VESPERS ON MONDAY 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 all-praised martyrs of Christ,* when once the mindlessness of the Greeks held sway* and drew all into the pit of iniquity,* you did not leave the straight path and did not join yourselves to ungodliness,* but suffered with valour of character* and, slain by the sword, have inherited life.

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

Celebrating with gladness their sacred memory,* with faith let us honour and with hymns let us bless* Theognes, Rufus and Antipater,* Theostichus and Artemas, Magnus and Theodotus,* the glorious Thaumasius and the godly Philemon,* who shone forth splendidly in their sufferings* and have enlightened those in darkness.

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

O beautiful flowers of the martyrs,* sacred legion, company assembled by God, excellent congregation,* divinely chosen assembly, holy choir, blessed council,* who struggled for the Trinity:* entreat the Trinity, beseech the Trinity for us,* that we may receive remission of sins.

Tone 8

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

O blessed and venerable Memnon,* having first purified your soul by ascetic labour,* you became the pure and beautiful abode of the Spirit;* therefore, you expelled evil spirits and ever heal the infirmities of those who have recourse to you.* Pray to Christ in behalf of us who praise you.

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

O glorious and venerable Memnon,* having gained control over the passions of your soul,* you trained a legion of monks,* zealously anointing them for labours of asceticism,* and you presented them before the Word who sees all things;* and having lived a blessed life and been unsullied by defilements,* with them be ever mindful of us who praise you.

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

O venerable Memnon who art most rich,* of old you caused a spring of water to pour forth,* to the praise of the Lord and for the preservation of souls.* You have saved ships from the depths of the sea,* by your supplications have preserved men from a plague of locusts,* and ever work countless miracles.* Pray to Christ in behalf of us who praise you.

Tone 1, Glory… Now…

As the disciples were in doubt,* the Saviour came on the eighth day to where they were gathered* and having granted them peace,* He cried to Thomas saying:* Come, O Apostle, and feel the palms in which they fastened the nails.* Oh! the good unbelief of Thomas,* which has led the hearts of the faithful to knowledge!* Hence, he cried out with fear:* O my Lord and my God, glory be to You.

Aposticha

Tone 1

Go around Sion, O peoples, and encompass her,* and give glory to Him who in her midst arose from the dead;* for He is our God,* and has delivered us from our iniquities

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.

Since I stand condemned by my evil thoughts and deeds, O Saviour,* grant me the thought of returning to You, O God,* that I may cry to You: Save me, O good Benefactor,* and have mercy on me.

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.

Your confession before the judgment seat, O Saints,* cast down the power of the demons,* and freed mankind from deception.* Wherefore, as you were beheaded, you cried aloud:* May the sacrifice of our lives be acceptable to You, O Lord,* for out of longing for You we have disdained this fleeting life,* O Lover of mankind.

Tone 2, Glory… Now…

After Your arising, O Lord,* You stood in the midst of Your disciples when they were gathered together,* while the doors were shut, granting them peace.* And Thomas became convinced at beholding Your hands and side,* confessing that You are the Lord and God,* who saves them that hope in You, O Lover of mankind.

Troparion

Tone 7

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.

Glory… 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 TUESDAY 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 4:1-10

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 3:16-21

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.