VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4, Podoben “You have given a sign…”

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

Receiving the grace of the most holy Spirit,* O most glorious Hierotheus,* you have now passed through all the earth,* teaching men to worship the Unity in three Hypostases:* the unoriginate Father, * the Source of the Godhead,* and with Him the Son Who is equally enthroned* and consubstantial with the Father,* Who was born of the Virgin* and became a man bearing flesh.

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

As one pleasing to God* you offered up your soul as a sacred and divine gift,* and committed your sacred body as a thing divine,* which hallowed the souls of those who believe in God Almighty,* and poured forth salvation upon the faithful.* Therefore, we bless your memory and burial,* we love your miracles and proclaim thy words.

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

You beheld the twelve apostles* at the dormition of the all-glorious Ever-virgin,* the all-pure Theotokos, the Mother of the Lord,* and with you was Dionysius, who described the hierarchies.* With them we, the faithful,* bless your most festive and all-holy solemnity, O glorious Hierotheus.

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

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

The martyrs dispelled the darkness of ungodliness,* showing forth the light of divine knowledge to all mankind.

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

With orthodox teachings as with divine rays* you enlightened the Church of the Lord,* О most wise pastors.

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

Ever dwelling in trackless wastes,* you broke the nets of the demons,* О venerable fathers.

Tone 7, Glory… Now…

Immaculate Mother of God,* you became a mother outside the laws of nature,* remaining a virgin in a way that exceeds all description* and human understanding.* The wonder of your birth-giving could not be told in human language,* for your conception of Christ blinded intelligence,* and your birth-giving exceeded understanding:* for whenever God so desires, the laws of nature are broken.* Wherefore, we all firmly believe that you are the Mother of God,* and we eagerly beseech you to intercede for the salvation of our souls.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

O God, You are my defender* and Your mercy goes before me.

verse: Deliver me from my enemies, O God; save me from those who rise up against me.

Aposticha

Tone 7

Despising every earthly thing, O holy martyrs,* and bravely preaching Christ before the tribunal,* you received your reward from Him for your sufferings.* Since you have boldness before God,* we beseech you to pray to Him as one almighty,* that He save the souls of those who flee to you for help.

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.

O all-praised martyrs, you spiritual sheep,* living offerings and sacrifices acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.* You were not buried in the earth, yet heaven has received you;* O you who have become companions of the angels* we entreat you to pray with them to God our Saviour,* that peace be granted to the world, and that our souls be saved.

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.

In the beginning You formed man according to Your image and likeness,* and You made him dwell in Paradise as ruler over Your creation.* But through the envy of the devil he was deceived* and partook of the fruit, transgressing Your command.* Wherefore, O Lord, You have condemned him to return again to the earth* from whence he was taken,* and to ask of You a peaceful repose.

Tone 7, Glory… Now…

О you who alone received the uncontainable Word of God,* and have given birth to Him incarnate:* Pray that our souls be saved.

Troparia

Tone 4

You learned goodness and practiced temperance.* You robed yourself in the priesthood* and girded yourself with a good conscience.* Therefore, you came to draw ineffable things from the chosen vessel, Paul.* You have completed the race, you have kept the faith.* O father Hierotheus, beg Christ our God to save our souls.

Glory… Now…

O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created,* and saved our souls from death.

DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY 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, Hierotheus.* 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, Hierotheus.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The venerable ones will exult in glory and they shall be joyful in their beds.

verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; let His praise be in the assembly of the venerable ones. (Psalm 149:5,1)

Epistle

1 Corinthians 14:20-25

Alleluia, Tone 2

verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice.

verse: For the Lord has chosen Sion; He has chosen it for His dwelling. (Psalm 131:9,13)

Gospel

Matthew 25:1-13

Communion Hymn

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