VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed 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.
О Lord, You enlightened Your apostles with the beams of the Comforter,* with the noetic radiance of the knowledge of You* setting them as beacons to the confirmation of the Faith, О Master;* wherefore, we bow down before Your ineffable love for mankind.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
By the supplications of Your apostles, О Lord, You have protected this Your flock,* preserving it unharmed by the temptations of the enemy;* for with Your precious blood You redeemed it from enslavement to the enemy,* in that You are compassionate and the Lover of mankind.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Together you were shown to be like precious stones* set in the foundation of the Church,* with radiant brilliance shining forth upon the whole world the knowledge of God, О divine apostles,* who stand before the Trinity and pray for our souls.
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.
Enlightened by the lightning flashes of the spirit,* you went about the whole world illumining the faithful!* All-wise ones, as apostles of the word,* you diminished the darkness of the depths of ignorance.* Therefore we rejoice today* celebrating your light bearing festival that brings us sanctification!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You sprinkled heavenly rain to the ends of the earth* as blest clouds refreshing the souls of the faithful with divine grace!* You choked the alien tares of ungodliness,* bringing to maturity the fruitful souls of men!* Therefore, apostles, we honour you in praises!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Let us gather and honour the most excellent Silas in faith,* with Andronicus, Epenetus and Crescens,* and in love let us honour Silvanus with them!* They are heralds of the faith* who pour out rivers of healing,* removing attacks of all the passions by the divine Spirit!
Tone 8, Glory… Now…
Behold the groaning of my contrite heart, O Bride of God,* and accept, and reject not, the lifting up of my hands,* O pure and all-immaculate Virgin Mary,* as you are full of love for mankind;* that I may hymn and magnify you who have exalted our race.
Prokeimenon, Tone 5
O Lord, save me by Your name,* and in Your power be a judge for me.
verse: O God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth.
Aposticha
Tone 8
Fervently loving You on earth, О Lord,* Your apostles considered all to be but dung,* that they might acquire You alone;* and they gave their bodies over to wounds for You;* wherefore, glorified, they pray for our souls.
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.
О Lord, You magnified the memory of the apostles on earth,* for assembling them together, we all glorify You;* since by their prayers and for their sake,* You grant healings, peace and great mercy to the whole world.
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.
What virtue, what praise is due the saints?* For they bowed their heads beneath the sword for the sake of You* who bowed down the heavens and descended;* they shed their blood for You who emptied Yourself and assumed the form of a servant;* they humbled themselves even to death, emulating Your poverty.* By their prayers, О God, have mercy upon us* in the multitude of Your compassions.
Glory… Now…
I flee to your protection, O holy Virgin Theotokos,* for I know that through thee I shall obtain salvation;* for you are able to help me, O pure one.
Troparia
Tone 3
Holy apostles, intercede with the merciful God* to grant to our souls forgiveness of sins.
Glory… Now…
The prophets foretold, the apostles taught, the martyrs professed,* and we have believed that you are, indeed, the Mother of God.* Therefore, we exalt your inexpressible birthgiving.
AT DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 3: Holy apostles, intercede with the merciful God* to grant to our souls forgiveness of sins.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: You became branches of Christ’s vineyard, o wise ones,* bearing the grapes of good works,* and pouring forth for us* the wine of salvation.* Receiving it and filled with gladness,* we celebrate your precious memorial.* Therefore pray that we may be granted great mercy and forgiveness of sins,* O apostles of the Lord.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hands. (Psalm 18:5,2)
Epistle
2 Corinthians 1:1-7
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: The heavens shall confess our wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints.
verse: God is glorified in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 88:6,8)
Gospel
Matthew 21:43-46
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)