Thursday, October 29, 2026;
The Holy Venerable-Martyr Anastasia of Rome; The Passing of Our Venerable Father Abraham, Archimandrite and Wonderworker of Rostov; Our Venerable Father Abraham the Recluse
AT VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 8, Podoben “What shall we call you…”
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O all-praised martyr and athlete,* having cast down carnal passions by abstinence,* you slew the serpent foe by your contest,* astonishing the angels with your suffering,* and causing men to rejoice in your ordeal, O adornment of monastics, vessel of virginity.* Pray that Christ God save and enlighten our souls!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
What shall we name you, O glorious one?* Bride of Christ who shone forth in the virtues of virginity,* chosen daughter of the heavenly Jerusalem,* dweller and converser with angels,* one who delights in the noetic bridal chamber,* O much-suffering Anastasia, adornment of monastics.* Pray that Christ God save and enlighten our souls!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
You endured the extraction of your teeth,* the severing of your hands, feet, and breasts,* your limbs being cut off by iniquitous torturers;* yet you lifted up your eyes to the comeliness of your Bridegroom,* enduring pain in manner past nature.* O much-suffering Anastasia, incorrupt Bride of Christ,* pray that He save and enlighten our souls!
In the same Tone:
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O divinely wise father Abraham, being like to Abraham in spirit,* you moved from your father’s land, O blessed one,* rejecting the desires of the flesh;* and, joyfully enclosing your body in a small hut,* you furnished your soul with wings to fly to the heavens,* where you have manifestly found your life.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O venerable father Abraham,* who, in accordance with your name, acquired the soul of Abraham,* endured temptations, strengthened by divine love;* and united to God by love, you inherited the promised land,* adorned with the splendours of the virtues.* Wherefore, rejoicing, we celebrate your memory.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O venerable father Abraham,* by divine providence you drew forth the woman* who was cruelly devoured by the serpent through deception,* and who was dragged down into the pit of destruction;* and you presented her, saved, to God.* All marvelled at her repentance,* piously glorifying the all-good God.
Glory… Now…
Rejoice, bearer of the divine Light,* all-radiant lamp, O all-holy Bride of God!* You have shone the Light upon us from your all-pure womb,* illumining all the ends of the earth,* and bathing them with the rays of your grace.* Rejoice, O pure beginning of our salvation!* Rejoice, awesome rumour and report of them that hope in you!
Aposticha
Tone 5
As eyewitnesses to the mysteries of the Saviour, О disciples,* you preached the Invisible One who has no beginning, saying:* In the beginning was the Word.* You were not created before the angels, nor were you taught of men,* but by the wisdom of the Most High.* Wherefore, as you have boldness, pray on behalf of 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.
Together let us praise the apostles of the Lord with hymns,* for, having arrayed themselves in the armour of the Cross,* they abolished the delusion of the demons* and were revealed to be crowned victors.* By the supplications of them and all the saints, О God, have mercy on us.
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 souls filled with insatiable love, О holy martyrs,*you did not deny Christ;* and enduring the diverse wounds of sufferings,* you cast down the audacity of the tormentors;* and having preserved the Faith intact and unharmed,* you were translated to the heavens.* Wherefore, as you have boldness before Him, ask that He grant us great mercy.
Glory… Now…
We bless you, O Virgin Theotokos,* and we, the faithful, glorify you as is meet, O unassailable city,* impregnable rampart, and steadfast intercession and refuge of our souls.
Troparia
Tone 4
Your lamb, Anastasia, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy save our souls.
Tone 8, Glory…
In you, O holy father Abraham, the faithful image of God shone forth,* for you carried your cross and followed Christ.* You taught by your deeds how to spurn the body, for it passes away;* and how to value the soul, for it is immortal. *Therefore, your soul is forever in happiness with the angels.
Now…
O pure Mother of God, you are the gate of spiritual life,* save from all dangers those who run to you with confidence* to glorify your holy birthgiving* for the salvation of our souls.
AT DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Your lamb, Anastasia, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy save our souls.
Troparion, Tone 8: In you, O holy father Abraham, the faithful image of God shone forth,* for you carried your cross and followed Christ.* You taught by your deeds how to spurn the body, for it passes away;* and how to value the soul, for it is immortal. *Therefore, your soul is forever in happiness with the angels.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 3: In the body, you were like an angel on earth,* and by your asceticism, you were like a tree well-rooted.* You grew in beauty, being watered with self-renouncement.* O father Abraham, you exorcised the devil by your tears;* therefore, you resembled a vessel of the Holy Spirit.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 3: O venerable Anastasia, you were purified by the waters of virginity* and washed by the blood of your martyrdom.* Therefore, you grant healing to those who suffer from sickness* and salvation to those who come to you with love.* It is Christ who bestows upon you this power* because He is ever-generous with his grace.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The venerable ones will exult in glory* and they shall by joyful in their beds.
verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; let His praise be in the assembly of the venerable ones. (Psalm 149:5,1)
Epistle
1 Thessalonians 2:9-14
Alleluia, Tone 6
verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.
verse: His seed shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)
Gospel
Luke 11:14-23
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)