Saint with Six Stichera.

VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no appointed psalms to be chanted tonight.

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.

The great Paul, the sun of the earth, emits you, O blessed and divinely wise one,* upon the world like a radiant beam,* to enlighten with the splendid radiant splendour of Your words* those who languished of old in the night of ignorance.

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

Your pure heart, O Aquila, of godly eloquence,* richly illumined with the brilliant rays of the divine Spirit,* was shown to be truly luminous,* and destroyed the cruel darkness of the heathen* with the grace of God.

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

They who have recourse to your divine temple* and entreat your therein with faith, O Aquila,* are delivered from all manner of infirmities, from tribulations and sorrows,* by your sacred supplications* and intercessions before God, O sacred one.

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

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

With mature mind but a child’s body, O martyr Cyricus,* with manly wisdom you put to shame the infantile tyrant.* Therefore, grievously torturing you at his tribunal,* he imposed death upon you* who were mindful of the life which grows not old, into which you have entered,* drenched forever with blood unstaunched.

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

O glorious Julitta, with spiritual outpourings you broughtforth Cyricus* who sprang forth from your womb like a fruitful vine,* and is truly slain and trodden out in the tyrant’s wine-press.* Pouring forth the wine of compunction with him,* gladden the hearts of those who keep your memory with faith.

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

Having come close to wounds, O right wondrous one,* you likewise truly endured the convulsion of your body;* and beholding your son’s end with your own eyes,* you passed through a double torture, O Julitta.* Therefore, the Judge of the contest bestows twofold crowns upon you,* omnipotently granting the victory to those who contend.

Tone 6, Glory…

Come, all of you, and behold a sight strange and all-glorious!* Who has ever seen a child of three years putting a tyrant to shame?* O, the wonder!* He drank of his mother’s milk and cried out to her who nourished him:* Fear not the tortures of the cruel ruler of this world, O my mother,* for Christ is the strength of those who believe on Him!

Tone 6, Now….

О Theotokos, who at the sound of the archangel’s voice* conceived in your womb the Word,* who with the Father and the Spirit is equally beginningless,* you have been revealed to be more exalted than the cherubim, seraphim, and thrones.

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.

Aposticha

Tone 4

I wish to wash away the record of my sins with tears, O Lord,* and please You the rest of my life through repentance;* but the enemy deceives me and fights against my soul.* Before the end and I utterly perish, save me, O Lord.

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.

Who, among the tempest-tossed, having taking refuge in Your harbour,* will not be saved, O Lord?* Or who, that ails and falling down in Your infirmary, will not be healed?* O Maker of all that is, and Physician of the ailing,* before the end, may I not utterly perish, save me, O Lord.

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.

О Christ God, who are glorified in the memorials of Your saints,* be entreated by them,* and send down upon us great mercy.

Tone 8, Glory…

A child of three years proclaimed the Trinity;* he who was yet unweaned rendered his own mother steadfast, saying:* Cease shedding your tears, O my mother!* The Creator is watching from on high and will save our souls!

Tone 8, Now…

Taking up the cry of the Archangel Gabriel, let us say:* Rejoice, O Mother of God, who has given birth to Christ,* the bestower of life upon the world!

Tone 3

Holy Apostle, Aquila, intercede with the merciful God* to grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

Glory… Now…

Gabriel was rapt in amazement as he beheld your virginity* and the splendour of your purity, O Mother of God,* and he cried out to you:* By what name shall I call you? I am bewildered, I am lost.* I shall greet you as I was commanded to do:* Rejoice, O Woman full of grace!

DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 3: Holy Apostle, Aquila, intercede with the merciful God* to grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

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

Kontakion, Tone 4: As a star most bright the Church forever possess you,* O Apostle Aquila,* for she is illumined by the frequent gift of your miracles.* And so we call out to Christ:* “Save those who venerate in faith the memory of Your apostle,* O most merciful One!”

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

Romans 16:17-24

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

Matthew 13:10-23

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)