Saint with Six Stichera

AT VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 1, Podoben “Joy of the ranks of heaven…”

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

Having entered in mind into the innermost darkness of the unapproachable light,* you learned the divine enigmas of the Word, O sacred Dionysius, disciple of Christ,* and on earth you manifestly explained* the ranks of the angels.

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

Having made your soul luminous with rays of three-fold splendour* and your body with withering material fire, O father,* you passed over to immaterial radiance and joined the angels.* With them unceasingly pray for us,* that our souls be saved.

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

Having become eminent in the Church of God by your pastorship,* you made your heart a receptacle of the grace of the Spirit, O father.* Therefore, O Dionysius, you ever pour forth healings upon us,* like water from your precious shrine.

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.

The divine Paul, speaking forth publicly,* fished for you with the hook of grace, O wise one,* and made you a teacher of the sacred mysteries* and a beholder of things ineffable,* seeing in you a chosen vessel.* With him pray, O right eloquent Dionysius,* that those who hymn you with love be saved.

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

Having made your mind equal to that of the angels* for the sake of virtue, O most wise father Dionysius,* you wrote a sacred account of the heavenly order of their hierarchies,* and there aligned the ranks of the Church’s organization,* likening them to the ranks of heaven.

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

Making yourself like unto God through meditation,* as far as you were able, O blessed Dionysius,* with piety you mystically disseminated your godly treatise on the divine names;* and, achieving unity through a higher union,* you learned things which pass man’s understanding* and taught the ends of the world.

Tone 2, Glory…

Come, O faithful, and together let us praise the annual memorial of the hierarchs Dionysius and Cyprian;* for the one, having spit upon the Stoic philosophers* and been taught by the chosen vessel,* became an adept of ineffable mysteries;* and the other, having illumined his thoughts for the sake of the good virgin Justina,* fled the deception of the demons* and, casting his books of sorcery into the fire, became a preacher of the Gospel.* Therefore, glorifying the Saviour who has glorified them, let us sinners cry out:* O Christ God, who has crowned Your athletes with glory:* by their supplications save our souls!

Now…

O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away* with the realization of grace.* For as the bush had burned without being consumed,* so you gave birth while a virgin* and you remained a virgin.* Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.* Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,* the Saviour of our souls.

Aposticha

Tone 1

O all-praised martyrs, you were not buried in the earth,* yet heaven has received you;* the gates of Paradise were opened to you,* and entering within you have partaken of the tree of life.* Pray to Christ that He grant peace* and great mercy to our souls.

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

What pleasure in this life remains unmarked by sorrow?* What glory can endure upon this earth unchanged?* All is feebler than a shadow,* more deceptive than a dream;* for death in a single moment takes away all things.* But in the light of Your countenance, O Christ,* and in the joy of Your beauty,* grant rest to those whom You have chosen,* for You are the Lover of mankind.

Their souls shall dwell* amid good things.

No man is free from sin,* none save You, who alone art immortal.* Therefore, O compassionate God,* grant to Your servants a dwelling-place in the Light,* with the choirs of Your angels.* In Your loving-kindness overlook their transgressions,* and grant them forgiveness.

Tone 4, Glory…

We call you the unseen depth of heavenly knowledge, O most splendid martyr of Christ,* and we hymn you as a warrior and steadfast champion of the Church, O wise one.* For you shone forth with most pure fire,* counted worthy to wear the vesture of light with the armies on high,* having illumined your mind with the effulgence of the Holy Spirit, O Dionysius.* Thus, with faith we celebrate your universal memorial,* glorifying the Lord who glorified you.

Now…

O inextinguishable lamp, and throne of righteousness* most pure Sovereign Lady:* pray that our souls be saved.

Troparia

Tone 4

You learned goodness and practiced temperance.* You robed yourself in the priesthood* and girded yourself with a good conscience.* Therefore, you came to draw ineffable things from the chosen vessel, Paul.* You have completed the race, you have kept the faith.* O father Dionysius, beg Christ our God to save our souls.

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 4: Having shared the way of life of the apostles,* and having become a successor to their thrones,* labouring you found the divinely inspired way to contemplation.* Therefore, forthrightly ministering the word of truth,* you shed your blood for the faith, O hieromartyr, Dionysius.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of 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: Having piously lived among the hierarchs,* and having trod the path of suffering,* you extinguished the sacrifices to idols* and were a defender for your flock, O godly one.* Therefore, venerating you, we sincerely cry to you:* “Rescue us from dangers by your prayers, O our father, Dionysius.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The venerable ones will exult in glory and they shall be 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

1 Corinthians 15:58-16:3

Alleluia, Tone 2

verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice.

verse: For the Lord has chosen Sion; He has chosen it for His dwelling. (Psalm 131:9,13)

Gospel

Luke 5:17-26

Communion Hymn

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