VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no psalms chanted this evening.

At Psalm 140

Tone 6, Podoben “The angelic hosts…”

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

Through thought of contrition grant me tears of repentance, О Saviour,* that I may wash away the filth from my soul,* which I have badly sullied, committing unrighteousness all the time,* for it is for this that I have her who gave birth to You, and the angelic choirs,* entreating Your love for mankind,

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

Come, О my soul, and repent of the many sins have committed in this life,* and entreat the multitude of the heavenly armies with sighs and tears,* that time be given you for repentance,* lest you be sent into the most accursed fire of Gehenna* like the barren fig-tree.

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

Not one of Your commandments have I kept on earth.* When You shall sit upon Your throne, how shall I give answer for myself,* receiving condemnation for all that I have done in knowledge or in ignorance, О my Christ?* Wherefore, I cry out to You:* Through the supplications of Your servants save me, the prodigal!

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.

By a choice determined by God,* you were honored by being preferred to serve the needs of the saints!* You were full of divine wisdom, illumination and grace!* Now, glorious ones, you ever dwell in the heavens,* rejoicing with the angels.

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

By the grace of the Spirit,* you were revealed to the world as bright lamps* shining richly with the light of knowledge,* ending the darkness of wickedness!* Having been translated, apostles,* you make your dwelling near the unapproachable Light!

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

Let us praise the most holy Nicanor,* Parmenas and Timon,* and with them let us honor the divine Prochorus,* for these men fulfilled the commands of the Word!* They enrich the doubting,* and are most ardent intercessors with our God!

Tone 6, Glory… 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 6

At Your fearful Coming, O Christ,* may we not hear the words: I know you not.* For though, O Saviour, we have put our trust in You,* from negligence we have not kept not Your commandments;* yet we entreat You, spare our souls.

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.

I have no repentance and I have no tears.* Wherefore I entreat You, O Christ God:* before the end is here* turn me back and grant me compunction,* that I may be delivered from the torments of Hades.

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.

Your martyrs did not deny You, О Lord,* nor did they depart from Your commandments.* By their prayers have mercy on us.

Glory… Now…

Like the Archangel, let us the faithful* hymn the bridal-chamber of heaven, the portal truly sealed:* Rejoice, for whose sake have budded forth to us Christ the Saviour of all,* the Bestower of life and God!* With your arm O Lady cast down the tyrants, our godless foes,* O most pure one, O hope of Christians!

Troparia

Tone 3

Holy apostles, intercede with the merciful God* to grant to 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 apostles, intercede with the merciful God* to grant to 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: You became branches of Christ’s vineyard, o wise ones,* bearing the grapes of good works,* and pouring forth for us* the wine of salvation.* Receiving it and filled with gladness,* we celebrate your precious memorial.* Therefore pray that we may be granted great mercy and forgiveness of sins,* O apostles of the 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 9:13-18

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 16:1-6

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)