Nativity Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.

VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 1, Podoben “O all-praised martyrs…”

If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

As a splendid receptacle of the Spirit and one illumined by Him,* O Obadiah of vision most divine,* you were enriched by the image of prophecy,* the foreknowledge of things to come, and the knowledge of the truth.* Pray now that He grant our souls peace and great mercy.

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

Of the primary traits and essential proofs by which God is depicted* the glorious and honourable prophets partake as a gift secondarily* through communion and grace when the Lord illumines His favoured ones* with His effulgence.

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

Full of never-waning light,* beholding glory which transcends understanding and reason,* and standing before the Master of all,* you were a glorious prophet and a divine herald of God.* Entreat Him that He grant our souls peace and great mercy.

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 were firmer than a pillar, stronger than brass, and mightier than iron;* for, when heated by fire, each of them disintegrates and is straightway destroyed, overcome by force thereof;* but your unwavering right hand, outstretched over the burning coals, O most wise one,* triumphed most gloriously.

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

As though you were a priest standing before God and coming before Him,* not with another’s blood, but with your own most of all, O blessed one,* you offered an incense of sweet savour with your martyr’s hand,* not to demonic illusions, but to Christ, the Saviour and Master,* who reigns forever.

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

A priest who offers and a lamb which is offered:* we joyously call you both, O most lauded one;* for as both were you immolated in the fire of torment* as an unblemished sacrifice to God.* Entreat Him that He save them that ever honour your most glorious memory.

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

As she beheld You, the Lamb and Shepherd, upon the Tree,* the ewe-lamb who gave birth to You lamented and maternally exclaimed to You:* O my Son most desired,* how is it that You are suspended upon the Tree of the Cross, O Longsuffering One?* How is it, O Word, that Your hands and feet have been nailed by the iniquitous?* How have You shed Yourblood, O Master?

Prokeimenon, Tone 1

Your mercy, O Lord, shall follow me* all the days of my life.

verse: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. In green pastures He gives me repose.

Aposticha

Tone 6

Your Cross is life and help for Your people, О Lord;* and trusting therein, we hymn You, our God who was crucified in the flesh.* Have mercy on us!

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.

Your Cross, О Lord, has opened paradise to the race of mankind;* and delivered from corruption, we hymn You, our God who was crucified in the flesh.* Have mercy on us!

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.

They who suffered for Your sake, О Christ, endured many torments* and have received perfect crowns in the heavens.* May they pray on behalf of our souls.

Glory… Now…

Upon beholding our Life suspended upon the Tree,* the all-immaculate Theotokos cried aloud, maternally lamenting:* O my Son and my God, save those who with love hymn You!

Troparia

Tone 2

Celebrating the memory of your prophet Obadiah, O Lord,* we beg You to save our souls through his intercession.

Tone 4, Glory…

O Lord our God, your holy martyr Barlaam* has deserved the crown of immortality* on account of his good fight.* Armed with your strength, he has vanquished his persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through his supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Now…

O Virgin, all immaculate Mother of Christ God,* a sword pierced your all-holy soul* when you saw your Son and God willingly crucified.* Therefore, O blessed One,* never cease to pray to Him* that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.

DIVINE LITURGY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 2: Celebrating the memory of your prophet Obadiah, O Lord,* we beg You to save our souls through his intercession.

Troparion, Tone 4: O Lord our God, your holy martyr Barlaam* has deserved the crown of immortality* on account of his good fight.* Armed with your strength, he has vanquished his persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through his supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 1: Receiving clarity of mind from divine illumination,* the great Obadiah sees the future through the Holy Spirit.* We piously and wisely keep his memory today,* and venerate him to find light for our hearts.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4: You became a renowned person because of your might,* and you offered yourself like incense as a sacrifice in the fire to Christ.* You received a crown of honour, O martyr Barlaam;* now pray for us at all times.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.

verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I make my petition to You. (Psalm 63:11,2)

Epistle

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

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 11:42-46

Communion Hymn

The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)