Polyeleos Feast.

VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

Blessed is the man… is chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4, Podoben “As valiant among the martyrs…”

Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

O most blessed one, when you touched the side of the Master* you grasped the most excellent of good things,* for like a sponge you soaked up waters therefrom,* the wellspring of blessings and life eternal* and moistened hearts dried up through unbelief,* pouring forth the dogmas of the divine knowledge of God.

Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

O most blessed one, when you touched the side of the Master* you grasped the most excellent of good things,* for like a sponge you soaked up waters therefrom,* the wellspring of blessings and life eternal* and moistened hearts dried up through unbelief,* pouring forth the dogmas of the divine knowledge of God.

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

O most blessed one, when you touched the side of the Master* you grasped the most excellent of good things,* for like a sponge you soaked up waters therefrom,* the wellspring of blessings and life eternal* and moistened hearts dried up through unbelief,* pouring forth the dogmas of the divine knowledge of God.

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

By your faithful disbelief you assured the faithful,* having begun to speak of God,* that He is the God and Lord of all creation,* who took flesh for the sake of us on earth,* and endured the Cross and death,* the print of the nails, and the piercing of His side with a spear,* from where we draw forth life.

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

By your faithful disbelief you assured the faithful,* having begun to speak of God,* that He is the God and Lord of all creation,* who took flesh for the sake of us on earth,* and endured the Cross and death,* the print of the nails, and the piercing of His side with a spear,* from where we draw forth life.

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

By your faithful disbelief you assured the faithful,* having begun to speak of God,* that He is the God and Lord of all creation,* who took flesh for the sake of us on earth,* and endured the Cross and death,* the print of the nails, and the piercing of His side with a spear,* from where we draw forth life.

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

The wondrous Thomas has disclosed the wellspring of dogmas to the divinely wise, O Master;* for, when he touched Your side* and was taught Your twofold energies through Your two Natures,* he rightly cried aloud:* You are my God and Master!* You are  the Lord of glory,* who became flesh for my sake!

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

The wondrous Thomas has disclosed the wellspring of dogmas to the divinely wise, O Master;* for, when he touched Your side* and was taught Your twofold energies through Your two Natures,* he rightly cried aloud:* You are my God and Master!* You are  the Lord of glory,* who became flesh for my sake!

Tone 6, Glory…

As a servant of the Word and of His ineffable incarnation,* you drew forth an abyss of wisdom, O Apostle Thomas;* for luring souls from the depths of deception,* you drew them up with the pole of the Cross.* Hence, with the net of your dogmas, you have brought the whole world to enlightenment* and have illumined the souls of the benighted the people of India with the light of knowledge.* Radiantly delighting in the glories of Christ,* entreat Him to have mercy on our souls.

Now…

Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?* Who would not sing a hymn of praise* to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?* The Only-begotten Son Himself,* begotten of the Father before all ages,* was made flesh out of you in a manner* that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!* And for our sake, He who is God by nature* assumed the nature of a man.* He is not divided into two persons;* He is understood to have two natures* without commixion or confusion.* O noble and blessed Woman,* intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

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

verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.

Readings

(1) 1 John 1:1-7; (2) James 1:1-12; (3) Jude 1-25

Aposticha

Tone 4, Podoben “You gave a sign…”

Christ, the Lover of mankind,* took you like a pearl from the abyss of the turmoil of the world,* enriching with you the poor* and them that are held fast by the poverty of evil circumstances, O Apostle Thomas.* Therefore, we bless you and glorify in praise your most festive memorial,* honoring you piously.

Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the universe!

You enlightened all the land of India, O most sacred Apostle and Seer of God;* for, having illumined all, you made them children of Light and of the day of the Spirit, O wise one.* And having cast down the temples of idols,* through grace you raised up churches to the glory and praise of God,* O blessed intercessor for our souls.

The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.

Having probed with your curious hand the divine side and the wounds of the nails* which the Immortal One bore for our sake,* and having joyously transformed your disbelief into right belief, O Thomas,* you cried out: You are my God and Lord!* I glorify You, O Lover of mankind,* who through Your sufferings have poured forth dispassion upon the faithful!

Tone 6, Glory…

Beholding the divine wisdom of Christ, you were mystically shown to be a noetic bowl* in which the souls of the faithful are gladdened, O Apostle Thomas;* for, with the divine net of the Spirit,* you drew men from the depths of wretchedness.* Hence, you went forth from Sion like a river of grace,* pouring forth your divine dogmas upon the whole world.* Therefore, emulating the sufferings of Christ, you were pierced in your side, entering the shade of incorruption.* Entreat Him that our souls be saved.

Now…

O Theotokos, you are the true vine who has budded forth for us the Fruit of life.* And we entreat you:* Pray, O Mistress, with the holy apostles, that our souls find mercy.

Troparia

Tone 2

O disciple of Christ and member of the apostolic council,* your lack of faith proclaimed Christ’s resurrection,* and your touch confirmed His holy passion.* O Thomas, worthy of all praise,* pray even now that He grant us peace and great mercy.

Glory… Now…

O Mother of God, the mysteries which surround you are exceedingly glorious,* and beyond the power of understanding.* For you retained the seal of purity,* and your virginity remained inviolate;* yet you are acknowledged, without doubt,* to be the Mother who gave birth to the true God.* We beg you, therefore, to entreat Him to save our souls

DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 2: O disciple of Christ and member of the apostolic council,* your lack of faith proclaimed Christ’s resurrection,* and your touch confirmed His holy passion.* O Thomas, worthy of all praise,* pray even now that He grant us peace and great mercy.

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

Kontakion, Tone 4: Filled with the grace of wisdom,* Your apostle and genuine servant, O Christ,* cried out to You in his change of heart:* You are my God and Lord.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hands. (Psalm 18:5,2)

Epistle

1 Corinthians 4:9-16

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: The heavens shall confess our wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints.

verse: God is glorified in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 88:6,8)

Gospel

John 20:19-31

Communion Hymn

Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)