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Octoechos - Mode pl. 4.

On Saturday Evening

Menaion - March 26

Leave-taking of Annunciation

Synaxis in Honor of the Chief Commander Gabriel

__________

VESPERS

PRIEST

Blessed is our God always, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

While the Introductory Psalm is being read, the Priest with head uncovered stands in front of the holy Altar, or before the icon of Christ the Savior, standing on the Solea (as at Matins) and inaudibly reads the Vesperal Prayers.

READER

Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.

Stand for the reading of the Introductory Psalm.

Psalm 103 (104).

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are magnified exceedingly; You clothe Yourself with thanksgiving and majesty, who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like a curtain; You are He who covers His upper chambers with water, who makes the clouds His means of approach, who walks on the wings of the winds, who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire. He established the earth on its stable foundation; it shall not be moved unto ages of ages. The deep like a garment is His covering; the waters shall stand upon the mountains; at Your rebuke they shall flee; at the sound of Your thunder, they shall be afraid. The mountains rise up, and the plains sink down to the place You founded for them. You set a boundary they shall not pass over; neither shall they return to cover the earth. You are He who sends springs into the valley; the waters shall pass between the mountains; they shall give drink to all the wild animals of the field; the wild asses shall quench their thirst; the birds of heaven shall dwell beside them; they shall sing from the midst of the rocks. You are He who waters the mountains from His higher places; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Your works. You are He who causes grass to grow for the cattle, and the green plant for the service of man, to bring forth bread from the earth; and wine gladdens the heart of man, to brighten his face with oil; and bread strengthens man's heart. The trees of the plain shall be full of fruit, the cedars of Lebanon, which You planted; there the sparrows shall make their nests; the house of the heron takes the lead among them. The high mountains are for the deer; the cliff is a refuge for the rabbits. He made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night, wherein all the wild animals of the forest will prowl about; the young lions roar and snatch their prey, and seek their food from God. The sun arises, and they are gathered together; and they shall be put to bed in their dens. Man shall go out to his work and to his labor until evening. O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom; the earth was filled with Your creation. There is this great and spacious sea: the creeping things are there without number; the living things are there, both small and great; there the ships pass through; there is this dragon You formed to play therein. All things wait upon You, that You may give them food in due season. When You give it to them, they shall gather it; when You open Your hand, all things shall be filled with Your goodness. But when You turn Your face away, they shall be troubled; when You take away their breath, they shall die and return again to their dust. You shall send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Let the glory of the Lord be forever; the Lord shall be glad in His works; He looks upon the earth and makes it tremble; He touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I exist; may my words be pleasing to Him, and I shall be glad in the Lord. May sinners cease from the earth, and the lawless, so as to be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night.

O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom. [SAAS]

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

Our hope, O Lord, glory to You.

DEACON

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

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

( Lord, have mercy. )

For pious and Orthodox Christians, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For our Archbishop (name), for the honorable presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For our country, the president, all those in public service, and for our armed forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For the Great and Holy Church of Christ, for our Holy Archdiocese, [for this Holy Metropolis,] for this city and parish, for every city and land, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

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

( Lord, have mercy. )

For those who travel by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

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

( Lord, have mercy. )

Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

( To You, O Lord. )

PRIEST

For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

CHOIR

Mode pl. 4.

Lord, I have cried to You; hear me. Hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried to You; hear me. Give heed to the voice of my supplication when I cry to You. Hear me, O Lord. [SAAS]

Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord. [SAAS]

Show Stichologia

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, a door of enclosure about my lips.

Incline not my heart to evil words, to make excuses in sins.

With men who work lawlessness; and I will not join with their choice ones.

The righteous man shall correct me with mercy, and he shall reprove me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head.

For my prayer shall be intense in the presence of their pleasures. Their judges are swallowed up by the rock.

They shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. As a clod of ground is dashed to pieces on the earth, so their bones were scattered beside the grave.

For my eyes, O Lord, O Lord, are toward You; in You I hope; take not my soul away.

Keep me from the snares they set for me, and from the stumbling blocks of those who work lawlessness.

Sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone, until I escape.

I cried to the Lord with my voice, with my voice I prayed to the Lord.

I shall pour out my supplication before Him; I shall declare my affliction in His presence.

When my spirit fainted within me, then You knew my paths.

For on the way I was going, they hid a trap for me.

I looked on my right, and saw there was no one who knew me.

Refuge failed me, and there was no one who cared for my soul.

I cried to You, O Lord; I said, "You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living."

Attend to my supplication, for I was humbled exceedingly.

Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.

Hide Stichologia

Resurrectional Stichera. Mode pl. 4.

From Octoechos - - -

Sticheron 1.

Bring my soul out of prison to give thanks to Your name, O Lord. [SAAS]

We offer up to you, O Christ, our evening hymn and spiritual worship, for it has pleased you to have mercy on us by your resurrection. [HC]

Sticheron 2.

The righteous shall wait for me, until You reward me. [SAAS]

Lord, Lord, cast us not away from your presence, but be pleased to have mercy on us by the resurrection. [HC]

Sticheron 3.

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. [SAAS]

Rejoice, O holy Zion, mother of churches and dwelling place of God, for you were the first to receive remission of sins by the resurrection. [HC]

Sticheron 4.

Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. [SAAS]

Begotten before all ages of God the Father, the Word, who in latter times took flesh of a virgin, willingly endured death by the cross and by his resurrection saved us who had been subject to death. [HC]

Stichera for the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 2. When the saints deposited.

Ὅλην ἀποθέμενοι.

If You, O Lord, should mark transgression, O Lord, who would stand? For there is forgiveness with You. [SAAS]

Gabriel appeared to you, * O virgin Damsel, revealing * the pre-eternal plan of God. * And as he saluted you, * he called out and said, * "O unsowed earth, rejoice; * unconsumed bush, rejoice. * O rejoice, depth hard to apprehend. * Rejoice, O sacred bridge * that conveys to heaven. I say, rejoice, * O ladder that is lifted up * and was seen by Jacob the patriarch. * Rejoice, O divine jar * of manna, and the lifting of the curse. * Rejoice, Adam's recovery. * Rejoice, for the Lord is with you." [SD]

Because of Your law, O Lord, I waited for You; my soul waited for Your word. My soul hopes in the Lord. [SAAS]

Unto the angelic Chief * says the inviolate Damsel, * "You appear to be a man. * But how is it that you speak * superhuman words? * For you say unto me * that with me God will be, * and will make His dwelling in my womb. * But how shall I become * a most spacious confine, explain to me. * How shall I be a holy place * of the One who rides on the Cherubim? * Please do not deceive me. * Since marriage and its pleasures are entailed, * which I have never experienced, * how then shall I bear a child?" [SD]

From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. [SAAS]

"When God wills it, nature's laws * are overridden, O Damsel," * said the incorporeal, * "and the superhuman deeds * then are brought to pass. * Therefore, trust that indeed * true are these words of mine, * O all-holy and most blameless one." * She then cried out in turn, * "According to your word be it unto me; * and I shall bear the One who is * bodiless but borrowing flesh from me, * so that by His mingling * with man He might restore him to the height * of his primordial dignity, * as the only One who can." [SD]

For the Archangel.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 1. O Martyrs, extolled.

Πανεύφημοι μάρτυρες.

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions. [SAAS]

Gabriel, that Godlike and sublime * spiritual intellect, brilliant and heavenly, with the host of hierarchies on high, * seeing and perceiving * the tri-solar light of God, * was sent to the pure Virgin; and he announced the awesome and divine * holy mys'try of the plan of God. * And he prays now, * interceding for our souls. [SD]

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise Him, all you peoples. [SAAS]

The mystery of the plan of God, * which was hidden for all time and was unknown to the Angels, was made known to you alone, * Gabriel; and you went * to Nazareth, and alone * to Mary, the pure virgin, confided it. Together pray to Christ, * interceding that surpassing peace * and great mercy * be upon our souls bestowed. [SD]

For His mercy rules over us; and the truth of the Lord endures forever. [SAAS]

O Gabriel, you are ever full * of the light of God, the Ruler over all, and you do His will, obeying His commands. * Marvelous Archangel, * Chief of the angelic hosts, * protect us who with longing now honor you, and ever pray to Christ, * interceding that surpassing peace * and great mercy * be upon our souls bestowed. [SD]

Glory. For the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 2.

From the heavens, the Archangel Gabriel was sent down to announce the conception to the Virgin. When he arrived in Nazareth, he pondered on the wonder in astonishment: "He who is in the highest is incomprehensible. So, how can He be born of a Virgin? Heaven is His throne and earth is His footstool. So, how can He be contained in the womb of a woman? He on whom the six-winged Seraphim and many-eyed Cherubim are unable to gaze is well pleased to become incarnate of her by word alone. It is the Word of God who is present here. So, why am I standing here and not saying to the Maiden, 'Rejoice, you who are full of grace; the Lord is with you. Rejoice, O pure Virgin! Rejoice, O unwedded Bride! Rejoice, O Mother of Life! Blessed is the fruit of your womb.'" [SD]

Both now. Mode pl. 4.

From Octoechos - - -

The First Theotokion of the Mode.

The King of heaven, out of love for mankind, appeared on earth and lived among men. He is one Son, twofold in nature, but not in hypostasis, for He took on flesh from a pure Virgin, and came forth from her with that which He had assumed. Therefore we confess Christ our God, truly proclaiming that He is one and the same, perfect God and perfect man. Intently pray to Him, O unwedded Mother, to have mercy on our souls. [SD]

Stand for the Entrance.

DEACON (in a low voice)

Let us pray to the Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Entrance Prayer

At nightfall, dawn and noon, we sing to You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we beseech You, Master of all, Lord and lover of mankind: guide our prayers aright as an offering of incense before You. Let not our hearts be led to wicked thoughts or words, but deliver us all from those who pursue our souls. For it is on You, Lord, Lord, that our eyes are fixed, and in You that we have our hope; do not put us to shame, O our God.

DEACON

Wisdom. Arise.

CLERGY AND PEOPLE

Mode 2.

Gladsome light of holy glory of the holy, blessed, heavenly, immortal Father, O Jesus Christ: arriving at the hour of sunset and having seen the evening light, we praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. It is worthy for You to be praised at all times with happy voices, O Son of God and Giver of life; * and therefore the world glorifies You. [SD]

DEACON

The evening Prokeimenon.

CHOIR

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 2.

The Lord reigns; He clothed Himself with majesty. [SAAS]

Verse: The Lord clothed and girded Himself with power.

The Lord reigns; He clothed Himself with majesty.

Verse: And He established the world, which shall not be moved.

The Lord reigns; He clothed Himself with majesty.

DEACON

Let us all say with all our soul and with all our mind, let us all say.

( Lord, have mercy. )

Lord almighty, God of our fathers, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

( Lord, have mercy. )

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

( Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. )

Let us pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

( Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. )

Again we pray for our Archbishop (name).

( Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. )

Again we pray for our brethren: the priests, the hieromonks, the hierodeacons, the monastics, and all our brotherhood in Christ.

( Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. )

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, protection, forgiveness, and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all pious Orthodox Christians residing and visiting in this city: the parishioners, the members of the parish council, the stewards, and benefactors of this holy church.

( Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. )

Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy church, and for all our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep before us, who here have been piously laid to their rest, as well as the Orthodox everywhere.

( Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. )

Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do good works in this holy and all-venerable church, for those who labor and those who sing, and for the people here present who await Your great and rich mercy.

( Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. )

PRIEST

For You are a merciful God Who loves mankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

Stand for the reading of prayer.

READER

O Lord, keep us this evening without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is your name to the ages. Amen. O Lord, let your mercy be upon us for we have set our hope in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are you, Master, grant me understanding of your commandments. Blessed are you, Holy One, enlighten me with your commandments. Lord, your mercy is forever. Do not despise the works of your hands. To you is due praise, to you is due song, to you is due glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. [HC]

( Amen. )

DEACON

Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

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

( Lord, have mercy. )

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

( Grant this, O Lord. )

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

( Grant this, O Lord. )

For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord.

( Grant this, O Lord. )

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

( Grant this, O Lord. )

That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.

( Grant this, O Lord. )

And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.

( Grant this, O Lord. )

Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

( To You, O Lord. )

PRIEST

For You, O God, are good and love mankind, and to You we offer glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

PRIEST

Peace be with all.

( And with your spirit. )

DEACON

Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

( To You, O Lord. )

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Lord our God, You inclined the heavens and descended for the salvation of humankind. Look on Your servants and Your inheritance. For they have bowed their heads and bent their necks to You the awesome yet compassionate Judge, not looking for human help but awaiting Your mercy and in expectation of Your redemption. Preserve them at all times and during this evening and the impending night, from every enemy, from all opposing demonic activity, from vain thoughts and evil dreams.

PRIEST

Blessed and glorified be the majesty of Your kingdom, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

CHOIR

Resurrectional Aposticha.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode pl. 4.

You ascended the cross, Jesus, and came down from heaven and went to your death, O life eternal. You are the true light to those in darkness and the resurrection of all those who have fallen. Our enlightener and Savior, glory to you. [HC]

Verse: The Lord reigns; He clothed Himself with majesty; the Lord clothed and girded Himself with power. [SAAS]

Let us praise Christ who has risen from the dead. For he took upon himself soul and body, and by his passion separated them one from the other. He despoiled Hades when his pure soul descended there. But the holy body of our Redeemer lay uncorrupted. [HC]

Verse: And He established the world, which shall not be moved. [SAAS]

We glorify your resurrection from the dead, O Christ, in psalms and hymns, for by it you have freed us from the torments of Hades, and have, since you are God, granted us eternal life and great mercy. [HC]

Verse: Holiness is proper to Your house, O Lord, unto length of days. [SAAS]

O Lord of all, incomprehensible creator of heaven and earth, through your passion on the cross you have freed me from passion. After enduring burial, you rose in glory, raising up Adam with your almighty arm. Glory to your resurrection on the third day, by which you have endowed us with eternal life and granted us pardon of our sins, for you alone are compassionate. [HC]

Glory. Both now. For the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 4.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! ⁄ For the Son Who is co-eternal with the Father, ⁄ Who shares His throne and is equally without beginning, ⁄ has submitted Himself to emptying as the compassionate Lover of mankind ⁄ according to the good pleasure and counsel of the Father. ⁄ He has gone to dwell in a Virgin's womb, ⁄ sanctified by the Spirit. ⁄ Wonder! God is come among men! ⁄ He Who cannot be contained, is contained in a womb; ⁄ the timeless One enters time, and great mystery: ⁄ His conception is without seed, His emptying past telling! ⁄ How great is this mystery! ⁄ God empties Himself, takes flesh, and is fashioned as a Creature ⁄ as the angel tells the pure Virgin of her conceiving: ⁄ Rejoice, full of grace, ⁄⁄ the Lord Who has great mercy, is with you! [OCA]

Stand for the reading of prayers

PRIEST

Song of Simeon.

Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. [NKJV]

PEOPLE

Trisagion Prayers.

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

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

PRIEST

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to ages of ages.

( Amen. )

CHOIR

From Octoechos - - -

Resurrectional Apolytikion.

Mode pl. 4.

You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You. [SD]

Glory. For the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

Today is the summary of our salvation, and the revelation of the age-old mystery. For the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announces the good news of grace. Therefore, let us join him, and cry aloud to the Theotokos: "Rejoice, Maiden full of grace! The Lord is with you." [SD]

Both now. Repeat.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

Today is the summary of our salvation, and the revelation of the age-old mystery. For the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announces the good news of grace. Therefore, let us join him, and cry aloud to the Theotokos: "Rejoice, Maiden full of grace! The Lord is with you." [SD]

PRIEST

Wisdom.

( Father, bless! )

Blessed are You, Christ our God, always now and forever and to the ages of ages. ( Amen. )

HIERARCH or READER

The Lord God make firm the holy and pure faith of the pious Orthodox Christians, together with the Holy Great Church of Christ, our holy Archdiocese, [this holy Metropolis,] and this city, to the ages of ages..

( Amen. )

PRIEST

Glory to You, O Christ our God. Glory to You.

May He who for us men and for our salvation condescended to become incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and Who rose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, (local patron saint); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and merciful and loves mankind.

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

( Amen. )