Books - Sources [GOA]

Pentecostarion

On Tuesday of Bright Week - Evening

Menaion - May 8

Memory of the St. John the Theologian

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VESPERS

PRIEST

Glory to the holy and consubstantial and life-creating and undivided Trinity always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

PRIEST

Mode pl. 1.

From Pentecostarion - - -

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs… [GOA]

CHOIR

…He has granted life.

PRIEST

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs… [GOA]

CHOIR

…He has granted life.

PRIEST

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs… [GOA]

CHOIR

…He has granted life.

PRIEST

Verse 1: Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee from before His face.

CHOIR

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

PRIEST

Verse 2: As smoke vanishes, so let them vanish, as wax melts before the fire.

CHOIR

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

PRIEST

Verse 3: So shall the sinners perish from the face of God. And let the righteous be glad.

CHOIR

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

PRIEST

Verse 4: This is the day the Lord made; let us greatly rejoice and be glad therein.

CHOIR

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

PRIEST

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

CHOIR

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

PRIEST

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

CHOIR

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

PRIEST

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death… [GOA]

CHOIR

…and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

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.

CHOIR

Mode 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]

Resurrectional Stichera.

From Pentecostarion - - -

Sticheron 1. Mode 4.

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

Unceasingly we venerate Your crucifixion that bestowed life, O Christ our God, and glorify Your resurrection on the third day. Thereby You refashioned human nature that was damaged; You also revealed to us the ascent into the heavens, O almighty Lord, singularly good and benevolent. [GOASD]

Sticheron 2. Mode 4.

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

You rescinded the penalty for failure to obey at the tree, when You, O Savior, voluntarily were nailed to the tree of the Cross. As God, You broke the bonds of death, when You descended to the netherworld, O Mighty One. And now we honor Your resurrection from the dead, and we sing in exultation: Glory to You, O almighty Lord! [GOASD]

Sticheron 3. Mode 4.

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

You blasted the gates of Hades, and You toppled the regime of death, by Your death, O Master. You freed the human race from disintegration, for to the world You granted life, freedom from decay, and the great mercy. [GOASD]

Sticheron 4. Mode 4.

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

Everybody, come, let us extol the Savior’s resurrection on the third day, through which we were released from inescapable imprisonment in the netherworld, and we all have received life and freedom from decay; and let us sing to Him, “O uniquely benevolent Lord, You were crucified and buried, and You rose. We pray You save us, by Your resurrection!” [GOASD]

For the Evangelist.

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]

The theologian disciple, the son of Zebedee * taught us to speak of Father * Son and all-holy Spirit. * He wrote for us the Gospel of Jesus Christ. * Having seen the ineffable * and most sublime revelations he thus became * the interpreter of myst’ries of God. [SD]

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

The theologian disciple, the son of Zebedee * taught us to speak of Father * Son and all-holy Spirit. * He wrote for us the Gospel of Jesus Christ. * Having seen the ineffable * and most sublime revelations he thus became * the interpreter of myst’ries of God. [SD]

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

He is the mystical writer of the celestial odes, * divinely sounded lyre, * and a mouth God-inspired * that pleasantly is singing the song of songs; * and in the place of the strings and pick, * he sets in motion his lips and his holy tongue; * and he intercedes that we be saved. [SD]

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

O Son of Thunder, you shouted using your thunderous voice; * beloved Theologian, you uncovered the hidden * word of God. And now you open your lips * every time we open your book * and read that, “In the beginning, the Logos was”; and you light the way to knowledge of God. [SD]

Glory.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 2.

To that Son of Thunder, the foundation of the divine sayings, the principal of theology, that preeminent herald of the true wisdom of dogmas of God, yes, to John the beloved and virgin, let us the articulate human race dutifully sing praises and extol him. He had the Divine unceasingly within him, and thus he said concerning the Word, that He was in the beginning, and also that He was inseparable from the Father, and finally that He is of one essence with the Father, showing to us the correct and Orthodox belief in the Holy Trinity; and he showed us that the Word is Creator with the Father, and is the One who brings life, and who is the true light. What a mystical wonder and thing of wisdom! He was full of love, and he became filled with theology, in glory, honor and faith, the foundation of our unadulterated Faith. By this Faith may we obtain the eternal blessings on Judgment Day. [SD]

Both now.

From Pentecostarion - - -

Mode 4.

By you, O Lady, the Prophet David became an ancestor of God. Long ago, he sang a Psalm to Him, who would do great things for you: “The Queen stood at Your right hand.” God chose you to be the mother who would engender Life. For it was His good pleasure to become human from you without father, so that He could refashion His image, which had become distorted by the passions, and so that He could find the lost sheep that had gone astray on the mountains, and carry it on His shoulders, and bring it to His Father, and reunite it with the heavenly hosts, as He willed, and so that He could save the world, O Theotokos, since He is Christ, and He has the great and rich mercy. [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. 4.

With my voice I cried to the Lord, with my voice to God, and He gave heed to me. [SAAS]

Verse: In the day of my affliction I sought out God.

With my voice I cried to the Lord, with my voice to God, and He gave heed to me.

Verse: My soul refused to be comforted.

With my voice I cried to the Lord, with my voice to God, and He gave heed to me.

Verse: O God, Your way is in the holy place.

With my voice I cried to the Lord, with my voice to God, and He gave heed to me.

The Readings

From Menaion - - -

READER

The reading is from John’s First Universal Letter.

DEACON

Let us be attentive. Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

3:21 – 24; 4:1 – 6

Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of antichrist, of which you heard that it was coming, and now it is in the world already. Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world, therefore what they say is of the world, and the world listens to them. We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us. [RSV]

READER

The reading is from John’s First Universal Letter.

DEACON

Let us be attentive. Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

4:11 – 16

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his own Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. [RSV]

READER

The reading is from John’s First Universal Letter.

DEACON

Let us be attentive. Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

4:20 – 21; 5:1 – 5

Beloved, if any one says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also. Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? [RSV]

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 (after each petition)

Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON

Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

Again we pray for our Archbishop (name).

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Resurrectional.

From Pentecostarion - - -

Mode 4.

Lord our God, You were lifted on the Cross; * thereby You cancelled the curse incurred by our ancestors. * And then You went down to Hades * and freed the prisoners held there from eternity; * and You gave immortality to mankind, O our Savior. * Now we gratefully praise You and glorify * Your life-giving resurrection, by which You saved us all. [GOASD]

From Pentecostarion - - -

Stichera of Pascha.

Mode pl. 1.

Verse 1: Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee from before His face.

Today a sacred Pascha has been revealed to us; a Pascha new and holy, a Pascha mystical, a Pascha all-venerable, Pascha, the Redeemer Christ himself; a Pascha that is blameless, a Pascha that is great, a Pascha of believers, a Pascha that has opened for us the gates of Paradise, a Pascha that sanctifies believers all. [SD]

Verse 2: As smoke vanishes, so let them vanish, as wax melts before the fire.

Come now from that sight, O you women and heralds of good news, and say to Zion, “Receive from us the joyful tidings of the Resurrection of Christ. O Jerusalem, be exultant, dance and leap for joy, for you have witnessed Christ the King coming forth as a Bridegroom from the sepulcher.” [SD]

Verse 3: So shall the sinners perish from the face of God. And let the righteous be glad.

The myrrh-bearing women at dawn very early, standing outside the tomb of the Giver-of-Life, found an Angel who was seated upon the stone. And the Angel addressed them, and this is what he said, “Why do you seek among the dead the One who is alive? Why do you grieve as though corruptible the Incorrupt? So go back and proclaim it to His Disciples.” [SD]

Verse 4: This is the day the Lord made; let us greatly rejoice and be glad therein.

Pascha of delight! Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha! A Pascha all venerable has risen for us. Pascha! With joy let us embrace one another. Pascha, the ransom from sorrow! Today from the sepulcher Christ emerged resplendently as from a bridal chamber, and the women He filled with joy, saying, “Proclaim this to the Apostles.” [SD]

Glory. For the Evangelist.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 2.

Apostle of Christ, John the Evangelist and Theologian, you became a mystic of the secrets of God, and thundered to us the secret dogmas of wisdom. You proclaimed to the faithful that “In the beginning was”; and you struck down the words of the heretics and ruled out that “He was not,” showing thus that you were a beloved bosom friend of Christ, like Isaiah with his resounding voice, and Moses who saw God. Since you speak freely in the presence of God, entreat Him earnestly on behalf of our souls. [SD]

Both now. Of Pascha.

From Pentecostarion - - -

Mode pl. 1.

It is the day of the Resurrection. Let us shine brightly for the festival, and also embrace one another. Brethren, let us say even to those who hate us, “Let us forgive everything for the Resurrection.” And thus let us cry aloud, “Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.” [SD]

Mode pl. 1.

From Pentecostarion - - -

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

Apolytikion. For the Evangelist.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 2.

O Apostle, the beloved of Christ God, hasten to deliver us, a people that has no excuse. He accepts you supplicating Him, for He condescended at the Supper to let you lean on Him. Entreat Him, O Theologian, that He scatter the persistent cloud of hostile nations, and pray for us, for peace and great mercy. [SD]

Mode pl. 1.

From Pentecostarion - - -

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

DEACON

Wisdom.

( Father, bless! )

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

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, and the holy and glorious Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, whose memory we celebrate; and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

Christ is risen!

PEOPLE

Truly He is risen!

PRIEST

Christ is risen!

PEOPLE

Truly He is risen!

PRIEST

Christ is risen!

PEOPLE

Truly He is risen!

PRIEST

Glory to His holy Resurrection on the third day!

PEOPLE

We worship His Resurrection on the third day!

PRIEST

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

PEOPLE

Truly the Lord is risen!