Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.

VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 1, Podoben “O all-praised martyrs…”

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

Throughout all the earth your proclamation of salvation has gone forth,* O glorious apostles of the Lord,* illumining the ends of all the earth with the radiance of grace,* and dispelling the gloom of deception.* Wherefore, make supplication, that He grant to our souls* peace and 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.

The most godly Stachys, the preacher and apostle of Christ,* and the wondrous Apellius, Aristobulus and Urban,* Amplias and the divine Narcissus,* who preached the most Holy Trinity,* have enlightened the nations and delivered from bondage* all who bless them with faith.

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

O most radiant beacons of Christ, most pure vessels* who, through your faith, contained all the effulgence of the Spirit,* O pillars of the Church, all-glorious heavens* declaring the glory of God:* entreat Him that He grant to our souls* peace and great mercy.

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.

You were shown to be a divine habitation* by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, O glorious Epimachus,* and, receiving from Him the ability to accomplish healings,* you richly imparted health to the sick who ever cry out:* O Jesus, Bestower of life,* You are the gladness, the glory and boast of Your martyrs.

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

With boldness you preached the truth, O glorious one,* as a most lawful warrior of Christ,* unafraid of the bestial rage of him who judged you.* By your divinely inspired words you put to shame* him who commanded you to worship gods who do not exist, O athlete,* and preached to all our God who reigns over all.

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

In that your feet are beautiful, they were adorned* to traverse the path of martyrdom unhindered,* and, finishing your course, you preserved the faith,* and have received a crown from the hand of the Master.* Entreat Him that those who with faith celebrate your all-honoured memory* may be delivered from corruption and tribulations.

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

When she beheld You, the Lamb and Shepherd, upon the Tree,* the ewe-lamb who gave birth to You lamented, and maternally exclaimed to You:* O my desired Son, O Long-suffering One, how is it that You are suspended upon the tree of the Cross?* How is it, O Word, that Your hands and feet have been pierced with nails by the iniquitous?* How is it, O Master, that You have shed Your blood?

Prokeimenon, Tone 6

My help is from the Lord,* Who made heaven and earth.

verse: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come.

Aposticha

Tone 3

I bow down, О Christ, before Your precious Cross:* the guardian of the world, the salvation of us sinners,* the great purification and boast of the whole world.

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.

Lifting up his arms in the form of the Cross on the mountain, Moses vanquished Amalek;* and You, О Saviour, stretched out upon the precious Cross, embraced me,* saving me from slavery to the enemy,* and gave it to me as the sign of life,* enabling me to evade the arrows of my adversaries.* Wherefore, О Word, I bow down before Your precious Cross.

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.

Great is the power of Your Cross!* For it was planted in one place, yet works throughout the world;* and it made apostles of fishermen and martyrs of the heathen,* that they might pray on behalf of our souls.

Tone 3, Glory… Now…

The all-immaculate one, beholding You lifted up upon the Tree,* cried out, weeping maternally: “O my supremely good Christ, my most beloved Son!* How have the iniquitous assembly lifted You up upon the Cross?”

Troparia

Tone 3

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

Tone 4, Glory…

Your martyr, Epimachus, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.

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 FRIDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

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

Troparion, Tone 4: Your martyr, Epimachus, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

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.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: As a bright and unerring star you appeared to the world* proclaiming with your rays the Sun, that is, Christ, O martyr, Epimachus,* and you have extinguished all error.* But to us you give light, praying without ceasing for all of us.

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

Colossians 2:1-7

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

Luke 9:12-17

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)