ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomia.

Stichera for the Apostles.

Mode 1. O Martyrs, extolled.

O glorious Apostles of Christ * and Disciples called by God, inspired teachers of all the world, when you had found the Lord * as the mediator between God and man, you cleaved * to Him in such a manner appropriate to His divinity. * And you preached Him to the universe * to be God and * manifestly perfect man. [SD]

O wisest Apostles of the Lord, * intercede on my behalf, * that I might shake off the mindlessness of my bedarkened soul. * You indeed are wisdom’s * mystics and interpreters; * for you have lit the light of the Paraclete. And once you burn away * the corruption that is in my mind, * count me worthy * to praise you and call you blest. [SD]

Additional Stichera. For St. Nicholas.

For all the powers of heaven.

As you are hovering over the flowers of the Church, * being yourself a fledgling * of the nest of the Angels, * O Nicholas thrice blessed, you ever cry * unto God on behalf of all * who in temptations and perils invoke your aid; * and you rescue them by fervent prayers. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 1.

Save me, O God, in Your name, and judge me in Your power.

Verse: O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. [SAAS]

At the Aposticha.

Aposticha. Mode 1. For the Apostles.

The most melodious harp of the Apostles, set in motion by the Holy Spirit, abolished the rites of the odious demons; and by preaching faith in the only Lord, it redeemed the nations from the delusion of the idols, and taught them to worship the consubstantial Trinity. [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 all the powers of heaven.

Let us with one voice together extol Saints Peter and Paul * with Luke and Mark and Matthew, * John and Andrew and Thomas, * Iakovos and Philip, Bartholomew, * also Simon and Thaddaeus; * and let us worthily praise the entire choir * of divinely called Disciples of Christ. [SD]

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]

For the Martyrs. Automelon.

O Martyrs, extolled in all the world, * you were not concealed by earth, * but rather heaven admitted you. The gates of Paradise * unto you were opened. * Having gone within, you now * enjoy the tree of life, and you intercede with Christ on our behalf, * supplicating that surpassing peace * and great mercy * be upon our souls bestowed. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.

All-laudable Virgin, Moses saw * with his own prophetic eyes of old the mystery wrought in you when he beheld the bush * unconsumed though burning. * For in you the fire of Divinity in no way consumed your womb. And therefore we entreat * you the Mother of our Lord and God, * to grant mercy, * O pure one, and peace to your world. [SD]

__________

ON THURSDAY MORNING

MATINS

After the first Psalter reading, Kathismata. For the Apostles.

Mode 1.

O wise fishermen of the civilized world, from God you received a compassionate heart, and thus you intercede on behalf of us who cry out: “Lord, save Your people and Your city, and free our souls from the woes that beset us, by the prayers of Your Apostles.” [SD]

The stone had been secured.

The fishermen undid the knots of the philosophers * with the pole of the Cross and the net of the word of truth. * They enlightened the Gentiles to worship You, * the true God, and glorify You piously. * For this reason we cry out to You, who empowered Your Apostles: “Glory to the Father and the Son! * Glory to the consubstantial Spirit! * Glory to God who through those men enlightened the world.” [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Without burning, you conceived the fire of Divinity, and without seed you gave birth to the Lord who is source of life. O Theotokos, full of grace, preserve us who magnify you. [SD]

After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata. For the Apostles.

The soldiers keeping watch.

Believers, let us sing and extol Christ’s Apostles, * for they were truly wise. They were His sonorous trumpets. * Like horses they disturbed the sea of the pagan ungodliness. * As if from the deep they drew up people and placed them * in the Church of God and in the port of salvation, * by the Holy Spirit’s grace. [SD]

Same Melody.

The Light from Light that shone pre-eternally now has * in time appeared to us on earth in physical body; * and through you, all-blessed men, He illumined the whole wide world. * Therefore we who were by your divine words and teachings * illumined sing your praise, holy Apostles, and honor * your all-sacred memory. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.

O ever-virgin Maid, we believers all have you * an advocate with God; and for help and assistance * we run to your holy church and we pray to you earnestly. * Therefore save us from the wicked spite of the demons, * and deliver us from frightful final damnation, * for we ever sing your praise. [SD]

After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For St. Nicholas. The soldiers keeping watch.

You physically sojourned in the city of Myra, * and with the Spirit’s myrrh you were noetically anointed, * O Hierarch Nicholas. * By the myrrh of your miracles, * you who pour out myrrh in endless streams filled with fragrance * those who wish to sing you fragrant hymns and to honor * with fragrance your memory. [SD]

For the Martyrs. Same Melody.

Let all of us beseech the holy Martyrs of Christ God. * To Him they ever pray for our salvation and safety. * So let us all go to them, and approach them with ardent faith. * They pour out the grace of cures and healings profusely. * They defeat the hosts of evil spirits and demons, * as guardians of the Faith. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.

O Maiden, the divine disciples and Apostles * with God-inspired teachings proclaimed to all people * your ineffable childbirth, O Theotokos all-immaculate. * And they taught us how to reverence you as is proper. * We entreat you now: With them pray for the salvation * of the faithful who honor you. [SD]

Canon for the Holy Apostles.

Mode 1. Ode ii. Heirmos.

Glorified in strength, as divine, * was Your victorious right hand, immortal Lord; * for, being all-powerful, it dashed and shattered the pursuing enemy, * opening a new way across the sea for the Israelites. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas.

An anthem of victory.

Theotokion.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

As You are the only One who knows * our mortal nature’s frailty and with compassion assumed the form thereof, * O Savior, gird me with the power from on high, * to cry out that Holy is the animate temple * of Your ineffable glory, benevolent Lord. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. Firmly established be my heart.

Theotokion.

Ode iv. Heirmos.

Habakkuk the Prophet once perceived with foreseeing eyes, * that you would be the mountain overshadowed by the grace of God. * O Virgin, he prophesied that the Holy One of Israel would come from you, * for our salvation and for our refashioning. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. When you, Prophet Habbakuk.

Theotokion.

Ode v. Heirmos.

By the brightness of Your coming You enlightened the world, O Christ, * by the power of Your Cross you illumined the ends thereof. * With the light of knowing You as God enlighten now the hearts of * those who extol You with Orthodox faith. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. Let Your radiant.

Theotokion.

Ode vi. Heirmos.

The lowest depth encircles us, like Jonah said, * and there is no deliverer. * We are counted as sheep for slaughter, O Lord. * Save Your people, for You are our only God. * You are our strength, and You restore us, the weak and broken down. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. Imitating the inspired Prophet.

Theotokion.

Ode vii. Heirmos.

We who believe know you as the spiritual * furnace, O Mother of our God. * For your highly exalted Son, who once saved those servants three, * in your womb refashioned me and humanity entirely. * He is the God of our fathers, supremely praised and glorious. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. O Lord and Savior.

Theotokion.

Ode viii. Heirmos.

Three young men of Israel were thrown * into the blazing furnace, * as if they were being smelted. * Shining brighter than pure gold with beauty of piety, * they sang, “Bless the Lord, all you works; to the Lord sing a hymn * and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages.” [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. To Him, the Creator.

Theotokion.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

Burning, yet remaining unconsumed, * the bush revealed a type of your virgin childbirth. * And now we entreat that you extinguish the wild fire * of temptations, for it is engulfing us, * all-holy Theotokos, * and we will magnify you ceaselessly. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. The cloud that radiates.

Theotokion.

Exaposteilarion. For the Apostles.

Mode 3. Having embellished heaven.

O Apostles of the Master, * by your preaching of the Gospel, * from the ocean of deception * you drew the whole world to the light. * Cease not in your intercessions * on our behalf with the Savior.

Another. Same Melody. Having embellished heaven.

O holy twelve-numbered unit, * the glory of all Apostles, * we pray you join St. Nicholas * that holy bishop of Myra, * and never cease your entreaties * on our behalf to the Savior.

Theotokion. Same Melody.

O Lady, refuge of Christians, * cease not imploring Christ your Son * with St. Nicholas that famous * bishop, and pray on the behalf * of us, your unworthy servants, * that we obtain joy eternal.

At the Aposticha of Lauds.

Aposticha. Mode 1. For the Apostles.

The most melodious harp of the Apostles, set in motion by the Holy Spirit, abolished the rites of the odious demons; and by preaching faith in the only Lord, it redeemed the nations from the delusion of the idols, and taught them to worship the consubstantial Trinity. [SD]

Verse: We were filled with Your mercy in the morning, and in all our days we greatly rejoiced and were glad; gladden us in return for the days You humbled us, for the years we saw evil things. And behold Your servants and Your works, and guide their sons. [SAAS]

For all the powers of heaven.

Let us with one voice together extol Saints Peter and Paul * with Luke and Mark and Matthew, * John and Andrew and Thomas, * Iakovos and Philip, Bartholomew, * also Simon and Thaddaeus; * and let us worthily praise the entire choir * of divinely called Disciples of Christ. [SD]

Verse: And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the works of our hands. [SAAS]

For the Martyrs.

Greatly rejoice in the Lord, O Martyrs, for you fought the good fight, you stood up to emperors, and you were victorious over tyrants. You were not frightened by fire and sword. As wild beasts devoured your bodies, and you joined the Angels in sending up your hymns of praise to Christ, from heaven you received the crowns. Pray now that peace be granted to the world and great mercy to our souls. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. For all the powers of heaven.

Using the words of the Prophets, we allegorically * extol the holy Virgin, and we reverently call her: * manna jar of gold, unconsumed burning bush, * golden lamp-stand that held the lamp, * ark of the holiness, unquarried mountain, throne, * holy table, and the gate of God. [SD]

__________

LITURGY

The Beatitudes. Mode 1.

Then the foe used eating from the tree * to get Adam banished from Paradise. * Now crucified upon a tree, * Christ allowed the Robber enter it, * when he said: Remember me * when You come in Your kingdom, O Lord. [SD]

O Apostles, you enlightened all * the ends of earth with the godly rays * of your true teachings, and dispelled * the darkness of ungodliness. * Having gone now to unsetting light, * you are blessed forevermore. [SD]

O Christ’s disciples, you had the Father’s own * enhypostatic Wisdom dwelling in you, * which made you wise in things divine. * By the folly of your preaching, * you enlightened the whole wide world, * and you led it knowledge of God. [SD]

For the Martyrs.

You endured the tortures manfully, * Martyrs of Christ, as though bodiless. * And you defeated all the foes who are bodiless mightily. * Therefore by all people now * you are blessed and extolled each day. [SD]

Glory.

Let us believers worship and adore * the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, * and living Spirit, one in throne, * undivided, inseparable, * single God, to whom we cry aloud: * You are holy, O thrice-holy God. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

All-pure Virgin, we now call you blest, * as you yourself once had prophesied. * For you gave birth to God, whom hosts * of Apostles proclaimed to all. * Pray with them for forgiveness * of our sins, O all-blameless one. [SD]