Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.

VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 2, Podoben “When from the Tree…”

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

When You were nailed to the Cross, О Saviour,* the sun beheld and dimmed its rays in fear of You,* and the veil of the temple was rent in two;* the earth quaked, and the stones likewise split asunder with trembling,* unable to bear the sight of their Creator and God willingly suffering unjustly upon the Tree,* and reviled by men.

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

When the Cross was set up and You were pierced in the side with the spear, О Sinless Saviour,* the sun hid itself, unable to bear the sight;* the earth trembled, and when You were reviled, the rocks split asunder in fear;* and all creation cried out to You:* Glory be to Your crucifixion whereby You have saved all,* О Word and Lover of mankind!

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

Wholly cast down to the ground, wholly wounded,* the most wicked serpent was brought low by a strange fall* when You were uplifted upon the Tree, О Lover of mankind.* And Adam who before was condemned* was loosed from the curse and became saved.* Therefore, we also pray: Save us all, О Compassionate One,* and grant us Your kingdom!

Tone 4, Podoben “O all-praised martyrs…”

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

You opposed your courage, most praised Martyr Arethas,* to the savagery of evil men!* By the grace of God, you were shown to be victorious!* Glorious one, you brought to Christ,* a choir of martyrs formed by soldiers of all ages and races!

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

You formed a beautiful choir, most glorious Arethas* of your holy fellow martyrs!* You struggled with them, completing the good race* and the good fight of your courageous contest! Therefore entreat Christ that He may grant our souls peace and great mercy!

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

The godly minded virgin martyrs* enkindled by the love of Christ,* did not heed the weakness of their nature.* Manifestly strengthened by the power of God* they trampled down the delusion of the enemy!* They were not afraid of the pain of torture* and did not fear the fiery furnace!

Tone 4, Glory…

Today with unity of mind and with hymns, faithful,* let us honour the glorious chief shepherd Arethas and his companions!* He denounced the evil one and shed his blood in confession of Christ!* Therefore a pillar of fire consumed the face of the earth* in reproof of the ungodliness of the enemy!* Therefore, Christ God, as You strengthened the athletes for Your glory,* by the prayers of Your saints,* preserve us also from temptations and tribulations,* for You are the Master of all!

Tone 4, Now…, Podoben “As one valiant among the martyrs…”

When she beheld You, the Lamb and Shepherd, upon the Tree,* the Ewe-lamb who gave birth to You lamented and cried out to You maternally:* O my desired Son, Longsuffering One,* how is it that You are suspended upon the tree of the Cross?* How is it that Your hands and feet have been nailed by the iniquitous, O Word,* and that You have shed Your blood, O Master?

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 2

О Christ God my Saviour, who saved Peter in the sea,* save me by the power of the Cross,* and have mercy on me.

In the morning, fill us with Your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Give us joy to balance our affliction for the years when we knew misfortune. Show forth Your work to Your servants; let Your glory shine on their children.

They who ever enjoyed Your gifts cried aloud, “Crucify Him!”;* they who slew the righteous ones asked that a malefactor be released to them in place of the Benefactor.* But You kept silence, О Christ, enduring their savagery,* desiring to suffer and thus save us,* in that You love mankind.

Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands, give success to the work of our hands.

Having hated the pleasures of life,* the passion-bearers were deemed worthy of the good things of heaven* and have made their abode together with the angels.* By their prayers, О Lord, have mercy and save us.

Tone 8, Glory…

Understanding beforehand the wicked and evil plan of unbelieving men,* you struggled to suffer for Christ with a bold spirit!* You struggled for Him Who in days of old in the time of the law* saved from Egypt through the wilderness* those who condemned Him to the Cross!* So now also, those who were infected with unbelief,* went from words to deeds as they condemned you to the fire.* You suffered with strong patience and unity of mind,* showing yourselves to be great among martyrs!* Since you have boldness before God,* entreat Him that our souls may be delivered from sins!

Tone 8, Now…, Podoben “O most glorious wonder…”

“What is this sight which my eyes behold, O Master?* He who sustains all creation dies,* giving up His life for all, lifted up upon the Tree!”* the Theotokos said, weeping,*when she beheld the God-man who had shone forth from her ineffably* lifted up upon the Cross.

Troparia

Tone 1

Opposing the vile king and reproaching his disbelief in Christ,* this martyr acted bravely and suffered torture and death.* For this the angels praise you, O Arethas, and those who suffered with you,* and generations of the faithful will always bless you* as a sure intercessor for our souls.

Glory… Now…

O pure One, we have obtained your protection.* Through your intercession, we have been kept from harm* and surrounded at all times with the grace of your Son’s cross.* Therefore, we exalt you with great devotion.

DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 1: Opposing the vile king and reproaching his disbelief in Christ,* this martyr acted bravely and suffered torture and death.* For this the angels praise you, O Arethas, and those who suffered with you,* and generations of the faithful will always bless you* as a sure intercessor for 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: Today is the truly splendid feast of the martyrs.* an intercession of happiness is ours today.* Let us celebrate this feast and bless the Lord in heaven.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

To the saints who are in His land, the Lord has made wonderful all His desires in them.

verse: I foresaw the Lord in my sight, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. (Psalm 15:3,8)

Epistle

Philippians 3:8-19

Alleluia, Tone 4

verse: The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of their afflictions.

verse: The afflictions of the just are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliver them. (Psalm 33:18,20)

Gospel

Luke 7:31-35

Communion Hymn

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