Great Doxology.

VESPERS ON MONDAY 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.

Rome presents you as a garden of sweet-smelling flowers, O much suffering Parasceve,* perfuming the thoughts of the faithful with the fragrance of the virtues,* and ever dispelling the stench of the passions with grace, O glorious one,* beauty of the martyrs, boast of virgins,* and abyss of miracles.

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

You have been given to all as glory beyond price by Christ our God,* having suffered in Rome; and, abiding therein, O glorious martyr,* you drive away from men the wickedness of the demons by your assistance.* Therefore, we all bless you and praise your holy sufferings today,* O much suffering Parasceve.

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

Preserved by the power of Christ, O most glorious Parasceve,* you ignored the pain of your body* and entered upon your struggles with faithful resolve,* paying no heed to your human weakness;* and, strengthened by hope, you have received illumination* with those who came before you.

Tone 6

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

Assembling, we, the faithful, praise you with love* and bless your struggles, O martyr Parasceve.* Entreat Christ your Bridegroom,* that by your supplications He deliver us* from misfortunes and perils.

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

Desiring to follow after Christ, your Bridegroom, O all-praised Parasceve,* you zealously drained the true cup of your blood,* like a melodious swallow giving voice* to a hymn to Christ God, the Creator of all,* for those who celebrate your memory.

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

Honouring the sufferings of Christ,* your parents made you the namesake of the day on which they are commemorated;* and when you reached maturity, you withstood sufferings, enduring wounds;* and, dancing in prison as in a splendid bridal chamber, you cried out:* “I shall never be separated from You, O Lord!* Send me Your aid, and save me in Your great mercy!”

Tone 6, Glory…

The Queen stood at the right and of the Saviour, as David sang;* and your soul, adorned as with vesture of gold,* you set before your Lord as a sacrifice,* and you offered Him the blood of your body like incense of sweet savour.* O all-praised martyr Parasceve,* pray for us to Christ God, the Master of all,* that He save our souls.

Tone 6, Now…

О most holy Virgin, show forth upon me, the wretched one,* the depths of your love for mankind,* the abyss of your tender compassion, and the countless compassions of thy goodness.* Mow down the stubble of sin, granting me chastity,* and preserve my body and soul undefiled,* О you who have given birth to the Saviour.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

The Lord hears me* when I cry out to Him.

verse: Whenever I called, the God of my justice heard me.

Aposticha

Tone 3

Our evening hymn do we bring to You, O Christ,* with incense and spiritual songs,* have mercy on us and save our souls.

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.

Save me, O Lord my God for You are the salvation of all:* The storm of the passions disquiets me,* and the yoke of my transgressions weighs heavily upon me.* Stretch out Your helping hand and lead me up to the light of compunction,* for You alone are compassionate and the Lover of mankind.

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.

Great is the power of Your martyrs, О Christ;* for while lying in their graves they drive evil spirits away;* and, having struggled for piety with their faith in the Trinity,* they abolished the authority of the enemy.

Tone 8, Glory…

These things did Parasceve say to the tyrant,* “O ungodly and perverse governor, why do you rage against the Christians?* I have neither deprived you of a kingdom, nor destroyed your city,* yet you think to persuade me with foolish words.* I shall pay no heed to you or to your mindless words;* for I will not spare my flesh for my Christ, for He loves me* and shall bestow kingdom upon me.

Tone 8, Now…

Rejoice, praise of the universe!* Rejoice, temple of the Lord!* Rejoice, mountain overshadowed!* Rejoice, refuge of all!* Rejoice, golden candlestick!* Rejoice, honoured glory of the Orthodox!* Rejoice, Mary, Mother of Christ God!* Rejoice, paradise! Rejoice, divine table!* Rejoice, tabernacle! Rejoice, golden jar!* Rejoice, hope of all!

Troparia

Tone 4

O all-wise and most lauded Parasceve, martyr of Christ,* having received the strength of faith and set aside your human weakness,* you vanquished the devil and put the tyrant to shame,* crying out and saying: “Come, cut my body asunder with your swords and burn me with fire;* for, rejoicing, I shall go to Christ my Bridegroom!”* Through her supplications, O Christ God, save our souls.

Glory… Now…

Let us poor sinners hasten with fervour to the Mother of God;* let us humbly kneel before her and say from the depth of our hearts:* O Lady, be kind to us and help us.* Hasten, for we are perishing under a multitude of sins.* Do not turn away your servants empty-handed,* for you are their only hope and protection.

DIVINE LITURGY ON TUESDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: O all-wise and most lauded Parasceve, martyr of Christ,* having received the strength of faith and set aside your human weakness,* you vanquished the devil and put the tyrant to shame,* crying out and saying: “Come, cut my body asunder with your swords and burn me with fire;* for, rejoicing, I shall go to Christ my Bridegroom!”* Through her supplications, O Christ God, 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 3: You poured out your blood like the finest wine for Christ your spouse.* You pleased the angelic choirs in their songs and vanquished the devil.* Because of this, O long-suffering Parasceve, we honour you in faith.

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

Colossians 1:1,2,7-11

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

Luke 8:1-3

Communion Hymn

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