Apostles’ Fast.

VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no appointed psalms to be chanted tonight.

At Psalm 140

Tone 1

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

In Your goodness, О Lord,* You brought all things about by Your Word and Spirit,* and also created me a reason-endowed living thing,* that I might glorify Your omnipotent name.* But, more than any, I ever act dishonourably by my shameful deeds;* yet have pity on me, I pray.

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

I recognize your divine nobility and the incorrupt homeland, О wretched soul,* and I ever strive to attain them by goodly deeds.* Let all that is corrupt never captivate me.* You are my higher part, while the body is earth and corrupts.* Let not what is baser overcome that which is higher.

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

Go to the Supremely good One, О all-accursed soul;* approach Him with fervent tears;* before your condemnation confess all things that you have done;* and render your Creator merciful to you, О wretched one.* Beg forgiveness, lest the Lord shut the door to you.

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.

Rome puts you forward as a blossoming rose of sweet fragrance,* perfuming the thoughts of the faithful with the scent of the virtues* and ever dispelling the stench of the passions by grace,* O much-suffering Agrippina, adornment of the martyrs,* confirmation of the Church, boast of virgins* and abyss of miracles.

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

You, who suffered in Rome,* Christ our God has given to Sicily as riches beyond count;* and having arrived there, O glorious martyr,* you drive away the evil multitude of demons by your intercession.* Therefore, we bless you and celebrate your suffering today,* O much-suffering Agrippina.

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

Bassa and Paula bore you on their shoulders* at the command of Him who bears all things,* moving you from place to place* and making a long journey over the deep.* And working awesome miracles through divine grace, O martyr Agrippina,* you came to rest in the place which God had appointed,* becoming a place of rest for the heavy-laden, O most lauded one.

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

O Mistress, take pity on me* who am bowed down beneath the assaults of the demons* and cast into the pit of destruction,* and establish me upon the rock of the virtues;* and dispelling the attacks of the enemy,* grant that I may keep the commandments of your Son and our God,* that I may receive remission on the day of judgment.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

And now bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.

verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.

Aposticha

Tone 1

Great is the abyss of my many transgressions, О Saviour,* and I sink grievously because of my offenses.* Grant me Your hand, as You did to Peter, О God.* Save me and have mercy upon me!

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.

In that I have been condemned for wicked thoughts and deeds, О Saviour,* grant me the thought of returning to You, О God,* that I may cry aloud: Save me, О good Benefactor,* and have mercy upon me!

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.

Through the prayers of all the saints and the Theotokos,* О Lord, grant us Your peace,* and have mercy upon us,* in that You alone are compassionate.

Glory… Now…

Joy of the ranks of heaven,* and mighty intercession for mankind on earth, O most pure Virgin:* save us who have recourse to you,* for in you, after God,* have we placed our hope, O Theotokos.

Troparia

Tone 4

Your lamb, Agrippina, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy save our souls.

Glory… Now…

To the One who was reared in the Temple,* close to the Holy of Holies,* and who was full of faith, wisdom, and perfect virginity,* Gabriel, the captain and leader,* offered esteem and greetings from heaven when he said:* Rejoice, O blessed One! Rejoice, O glorified One!* The Lord is with you.

DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: Your lamb, Agrippina, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy save 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 2: We, all the faithful, have found your shrine to be a place of spiritual healing,* and we cry aloud to you: “O glorious virgin martyr, Agrippina,* pray unceasingly to Christ our God for all of us!”

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.

verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)

Epistle

Romans 7:1-13

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and He was attentive to me, and He heard my prayer.

verse: He brought me out of the pit of misery and the mud of the swamp. (Psalm 39:2,3)

Gospel

Matthew 9:36-10:8

Communion Hymn

Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)