VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 1, Podoben “O most lauded martyrs…”
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O divinely wise and blessed one,* with the dye of your blood you have brightened your sacred and divine vesture.* For piously have you gone from strength to strength and from glory to glory.* And now pray that peace and great mercy be given to our souls.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
You offered to God the unbloody sacrifice, as a most lawful priest;* and later, as a martyr most true, you offered yourself to Christ with blood,* as an acceptable sacrifice and a whole burnt offering,* O divinely eloquent and most honoured one.* Entreat Him on behalf of them that sing to you.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
You led legions of martyrs to Christ, O father Anthimus,* teaching and instructing by your doctrines and instructions,* and manifestly presenting yourself as an example, O divinely wise one.* You pray with them that peace and great mercy* be given to our souls.
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.
O father Theoctistus, your radiant memory* gladdens the assemblies of monks* by the beauties of your life, the riches of your wonders, and the splendours of your gifts.* Entreat Christ, that peace and great mercy* be given to our souls.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O father Theoctistus, the demons stood in awe of your patient abstinence,* and they were set at naught by your unceasing supplications, O most lauded one;* for you acquired Christ as a companion.* Beseech Him that peace and great mercy* be given to our souls.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O father Theoctistus, you were a dwelling place of God;* for, having preserved that which is in His image,* proclaiming the truth by your life,* you showed forth the calling of your holy model, O most wondrous one.* Entreat Christ, that peace and great mercy* be granted to our souls.
Tone 6, Glory…
You were a most lawful priest even to your end, O blessed Anthimus;* for, celebrating the divine and ineffable mysteries as a priest,* you shed your blood for Christ God, and brought yourself to Him as a right acceptable sacrifice.* Therefore, as you possess boldness before Him,* earnestly pray for them that with faith and love keep your all-honoured memory,* that they who honour it be delivered* from all temptations, misfortunes and evil circumstances.
Now…
The Virgin, standing once with the virginal disciple* before the Tree at the time of the crucifixion, weeping, cried out:* Woe is me! How is it that You suffer, O Christ,* You who are the dispassion of all?
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 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.
The tree of disobedience put forth death for the world;* but the Tree of the Cross put forth life and incorruption.* Wherefore, we worship the crucified Lord, crying:* Let the light of Your countenance be signed upon 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.
The prophets, the apostles of Christ and the martyrs* enlightened and taught the erring nations to hymn the consubstantial Trinity,* and made the children of mankind companions of the angels.
Tone 6, Glory…
O venerable father, word of your corrections has gone forth into all the earth;* therefore, you have received the reward of your labours in the heavens.* You have routed legions of demons and attained to the ranks of the angels,* whose life you blamelessly emulated.* As you have boldness before Christ God, ask peace for our souls.
Now…
Beholding You crucified, O Christ, she who gave birth to You cried out:* What is this strange mystery that I see, O my Son?* How is it that You die on the Tree,* suspended in the flesh, O Bestower of life?
Troparia
Tone 4
Having shared the way of life of the apostles,* and having become a successor to their thrones,* labouring you found the divinely inspired way to contemplation.* Therefore, forthrightly ministering the word of truth,* you shed your blood for the faith, O hieromartyr, Anthimus.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.
Tone 8, Glory…
Your abundant tears made the wilderness bloom,* and your sufferings made your labours fruitful a hundredfold;* you became a shining torch over the world.* O venerable father Theoctistus,* pray to Christ our God that He may save our souls.
Now…
When the Mother beheld upon the cross* the Lamb, the Shepherd, and the Saviour of the world,* she exclaimed tearfully:* The world rejoices at the sight of its redemption,* but my heart is afire as I see Your pain on the cross,* which You accept for the sake of all, O my Son and my God!
DIVINE LITURGY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Having shared the way of life of the apostles,* and having become a successor to their thrones,* labouring you found the divinely inspired way to contemplation.* Therefore, forthrightly ministering the word of truth,* you shed your blood for the faith, O hieromartyr, Anthimus.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.
Troparion, Tone 8: The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O father,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh which passes,* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* and so, O venerable father, Theoctistus,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Having piously lived among the hierarchs,* and having trod the path of suffering,* you extinguished the sacrifices to idols* and were a defender for your flock, O godly one.* Therefore, venerating you, we sincerely cry to you:* “Rescue us from dangers by your prayers, O our father, Anthimus.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: As a pious and tested ascetic* and as an honoured voluntary sufferer and as a model inhabitant of the desert,* let us rightly praise in song the all-blessed Theoctistus,* for he has overcome the passions.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones. (Psalm 115:15)
verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:12)
Epistle
2 Corinthians 9:12-10:7
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice. (Psalm 131:9)
verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who takes delight in all his commands. (Psalm 111:1)
Gospel
Mark 3:20-27
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear. (Psalm 111:6)