Apostle’s Fast

AT VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4

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

You enlightened your mind with the radiance of the Spirit,* becoming a shining sun!* You extended the rays of your teachings to the ends of the earth,* enlightening the fullness of the faithful,* driving away the darkness of heresies, all-blest Godbearer,* with the power of Him Who shone forth from the Virgin!

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

You enlightened your mind with the radiance of the Spirit,* becoming a shining sun!* You extended the rays of your teachings to the ends of the earth,* enlightening the fullness of the faithful,* driving away the darkness of heresies, all-blest Godbearer,* with the power of Him Who shone forth from the Virgin!

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

The whole Church is adorned, holy Cyril,* with the good words of your preaching,* and arrayed with devotion in fitting beauty.* She honours your holy and venerable memory in a holy manner,* boast of the orthodox, height of the fathers,* champion of the most holy Virgin at the council!

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

The whole Church is adorned, holy Cyril,* with the good words of your preaching,* and arrayed with devotion in fitting beauty.* She honours your holy and venerable memory in a holy manner,* boast of the orthodox, height of the fathers,* champion of the most holy Virgin at the council!

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

All the tinder of heresies* is burned with your fiery teachings, all-wise one!* The army of the impious who would not submit to the truth* is drowned in the depths of your understanding, holy Cyril!* The Church of the faithful is ever adorned with your doctrines,* honouring you with mighty voices!

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

All the tinder of heresies* is burned with your fiery teachings, all-wise one!* The army of the impious who would not submit to the truth* is drowned in the depths of your understanding, holy Cyril!* The Church of the faithful is ever adorned with your doctrines,* honouring you with mighty voices!

Tone 6, Glory…

Good and faithful servant,* labourer in the vineyard of Christ,* you bore the burden of the day* and increased the talent given to you.* You did not envy those who came after you,* therefore the gates of heaven have been opened to you!* Enter into the joy of your Lord* and pray for us, Cyril our father!

Tone 1, Now…

О Virgin, entreat the Lamb* whom the all-great Forerunner proclaimed to all,* and who takes away the sins of the whole world,* and pray that I, who am unworthy,* may escape the lot of the goats on the day of judgment,* and may be reckoned among the sheep* on His right hand.

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 1

Great is the abyss of my many transgressions, О Saviour,* and I am grievously engulfed because of my offenses.* Grant me Your hand, as You did to Peter, О God.* Save me and have mercy upon me!

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.

In that I have been condemned for wicked thoughts and deeds, О Saviour,* grant me the thought of returning to You, О God,* that I may cry aloud: Save me, О good Benefactor,* and have mercy upon me!

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.

The confession you made before the tribunal reviled the power of the demons,* and freed mankind from delusion, О saints.* Wherefore, when you were beheaded you cried aloud:* О Lord, may the sacrifice of our lives be well-pleasing to You,* for having loved You, we have spurned this transitory life,* О Lover of mankind.

Tone 6, Glory…

Good and faithful servant,* labourer in the vineyard of Christ,* you bore the burden of the day* and increased the talent given to you.* You did not envy those who came after you,* therefore the gates of heaven have been opened to you!* Enter into the joy of your Lord* and pray for us, Cyril our father!

Now…

Troparion, Tone 4

The truth of your deeds made you for your flock a rule of faith* and an image of meekness,* a teacher of continence.* And so you gained the heights through humility,* riches through poverty,* father and bishop, Cyril.* Intercede with Christ, our God,* for the salvation of 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.