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AT VESPERS Prosomia. Tone 8. What should we call you. What should I name you, Apostle? Heaven, for you declare the glory of God. River, for mystically you water creation. Star, which sheds its light on the Church. Mixing-bowl, which pours out a holy draught. True Friend of Christ. Companion of the Bodiless Powers. Intercede that our souls may be saved. Apostle, truly inspired, you were sent out from Christ like a thunderbolt formed of light, wounding enemies, plainly predicting healing for wounded souls; and so, as is fitting, we call you blessed and celebrate today your holy festival. Intercede that our souls may be saved. Glorious Apostle, who saw God, your feet were made beautiful as they trod the ways of the Lord, and narrowed the ways of the ill-intentioned by the broadening of the divine knowledge of the Word, who appeared in a material body and chose you, blessed one, as a glorious Disciple. Implore him that our souls may be saved. Glory. Both now. Theotokion.Those who were granted to see in bodily form the dignity of the Father and his Godhead, proclaimed you, Maiden, as Bride and Virgin, Mother of the Word and God, and dwelling of the Holy Spirit; for in you the Godhead dwelt entirely in bodily form, the fullness of fullest grace. Or Cross-Theotokion. When the Ewe-lamb who bore you saw you nailed to the Tree, Lord, she tore at her eyes and cried aloud in lamentation, ‘My Son, how do you endure unjust slaughter? How can you, the Immortal, die as a mortal? Give me a word, sweetest light. Look at your Mother as she mourns for you, and glorify her, O Word, by your rising’. AT MATINS Canon. Tone 8. [Let us sing to the Lord, who led his people in the Red Sea, for he alone has been greatly glorified.] Troparia. Made a disciple by the empersonned Word, the Apostle scattered the wisdom of the world like a spider’s web. You were initiated into things that cannot be uttered and made worthy of the ineffable mysteries of Christ, as his disciple and Apostle. You appeared as a great sun, companion of the great light who came to be with us, praiseworthy, glorious Apostle. Theotokion. Immaculate Mother of God, who gave birth beyond nature to the eternal Word, who is beyond all godhead, we sing your praise. Ode 3. Irmos. You are the foundation. [You are the foundation, Lord, of those who have recourse to you; you are the light of those in darkness; and my spirit sings your praise.] Troparia. By a word you caught in a net and brought to Christ’s spiritual table, O Apostle those had been plunged in error. Your all-blest memorial, Apostle, with divine works of wonder has poured forth healings for the sick. Loving the teacher and serving his all-creating wishes, O worthy of praise, you save mortals from error. Theotokion. By your intercessions, O All-pure, give us help, by beating off the assaults of dread troubles. Irmos. You are the foundation, Lord, of those who have recourse to you; you are the light of those in darkness; and my spirit sings your praise. Kathisma. Tone 3. Your confession. With the outpouring of light of the divine Spirit you abolished the darkness of the cult of many gods, and enlightened the hearts of believers as you cried aloud the doctrines of salvation, to the inhabited world, all-wise Apostle; implore Christ God to grant us his great mercy. Theotokion. Same melody. You became a divine tabernacle of the Word, alone all-pure Mother of God, who in purity surpass the Angels; with the inspired streams of your intercessions, purify me, who above all others have become dust made foul by faults of the flesh, and grant me his great mercy. Or Cross-Theotokion. Awed by the beauty. Your pure Mother who knew not wedlock seeing you hanging dead upon the Tree, O Christ, like a mother lamented and said: How has the lawless and ungrateful Hebrew people, who enjoyed your many and great gifts, repaid you? I sing the praise of your divine condescension. Ode 4. Irmos. I heard your report, Lord. [I heard your report, Lord, and was afraid. I understood your works and glorified your might.] Troparia. The Word, author of life, sent you out as a beacon for the nations, All blessed one, driving out the error of idols with its many gods. The power of the Spirit strengthened your weakness, O Apostle, and by the word of truth rendered you more powerful than tyrants. Made fair by the sufferings of the Master, the Apostle proclaimed the Crucified to be Almighty and Lord. Theotokion. We, who have been enlightened, all proclaim you to be Mother of God, for you bore the Son of righteousness, Ever-Virgin. Ode 5. Irmos. Rising at dawn. [Rising at dawn, Lord, we cry out to you, ‘Save us! For you are our God, we know no other but you’.] Troparia. How beautiful are your feet, Apostle, who preach the Gospel of the peace which passes all understanding. With power, and rejoicing in the spirit of truth, Apostle, you delivered the testimony of the Kingdom. Having ascended the mountain of the virtues, All-blessed, you proclaimed the Gospel to all the ends of the earth. Theotokion. Mary, Mother of God, without bridegroom, bring to naught the hopes of the foe and make joyful those who sing your praise. Ode 6. Irmos. Grant me a tunic. [Grant me a tunic of light, O Most Merciful, Christ our God, who wrap yourself in light as in a garment.] Troparia. The revered Apostle proclaimed your glory, O Christ, and enlightened all through the word of his divine grace. Twice.Like the sun you sped over the earth, glorious Apostle, announcing the three-sunned, uncreated light of the Godhead to believers. Theotokion. We believers proclaim you, Mother of God, as Temple of God, Ark and living Bridal Chamber, and Gate of heaven. Irmos. Grant me a tunic of light, O most merciful, Christ our God, who wrap yourself in light as in a garment. Ode 7. Irmos. The Youths from Judea. [The Youths from Judea of old in Babylon having come to the faith of the Trinity, trampled down the flame of the furnace as they sang, ‘God of our Fathers, blessed are you!’] Troparia. A rational heaven declared you to all as the Redeemer of the universe, thundering out in the world that you were God incarnate, and urging all to cry: God of our Fathers, blessed are you! Like a lyre made by God, tuned to the word of the Almighty and divinely struck by the Holy Spirit, with the nations you chanted: God of our Fathers, blessed are you! The seed of your words, cast spiritually into the souls of men, multiplied the fruit of true religion, Apostle, and they shouted and sang: God of our Fathers, blessed are you! Theotokion. Incarnate from a virgin womb, you appeared for our salvation; and so, acknowledging with right belief your Mother to be Mother of God, we cry aloud: God of our Fathers, blessed are you! Ode 8. Irmos. The King of heaven. [The King of heaven, whose praise the Armies of the Angels sing, praise and highly exalt him to all the ages.] Troparia. Your disciple was led before tyrants like a lamb to the slaughter, crying out to you: We highly exalt you, O Christ, to the ages. You truly taught the mystery that the Trinity was to be praised in one Godhead, and Christ highly exalted to the ages. God the Word, co-eternal with the Father, declared you to be his friend, and a herald and initiate of his divine dispensation. Theotokion. You gave birth beyond nature, O Virgin, to the Creator and Saviour, God the Word; therefore we praise you to all the ages. Irmos. The King of heaven, whose praise the armies of Angels sing, praise and highly exalt him to all the ages. Ode 9. Irmos. We who have been saved. [We who have been saved through you, pure Virgin, confess you to be truly Mother of God, as with the bodiless choirs we magnify you.] Troparia. By the light-bearing might of the Trinity the far-famed Apostle of the Saviour Christ destroyed the stronghold of gloomy deception. Rejoicing you have been united with choirs of Apostles and Martyrs and Bodiless Powers, blest Apostle; with them implore that those who honour you may be saved. You gathered the scattered nations, O Christ, through Apostles and godly Martyrs, and founded for yourself the Church of mortals. Theotokion. Beautiful, Mother of God, is the fruit of your womb; cause not of corruption for those who partake of it, but of life for those who magnify you with faith. Irmos. We who have been saved through you, pure Virgin, confess you to be truly Mother of God, as with the bodiless choirs we magnify you. At the Liturgy, see the Apostle and Gospel for the 18th of October; likewise for the Communion. |
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