Polyeleos Feast. Cheesefare Monday.

VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

Blessed is the man… is chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 5

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

Rejoice, O sacred and light-bearing head, venerated by the angels,* which of old was severed by a sword* and cut down the shame of impurity with sharp reproofs,* wellspring of miracles which give drink to the faithful,* and which proclaimed the saving advent of the Saviour* and of old perceived the coming of the Spirit which took up His abode in you* who stood between the grace of the Old and New Covenants.* Entreat Christ God to grant our souls great mercy!

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

Rejoice, O sacred and light-bearing head, venerated by the angels,* which of old was severed by a sword* and cut down the shame of impurity with sharp reproofs,* wellspring of miracles which give drink to the faithful,* and which proclaimed the saving advent of the Saviour* and of old perceived the coming of the Spirit which took up His abode in you* who stood between the grace of the Old and New Covenants.* Entreat Christ God to grant our souls great mercy!

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

The head of the Forerunner,* which once was concealed in an earthen vessel, has appeared,* manifestly given up from the bosom of the earth* and pouring forth streams of healing;* for in the waters did he wash the head of Him* that even now covers the chambers of the firmament with waters* and rains down divine remission upon men.* Wherefore, let us bless it as truly most glorious,* and in its discovery let us joyously keep festival,* entreating Christ to grant our souls great mercy.

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

The head of the Forerunner,* which once was concealed in an earthen vessel, has appeared,* manifestly given up from the bosom of the earth* and pouring forth streams of healing;* for in the waters did he wash the head of Him* that even now covers the chambers of the firmament with waters* and rains down divine remission upon men.* Wherefore, let us bless it as truly most glorious,* and in its discovery let us joyously keep festival,* entreating Christ to grant our souls great mercy.

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

The head which proclaimed the Lamb of God who has appeared in the flesh,* which with divine commands has declared to all the ways of saving repentance,* which of old denounced the transgression of Herod* and was therefore severed from its body and endured concealment for a time,* has shone forth upon us like a radiant sun, crying out:* Repent, and in compunction of soul now submit to Christ* who grants the world great mercy!

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

The head which proclaimed the Lamb of God who has appeared in the flesh,* which with divine commands has declared to all the ways of saving repentance,* which of old denounced the transgression of Herod* and was therefore severed from its body and endured concealment for a time,* has shone forth upon us like a radiant sun, crying out:* Repent, and in compunction of soul now submit to Christ* who grants the world great mercy!

Tone 6, Glory…

The divinely preserved head, a treasury of divine gifts, O Forerunner,* has shone forth from the bosom of the earth;* and we, faithfully receiving and bowing down before it, O glorious one,* are enriched by you with most glorious miracles* and the forgiveness of our offenses, O Baptist of Christ!

Now…

Who does not call you blessed, O all-holy Virgin?* Who will not hymn your all-pure birthgiving?* For the only-begotten Son who shone forth timelessly from the Father,* came forth, ineffably incarnate, from you, the pure one;* and, being God by nature, He became man for our sake,* not divided into two Persons, but known in two natures without confusion.* Beseech Him, O pure and most blessed one, that our souls find mercy!

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

Behold now, bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.

verse: You that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.

Readings

(1) Isaiah 40:1-11; (2) Malachi 3; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15

After the readings, the priest closes the Royal Doors and has on only the epitrakhilion.

Aposticha

Tone 8

Having endured the first nakedness through greed,* we were overcome by the bitter taste thereof,* and became exiles from God.* But let us return to repentance* and by fasting, purify our senses, which war against us.* And having thereby strengthened our hearts with the hope of grace,* and not with foods which are of no benefit,* let us partake of the Lamb of God,* who, on the holy and radiant night of His Resurrection,* having offered Himself for our sake,* and communed with the disciples, at the mystical supper,* dispersed the darkness of ignorance* by the Light of His Resurrection.

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.

Having endured the first nakedness through greed,* we were overcome by the bitter taste thereof,* and became exiles from God.* But let us return to repentance* and by fasting, purify our senses, which war against us.* And having thereby strengthened our hearts with the hope of grace,* and not with foods which are of no benefit,* let us partake of the Lamb of God,* who, on the holy and radiant night of His Resurrection,* having offered Himself for our sake,* and communed with the disciples, at the mystical supper,* dispersed the darkness of ignorance* by the Light of His Resurrection.

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.

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.

Tone 2, Glory…

Like a most precious shrine of divine thoughts your head, O all-praised John,* has shone forth today from the secret places of the earth, as from your mother’s womb,* clearly foreseeing the mystery of the ineffable Being;* and it has rendered the whole earth fragrant, emitting the myrrh of sanctification,* noetically preaching the way of repentance* and entreating the Saviour of all in behalf of our souls.

Now…

Christ the Lord, my Creator and Deliverer,* who came forth from your womb, O all-pure one,* and robed Himself in me, has freed Adam from the curse.* Wherefore, like the angel do we unceasingly cry out to you, O most pure one,* who are truly the Mother of God and Virgin:* Rejoice! Rejoice, O Mistress, intercession, protection, and salvation for our souls!

Troparia

Tone 4

The head of the Forerunner has dawned from the earth* shedding rays of incorruption and healing on those who believe;* from on high it assembles the multitude of angels,* from below it summons the human race* to glorify Christ God with one voice.

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.

DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: The head of the Forerunner has dawned from the earth* shedding rays of incorruption and healing on those who believe;* from on high it assembles the multitude of angels,* from below it summons the human race* to glorify Christ God with one voice.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: O Forerunner of Grace and prophet of God,* having obtained your head from the earth like a sacred rose,* we always receive gifts of healing;* for again as of old you proclaim repentance in the world.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.

verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I make my petition to You. (Psalm 63:11,2)

Epistle

2 Corinthians 4:6-15

Alleluia, Tone 4

verse: The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; and he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon.

verse: They who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish the courts of our God. (Psalm 91:13,14)

Gospel

Matthew 11:2-15

Communion Hymn

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