Apostles’ Fast.

VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING

At Psalm 140

Tone 4

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

When John was born, he loosed the muteness of Zachariah;* for it was not fitting that his father keep silence when the voice issued forth:* but as his tongue was bound before because he would not believe,* so when the Baptist appeared he freed his father,* announcing to him that the voice of the Word was born, the forerunner of the Light,* who prays for our souls.

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

Today the voice of the Word looses the voice of his father,* which has been restrained because of his unbelief;* and he makes fruitfulness manifest to the Church,* loosing the bonds of his mother’s barrenness.* The lamp goes forth, the ray announces the coming of the Sun of righteousness,* to the edification of all and the salvation of our souls

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

When the Word of God was to be born of the Virgin,* His angel issued forth from the womb of an elderly woman:* he who is the greatest born of women and the foremost of the prophets.* For it was fitting that the Word is the all-glorious beginning of divine things,* the Offspring outside of time, conceived without seed.* O You who work wonders for our salvation, glory be to You!

Tone 4

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

You endured a twofold suffering in your contest, O most praised Febronia,* mingling the blood of martyrdom with the sweat of your ascetic endeavour;* therefore, the Benefactor has given you a twofold crown.* And you have entered in to Him, splendidly adorned,* as a most immaculate virgin and an invincible martyr.

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

The divine beauties of your soul* came together with the comeliness of your body,* and you shone forth like a white lily in the habitations of the venerable,* yet empurpled by the streams of your blood, O most immaculate bride.* Therefore, the comely Bridegroom of heaven* and the indestructible bridal-chamber* have received you as a virgin and martyr.

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

O most lauded Febronia,* the angel of deliverance has come near to you;* for from childhood you were shown to fear the Lord,* and brought yourself to the Almighty as a pure and cherished offering.* Therefore, you trampled the foolishness of Selenus underfoot* and earnestly hastened to Christ, your Bridegroom.

Tone 8, Glory… Now…

Behold Elizabeth, who said to the Virgin Mary:* Why have you come to me, O Mother of my Lord? You bear the King, and I, the warrior.* You, the Law-giver; I, the transmitter of the law,* You, the Word; and I, the voice proclaiming the kingdom of heaven.

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 1

The Cross was set up on Golgotha,* and has blossomed forth immortality for us from the ever-flowing fountain* of the Saviour’s side.

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 precious Cross of the Saviour is for us an indestructible rampart;* for, placing our trust therein,* we all are saved.

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.

О how good was your barter, О saints!* For you traded your blood and inherited heavenly things;* and having undergone trials for a time, you rejoice everlastingly.* Of a truth your commerce was good!* For, having forsaken corruptible things, you received those things which were incorrupt;* and joining chorus with the angels, you unceasingly hymn* the consubstantial Trinity.

Tone 6, Glory… Now…

Elizabeth conceived the forerunner of grace,* and the Virgin conceived the Lord of glory.* Both mothers greeted each other with a kiss,* and the babe leapt up within his mother,* for the servant praised his Master.* And the mother of the forerunner, marvelling, cried out:* “Why is this granted to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?” That He might save the despairing people, in that He has great mercy.

Troparia

Tone 4

O Prophet and forerunner of the coming of Christ,* we, who lovingly honour you are at a loss to praise you worthily;* for your mother’s barrenness and your father’s silence* were both ended by your honoured and glorious birth,* and the incarnation of the Son of God* is preached to the whole world.

Glory…

Your lamb, Febronia, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy 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 4: O Prophet and forerunner of the coming of Christ,* we, who lovingly honour you are at a loss to praise you worthily;* for your mother’s barrenness and your father’s silence* were both ended by your honoured and glorious birth,* and the incarnation of the Son of God* is preached to the whole world.

Troparion, Tone 4: Your lamb, Febronia, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy save our souls.

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

Kontakion, Tone 2: We, all the faithful, have found your shrine to be a place of spiritual healing,* and we cry aloud to you: “O glorious virgin martyr, Febronia,* pray unceasingly to Christ our God for all of us!”

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 3: She who once was barren gives birth today to the Forerunner of Christ,* who will fulfil every prophecy.* In the Jordan he placed his hand upon the One Whom the prophets foretold* and thus was shown to be the prophet, the herald,* and the Forerunner of the Word of God.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.

verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)

Epistle

Romans 8:2-13

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and He was attentive to me, and He heard my prayer.

verse: He brought me out of the pit of misery and the mud of the swamp. (Psalm 39:2,3)

Gospel

Matthew 10:16-22

Communion Hymn

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