ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomia.

Stichera for the Apostles.

Mode pl. 1. Rejoice.

Holy Apostles, you were the swift * and sharpened arrows that were sent by the Mighty One, * the King, into all the earth, even to the ends of the world, * and you dulled and blunted all the fiery darts * and poisonous arrows of evil demons, O blessed ones. * You trampled pagan polytheism underfoot, * and you taught to all how to rightly believe in God. * You were the sheep of Christ our God, the chief shepherd of His flock. * You are the ones whom He sent out amidst the wolves, O all-holy ones, * so that you might tame them * and their savagery, through faith in the only God of all. [GOASD]

You were friends and disciples of Christ, * the hypostatic Word of God, who with utmost love * came down and sojourned with mortals, for He indeed had assumed * our entire nature deifying it. * And therefore you followed in His divine steps, O wisest men. * You imitated His example of poverty, * counting all as refuse, as glorious Paul declared. * Thus for your journey you did not provide yourselves with a staff * or with a bag; and abstained from a second garment, as He decreed. * And hence you were truly counted worthy to inherit heavenly treasures now. [GOASD]

By your fervent entreaties redeem * us from the surging of temptations, O holy men, * and from the eloquent prattle * of undevout heresies, * and from all the demons’ great malevolence, * all-blessed Apostles, and from the tumult of the masses, * and from the fire that is lightless, and from the worm * that will never cease, and from gnashing of teeth as well. * Also implore the Lord that we, * through labors and self-control, * might thus receive the rewards for * attaining virtues with piety, * and find an allotment * and great mercy in the Kingdom of heaven evermore. [SD]

Additional Stichera. For St. Nicholas. Same Melody.

Rejoice, O sacred head of the Church, * the pure abode of every virtue, O Nicholas, * divine standard of the most divine * holy priesthood, and great * Shepherd of the people, and the beacon-light * that shines very brightly. You are the namesake of victory. * And on the needy you take pity with sympathy. * And unto the prayers of the sick You incline an ear. * Ready deliverer of all, * and guardian saving them * who now religiously honor your ever-ven’rable memory. * To Christ pray with fervor, * holy father, that great mercy be given to our souls. [SD]

Rejoice, pure habitation wherein * the Holy Trinity made its dwelling, most sacred mind, * the Church’s unshaken pillar, and the believers’ support, * for you are the help of all who are oppressed. * O Star that at all times dispels the gloom of adversities * and of temptations by the radiance of your prayers * that are well received, holy Hierarch Nicholas, * calm haven wherein those who meet the turbulent storms of life * and are surrounded by tempests escape for refuge and hence are saved. * To Christ pray with fervor, * holy father, that great mercy be given to our souls. [SD]

Rejoice, with divine zeal being filled * you extricated from abduction by treachery, * through your awesome intervention * and your appearing in dreams, * those who had unjustly been condemned to die. * A well are you, Nicholas, * that abundantly gushes forth * myrrh oils in Myra, * and that thoroughly waters souls, * and that drives away all the stench that the passions bring. * Saber eradicating tares * of error and heresy; * Winnowing shovel that threshes the chaffy doctrines of Arius. * To Christ pray with fervor, * holy father, that great mercy be given to our souls. [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 pl. 1. For the Apostles.

O Disciples of the Savior, since you became eyewitnesses of mysteries, you preached of Him who is unseen and who has no beginning, and you said: In the beginning was the Logos. You were not created before the Angels, nor did you learn this from men, but from the wisdom from heaven. Therefore since you have confidence, intercede on behalf 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]

With songs let us tunefully extol the Apostles of the Lord. For having donned the panoply of the Cross, they abolished the delusion of idols and emerged crowned victors. By their intercessions, O God, have mercy upon us. [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.

Refusing to deny Christ, O holy Martyrs, you endured the various painful tortures with an insatiable willingness of soul. You humbled the impudence of the tyrants, having kept your faith steadfast and invulnerable, and you were translated to heaven. Since you therefore have obtained confidence before the Lord, entreat Him that great mercy be granted to us. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Rejoice, Maiden full of grace, O Mother of Christ God, for the King of glory appeared unto you, and the all-holy Spirit overshadowed you. Since you speak with freedom, intercede that our souls be saved. [SD]

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ON THURSDAY MORNING

MATINS

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

Mode pl. 1. As the Father and Spirit.

Let us honor the ministers and eyewitnesses * of the Word, O believers, with spiritual songs, * and with hymns let us extol the wise Apostles of Christ. * For they earnestly implore Him and intercede with Him * for all of us who revere them * and venerate their holy relics and celebrate their memory. [GOASD]

Same Melody.

Let us all now extol the Apostles of Christ, * for they preached to believers the Orthodox faith * and Lord’s unerring teaching, and they also dispelled * the confusing clouds of heresy, and throughout the world * they shined and the grace of Spirit’s * illumination and dogmas, and they pray for the salvation of all. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.

O immaculate, pure, ever-virgin Bride of God, * we extol you along with the divine eyewitnesses. * For the Savior who is mighty has done great things for you, * and the Father’s pre-eternally begotten only Son * was well pleased to be carried * in your womb and to be born from you, * to save the human race from the devil’s deceit. [GOASD]

After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata. For the Apostles. As the Father and Spirit.

Let us extol the Apostles in sacred hymns of praise, * those godly preachers and eyewitnesses of the Word of God. * They were spiritual fishermen, by whom the nations were caught. * They are the ones introduced us to the knowledge of Christ; * and they freed from deception * the human race and made us worthy of the Kingdom of God. [GOASD]

Same Melody.

I entreat you, the Savior’s Disciples and divine * God-inspired Apostles, who sowed the saving Word * everywhere throughout the earth, and who enlightened all * who were sitting in the darkness and shadow: Shine the light * into my soul that is darkened * by the murkiness of the passions, at your entreaties, O all-wise Saints. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.

O immaculate Virgin, in you we place our hope * resolutely, O Maiden, for you protect us all. * We entreat you, keep us free from any injury, * from the various temptations, from danger and from harm, * joining the holy Apostles * imploring your Son, our Savior, for the salvation of all who sing your praise. [GOASD]

After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For the Apostles.

Your Apostles declared the ineffable mystery of Your incarnation, O Lord, and while they had no philosophical training, they put philosophers to shame. Indeed, the fishermen silenced the orators. They have become the wisest teachers of the nations, for they enlightened the ends of the earth with the light of the knowledge of God. Through them, grant to us the great mercy. [GOASD]

For the Martyrs.

Lord, Your medal-winning martyrs longed to drink the cup of Your Passion. So they forsook the delights of this life, and they became partners with the Angels. At their supplications, grant to our souls forgiveness of sins and the great mercy. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. As the Father and Spirit.

I implore you to show forth your promptness to provide * your protection and help and your mercy unto me, * O pure Maid, and calm the waves of unruly thoughts, * and resurrect the fallen soul of me your servant, I entreat, * O all-holy Theotokos. * I know, I know, O Virgin, * that you can do whatever you wish. [SD]

Canon for the Holy Apostles.

Mode pl. 1. Ode i. Heirmos.

He who brings wars to nothing with arm exalted is Christ. * Horse and rider of Egypt He shook off; and He threw them in the midst of the Red Sea * and delivered Israel, * who were singing a song of victory. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas.

Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

O Lord, You established earth on nothing by Your command, * and You made it free floating, heavy though it be. * Do likewise now establish Your Church on Your divine commandments, * as on a rock that is immovable. * You alone are good and humane, O Christ. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Ode iv. Heirmos.

Habakkuk as a prophet considered Your divine self-emptying, O Christ, and in astonishment said to You, * “For the salvation of Your people You have come, to save Your anointed ones.” [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Ode v. Heirmos.

Early do I rise to You, who cover yourself with light * as with a garment. O God, I cry out * to You, to illumine my soul that has been darkened, * O Christ, the only merciful Lord. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Ode vi. Heirmos.

I implore You, Master Christ, that You quiet the furious sea * of the passions and the soul-destroying waves; * and from corruption raise me, O compassionate Lord. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Ode vii. Heirmos.

Praiseworthy and beyond measure exalted Lord and God * extinguished the furnace fire, refreshing the three young men, * who sang to Him together, * “God of our fathers, You are blessed.” [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Ode viii. Heirmos.

Summoning a worldwide chorus in the furnace, * Your Servants sang to You, O God who created all, * “All you works, to the Lord sing a hymn and praise Him; * exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages.” [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. Same Heirmos.

For the Trinity.

Theotokion.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

O Isaiah, dance with joy, * for the Virgin conceived in the womb; * and she brought forth a son, who is God and man. * His name is Emmanuel, Dayspring and dawn, Orient, The Branch. * We magnify the Lord, and we also call the Virgin blest. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

At the Aposticha of Lauds.

Aposticha. Mode pl. 1. For the Apostles.

O Disciples of the Savior, since you became eyewitnesses of mysteries, you preached of Him who is unseen and who has no beginning, and you said: In the beginning was the Logos. You were not created before the Angels, nor did you learn this from men, but from the wisdom from heaven. Therefore since you have confidence, intercede on behalf of our souls. [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]

With songs let us tunefully extol the Apostles of the Lord. For having donned the panoply of the Cross, they abolished the delusion of idols and emerged crowned victors. By their intercessions, O God, have mercy upon us. [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.

As the holy Martyrs were being tortured, they sang in exultation, “These will all be exchanged when we meet the Master. Instead of the physical injuries we are sustaining, He will dress us with a luminous garment in the resurrection. Instead of prison there is Paradise. And instead of being sentenced with criminals, we will be in the company of Angels.” O Lord, we pray You save our souls, at their supplications. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

O Virgin, you were chosen ahead of time. We implore you now to hear our prayer, and to grant us our soulful requests. Free us from the passions of our bodies and souls, through the holy Apostles. You can do all things, as the Mother of God. [GOASD]

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LITURGY

The Beatitudes. Mode pl. 1.

When the robber had believed * that You the crucified were truly God, * he wholeheartedly and sincerely confessed You, * and he cried aloud to You, O Christ, “In Your kingdom, remember me.” [SD]

You appeared like sunlit clouds * that traversed the earth and rained down on all * living water, O divine Disciples of the Savior, * richly irrigating the hearts * of those who had languished in sins. [SD]

You were like mystical rays * of the Sun that from the Virgin shone forth, * and you illumined those who were sitting in darkness * of ignorance of truth, O divine * Disciples of Christ our God. [SD]

For the Martyrs.

O holy Martyrs, you endured * torture by fire with an ardor of soul, * and you burned away the deception of the idols. * Then you were transported to divine * refreshment in heaven with Christ. [SD]

Glory.

In the abyss of many sins * humanity was buried like a coin. * Through the Holy Spirit, You perfected the Apostles * as preachers, O Christ, and pulled us out * and to the Father presented us. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

Worldly pleasures make me dark. * Lady full of grace divine, I entreat, * shine the light of repentance on me, that I may call you * blessed, as the jewel of the Saints, * Apostles and Martyrs all. [SD]