Polyeleos Feast. Nativity Fast.
GREAT VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
Blessed is the man… is chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The memory of Your martyr Eustratios, O Lord, shines like the sun;* by the brilliance of his invincible words,* he eclipsed the multitude of false gods.* As a house without foundations is brought down,* so did he overcome them by his faith* and was joined by four other martyrs as his companions.* Through their prayers, O Lover of mankind, grant us the remission of our sins.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
By their words, the sufferings of their lives and their privations,* the holy martyrs showed You their unshakeable dedication even to the end:* Orestes and Mardarius joined the wise Eustratios, Auxentius and Eugenius* in their glorious struggle.* Through their prayers, O Lord, save our souls.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
In the fury of the brutal tyrant, the illustrious Auxentius was beheaded;* Mardarius was crowned as he was hanged;* Eugenius attained the fullness of eternal life as they cut off his hands and tongue;* Orestes fell asleep in the Lord as he was laid on a bed of burning coals;* Eustratios was led like a lamb to the fire for Christ.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Eustratios, fighting the good fight for the King of heaven’s hosts,* you handed yourself over willingly to the torments and agony of death,* leading with you a blessed escort of holy martyrs.* In company with them, you struggled and all received the crowns as victors.* O wondrous martyr, intercede for us.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Eustratios, wise in God; Auxentius, with a noble heart;* Eugenius and Mardarius, the illustrious martyrs, victorious together with Orestes,* have all put the enemy to flight.* Shining like stars with the light of countless fires,* they enlighten the souls of believers and scatter the darkness of shadowy error* by the radiance of the Holy Spirit.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Having maintained the purest virginity,* you hastened joyfully into the presence of your Creator.* Renouncing your earthly suitor, you chose Christ as your Bridegroom.* Running the race to its good end, O illustrious Lucy,* you were resplendent as you bore witness to Christ by your faith.* Now you obtain miraculous cures for those who honour you.
Tone 6, Glory…
Come, all you who love the martyrs:* with hymns let us venerate the holy Athletes of Christ:* Eustratios, the invincible witness; Auxentius and Eugenius, with Orestes and Mardarius,* that choir of martyrs with five-fold brilliance.* They fought the good fight against the invisible enemy* and received their reward as conquerors.* Now they intercede with Christ for the faithful* who celebrate their holy memory with love.
Tone 1, Now…
Let us sing a hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary,* glory of the whole world!* She was herself formed by human seed,* yet she became the Mother of the Master, the Gate of heaven,* the theme of the angels’ hymn and beauty of the faithful.* She was seen as being heavenly* and the Tabernacle of the Godhead.* She indeed tore down the wall of enmity between God and man,* and brought peace in its place.* She opened up the kingdom of heaven.* Let us therefore cling fast to her for she is the anchor of faith,* and let us receive as our stronghold the Lord Who was born of her.* Be of good cheer, then, and have confidence, O people of God,* for He will fight our enemies for us,* He is all-powerful!
Readings
(1) Isaiah 43:9-14; (2) Wisdom 3:1-9; (3) Wisdom 5:15-6:3
Aposticha
Tone 1
Eustratios, the admirable and victorious martyr,* invites us to celebrate his memory each year on this day.* Thus we have all come to venerate him as a friend of the Lord,* a firm champion of the faith.
God is wonderful among His saints, the God of Israel.
Arming yourself with the courage of David,* you went out to fight to the death with another Goliath, the Seducer,* because of your faith in the Holy Trinity.* Thus, O Eustratios, you share constantly in the joy of the angels in heaven,* and you pray to the Saviour for our salvation.
God has displayed wonders in the saints who dwell in His land; all His good pleasure is upon them.
Like Elijah the Thesbite,* you were consumed by prophetic zeal for the Lord of hosts,* O Eustratios, divinely inspired martyr.* You confounded the vain arrogance of the impious,* destroying the abomination of false gods* with all your might.
Tone 5, Glory…
Without fear in the face of the bold tyrants,* you confessed your faith in Christ* and endured the torments and punishments.* O Eustratios and Auxentius, Mardarius, Eugenius and Orestes, glorious martyrs,* ceaselessly intercede with the King, our God,* for the faithful who celebrate your holy memory.
Now..
Hail, insurmountable Gate of God!* Hail, pure and spotless Virgin!* Hail, Queen and protectress of the creation!* Hail, refuge of the human race, its rampart and defense!
or Stavrotheotokion* Once she saw her Lamb elevated on the Cross,* the spotless Virgin Mother cried out in tears:* “O my Son, how can you die, for You are the immortal God!”
Troparia
Tone 4
Your martyrs, O Lord,* by their sufferings acquired the crowns of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power they overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By their supplications, save our souls.
DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Your martyrs, O Lord,* by their sufferings acquired the crowns of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power they overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By their 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: You shone, O victorious Martyr,* as a brilliant light for those sitting in the darkness of ignorance.* And armed with faith as with a lance, O Eustratios, most eloquent orator,* you feared not your enemies’ arrogance.
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
Ephesians 6:10-17
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 21:12-19
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)