Dormition Fast.

VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There are no appointed psalms to be chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 7, Podoben “Today Judas keeps vigil…”

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

Lift up your eyes, О my soul,* and behold the dispensation and tender compassion of God:* how having bowed down the heavens,* He descended to the earth,* that He might raise you up from the wretched state of your passions,* and set you upon the rock of faith.* О, the wonder of this awesome miracle!* Glory to Your abasement, О Lover of mankind!

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

Behold your all-iniquitous works, О my soul,* and marvel that the earth still bears you, that it has not been driven asunder,* that the wild beasts do not devour you,* that the ever-shining Sun has not ceased to shine upon you.* Arise, repent, and cry out to the Lord:* I have sinned against You, I have sinned!* Have mercy on me!

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

Trusting in You, О omnipotent Lord, we beseech You,* that we be delivered from all tribulations, sufferings, and turmoil;* that we may pass our life in peace;* and, having lived in purity, may find You, our Master,* merciful on the day of judgment.

Tone 1, Podoben “Joy of the ranks of heaven…”

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

Come, let us ever sing hymns to the memory of the seven honoured youths;* the brilliant seven-branched lampstand.* Let us cry out to Christ who has crowned them:* By their prayers, Lord and Deliverer, bring peace to our life!

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

The seven godly youths died according to nature.* Yet they rose up at once as though from sleep* in a manner transcending nature indeed* for they had slept in the cave as dead for three hundred and seventy-two years!

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

Now let us honour John and Martinian,* Anthony and Dionysius* with the godly Iamblicus and Maximilian,* for they pray on our behalf.* Together with them let us praise with devotion* the wise Exacustodian.

Tone 1, Glory… Now…

With the staff of your prayer, O pure Theotokos,* quickly drive away the bestial passions from my wretched soul,* peacefully guiding my life;* and number me upon the holy flock of your chosen ones.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

And now bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.

verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.

Aposticha

Tone 7

As did the Prodigal Son, I also come to You, O compassionate one,* and I fall down before You.* Accept me as one of Your hired servants O God,* and have mercy on me, O Lover of mankind.

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.

Like the man who fell among thieves and was wounded,* I also have fallen as a result of the multitude of sins,* and my soul has been grievously wounded.* To whom shall I, guilty as I am, flee for refuge,* if not to You, the merciful Physician of souls?* Pour upon me, O God, Your great mercy.

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.

Glory to You, О Christ God,* boast of the apostles and joy of the martyrs,* who preached the consubstantial Trinity!

Tone 7, Glory… Now…

With the angel we cry out to you: Rejoice! O Bride of God,* calling you the bridal-chamber and portal,* the fiery throne and unquarried mountain,* and bush unconsumed.

Troparia

Tone 4

What a marvel of faith!* The seven holy youths lived in a cave as in a palace,* and they passed on without corruption.* After time had marched on, they came out as if from sleep* and are fitting signs of the resurrection of all.* Have mercy on us, O Christ, through their prayers.

Glory… Now…

To the One who was reared in the Temple,* close to the Holy of Holies,* and who was full of faith, wisdom, and perfect virginity,* Gabriel, the captain and leader,* offered esteem and greetings from heaven when he said:* Rejoice, O blessed One! Rejoice, O glorified One!* The Lord is with you.

DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: What a marvel of faith!* The seven holy youths lived in a cave as in a palace,* and they passed on without corruption.* After time had marched on, they came out as if from sleep* and are fitting signs of the resurrection of all.* Have mercy on us, O Christ, through their prayers.

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

Kontakion, Tone 4: Despising the corruptible things of this world,* they received gifts which were incorruptible.* They died but did not decay.* Coming out after many years, they bury unbelief.* O faithful people, come to praise them today,* and let us raise a hymn to Christ.

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

1 Corinthians 11:31-12:6

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

Matthew 18:1-11

Communion Hymn

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