Post-feast of the Dormition. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.

VESPERS ON THURSDAY 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.

At your glorious Dormition* the heavens rejoice, and the armies of Angels exult.* The whole earth is glad, addressing its funeral hymn to you,* the Mother of the Master of all things,* all-holy Virgin who knew not wedlock,* who have delivered the human race from the ancestral condemnation.

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

At a divine command* the chief Apostles gathered from the ends of the earth to bury you,* and when they saw you being taken from earth to heaven* they cried out with joy in Gabriel’s words:* “Rejoice, chariot of the whole Godhead!* Rejoice, for you alone by your childbearing* have joined together things on earth with those on high!”

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

O Virgin Mother, Bride of God,* who carried the Life within your womb,* by your revered falling asleep you have passed over to immortal life.* Angels, Rulers and Powers, Apostles, Prophets and all creation escorted you,* and your Son received your most pure soul in His immaculate hands.

Tone 4

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

Seeking to regain the original beauty* and the splendour that surpasses all understanding,* you went joyously to the noble combat, O Agathonicus.* Having fought the enemy, you bravely crushed him into the ground.* You wove a brilliant crown of victory.* Entreat the Lover of mankind for those who honour you.

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

Adorned with the wisdom of God,* you abounded with words which pour out life;* you refuted the foolish ones, reproved the torturer, and calmed the storm of idolatry.* You strengthened the faithful to persevere in God’s grace.* For this you were cruelly burned alive,* but as a crown-bearer you entered the kingdom of heaven.

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

Bathed in the blood of your passion, O Martyr,* you stood before the Master as a fragrant and pleasing sacrifice,* a pure and favourable gift,* a sacred offering and a spotless victim.* O Agathonicus, martyr of the Lord,* by your prayers watch over the whole Church in peace.

Tone 1, Glory…

O long-suffering Agathonicus,* your name is synonymous with a good victory,* and you were covered with wounds because of your love for God.* Having rejected the error of idols and torturers,* you gloriously entered eternal life.* Because of the grace you have with God,* on this day of your illustrious memory,* entreat Him to save our souls.

Now…

Because the disciples had been both the eye-witnesses and servants of the Word,* it was also fitting that they should witness the final mystery,* the Dormition of his Mother according to the flesh.* They not only saw the ascension of the Saviour from earth to heaven,* but they also were witnesses of the translation of the Mother who bore Him.* They came to Zion to escort the Virgin, who surpasses the Cherubim,* as she hastened in her journey to heaven.* With them let us also bow low* before the One who intercedes for our souls.

Prokeimenon, Tone 6

My help is from the Lord,* Who made heaven and earth.

verse: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come.

Aposticha

Tone 8, Podoben “O most glorious wonder…”

O glorious marvel!* A virgin gave birth to God in the flesh,* remained a virgin, and now passes from life.* Leaving an earthly life, she passes over to everlasting life.* For this reason, the disciples and apostles of Christ* gathered together for her burial.

Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest, You and the ark of Your strength.

Let us in harmony with the angels* joyfully glorify the feast today,* the precious Dormition of the Theotokos.* Her holy and life-bearing soul has been placed into the hands of her Son.* She is now united with Him in the everlasting life,* spiritually entreating in our behalf.

The Lord swore an oath to David; He will not go back on his word.

Let us go to the glorious Gethsemane in spirit* and to the holy home of the glorious body of the Theotokos.* Filled with heavenly fragrance,* let us sing hymns with the apostles and the angels* because there is joy in her Dormition .for those on earth and in heaven.

Tone 8, Glory…

You were called an excellent treasure, O martyr Agathonicus,* and you became a temple and consecrated yourself to the King of all.* O seed of martyrs, you routed the power of the enemy* and grasped the reward of victory.* Now you stand before God on high as a crown-bearer.* Do not cease to entreat Him* in behalf of those who honour you.

Now…

O Theotokos, Christ your Son and our God * confirmed his two natures because He died as a man and rose as God.* O Mother of God, He also consented that you die* according to the law of nature* so that unbelievers might not question the workings of Providence.* O heavenly Bride, you were taken from earth* as though from the bridal chamber and entered heaven.* The atmosphere was sanctified by your passage through it,* just as earth was illumined by your giving birth.* The apostles assembled, and the angels carried you aloft.* After having buried your most pure body and having sung hymns,* they gazed in awe and fearfully said:* This is the ransom of the right hand of God* because He is within you, and He will not be moved.* O most honoured Mother, do not forsake us who look upon you.* We are your people and the sheep of your fold.* We invoke your name and ask for salvation and great mercy.

Troparia

Tone 4

O Lord our God, Your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with Your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.** Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Tone 1, Glory… Now…

In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers** you deliver our souls from death.

DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 1: In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death.

Troparion, Tone 4: O Lord our God, Your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with Your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 1: O holy martyr, you have gained a good name for yourself; * you put an end to the worship of the evil ones * without fearing the suffering that you would bear. * Therefore, you have inherited the eternal gifts, O Agathonicus, * and together with your companions, * you were worthy to obtain the crowns of heaven.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God,* unceasing in her intercession and unfailing hope of patronage,* for, as the Mother of Life, she was transferred to life* by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.

verse: Because he has regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold, all generations shall call me blessed. (Luke 1:46-48)

Epistle

2 Corinthians 4:13-18

Alleluia, Tone 8

verse: Rise up, O Lord, to the place of Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness.

verse: The Lord swore an oath to David, and will not go back on His word. (Psalm 131:8,11)

Gospel

Matthew 24:27-33, 42-51

Hymn to the Mother of God

Seeing the pure one’s falling asleep, angels marvelled in wonder how the Virgin could ascend from earth to heaven.

And the Irmos: O pure Virgin, in you are conquered the bounds of nature,* for childbirth remains virginal and death is betrothed to life.* Virgin after childbearing and alive after death, O Mother of God,* never cease to save your inheritance.

Communion Hymn

I will take the chalice of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 115:13)