ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomia.
Stichera for the Apostles.
Sauti 4.
Mode 4. To a brave one.
With conviction unshakable, you enlisted to war against * the demonic foe, and you fought courageously. * For putting on the full armor of the Spirit, you stood secure * and defeated all the might * of the demons and took away all their spoils from them; * for you rescued the souls of human beings, O all-glorious Apostles. * Therefore we honor you evermore. [GOASD]
When they spread out the net of faith * with the sign of cross, O Christ, * Your divine Apostles, the twelve and all the rest, * caught all the nations and brought them to the knowledge of You, O God, * and they dried the salty seas * of the passions and ignorance. * So I pray to You: * Call me back from the ocean of transgressions, by their holy intercessions, * which You at all time accept from them. [GOASD]
Let us sing now in holy song * and today praise the company * of divinely chosen all-honorable twelve * Apostles Peter and Paul and James, * with Andrew the glorious, * and divine beloved John, * Philip, Matthew, Iakovos, * wise Bartholomew, * Thomas, Thaddaeus, Simon called the Zealot, praising Mark and Luke together * with all the rest of the seventy. [SD]
Additional Stichera. For St. Nicholas. Same Melody.
With divine myrrh, the grace divine * of the Spirit anointed you, * O all-holy Nicholas, Myra’s hierarch. * And by your virtues you filled the world with fragrant perfume, O Saint. * Now you drive away the stench * of the passions whenever you offer fragrant prayers. * For this reason we loyally extol you, * and we celebrate your sacred * and ever-venerable memory. [GOASD]
You the unwaning beacon light * and the lamp of the universe, * splendidly now shine in the Church’s firmament, * O holy father Saint Nicholas, * illumining all the world, * and dispelling the adverse * gloom of difficult dangers, and lifting up the storm * of depressing despondency, and bringing a deep stillness and profound calm. * And we all gratefully call you blest. [SD]
Utukufu. Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.
You contained in your virgin womb * God who is uncontainable, * who became a man in His great benevolence. * He manifestly assumed our human nature and form from you, * truly deifying it. * I implore you, O Virgin pure, overlook me not * in my trouble; but speedily take pity on my humble soul and free me * from any harm from the evil one. [SD]
Prokimeno. Sauti 5.
Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 1.
Save me, O God, in Your name, and judge me in Your power.
Mstari
Verse: O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. [SAAS]
At the Aposticha.
Sauti 4.
Aposticha. Mode 4. For the Apostles.
With the Holy Spirit, O Christ, did You enlighten the choir of Apostles. Through them wash away the filth of our sins, and have mercy on us, O God. [SD]
Mstari
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]
The Holy Spirit, O Christ our God, made the illiterate Disciples into teachers. And by the grandiloquent music of the tongues, He, being Omnipotent, abolished delusion. [SD]
Mstari
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.
O living sacrifices, rational whole-burnt offerings, O Martyrs of the Lord, and perfect sacrificial victims of God, who know God and are known by God, O lambs whose fold is inaccessible to wolves: intercede that together with you we also may be shepherded beside the still water of rest. [SD]
Utukufu. Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
Rescue us in an emergency, O Mother of Christ our God; and we all shall sing to you, who gave birth to the Maker of the universe, “Rejoice, sole protection of our souls!” [SD]
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ON THURSDAY MORNING
MATINS
After the first Psalter reading, Kathismata. For the Apostles.
Sauti 4.
Mode 4.
Preeminent Apostles and teachers of the universe, intercede with the Master of all, to grant peace to the whole world, and great mercy to our souls. [SD]
Come quickly.
You made Your Disciples shine like luminaries, O Christ, * throughout the entire earth, for they illumined many souls * by preaching Your word to them. * Idolatry’s deception was through them eliminated, * and the world has been enlightened with Your true Christian doctrines. * We pray You save our souls, by their entreaties on our behalf. [GOASD]
Utukufu. Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.
Be swift to accept our fervent prayers, O Lady and Queen, * and take them, O all-pure Maiden, and present them for us * before your own Son and God. * Rescue from every trouble * those who run to your shelter, * O Virgin Theotokos, and frustrate the scheming * of those who against your servants have shamelessly taken arms. [SD]
After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata. For the Apostles.
Come quickly.
The sound of your proclamation went throughout all the earth, * O glorious Apostles, and it proved that error’s unwise * so-called wisdom was foolishness. * It drew up many people from the sea of deception * and showed to all the safe and certain path to salvation. * Therefore now we worthily praise you and call you blessed. [GOASD]
Same Melody.
You made Your Disciples heralds of the Faith in the world. * You guided all nations through them to the knowledge of You, * our Savior, O Christ our God. * Scattering it widely, they sowed the seed of true religion, * enlightening all people with the rays of their preaching. * We pray You, at their entreaties save our souls. [GOASD]
Utukufu. Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.
O Lady, please hear the prayer of me your servant who cries * to you from the depths of my afflicted soul, that you grant * forgiveness of my many sins. * For you are my defender. Day and night you protect me. * Free me from the fire of hell, all-holy Theotokos, * and grant that I may stand at the right of your Son and God. [GOASD]
After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.
For St. Nicholas. Come quickly.
Come quickly and rescue us, O father Nicholas, * and save us from adversities and from all dangers and threats * against us your supplicants. * We know you speak with candor to our God and Creator. * Please hurry to respond each time we faithfully invoke you. * And now we pray you grant us your protection and patronage. [GOASD]
For the Martyrs. Same Melody.
Your Martyrs, O Lord, were worthily awarded by You * the crowns of incorruption, in that they contested for You our immortal God. * Since they possessed Your power, they defeated the tyrants, * dashing the demons’ powerless displays of defiance. * O Christ God, at their fervent entreaties, save our souls. [SD]
Utukufu. Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
We are unequipped to praise you worthily, O Theotokos, for you are the highest of all things created. Therefore, we entreat you: As a gift to us, have mercy on us. [SD]
Canon for the Holy Apostles.
Sauti 4. Irmosi.
Mode 4. Ode i. Heirmos.
The Red Sea was crossed by ancient Israel. They walked across dry ground, * when Moses stretched his hand over the sea * with his rod, in the form of a cross; * and likewise in the wilderness, they put to flight the hosts of Amalek. [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for St. Nicholas.
I pray You to submerge.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode iii. Heirmos.
Your Church rejoices in You, O Christ our God, and she cries out to You, * “You are my mighty strength, O Lord, * and You are my refuge and firm support.” [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for St. Nicholas. Not in our wisdom.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode iv. Heirmos.
When the Church beheld You raised on the Cross unjustly, * O Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, crucified for our sake, * she stood in her course, like the moon, * and fittingly cried aloud, * “Glory to Your strength, O Lord!” [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for St. Nicholas. He who sits in holy glory.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode v. Heirmos.
My Lord, You are the light. * Holy light, to the world You came * to turn people from the darkness * and the night of not knowing. And now in faith we sing Your praise. [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for St. Nicholas. The ungodly will not see.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode vi. Heirmos.
“I will sacrifice to You, O Lord, with a voice of praise.” * So sings the Church You delivered * from the gore of sacrificing to demons; * for You cleansed her * by the blood that for mercy poured out from Your side. [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for St. Nicholas. The storm of my many sins.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode vii. Heirmos.
Inside the furnace * in ancient Persia, sons of Abraham * were consumed with pious fear and the love of God * rather than the fiery flame, and sang * together, “In the temple of Your holy glory, You are blessed, O Lord.” [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for St. Nicholas.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode viii. Heirmos.
Daniel shut the lions’ gaping mouths inside the den of old, by stretching out his hands. * The three young men overcame the force * of the furnace fire, having girt * themselves in virtue, for they loved * godliness, and were together singing, * “Bless the Lord and praise Him, all you works of the Lord.” [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for St. Nicholas. O almighty Redeemer.
For the Trinity.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode ix. Heirmos.
A cornerstone was cut out without hands from a never-quarried mountain, * which prefigured you, holy Virgin. * The stone is Christ, who joined the disparate natures. * As we rejoice because of this, O Theotokos, we magnify you. [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for St. Nicholas. Because of the malady.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
At the Aposticha of Lauds.
Sauti 4.
Aposticha. Mode 4. For the Apostles.
With the Holy Spirit, O Christ, did You enlighten the choir of Apostles. Through them wash away the filth of our sins, and have mercy on us, O God. [SD]
Mstari Asubuhi tumejazwa na huruma yako, Ee Bwana; [[SWA]]
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]
The Holy Spirit, O Christ our God, made the illiterate Disciples into teachers. And by the grandiloquent music of the tongues, He, being Omnipotent, abolished delusion. [SD]
Mstari Ubora wa Bwana Mungu wetu uwe juu yetu; atuongoze kwa kazi ya mikono yetu; hata kazi ya mikono yetu Aiongoze. [[SWA]]
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.
Precious and honorable is the death of Your saints, O Lord. They were crushed by sword and fire and frost, and they spilled their blood, with their hope in You, to receive the reward for their labor. They waited and endured, and they received the great mercy from You the Savior. [SD]
Utukufu. Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
O only pure and immaculate Virgin, who gave birth to God inexpressibly, intercede for the salvation of our souls. [SD]
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LITURGY
Sifa za heri. Sauti 4.
The Beatitudes. Mode 4.
Adam fell by a tree, and he was evicted from Paradise. * By the tree of the Cross the Robber gained entrance to Paradise. * The former, by tasting fruit, disobeyed his Maker’s commandment not to eat. * The latter was crucified with Him, whom though hidden he confessed to be God. * Remember us as well in Your kingdom, O Savior. [SD]
You Apostles were indeed * reasonable livestock of Christ the Lamb * and the Shepherd, and by Him * you were sent as wise sheep amidst the wolves. * By preaching the word of God, * you subdued their wildness and tamed their savagery * and turned them to gentleness that comes with the Faith, and with certitude you cried: * “Remember us as well in Your kingdom, O Savior.” [SD]
O Disciples of the Lord, * like resplendent stars you traversed the earth * and its people everywhere, * and you dispelled the gloom of idolatry, * and shined the salvific light * in the hearts of those who were formerly deceived. * And therefore we call you blessed, all-lauded heralds of Christ, and we entreat: * Intercede with the Lord evermore on our behalf. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
Blessed Martyrs, being wise, * you were killed for Christ; and as you were burnt * in the material fire, * you burned up the substance of pagan gods. * And now you are gushing forth * streams of cures and healing to all who come to you * with faith in the living God, * fervently entreating and crying out to Christ, * “Remember us as well in Your heavenly kingdom.” [SD]
Utukufu.
Glory.
As we concentrate the mind * with the watchful power of intellect, * let us say to God on high, * Father, Son, and Spirit who share the throne: * “Undivided Trinity, * You brought all things into existence by the word, * and now You illumine all * who with faith and reverence cry aloud to You, * ‘Remember us as well in Your heavenly kingdom.’” [SD]
Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Both now. Theotokion.
All-blameless Mother of God, * truly the delight of Apostles all, * and the never-fading crown * of the Martyr Saints for their victories, * O Lady, we pray you now, * join them in entreating that we may be released * from sins and that we repent and thus make amends, as we cry to you with faith, * “Treasure that truly stores every blessing, O rejoice!” [SD]