The Nativity Fast begins on this day.

VESPERS ON FRIDAY 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.

The most wise Abibus, the wondrous Samonas, and the glorious Gurias,* the three passion-bearers who have formed a common choir for the faithful,* now join our chorus and rejoice with us;* for God has granted to the souls of the martyrs* to behold spiritually the things that are taking place.

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 pain and unbearable torments,* you suffered valiantly, O Samonas, Abibus, and blessed Gurias,* martyrs who are equal in number to the Trinity.* Now you enjoy the bliss of the eternal delight of Christ,* who grants you the reward of your labours.* Entreat Him fervently that our souls may be saved!

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

Having gone over to the serene harbour,* to the quiet life and to the all-tranquil haven,* you have exchanged your pains for abiding dispassion.* You have received fitting honours from God* as a reward from God for your labours,* O blessed passion-bearing martyrs.

Tone 5, Podoben “Rejoice…”

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

With the streams of their blood the passion-bearers quenched the flame of grievous ungodliness;* and enkindling the radiance of piety throughout the whole world,* they utterly consumed the false gods and their fetid stench.* They have shone forth the most pure light upon those on earth,* and enlightened thereby, we elude the darkness of ungodliness* and evade the delusion of idols, worshipping Christ,* who grants the world great mercy.

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

Easily setting at naught the words of the ungodly heretics and their pursuit,* you became warriors of the beginningless Father,* the Son Who is equally without beginning,* and the Holy Spirit, the Unity of Divinity in three Hypostases,* teaching the faithful with piety of mind and confirming the preaching of the orthodox faith.* Therefore, you are called blessed, О most sacred pastors,* for in life-bearing pastures you tended the flock of Christ,* for whom you endured all manner of pangs and many and varied trials.

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

Receiving mastery of mind through the doing of virtuous deeds,* the company of the venerable, who struggled, with ease utterly trampled the carnal passions underfoot.* Thereby they valiantly overcame all the wiles of the demons* and were revealed to be conversers with the angels,* since they lived as ones incorporeal.* And they now rejoice in the mansions on high, living in splendour, and standing before Christ,* beseech Him to grant our souls great mercy.

Tone 5, Glory… Now…

A symbol of the undefiled Virgin and bride* was revealed in the Red Sea.* There, Moses divided the waters;* here, Gabriel is the messenger of the miracle.* There, the Israelites crossed the deep and their feet were not even wet;* here, the Virgin gives birth to Christ without human seed.* There, the sea remained uncrossed after the passing of Israel;* here, the immaculate remained incorrupt after giving birth to Emmanuel.* Therefore, O immortal God, who appeared in the flesh as true Man,* have mercy on us!

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

O God, You are my defender* and Your mercy goes before me.

verse: Deliver me from my enemies, O God; save me from those who rise up against me.

Aposticha

Tone 5

Intercede on our behalf, O holy martyrs,* that we may be delivered from our sins:* for to you is granted the grace to pray on our behalf.

Blessed are they whom You have chosen* and have taken to Yourself, О Lord,

Your souls, O holy martyrs, were filled with an insatiable love;* not denying Christ you endured great sufferings and torment,* and casting down the tyrants’ pride,* you kept the faith unaltered and unharmed,* and dwelling now in the heavens,* you have boldness before Christ,* pray that He grant us great mercy.

Their souls shall dwell* amid good things.

I called to mind the words of the Prophet:* ‘I am but dust and ashes.’* I went also to the tombs, and saw the naked bones, and said:* ‘Which now is the king or the soldier,* the rich man or the beggar,* the upright or the sinner?’* But grant rest with the righteous, O Lord, to the souls of Your servants,* since You are the Lover of mankind.

Glory… Now…

O you who are full of grace,* intercede by your supplications,* and beg that a multitude of compassions be granted to our souls* and the cleansing of our many sins,* we entreat you.

Troparia

Tone 5

You granted us the miracles of your holy martyrs as a stronghold and a protection.* Through their prayers, strengthen our country in every good deed.* O Christ our God, You alone are merciful and You love all people.

Glory… Now…

Rejoice, Virgin, impassable gateway of the Lord!* Rejoice, protective wall of those who take refuge in you!* Rejoice, peaceful haven untroubled by storms!* Rejoice, O Virgin who has not known wedlock* and yet has given birth in the flesh to your Creator and God!* O Mother of God, never cease to intercede* for those who praise and worship your Son.

DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 5: You granted us the miracles of your holy martyrs as a stronghold and a protection.* Through their prayers, strengthen our country in every good deed.* O Christ our God, You alone are merciful and You love all people.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: O wise martyrs, after receiving a special grace from on high,* you became the protectors of those threatened with danger.* You saved a maiden from death, O holy ones;* you are indeed the glory of Edessa and the joy of the world.

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

2 Corinthians 8:1-5

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 8:16-21

Communion Hymn

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