VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 3, Podoben “Great is the power of Your martyrs, О Christ…”
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Through the supplications of Your honoured and divine apostles*, О only Merciful and Compassionate One who loves mankind,* grant Your humility to Your servants,* and save from misfortunes those who hymn and worship You with faith.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
When with the Judge of all you shall sit on twelve thrones to judge all creation,* show me not to be condemned,* but deliver me from darkness and all affliction,* О divine apostles, my benefactors.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
As you were eyewitnesses to God,* deliver me from the arrows of the ungodly one, foiling his machinations;* and bedew me with the dew of the Spirit, I pray you,* О divine apostles, my wise benefactors.
Tone 4, Podoben “As one valiant among the 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 dyed your vestments, Zenobius, with the blood of martyrdom!* Thus making them more adorned with grace and sanctity,* entering with them into the holy of holies, glorious one.* As a wise high priest, you were offered as a perfect and all-pure offering* and as an unblemished sacrifice* to Him who was sacrificed for you, most holy one.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Your body was burned, all-worthy hieromartyr Zenobius,* yet the inner beauty of your soul shone forth more brightly.* You are the glory of priests, Godly-minded one;* the boast of champions; a spring ever-flowing with wonders!* You put the demons to flight, divine warrior of Christ!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Your sister Zenobia was of one mind with you, all-wise one.* She voluntarily chose to suffer with you.* She endured with you a violent death,* and received with you the crown of victory,* entering with you, Zenobius, into the kingdom on high.
Tone 6, Glory…
Come, lovers of the martyrs!* Let us clap our hands today and form a choir!* Let us sing songs to commemorate the most pious contenders Zenobius and Zenobia!* They became champions of the Trinity,* and in the arena they courageously drowned the invisible enemy with their holy blood.* They have gloriously gained the crown of victory!* Therefore let us cry out to them:* O couple, holy before the Lord, both blessed and illumined,* intercede with the Saviour for the salvation of our souls!
Now…
Envying your flock, О most pure one,* the wicked adversary ever strives to make it his food;* but, О Theotokos, deliver us from his harm.
Prokeimenon, Tone 5
O Lord, save me by Your name,* and in Your power be a judge for me.
verse: O God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth.
Aposticha
Tone 3
Your sound went forth into all the earth, О holy apostles,* destroying the deception of the idols,* and preaching the knowledge of God.* Behold, your struggle is good, О blessed ones;* wherefore, we hymn and glorify your memory.
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.
As branches of the life-bearing Vine, О glorious apostles,* you brought yourselves to God as the fruit of piety;* wherefore, as you have boldness before Him,* ask that He grant peace and great mercy to our souls.
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.
Rendered steadfast by faith, strengthened by hope,* and spiritually united by the love of Your Cross, О Lord,* Your martyrs abolished the tyranny of the enemy;* and having received crowns, with the incorporeal ones, they pray for our souls.
Tone 3, Glory… Now…
O Maiden, I have sinned exceedingly,* rescue me from the flame of want by your great supplications,* and set me aright, O pure one, by your entreaties,* and guide me to the paths of salvation by your maternal supplications.
Troparia
Tone 4
O Lord our God, Your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with Your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Glory… Now…
Theotokion
O Virgin Mother of God,* we acknowledge that the Word of the Father, Christ our God,* was incarnate of you, the only pure one and the only blessed one.* Therefore, we sing to you a hymn of praise and we exalt you.
DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: O Lord our God, Your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with Your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through their supplications, O Christ our 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 8: Let us honour Zenobius and Zenobia with inspired hymns,* the two martyrs for truth and preachers of the true faith,* brother and sister who lived and suffered together.* They received the incorruptible crown of the martyrs.
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
Colossians 1:24-29
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 9:7-11
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)