Nativity Fast.

VESPERS ON SUNDAY 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.

In Your goodness, О Lord,* You brought all things about by Your Word and Spirit,* and also created me a reason-endowed living thing,* that I might glorify Your omnipotent name.* But, more than any, I ever act dishonourably by my shameful deeds;* yet have pity on me, I pray.

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

I recognize your divine nobility and the incorrupt homeland, О wretched soul,* and I ever strive to attain them by goodly deeds.* Let all that is corrupt never captivate me.* You are my higher part, while the body is earth and corrupts.* Let not what is baser overcome that which is higher.

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

Go to the Supremely good One, О all-accursed soul;* approach Him with fervent tears;* before your condemnation confess all things that you have done;* and render your Creator merciful to you, О wretched one.* Beg forgiveness, lest the Lord shut the door to you.

Tone 1

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

O father Patapius,* having quenched the burning of the assaults of the flesh with abstinence,* like Elijah of old you made your abode in the desert,* purifying your mind with unceasing prayers to God.* And pray now that He grant our souls* peace and great mercy.

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

O father Patapius,* you enrolled yourself in the choirs of fasters,* adorning yourself with dispassion;* and you made your abode in the mansions of the venerable,* where the light is unwaning and the Tree of Life stands.* And pray now that peace and great mercy* be granted our souls.

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

O father Patapius,* you shone forth as a beacon from Egypt,* enlightening the world with the splendours of your miracles,* and dispelling the gloom of soul-destroying infirmities,* and driving off the darkness of the demons.* And pray now that peace and great mercy* be granted our souls.

Tone 1, Glory… Now…

In your womb you bore Christ, the Fire of divinity, O all-pure one.* Beseech Him now that He quench the easily kindled matter of my passions,* deliver me from everlasting fire,* and vouchsafe me the splendour of the righteous* when He comes to judge all things.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

And now bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.

verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.

Aposticha

Tone 1

Great is the abyss of my many transgressions, О Saviour,* and I sink grievously because of my offenses.* Grant me Your hand, as You did to Peter, О God.* Save me and have mercy upon me!

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.

In that I have been condemned for wicked thoughts and deeds, О Saviour,* grant me the thought of returning to You, О God,* that I may cry aloud: Save me, О good Benefactor,* and have mercy upon me!

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.

Through the prayers of all the saints and the Theotokos,* О Lord, grant us Your peace,* and have mercy upon us,* in that You alone are compassionate.

Glory… Now…

Joy of the ranks of heaven,* and mighty intercession for mankind on earth, O most pure Virgin:* save us who have recourse to you,* for in you, after God,* have we placed our hope, O Theotokos.

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 Patapius,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.

Glory… Now…

Rejoice, O woman who at the angel’s greeting contained the Joy of the world!* Rejoice, for you gave birth to your Creator and Lord!* Rejoice, for you were made worthy to become the Mother of God.

DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY 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 Patapius,* 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 Patapius, 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

1 Timothy 5:1-10

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

Luke 17:20-25

Communion Hymn

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