Vespers
+Blessed is our God, always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Priest:
Priest: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Im-mor-tal * have mer-cy on us.
Cantor: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Im-mor-tal * have mer-cy on us.
Priest: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Im-mor-tal * have mer-cy on us.
Cantor: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spi-rit. * Now and ever and to the ages of a-ges. Amen.
Priest: O Most Holy Trinity have mercy upon us, Lord, cleanse us from our sins, Master, pardon our trans-gres-sions! * O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name s sake.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mer-cy. * Lord, have mer-cy.
Priest: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spi-rit. * Now and ever and to the ages of a-ges. Amen.
All: Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temp-ta-tion, * but deliver us from the e-vil one.
Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, ofthe Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy. six times
Priest: Lord, have mercy. six times
Cantor: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spi-rit. * Now and ever and to the ages of a-ges. Amen.
Priest: Come, let us worship God our King. * Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God.
All: Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, * our King and our God.
As the Reader reads Psalm 103, the Deacon enters the Sanctuary through the South door and the Priest comes out of the Sanctuary through the North door and, standing before the Holy Doors with head uncovered, he prays the Vesperal Prayers, beginning with the fourth prayer. (The first three are said after the litanies.)
Bless the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with honor and majesty.
You cover Yourself with light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a curtain and lay the beams of Your chambers in the waters. You make the clouds for your ascent and You walk on the wings of the wind.
You make Your angels spirits, Your ministers a blazing fire.
You laid the foundation of the earth that it should never be moved.
You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At Your rebuke they fled; at the voice of Your thunder they hurried away.
They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys to the place that You established for them.
You have set a boundary that they may not pass, that they never again flood the earth.
He sends the springs into valleys that run among the hills.
They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst;
By them live the birds of the air; from among the rocks they pipe their calls.
He waters the hills from His chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His labor.
He causes the grass to grow for the cattle and green plants for our nourishment, that we may grow food from the earth.
Wine that gladdens our hearts, oil to make our faces shine and bread that strengthens our bodies.
The trees of the plain are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which He planted;
There the sparrows make their nests; there the heron has made its abode.
The high mountains are a refuge for the deer and the rocks for the badgers. You made the moon to mark the seasons: the sun knows its time for setting.
You make darkness and it is night, in which all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
The young lions roar after their prey and seek their food from God.
The sun rises; they gather themselves together and lay down in their dens.
Mankind goes off to work and to labor until the evening.
Lord, how great are Your works. In wisdom, You have made them all: the earth is full of Your creatures.
So is this great and wide sea, in which there are creeping things without number, creatures, both small and great.
There go the ships; there is that sea beast, which You made to sport therein.
All these wait upon You, that You may give them their food in due season.
They gather what You give them; when You open Your Hand, they are filled with good.
When You turn away Your Face, they are troubled. You take away their breath and they shall cease and to their dust, shall they return.
You send out Your Spirit and they shall be created and You shall renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the Lord, endure through the ages; the Lord shall rejoice in His works.
He looks on the earth and it trembles; He touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord throughout my life; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
My meditation of Him shall be sweet; I will be glad in the Lord.
Let the sinners be consumed from the earth and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, my soul.
The sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness and it is night.
Lord, how manifold are your works. In wisdom, You have made them all.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spi-rit, * now and ever and to the ages of a-ges. Amen.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God! thrice
Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Deacon: For this holy temple and for those who enter here with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
Deacon: For our Metropolitan, His Eminence Antony; for our Archbishop, His Eminence Daniel, for the reverend presbyters, for the deacons in Christ and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
Deacon: For our God-Loving and God-Protected country the United States of America, for the government and armed forces, and for all the people; for our God-Loving and God-Protected ancestral homeland Ukraine, and for all her people let us pray to the Lord.
Deacon: For this city, (village or holy monastery) and for every city and community and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Deacon: For seasonable weather, an abundance of the fruits of the earth and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
Deacon: For those who travel by land, sea and air, for the sick, the suffering, for captives and for the salvation of them all, let us pray to the Lord.
Deacon: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and distress, let us pray to the Lord.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and preserve us, God, by Your grace.
Deacon: Remembering our Most-Holy, Most-Pure, Most-Blessed and Glorious Lady, the Birth-Giver of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life, to Christ our God.
Priest: Lord our God, Your Power is beyond compare, and Your Glory beyond understanding; Your Mercy is boundless, and Your Love for us beyond words, look with compassion, Master, on us and on this holy temple, and show us, and those who pray with us, the riches of Your tender mercy.
Priest: For to You are due all glory, honor and worship: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
No Kathisma
Tone 4 (Penitential stichera in the Tone of the week)
V. (10) Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to Your Name!
Lord, I long to wash away with tears the record of all my sins,
and to spend the remaining days of my life
pleasing You through repentance,
but the Enemy continually deceives me.
He wages war against my soul.//
Save me before I completely perish, O Lord!
V. (9) The righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me.
Who, when caught in a storm, if he runs to this haven is not saved?
Or who that is sick, if he runs to this healing, is not made whole?
O Creator of all and Physician of the sick,//
Save me before I completely perish, O Lord!
V. (8) Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice!
Wash me in my tears, O Savior,
for I am defiled by many sins!
Therefore I fall before You://
I have sinned; have mercy on me, O God!
V. (7) Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
I, a sheep of Your rational flock,
flee for refuge to You, the Good Shepherd.
O God, I have gone astray;//
seek me, and have mercy on me!
V. (6) If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You.
Tone 2 (from the Lenten Triodion, by Joseph) (Joseph of Arimathea)
Let us humble the flesh by abstinence,
as we follow the divine path of pure fasting!
With prayers and tears let us seek the Lord, Who saves us!
Let us put an end to anger, crying out:
“Save us for we have sinned against You!
Save us, O Christ our King, as You saved the men of Nineveh,//
and make us partakers of Your heavenly Kingdom, O compassionate One!”
V. (5) For Your Name’s sake I wait for You, O Lord. My soul has waited for Your word; my soul has hoped on the Lord.
When I think of my deeds, O Lord,
I am filled with despair,
and know that I am worthy of every torment.
I have despised Your commandments, O Savior.
I have spent my life as a prodigal.
I pray to You, O only merciful One:
“Cleanse me by repentance,
enlighten me through prayers and fasting,//
and despise me not, O most gracious Benefactor of all!”
Tone 2 (from the Lenten Triodion, by Theodore)
V. (4) From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, let Israel hope on the Lord!
Let us begin the fast with joy!
Let us prepare ourselves for spiritual efforts!
Let us cleanse our soul and cleanse our flesh!
Let us abstain from every passion as we abstain from food!
Let us rejoice in virtues of the Spirit and fulfill them in love,
that we all may see the Passion of Christ our God,//
and rejoice in spirit at the holy Pascha!
V. (3) For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption, and He will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.
Tone 1 (for St. Polycarp) (Joy of the Heavenly Hosts)
You were united with the bodiless choirs after your life on earth,
and together with them you ceaselessly offered service to the Trinity,
O divinely-blessed Father Polycarp.
Therefore, living forever as a heavenly man in the Highest,//
you instruct those on earth in the divine mysteries.
V. (2) Praise the Lord, all nations! Praise Him, all peoples!
You appeared as a divinely-planted vine
that put forth clusters of grapes:
the divine account of your labors for Christ.
From these, O divinely blessed saint,
with faith we draw a precious sweetness,//
and in our hearts we bring your teachings to all the world.
V. (1) For His mercy is confirmed on us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Illumined by the divine brightness,
your body consumed by the material fire,
you were translated to the most immaterial radiance.
By your prayers, O wise Father, also grant us deliverance,//
illuminating the dark night of the passions of our souls.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit * now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Tone 1 (Theotokion) (Joy of the Heavenly Hosts)
Tossed on a sea of transgressions,
I flee for refuge to the calm harbor of your supplications,
and cry out to you, O most pure Theotokos:
Extend your strong right hand to your servant,//
and save me, O all-blameless Lady!
The Holy Doors are opened, the Deacon asks the Priest to bless the censer, they both kiss the Altar Table, and preceded by the Acolytes, passing by the High Place, they proceed out of the Sanctuary through the North door, and go to the solea in front of the Holy Doors.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
In the evening, in the morning, and at midday, we praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we pray to You: O Master of all, O Lord, the Lover of mankind, let our prayer arise in Your sight as incense, and incline not our hearts to words or thoughts of evil, but rescue us from all who seek after our souls. For our eyes are toward You, O Lord: Lord, in You we put our hope. Put us not to shame, O our God. For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Deacon: Amen.
Deacon points to the Holy Doors with his Orarion in his right hand, he says quietly:
Deacon: Amen. Bless, Master, the holy entrance.
Priest: Blessed is the entrance of Your Saints always, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
Deacon: Wisdom. Let us stand aright.
Tone 8 Great Prokeimenon
The great prokeimenon in the eighth tone: Turn not away Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted: / hear me speedily, draw near unto my soul, and deliver it!
Turn not away Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted: / hear me speedily, draw near unto my soul, and deliver it!
Turn not away Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted: / hear me speedily, draw near unto my soul, and deliver it!
V. Let the poor see and be glad! (Ps. 68:37a)
Turn not away Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted: / hear me speedily, draw near unto my soul, and deliver it!
V. Seek God, and your soul shall live! (Ps. 68:37b)
Turn not away Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted: / hear me speedily, draw near unto my soul, and deliver it!
Turn not away Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted:
hear me speedily, draw near unto my soul, and deliver it!
Cantor: Count us worthy, Lord, of passing this evening without sin. Blessed are You, Lord God of our Fathers; may Your Name be praised and glorified to the ages. Amen.
Let Your mercy, Lord, be upon us, as we have set our hope in You. Blessed are You, Lord, teach me Your Commandments.
Blessed are You, Master, grant me understanding of Your statutes.
Blessed are You, Holy One, enlighten me by Your precepts.
Lord, Your mercy endures to the ages; despise not the work of Your Hands.
Indeed, it is fitting to praise You and sing hymns to You.
It is fitting to glorify You: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Deacon: Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.
Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and preserve us, God, by Your grace.
Deacon: That this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
Deacon: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
Deacon: Forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.
Deacon: All that is good and beneficial to our souls and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
Deacon: That we may live out our lives in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
Deacon: A Christian end to our life – painless, blameless and peaceful – and a good defense before the Dread Judgment Seat of Christ, let us ask of the Lord.
Deacon: Remembering our Most-Holy, Most-Pure, Most-Blessed and Glorious Lady, the Birth-Giver of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life, to Christ our God.
Priest: For You are a Good and Loving God and to You we give glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
Priest: Peace be to you all.
Deacon: Bow your heads to the Lord.
Priest: Lord our God, You bowed the heavens and came down for the salvation of the human race; look upon Your servants and Your inheritance, for to You, the Awesome and Ever-Loving Judge, have Your servants bowed their heads and inclined their necks, awaiting not help from mortals, but entreating Your mercy and looking confidently for Your salvation. Guard them at all times, both during this present evening and in the approaching night, from every enemy, from all adverse powers of the devil, from vain thoughts and from evil fantasies.
May the Majesty of Your Kingdom be blessed and glorified, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.
Tone 4 Idiomelon (from the Lenten Triodion)
Your grace hath shone forth, O Lord:
the grace which illumines our soul.
This is the acceptable time!
This is the time of repentance!
Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light,
that passing through the Fast as through a great sea
we may reach the Resurrection on the third day//
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of our souls.
V. I lift up mine eyes to You, enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He have mercy upon us.
Tone 4 Idiomelon (from the Lenten Triodion)
Your grace hath shone forth, O Lord:
the grace which illumines our soul.
This is the acceptable time!
This is the time of repentance!
Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light,
that passing through the Fast as through a great sea
we may reach the Resurrection on the third day//
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of our souls.
V. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Too long our soul has been sated with the scorn of those who are at ease, the contempt of the proud. (Ps. 122:3-4)
You are glorified
in the memory of Your saints, O Christ God.//
At their supplications, send down on us Your great mercy!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The angelic hosts glorify you, O Mother of God,
for you gave birth to God,
co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,
Who, by His own desire, created the angelic hosts out of nothing.
Beseech Him to deliver from corruption and to enlighten//
the souls of those who rightly praise you, O most pure one!
Priest: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Im-mor-tal * have mer-cy on us.
Cantor: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Im-mor-tal * have mer-cy on us.
Priest: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Im-mor-tal * have mer-cy on us.
Cantor: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spi-rit. * Now and ever and to the ages of a-ges. Amen.
Priest: O Most Holy Trinity have mercy upon us, Lord, cleanse us from our sins, Master, pardon our trans-gres-sions! * O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name s sake.
Cantor: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mer-cy. * Lord, have mer-cy.
Priest: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spi-rit. * Now and ever and to the ages of a-ges. Amen.
All: Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temp-ta-tion, * but deliver us from the e-vil one.
Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, ofthe Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Priest: O Lord and Master of my life, do not permit me the spirit of laziness, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. (prostration.)
Priest: But give, rather, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Your servant. (prostration.)
Priest: O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for blessed are You to the ages of ages. Amen. (prostration.)
O God, cleanse me a sinner and have mercy on me. (12 x)
Priest: O Lord and Master of my life, do not permit me the spirit of laziness, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.
Priest: But give, rather, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Your servant.
Priest: O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for blessed are You to the ages of ages. Amen. (prostration.)
Wisdom
Father, bless.
Priest: Christ our God, the existing one is blessed, always, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
Deacon: Wisdom
Priest: Most holy Birthgiver of God, save us.
Glory to You, O Christ, our God and our hope, glory to You.
whom we commemorate today; of our Holy Father among the Saints, Gregory Dialogus, Pope of Rome, of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us for He is good and loves mankind.