Apostle’s Fast

AT VESPERS ON MONDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 3, Podoben “In crosswise manner…”

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

Perceiving in me a slothfulness toward profitable works,* the serpent of many shapes transforms itself,* luring me towards ever more bitter evils,* showing me the sweetness of sin,* by his own bitter activity,* which is opposed to the commandments of God.* And taking advantage of my wicked character,* forcing me to accept evils as good.

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

Having eagerly trodden the whole path of iniquity and sin,* and utterly departed from that which is straight,* I have now drawn nigh to the gates of death;* and, hemmed in, I cry aloud: О my supremely good Jesus, O path of our life,* turn me to the broad expanse of true repentance;* save and grant me correction;* and before my death, grant me divine forgiveness!

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

I have been slain by diverse sins, by multitudes of transgressions and great misdeeds;* and I lie dead, truly helpless.* Only my hope in Your tender compassion remains alive, О Christ,* who grants both breath and life to the dead and slays the passions which kill us.* Wherefore, going before me, rescue me from everlasting death.

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.

Rome puts you forward as a blossoming rose of sweet fragrance,* perfuming the thoughts of the faithful with the scent of the virtues* and ever dispelling the stench of the passions by grace,* O much-suffering Agrippina, adornment of the martyrs,* confirmation of the Church, boast of virgins* and abyss of miracles.

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

You, who suffered in Rome,* Christ our God has given to Sicily as riches beyond count;* and having arrived there, O glorious martyr,* you drive away the evil multitude of demons by your intercession.* Therefore, we bless you and celebrate your suffering today,* O much-suffering Agrippina.

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

Bassa and Paula bore you on their shoulders* at the command of Him who bears all things,* moving you from place to place* and making a long journey over the deep.* And working awesome miracles through divine grace, O martyr Agrippina,* you came to rest in the place which God had appointed,* becoming a place of rest for the heavy-laden, O most lauded one.

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

O Mistress, take pity on me* who am bowed down beneath the assaults of the demons* and cast into the pit of destruction,* and establish me upon the rock of the virtues;* and dispelling the attacks of the enemy,* grant that I may keep the commandments of your Son and our God,* that I may receive remission on the day of judgment.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

The Lord hears me* when I cry out to Him.

verse: Whenever I called, the God of my justice heard me.

Aposticha

Tone 3

Our evening hymn do we bring to You, O Christ,* with incense and spiritual songs,* have mercy on us and save 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.

Save me, O Lord my God for You are the salvation of all:* The storm of the passions disquiets me,* and the yoke of my transgressions weighs heavily upon me.* Stretch out Your helping hand and lead me up to the light of compunction,* for You alone are compassionate and the Lover of mankind.

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.

Great is the power of Your martyrs, О Christ;* for while lying in their graves they drive evil spirits away;* and, having struggled for piety with their faith in the Trinity,* they abolished the authority of the enemy.

Tone 3, Glory… Now…

O Theotokos, holy among women, O Mother unwedded:* entreat the King and God whom you bore,* that He save us, insofar as He is the Lover of mankind.

Troparion, Tone 4

Your lamb, Agrippina, 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.

Glory… Now…

Let us poor sinners hasten with fervour to the Mother of God;* let us humbly kneel before her and say from the depth of our hearts:* O Lady, be kind to us and help us.* Hasten, for we are perishing under a multitude of sins.* Do not turn away your servants empty-handed,* for you are their only hope and protection.

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON TUESDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: Your lamb, Agrippina, 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.

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

Kontakion, Tone 2: We, all the faithful, have found your shrine to be a place of spiritual healing,* and we cry aloud to you: “O glorious virgin martyr, Agrippina,* pray unceasingly to Christ our God for all of us!”

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.

verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)

Epistle

Romans 14:9-18

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and He was attentive to me, and He heard my prayer.

verse: He brought me out of the pit of misery and the mud of the swamp. (Psalm 39:2,3)

Gospel

Matthew 12:14-16, 22-30

Communion Hymn

Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)