VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 6, Podoben “On the third day…”

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 5, Podoben “O venerable father…”

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

O right wondrous and venerable mother Euphrosyne,* desiring gladness, you tread the path which brings it;* for you traded riches for great poverty,* a betrothed in the flesh for One who lives eternally,* corruptible food for abstinence,* rest for the pangs of ascetic endeavour,* that which is in the world for the life of heaven,* which you have received with the wise virgins, keeping your lamp continually alight,* and vouchsafed the bridal-chamber as a virgin,* in that you are the bride of Christ, O most lauded one.

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

Quenching the thirst of your mind with the streams of your tears,* you produced the fruits of virtue through fasting,* and as a most comely vine you have given rise to beautiful grapes, O honoured one.* Manifestly delighting our spiritual senses with the divine juice thereof,* we take true delight in your likeness and rejoice with divine gladness,* putting aside the drunkenness of sin, and crying out to you, O most honoured one:* Ever entreat Christ, that He grant unity of mind, peace, and great mercy to the whole world.

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

O strange vision difficult for nature to accept!* How did you hide from the ancient seducer of Eve and his cruel machinations,* dwelling in the midst of men with perfect mind?* How did you pass through the fire without being consumed?* How did you conceal your womanly weakness,* strengthened by the divine power of Him who took our weakness upon Himself* and shone forth from the Maiden who knew not wedlock?* Beseech Him, joining chorus with the angels,* that He grant unity of mind, peace, and great mercy to the whole world.

Tone 2, Glory…

As the bride of Christ, you preserved the pure treasure of your purity* unsullied by men, O most blessed Euphrosyne;* for having caused the beauty of your body to wither away through feats of fasting,* You adorned your soul with the goodly countenance of grace;* for, having manifestly concealed your womanhood under the guise of a man,* you hid from the pursuit of Belial, living an angelic life.* Ask peace for those who praise you with love,* in that you are the namesake of gladness, O divinely blessed one.

Now…

Like a great Sun, the Word, who is equal in honour with the Father and the Spirit,* and who in latter times shone forth upon the earth through the divine Virgin Maiden,* emitted you, О glorious apostles,* like rays illumining with the light of Faith all mankind* which languishes in the darkness of delusion,* leading them to Him with divine teachings.

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!

Tone 5, Glory…

Come, all you who love virginity and are zealots of purity!* Come, phalanx of monks and choir of venerable women,* and together let us all chant to the all-blessed Euphrosyne with faith:* Rejoice, you who in a woman’s body contended manfully!* Rejoice, you who put the enemy to shame by chastity and loved Christ!* Rejoice, precious stone, namesake of gladness!* O venerable mother, never cease to pray for those who honour your memory.

Now…

We bless you, O Virgin Theotokos,* and we, the faithful, glorify you as is meet, O unassailable city,* impregnable rampart, and steadfast intercession and refuge of our souls.

Troparia

Tone 8

The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O mother,* 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 woman, Euphrosyne,* 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 mother,* 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 woman, Euphrosyne,* 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: For love of the Lord, O venerable woman,* you scorned the desire for rest and enlightened your soul through fasting,* for you have mightily conquered the beasts.* Through your prayers thwart the rage of fiends.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.

verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)

Epistle

Ephesians 1:1-9

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me, and He heard my prayer.

verse: He brought me out of the pit of misery and the mud of the swamp. (Psalm 39:2,3)

Gospel

Mark 7:24-30

Communion Hymn

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