VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 7, Podoben “No longer are we forbidden the tree of life…”

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

Having tilled the whole earth with the plough of the knowledge of God, О glorious apostles,* you caused a multitude of the faithful to spring forth.

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

Set at naught the winter of my passions, О blessed apostles,* and shine forth upon me the pure spring of peace.

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

As disciples of the Word you brought the assemblies of the nations over* from senselessness to the knowledge of God.

Tone 6, 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.

Through priestly anointing and the blood of martyrdom* you drew nigh to God, O most perfect and all-glorious Cyprian,* flower of nature and adornment of eloquence,* summit of wisdom* measure of the correctness of the dogmas,* most harmonious rightness of the canons* and magnificence of the Churches.

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

O most honourable Cyprian, glory of athletes and crown of martyrs,* by your discourses you persuaded the divinely wise to maintain their courage most valiantly* when confronted with imprisonment, bondage, and diverse tortures,* the stripping of their bodies, binding and most cruel frost,* and finally wounding and death.

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

Opposing the spells of the demons with hymns to the Spirit and the sign of the Cross,* you preserved your virginity offered yourself to Christ* as a most sacred sacrifice, O unvanquished martyr.* Therefore, you have received crowns of victory, O Justina,* adorned splendour of virgins and martyrs.

Tone 2, Glory…

You truly spurned the falsehood and lore of idolatrous teaching,* and armed yourself for salvation with the sword of the Cross, O most blessed Cyprian;* and, discarding your books of sorcery, put off the old man;* and the divine knowledge of the consubstantial Trinity dwelled within you,* Whom you beseech with the angels, a hierarch, that we be saved.

Tone 2, Now…

Like a great Sun, the Word, who is equal in honour with the Father and the Spirit,* and who in latter times shone forth upon the earth through the divine Virgin Maiden,* emitted you, О glorious apostles,* like rays illumining with the light of Faith all mankind* which languishes in the darkness of delusion,* leading them to Him with divine teachings.

Prokeimenon, Tone 5

O Lord, save me by Your name,* and in Your power be a judge for me.

verse: O God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth.

Aposticha

Tone 7

О glorious apostles, pillars of the Church, preachers of the Truth, radiant beacons:* With the fire of the Spirit you consumed all delusion* and illumined the race of mankind with faith.* Wherefore, we beseech you: Entreat our Saviour and God,* that He grant peace to the world and save 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.

О apostles of Christ, husbandmen of the Saviour,* bearing the Cross upon your shoulders as a plough,* and having cleared the earth made hard by the delusion of idolatry,* you sowed the word of faith*. And you are fittingly honoured, О holy apostles of Christ.

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.

О most praised martyrs, spiritual lambs,* reason-endowed holocausts, acceptable sacrifices well-pleasing to God:* the earth could not hide you, but heaven received you,* and you have become communicants with the angels.* With them entreat our Saviour and God,* we pray you, that He grant peace to the world and save our souls.

Tone 2, Glory…

Let us praise Cyprian, the divinely brilliant lamp,* the converser with Paul and sharer of his labours;* for he dwells with the angels, having received a crown of incorruption from the one God,* and he prays that our souls be saved.

Now…

Like a fruitful olive tree,* the Virgin brought You forth as the Fruit of life,* bearing to the world, the fruit of rich and great mercy.

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, Cyprian.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

Glory… Now…

O Virgin Mother of God,* we acknowledge that the Word of the Father, Christ our God,* was incarnate of you, the only pure one and the only blessed one.* Therefore, we sing to you a hymn of praise and we exalt you.

DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY 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, Cyprian.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of 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 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, Cyprian.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.

verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:15,12)

Epistle

Ephesians 4:14-19

Alleluia, Tone 6

verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.

verse: His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)

Gospel

Mark 11:27-33

Communion Hymn

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