VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

Paschal Beginning

Kathisma Reading

The assigned 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.

O Lord, You knew the glorious Jeremiah even before he was created,* and You sanctified the prophet before his birth, and from infancy,* as one who knew freedom of understanding beforehand:* Through his supplications save our souls, in that You are merciful.

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

O Lord, even though the holy Jeremiah was cast into a cesspool, yet he noetically acquired a beautiful sweet fragrance,* for he dwells in the mansions of paradise.* By his supplications preserve us all, in that You are our Benefactor.

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

O Lord, the prophet, shining with Your all-radiant beams,* was seen even by his opponents to be blessed and honourable;* for the adversary was put to shame by his virtues;* and he foresaw the things of the future* as though they were present ascents.

Tone 2

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

Blessed Father Clement!* From your youth you loved God,* by your life you taught the people the faith of Christ.* By adorning the monastery of Univ you beautified your soul with virtues* and received the crown prepared for you because of your struggles, O blessed one.

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

Blessed Father Clement!* By your pure life you shone forth as a model* of the God-given rule that leads to salvation* and laid low the legions of demons.* Therefore, deliver us today from the fog of sin, O blessed one.

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

Blessed Father Clement!* You blossomed forth beautifully by your wondrous deeds* as a model for your disciples.* Today you rejoice with the bodiless powers,* glorifying God without ceasing.* Pray to Him that He grant oneness of mind to the Church,* peace and great mercy, O blessed one.

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

O strange wonder,* unbelief has given birth to steadfast faith!* For Thomas said: Unless I see, I shall not believe.* And when he touched the side of Christ, he spoke with divine authority* concerning the Incarnate One who is the very Son of God,* and recognized Him as the One who suffered in the flesh.* He proclaimed the Risen God,* and cried with a radiant voice:* O my Lord and my God, glory be to You.

Aposticha

Tone 1

By Your Passion, O Christ, we have been set free from passions,* and by Your Resurrection we have been delivered from corruption.* O Lord, glory be to You.

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.

The all-harmonious harp of the Apostles, moved by the Holy Spirit,* has abolished the rites of the abominable demons.* And having proclaimed the one Lord,* it has delivered the nations from the deception of idolatry,* and has taught us to worship the Trinity one in essence.

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.

O all-praised Martyrs of the Lord,* the earth could not conceal you;* but Heaven has received you,* opening the gates of Paradise to you.* And dwelling now therein, you joyfully partake of the Tree of Life.* Thus, we pray you to intercede with Christ,* that He bestow peace and great mercy upon our souls.

Tone 6, Glory…

The joyous spring time of the Pascha of the Lord has dawned on us today!* Let us rejoice and draw from the fruits of its harvest:* life, incorruption, and immortality.* Come, O you faithful,* and let us also celebrate the annual memory of the hieromartyr Clement!* He shone forth with an abundant harvest of virtues:* riches through poverty,* a noble spirit through humility,* victorious strength through weakness and suffering,* and, following after Christ,* he passes from death to life.

Tone 4, Now…

O strange wonder,* that grass should touch fire and be safe!* For Thomas thrust his hand into the fiery side of Jesus Christ our God,* and was not burned by touching.* For with fervour he changed the obstinacy of his soul into fervent faith,* and he cried out from the depths of his soul:* You are my Master and God,* who arose from the dead.* Glory be to You.

Troparion

Tone 2

As we celebrate the memory of Your prophet, Jeremiah,* O Lord, we beseech You through him: “Save our souls!”

Tone 4, Glory…

Accepting the angelic image and following the life in Christ* you renounced the wealth and generosity of your father’s house,* you freely chose the poverty of monastic life* and did not waver from the Cross and martyrdom.* All-blessed hieromartyr Clement,* righteous and gentle father,* leader of monks, defender of orphans and comforter of prisoners,* pray for our souls.

Tone 7, Now…

While the tomb was sealed, O Christ God, You dawned as life from the sepulcher, and while the doors were shut, You came to Your disciples, the Resurrection of all, renewing a right spirit in us through them, according to Your great mercy.

DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING

After the priest has exclaimed, Blessed be the Kingdom… and the people have responded, Amen, the clergy sing the Paschal Troparion once and the people repeat it. Then, the clergy sing the first half, and the people conclude it.

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

First Antiphon

Shout to the Lord, all the earth,* sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.

Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

Say unto God, “How awesome are Your works!* Because of the greatness of Your strength Your enemies will flatter You.”

Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

Let all the earth worship You and sing to You,* let it sing to Your name, O Most High!

Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

Glory… Now… Only-begotten Son…

Third Antiphon

Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour

Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.

Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

For God is the great Lord and the great king over all the earth.

Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 7: While the tomb was sealed, O Christ God, You dawned as life from the sepulchre, and while the doors were shut, You came to Your disciples, the Resurrection of all, renewing a right spirit in us through them, according to Your great mercy.

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

Kontakion, Tone 8: With his searching hand, Thomas explored Your life-giving side, O Christ God. For when You entered while the doors were shut, he called out to You with the rest of the Apostles: You are my Lord and my God!

Prokeimenon, Tone 3

Great is our Lord and great is His strength;* and of His knowledge there is no end.

verse: Praise the Lord, for a psalm is good; may praise be sweet to our God. (Psalm 146:5,1)

Epistle

Acts 4:23-31

Alleluia, Tone 8

verse: Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God our Saviour.

verse: For God is the great Lord and the great king over all the earth. (Psalm 94:1,3)

Gospel

John 5:24-30

Hymn to the Mother of God

The Angel cried out to the One full of Grace: O chaste Virgin, rejoice! And again I say, Rejoice! Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day, and raised the dead. Let all people rejoice! Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Exult now and be glad, O Sion! And you, O chaste Mother of God, take delight in the resurrection of your Son.

Communion Hymn

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem.* Praise your God, O Sion.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm147:1)

Instead of Blessed is He Who comes… we sing:

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

Instead of We have seen the true light… we sing:

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

Instead of May our mouths be filled… we sing three times:

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

Instead of Blessed be the name of the Lord… we sing three times:

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

At the dismissal, instead of Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen. we chant:

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs giving life.

After the final Amen, the Troparion Christ is risen is sung as at the beginning of the Liturgy, but with the addition:

And to us He has granted life eternal;* we bow down before His resurrection on the third day.