2)

Epistle

1 John 4:20-5:21

Alleluia, Tone 2

verse: The mouth of the just man shall meditate wisdom and his tongue shall speak judgment.

verse: The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps will not falter. (Psalm 36:30,31)

Gospel

Mark 15:1-15

Communion Hymn

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