Post-feast of the Ascension.

VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4

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

Having achieved the salvation of all mankind,* You went up to the Mount of Olives O Christ,* from where You were taken to heaven before Your disciples,* being borne there in glory.* Wherefore, amazed by the mystery,* the lower orders cried out to the higher powers:* Lift up the gates, that the sovereign God of all may enter therein* from where He had departed, as He had willed,* to wondrously effect the salvation of the world.

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

As the choir of the disciples’ looked upon You ascending, they cried aloud:* O Master, why do You leave Your servants behind?* To where do You journey, O You who hold all of creation in Your hands?* Behold, we have left all things to follow after You rejoicing,* with the hope that we would ever abide and dwell with You:* Leave us not orphaned,* but as You promised, O compassionate Saviour,* send the Comforter and Saviour of our souls.

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

As You granted a final blessing to Your friends, O Master,* You taught them the mystery:* Behold, O my friends, I go to the Father,* I shall send forth to you the Comforter.* I shall not leave My beloved sheep which I have gathered,* I shall not forget those on whom I bestowed my love.* Endowed with power of the Most High God,* you shall go forth and preach to all the world the good tidings,* of the salvation of the race of mankind.

Tone 8

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 revealed to be a tablet of the Spirit of God, O divinely blessed father,* bearing the doctrines of God engraved upon your divine mind;* and in disclosing them you illumined those languishing in ignorance.* Therefore, by your supplications, O father,* ask great mercy for us all.

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

Having dyed your priestly raiment in the streams of your divine blood, O Dorotheus,* you have now entered, rejoicing, into the temple of heaven,* to appear before our God, who bestows crowns upon those who have suffered.* Earnestly entreat Him that He send down great mercy upon all.

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

Angelic was your life and splendid your martyrdom,* for which you were deemed worthy to rejoice with the angels, O father Dorotheus,* illumining the land with divine miracles and teachings.* Therefore, in your entreaties ask God to grant great mercy to all.

Tone 6, Glory… Now…

God is gone up in jubilation,* the Lord with the voice of the trumpet,* to raise the fallen image of Adam,* and to send the Comforting Spirit to sanctify our souls.

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 2

The Lord spoke to His friends saying:* I will not leave you whom I have gathered orphaned,* but I will send to you the Most-holy Spirit.

Clap your hands, all nations;* shout to God with a voice of rejoicing.

The Angels cried aloud to the most wise Apostles saying:* O men of Galilee, in such a manner as you see Him ascend,* so shall He come again.

God is gone up in jubilation,* the Lord with the voice of the trumpet.

Descending from the Mount of Olives with great joy,* Your disciples, O Word, glorified and hymned* Your divine Ascension.

Tone 1, Glory… Now…

Having ascended into the heavens,* from where You also descended,* leave us not orphaned, O Lord;* let Your Spirit come, bringing peace to the world;* show to the sons of men the works of Your might,* O Lord and Lover of mankind.

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

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

You ascended in glory, O Christ our God;* giving joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit,* and assuring them through Your blessing* that You are the Son of God,** the Redeemer of the world.

DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING

First Antiphon

Clap your hands, all you nations;* shout to God with the voice of joy.

Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.

For the Lord most high is awesome,* a great king over all the earth.

Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.

He has subdued peoples to us,* and nations under our feet.

Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.

God ascended amid shouts of joy;* the Lord at the sound of the trumpet.

Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.

Glory… Now… Only-Begotten Son…

Third Antiphon

Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord,* let us acclaim God, our Saviour.

Son of God, who ascended in glory,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Let us come before His face with praise,* and acclaim Him in psalms.

Son of God, who ascended in glory,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

For God is the great Lord,* the great king over all the earth.

Son of God, who ascended in glory,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Entrance

Come, let us worship* and fall down before Christ.

Son of God, who ascended in glory,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: You ascended in glory, O Christ our God,* giving joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit,* and assuring them through your blessing* that You are the Son of God,* the Redeemer of the world.

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

Kontakion, Tone 6: When you had fulfilled Your plan for us* and united things on earth with those in heaven,* You ascended in glory, O Christ our God,* in no way distant, but remaining inseparable,* You cried to those who love You:* I am with You and there is none against you.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;* above all the earth be Your glory.

verse: My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready. I will sing and make music in my glory. (Psalm 56:6,8)

Epistle

Acts 25:13-19

Alleluia, Tone 2

verse: God ascended amid shouts of joy; the Lord at the sound of the trumpet.

verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with the voice of joy. (Psalm 46:6,2)

Gospel

John 16:23-33

Hymn to the Mother of God

O my soul, magnify the Lord who in glory ascended bodily into the heavens.

And the Irmos: O Mother of God,* you transcended both mind and word,* and in time, ineffably bore the Timeless One:* it is you who, with one accord,* we, the faithful, magnify.

Communion Hymn

God ascended amid shouts of joy;* the Lord at the sound of the trumpet.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 46:6)

Instead of We have seen the true light we sing:

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, above all the earth be Your glory.

Instead of Let our mouths be filled we sing three times:

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, above all the earth be Your glory.