VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 6, Podoben “On the third day…”

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

When You were crucified, О long-suffering Lord,* You shook the whole earth, making steadfast the hearts of the faithful;* wherefore, we hymn You and with love worship Your unapproachable power.

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

Spat upon and smitten on the cheek, О Saviour,* You smote the evil of the venomous foe,* taking away the fall which Adam endured,* who was abducted because of his transgression.

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

The sun was darkened, the whole earth quaked, and the stones split asunder,* when they beheld You suspended unjustly upon the Tree,* setting aside Your own will, О Saviour.

Tone 4

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

Enlightened by the lightning flashes of the spirit,* you went about the whole world illumining the faithful!* All-wise ones, as apostles of the word,* you diminished the darkness of the depths of ignorance.* Therefore we rejoice today* celebrating your light bearing festival that brings us sanctification!

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

You sprinkled heavenly rain to the ends of the earth* as blest clouds refreshing the souls of the faithful with divine grace!* You choked the alien tares of ungodliness,* bringing to maturity the fruitful souls of men!* Therefore, apostles, we honour you in praises!

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

Let us gather and honour the most excellent Silas in faith,* with Andronicus, Epenetus and Crescens,* and in love let us honour Silvanus with them!* They are heralds of the faith* who pour out rivers of healing,* removing attacks of all the passions by the divine Spirit!

Tone 6, Glory… Now…

Your pure Virgin Mother,* beholding the most iniquitous people* who unjustly nailed You to the Tree,* was wounded within, as Symeon foretold.

Prokeimenon, Tone 1

Your mercy, O Lord, shall follow me* all the days of my life.

verse: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. In green pastures He gives me repose.

Aposticha

Tone 6

Your Cross is life and help for Your people, О Lord;* and trusting therein, we hymn You, our God who was crucified in the flesh.* Have mercy on us!

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.

Your Cross, О Lord, has opened paradise to the race of mankind;* and delivered from corruption, we hymn You, our God who was crucified in the flesh.* Have mercy on us!

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.

They who suffered for Your sake, О Christ, endured many torments* and have received perfect crowns in the heavens.* May they pray on behalf of our souls.

Glory… Now…

Upon beholding our Life suspended upon the Tree,* the all-immaculate Theotokos cried aloud, maternally lamenting:* O my Son and my God, save those who with love hymn You!

Troparia

Tone 3

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

Glory… Now…

O Mother of God, we have obtained your Son’s cross as a staff of power* with which to strike down the boastings of the enemy.* Therefore, we exalt you without ceasing.

DIVINE LITURGY ON WEDNESDAY 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 10:12-22

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 16:20-24

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)