VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
You opposed your courage, most praised Martyr Arethas,* to the savagery of evil men!* By the grace of God, you were shown to be victorious!* Glorious one, you brought to Christ,* a choir of martyrs formed by soldiers of all ages and races!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
You formed a beautiful choir, most glorious Arethas* of your holy fellow martyrs!* You struggled with them, completing the good race* and the good fight of your courageous contest! Therefore entreat Christ that He may grant our souls peace and great mercy!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The godly minded virgin martyrs* enkindled by the love of Christ,* did not heed the weakness of their nature.* Manifestly strengthened by the power of God* they trampled down the delusion of the enemy!* They were not afraid of the pain of torture* and did not fear the fiery furnace!
Tone 4, Podoben “You have given a sign…”
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Emulating the sufferings of Christ, the Lover of mankind, О passion-bearers,* you gave your bodies over to wounds, and bitter torments, and myriad pangs,* ever looking forward to the divine delight of paradise,* to ever-abundant sustenance and everlasting glory;* and having received this, pray for those who hymn you.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Emulating the sufferings of Christ, the Lover of mankind, О passion-bearers,* you gave your bodies over to wounds, and bitter torments, and myriad pangs,* ever looking forward to the divine delight of paradise,* to ever-abundant sustenance and everlasting glory;* and having received this, pray for those who hymn you.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
О most sacred pastors, as glorious emulators of Christ, the Chief Shepherd, the King of all,* you readily laid down your lives for the sheep,* and endured grievous misfortunes, О right blessed ones;* and as champions you save the divinely chosen flock unharmed by cruel wolves.
Tone 4, Glory…
Today with unity of mind and with hymns, faithful,* let us honour the glorious chief shepherd Arethas and his companions!* He denounced the evil one and shed his blood in confession of Christ!* Therefore a pillar of fire consumed the face of the earth* in reproof of the ungodliness of the enemy!* Therefore, Christ God, as You strengthened the athletes for Your glory,* by the prayers of Your saints,* preserve us also from temptations and tribulations,* for You are the Master of all!
Now…
O Mother of God, because of You* David the Prophet became an ancestor of God;* he foretold and sang a joyous hymn of praise* and cried out to Him who worked wonders in you:* “The Queen stood at your right hand.”* God revealed you as a life-giving mother,* when He chose to be incarnate of you without a father.* He renewed in man His image* which the passions had corrupted.* He found the lost sheep in the mountains,* carried it on His shoulders,* offered it to the Father,* generously numbered it among the powers of heaven,* and saved the whole world, since He is Christ of great and rich mercy.
Aposticha
Tone 4
You are glorified in the commemorations of Your saints, O Christ our God:* by their intercessions send down upon us Your great mercy.
Wondrous is God in His saints,* the God of Israel.
You have accepted the patient endurance of the holy martyrs:* in Your love for mankind accept our hymns of praise,* and by their intercessions send down upon us Your great mercy.
Blessed are they whom You have chosen* and taken to Yourself, О Lord.
With the spirits of the faithful departed* grant rest, O Saviour, to the souls of Your servants,* and preserve them for a life of blessedness* with You, O Lover of mankind.
Tone 8, Glory…
Understanding beforehand the wicked and evil plan of unbelieving men,* you struggled to suffer for Christ with a bold spirit!* You struggled for Him Who in days of old in the time of the law* saved from Egypt through the wilderness* those who condemned Him to the Cross!* So now also, those who were infected with unbelief,* went from words to deeds as they condemned you to the fire.* You suffered with strong patience and unity of mind,* showing yourselves to be great among martyrs!* Since you have boldness before God,* entreat Him that our souls may be delivered from sins!
Now…
O pure Virgin, portal of the Word,* Mother of our God:* pray that we be saved.
Troparia
Tone 1
Opposing the vile king and reproaching his disbelief in Christ,* this martyr acted bravely and suffered torture and death.* For this the angels praise you, O Arethas, and those who suffered with you,* and generations of the faithful will always bless you* as a sure intercessor for our souls.
Tone 4, Glory… Now…
O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created man,* and saved our souls from death.
AT DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Opposing the vile king and reproaching his disbelief in Christ,* this martyr acted bravely and suffered torture and death.* For this the angels praise you, O Arethas, and those who suffered with you,* and generations of the faithful will always bless you* as a sure intercessor for 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 4: Today is the truly splendid feast of the martyrs.* an intercession of happiness is ours today.* Let us celebrate this feast and bless the Lord in heaven.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
To the saints who are in His land, the Lord has made wonderful all His desires in them.
verse: I foresaw the Lord in my sight, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. (Psalm 15:3,8)
Epistle
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of their afflictions.
verse: The afflictions of the just are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliver them. (Psalm 33:18,20)
Gospel
Luke 7:1-10
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)