Third Sunday after Pentecost; Octoechos Tone 2; The Holy, Glorious, All-Praiseworthy and Chief Apostles Peter and Paul.

When

June 29, 2025

All Day

All-Night Vigil Feast. Resurrection Gospel 3.

GREAT VESPERS ON SATURDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

Blessed is the man… is sung.

At Psalm 140

Tone 2

Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

Come, let us adore God the Word,* who was born of the Father before all ages,* and was incarnate of the Virgin Mary;* for of His own free will He suffered the Cross* and submitted Himself to burial,* and arose from the dead to save me, a sinful one.

The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

Christ our Saviour cancelled the decree that was written against us,* by nailing it to the Cross;* and He abolished the dominion of Death.* Let us glorify His resurrection on the third day.

Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

Let us, together with the archangels, sing of Christ’s resurrection;* for He is the Redeemer and Saviour of our souls.* He will come again in awesome glory and mighty power* to judge the world which He has fashioned.

Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

Although You died and were buried,* the angel yet declared You as Master.* He said to the women: Come and see where the Lord was placed;* for He is risen as He foretold,* because He is almighty.* Therefore, we worship You, the only Immortal One,* and we beseech You to have mercy on us, O Giver of Life.

Tone 2

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

What crowns of praise shall we weave for Peter and Paul?* They were separated in the body but united in spirit,* and outstanding as the preachers of God.* The one indeed led the apostles,* while the other laboured more than all the rest.* Christ our God, showing great mercy,* fittingly crowns them with immortal glory.

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

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

With what beautiful hymns shall we praise Peter and Paul?* They are wings of divine knowledge,* spreading out to the far ends of the earth* and soaring aloft to heaven.* They are two heads of the Gospel of grace,* two feet of the preaching of the truth,* two rivers of wisdom and two arms of the Cross,* through which the merciful Christ casts down the pride of demons.

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

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

With what spiritual songs shall we praise Peter and Paul?* They slew the godless tongues of idolaters.* They are fearful swords of the Spirit and notable ornaments of Rome,* nourishers of the whole world* and the God-inspired tablets of the new covenant.* Christ, in His great mercy, has proclaimed their honour in Sion.

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

Tone 4, Glory…

Christ asked three times: Peter, do you love Me?* Thereby He satisfied the three-fold denial;* and Simon, understanding the mystery, cried to the Lord:* You know all things; You know that I love You.* After this, Christ said to him:* Feed my sheep, feed my lambs;* feed those sheep which I have fashioned for salvation with my own blood.* Therefore, O blessed Apostle of God,* beseech Him to grant us great mercy.

Tone 2, Now…

O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away* with the realization of grace.* For as the bush had burned without being consumed,* so you gave birth while a virgin* and you remained a virgin.* Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.* Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,* the Saviour of our souls.

Prokeimenon, Tone 6

The Lord reigns,* He is clothed in majesty.

verse: Robed is the Lord and girt about with strength.

verse: For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.

verse: Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.

Readings

(1) 1 Peter 1: 3-9; (2) 1 Peter 1: 13 – 19; (3) 1 Peter 2: 11-24

Lytia

Tone 2

Come today, O assemblies of the faithful,* O choirs full of praise, O beautiful gathering,* O chosen craftsmen of grace,* we are crowning Peter and Paul with worthy praises.* They sowed the Word in its fullness;* through them the grace of the Spirit was poured out abundantly.* And being the vine of the true vineyard,* they divided up for us a ripe cluster, making our hearts joyful.* Let us sing to them with clear expression,* and with a clean conscience let us say:* Rejoice, O destroyers of the unwise* and the servants of the spiritual ones.* Rejoice, O intermediaries for the good who banish evil.* Let us beseech them to always pray to the Creator and Teacher* to grant an enduring peace to the world* and great mercy to our souls.

Let us praise as intercessors for the world,* the teachers and foundations of the Church of Christ,* its true pillars and walls,* trumpets of the divine teachings and sufferings of Christ,* the prime apostles Peter and Paul.* They travelled throughout the earth,* as though with a plough, sowing the faith,* and planted a knowledge of God in all,* revealing the Word of the Trinity.* O Peter, rock of foundation, and Paul, O chosen vessel,* you were harnessed together to the will of Christ.* You raised up all creation to a knowledge of God:* the nations, the cities, and the islands.* Indeed, you lifted up anew the Hebrews into the Church,* and now you pray that our souls be saved.

O Peter, the first of the glorious apostles and rock of faith!* wondrous Paul, orator and lamp stand of the holy churches,* standing before the divine throne,* pray to Christ for us.

O Paul, spokesman of the Lord and foundation of doctrine!* Once you were a persecutor of Jesus the Saviour,* and then indeed you were among the first of the apostles, O blessed one.* You saw the ineffable One, O wise Apostle.* You were transported up to the third heaven, and you exclaimed:* Come with me and do not be deprived of the good things.

Tone 3

O citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem,* behold the rock of faith and the orator of the Church of Christ,* the two men of the Trinity and fishers of the world,* today are departing from the earth.* Suffering the passion, they ascend to God,* and they pray to Him with confidence to save our souls.

Tone 5, Glory…

The wisdom of God and the Word who is co-eternal with the Father* has truly foretold in the Gospel, O all-praiseworthy Apostles,* that you are the two most fruitful vines;* for you bore in your branches the ripe and beautiful cluster* from which we believers are now nourished* and whose taste brings us both sweetness and delight.* Therefore, O Peter, rock of faith, and Paul, pride of the universe,* strengthen the flock that became yours through your teachings.

Now…

We bless you, O Theotokos and Virgin;* and we faithful ones glorify you always.* You are the ineffable city, the mighty wall,* the powerful mediatrix, and the haven of our souls.

Aposticha

Tone 2

Your Resurrection, O Christ our Saviour,* has enlightened the whole universe;* and, through it, You call back to Yourself all Creation.* Almighty God, glory to You!

The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

By the wood of Your Cross, O Saviour,* You have abolished the curse of the tree;* by Your burial You have destroyed the power of death;* and by Your resurrection You enlightened the human race.* We, therefore, cry out to You:* O Christ our God, Giver of Life, glory to You!

For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.

O Christ, when You were nailed to the Cross,* the distorted nature of creation was made manifest.* The soldiers showed their inhumanity by piercing Your side with a lance,* and the people showed their ignorance of Your power* by asking that Your tomb be sealed.* But, in Your mercy, You accepted burial* and then arose on the third day.* O Lord, glory to You!

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.

O Christ, Giver of Life,* You freely endured the Passion for the sake of mortals.* In Your power You descended into Hades;* and snatching, as from a mighty monster, the souls of those who awaited Your coming,* You placed them in Paradise.* Therefore, show Your great mercy to us who glorify Your resurrection,* and cleanse our souls.

Tone 6, Glory…

Today a delightful feast has shone forth to the ends of the earth,* the all-solemn memorial of the most wise and first apostles, Peter and Paul.* Therefore, let Rome receive the glad tidings, rejoicing;* and let us feast on this solemn day, crying out to them:* Rejoice, O Peter, apostle and special friend of the Teacher, Christ our God.* Rejoice, O truly beloved Paul,* preacher of the faith and teacher of the universe.* Because of your privilege, O holy ones,* beseech Christ our God to save our souls.

Now…

Christ the Lord, our Creator and Redeemer,* came forth from your womb, O most pure Virgin.* He clothed himself in our human flesh* to set us free from the original curse of Adam.* Therefore, O Mary, we praise you, without ceasing,* as the true Virgin Mother of God,* and we sing with the angels:* Rejoice, O Lady, advocate, protector, and salvation of our souls.

Troparia

Tone 1

Rejoice, Mother of God, Virgin Mary, full of grace!* The Lord is with you.* Blessed are you among women,* and blessed is the fruit of your womb.* For you have borne Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of our souls. (2)

Tone 4

As the leaders of the apostles* and teachers of the whole world,* intercede with the Master of all* to grant peace to the world* and to our souls great mercy. (1)

GREAT MATINS ON SUNDAY MORNING

Usual Beginning

Hexapsalm

Great Litany

God the Lord, Tone 2

Troparia, Tone 2

When You went down to death, O Life Immortal,* You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity.* When You raised the dead from the nether world,* all the powers of heaven cried out:* “O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!” (2)

Tone 4, Glory…

As the leaders of the apostles* and teachers of the whole world,* intercede with the Master of all* to grant peace to the world* and to our souls great mercy.

Now…

O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created,* and saved our souls from death.

Psalter Reading

Stasis I: Psalms 9, 10
Stasis II: Psalms 11, 12, 13
Stasis III: Psalms 14, 15, 16

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn I, Tone 2

The noble Joseph having taken down You most pure Body from the tree,* wrapped it in a fine linen shroud* covering it with fragrant spices* and placed it in a new sepulchre;* but on the third day You arose, O Lord,* granting the world great mercy.

Arise, O Lord my God, let Your hands be lifted on high;* forget not Your poor to the end.

The Angel standing by the tomb cried to the myrrh-bearing women,* ‘Myrrh is fitting for the dead,* but Christ has been revealed a stranger to corruption.* rather cry aloud: The Lord is risen,* granting the world great mercy!’

Glory… Now…

You are highly glorified, O Virgin Theotokos,* and we sing your praise,* for through the Cross of your Son Hades has been overthrown,* Death has been slain,* and we who were dead have arisen and been granted life.* We have received Paradise, our ancient delight,* therefore with thanksgiving we glorify Christ our God* as mighty and alone plenteous in mercy.

Psalter Reading

Stasis I: Psalm 17
Stasis II: Psalms 18, 19, 20
Stasis III: Psalms 21, 22, 23

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn II, Tone 2

You did not prevent the grave stone from being sealed,* and having arisen You granted to all the rock of the Faith.* O Lord, glory be to You!

I will confess You, O Lord, with my whole heart,* I will tell of all Your wonders.

The choir of Your Disciples rejoices in harmony with the Myrrh-bearing women;* for with them we celebrate a common feast to the glory and honour of Your Resurrection.* Through them, O Lord who loves mankind,* grant Your people Your great mercy.

Glory… Now…

You are highly blessed, O Virgin Theotokos,* for through Him who was incarnate of you* Hades has been taken captive, Adam recalled, the curse slain, and Eve set free,* death has been put to death and we have been given life;* therefore with hymns we cry to you:* Blessed are You O Christ our God who has been thus well-pleased, glory be to You!

Polyeleos

Exaltation

We extol you,* O Peter and Paul, Apostles of Christ.* By your teachings you have enlightened the whole world* and have drawn the ends of the earth near to Christ.

verse: The heavens proclaim the glory of God, and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.

verse: For the kingdom is the Lord’s; He is ruler of the nations.

verse: Through all the world their voice resounds; their message reaches to the ends of the earth.

verse: God stands in the divine assembly. In the midst of the gods He gives judgment.

Glory… Now…

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to You, O God! (3)

Evlogitaria

Small Litany

Hypakoe, Tone 2

The women coming to Your grave after the Passion* to anoint Your body, O Christ God,* saw Angels in the tomb and were frightened,* for they heard a message from them:* The Lord has arisen, granting the world His great mercy.

Sessional Hymns, Tone 8

Having put aside fishing in the deep,* you received from the Father himself the revelation of the Incarnation of the Word.* Thus you confidently cried out in faith to your Creator:* I know that You are the Son of God, consubstantial with Him.* Therefore, you were truly revealed as the rock of faith and a trustee of the keys of grace.* Intercede, therefore, O apostle Peter, with Christ our God* to grant forgiveness of sins* to those who lovingly celebrate your holy memory.

Having received from Christ a calling from heaven,* you were revealed as a preacher of the Light.* By your teachings you enlightened the good will of all* because you uprooted the servitude to the written law.* You illumined the faithful in their knowledge of the Spirit.* Because of this, you ascended worthily to the third heaven and attained Paradise.* Therefore, O apostle Paul, intercede with Christ our God* to grant forgiveness of sins* to those who lovingly celebrate your holy memory.

Let us praise Peter and the most wise Paul,* great lamp stands and lights, who were revealed as the first of the disciples.* They glistened by means of the fire of the divine Spirit* and burned up the whole cloud of deceit.* Therefore, they worthily showed themselves to be soldiers of the kingdom on high* and sharers of the throne of grace.* We, therefore, cry out to them:* O Apostles of Christ our God,* obtain remission of the sins* of those who lovingly celebrate your memory.

Glory… Now…

O Virgin, most honoured in song,* am defiled because of iniquity,* for I have entertained evil thoughts in my mind.* O immaculate bride of the Trinity,* and inviolate mother of the Deliverer,* and the receptacle of the Comforter,* hasten to deliver me from these things and from doing evil.* Make me a bright abode of good deeds,* of light-bearing and incorruptible things.* Cast away the darkness of passion,* and by your prayers make me worthy to partake of the Most High* and of the Light which knows no evening.

Hymn of Ascent, Tone 2

Antiphon 1

I raise the eyes of my heart to You in heaven, O Saviour.* Save me by Your radiance.

Have mercy, O my Christ, on us who fail You every hour and in many ways,* and grant to us the means to return to You* in repentance before the end.

Glory… Now…

To the Holy Spirit belongs sovereignty,* sanctification and the quickening of creation,* for He is God, one in essence with the Father* and the Word.

Antiphon 2

If the Lord was not among us,* who could be kept safe from the one* who is both our foe and a manslayer?

Do not hand Your servant over to destruction, O my Saviour.* For like a lion they come up against me,* they who are my foes.

Glory… Now…

To the Holy Spirit belongs the source of life and its honour,* for, being God, He preserves all creation* by His power* in the Father through the Son.

Antiphon 3

Those who trust in the Lord are like the holy mountain:* they are utterly unshaken* by the assaults of the enemy.

Let not those who live for God* stretch out their hands in iniquity;* for with the rod of His word Christ forbids such things.

Glory… Now…

By the Holy Spirit all wisdom flows forth,* grace to the Apostles,* crowns to the Martyrs,* and to the Prophets, prophetic vision.

Prokeimenon, Tone 2

Lord, rise up in Your anger, rise against the fury of my foes; my God, awake! You will give judgment. Let the company of nations gather round You.

verse: Lord God, I take refuge in You. From my pursuers save me and rescue me.

Let everything that lives, Tone 2

Gospel

Mark 16:9-20

Hymn of Resurrection

Psalm 50

Verses at Psalm 50

Canon, Tone 2

Ode 1

Irmos: Once his overwhelming power overturned the whole of Pharaoh’s army in the deep;* but the Word made flesh, the Lord of glory, blotted out the wholly wretched sin.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The prince of this world in whose books we, who disobeyed your commands, were inscribed, O Good One, has been judged by your cross; attacking you as a mortal, he fell back from the power of your might and was exposed in his weakness.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Deliverer of the race of mortal men and author of incorruptible life, you came into the world: for you tore in pieces the grave clothes of death in your resurrection, and this we glorify. Gloriously he is glorified.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

O pure one, and ever-Virgin, you are shown to be higher than all creatures seen and unseen; for you bore the Creator since he willed to take flesh in your womb; with boldness pray to him to save our souls.

Irmos No one is like You, O Lord, in glory: for by Your strong right arm, You have delivered the people whom You inherited.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

Today, with inspired hymns let us sing fitting praises to the leader of the Apostles, who was among the first called by Christ.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O blessed Apostle Peter, the Lord God foreknew you from all eternity, and He chose you to preside as the first among equals over His Church.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

Neither flesh nor blood, but the Father, inspired you to confess the divinity of Christ as you acknowledged Him to be the true Son of God Most High.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

Let us sing of the Mother of our God, as the ineffable divine chariot and holy mountain, who remained a virgin after giving birth.

Irmos: The staff which Moses cut divided the element which cannot be divided; and the sun shone upon soil it had never seen before; the waters swallowed up the treacherous enemy; Israel crossed over the impassable sea, with the hymn, “Let us sing to the Lord, for He is gloriously triumphant!”

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

O blessed Apostle Paul, as Christ had called things out of nothingness into being, so in His divine knowledge did He choose you from your mother’s womb to carry His Name, which is above all names, to the Gentiles, for He is gloriously triumphant!

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

Announcing to you the disappearance of error and the future enlightenment in the Faith, Christ who had been radiant in light on the mountain, blinded your bodily eyes; but He allowed your soul to see the Trinity, for He is gloriously triumphant!

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

Circumcised on the eighth day, filled with zeal for the traditions of your fathers, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, as regards the Law, a Pharisee; but you counted all of that as dung that you might gain Christ, for He is gloriously triumphant!

Glory… Now…

Holy Mother of the Most High God, being of a royal tribe, you conceived the God who rules over all, O Lady, and ineffably gave birth to Him in the flesh: preserve me from danger as I sing to your Son, for He is gloriously triumphant!

Katavasia I shall open my mouth, and it will be filled with the Spirit, and I shall sing a hymn to the Queen and Mother; and I shall celebrate with splendour and sing with joy of her wonders.

Ode 3

Irmos: The desert, the barren Church of the nations, has blossomed as a lily at your coming, O Lord;* in this my heart is made firm.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Creation at your Passion was put to confusion to see you in mean disguise and mocked by the lawless, you whose lightest nod had established the universe.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

You fashioned me with your hands from the dust in your image; and when, through sin, I was crushed again into the dust of death, you, O Christ, went down with me to Hell and raised me up with yourself.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

The ranks of angels were amazed and the hearts of men trembled, All-pure, at your giving birth; wherefore we reverence you in faith, O Mother of God.

Irmos: We do not glory in our wisdom, nor in the power found in treasures, but in the incarnate Wisdom of the Father, for no one is holy but You, O Jesus Christ!

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O apostle Peter, the sweet lips of Christ our God declared you blessed, and He designated you to be the steward of His Kingdom; thus we sing to you.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

Upon the rock of your confession of faith in God, the Lord Jesus has placed the unshakeable foundation of His Church in which we glorify you.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

Although he has a body, Peter surpasses the ranks of the angels, for Christ said that he would be seated as a judge with Him at His glorious Second Coming.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O pure Virgin who bore God in the flesh, strengthen me who am tossed about by the assault of my passions; for there is no other helper but you.

Irmos: You are the strength of those who run to You, O Lord; You are the Light of those in darkness, and my spirit sings Your praise!

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

As a foundation for the souls of the faithful, you have given the Pearl of Great Price, the Cornerstone, the Lord and Saviour.

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

Ceaselessly bearing the death of Jesus in your body, you have been made worthy to share also in His true life.

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

O blessed Paul, intercede that the splendour of the believers be built upon the foundation of your virtues.

Glory… Now…

O pure Virgin, as your foretold, all generations call you blessed for in you they have found salvation.

Katavasia O Theotokos, living and over-flowing fountain, strengthen those who applaud you in this spiritual gathering; and in your holy feast, make them worthy of crowns of glory.

Kontakion, Tone 2

You received Your inspired and steadfast preachers, Your chief disciples,* into the enjoyment of Your good things and into repose.* You, Who alone know the heart, accept their labours and death* more gladly than any holocaust.

Ikos

O Saviour, grant eloquence to my tongue and open my mouth: fill it with Your Spirit and grant my heart compunction that I may be the first to follow the things that! say and do the things that I teach; for You have said that whoever does that which he teaches is truly great among men. For if! do not do what! say, then! am only a sounding brass. Therefore, teach me what to speak and grant that! may do what is right, O You who alone know the secrets of hearts.

Sessional Hymn, Tone 8

O Apostle Paul, was there a prison that did not see you chained, or a church that did not hear you preach? Damascus glories for having been a witness when you were thrown to the ground by a heavenly light. Rome exults in pride for possessing your blood. Tarsus, your birth-place, overflows with joy, for it reveres your swaddling-clothes. Together with Peter, the Rock of Faith, O Paul, glory of the world, come forth from Rome and strengthen us!

Ode 4

Irmos: You came forth from the Virgin,* not an ambassador, not an angel,* but the Lord himself made flesh,* and saved my whole humanity.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

You were standing, my God, before the judgment seat as one judged, not crying out, bringing, O Lord, judgment upon the nations. Thus, through your Passion, O Christ, you wrought salvation for the world.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

By your Passion the weapons of the enemies failed, by your descent into Hell the cities of the foe were destroyed and the insolence of the tyrant overthrown.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

All we the faithful know you a haven of salvation, a fortified city unshaken, Lady Mother of God; for by your prayers you deliver our souls from danger.

Irmos: You are our God, incarnate of the Virgin, and You have made our nature Godlike: we praise You in song as we say, “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

As Christ promised, He made you a divine fisher of men, and He placed in your hands the helm of His Church.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O Peter, the life-giving Lord Jesus granted you the power to loose and to bind; at your prayer, may He grant me pardon.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O Peter, pray earnestly that the Kingdom of Christ be opened to those who honour your divine memory with faith.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O Lady worthy of our hymns, divine Mother of God, cleanse my thoughts through your intercessions and make me fruitful, O Mother of the God of all.

Irmos: You tread the sea with the Apostles as Your steeds, O Lord, taking their reins in Your hands; and Your descent has become salvation for the faithful who sing, “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

Like a ravaging lion, Saul once came down upon the Church of Christ; but, seized by the voice of the Lamb of God, he became a shepherd of the flock which he had once persecuted.

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

He who was to enlighten the universe became blind; Ananias was sent to him to give him sight in body and soul, O God, who revealed him to be a chosen vessel of election.

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

Damascus was rightly glorified because of Paul: for from it, as once from Paradise, a great river of divine waters has gone forth and has refreshed the whole earth with the knowledge of God.

Glory… Now…

As the Virgin Mother said, the Lord has put down the mighty from their seat and has filled the hungry with good things; and they sing in faith, “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”

Katavasia: Perceiving the ineffable, divine design of the Most High, the Incarnation from the Virgin, the prophet Habakkuk cried out, “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”

Ode 5

Irmos: Christ God, you are mediator between God and man:* through you, O Lord, we have access from the night of ignorance to your Father, the author of light.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

You broke as the cedars, O Christ, the insolence of the enemy when, of your own will, O Lord, you were pleased to be lifted up in the flesh on the cypress, the pine and the cedar.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

They laid you in the lowest pit, O Christ, dead, without breath; but with your stripes you raised with yourself, O Saviour, the wounded and forgotten who slept in the graves.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

Pray to your Son and Lord, pure Virgin, to grant deliverance to prisoners and peace from the hostile forces surrounding those who trust in you.

Irmos: You purchased us as Your own people by Your blood, O Lord: grant us Your peace and keep Your flock in harmony.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

Having acquired intimacy with God through love, the unlettered fisherman was filled with His favour to the point of working wondrous miracles through divine grace.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

For love of You, O Lord, Your divine Apostle possessed neither gold nor silver, but only his virtues as his treasure; and he was enriched with the power to work miracles.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

Your powerful word restored the legs and steps of the lame man: for through the divine Spirit, you worked wondrous miracles.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O pure Virgin, in uniting Himself to the flesh which was taken from you, God became man in the Person of the Son, but He remained unchanged in His bodiless nature.

Irmos: Enlighten us, O Lord, by Your commandments; lift Your mighty arm, O Lover of Mankind, and grant us Your peace.

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

You chose true glory, O holy Apostle Paul, by ceaselessly carrying the Cross of Christ our King as your only sign of victory.

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

For you, to live is Christ; and to die is great profit. By love, you have been crucified with Him who was crucified for us, O most glorious Paul.

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

In truth, you rejoice always in the Lord, O honourable Paul, who have put off the body and gone away to Christ our God, the Giver of Life.

Glory… Now…

Hail, true treasure of virginity! Through you, our first father was delivered from the curse, and our first mother was called back to Paradise.

Katavasia: The universe was amazed at your divine glory, for you, O Virgin who knew not wedlock, have borne in your womb the God of all and have given birth to an eternal Son, who grants salvation to those who praise you.

Ode 6

Irmos: Engulfed in sin’s unfathomed depths* I cry to the fathomless deeps of your tender compassion;* God has brought me up* from corruption.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The righteous was judged as a criminal and nailed to the tree with the lawless with his own blood granting forgiveness to the guilty.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

As by one man, the first Adam, death came of old to the world, so by one, the Son of God, resurrection has been revealed .

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

You knew no man, O Virgin, you bore a child and remained for ever virgin, revealing thus the signs of true divinity of your Son and God.

Irmos: O Christ, Jonah who spent three days in the whale was a prophecy of You, O Immortal One, who voluntarily spent three days in the womb of the earth.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O Christ, as You once stretched out Your hand and saved Peter walking on the waters, bear me up as I sink in a storm of temptations.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O Peter, like the merchant in the Gospel, you abandoned all for the sake of the true goods, and you obtained Christ, the Pearl of great price.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O Peter, you brought about an end to those who foolishly tried to tempt the All-Holy Spirit, whose Divinity you were the first to make clear, O blessed Apostle.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

For us, you have brought into the world in the flesh the Word of God, who transcends all being; therefore, with our lips and heart, we proclaim your divine maternity.

Irmos: I pour out my prayer before the Lord and tell Him of all my affliction. For my soul is filled with evils, and my life has drawn near to the grave. Like Jonah, I beseech You, O God: “Snatch my life from corruption!”

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

You renounced all pleasures here below, being rapt with love for Christ, your Master; and in your desire that all come to salvation, you were willing to be lost yourself, separated from Him. O blessed Paul, intercede for us all.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O blessed apostle Paul, Christ rightly granted you citizenship in heaven, for you had no desire for this passing city here below, O faithful servant of the Lord and steward of His divine Mysteries.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

As a noble imitator of his Master, holy Paul put on Christ and became all things to all men in order to win and save all peoples. He truly caught the very ends of the earth in his nets for Christ.

Glory… Now…

The Lord regarded you when He was renewing my being; for He is mighty and has done great things, as you said, O pure Mother of God. In His love for mankind, He has saved me from the pit through you.

Katavasia: Come, divinely-inspired: let us clap our hands and celebrate this holy and most honourable feast of the Mother of God and glorify God who was born of her.

Kontakion, Tone 2

You rose from the tomb, O almighty Saviour;* and Hades, seeing this wonder, was stricken with fear; and the dead arose.* Creation saw and rejoices with You, and Adam exults.* And the world, my Saviour, sings Your praises for ever.

Ikos

Light you are to those endarkened, resurrection you are to all and life to mortal man; and when you, the Saviour, raised up all with yourself and despoiled the might of death, when you, O Word, shattered the gates of Hell, the dead saw it and marvelled at the marvel and all creation rejoiced together in your resurrection, O Lover of man. For all of this we glorify and sing your coming down to us and all the universe, my Saviour, hymns you for ever.

Ode 7

Irmos: The godless decree of the lawless tyrant* re-kindled the soaring flames,* Christ let fall on the God-fearing children the dew of the Spirit.* He is blessed and glorious above all.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Your tender compassion, O Lord, would not allow you to see mankind beneath the sway of death but you came and saved him by your own blood, becoming man. He is blessed and glorious above all.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Seeing you clothed in the robe of vengeance, O Christ. Hell’s doorkeepers cowered in fear for you came to master, O Lord, the slave, the reasonless tyrant. He is blessed and glorious above all.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

We know you the Holy of Holies, Virgin unspotted, Mother unwedded, for you alone bore the unchangeable God: by your divine giving birth you have shed incorruption on all the faithful.

Irmos: In the beginning, the eternal Word was with the Father and the Spirit, the only-begotten Son; blessed are You, O God of our Fathers, and exalted above all forever!

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

Having learned through divine Providence how to imitate the compassion of Christ, O Peter, you were able to endure the storm of your denial before His Passion.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

Christ called you first and loved you greatly; risen from the tomb, He first appeared to you as the illustrious prince of the Apostles.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

By questioning you three times, the Master strengthened your love for Him, thus healing your triple denial before His Passion.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

As witness to your love for Christ, O Peter, you took the Word who knows all things, being eternal; and He entrusted to your care His beloved flock.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

You conceived in the flesh God the Word, who shone forth from the Father from before all ages; we all call you blessed, as the Mother of the God of all!

Irmos: On the plain of Dura of old, the tyrant enkindled a furnace to punish those faithful to the Lord; but in it, the three young men sang hymns to the one true God, triply praising Him and saying, “Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!”

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

O Christ, he whom You called last has become the crown and perfection of Your apostles, for he surpassed them all in his zeal. Together with him, the people of the Church sing out to You: “Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!”

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

Although Paul, who ended as a captive, had once persecuted Your Church, his former impudence was surpassed by his zeal in his last days; for he gathered together the nations to sing to Christ, “Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!”

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

Leaving Jerusalem, you preached the Gospel to all; then you went around the whole world, O holy Paul, teaching even to the boundaries of Illyricum and crying aloud: “Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!”

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

Taken up in ecstasy, you reached the third heaven, O blessed one, and heard ineffable words, as you cried aloud, “Glory to the Most High Father, and to the Son, His image, enthroned with Him, and to the Spirit of God who searches all depths!”

Glory… Now…

Christ our God descended upon you, O Virgin, like dew on the fleece; and He came forth from you bearing our flesh, uniting that which had been separated formerly, and granting peace on earth as in heaven, as the blessed God of our Fathers.

Katavasia: The three young men, divinely inspired, refused to worship creatures instead of the Creator. But with courage they trampled upon the threatening fire and sang joyfully, “Blessed are You, O all-praised Lord, the God of our Fathers!”

Ode 8

Irmos: Once in Babylon by divine command* the blazing furnace divided its work,* the Chaldaeans consuming, the faithful bedewing,* who sang: Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The ranks of angels saw the garment of your flesh empurpled with your blood, in trembling amazement at the magnitude of your longsuffering, crying: Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Through your rising, O Merciful, you have clothed my mortality with deathlessness; therefore in glad thanksgiving your chosen people raise to you a song of praise, crying: Truly death is swallowed up in victory.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

The One inseparable from the Father and humanly, divinely, dwelling in your womb, you conceived without seed and brought forth inexpressibly, Birth-giver of God, all-pure. By this we know you the salvation of us all.

Irmos: You uphold all things by Your ineffable power, O Christ: You sprinkled dew upon the young men in the furnace as they sang, ‘All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!”

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O Peter, the Master foretold that they would stretch out your hands and fasten you to a cross; He commanded you to follow Him as you sang, “All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!”

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

By a word of grace, you raised up Aeneas, who had been paralyzed; and by a miracle you made Tabitha rise from the dead; then both cried aloud, ‘All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!”

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O Christ, You showed Peter that the nations were to be cleansed by the light of the Holy Spirit; cleanse my heart as I sing aloud, “All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!”

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

By One of the Divine Persons dwelling in your womb, God has been totally united to myself, O Virgin; and we all magnify you as the Mother of God.

Irmos: He who was glorified on the holy mountain and revealed to Moses in the burning bush the mystery of the ever-Virgin Mother, is the Lord: sing to Him and exalt Him throughout all the ages!

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

Captured by Your love, Paul underwent a wondrous change; for it was no longer he who lived, O God of compassion, but You lived within him throughout all the ages.

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

You betrothed the Church as a Bride presented to Christ, her Bridegroom, O Apostle Paul, and you led her to the wedding banquet; therefore she glorifies you throughout all the ages.

We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

You fought the good fight and ran the race in faith; joyfully you went to Christ, O holy Paul, and from Him you received the merited crown for your justice.

Now…

Hail, fiery throne of the Lord, unwedded Bride, radiant cloud which bore Christ, the Sun of Justice, whom we exalt throughout all the ages!

We praise, we bless, and we worship the Lord, hymning and supremely exalting Him throughout all ages!

Katavasia: The maternity of the Theotokos preserved the three young men in the furnace. Then it was prefigured, but now that it is accomplished, it brings the whole world together to sing: “O works of the Lord, praise and exalt Him forever!”

Magnificat

Ode 9

Irmos: The Son of the unbegun Begetter, God and Lord, made flesh of the Virgin,* has appeared among us to bring light to the darkened places* and to gather the scattered together.* Therefore, we magnify the all-praised Mother of God.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

On Golgotha, as in Paradise, there was planted, O Saviour, the thrice-happy tree of your pure cross, nourished by your blood divine and water; so from the wellspring of your holy side, O Christ, life has blossomed for us.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The crucified, the all-powerful, laid low the strong man armed, and the nature of man, lying below in the dungeon of Hell, he raised and placed on the Father’s throne; coming in the midst of which we, worshipping, magnify you.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

In the true faith singing, let us the faithful glorify the Trinity, three in number, one in substance, indivisible nature, supremely divine, triply shining light and never-setting radiance, the only uncompounded shedding light upon all.

Irmos: O most glorious Bride and most holy Theotokos, you have born the Creator of all things visible and invisible: with hymns, we magnify you!

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

Your very shadow healed the sick of their illnesses, O holy Peter, manifesting your great power; thus we magnify you.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

By his prodigies, contrary to God, Simon Magus exalted himself to the heavens; but by the ineffable power of God, O holy Peter, you have put him down; and we call you blessed.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

By your intercession, O holy Apostle, obtain remission of sins, enlightenment of heart and joy in spirit for those who celebrate your sacred memory.

Holy Apostle Peter, pray to God for us!

O Virgin who conceived our God, you are truly called Theotokos; as is right, we the faithful glorify you with one accord, and in hymns we magnify you.

Irmos: You surpassed our limited nature in conceiving the Lord, your Creator, and you became the gateway to salvation for the world; thus, O Theotokos, with ceaseless hymns we magnify you!

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

O holy Paul, we bow down and honour the chains that you bore, condemned as an evildoer for the sake of Christ; and we venerate on your body the wounds you bear as a wondrous conqueror.

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

Having lifted your anchor to pass to Him who cherished above all things, you dwell with Him now as His servant. We entreat you to draw us to yourself by your prayers.

Holy Apostle Paul, pray to God for us!

No longer in dark sayings nor as in a mirror do you see Christ, but now He is seen face to face, revealing to you a perfect understanding of His Divinity.

Glory… Now…

You received the bodiless Word when He willed to recreate my nature; you gave birth to Him in the flesh, O Virgin; wherefore, O Theotokos, we ceaselessly magnify you.

Katavasia: Let every human being take up a torch, and let him dance in spirit; and let the immaterial spirits celebrate this holy feast of the Mother of God and cry out: “Rejoice, O all-blessed and pure and ever-Virgin Theotokos.”

Small Litany

Holy is the Lord

Hymn of Light

Truly Christ is risen.* Let no one doubt or be suspicious.* For He appeared to Mary and then to those who went fishing.* Then He appeared to His eleven apostles as they were eating.* He sent them forth to baptize the whole world;* then He ascended to heaven from which He had descended,* confirming His divine message by a multitude of miracles.

Tone 2, Glory…

Come, let us extol the apostles Peter and Paul,* those divine leaders of the apostles and lights of the universe,* the preachers of the faith and two trumpets of the Word of God,* the interpreters of teachings, pillars of the Church, and those who refute error. Twice

Now…

The great and amazing mystery of your birth-giving, O virgin Theotokos, favoured of God,* was preached by the prophets, taught by the apostles, and confessed by the martyrs.* It is praised by the angels and worshiped by human beings.

Praises

Stichera of the Praises, Tone 2

Everything that breathes and every creature glorifies You, O Lord,* for through Your Cross You destroyed death* and thus shown the multitude of peoples Your Resurrection from the dead,* as You alone love mankind.

Let the Jews tell how the soldiers lost the King they were guarding.* Why then did the stone not guard the rock of life?* Either let them give up the one who was buried or adore Him as risen,* exclaiming together with us:* Glory to the multitude of Your mercies:* O Saviour, glory be to You!

Rejoice O peoples and be glad!* for an Angel sat upon the grave stone* and gave us good tidings saying:* Christ is risen from the dead* and has filled the universe with sweet fragrance.* Rejoice O peoples and be glad!’

Before Your conception, O Lord,* an Angel brought the greeting ‘Rejoice’ to the one full of grace:* at Your Resurrection an Angel rolled away the stone from Your glorious grave.* The one revealed the signs of joy instead of sorrow;* the other instead of death has proclaimed to us the Master, and giver of life.* Wherefore we cry to You:* O Benefactor of all mankind,* Lord, glory be to You!

Tone 4

When the incarnate Saviour asked the twelve disciples:* Who do people say that I am?* Peter, the elect of the apostles, having received grace from heaven,* proclaimed You clearly, speaking of your Godhead, saying:* You are Christ, the Son of the living God.* Therefore, it is proper to bless him, for he received the revelation from above.* Indeed, he justly received the power to bind and loosen sins.

Christ, the Word of God,* the revelation of the Father, asked all of you:* Who do you say that I am?* Peter then answered:* You are the Son of the living God* for You preached the Word of God to all.* He replied: Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah.* You received your reward from God because you glorified Him in faith.* In return He has called upon you to receive riches.* He placed you as the solid rock and foundation of the Church.

Your call came from on high and not from mortals.* When the darkness of the earth covered the eyes of your body* and the sadness of evil flourished openly,* then the heavenly Light shone forth in your mind’s eye,* revealing the beauty of piety.* Therefore, you recognized Christ our God who brought light out of darkness.* Entreat Him to save and enlighten our souls.

O preacher of Christ and proud bearer of his cross,* you greatly desired the divine love above all things* since it binds its lovers to the Beloved.* You were also called a prisoner of Christ;* you were strengthened by temptations* which you considered sweeter than all nourishment.* Because you lived only for your Master,* you were made worthy of forgiveness at death.* Entreat Him to save and enlighten our souls.

Tone 3, Glory…

The disciples were rebuked for the hardness of their hearts* because they doubted when Mary Magdalene proclaimed to them* the resurrection of the Saviour and His appearance to her.* But when they were strengthened with miracles and wonders,* they were sent out to preach.* And when You, O Lord, ascended to Your Father, the Source of all light,* the disciples preached throughout the world* verifying their words with wonders and miracles.* Therefore, we who were enlightened by them,* glorify Your resurrection from the dead, O Lover of mankind.

Tone 2, Now…

You are truly most blessed, O virgin Mother of God.* Through the One who was incarnate of you,* Hades was chained, Adam revived, the curse wiped out,* Eve set free, Death put to death,* and we ourselves were brought back to life.* That is why we cry out in praise;* Blessed are You, O Christ our God,* who finds in this your good pleasure. Glory to You!

Great Doxology

Trisagion Prayers

Troparion, Tone 2

You came forth from death, destroying the eternal bonds of Hades, O Lord.* You broke the curse of Death* and thus delivered us from the snares of the Evil One.* Then You appeared to your apostles and sent them forth to preach,* and through them You have bestowed your peace upon all the world,* for You alone are rich in mercy.

Insistent Litany

Litany of Supplication

Great Dismissal

DIVINE LITURGY ON SUNDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 2: When You went down to death, O Life Immortal,* You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity.* When You raised the dead from the nether world,* all the powers of heaven cried out:* “O Giver of Life,

Troparion, Tone 4: As the leaders of the apostles* and teachers of the whole world,* intercede with the Master of all* to grant peace to the world* and to our souls great mercy.

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

Kontakion, Tone 2: You rose from the tomb, O almighty Saviour;* and Hades, seeing this wonder, was stricken with fear; and the dead arose.* Creation saw and rejoices with You, and Adam exults.* And the world, my Saviour, sings Your praises for ever.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen

Kontakion, Tone 2: You received Your inspired and steadfast preachers, Your chief disciples,* into the enjoyment of Your good things and into repose.* You, Who alone know the heart, accept their labours and death* more gladly than any holocaust.

Prokeimenon, Tone 2

The Lord is my strength and my song of praise, and He has become my salvation.

verse: The Lord has indeed chastised me, but He has not delivered me to death. (Psalm 117:14,18)

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Epistle

Romans 5:1-10; 2 Corinthians 11:21-12:9

Alleluia, Tone 2

verse: The Lord will hear you in the day of tribulation; the name of the God of Jacob will shield you.

verse: Lord, grant victory to the king and hear us in the day that we shall call upon You. (Psalm 19:2,10)

verse: The heavens shall confess Your wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints. (Psalm 88:)

Gospel

Matthew 6:22-33; Matthew 16:13-19

Hymn to the Mother of God

O my soul, magnify Peter the solid rock of Christ’s Church and Paul her chosen vessel.

and the Irmos, Tone 4: You, most glorious Bride and all holy Mother of God,* in song do we magnify;* for the Maker of all things seen and unseen* was born of you.

Communion Hymn

Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)