AT VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 1

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

Behold, we celebrate today the Feast of Pentecost,* the descent of the Holy Spirit,* the fulfilment of the promise and the realization of hope.* How wonderful and awesome is this great mystery!* Therefore, O Lord and Creator of all,* we cry out: Glory to You!

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

You renewed Your disciples, O Christ,* by giving them a variety of tongues* with which to proclaim that You are the Immortal God,* the Word who bestows great mercy upon our souls.

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

The Holy Spirit provides every gift:* He inspires prophecy and perfects the priesthood;* He grants wisdom to the illiterate,* makes simple fishermen become wise theologians,* and establishes perfect order in the assembly of the Church.* Therefore, O Comforter, equal in nature and majesty with the Father and the Son,* O Lord, glory to You!

Tone 2

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

We have seen the true light;* we have received the heavenly Spirit;* we have found the true faith!* Worshipping the undivided Trinity* for it has saved us.

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

You have shown us, O Saviour,* the way to salvation through the Prophets;* and the grace of Your Holy Spirit* has shone upon us through the Apostles.* You are God from all eternity,* our God, now and forever.

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

O Saviour of the world,* I sing a hymn of praise to You in Your temple;* on my knees, I adore Your invisible power,* at dawn and dusk and at noon;* indeed, at all times, I bless You, O Lord.

Tone 8, Glory… Now…

Come, all you nations of the world,* let us adore God in three holy Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One.* From all eternity, the Father begets the Son,* equal to Him in eternity and majesty,* equal also to the Holy Spirit,* glorified with the Son in the Father,* three Persons, and yet a single power and essence and Godhead.* In deep adoration, let us cry out to God:* Holy is God who made all things through the Son* with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit.* Holy the Mighty One through whom the Father was revealed to us,* and through whom the Holy Spirit came to the world!* Holy the Immortal One, the Spirit, the Comforter,* who proceeds from the Father and reposes in the Son.* All-holy Trinity, glory to You!

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 6

O Lord, the Gentiles were unaware of the power of the Holy Spirit* that had come down upon the Apostles;* they thought the many tongues were an effect of drunkenness.* But we who are strengthened by them cry out ceaselessly:* O Lover of Mankind, take not Your Holy Spirit away from us.

A pure heart create for me, O God; put a steadfast spirit within me.

O Lord, the descent of Your Holy Spirit on Your Apostles* made them speak a variety of tongues.* When the unbelievers witnessed this marvel, they took it for drunkenness,* when, in fact, it was a cause of salvation for the faithful.* We beseech You, therefore, O Lover of Mankind,* to make us worthy of the revelation of this Spirit with us.

Do not cast me away from Your presence, nor deprive me of Your Holy Spirit.

Heavenly King, Advocate, Spirit of Truth,* who are everywhere present and fill all things,* Treasury of Blessings, Bestower of Life,* come, and dwell within us;* cleanse us of all that defiles us,* and O Good One, save our souls.

Tone 8, Glory… Now…

In days of old, pride brought confusion of tongues* to the builders of the Tower of Babel,* but now the diversity of tongues enlightened the minds* and gave knowledge for the glory of God.* Then, God punished the impious for their sin;* now, Christ enlightened fishermen through His Spirit.* Then, the confusion of tongues was for the sake of punishment;* now, there was a variety so that voices could be joined in harmony* for the salvation of our souls.

Troparion

Tone 8, Special Melody

Blessed are You, O Christ our God who revealed the fishermen as most wise by sending them the Holy Spirit; through them You caught the entire world. Loving Master, glory to You.