Apostles’ Fast

VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 8

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, Your hands and feet run through,* Your holy side was pierced, pouring forth drops of blood and water,* divine salvation, supremely good One,* that You might wash away my defilement and pollution.* Glory to Your goodness, О all-Compassionate One!

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

You endured suffering, О Master,* that You might bestow dispassion upon all who worship Your sufferings and voluntary sacrifice:* the spear, nails and reed, which You willingly endured with long-suffering:* that for the sake of Your sufferings, О Lord, You might win dispassion for me.

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

The unblemished heifer, beholding her Bullock willingly lifted up upon the Tree,* cried out with compunction, lamenting:* “Woe is me, О my most beloved Child!* How have the ungrateful assembly of the Jews rewarded You,* desiring to leave me bereft of You, О all-Beloved!”

Tone 8

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

What shall we call you, O glorious one?* Offering of Hellas, in that you hailed from there?* Cleansing of Phoenicia, in that you were martyred there?* Lamp, for you shone forth in the darkness?* Valiant one, in that you were not vanquished by those who beat you?* Far-reaching is your fame, O most blessed Leontius!* Pray that our souls be saved.

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

What shall we name you, O passion-bearer?* Soldier of Christ, in that you were a destroyer of the enemy?* Ruler of the passions, in that you were an athlete of piety?* Feeder of the hungry, in that you loved the poor?* Righteous one, in that you were a zealot of heavenly wisdom?* Diverse were your sufferings and most splendid your contest.* Pray that our souls be saved.

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

Who does not marvel at you, O Leontius?* For, receiving a well-spring of incorruption as a dweller in paradise,* you pour forth rivers of benefaction upon the faithful,* without fee you offer abundant gifts to all those who thirst,* and gladden those who partake of the waters of goodness.* Pray that our souls be saved.

Tone 8, Glory… Now…

When the most pure one beheld You led to the slaughter,* following You with tears she cried aloud:* Where have You gone, O my Son?* I can no longer bear not beholding You* O my abundantly merciful Jesus.’

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 8

О Christ God who was lifted up upon the Cross,* You saved the race of mankind.* We glorify Your sufferings!

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.

You were nailed to the Cross, О Christ God,* opening the gates of paradise.* We glorify Your divinity!

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.

Your martyrs, О Lord, were no longer mindful of the things of life,* but ignored their tortures for the sake of the life which is to come,* and were shown to be inheritors thereof;* therefore, they rejoice with the angels.* By their supplications grant great mercy to Your people.

Glory… Now…

O Lord, when the sun beheld You the Sun of righteousness, hanging upon the Tree,* it hid its rays, and the light of the moon was changed to darkness;* and Your all-immaculate Mother was pierced in the depths of her soul.

Troparion

Tone 4

Your martyr, Leontius, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.

DIVINE LITURGY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: Your martyr, Leontius, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, 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: As a bright and unerring star you appeared to the world* proclaiming with your rays the Sun, that is, Christ, O martyr, Leontius,* and you have extinguished all error.* But to us you give light, praying without ceasing for all of us.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.

verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I make my petition to You. (Psalm 63:11,2)

Epistle

Romans 4:13-25

Alleluia, Tone 4

verse: The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; and he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon.

verse: They who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish the courts of our God. (Psalm 91:13,14)

Gospel

Matthew 7:21-23

Communion Hymn

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