Apostle’s Fast

AT VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 8

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

You were the light of monastics, wise Bessarion.* By the rays of your virtues and the radiance of grace,* you were like a shining lamp for the desert.* Deliver from the gloom of the passions and the darkness of evil,* from all sorrow and temptation,* those who fervently honour you* and hymn your divine dormition with faith!

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

You endured standing in the midst of thorns* in your divine love of ineffable struggles;* you revealed an effort equal to that of the martyrs!* You sweeten the bitter waters of the sea* and give drink to thirsting souls, all wise one.* You crossed the rushing torrents of the Nile,* crossing over its waters dry-shod, all praised one!

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

Knowing you to be like the wise Elijah,* we all openly praise you, Bessarion,* for through God’s mercy upon you,* you caused streams of water to fall as rain from the sky!* By your honoured prayers you send fountains of rain and divine dew from on high, * with grace, power and invincible protection,* upon all the faithful!

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 martyrs of the Lord, you sanctify every place and heal every manner of infirmities:* and now we entreat you to intercede on our behalf* that our souls may be delivered from the snares of the enemy.

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

Your martyrs, O Lord, having put aside the temporal things of this life,* despised not torture for the sake of the life to come,* therefore they rejoice with the angels.* By their supplications bestow upon Your people great mercy.

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

If there be any virtue and if there be any praise,* rightly are these things ascribed to the saints.* Who for the sake of You who bowed the heavens and descend to us,* bowed their necks beneath the sword.* They shed their blood for You,* who emptied Yourself and take the form of a servant;* they humbled themselves even to death,* following the example of Your poverty.* By their prayers have mercy upon us, O God,* according to the multitude of Your tender mercies!

Glory… Now…

Out of his love for mankind* the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelled with men,* for He assumed a human body from the pure Virgin* and was seen in the flesh He received from her.* He is the One and only God* having two natures but not two persons.* Therefore we profess and declare the truth* that Christ our God is perfect God and perfect Man.* O Mother, who knew not carnal union,* intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.

Prokeimenon

Tone 7

O God, You are my defender* and Your mercy goes before me.

verse: Deliver me from my enemies, O God; save me from those who rise up against me.

Aposticha

Tone 8

O martyrs of the Lord,* we beseech you to offer intercession before our God:* pray that abundant mercy be granted to our souls* and the forgiveness of our many sins.

Blessed are they whom You have chosen* and taken to Yourself, О Lord.

I lament and weep whenever I see death* and look upon our beauty, fashioned according to God’s image,* lying in the grave disfigured and inglorious,* its outward form destroyed.* O strange wonder! What mystery is this that concerns us?* How have we been delivered over to corruption?* How have we been conjoined to death?* All this, so it is written, is by the ordinance of God,* who doth grant rest to the departed.

Their souls shall dwell* among good things.

Your death, O Lord, has enabled us to be immortal.* For had You not been laid in the tomb,* Paradise had not been opened.* Therefore grant rest to the departed* as You are the Lover of mankind.

Glory… Now…

O pure Virgin, portal of the Word,* Mother of our God:* pray that we be saved.

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 father, Bessarion,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.

Glory… Now…

O gracious Lord, for the sake of mankind You were born of a virgin;* through Your death on the cross You conquered Death;* and through Your resurrection You revealed Yourself as God.* O merciful Lord, do not disdain those whom You have created with Your own hands,* but show forth Your love for mankind.* Accept the intercession which the Mother who bore You makes in our behalf.* O Saviour, save Your despairing people!

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY 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 father, Bessarion,* 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: As a pious and tested ascetic* and as an honoured voluntary sufferer and as a model inhabitant of the desert,* let us rightly praise in song the all-blessed Bessarion,* for he has overcome the passions.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The venerable ones will exult in glory* and they shall by joyful in their beds.

verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; let His praise be in the assembly of the venerable ones. (Psalm 149:5,1)

Epistle

Romans 3:19-26

Alleluia, Tone 6

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

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

Gospel

Matthew 7:1-8

Communion Hymn

Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)