Books - Sources

Octoechos - Mode 1.

On Saturday Evening

Menaion - January 28

Memory of St. Ephrem the Syrian

__________

VESPERS

PRIEST

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

( Amen. )

While the Introductory Psalm is being read, the Priest stands in front of the holy Table and reads the so-called Lamp-lighting 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 to the Son and to 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 Holy and Great Church of Christ, for our Sacred Archdiocese, [for this Sacred 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. )

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most 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 1.

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 1.

From Octoechos - - -

Sticheron 1.

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

Accept our evening prayers, O holy Lord; and grant us forgiveness of sins. For You alone have shown the resurrection in the world. [GOASD]

Sticheron 2.

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

Encircle Zion, all you peoples, and embrace her; and there give glory to Him who rose from the dead. For He is our God, who redeemed us from our iniquities. [GOASD]

Sticheron 3.

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

Come, all you peoples, let us extol and worship Christ, and let us glorify His resurrection from the dead. For He is our God, who redeemed the world from the enemy’s deception. [GOASD]

Sticheron 4.

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

Be glad, O heavens! Sound the trumpet, you foundations of the earth! Shout with gladness, you mountains! For, behold, Emmanuel has nailed our sins to the Cross; and as the One who gives life, He has resurrected Adam and put death to death, in His benevolence towards humanity. [GOASD]

Sticheron 5.

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

Voluntarily, the Lord was physically crucified for us, and He suffered and was buried, and He rose from the dead. Let us extol Him and say to Him, “Fix Your Church in Orthodoxy, O Christ, and grant us to live in peace, for You are good and benevolent towards humanity.” [GOASD]

Sticheron 6.

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

Unworthy as we are, we visit Your sepulcher, which held You who are Life, O Christ our God, and we offer up our hymns in praise of Your ineffable compassion. For You, the sinless One, accepted crucifixion and death, in order to give resurrection to the world, in Your benevolence towards humanity. [GOASD]

Stichera. For the Saint.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 1. For all the powers of heaven.

Τῶν οὐρανίων ταγμάτων.

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

When you had seen Paradise’s beauty reflected in you * and had delighted richly in its unspoiled meadows, * you blossomed for the world the knowledge of God. * And as we now partake of it, * our souls are growing in spirituality, * in the Spirit, O devout Ephrem. [SD]

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

When you had seen Paradise’s beauty reflected in you * and had delighted richly in its unspoiled meadows, * you blossomed for the world the knowledge of God. * And as we now partake of it, * our souls are growing in spirituality, * in the Spirit, O devout Ephrem. [SD]

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

You have depicted the Coming * of Christ the Judge of all, * and thus you teach all people * that they ought by the shedding * of tears to light their souls’ lamps, and you proclaim * that the Bridegroom will surely come: “So let us all now put on a bright splendid robe, * so that we can meet the Bridegroom Christ.” [SD]

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

You put restraints on your body * through self-control, O Saint, * and mortified the movements * of the passions, O Father, * by many prayers and vigils. Therefore the might * of the Spirit came over you, * and it exhibited you, O Ephrem, to be * a noetic star for all the world. [SD]

Glory.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 2.

Wisely turning from the burdens of this life, ⁄ ever-memorable Ephraim, ⁄ you reached the desert through your love of silence. ⁄ by that same love, you were lifted up to God! ⁄ You shone brightly on the world bringing words of life to men! ⁄ Therefore do not cease to strengthen us by your prayers, venerable Father, ⁄⁄ and deliver our souls from the harm of the alien. [OCA]

Both now. Mode 1.

From Octoechos - - -

The First Theotokion of the Mode.

Let us extol the Virgin Mary, the glory of the universe. She had human parents and became the mother of the Master. She is the gateway to heaven, the song of the bodiless hosts, and the jewel of the faithful. For she became like heaven, a temple of the Godhead. She broke down the dividing wall of hostility and introduced the One who is our peace, and she opened the kingdom. Now as we hold on to her, the anchor of the Faith, we have as our champion the Lord who was born from her. So take courage; take courage, O people of God. For He himself, as the Almighty One, will fight the enemies. [GOASD]

Stand for the Entrance.

DEACON (in a low voice)

Let us pray to the Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

ENTRANCE PRAYER

In the evening, in the morning, and at midday, we praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we pray to You, Master of all, benevolent Lord. Let our prayer be set forth before You as incense. Incline not our hearts to evil words or thoughts, but deliver us all from those who pursue our souls. For our eyes, O Lord, O Lord, are toward You, and in You we hope. Leave us not embarrassed, 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, Ruler of all, 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 merciful and benevolent God, 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. )

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most 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 are good and benevolent God, 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. )

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, who inclined the heavens and came down for the salvation of humankind, look upon Your servants and Your inheritance; for they have bowed their heads and bent their necks to You, the fearsome yet compassionate Judge, not expecting human help, but awaiting Your mercy and anticipating Your salvation. Guard them at all times, this evening and the coming night, from every enemy, from all demonic activity against them, from unprofitable reflections, and from wicked thoughts.

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 1.

We were freed from the passions by Your Passion, O Christ; and we were redeemed from destruction by Your resurrection. Glory to You, O Lord! [GOASD]

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

Let all creation rejoice and let the heavens be glad! And let the nations clap their hands with joy! For Christ our Savior has nailed our sins to the Cross; He put death to death, and He has given us the gift of life. He resurrected fallen Adam and the whole human race, as our benevolent God. [GOASD]

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

Incomprehensible King of heaven and earth, in Your benevolence You willingly were crucified. When Hades encountered You below, it was embittered, but the souls of the righteous rejoiced as they welcomed You. Adam rose when He saw You, his Creator, in the netherworld. Oh the marvel! How did You who are the life of all experience death? You did so for You willed to illumine the world, which sings aloud to You and says, “Glory to You, O Lord who rose from the dead!” [GOASD]

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

The Myrrh-bearing Women brought their ointments, and they went with haste to mourn at the sepulcher. They did not find Your immaculate body; but from the Angel they learned of the unprecedented and extraordinary marvel. Then they went and told the Disciples, “The Lord has risen and granted the world the great mercy!” [GOASD]

Glory. For the Saint.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

You watered your bed with tears, as the prophet said, ⁄ and sought repentance through the lessons of life. ⁄ You showed us through your words the fear of judgment by deeds! ⁄ As we gather together in honor of your memory, all-blessed one, ⁄ we celebrate the most glorious deeds you did alone in the Lord, ⁄ ever-memorable Ephraim! ⁄⁄ Therefore we pray that you will intercede with Christ for our souls! [OCA]

Both now. Theotokion.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode 4.

Graciously answer supplications of us your servants, all-blameless Virgin. We pray you put an end to the uprisings that beset us, and deliver us from all our troubles. We only have you as our stable and immovable anchor, and we are securely under your protection. When we entreat you, Lady, let us not be disappointed. Attend to the requests of us who faithfully salute you: O Lady, rejoice! You are the help and joy and protection of all, and the salvation of our souls. [GOASD]

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 to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; now and forever 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 to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; now and forever 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 Thine 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 1. Automelon.

Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος.

The stone having been sealed by the Pharisees and chief priests, * and Your all-immaculate body being guarded by soldiers, * You rose on the third day, O Lord and Savior, granting life unto the world. * Then the powers of the heavens cried out to You, O Giver of Life, and shouted, * “Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! * Glory to Your eternal rule! * Glory to Your plan for saving us, only benevolent God!” [GOASD]

Glory. For the Saint.

Mode pl. 4.

With the rivers of your tears you made the barren desert bloom; and with your sighs from deep within, you made your labors bear their fruits a hundredfold; and you became a star, illuminating the world by your miracles, O Ephrem, our devout father. Intercede with Christ our God, for the salvation of our souls. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode pl. 4.

You were born of a Virgin, and You endured crucifixion for us, O good Lord. By Your death You divested death of spoils, and You displayed resurrection, as God. Please do not despise us, the work of Your hand. Demonstrate Your loving kindness, O merciful Master. Defer to Your Mother, the Theotokos, when she intercedes on our behalf, and save us, Your people in despair, O Savior. [GOASD]

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 and Great Church of Christ, our Sacred Archdiocese, [this Sacred Metropolis,] and this city, to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

PRIEST

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

May He 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, our devout and God-bearing father Ephrem the Syrian, whose memory we observe; and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

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

( Amen. )