VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 3, Podoben “Great is the power of Your Cross…”

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

Creation was transformed by Your crucifixion, О Word:* the sun withdrew its rays in fear and the veil of the temple was rent in two;* and every one of the faithful was saved.* Therefore, we glorify Your infinite riches.

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

God the Master, who in His compassion assumed our flesh, was nailed to the Tree;* and when He was lifted up bodily, as He was well-pleased,* in the tender compassion of His mercy* He raised us up who were cast down.

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

The world was renewed by the drops of divinely shed blood and water* which flowed from Your side, О Lord;* therefore, in that You are compassionate,* with water You wash away the sins of all,* and by Your blood You give us forgiveness to drink.

Tone 2, Podoben “When from the Tree…”

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

When the pre-eminent among the disciples, going about, confirmed the whole world,* he found you to be like a precious stone,* and as a foundation of the Church, O blessed one,* did he set you who cast down the pillars and temples of idolatry* by the divine power of the Word* whose good pleasure it was to consort with men in the flesh.

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

Dispelling the evil spirits of malice by the Word,* you made people spiritual by the grace of the Spirit, O martyr Pancratius,* working the field of their hearts, and casting the divine seed thereupon,* the fruits of which you have offered to the heavenly Husbandman,* praying for them that praise you with faith.

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

With noetic splendours you made the West like to the East,* bearing the sun of the knowledge of God* who shone forth upon us from the Virgin in manner past understanding;* and having set in your suffering, O father,* you shone forth to the never-setting Light,* where, the looking glass being abolished,* you behold the longed-for beauty of the Judge of your contest, O Pancratius.

Tone 2, Glory… Now…

Beholding You nailed to the Tree of the Cross, O Jesus,* she that tasted not of wedlock said, weeping:* “O my sweet Child, therefore have You abandoned me who alone gave You birth?* O unapproachable Light of the all-unoriginate Father,* make haste and be glorified, that they that glorify Your divine sufferings may receive divine glory!”

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.* Therefore, 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 3, Glory… Now… Podoben “Great is the power of Your Cross…”

When Your Mother, the unblemished Ewe-lamb who gave You birth,* saw You lifted up upon the Cross, О my Christ,* she lamented and cried out, weeping: “Show me not to be childless,* whom You preserved pure even after giving birth!”

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

Glory… Now…

O Virgin, all immaculate Mother of Christ God,* a sword pierced your all-holy soul* when you saw your Son and God willingly crucified.* Therefore, O blessed One,* never cease to pray to Him* that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.

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, Pancratius.* 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, Pancratius.

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

Romans 15:7-16

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 12:38-45

Communion Hymn

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