|
|
|
|
AT VESPERS At Lord, I have cried, we sing Prosomia. Tone 4. Called from on high. You revealed your Prophet, O Immortal, as a living cloud, water truly springing up to eternal life, sending him forth and richly gracing him with the Holy Spirit, consubstantial with you, almighty Father, and with your Son, who shone forth from your being; through whom he foretold the saving Coming of Christ our God, and prophesied salvation to all the nations. By purity of mind you received the whole brightness of the radiance whose source is God, and you became a speaker, foreteller and godly interpreter of divine words; you appeared as the Spirit’s mouth moved by God, declaring and making clear to all the nations the things revealed to you through him, all-honoured Prophet, the salvation that would be given and the kingdom of Christ; implore him to save and enlighten our souls. Made resplendent by a worthy vision of God, and honoured by prophetic contemplation and grace, inspired Prophet, you were made worthy of blessedness; using your boldness to him now, who is all good, and your compassion, do not cease to intercede on behalf of those who with faith praise you and honour you as revered and inspired and possessed by God, that our souls may be delivered and saved from dangers. Glory. Both now. Theotokion.As I sail by sea, travel by road, sleep by night, watch over me; give me the grace of a watchful mind, All-blameless, and grant that I may do the Lord’s will; that on the day of sentence I who flee to your protection may find release from all that I have done in life. Or Cross-Theotokion. When the Ewe-lamb, your Mother, saw you nailed to the Cross, Lord, she was struck with amazement, and cried out: What is this sight, my Son so greatly loved? Is this how the disobedient, lawless people repays your many wonders? But glory, Master, to your ineffable condescension! AT MATINS The Canon, of which
the Acrostic is: Ode 1. Tone 6. Irmos.As Israel marched on foot. [As Israel marched on foot in the deep as on dry land and watched Pharao the pursuer drowning, they cried out: To God let us sing a song of victory.] Troparia. We beg you, Prophet of God, who stand by his judgement seat, to intercede insistently that enlightenment be given to us who hymn with faith your honoured memory. You were revealed as a godlike instrument containing the illuminations of the Spirit of God, and enjoying his gifts; and so we the faithful, rejoicing, call you blessed. Theotokion. The Sun which shone from your womb with shining rays makes the whole earth bright, Sovereign Lady; enlightened by them we honour you as Mother of God. Ode 3. Irmos. None is holy. [None is Holy but you, O Lord my God, who have exalted the horn of your faithful people and established me, O Good One, on the rock of confession of you.] Troparia. He who as God sees all things shows and reveals to you, wise Prophet, in a manner fitting God the knowledge of things to come, and the clear understanding of those which will come to pass, O blessed and worthy of praise. Having with devout boldness slain your mind, blest Prophet, you submitted yourself to the Spirit of God, and became the recipient of the divine rays that come from there. Theotokion. Behold, with faith all generations call you blessed, who in time gave birth beyond nature in the body to the Word without time, and remained still a Virgin. Irmos. None is Holy but you, O Lord my God, who have exalted the horn of your faithful people and established me, O Good One, on the rock of confession of you. Kathisma. Tone 1. Soldiers watching. The august prophet, having gained by divine rays a mind formed of light, foretells what is to come, speaking by the all-holy Spirit; today as with devout mind we honour him, let us celebrate his sacred memory with uprightness of heart. Theotokion. Hope of Christians, all-holy Virgin, with the Powers above, implore without ceasing the God to whom you gave birth beyond nature and reason, to grant forgiveness of sins and amendment of life to us all who ever glorify you with faith and love. Or Cross-Theotokion. The spotless Ewe-lamb, when she saw the Lamb and Shepherd hanging dead upon the Tree, cried in lamentation and bewailed him as a mother: How may I bear, my Son, your condescension beyond reason and your voluntary sufferings, O God supremely good? Ode 4. Irmos. Christ is my power. [Christ is my power, my God and Lord, the holy Church cries out from a pure mind in song befitting God, as it keeps festival in the Lord.] Troparia. The Lord of all things has appeared to us, blest Prophet, in accordance with your prophecy, summoning all things to knowledge of himself, and has freed them from slavery. Made radiant by grace, you prophesied saying that those who worship should come under one yoke, being brought to the faith and adoring the Lord. Theotokion. Mary, All-pure, scatter the flood of passions of my mind and the storm of temptations, as the one who gave birth to the source of dispassion, O Virgin Mother. Ode 5. Irmos. With your divine radiance. [With your divine radiance, O Good One, illumine, I beg, the souls of those who rise to you at dawn with love to know you, Word of God, to be truly God, calling them back from the gloom of offences.] Troparia. Turn me from unrighteousness to virtue, from the captivity of the passions, blessed, glorious Prophet, by your intercessions, and direct my works to the light of true religion. You made your soul resplendent with the rays of the virtues, and showed it to be ready for the beams of the divine Spirit; from whom you were also enriched with the grace of prophecy. Theotokion. Prophetic sayings, All-holy Virgin, announce through symbols your child-bearing; we, who now see their fulfilment, proclaim you to be in truth Mother of God. Ode 6. Irmos. Watching life’s sea. [Watching life’s sea rising with a tempest of temptations, fleeing to your calm haven, I cry out to you: Bring my life up from corruption, O Most Merciful.] Troparia. Receiving the beams of the Spirit, glorious Prophet, as a clear mirror you blazed forth the rays of inspired prophecy to the world, foretelling things to come as things present. Your King has come; Sion rejoice and exult at seeing him; he has enlightened the world with the beams of his Godhead and destroyed the error of demons. Theotokion. United to the solidity of flesh in your womb, the Only-Begotten of the Father came forth, one from two, without corruption, and kept your virginity unharmed, O All-praised. Irmos. Watching life’s sea rising with a tempest of temptations, fleeing to your calm haven, I cry out to you: Bring my life up from corruption, O Most Merciful. Ode 7. Irmos.An Angel made the furnace moist with dew. [An Angel made the furnace moist with dew for the godly Youths, while God’s command consuming the Chaldeans persuaded the tyrant to cry out: Blessed are you, God of our Fathers.] Troparia. Your memory, inspired Prophet, has dawned for the world like a sun, making radiant with the grace of your Prophecy those who with faith harmoniously sing to Christ: Blessed are you, the God of our Fathers. Revealed as more abundant than a cloud, blest prophet, you sent forth for us a shower of saving knowledge of God from sources through which we are enlightened to cry out: Blessed are you, the God of our Fathers. Theotokion. The Word, who of old gave being to all things by his divine will, Pure Virgin, willing to call back humanity, made his dwelling in your womb, O Blessed One, who bore God in the flesh. Ode 8. Irmos. From the flame. [From flame you made a source of dew for the Saints, and with water you consumed the sacrifice of a righteous man with flame. For you do all things, O Christ, simply by willing them. We highly exalt you to all the ages.] Giving yourself wholly to the Almighty, you were initiated into the ways of providence, which train the Nations in accordance with the Dispensation; therefore we sing your praise, inspired Prophet. Offer to God a hymn of supplication, Blessed of God, on behalf of us who hymn you, and free us now from the tempest of temptations, that we may sing your praise, inspired Prophet. Theotokion. By giving birth to the Giver of life, God and Lord, you put an end to the destruction of death, which had slain all, Pure Virgin; therefore we sing your praise to all the ages. Irmos. From flame you made a source of dew for the Saints, and with water you consumed the sacrifice of a righteous man with flame. For you do all things, O Christ, simply by willing them. We highly exalt you to all the ages. Ode 9. Irmos. It is impossible. [It is impossible for humans to see God, on whom the ranks of Angels dare not gaze. But through you, O All-pure, the incarnate Word has been seen by mortals. As we magnify him, with the heavenly armies we call you blessed.] Troparia. In the land of the meek you have made your dwelling, where you see the splendours of many Angels, all-wise Prophet, servant of God, having become meek and resplendent with grace; therefore we faithful, rejoicing, call you blessed. Seeing the clear fulfilment of your prophecies, O all-revered, we marvel at the grace which was given you, and are amazed at the purity of your mind and the godliness of your soul. Theotokion. None from ancient generations was ever graced as you, all-immaculate Mother of God; for you alone of all women possess incomparable holiness; therefore you received in yourself God incarnate. Irmos. It is impossible for humans to see God, on whom the ranks of Angels dare not gaze. But through you, O All-pure, the incarnate Word has been seen by mortals. As we magnify him, with the heavenly armies we call you blessed. For the Apostle, Gospel and Communion, see July 20th. |
|
All texts and
translations on this page are copyright to This page was last updated on 18 April 2008 |