14 th Sunday after Pentecost Afterfeast of the Dormition of the All-Holy Theotokos Commemoration of the Holy Prophet Samuel

Transcription

1 1 14 th Sunday after Pentecost Afterfeast of the Dormition of the All-Holy Theotokos Commemoration of the Holy Prophet Samuel VESPERS: Tone 5 P. Regular Beginning C. Lord I have cried... (Tone 5) 1. Thou hast shamed the devil with Thy precious Cross, O Christ,/ and hast blunted the sting of sin by Thy Resurrection./ Thou hast saved us from the gates of death.// Thou, O only-begotten Son, we glorify Thee. 2. He Who granted mankind the Resurrection/ was led like a lamb to the slaughter;/ the princes of hell trembled before Him,/ the gates of tears were lifted up:/ for Christ the King of glory entered in,/ declaring to those in bonds: "Go forth"// and to those in darkness: "Show yourselves." 3. What a mighty wonder;/ in His love for mankind,/ the Maker of things invisible suffered in the flesh and He Who was immortal rose./ Come and worship Him, ye kindreds of the nations;/ let us, delivered indeed from beguilement by His compassion,// learn to sing the praises of the only God in three Persons. 4. We offer up to Thee our evening worship,/ O uncreated light, who art to all eternity./ For through the flesh as in a glass,/ Thou hast shone upon the world, descending even unto hell,/ setting free those in darkness there/ and showing forth to the nations the light of the Resurrection:// Glory unto Thee, O Lord, Giver of light. Stichera for the Feast (Tone 4) 5. Today the all-immaculate Theotokos/ who gave birth unto Life,/ hath passed on to everlasting life,/ bestowing mercy upon the faithful;/ and all creation now rejoiceth, leaping up;/ companies of angels now escort her as their queen,/ making festive hymnody in songs;/ and her only Son, the King of all,/ hath made her to dwell with Him,// as one who hath dominion over all. 6. Borne on clouds from all the ends of the earth,/ the divinely eloquent apostles arrived, upborne, in Sion,/ to behold the glorious and truly holy dormition of the Mother of the Lord,/ and to offer her splendid words and to perform her wondrous burial,/ in that she gave birth unto the Lord, and is the refuge of all the faithful,// and their truly mighty, divine and invincible protection on earth. 7. Let us all radiantly celebrate on the divine dormition/ her who is more highly exalted than all created beings,/ offering to her gifts of light truly divine,/ and those things which are fit for her:/ faith, hope and serene love,/ purity, sanctity and righteousness,/ wherein

2 she delighteth./ May she vouchsafe us a portion with her// and count us worthy of the kingdom on high. Stichera for the Prophet Samuel (Tone 4) 8. Having received thee as a worthy fruit of prayer, O Samuel,/ and given thee to God her Benefactor as she had promised,/ she who gave birth to thee/ made of thee a right acceptable gift with her maternal hands./ Wherefore, the grace of the Spirit rested upon thee, O glorious one,// causing thee to grow in guilelessness, and adorning thee with wisdom. 9. Invested as a priest with sacred chrism, and shown to be a prophet,/ thou didst foresee things which were to come,/ and at the command of God didst anoint a king;/ thou didst foretell the future,/ judging with justice the people of Israel who sinned without ceasing and withdrew themselves from their God,// O right wondrous Samuel, Godbearer all-rich. 10. Having put aside the gloom and heaviness of the flesh,/ thou now beholdest Him Whom thou didst desire,/ not in reflections, nor in shadows, as before, but face to face;/ and going about the heavens, thou rejoicest, O most honoured prophet,/ who art the peer of the other prophets of God,// converser with the righteous, who sharest in the portion of the angels. Glory... (Tone 6) O Theotokos, Mother of Life,/ the apostles, who were scattered throughout the world,/ were caught up in the air by clouds and borne to thy dormition;/ and in a single choir they stood before thine all-holy body;/ and, burying it with honour, they sang,/ chanting to thee the cry of Gabriel:/ Rejoice, thou who art full of grace,/ Virgin Mother unwedded, the Lord is with thee!/ With them entreat thou thy Son and our God,// that our souls be saved. Both... Dogmatikon (Tone 5) In times past,/ the image of the unwedded Bride was inscribed in the Red Sea:/ There Moses parted the waters;/ here, Gabriel was the servant of the wonder./ Then, Israel rode dry-shod through the deep;/ while, now, the Virgin hath without seed given birth to Christ./ After the passing of Israel,/ the sea was as ever impassable./ After the birth of Emmanuel,/ the Virgin without reproach, remains uncorrupt./ Thou, O God, Who art now, hast forever been and hast appeared as man,// have mercy upon us. P. Wisdom. Aright! C. O Joyful Light... P. Prokimenon. The Lord is King... P. Wisdom! (And readings, if any) P. Augmented Litany R. Vouchsafe... P. Litany of Fervent Supplication APOSTICHA: (Tone 5) 2

3 1. We lift up our voices in song/ to magnify Thee, O Saviour,/ Christ incarnate yet never parted from heaven,/ for Thou Lord Who lovest mankind,/ hast suffered the Cross and death for the sake of our kind/ and casting down the gates of hell,// Thou hast risen on the third day and thereby saved our souls. V. The Lord is King,/ and hath put on glorious apparel. 2. O Giver of Life,/ Thy pierced side poured streams of remission,/ life and salvation upon us all./ By taking upon Thyself death in the flesh,/ Thou hast granted us immortality,/ and taking up Thy abode in the tomb,/ Thou hast set us all free,/ and as God Thou hast raised us up with Thee in glory./ Therefore, we cry aloud:// Glory unto Thee, O Lord, Who lovest mankind. V. He hath made the world so sure/ that it cannot be moved. 3. O Thou Wh-o lovest mankind/ strange are Thy crucifixion and Thy descent into hell./ For after despoiling it, and raising up with Thyself as God in glory,/ those who were in times of old held captive there,/ Thou hast opened Paradise and vouchsafed that it let man enter./ Cleanse us, therefore, from sin,/ who glorify Thy Resurrection on the third day/ and vouchsafe that we too may dwell in Eden:// For Thou alone art merciful. V. Holiness becometh Thine house/ O Lord, forever. 4. O Thou, Who for our sakes hast accepted suffering in the flesh/ and hast risen on the third day from the dead,/ heal the passions of our flesh/ and raise us from our grievous iniquities and save us:// For Thou alo-ne lovest mankind. G/B... (Tone 6) When the repose of thine all-pure body drew nigh,/ the apostles, standing about thy bed,/ looked upon thee with trembling;/ and they, gazing at thy body, were seized with awe./ And Peter cried aloud to thee, weeping:/ O Virgin, I behold thee clearly stretched out, the life of all,/ and I am amazed, for in thy body/ the delight of the life to come made His abode!/ O all-pure one, earnestly entreat thy Son and God,// that thy flock be saved unharmed. C. St. Symeon's Prayer R. Trisagion C. Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos x2 Troparion of the Feast (Tone 1) (See music) x1 In giving birth, thou didst preserve thy virginity,/ in falling asleep thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos./ Thou was translated to life O Mother of Life.// And by thy prayers thou deliverest our souls from death. Blessed be the Name of the Lord... x3 Psalm 33:1-10 3

4 4 MATINS: Tone 5 P. Regular Beginning P. Great Ectenia C. God is the Lord... C. Sunday Troparia (Tone 5) x2 Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word/ co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit/ Born for our salvation from the Virgin,/ for He willed to be lifted upon the Cross in the flesh/ to endure death and to raise the dead/ by His glorious Resurrection. Glory... Troparion for the Prophet Samuel (Tone 2) Celebrating the memory of Thy prophet Samuel,// O Lord, through him we beseech Thee: Save Thou our souls! Both... Troparion of the Feast (Tone 1) (See music) In giving birth, thou didst preserve thy virginity,/ in falling asleep thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos./ Thou was translated to life O Mother of Life.// And by thy prayers thou deliverest our souls from death. Lord Have Mercy Glory... 3x R. Now... R. Kathisma II P. Small Ectenia R. Sessional Hymns: We praise the Cross of the Lord, we honour His holy burial with hymns, and we greatly glorify His resurrection, for as God with Himself He raised the dead up from the graves, having captured the dominion of death and the might of the devil; and He shone light upon those in hades. V. Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; forget not Thy paupers to the end. Declared to be dead, O Lord Who didst slay death, Thou wast laid in a tomb, O Thou Who emptied the graves. Above, soldiers kept guard over Thy sepulcher, while below Thou didst raise up the dead from ages past. O almighty and unapproachable Lord, glory be to Thee! G/B... Rejoice! Thou impassable gateway of the Lord; Rejoice! Thou wall and protection of those who take refuge in Thee; Rejoice! Thou haven untroubled by storms; Rejoice! Thou who hast not known wedlock and who hast borne Thy Son and Maker and God in the flesh. Fail not in thy intercession on behalf of those who sing the praises of and worship thy Son. R. Kathisma III P. Small Ectenia R. Sessional Hymns:

5 O Lord, after Thy resurrection on the third day and the worship of the apostles, Peter cried out to Thee: "The women showed courage, but I was afraid. The thief uttered theology, but I denied Thee. And dost Thou now call upon me to be Thine apostle still? Or wilt Thou show me again to be a fisher of the deep? Yet do Thou accept me, who repent, O God, and save me!" V. I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders. O Lord, the iniquitous nailed Thee in the midst of condemned criminals, and pierced Thy side with a spear, O Merciful One! Thou didst accept burial, Who broke down the gates of hades, and didst rise again on the third day. The women hastened to behold Thee, and announced Thine arising to the apostles. O supremely exalted Saviour, Whom the angels hymn, O blessed Lord, glory be to Thee! G/B... O Theotokos, unwedded Bride, who hast transformed the grief of Eve into joy, we, the faithful, hymn and bow down before thee, for thou hast led us out of the ancient curse. And now, pray thou unceasingly, O most hymned and all-holy one, that we be saved. R. Psalm 118 C. Evlogitaria (Blessed art Thou, O Lord...) P. Small Ectenia R. Ypakoe: The myrrh-bearing women, their minds dazzled by the sight of the angel and their souls enlightened by Thy divine Resurrection, preached the good tidings to the Apostles: "O spread among the nations the news of the Resurrection of the Lord, He, Who works wonders and grants us His great mercy." Hymn of Degrees: (Antiphon One) When I am filled with sorrow, I sing unto Thee like David, O my Saviour: Deliver my soul from a lying tongue. Blessed is the life of those in the wilderness, who soar aloft on wings of love divine. G/B... By the Holy Spirit are sustained all things, visible and invisible; for, Himself possessed of dominion, He is truly One of the Trinity. Hymn of Degrees: (Antiphon Two) Ascend into the mountain, O my soul and go thither from whence cometh our help. Let Thy right hand, which toucheth me, O Christ, preserve me from all deception. G/B... Theologizing concerning the Holy Spirit, let us say: Thou art God, Life, Love, Light and understanding! Thou art Goodness and Thou reignest forever! Hymn of Degrees: (Antiphon Three) Full of great Joy, I send up supplications for those who have said to me: Let us enter into the courts of the Lord. Awesome things are wrought in the house of David; for there is found the fire which burneth up every shameful thought. 5

6 G/B... To the Holy Spirit, by Whom every living thing is made animate, is due the dignity of the Bestower of life, as to the Father and the Word. P. Prokimenon: (Tone 5) Arise, O Lord, my God, let Thy hand be lifted high;/ for Thou shalt be King forever. V. I will confess to Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders. C. Let every breath praise the Lord. P. GOSPEL #3 C. Having Beheld the Resurrection of Christ... R. Psalm 50 C. Glory... Now... Have mercy on me... Jesus having risen... P. Save, O God, Thy People... Anointing. Canticle One 6 Irmos: Bringing battles to nought with His upraised arm,/ Christ hath overthrown horse and rider/ in the Red Sea,/ and hath saved Israel,// who chanteth a hymn of victory. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. The thorny assembly of the Jews, devoid of maternal love for Thee, their Benefactor, O Christ, crowned Thee with thorns, Who lifted the thorny sentence of our first father. Bending down, O Bestower of life, Thou raised me up who had fallen into the pit; and having endured my fetid corruption without partaking thereof, O Christ, Thou hast made me fragrant with the myrrh of the divine Essence. Theotokion The curse hath been annulled; grief hath ceased! For she who is blessed and full of grace hath shone joy forth upon the faithful, causing Christ to blossom forth as a blessing upon all the ends of the earth. As one adorned with the beauty of the virtues, O most pure one who art full of grace, through the effulgence of the Spirit thou didst receive the majesty of Him Who adorneth all things, and which createth beauty. Prefiguring thee on Sinai of old, the bush which was united with fire was not consumed; for as virgin thou gavest birth and remained a virgin still, in manner past understanding, O Virgin Mother. Let the immaterial ranks accompany thy divine and immaterial body to Sion. For the multitude of the apostles, coming together of a sudden from

7 the ends of the earth, stood before thee, O Theotokos. With them we also glorify thine honoured memory, O pure one. The honours of victory over nature hast thou taken, having given birth unto God, O pure one; yet, emulating thy Creator and Son, thou submittest to the laws of nature in supernatural manner. Wherefore, having died, thou risest with thy Son unto everlasting life. Holy Prophet of God, Samuel, pray to God for us! O wise offspring of a barren woman, by thy supplications vouchsafe that my barren soul may produce the good fruits of the virtues, that I may praise thy splendid festival with sacred hymns, O Samuel. He, Who of old loosed the womb of Sarah, manifestly fulfilled the entreaty of Hannah and, through grace, made that barren woman fertile, O Samuel, and was well pleased that thou shine forth from her like a star. Glory... Having dyed thy divine vesture in sacred manner, O allblessed one, thou didst enlighten thy soul with the mystic rays of the Spirit, learning every mystery and serving Almighty God like an angel, O divinely wise one. Both... He Who, as the pre-eternal Son, is with the Father, in latter times truly became thy Son, incarnate, O pure one, and for the sake of their faith, as God He adopted all who labored for the cruel adversary. C. Katavasia (Tone 1) Thy sacred and glorious memory,/ all-adorned with divine glory, O Virgin,/ that gathered all the faithful in gladness,/ who, led by Miriam with choirs and timbrels,// hymn thine only-begotten Son, for gloriously hath He been glorified. Canticle Three 7 Irmos: O Christ Who by Thy command fixed the earth upon nought/ and suspended its weight unsupported;/ establish Thou Thy Church/ upon the immovable rock of Thy commandments,// O Thou Who alone art good and lovest mankind. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. They who sucked honey from a rock when Thou didst work a miracle in the desert, O Christ, gave Thee gall to eat; the ungrateful children of Israel gave Thee vinegar in return for manna, repaying thus Thy benefactions. They who of old were covered by the cloud of light placed Christ, our Life, in the tomb; yet He hath arisen through His own power and from on high hath given to all the faithful the effulgence of the Spirit, which mystically overshadoweth them. Theotokion Thou, O Mother of God, gavest birth without knowing union, and without the pangs of motherhood, unto Him Who shone forth from the incorrupt Father;

8 wherefore, in Orthodox manner we proclaim thee the Theotokos, for thou gavest birth unto the incarnate Word. The mystery which was ordained of old and foreseen before time began by God Who knoweth all things, hath now, in the latter days been made manifest, fulfilled in thy womb, O most immaculate one. The condemnation incurred by the ancient curse was annulled at thy mediation, O all-pure Virgin; for having manifested Himself through thee, the Lord hath poured forth blessing upon all, in that He is all-good, O only adornment of men. The glorious apostles, seeing thee to be a mortal woman, yet, in manner transcending nature, the Mother of God, O all-immaculate one, with awe touched with their hands thee who art resplendent in glory, perceiving thee to be a habitation acceptable to God. When God preserved with the glory of His divinity the honour of the animate ark wherein the Word became flesh, the judgment of retribution overtook the insolent one through the severing of his audacious hands. Holy Prophet of God, Samuel, pray to God for us! Having cleaved unto God in most exalted manner, O glorious one, thou wast beloved of Him, adorned with divine wisdom and made comely in soundness of soul. Showing forth an angelic life on earth, O Samuel, thou didst have angels conversing with thee openly and teaching thee things past understanding, O blessed one. Glory... Having acquired a radiant eye for thou soul, through grace thou truly beholdest things afar off as though they were near at hand, showing thyself to be a prophet of the Almighty. Both... Jesus Christ came forth from thee incarnate, and hath deified us by taking on our flesh, O all-immaculate one. Wherefore, we honour thee as His Mother. C. Katavasia (Tone 1) O Christ, the Wisdom and the Power of God,/ Who dost create and uphold all,/ establish the Church unshaken and unwavering:// for only Thou art holy, Who hast Thy resting place among the saints. P. Small Ectenia C. Kontakion for the Feast (Tone 2) The tomb and mortality could not hold the Theotokos,/ who is untiring in her supplications and our certain hope in her intercessions./ For, as the Mother of Life,// she hath passed over to the Life Who dwelt within her ever-virgin womb. 8

9 9 R. Ikos of the Feast Guard Thou my thoughts, O my Christ, for I make bold to hymn the bulwark of the world, Thy pure Mother. Establish me firmly in the bastion of my words, and help me in the midst of difficult thoughts; for Thou fulfillest the entreaties of those who cry out and ask with faith. Wherefore, grant unto me a deft tongue and a ready mind, for every good deed of enlightenment cometh down from Thee, O Bestower of light, Who dwelt within her ever-virgin womb. C. Kontakion for the Prophet Samuel (Tone 8) As a gift of great worth given to God before thy conception,/ from thine infancy thou didst serve Him, O most blessed one;/ and thou wast vouchsafed to declare beforehand the things of the future./ Wherefore, we cry out to thee: Rejoice,// O Samuel, prophet of God, thou great high priest! R. Sessional hymns Nurtured on the judgments of the law, thou wast shown to be worthy of anointing, serving as priest like Aaron; and illumining thy heart by the Spirit, thou didst see things afar off as though they were near at hand, O honoured prophet. Entreat Christ God, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy. G/B... Thy seedless conception in thy birthgiving and thine incorrupt mortality in thy dormition, a twofold wonder, have merged in thee, O Theotokos. For how art thou who hast not known man a pure nourisher of an Infant? And how dost thou, the Mother of God, perfume with myrrh a mortal body? Wherefore, with the angel we cry to thee: Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace. Canticle Four Irmos: Perceiving Thy divine condescension prophetically, O Christ,/ Habakkuk cried out to Thee with trembling:/ Thou art come for the salvation of Thy people,// to save thine anointed ones! Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. O Good One, with a tree Thou didst sweeten the bitter waters of Marah, prefiguring Thine all-precious Cross, which doeth away with the taste of sin. O my Saviour, Thou didst receive a Cross in exchange for the tree of knowledge and gall for sweet food, and thou didst pour forth Thy divine blood for the corruption of death. Theotokion Without physical joining thou didst incorruptibly conceive within thy womb, and gavest birth without pain; and having given birth unto God in the flesh, thou wast preserved a virgin even after birthgiving.

10 He Who created all things out of nothingness was well-pleased, as our Benefactor, to be formed of thee, O pure one, for the salvation of those who with faith and love hymn thee, O most immaculate one. Isaiah called thee the staff from whence Christ God, the beautiful Flower, budded forth for us, unto the salvation of those who with faith and love have recourse to thy protection. Behold, O ye people, and marvel, for the holy and openly manifest mountain of God is exalted on high to the mansions of heaven: the earthy heaven becometh a celestial and incorrupt habitation. Thy death became a passage to an everlasting and better life, O pure one, translating thee from transitory life to that which is truly divine and eternal, that thou mightest behold thy Son and Lord in gladness, O pure one. The gates of heaven were raised and the angelic choirs chanted: and Christ received the vessel of His Mother's virginity. The cherubim lifted her up with gladness, and the seraphim glorify her, rejoicing. Holy Prophet of God, Samuel, pray to God for us! Adorned in sacred manner with an exemplary life, the saving laws of God were entrusted to thee for proclamation to transgressing Israel who ever driveth away the merciful. Eli the priest is condemned because of his iniquitous sons and by the righteous Judge is cut off from the service of God; and the priestly Samuel is installed in his place because of his guileless soul, as one obedient to Him Who called. Glory... For thy foolish people who did not abide in the divine commandments of the King of all, at the behest of God thou didst anoint a king who cut asunder the horn of their mindless might. Both... Without abandoning the bosom of the Father, the Saviour was well pleased to descend into thy womb as a newborn Babe, O Virgin, for the restoration of our souls. To Him do we cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ! C. Katavasia (Tone 1) The sayings and images of the prophets/ revealed Thine incarnation from the Virgin, O Christ./ The splendor of Thine effulgence goeth forth/ unto the enlightenment of the nations/ and the abyss gaveth forth her voice to Thee with gladness:// Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind. Canticle Five 10 Irmos: O Thou Who art clothed in light as with a garment:/ I rise at dawn unto Thee, and to Thee do I cry:/ Enlighten Thou my gloom-enshrouded soul, O Christ,// in that Thou alone art compassionate! Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord.

11 11 Of His own will the Lord of glory hangeth ignominiously upon the Tree in inglorious form, ineffably taking thought of divine glory for me. Having tasted of the corruption of death in the flesh without suffering corruption, O Christ, Thou didst clothe me in incorruption, having shone forth from the tomb on the third day. Theotokion Having seedlessly given birth for us to Christ, our righteousness and deliverance, O Theotokos, thou didst rid the nature of our first father of the curse. O pure one, we recognize thee as the radiant cloud of the Water of life, which raineth Christ, the Torrent of incorruption, upon us, the despairing. God Who dwelt within thee, in that He alone is compassionate, loved thee with a pure love, as the one who, good, immaculate and sealed with virginity, was close to Him. The choir of the apostles assembled, borne as on a cloud to Sion from the ends of the earth, to serve thee, the light cloud through whom God Most High, the Sun of righteousness, hath shone forth upon those who are in darkness and shadow. More melodious than clarions, the God-pleasing tongues of the theologizing men sounded forth to the Theotokos, playing a funeral hymn inspired by the Spirit: Rejoice, O incorrupt fountain of God's lifecreating incarnation which saveth all! Holy Prophet of God, Samuel, pray to God for us! Having been made wise by the divine Spirit, thou wast a servant of God from thine infancy, O glorious one, anointing kings with the oil of chrism and with grace, at the behest of God. To Saul who remained disobedient, O blessed Samuel, thou didst foretell his rash actions, the divine will and his manifest abandonment by the divine Spirit. Glory... Ever living with the Israelites in guilelessness, thou didst manifestly denounce their wicked turning away from God, setting them aright as a priest of God, a prophet most true. Both... Abiding with us in His loving-kindness, the Saviour became incarnate of thy sacred blood in manner past understanding, O all-immaculate one; and being God and man, He is known as the One Who loveth mankind. C. Katavasia (Tone 1)

12 We confess the divine and ineffable beauty of Thy virtues, O Christ;/ for having shone forth from eternal glory/ as the co-eternal and hypostatic Effulgence,/ incarnate of the Virgin s womb Thou hast shone forth as the Sun// upon them that are in darkness and shadow. Canticle Six 12 Irmos: O Christ Master,/ still Thou the sea of the passions/ which rageth with a soul-destroying tempest,/ and lead me up from corruption,// in that Thou art compassionate. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. The progenitor of our race stumbled headlong into corruption, having tasted of the forbidden food, O Christ our Master; but he hath been led up to life, through Thy suffering. Thou, O our Life, didst go down into hades, and having become corruption for the corrupter, O Christ our Master, Thou didst pour forth resurrection through corruption. Theotokion The Virgin gave birth, and having given birth hath remained pure. The Virgin Mother hath truly borne in her arms Him Who holdeth all things. O most immaculate Mistress, we know thee to be a soul-nurturing wellspring pouring forth healings upon those who with faith have recourse unto thy right glorious protection. For us didst thou give birth unto the Bestower of life, the Author of salvation, Who giveth everlasting deliverance unto us who confess thee to be the true Theotokos. God, the King of all, giveth thee that which transcendeth nature; for, as He kept thee a virgin during thy birthgiving, so did He preserve thy body untouched by corruption in the tomb; and He glorified thee with Himself by a divine translation, rendering thee honour as a Son to His Mother. Truly, O Virgin, thine Offspring set thee in the Holy of Holies as the splendid candlestick of the immaterial Light, the golden censer of the divine Coal, the jar and the staff, the divinely inscribed tablet, the holy ark, the table of the Word of life. Holy Prophet of God, Samuel, pray to God for us! Thy discourse, rendered divine by the grace of the Word, revealed things afar off as though they were near at hand, O prophet Samuel, thou vessel of the divine Spirit.

13 Elevated by exalted visions and deeds as a prophet and godly priest of the Almighty, thou dost cleanse the people with the services of the law, O right wondrous one. Glory... Saul proved himself unworthy, having transgressed God's command; and in his stead God commanded thee to anoint the meek David with chrism, O divinely wise Samuel. Both... Eve hath been delivered from pain, O all-immaculate one; for thou gavest birth without pain unto Christ our God Who hath manifestly healed the sufferings and pain of all. C. Katavasia (Tone 1) The fire within the whale,/ the monster dwelling in the salt waters of the sea,/ was a prefiguring of Thy three days burial,/ and Jonah acted as interpreter./ For, saved and unharmed, as though he had never been swallowed, he cried aloud:// 'I will sacrifice unto Thee with the voice of praise, O Lord.' P. Small Ectenia C. Kontakion (Tone 5) Thou didst descend into hell, O my Saviour,/ shattering its gates as Almighty;/ resurrecting the dead as Creator/ and destroying the sting of death,/ Thou hast delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man,// and we all cry to Thee, O Lord, save us. R. Ikos When the women heard the words of the angel, they put aside their lamentation, and full of joy and trembling they gazed in awe. And, lo! Christ drew nigh to them, saying: "Rejoice! Be of good cheer! I have vanquished the world and freed the captives! Make haste, therefore, to My disciples, telling them that I go before you to preach in the city of Galilee." Wherefore, we all cry out to Thee: Save us, O Lord! Canticle Seven 13 Irmos: The supremely exalted Lord of our fathers/ quenched the flame and bedewed the children,/ who sang together:// Blessed art Thou, O God. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. Clad in flesh like bait on a hook, by Thy divine power thou didst draw the serpent down, leading up those who cry: Blessed art Thou, O God! The Infinite One, Who brought the immense structure of the earth into being, in the flesh is covered in the tomb. Unto Him do we all sing: Blessed art Thou, O God! Theotokion O most immaculate one, thou gavest birth to the incarnate God, one Hypostasis in two natures, unto Him do we all sing: Blessed art Thou, O God!

14 14 Together we glorify thee, the most immaculate Bride and throne of thy Creator, O Mistress Theotokos. And unto Him do we all chant: Blessed art Thou, O God! Having clothed Himself in flesh through thee, O all-pure Mother of God, the Lord saved me. Unto Him do we all sing: Blessed art Thou, O God! Enraged, Moses smashed the divinely wrought tablets which had been inscribed by the divine Spirit; but the Master, preserving unharmed her who gave birth to Him, hath now caused her to dwell in the mansions of heaven. Celebrating with her, let us cry out to Christ: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou! On the cymbals of pure lips, with the music of a radiant heart, on the high-sounding clarion of exalted thought, clapping our diligent hands on the renowned and chosen day of the repose of the pure Virgin, let us cry aloud: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou! Gather ye together, O divinely wise people, for the dwelling-place of the glory of God is translated from Sion to the habitation of heaven, where is the pure voice of those who keep festival, the voice of the unutterable rejoicing of those who cry out to Christ in gladness: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou! Holy Prophet of God, Samuel, pray to God for us! She that gave birth to thee, having offered up a sacred prayer, bringeth thee to the King of all as a great gift, chanting: O Lord God of our fathers, blessed art Thou! Divine grace enlightened thee who lived within the temple and ministered to the Master of heaven according to the rank of Aaron, O glorious Samuel. Glory... Having purged away all the dross of thy mind, thou wast shown to be a mirror of the Spirit, O glorious one, unceasingly crying out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers! Both... Having truly given birth to the fire of the Godhead, O allpure one, thou wast shown to be unconsumed. Wherefore, as thou art merciful and right loving, O Theotokos, burn up the tinder of my passions. C. Katavasia (Tone 1) The divine will, opposing the shameless rage and the fire,/ bedewed the fire and put wrath to shame/ by the divinely inspired three-stringed lyre of the venerable youths,/ opposing the musical instruments amid the flames, chanting:// O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou! Canticle Eight

15 15 Irmos: The children, forming a universal chorus in the furnace,/ chanted to Thee, the Creator of all:/ Hymn the Lord, all ye works,// and exalt Him supremely for all ages! Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. Thou didst pray concerning Thy voluntary and saving passion as though it were a cup which Thou didst not desire; for Thou bearest two wills, according to each of Thy two natures, O Christ, forever. At Thine all-accomplishing descent, O Christ, hades, mocked, spewed forth all whom it had lured by deceit into death from of old, and they exalt Thee supremely for all ages. Theotokion All of us, the works of the Lord, bless and supremely exalt thee for all ages, as her who, in manner past understanding, gave birth to the Lord as God and man at the word of the archangel, and doth remain a virgin. With us the assembly of the incorporeal beings, forming a single choir with love, hymneth thine unapproachable Offspring, exalting Him supremely for all ages. O Virgin, we confess thee to be the truly divine and Light-bearing throne and the tablets of grace, in that thou didst receive within thee the Word of the Father; and we exalt Him supremely for all ages. With discourses the whole multitude of theologians accompanied the sacred coffin of the Theotokos in Sion, exclaiming: Whither goest thou, O tabernacle of the living God? Cease not to regard those who chant with faith: O ye who have been delivered, let us hymn and exalt the one Creator for all ages! Thou goest forth, O all-immaculate one, lifting up thine hands, the hands wherewith thou didst bear God in the flesh; and as a Mother thou didst with boldness say to Him Who was born of thee: Preserve Thou forever those whom Thou hast given to me, who cry out to Thee: O ye who have been delivered, let us hymn and exalt the one Creator for all ages! Holy Prophet of God, Samuel, pray to God for us! Arrayed in the vesture of Aaron, thou didst enter into the Holy of Holies, purifying Israel with sacrifices prefiguring the saving sacrifice of the Lamb, O all-blessed one. Chosen was David among the sons of Jesse, as thou didst reveal, anointing him with holy chrism, O Samuel, and crying out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord! Let us bless Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the Lord!

16 Celebrating thy festival, O Samuel, converser with the righteous, by thy supplication may we obtain the kingdom on high, crying out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord! Both... Vouchsafe unto me thy loving-kindness, O merciful and Godloving Mistress, and deliver me from Gehenna and the outer darkness thereof, that I may honour thee with faith and love. We praise, we bless, we worship the Lord, praising and supremely exalting Him unto all ages. C. Katavasia (Tone 1) The all-powerful Angel of God revealed to the Children/ a flame, that brought refreshment to the holy while it consumed the ungodly./ And he made the Theotokos into a life-giving fount,/ gushing forth to the destruction of death/ and to the life of those that sing:/ We who have been delivered praise the one and only Creator// and exalt Him above all for ever. P. Magnificat C. Song of the Most Holy Theotokos. Canticle Nine 16 Irmos: Rejoice, O Isaiah!/ The Virgin hath conceived in her womb/ and borne a Son, Immanuel,/ both God and man./ Orient is His name;// and magnifying Him, we call the Virgin blessed. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. Thou didst take up fallen man, O Christ, through the Virgin's womb uniting Thyself wholly unto him without partaking of the least sin; and by Thine all-pure sufferings Thou didst free him wholly from corruption. By the divinely flowing blood poured forth from Thine all-pure and life-creating side, O Christ our Master, the sacrifices of the idols were brought to an end, and the whole earth offereth Thee the sacrifice of praise. Theotokion It is not the incorporeal God nor a simple man whom the pure and undefiled Maiden brought forth, but a perfect Man and the truly perfect God. Him do we magnify with the Father and the Spirit. In giving birth in the flesh truly unto Life eternal, in manner past understanding, thou didst cause the encircling and unrestrained siege of death to cease. And hades, striking against Him with its bitter maw, was abolished, O all-holy Virgin Mother Past understanding is thy birthgiving, O Mother of God; for thou didst conceive within thee without knowing man, and thy birthgiving was virginal, in that it is God Who was born of thee. And magnifying Him, we bless thee, O Virgin.

17 17 The angelic hosts were amazed, seeing their Master in Sion, bearing in His arms a woman's soul; for as befitteth a Son, He exclaimed to her in allpure manner: Come, O pure one, and be glorified with thy Son and God! The choir of angels buried thy body, which had received God, gazing upon it with fear, and exclaiming with a loud voice: O Theotokos who ascendest to thy Son in the heavenly mansions, thou ever savest thine inheritance! Holy Prophet of God, Samuel, pray to God for us! From the womb of thy mother thou wast shown to be a vessel of the Holy Spirit, O glorious one; and resplendent in thy sacred vesture, thou didst please God with meekness of heart and comeliness of thought, O thou who art most rich. Today, O God-bearer, thy memory hath, like the sun, shone upon us rays of rich gifts, enlightening the souls of those who honour thee and driving away the darkness of evil deeds. Wherefore, we all call thee blessed. Glory... Taken up to the radiant mansions, thou hast shone forth more brilliantly than the sun; and deified by partaking of the blessing of heaven, O divinely inspired one, thou seest those things which the prophets, apostles and all the righteous behold. Wherefore, we all call thee blessed. Both... A stranger to the corruption of man, thou didst take into thy womb the incorrupt Word Who delivereth us who have become corrupt through many sins by the suffering of His incorrupt flesh, O all-immaculate one, who alone art incorrupt. C. Katavasia (Tone 1) In thee, O Virgin without spot,/ the bounds of nature are overcome:/ for childbirth remains virgin and death is betrothed to life./ O Theotokos, Virgin after bearing child and alive after death,// do thou ever save thine inheritance. P. Small Ectenia C. Holy is the Lord our God... R. Exapostilarion Three (Mark 16:12-20) Let no man not believe that Christ has risen. For He appeared to Mary and afterwards was seen by those walking in the country, and He again appeared as they lay, to the eleven who knew the mysteries, and having sent them out to baptize, He was received up into heaven from whence He came down confirming their preaching with a multitude of signs. Glory... Exapostilarion for the Prophet Samuel Let Samuel be hymned who before his conception was given as a gift to God Most High by his most blessed mother, and who as priest and prophet anointed kings. Both... Exapostilarion for the Feast

18 O ye apostles, having gathered here from the ends of the earth, bury my body in the Garden of Gethsemane. And do Thou, O my Son and God, receive my spirit! C. Lauds: Tone 5 Stichera Let every bre-ath praise the Lord/ Praise the Lord from the Heavens/ Praise Him in the highest/ To Thee is due a hymn, O God/ Praise Him, all ye His Angels;/ Praise Him, all ye His hosts.// To Thee is due a hymn, O God. R. (The following may be read or sung antiphonally) Praise Him, O sun and moon; praise Him, all ye stars and light. Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and thou water that art above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord; For He spake, and they came to be; He commanded, and they were created. He established them forever, yea, forever and ever; He hath set an ordinance, and it shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons and all ye abysses, Fire, hail, snow, ice, blast of tempest, which perform His word, The mountains and all the hills, fruitful trees, and all cedars, The beasts and all the cattle, creeping things and winged birds, Kings of the earth, and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, Young men and virgins, elders with the younger; let them praise the name of the Lord, for exalted is the name of Him alone. His praise is above the earth and heaven, and He shall exalt the horn of His people. This is the hymn for all His saints, for the sons of Israel, and for the people that draw nigh unto Him. Sing unto the Lord a new song; His praise is in the church of the saints. Let Israel be glad in Him that made him, let the sons of Sion rejoice in their king. Let them praise His name in the dance; with the timbrel and the psaltery let them chant unto Him. For the Lord taketh pleasure in His people, and He shall exalt the meek with salvation. The saints shall boast in glory, and they shall rejoice upon their beds. The high praise of God shall be in their throat, and two-edged swords shall be in their hands. To do vengeance among the heathen, punishments among the peoples, To bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles of iron, V. To do among them the judgment that is written/ This glory shall be to all His saints. 1. After the tomb was sealed by the evildoers,/ Thou, Lord, didst proceed from it,/ just as Thou didst come forth from the Virgin./ Thy bodiless angels had no knowledge of the manner of Thine Incarnation:/ Neither were the watch who guarded Thee aware of the moment of Thy Resurrection./ For both the one and the other were concealed from those who questioned these things,/ but were made manifest as miracles 18

19 to those who acclaimed with faith the Mystery.// Grant us, who praise it, joy and great mercy. V. Praise ye God in His saints,/ praise Him in the firmament of His power. 2. After breaking the eternal chains/ and bursting the bonds asunder,/ Thou didst rise, O Lord, from the tomb,/ leaving Thy grave clothes behind Thee as witness/ to Thy having been truly buried for three days;/ and Thou, Who wast in the cave with a guard watching over Thee/ didst go forward into Galilee./ Great is Thy mercy, O incomprehensible Saviour:// Have mercy upon us. V. Praise Him for His mighty acts,/ praise Him according to the multitude of His greatness. 3. The women, O Lord, hastened to the tomb,/ so as to see Thee, O Christ, Who suffered for us,/ and when they reached it they found an angel seated upon the stone,/ who cried out to them, as they started back with dread:/ The Lord is risen, tell the disciples// that He is risen from the dead, saving our souls. V. Praise Him with the sound of trumpet,/ praise Him with psaltery and harp. 4. As Thou didst go forth from the sealed tomb,/ so didst Thou, O Lord, enter when the doors were closed/ and stand in the midst of Thy disciples/ showing them the marks of Thy Passion, O long-suffering Saviour./ Born of the seed of David, having endured the stripes,/ Thou as Son of God hast set the world free./ Great is Thy mercy, O ineffable Lord:// Have mercy upon us. V. Praise Him with timbrel and dance,/ praise Him with strings and flute. Stichera for the Feast (Tone 2) 5. O how thy mysteries transcend those of nature, O pure one!/ For as the Mother of God/ thou hast now passed over to Him in splendor,// O Theotokos. V. Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of jubilation./ Let every breath praise the Lord. 6. The tomb of the all-holy Theotokos/ is a ladder to heaven,// leading up those who hymn her divine dormition. V. Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest, Thou and the ark of Thy holiness. 7. When thou wast translated/ unto Him Who was born of thee, O Virgin,/ the apostles arrived on clouds// to bury thy body. V. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David, and He will not annul it. 19

20 8. O all ye earthborn,/ with the incorporeal ones let us come together with diligence,// to bury her who gave birth unto the Author of creation. Glory... Gospel Sticheron (Tone 3) When Mary Magdalene announced the good tidings/ of the Saviour's Resurrection from the dead and His appearing,/ the disciples, not believing, were reproached for their hardness of heart./ But they were sent to preach, armed with signs and wonders./ And Thou, O Lord, hast been lifted up to the Father, the Arch-Light,/ while they preached the Word in all places, made secure by miracles./ Therefore we, enlightened by them, glorify Thy Resurrection from the dead,// O Lord Who lovest mankind. Both now and ever... (Tone 2) Most Blessed art Thou, O Virgin Theotokos,/ for through Him Who became incarnate of thee is hades led captive,/ Adam recalled, the curse annulled, Eve set fre-e, death slain,/ and we are given life. Wherefore, we cry aloud in praise:/ Blessed art Thou, O Christ God,// Who hast been thus wellpleased, glory to Thee. The Great Doxology Dismissal Tropar: Today is salvation come unto the world; let us sing to Him Who arose from the tomb, and is the Author of our life. For having destroyed death by death, He hath given us the victory and great mercy. P. Litanies Dismissal 20 R. Hours Tropar: Kontak: Resurrection & Feast/Prophet Samuel alternating Feast/Resurrection alternating At Liturgy: Order of Troparia & Kontakia as follows (Temple of a Saint): Tropar Sunday Tropar Feast Tropar Temple Tropar Prophet Samuel Kontak Sunday Kontak Temple Glory... Kontak Prophet Samuel Both... Kontak Feast Prokimenon for Tone 5 Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us and shalt preserve us from this generation and for evermore. V. Save me, O Lord, for a righteous man there is no more. Prokimenon for the Feast (Tone 3) My soul doth magnify the Lord... Epistle(s): IICor 1:21-2:4

21 21 Alleluia for Tone 5 V. Of Thy mercies, O Lord, will I sing forever; unto generation and generation will I declare Thy truth with my mouth. V. For Thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up forever; in the heavens shall Thy truth be established. Alleluia for the Feast (Tone 2) Gospel(s): Matt 22:2-14 Instead of It is Truly Meet, sing Irmos 9 th Ode with refrain Communion Verse: Praise Ye & I will take the cup of salvation...