Saint with Six Stichera.

VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no psalms chanted this evening.

At Psalm 140

Tone 2

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

As God our Benefactor, Christ has given you to the world as a rich gift, O Theodore,* having received the gift of your precious blood, which was offered to Him,* shed for His sake with the zeal of piety:* Standing now before Him with pious boldness, O martyr,* save all that have recourse to you.

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

You are a steadfast pillar which repels the assaults of the adversaries,* an invincible champion for them that praise you,* a most speedy aid, a fervent advocate,* quick deliverance, general assistance, most powerful intercessor,* a ready deliverer of all that entreat you with faith, O blessed Theodore.

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

Possessed of a torrent of sweetness and the water of remission* and being a most true witness to Christ the most merciful,* deliver me from the torrent of my sins,* calm the troubled waters for me, still the tempest of temptations* and guide me to the calm haven on high, O right blessed Theodore.

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.

Moved by zeal divine,* your soul aflame with the love of Christ the Saviour, O glorious one,* you reduced to ashes the false goddess and her temple,* proclaiming the name of the true God and Master,* and you put to shame the arrogance of the tormentors,* and have been vouchsafed everlasting joy,* O passion-bearer Theodore.

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

Having ascended, O Theodore, to the summit of the knowledge of Christ,* you passed beyond visible things, and sought only Him;* and having found Him, you loved Him,* and for His sake you suffered with valiant soul.* Entreat Him that they that celebrate thy most glorious memory* be delivered from corruption and misfortune.

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

Covered with God-given power* and the wounds of thy struggle, O passion-bearer Theodore,* you stood before Christ God, the King of all creation,* receiving crowns of honour from Him;* Beseech Him that they that celebrate faithfully your most glorious memory* be delivered from corruption and misfortune.

Tone 4, Glory…

The gift of sanctification and the richness of divine life* have you revealed to the world, O Theodore.* For Christ has glorified your memory, O wise one,* whereupon we, the faithful, rejoicing together,* hymn the struggle of your sufferings.

Now…

O all-immaculate one, who has surpassed the ranks of angels:* with the angels ever beseech Him who has dominion over the angels and all of creation,* that He grant us remission of sins, deliverance from the passions,* and make us, who hymn His glory, worthy inheritors of incorrupt sustenance.

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.

Tone 8, Glory…

Having piously armed yourself with a martyr’s courage, O athlete of Christ,* and mystically allied yourself with His power,* struggling to offer rational sacrifice to God,* you showed the godlessness of idolatry and the threats of the tormentors to be empty,* despising tortures and transitory fire.* But, O! the gifts divine!* Both in reality and in name, from every evil circumstance* by your prayers save them that celebrate your memory.

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!

Troparia

Tone 2

Great are the achievements of faith!* In the fountain of flames, the holy martyr Theodore rejoiced as by the water of rest* for having been baked as a whole-burnt offering* he was brought to the Trinity as a sweet bread.* By his prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Glory… Now…

O Mother of God, you are a fountain of mercy;* count us worthy of your compassion;* look upon a people who have sinned;* manifest your power as you always do.* Because of our trust in you, we cry out to you* as once did Gabriel, the commander of the angels.

DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 2: Great are the accomplishments of faith,* for the holy martyr Theodore rejoiced in the flames as though at the waters of rest,* offering himself as sweet bread to the Trinity.* So by his prayers, O Christ God, save our souls!

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

Kontakion, Tone 8: Your faith in Christ was like a breastplate upon your heart:* With its aid, you overcame the power of the enemy.* Therefore you are crowned in eternity with a heavenly diadem.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.

verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I make my petition to You. (Psalm 63:11,2)

Epistle

1 John 2:18-3:10

Alleluia, Tone 4

verse: The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; and he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon.

verse: They who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish the courts of our God. (Psalm 91:13,14)

Gospel

Mark 11:1-11

Communion Hymn

The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)