The Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian; Our Venerable Father Arsenius the Great.

After the priest has exclaimed, Blessed be the Kingdom… and the people have responded, Amen, the clergy sing the Paschal Troparion once and the people repeat it. Then, the clergy sing the first half, and the people conclude it.

Paschal Troparion

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: When the disciples of the Lord learned from the angel* the glorious news of the resurrection* and cast off the ancestral condemnation,* they proudly told the apostles:* “Death has been plundered!* Christ our God is risen,* granting to the world great mercy.”

Troparion, Tone 8: At the mid-point of the Feast, O Saviour,* water my thirsty soul with streams of true godliness;* for You cried out to all: Let any who thirst, come to Me and drink.* O Source of Life, Christ our God, glory to You

Troparion, Tone 2: O beloved apostle of Christ our God,* hasten, deliver a people without defense.* He who received you when you leaned upon His breast accepts you as you bow in prayer.* Implore Him, O Theologian, to scatter the cloud of nations that besets us,* asking peace and great mercy.

Kontakion, Tone 2: O virgin apostle, who can recount your mighty works?* For you pour out wonders and healings* and you pray for our souls as Theologian and friend of Christ.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 8: Drawn to the well by faith,* the Samaritan woman beheld You, the Water of Wisdom,* and drinking abundantly of You,* she inherited the heavenly Kingdom for ever,* becoming everlastingly glorious.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4: At the mid-point of the Feast according to the Law,* Maker of all things and Master,* You said to those present, O Christ God:* Come, and draw the water of immortality.* And so we fall before You crying out with faith: Grant us Your mercies , for You are the source of our life.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3

Sing to our God, sing; sing to our King, sing.

verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; shout unto God with the voice of joy. (Psalm 46:7,2)

Prokeimenon, Tone 0

Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Epistle

Acts 15:5-34; 1 John 1:1-7

In those days, some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.”

The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, “My brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written,

‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; from its ruins I will rebuild it, and I will set it up, so that all other peoples may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called. Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things known from long ago.’

Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood. For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues.”

Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds, we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. When its members read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation. Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. After they had been there for some time, they were sent off in peace by the believers to those who had sent them.

Beloved, we declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Alleluia, Tone 4

verse: Poise yourself and advance in triumph and reign in the cause of truth, and meekness, and justice.

verse: You have loved justice and hated iniquity. (Psalm 44:5,8)

verse: The heavens shall confess our wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints.

Gospel

John 10:17-28; John 19:25-27; 21:24-25

The Lord said to the Jews that came to him, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

Again the Jews were divided because of these words. Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?” Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.”

At that time, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Hymn to the Theotokos

The Angel cried out to the One full of Grace: O chaste Virgin, rejoice! And again I say, Rejoice! Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day, and raised the dead. Let all people rejoice! Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Exult now and be glad, O Sion! And you, O chaste Mother of God, take delight in the resurrection of your Son.

Communion Hymn

Receive the Body of Christ;* taste the fountain of immortality.* Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest.* Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.

Instead of Blessed is He Who comes… we sing:

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

Instead of We have seen the true light… we sing:

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

Instead of May our mouths be filled… we sing three times:

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

Instead of Blessed be the name of the Lord… we sing three times:

Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

At the dismissal, instead of Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen. we chant:

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs giving life.

After the final Amen, the Troparion Christ is risen is sung as at the beginning of the Liturgy, but with the addition:

And to us He has granted life eternal;* we bow down before His resurrection on the third day.

AT GREAT VESPERS WITH LYTIA ON THURSDAY EVENING

Priest: Glory be to the holy, consubstantial, life-creating, and undivided Trinity, always, now and for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

During the Paschal season, we sing:

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs, giving life.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

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

Trinity 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. (3)

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

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.

All: Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (12)

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.

Psalm 103

Bless 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 for ever: 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!

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! (3)

Litany of Peace

Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

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

All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: 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.

All: Lord, have mercy.

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

All: Lord, have mercy.

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

All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For our nation under God, for our government, and for all the military, let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For this city, for every city and country and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

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

All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: 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.

All: Lord, have mercy.

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

All: Lord, have mercy.

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

All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: 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.

All: To You, O Lord.

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

All: Amen.

First Kathisma

Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly. Alleluia! (3)

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish. Alleluia! (3)

Serve the Lord with fear, exalt in Him with trembling. Alleluia! (3)

Blessed are those who trust in Him! Alleluia! (3)

Arise, O Lord, save me, my God! Alleluia! (3)

Salvation is of the Lord; may Your blessing be upon Your people! Alleluia! (3)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Alleluia! (3)

Now and for ever and ever. Amen. Alleluia! (3)

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to You, O God! (3)

Small Litany

Deacon: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

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

All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: 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.

All: To You, O Lord.

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

All: Amen.

Psalm 140

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!

Let my prayer rise like incense before You, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord!

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.

On You, Lord, O Lord, my eyes are fixed. In You have I trusted; take not my life.

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.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4

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

Come, see Him of whom Moses in the Law spoke of old,* Jesus, the Messiah who has appeared out of His tender compassion,* and as a man, spoke to me at the well.* In truth this is Christ God, who has come into the world.* Thus spoke the Samaritan woman to those in Sichar.

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

When those in the city had partaken of the sweet water* that poured forth from the mouth of the woman,* they quickly hastened to come to the well to drink from that bountiful Fount,* and to see the ever-flowing Well-spring* which refreshes parched souls that are thirsty for life.

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

Having beheld the Fount of life,* who was one in form and nature with mortal man,* all they that were in the city cried to the woman:* Not only on account of your words do we believe,* but we have come to know that this is the everlasting redemption* and salvation of the world.

Tone 1

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

The beholder of ineffable revelations* and recounter of the most sublime mysteries of God,* the son of Zebedee, who set down in writing the Gospel of Christ,* has taught us to theologize* concerning the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

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

The beholder of ineffable revelations* and recounter of the most sublime mysteries of God,* the son of Zebedee, who set down in writing the Gospel of Christ,* has taught us to theologize* concerning the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

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

The harp of heavenly songs played by God,* the recorder of mysteries, the divinely eloquent mouth,* beautifully chants the hymn of hymns;* for, moving his lips as though they were strings,* and using his tongue as a plectrum,* he prays that we be saved.

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

Proclaiming with your thunderous tongue* the hidden Word of divine wisdom, O beloved of God,* you ever cry out, continually moving your lips:* In the beginning was the Word!* And you instruct every man in the knowledge of God.

Tone 8

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

O divinely wise father Arsenius,* having girt your mind round about with abstinence,* you caused it to ascend to the primal Cause,* and, forsaking the turbulence of the world and shunning its tumults,* you truly mingled purity of mind with the utmost desire, O blessed and all-wise one.

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

O divinely wise father Arsenius,* having girt your mind round about with abstinence,* you caused it to ascend to the primal Cause,* and, forsaking the turbulence of the world and shunning its tumults,* you truly mingled purity of mind with the utmost desire, O blessed and all-wise one.

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

O venerable father Arsenius, seeking after God,* and piously desiring to be illumined by His radiant effulgence,* you abandoned all the splendour of high position and the imperial palace,* and received an immortal inheritance,* abiding now with Christ, O divinely blessed one.

Tone 1, Glory…

O you of the race of man,* let us offer goodly praise as is meet to the beloved and virginal John,* the son of thunder, the foundation of the words of God, the author of theology,* the first preacher of the truth of the dogmas of the wisdom of God;* for having the Divine continually within him, he said:* In the beginning was the Word,* Who is inseparable from the Father and of the same essence with the Father,* revealing to us through himself the orthodoxy of the Holy Trinity.* And he has likewise shown us that He creates with the Father* and bears life and the light of Truth.* O awesome wonder! O uttermost wisdom!* For, full of love, he was also filled with theology through glory, honour and faith,* as a founder of our pure Faith.* Wherefore, we shall receive everlasting blessings on the day of judgment.

Tone 6, Now…

By Jacob’s Well, Jesus found the Samaritan woman.* He that covers the earth with clouds asked water of her.* O wonder! He that rides on the Cherubim speaks with a harlot woman, asking for water,* He who has suspended the earth upon the waters.* He who causes springs and pools of waters to flow forth seeks water,* for He wished to draw to Himself her that was truly ensnared by the contending enemy,* and to impare the water of life to her* who was sorely inflamed with unseemly deeds,* for He alone is compassionate and the Lover of mankind.

Entrance

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

Priest: O gracious King, You love mankind and bless all things. With contrite heart and humble spirit, we pray to You, O Christ our true God: Bless our comings and our goings. For Your coming and ascension and dwelling among us are blessed, always, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

The deacon points eastward with his orarion and says:

Deacon: Master, bless the holy entrance.

Priest: Blessed be the entrance of Your saints, always, now and for ever and ever.

Deacon: Amen.

Deacon: Wisdom! Stand aright!

Hymn of Light

Tranquil 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.

Prokeimenon

Deacon: Let us be attentive!

Priest: Peace be with all.

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us be attentive!

Thursday Evening, Psalm 120, Tone 6

My help is from the Lord,* Who made heaven and earth.

1. I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come.

Readings

The prescribed readings are taken here. Before each reading, the deacon remains at the closed holy doors.

Deacon: Wisdom!

Lector: A reading from the book of…

Deacon: Let us be attentive!

Readings

(1) 1 John 4:9-16; (2) 1 John 4:20-5:5; (3) 1 John 3:21-4:6

Litany of Supplication

Deacon: Let us all say with our whole soul and our whole mind, let us say:

All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Almighty Lord, God of our Fathers, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

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

All: Lord, have mercy. (3)

Deacon: We also pray the most holy universal Pontiff, (name), Pope of Rome, our most blessed Patriarch, (name), our most reverend Metropolitan, (name), our God-loving Bishop, (name), for those who serve or have served in this holy church, for our spiritual fathers, and for all our brethren in Christ.

All: Lord, have mercy. (3)

Deacon: We also pray for our nation under God, for our government, and for all the military.

All: Lord, have mercy. (3)

Petitions may be added here.

Deacon: 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.

All: Lord, have mercy. (3)

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.

All: Amen.

Deign, O Lord

Deign, O Lord, to keep us this evening without sin.

Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name for ever. Amen.

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us because we have set 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 laws.

O Lord, Your mercy endures forever; do not despise the work of Your hands.

It is proper to praise You, and hymns belong to You.

Glory belongs to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Litany of Supplication

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

All: Lord, have mercy.

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

All: Lord, have mercy.

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

All: Grant this, O Lord.

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

All: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: For the forgiveness and remission of our sins and offenses, let us ask the Lord.

All: Grant this, O Lord.

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

All: Grant this, O Lord.

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

All: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: 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.

All: Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon: 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.

All: 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.

All: Amen.

Priest: Peace to all of you.

All: And with your spirit.

Deacon: Bow your heads to the Lord.

All: To You, O Lord.

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

All: Amen.

Lytia

After the Litany of Supplication and the Prayer at the Bowing of Heads, the stichera of Lytia are sung. The royal doors are opened. The priest (vested in phelonion) and bearing the handcross, and the deacon with censer proceed to the narthex (or outside the church) where the deacon censes the icons, the priest, and the people. Then the deacon takes the following Litany. The following is an extended lytia prayer as used in our parish in Ottawa, Ontario and MASI]

Deacon: Save your people, O God, and bless Your inheritance; visit Your world with mercy and compassion; raise up the strength of orthodox Christians and send down upon us Your abundant mercies. Through the prayers of our immaculate Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary; through the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the protection of the honourable, heavenly, incorporeal powers; of the honourable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles; and of our fathers among the saints, the great universal teachers and hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; of our father among the saints, Nicholas the Wonderworker, archbishop of Myra in Lycia; of the holy Cyril and Methodius, equals-to-the-apostles, teachers of the Slavs; of the holy right-believing and equal-to-the-apostles grand prince Volodymyr, and of the blessed grand princess Olha. By the prayers of the holy hieromartyr Josaphat, archbishop of Polotsk; of the holy new-martyrs and confessors of Ukraine: the hieromartyrs Nicholas (Charnetsky), exarch and wonderworker of Volhynia, Gregory (Khomyshyn) of Stanyslaviv, Josaphat (Kotsylovsky) of Peremyshl’ and Sambir; Theodore (Romzha) of Mukachevo, Nicetas (Budka), first Exarch of Canada; Basil (Velychkovsky) of Lutsk and elder of Winnipeg; Gregory (Lakota) of Peremyshl’, Ivan (Sleziuk) of Stanyslaviv, and Symeon (Lukach), bishop and passion-bearer; of the hieromartyrs Leonid (Feodorov), exarch of Russia, and Clement (Sheptytsky), archimandrite of Univ; Severian (Baranyk), Joachim (Sen’kivsky) and Vitaly (Bayrak), innocently slain in Drohobych; of the holy passion-bearers Zynoviy (Kovalyk) and Ivan (Ziatyk); of the hieromartyrs Andriy (Ishchak), Mykolai (Tsehelsky), Roman (Lysko), Petro (Verhun) and Oleksii (Zarytsky); of the hieromartyr Emilian (Kovch), pastor of prisoners at Majdanek; the hieromartyr Mykola (Konrad) and the cantor Volodymyr (Pryima), passion­bearers of Stradch; of the holy nun-martyrs: Tarsykia (Matskiv), Olimpia (Bida), and Lavrentia (Harasymiv); of Vincent (Levoniuk) and those martyred with him in Pratulin: Nicetas, John, Constantine, Michael, Onuphrius, Philip, Maxim, Daniel, Constantine, Bartholomew, Luke and Ignatius—and all the martyred men and women of the land of Rus’-Ukraine; of the North American martyrs: Jean (de Brébeuf), Noël (Chabanel), Antoine (Daniel), Charles (Gamier), Isaac (Jogues), Gabriel (Lalemant), René (Goupil), and Jean (de Lalande), enlighteners of the Huron-Wendat nation; and of all the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing fathers, Anthony and Theodosius of the Monastery of the Caves at Kyiv; of our venerable father Job, hegumen of Pochaiv, and Makary, archimandrite of Kaniv; of our venerable fathers John Nepomucene (Neumann) of Philadelphia, Damien (De Veuster), the leper of Molokai, François (de Montmorency-Laval), Basile (Moreau), Louis-Zéphirin (Moreau), Frédéric (Janssoone) and brother André of Montreal; of our venerable mother Josaphata (Hordashevska) of Zhuzhelyany; of our venerable mothers of North America: Marguerite (Bourgeoys), Kateri (Tekakwitha), Marie of the Incarnation, Marguerite (d’Youville), Eulalie (Durocher), Marie-Catherine (Simon de Longpré), Dina (Bélanger), Esther (Blondin), Émilie (Tavernier-Gamelin), Marie-Élisabeth (Turgeon) and Marie-Léonie (Paradis); and the venerable mothers Frances (Cabrini), Elizabeth Ann (Bayley Seton), Rose-Philippine (Duchesne), Katharine (Drexel), Anne-Thérèse (Guérin) and Marianne (Cope) of Molokai; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anne; of Saint (name), the patron(ness) of this holy house; of Saint (name), whose memory we keep this night; and of all the saints; we beseech You, O all-merciful Lord, hear us sinners praying to You, and have mercy.

All: Господи, помилуй (Hospody, pomyluy). (12)

Deacon: We also pray for the most holy universal Pontiff (name), Pope of Rome, and for our most blessed Patriarch (name), that the Lord God will grant them health and salvation, ever directing them and assisting them in all they do; and for our most reverend Metropolitan (name), our God-loving Bishop (name), for our spiritual fathers and mothers, and all our brothers and sisters in Christ, and for every Christian soul that is afflicted and maltreated and in need of God’s mercies and help; for the protection of this city, or village; or this holy place, and for those who live here; for the peace and serenity of the whole world; for the welfare of God’s holy Churches; for the salvation and assistance of our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters who, with diligence and in the fear of the Lord, labour and serve; for the repose, blessed memory, and remission of sins of our departed loved ones of the orthodox faith all over the world; for the deliverance of captives; for all those taking part in these holy services, and for all who serve and have served in this holy church, let us pray:

All: Κύριε ελέησον. (Kyrie, eleison). (12)

The practice of always singing Kyrie, eleison (that is, Lord, have mercy, in Greek) in response to this petition for the hierarchy, derives from the fact that the first bishops in Rus’-Ukraine were Greek speaking.

Priest: Hear us, O God our Saviour, hope of all bounds of the earth and those far away at sea. In Your graciousness be merciful to us sinners, O Master. For You are a merciful God and You love mankind, and we glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Priest: Peace be with all!

All: And with your spirit.

Deacon: Let us bow our your heads to the Lord.

All: To You, O Lord.

Priest: O most merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, through the prayers of our most pure Lady, the Mother of God, and ever-Virgin Mary; through the might of the precious and life-giving Cross, through the protection of the honourable, heavenly, incorporeal powers; of the honourable, glorious prophet, forerunner, and baptiser, John; of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles (or: of the holy apostle and evangelist (name), and of all the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles); and of our fathers among the saints, the great ecumenical teachers and hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; of our father among the saints, Nicholas the Wonderworker, archbishop of Myra in Lycia; of the holy Cyril and Methodius, equals-to-the-apostles, teachers of the Slavs; of our holy priest-martyr Josaphat, of the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing fathers Anthony and Theodosius of the Monastery of the Caves at Kyiv; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anne; through the prayers of Saint (name), the patron(ess) of this Church; of Saint (name), whose memory we celebrate; and of all the saints. Make our prayer acceptable. Grant us remission of our transgressions; protect us with the shadow of Your wings; drive far from us every foe and adversary; and make our life peaceful, O Lord. Have mercy on us and on Your world and save our souls; for You are gracious and You love mankind.

All: Amen.

Lytia

Tone 1

Rivers of theology poured forth from your honoured mouth, O apostle,* and the Church of God, watered thereby, worships the consubstantial Trinity in Orthodoxy.* Pray now to the Trinity, O theologian John,* that our souls be made steadfast and saved.

The garden of purity has emitted for us the myrrh of sweet fragrance on this present feast,* that we may cry out to him: O Apostle John,* who reclined against the Master’s breast,* who has rained down discourse upon the world* and preserved the Virgin as the apple of your eye,* beseech Christ, that He grant us great mercy.

O disciple of the Saviour, virgin and theologian, when Christ God was crucified* He committed the Virgin Theotokos to your care, in that you are virginal;* and you preserved her as the apple of your eye.* Wherefore, pray that our souls be saved.

As an eyewitness to ineffable mysteries, you cried out, exclaiming:* “In the beginning the pre-eternal Word was with God, and He was God!”* O Apostle John, intimate and faithful friend of Christ,* delight of the Trinity, unshakable confirmation of Ephesus and Patmos, our help.* Pray, O most blessed theologian, that the people who ever celebrate your memory with faith* be delivered from wicked enemies, material and noetic.

Tone 5

O venerable father, having heard the voice of the Gospel of the Lord,* you forsook the world, holding riches and glory to be as naught.* Wherefore, you cried out to all:* “Love God and you shall find eternal grace.* Prefer nothing to His love, that when He shall come in His glory,* you shall find rest with all the saints.”* By his supplications, O Christ, preserve and save our souls.

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

Reclining against the breast of Christ the Teacher at the Lord’s supper,* O beloved disciple, you thereby came to know ineffable things,* and has thundered forth your heavenly voice for all to hear,* saying: “In the beginning was the Word,* and the Word was with God, and the Word was God:* Christ God, the Saviour of our souls,* the Light of truth Who enlightens every man* who comes into the world.”

Aposticha

Tone 4

Theologizing concerning the Son of the Most High,* Who with the Father is equally everlasting and of the same essence,* immutable Light from Light, the impress of the hypostasis of the Father,* Who shone forth timelessly and dispassionately from Him,* the Creator and Lord of all the ages, Christ our God,* you preached to the world, O beloved,* as the One Who brought light forth out of darkness.* Entreat Him that He save and enlighten our souls.

Their sound has gone forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

Receiving the light of the Comforter,* illumined therewith you theologized and proclaimed to all, O beloved,* that He proceeds from the Father* and through the Son is revealed to mankind,* equal in honour, equally enthroned* and of the same essence with the unoriginate Father and God the Word.* Wherefore, we honour you in hymns as the foundation of the divine Faith,* which you preserve unshaken through your supplications to the Lord.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands.

Having ascended to the summit of theology,* you learned the ineffable mysteries of God:* the single essence of the Godhead,* His single glory, kingdom and dominion, ever distinct in three Hypostases,* yet essentially indivisible and united in unconfused divine unity.* And, rendering glory, O theologian,* you preached the indivisible Trinity.* Entreat Him that He save and enlighten our souls.

Tone 6, Glory…

O apostle of Christ, evangelist and theologian,* as an initiate of ineffable mysteries you have thundered forth upon us* the ineffable doctrines of wisdom,* explaining to the faithful that He was in the beginning,* and discounting that there was a time when He did not exist,* thus rejecting the words of the heretics.* And as you were shown to be the beloved intimate and friend of Christ,* like the eloquent Isaiah and Moses the God-seer,* pray earnestly for our souls, in that you have boldness before God.

Tone 6, Now…

Thus says the Lord to the woman of Samaria:* If you knew the gift of God,* and who it is that says to you: Give Me water to drink,* you would have asked Him, and He would have given to you to drink,* that you might never thirst unto eternity, says the Lord.

Hymn of Simeon

Now, 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

Lector: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

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

Trinity 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. (3)

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

Our Father, Who art in heaven,* hallowed by 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.

All: Amen.

Troparia

Tone 2

O beloved apostle of Christ our God,* hasten, deliver a people without defense.* He who received you when you leaned upon His breast accepts you as you bow in prayer.* Implore Him, O Theologian, to scatter the cloud of nations that besets us,* asking peace and great mercy for us. (2)

Tone 4

Rejoice, Mother of God, Virgin Mary full of grace!* The Lord is with you.* Blessed are you among women,* and blessed is the fruit of your womb.* For you have borne Christ, the Saviour* and Deliverer of our souls.

Blessing of the Loaves, Wine, and Oil

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, our God, as You blessed the five loaves in the wilderness and fed five thousand, so bless these loaves, this wheat, wine, and oil. Make them plentiful in this city and throughout Your world and sanctify the faithful who partake of them. For it is You who bless and sanctify all things, O Christ our God, and we give glory to You with Your beginningless Father and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord, now and for ever. (3)

Psalm 33

I will bless the Lord at all times;* His praise shall be constantly in my mouth.

My soul shall glory in the Lord;* let the meek hear and rejoice.

Magnify the Lord with me,* and let us exalt His name together.

I sought the Lord and He heard me,* and delivered me from all my fears.

Approach the Lord and be enlightened,* and your face shall never be shamed.

The poor cried out, and the Lord heard them* and delivered them from all their afflictions.

The angel of the Lord will set up camp around those who fear the Lord* and save them.

Taste and see how good is the Lord;* blessed is the one who hopes in Him.

Fear the Lord, all you His saints,* for there is no privation for those who fear Him.

The rich have become poor and hungry* but those who seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.

Priest: The blessing of the Lord be upon you through His grace and loving kindness, always, now and for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Great Dismissal during Pascha Season

Deacon: Wisdom!

All: Give the blessing.

Priest: Blessed is the One-Who-Is, Christ our God, always, now and for ever and ever.

All: Amen. O God, make firm the holy orthodox faith now and for ever and ever.

Priest: O most holy Mother of God, save us.

All: Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem.* for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you,* Exalt now and be glad, O Sion.* And you, O chaste Mother of God,* take delight in the resurrection of your Son.

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

All: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs, giving life!* Lord, have mercy. (3)* Give the blessing.

Priest: Christ our true God, (risen from the dead) through the prayers of His immaculate Mother; the holy, glorious, and all-praiseworthy apostles; of Saint, (name, whose church it is), and of Saint, (name, whose day it is) and of all the saints, will have mercy and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

All: Amen.