Order of Weekday Vespers

Sunday Evening, January 9, 2022

Ecumenical Church of St. Michael and the New Martyrs of Ukraine,

Heroyiv Nebesnoyi Sotni Alley, 6, Kyiv, Ukraine

 

December 28/ Julian calendar January 10

 

Afterfeast of the Nativity of Christ

Commemoration of the Twenty Thousand Martyrs Burned Alive in Nicomedia

 

Priest: Blessed be our God, always, now and for ever and ever.

People: Amen.

Then:

Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.

H eavenly King, Advocate, Spirit of Truth,  * Who are everywhere present and fill all things,  * Treasury of Blessings, Bestower of Life,  * come and dwell within us;  * cleanse us of all that defiles us,  * and, O Good One, save our souls.

H oly God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. Thrice.

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

T rinity most holy, have mercy on us. * Cleanse us of our sins, O Lord; * pardon our transgressions, O Master; * look upon our weaknesses and heal them, O Holy One; * for the sake of Your name.

Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

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

O ur 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 temptation * but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

People: Amen.

Lord, have mercy. Twelve times.

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

Come, let us bow in worship before the King, our God.

Come, let us bow in worship before Christ, the King, our God.

Come, let us bow in worship and fall down before the very Lord Jesus Christ, * our King and God.

Introductory Psalm

Psalm 103

B less the Lord, O my soul! You are very great O Lord, my God!

Clothed in pomp and brilliance; arrayed with light as with a cloak.

Stretching out the sky as a tent-cloth, covering Your lofty halls with water.

You make the clouds Your conveyance. You surge on the wings of the wind.

You make spirits Your messengers, and flaming fires Your attendants.

You settle the earth on its firm foundation; it shall stand unmoved from age to age.

The abyss covers it like a garment; waters stand over the mountains.

At Your rebuke they will take flight; at the peal of Your thunder they will fear.

They hurdle the hills and run down the dales, to the place You have chosen for them.

You have set up a boundary not to be passed; they shall never return to cover the earth.

Down in the gullies You make springs to rise; water shall go down between the mountains.

They shall give drink to the beasts of the field; wild asses will seek them to quench their thirst.

The birds of the sky will abide by them; from among the rocks they will raise their song.

From Your lofty halls You refresh the mountains; the earth shall be fed with the fruit of Your works.

You make green pastures for the cattle and food-plants for the service of all,

So that bread may be brought forth from the earth, and wine that gladdens the heart of man.

So that oil may put a gleam upon his face; and that bread may strengthen the heart of all.

The trees of the plain will be satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

The sparrows will build their nests in them; and the herons will call them their home.

To the deer belong high mountains, to rodents, the shelter of the rocks.

You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows the time of its setting.

You establish darkness, and it is night wherein the forest creatures prowl around.

Young lions roar for their prey, and call out to God for their meat.

As the sun rises, they will come together, and lay themselves down in their dens.

Man will go out to his labour and work until eventide.

How great are Your works, O Lord, in wisdom You have wrought them all.

The earth is filled with Your creatures; even the wide and open sea itself, within it there are countless creeping things, living beings small and large.

Upon it there are ships a-sailing, and that great beast You made to have fun.

All of them look up to You, to give them their food in due time.

You provide and they gather up; You open Your hand and they are full.

You hide Your face and they cringe; You suspend their breath, and they die and return to their dust.

You send forth Your breath and they live; You renew the face of the earth.

May the Lord’s glory endure forever, may the Lord rejoice in His works.

He looks upon the earth and makes it quake; He touches the mountains and they smoke.

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will praise my God as long as I last.

Would that my thoughts be pleasing to Him, and I will rejoice in the Lord.

May sinners vanish from the earth, and may the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

And again: The sun knows the time of its setting. You establish darkness, and it is night.

How great are Your works, O Lord, in wisdom You have wrought them all.

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

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to You, O God. Thrice.

The Great Litany

Priest: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

People, after every petition: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For the peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

For peace throughout the world, for the well-being of God’s holy Churches and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

For the most holy universal Pontiff, N. , Pope of Rome, our most blessed Patriarch, N. , our most reverend Metropolitan, N. , our God-loving Bishop, N. , the reverend priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, and all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

For ( our divinely protected King or: Queen, N. , or: this nation under God, ) our government, and for all the military, let us pray to the Lord.

For this city (or: For this village, or: For this holy monastery ) , for every city and country and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

For favourable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

For the seafarers and travellers , for the sick and the suffering, for those held captive, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and misfortune, let us pray to the Lord.

Help and save, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For all glory, honour , and worship befit You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

People: Amen.

Lamp-Lighting Psalms

Then, O Lord, I have cried to You , in Tone 5 (the tone of the first prescribed Sticheron).

Psalm 140

First choir:

O Lord, I have cried to You, hear me; * Hear me, O Lord! * O Lord, I have cried to You, hear me;  * receive the voice of my prayer when I call upon You.  * Hear me, O Lord!

Second choir:

L et my prayer rise like incense before You;  * the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.  * Hear me, O Lord!

Then, as prescribed, the verses:

Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth,  * and a portal around my lips.

Incline my heart away from evil dealings, * from finding excuses for sinful deeds.

In company with those who work iniquity,  * let me not partake of what they choose.

May the just chasten me with justice and reprove me;  * may the oil of the wicked never touch my head.

Yet even then shall I pray for their welfare.  * Their rulers were swallowed near the rock.

My words will be heard, for they were sweet.  * As a lump of clay broken on the ground, so their bones were strewn near the grave.

To You, Lord, O Lord, my eyes are lifted up. * In You have I hoped; let not my soul be lost.

Keep me from the snare that was set for me,  * and from the stumbling-blocks of the wicked.

The wicked shall fall into their own nets, * while I remain alone until I can escape.

Psalm 141

With my voice I cried to the Lord;  * with all my voice I implored the Lord.

Before Him I pour out my supplications;  * before Him I declare my distress.

When my breath was escaping me,  * then you knew my paths;

On the road upon which I was walking, * they set up snares for me.

I looked to my right and observed  * there was no one friendly to me;

Even flight was denied me;  * there was no one to take care of my life.

I cried out to You, O Lord, and said:  * You are my hope, my share in the land of the living.

Listen to my supplication, * for I am laid very low.

Deliver me from my oppressors, * for they have overwhelmed me.

Lead my soul forth from prison, * that I may give thanks to Your name.

The just shall gather around me * when You have been good to me.

Psalm 129

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

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

At this point the prescribed stichera are inserted.

Three for the Feast, in Tone 5: Spec. Mel.: “Rejoice ...”:

For 6: If You mark iniquities, O Lord, who can stand?  * But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

As One most perfect in the im age of God, * You bore the guise of A dam, * and desired to be held in mine arms, * O You Who in Your power hold all things in Your hand. * And the pure and all-immaculate one declared, say ing: * “How is it that I have wrapped You in swaddling bands as a babe? * How is it that I nurture You with milk, Who feeds all? * How is it that I marvel at Your poverty, which surpasses under stand ing? * How can I call You my Son, if I am now Your hand maiden? ** I hymn and bless You, Who grants the world great mer cy!”

 

For 5: I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise, * for it has trusted in the Lord.

Seeing the pre-eternal God incarnate from her as a babe, * holding Him in her arms and kissing Him often,  * full of joy, the all-immaculate one de clared to Him: * “O God Most High, in vis ible King, * how is it that I see You, but cannot understand the mystery of Your boundless pov erty? * For this least and strangest of caves contains You Who were born therein without violating my vir gin ity, * but preserving my womb as it was before birth giving, ** and grant ing great mercy un to all.”

 

For 4: From the morning watch until night * let Israel trust in the Lord.

Declaring these things in awe as a ser vant, * the pure one heard the magi standing together before the cave, and said unto them: * “ Whom seek ye? * For I see that ye have come from a far away land: * having Persian dress and wis dom, * ye have made a strange departure and jour ney. * With haste ye have come to worship Him Who has journeyed from the high est * and has strangely made His abode with in me, ** grant ing the world great mer cy.”

 

And three Stichera of the Martyrs, in Tone 4: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs ...”:

For 3: For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption; * and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

En liv ened by strength, * fortified might ily * and endowed with the power of Christ the Mast er, * in the weakness of your na ture * you were shown to be invincible, O spiritual ath letes, * van quishing the enemy amid your strug gles. * Pray for those who celebrate your holy and luminous me mory, ** O glorious great mar tyrs.

 

For 2: Praise the Lord, all the nations; * proclaim His glory, all you people.

Theophilus, Dorotheus and Myg do nius , * together with Gorgonius and Secundus , Peter and In des , * who were val orous in word and deed, * rejoicing, have vanquished the hordes of the en emy; * and they pray that those who faithfully celebrate their most honoured me mory ** be delivered from all mis for tunes.

 

For 1: Strong is the love of the Lord for us; * eternally will His truth endure.

Youths and vir gins, * elders and chil dren, * to geth er showed forth the same val our. * Wherefore, as peers they have received their re wards through grace, * abiding with God, the King of all. * Let us honour them with sac red hymns * as radiant beacons of the whole world, ** twenty thousand in num ber.

 

Glory ... Now & for ever ..., of the Feast, in Tone 5:

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. * Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Let the heav ens be glad, * and let the earth rejoice! * For today angels and mortals have truly become a single flock. * O the won der! * The Invisible One becomes vis ible; * the Word becomes flesh; the Son of God becomes the Son of the Vir gin! * And the Virgin who knew not a man is seen to be the Mother of God, * and, a Mother after giving birth, she is found to be a vir gin! * The incarnate Word of the Father lies in a man ger, * and shepherds are become his her alds, * sharing in the mys tery. * Magi from the East have brought gifts, guid ed by the star, * and have worshiped the newborn Sa viour. * And, fervently opening the treasuries of our hearts , * with them we who love the feasts of the Church also offer Him good works * — faith, hope and love * — like gold, frankincense and myrrh , * crying out to Him with the words of the incor por eal ones: * Glory to God in the high est, * and on earth peace, * goodwill among all mankind! ** For He ha come to save our whole race from deception

Thanksgiving for the Light

And immediately the priest: Wisdom! Stand aright!

The people sing:

T ranquil Light, of the holy glory of the immortal heavenly, holy blessed Father, O Jesus Christ: as we come upon the sunset, as we see the evening light, we sing to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. At all times You are worthy of being hymned by joyful voices; O Son of God, You are the giver of life. For this the whole world glorifies You.

Priest: Let us be attentive! Peace be with all!

People: And with your spirit.

Priest: Wisdom! Let us be attentive!

Prokeimenon

Sunday evening

Tone 8, from Psalm 133:

Behold, now bless the Lord, * all you servants of the Lord.

Verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of the Lord.

 

Evening Doxology

M ake us worthy, O Lord, * to be kept sinless this evening.

Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers,  * and praiseworthy and glorious is Your name for ever. Amen.

May Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us,  * who have placed our hope in You.

Blessed are You, O Lord,  * teach me Your commandments.

Blessed are You, O Master,  * make me understand Your commandments.

Blessed are You, O Holy One,  * enlighten me with Your commandments.

O Lord, Your mercy is forever;  * despise not the work of Your hands.

To you is due praise;  * to You is due a hymn;

To You is glory due,  * Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

now and for ever ,  * and ever. Amen.

Evening Litany of Supplication

Priest: Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Help and save, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: That this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask the Lord.

After each petition, the people sing: Grant this, O Lord.

Priest: For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.

For the forgiveness and remission of our sins and offences, let us ask the Lord.

For all that is good and beneficial for our souls and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.

That we may spend the rest of our lives in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.

For a Christian end to our lives, one that is painless, unashamed, and peaceful; and for a good defence at the awesome tribunal of Christ, let us ask the Lord.

Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For You, O God, are gracious and You love mankind, and we glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

People: Amen.

Priest: Peace be with all!

People: And with your spirit.

Priest: Bow your heads to the Lord.

People: To You, O Lord.

Prayer of Inclination

O Lord our God, You lowered the heavens when You came down for the salvation of the human race. Now look upon Your servants and upon Your inheritance; for they have bowed their heads to You, the Judge, both awesome and loving. They do not await human help, but look for Your mercy and are ready to receive Your salvation. Guard them at all times, this evening and tonight, against all enemies, against the devil’s assaults, against vain thoughts and evil dreams.

The priest exclaims: May the might of Your kingdom be blessed and exalted, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

People: Amen.

The Aposticha

The prescribed Stichera of the Aposticha are sung according to the proper tone with their particular verses.

 

At the Aposticha, these Stichera, in Tone 2: Spec. Mel.: “O house of Ephratha ...”:

Divinely assuming all of the first A dam * from the Vir gin, O Christ, * You were born in the cave ** and laid, swaddled, in the ma nger.

 

Verse: From the womb before the morning star have I begotten You. * The Lord has sworn and will not repent.

 

Sing out prophetically, O David, stri king your harp, * for from your loins , * from whence the Theo to kos has sprung, ** is Christ born today.

 

Verse: The Lord said unto my Lord: * Sit at My right hand.

 

O ye faithful, let us offer praise fit for God * with the shepherds and ma gi, * and glo ry with the an gels, ** to God Who has sprung forth from the Vir gin.

 

Glory ..., Now & ever ..., in Tone 1:

“ Glo ry to God in the high est!” * is heard from the incorporeal ones in Beth lehem today, * addressed to Him Who was well pleased to become Peace on earth. * Now the Vir gin has become more spacious than the heav ens, * for Light has shone forth upon the darkened and lifted up the lowly who chant with the an gels: ** Glo ry to God in the high est!

 

Canticle of Simeon

N ow, O Master, You have kept Your promise; * let Your servant go in peace. * With my own eyes, I have seen the salvation * which You have prepared * in the sight of every people: * a Light to reveal You to the gentiles * and the glory of Your people, Israel!

Trisagion Prayers

H oly God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. Thrice.

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

T rinity most holy, have mercy on us. * Cleanse us of our sins, O Lord; * pardon our transgressions, O Master; * look upon our weaknesses and heal them, O Holy One; * for the sake of Your name.

Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

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

O ur 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 temptation but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

People: Amen.

Troparia

Then the people sing the prescribed Troparia and Theotokion.

 

Troparion, Tone 2:

O spi ritual athletes of the Lord , * bless ed is the ground which has been watered by your blood , * and ho ly the habitations which have received your bo dies; * for in your con test you vanquished the e nemy * and preached Christ with bold ness. ** En treat Him, we pray, in that He is good, that our souls be saved.

 

Glory ... Now & for ever ...

 

Troparion of the Feast, Tone 4:

Your Na ti vity, O Christ our God, * made the light of knowledge dawn on the world: * through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star * to worship You, the Sun of Righ teousness, * and to know You, the Dawn from on high. ** Glory to You , O Lord.

 

Insistent Litany

Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, in the greatness of Your compassion, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

After each petition, the people sing: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Priest: We also pray for the most holy universal Pontiff, N. , Pope of Rome; for our most blessed Patriarch, N. , our most reverend Metropolitan, N. , our God-loving Bishop, N. , for those who serve and have served in this holy church, for our spiritual fathers, and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We also pray for ( our divinely protected King or: Queen, N. , or: this nation under God, ) our government, and for all the military.

Additional petitions may be added here.

We also pray for the people here present who await Your great and bountiful mercies, for those who have been kind to us, and for all orthodox Christians.

Priest: For You are a merciful and loving God, and we give glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

People: Amen.

Dismissal

Priest: Wisdom!

People: More honourable than the cherubim * and by far more glorious than the seraphim; * ever a virgin, you gave birth to God the Word, * O true Mother of God, we magnify you.

Priest: Glory be to You, O Christ our God, our hope, glory be to You.

People: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, * now and forever and ever. Amen. * Lord, have mercy. Thrice * Give the blessing.

The priest says the dismissal of the day.

People: Amen.