se.m03.d18.ve

Link to Vesperal Prayers

Use back button to return here.

Books - Sources

Triodion

Cheesefare Sunday - On Sunday Evening at Vespers

Mode pl. 4. On Sunday Evening

Menaion - March 18

Memory of St. Cyril of Jerusalem

__________

VESPERS

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

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 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.

THE PEACE LITANY

DEACON

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR (after each petition)

Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

CHOIR

To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

Amen.

The mode and first four stichera from the Octoechos, as well as the last three stichera and Theotokion from the Menaion, depend on the date, and therefore they change from year to year.

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

Stichera. For compunction.

From Triodion - - -

Mode pl. 4.

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

Angels unceasingly extol You the King and Lord and Master. But I, like the Publican, am bowed as I implore You: O God, be gracious to me and save me. [SD]

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

O soul of mine, since you are immortal, let not mundane concerns inundate you. Come to your senses, and pray to your Benefactor: “O God, be gracious to me and save me.” [SD]

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

When I bring to mind the many terrible things I have done, and when I think about that terrifying judgment, I am overcome by trembling, and I turn to You, my benevolent God. So I pray to You, the only sinless One, do not despise me; but before the end, give compunction to my humble soul and save me. [SD]

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

Give me tears, O Lord, as once You did to the sinful woman, and grant that I may wet Your feet, which freed me from the way of error, and like her to offer You, as fragrant ointment, a pure life that is built on repentance; so that I, too, may hear those cherished words of Yours: “Your faith has saved you, go in peace.” [SD]

From the Triodion.

From Triodion - - -

Mode 2. (not metered)

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

We are entering the godly contest of the blameless Fast. Let us all diligently subdue the flesh through self-control. Let us seek the Lord with prayers and tears, and completely obliterate every vice, and shout to Him: “We have sinned against You. Save us, as You saved the Ninevites of old, O Christ our King. Grant us to share in Your heavenly Kingdom, O compassionate Lord.” [SD]

Mode 2. (not metered)

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

I drive myself to despair, when I consider how my deeds are worthy of every punishment, O Savior. Yes, I have ignored Your divine commandments, and wasted my life as a profligate. Therefore I implore You the only merciful Lord: Purify me with tears of repentance, and illumine me by fasting and prayer, and do not abhor me, for You are very good and the Benefactor of all. [SD]

Mode 2. (not metered)

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

Let us cheerfully begin the season of Lent, and undergo the spiritual struggles. Let us purify and cleanse our souls and bodies. As we fast from foods, let us also abstain from giving in to any of the passions, and instead delight in the virtues of the Spirit. May we persevere in them with love, and then be counted worthy to see the solemn Passion of Christ our God, and to celebrate holy Pascha with spiritual joy. [SD]

From Menaion - - -

Stichera from the Menaion.

March 18

Mode 4. To a brave one.

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

Like a luminous star you rose * and gave light to believers’ minds * by the priestly brilliancy of your homilies; * and you outshone all the heresies, completely eclipsing them; * as Christ’s servant you increased * the gold talent entrusted you, * and you heard Him say, * “Faithful servant, well done,” as you deposited your soul most priestly, Cyril, * into His hands, earning paradise. [TC]

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

By the wisdom your words proclaimed * and the splendor your life shone forth, * like a luminary, celestial, full of light, * amid the Fathers assembled in the city of Constantine, * you conspicuously shone, * when you strangled with cords of grace * Macedonius, * that iniquitous, godless, mad blasphemer of the One Who quickens all things, * the Holy Spirit, divine and good. [TC]

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

The pernicious and sinister * mind of Mani the maniac * you, wise Cyril, beautifully put to shame and scorn; * the filthy teachings of his depraved, perverse heart you well exposed, * prince of teachers, guide of souls, * the ordained’s comely dignity, * godly champion * of the Church, boldly turning back the foes of Christ, and so with joy and gladness * we celebrate your memorial. [TC]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mode 4. To a brave one.

Ὡς γενναῖον ἐν Μάρτυσι.

Lady full of the grace of God, * you indeed are the luminous * palace of the Lord, and the shining cloud of light * of Him who rose as a Sun and Son * on the world, all-blameless one. * Therefore guide our souls and minds * to the light, and obliterate * all the stumbling blocks * of the crafty one, O all-blameless Maiden. By your holy intercession * confirm and strengthen our reasoning. [SD]

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. 4.

Turn not Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted; hear me speedily. Give heed to my soul and redeem it. [SAAS]

Verse: And the salvation of Your presence, O God, lays hold of me.

Turn not Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted; hear me speedily. Give heed to my soul and redeem it.

Verse: Let the poor behold this, and be glad; seek God, and your soul shall live.

Turn not Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted; hear me speedily. Give heed to my soul and redeem it.

And again:

Turn not Your face from Your child, for I am afflicted; hear me speedily. Give heed to my soul and redeem it.

LITANY OF FERVENT SUPPLICATION

DEACON

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON

Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON

Again we pray for our Archbishop (name).

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy. (3)

PRIEST

For You are merciful and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

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. )

LITANY OF COMPLETION

DEACON

Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

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

CHOIR (after each petition)

Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

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

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

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

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

CHOIR

To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For You are good and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

PRIEST

Peace be with all.

CHOIR

And with your spirit.

DEACON

Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

CHOIR

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 (aloud)

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

CHOIR

Amen.

CHOIR

Aposticha. From the Triodion.

From Triodion - - -

Idiomelon. Mode 4.

Your grace has shone forth, O Lord; the illumination of our souls has shone forth. Behold, this is the acceptable season; behold, this is the season of repentance. Let us put away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, so that we may navigate the immense ocean of Lent, and arrive at the third-day Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Savior of our souls. [SD]

Verse: I lift my eyes to You, who dwell in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the maidservant look to the hands of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God until He shall have compassion on us. [SAAS]

For the Martyrs.

Mode 4.

Verse: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we are greatly filled with contempt; our soul is greatly filled with it. We are a disgrace to those who prosper, and a contempt to the arrogant. [SAAS]

O Christ our God, You are glorified when we commemorate Your saints. As they implore You on our behalf, send down to us Your great mercy. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mode 4. To a brave one.

Ὡς γενναῖον ἐν Μάρτυσι.

All the ranks of angelic hosts glorify you, O Bride of God. * You, O Theotokos, gave birth to God the Word, * who with the Father and Spirit is existing eternally. * He created all the hosts * of the Angels ex nihilo, * by His will as God. * All-pure Virgin, now pray that He illuminate our souls and that He save us, * who are correctly extolling you. [SD]

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 Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

From Horologion - - -

Apolytikia. Mode pl. 1.

O Virgin Theotokos, rejoice, Mary full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb; for you have borne the Savior of our souls. [SD]

O Baptist of Christ, be mindful of us all, that we may be delivered from our iniquities; for unto you was given the grace to intercede for us. [SD]

Glory.

Entreat earnestly for us, O holy Apostles and all Saints, that we be delivered from peril and affliction; for you are our fervent advocates before the Savior. [SD]

This final troparion, according to older rules, is simply recited by the Reader. In current practice, however, it is usually, sung much like the preceding hymns.

Both now.

Beneath your tender compassion we take refuge, O Theotokos. Despise not our supplications in distress, but deliver us from all peril. You alone are pure; you alone are blessed. [SD]

READER

Lord, have mercy. (40)

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

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

In the name of the Lord, Father, bless!

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

Amen.

PRIEST

O heavenly King, uphold our rulers, strengthen the Faith, calm the nations, give peace to the world. Protect this holy Church (or, Monastery); grant our departed fathers and brethren that they may dwell with the righteous, and accept us in repentance and confession; for You are good and benevolent.

We now make three prostrations: i.e. we recite the Prayer of St. Ephrem (quietly or mentally), and with each verse we make a bow or prostration.

While it has become customary for this prayer to be recited by someone aloud, nevertheless the indicated practice is that it be recited inaudibly and mentally by everyone, clergy and congregants alike, with the accompanying bows etc.

Prayer of St. Ephrem

O Lord and Master of my life, do not permit the spirit of laziness and meddling, the lust for power and idle talk to come into me.

Instead, grant me, Your servant, the spirit of prudence, humility, patience and love.

Yes, Lord and King, give me the power to see my own faults and not to judge my brother. For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Then we make the sign of the cross 12 times, each time saying, “God, be gracious to me a sinner and have mercy on me.” Then we repeat the third verse of the Prayer (quietly or mentally) and make a final bow or prostration.

Yes, Lord and King, give me the power to see my own faults and not to judge my brother. For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

READER

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

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

Father, bless!

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

May 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, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

As the following Theotokion is being sung by the left choir, all the faithful in attendance file past the priest (or hierarch if present) to kiss his hand and receive forgiveness.

CHOIR

Mode 2. Joseph took You down.

All those who for refuge flee with faith * unto you, O good one, you shelter beneath your mighty hand. * We your servants have no other intercessor like you * always praying to God for us * in dangers and sorrows, * sinners that we are, bent down because of many misdeeds. * Therefore, we fall prostrate before you. * Rescue us from every affliction, * since you are the Mother of the Most High God. [SD]

PRIEST

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

( Amen. )