Polyeleos Feast.  Apostle’s Fast

AT GREAT VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4

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

You drew the ends of the earth out of the depths of vainglory* and evil ungodliness* with the net of your words, O divinely eloquent Apostle.* You brought them with faith to Christ God, * Who had given you such grace.* You are His divine disciple and the preacher of His mysteries,* O Apostle Bartholomew.

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

You drew the ends of the earth out of the depths of vainglory* and evil ungodliness* with the net of your words, O divinely eloquent Apostle.* You brought them with faith to Christ God, * Who had given you such grace.* You are His divine disciple and the preacher of His mysteries,* O Apostle Bartholomew.

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

Jesus our God, the Sun of glory* sent you to the whole world like a ray of light* to disperse the gloom of ungodliness, O all-glorious one,* and to enlighten all who sit in the darkness of ignorance.* You made them heirs of the light, O divinely wise Bartholomew!

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

Jesus our God, the Sun of glory* sent you to the whole world like a ray of light* to disperse the gloom of ungodliness, O all-glorious one,* and to enlighten all who sit in the darkness of ignorance.* You made them heirs of the light, O divinely wise Bartholomew!

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

Submitting to the will of Him Whose will all things obey,* you imitated Him as a teacher of righteousness.* Because of His suffering on the Cross,* you stand before your ultimate desire,* joining the chorus with the Angels and Apostles,* O glorious Bartholomew.* You rejoiced as you drank the cup of death.

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

You have received invincible authority and power, O Apostle,* over demons in the Name of Christ,* to drive away the princes of darkness.* You travelled over the earth illumining it as brightly as the sun.* You were the first to arrive in Rome, O Barnabas,* preaching the saving coming of Christ.

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

You imitated the First Goodness* and the essential and all-divine life.* You became a good man in essence, O Barnabas,* receiving a name meaning “Son of Consolation.”* By the goodness of your character and purity of your mind,* you showed yourself to be a true disciple of Christ!

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

You were an instrument well-tuned by the action of the Spirit, O Barnabas.* You committed yourself to summoning the nations,* guiding them to the knowledge of Christ by your words and deeds.* You have enlightened all to confess the true divinity of Jesus,* the Friend of Man and the Saviour of our souls!

Tone 6, Glory…

O all praised Barnabas,* radiant vessel of the Holy Spirit and “Son of Consolation,”* even before Paul you were the foremost of the seventy disciples;* with Paul you preached the Gospel to the ends of the earth.* Therefore, fulfilling your talk of grace with your deeds,* you offered yourself as an immaculate whole burnt offering to Christ, your Teacher.* O glorious Apostle, we pray to you:* “Ever pray that our souls may be saved in peace!”

Now…

Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?* Who would not sing a hymn of praise* to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?* The Only-begotten Son Himself,* begotten of the Father before all ages,* was made flesh out of you in a manner* that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!* And for our sake, He Who is God by nature* assumed the nature of a man.* He is not divided into two persons;* He is understood to have two natures* without commixion or confusion.* O noble and blessed Woman,* intercede with Him that He may mercy on our souls.

Readings

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

Aposticha

Tone 1

Your proclamation of salvation, O Apostles and seers of God,* has gone out into all the earth,* enlightening the souls of those who were lost,* bringing to Christ those who were illumined by grace of God.* Therefore pray that He may grant our souls peace and great mercy!

Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe.

O all-radiant beacons of Christ,* most pure vessels containing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit through faith,* O all-wise Apostles, O pillars of the Church,* all-glorious heavens declaring to all the glory of God:* entreat Him that He may grant out souls peace and great mercy!

The heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.

O blessed ones, you brought to Christ God* the nations that were ransomed by His blood.* He was well pleased to be born on earth,* and He freely endured the Cross and death.* O glorious ones, entreat Him now* that He may grant our souls peace and great mercy!

Tone 8, Glory…

O all-praised Barnabas, Apostle of the Saviour,* you are a vessel of faith, the “Son of Consolation,”* the calm harbour of the storm-tossed.* Since you have boldness, ever pray for our souls* that we may be preserved in peace on the day of your memorial!

Now…

O Virgin, You have never known wedlock,* Yet You conceived God in the flesh* in a manner which words can never describe.* You thus became the Mother of God on high.* O Immaculate Lady, receive the supplication of your servants* and grant us the cleansing of our sins.* Accept now our prayers and beseech God to save all of us.

Troparia

Tone 1

Receiving the Spirit as He came in fiery tongues,* you preached the coming of the Word in the flesh.* While one of you was beheaded for the Gospel, * the other endured stoning for the sake of the faith.* You have been sent to adorn the choirs of heaven, O Bartholomew and Barnabas.* We honour your memory and ask that you intercede* with God to forgive our sins.

Glory… Now…

O Holy Tabernacle, when Gabriel called out to you:* Rejoice, O Virgin, full of grace,* the Lord of All became incarnate of you,* as the righteous David had foretold.* In bearing your Creator, you have shown yourself to surpass the vastness of the heavens.* We, therefore, cry out: Glory to Him Who dwelt in you!* Glory to Him Who came forth from you!* Glory to Him Who has set us free* through your life-giving birth!

AT FESTAL MATINS ON THURSDAY MORNING

Usual Beginning

Hexapsalm

Great Litany

God the Lord, Tone 1

Troparion, Tone 1

Receiving the Spirit as He came in fiery tongues,* you preached the coming of the Word in the flesh.* While one of you was beheaded for the Gospel, * the other endured stoning for the sake of the faith.* You have been sent to adorn the choirs of heaven, O Bartholomew and Barnabas.* We honour your memory and ask that you intercede* with God to forgive our sins. (2)

Glory… Now…

Receiving the Spirit as He came in fiery tongues,* you preached the coming of the Word in the flesh.* While one of you was beheaded for the Gospel, * the other endured stoning for the sake of the faith.* You have been sent to adorn the choirs of heaven, O Bartholomew and Barnabas.* We honour your memory and ask that you intercede* with God to forgive our sins.

Psalter Reading

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn, Tone 1

The spiritual choir of the apostles was mystically sent into the world by God most high.* They were revealed to be physicians of the suffering,* calling upon the unity in three Persons* they wisely described the divine Incarnation* of the Lord Emmanuel!

Glory… Now…

We hymn you, Virgin, as the unburnt bush that Moses beheld,* the mountain of God, the holy cloud,* the undefiled tabernacle, the God-pleasing table,* the palace of the most high King, the most radiant and impassable gate!

Psalter Reading

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn, Tone 4

You enlighten the ends of the earth like stars* with the radiance of splendour:* The divine doctrines of your holy preaching,* Apostles of the Lord,* initiates of the mysteries of heaven!

Glory… Now…

Faithful, let us bless the Theotokos, the fervent aid of those in need,* our help and reconciliation with God,* for whose sake we have been delivered from corruption!

Polyeleos

Exaltation

We extol you,* O Bartholomew and Barnabas, apostles of Christ!* who through your preaching enlightened the whole world* and brought all the nations to Christ.

verse: You establish them as kings over all the earth.

verse: Your lightning flashes illuminate the entire universe.

verse: He gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!

Glory… Now…

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

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn, Tone 3

O divine trumpets of the Comforter!* You proclaimed the gospel of salvation to the world;* you awakened those who were slumbering in the darkness of deceit,* and led them to the light of the knowledge of God.* O apostles of the divine Light,* implore Christ our God to save our souls.

Hymn of Ascent, Tone 4, Antiphon 1

From my youth do many passions war against me;* but do You Yourself defend* and save me, O my Saviour.

You haters of Sion shall be shamed by the Lord;* for like grass, by the fire* shall you be withered.

Glory… Now…

In the Holy Spirit, every soul is quickened,* and, through cleansing, is exalted* and made radiant* by the Triple Unity in a hidden sacred manner.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

Through the world their voice resounds;* their message reaches to the ends of the earth.

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

Let everything that lives, Tone 4

Gospel

Luke 10:1-16

Psalm 50

Verses at Psalm 50, Tone 6

Glory…

Through the prayers of the holy apostles, Bartholomew and Barnabas, O Merciful One, remit our many sins.

Now…

Through the Prayers of the Mother of God, O Merciful One, remit our many sins.

Have mercy on me, O God, in Your kindness. In Your compassion blot out my offense.

The glorious feast of the apostles of Christ’s Church has arrived, bringing salvation to all. Therefore, let us rejoice and cry out to them: Rejoice, bright stars of the spiritual Sun, lamps to those groping in darkness. Rejoice, immovable foundations of the divine teachings, friends of Christ, honourable vessels. Come invisibly among us and make worthy of heavenly gifts those, who celebrate your feast with hymns.

Canon

Ode 9

Irmos: Christ the cornerstone not cut by hand was cut from you, the unhewn mountain, O Virgin, thus uniting two distinct natures in Himself. Therefore, rejoicing, we magnify you, O Mother of God.

O holy apostles, pray to God for us!

Having received from the Master power to loose the bonds of sins, O eye-witnesses of God, mercifully cleanse the sins of those who honour you, and make them worthy of salvation.

O holy apostles, pray to God for us!

To you, His departed friends, Christ grants never-fading crowns, and fills you with the divine vision. Implore Him now to save all the churches.

Glory… Now…

He, Who adorned the universe with but a word, desired to come down in the flesh and take up His abode in you, O Virgin Mother; for He has found you to be the holiest of all, and has manifested you as the true Mother God.

Small Litany

Hymn of Light

O apostles of the Lord,* you travelled to the ends of the earth* and preached the truth of the incarnation of the Lord from a virgin,* converting nations from deceit,* and enlightening and teaching all to worship the Holy Trinity.

Praises

Stichera of the Praises, Tone 8

O Lord, You have illumined Your apostles with the radiance of the Comforter,* and, owing to the spiritual enlightenment of Your wisdom,* You have established them as lamps for the strengthening of the faith, O Master!* Therefore, we adore Your unspeakable love for mankind.

Through the prayers of the apostles, O Lord,* You have fenced in Your flock,* preserving them unharmed from the temptations of the enemy;* for You, the compassionate Lover of mankind,* redeemed it from the bondage of the Devil with Your precious blood.

You have manifested yourselves as precious stones in the foundation of the Church,* illuminating the universe with a bright light of the clear knowledge of God,* O divine apostles. You now stand before the throne of the Triune God,* praying for our souls.

In Tone 4, Glory… Now…

Save us, O Mother of Christ our God,* from every misfortune, so that we may cry out to you: Rejoice,* O only mediatrix of our souls.

Great Doxology

Trisagion Prayers

Troparion

Insistent Litany

Litany of Supplication

Great Dismissal

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 1: Receiving the Spirit as He came in fiery tongues,* you preached the coming of the Word in the flesh.* While one of you was beheaded for the Gospel, * the other endured stoning for the sake of the faith.* You have been sent to adorn the choirs of heaven, O Bartholomew and Barnabas.* We honour your memory and ask that you intercede* with God to forgive our sins.

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

Kontakion, Tone 4: O Bartholomew, Apostle of the Lord,* you appeared to the world as a shining star.* You enlightened with the splendour of your teachings and the wonder of your miracles* all those who honour you.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 3: O Barnabas, you became a perfect and faithful servant of the Lord.* You were the first of the seventy disciples* worthy to be the companion of Paul in his preaching.* You proclaimed to all that Christ is the Saviour.* Therefore, we celebrate your holy memory with hymns and songs.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8

Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their word 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

Acts 11:19-30

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

Luke 10:16-21

Communion Hymn

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