ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomia.

Stichera for the Apostles.

Mode pl. 2. When the saints deposited.

The Apostles of the Lord, * receiving heavenly power * of the Paraclete, indeed * put the close arrays of the enemy to flight. * They rebuked emperors, * and put wise men to shame. * Being common and illiterate, * naked and weaponless, * they drew up their ranks evangelically. * They uttered words inspired by grace, * whereby they performed their prodigious deeds. * Therefore as they render * the nations all obedient to Christ, * they intercede now with confidence * on behalf of our souls. [SD]

Christ, Your most illustrious * Disciples loved You intensely. * Thus according to Your word, * gladly they denied themselves * and took up the Cross, * following after You, * their Lord and their Teacher; * and obedient to Your command, * they left the earth behind * and they were alloted heaven instead. * And they converted Gentiles from * error to true knowledge of You as God. * And now, since in all things * they proved to be obedient to You, * they pray to You with all confidence, * interceding for our souls. [SD]

I have led my life till now in carefree ease and indifference. * I am near the end of it, and I find myself devoid of spiritual fruit. * All I have is the load of my sinful actions. * O good Lord in Your benevolence, * take my unbearable burdens in an act of mercy to me. * And grant compunction and sincere repentance to me that I might be saved, * by the intercessions of Your divine Apostles, which you hear * when I invoke them, and by the prayers * of Your holy Mother, O God. [SD]

Additional Stichera. For St. Nicholas. You rose within three days.

Saint Nicholas, take pity on me * who fall to you, O blessed one, * I entreat you; * and illuminate the eyes * of my soul, O wise father, * so that I may distinctly * behold the sympathetic Giver of light. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.

The childbirth without travail * of the all-holy Virgin availed * us all clearly * of the greatest benefits. * For God thereby refashioned * humanity, renewing * the mortal nature of the human race. [SD]

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. 2. For the Apostles.

O Christ, when Your Disciples once aboard a boat were tossed by a storm, then they shouted: Save us, Teacher, we are perishing. And now we likewise cry out: We pray You, O humane One and our Savior, rescue us from our distress. [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]

At times, the Apostles, O Lord, with nets seized the depth of the sea, while at others, with dogmas they seized the height of the Kingdom. By their trade they searched the incomprehensible deep. And by faith they reached Your uncircumscribable bosom. And they proclaimed Your timeless Son to the world. By their intercessions and those of all the Saints, have mercy on 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.

Your Cross, O Lord, became for the Martyrs an invincible weapon. For they saw the death awaiting them and yet foresaw the life to come, and thus by their hope in You they were strengthened. By their supplications, have mercy on us. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Theotokos, you are the true vine that produced the fruit of life. Lady, we fervently entreat you to intercede along with the Apostles and all the saints, that our souls be treated mercifully. [SD]

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ON THURSDAY MORNING

MATINS

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

Mode pl. 2.

As You came and stood among Your disciples, O Savior, and gave them peace, come and be with us also and save us. [SD]

You are the good hope.

You were sent out on earth as light; * you illumined all people * by what you taught, which was most wise. * And you drove out the darkness * of polytheism by teaching about God. * The Trinity’s illumination shone from you. * By you were many peoples saved * from error void of light, * O Apostles of the Savior. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Open the gate of compassion for us, O blessed Theotokos. For hoping in you, let us not fail in our aim. Through you may we be delivered from adversities. For you are the salvation of Christians. [GOASD]

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

O Lord, the memory of Your Apostles is like the Garden of Eden, for all the world greatly rejoices in it. Grant us peace and great mercy, by their supplications. [SD]

Your twelve Apostles, O Lord, were seen on earth like a sun with twelve torches. Through them you withered the harm of error; through them you brighten the souls of Your servants. Through them will You also save us, O compassionate Savior. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. You are the good hope.

O Lady holy and pure, as our God’s blessed Mother, * you ineffably gave birth to the Creator of all. * We beseech you to join the sacred Apostles in imploring His goodness every day, * to deliver us from passions and grant us forgiveness of sins. [SD]

After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For the Apostles.

The fishermen overturned the flawed philosophies, and from the depths of vanity they drew everyone up, with the net of the true Faith in God; and to God they brought those who rightly believe in Him, and who ever magnify Him. [SD]

For the Martyrs.

O Lord, the memory of Your Saints is like the Garden of Eden, for all creation greatly rejoices in it. Grant us peace and great mercy, by their intercessions. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Standing in your glorious church, O Theotokos, we think we are standing in heaven. O heavenly Gate, open to us the door of your mercy. [SD]

Canon for the Holy Apostles.

Mode pl. 2. Ode i. Heirmos.

When they had walked through the Red Sea as over land, * the people of Israel watched as Pharaoh and his host * in pursuit were drowned. Then Moses said, * “Let us sing a song of victory to God our Lord.” [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas.

Theotokion.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

No one is holy like the Lord, * no one righteous like our God. * Being good, You exalted Your believers’ horn of strength, * firmly establishing us * on the rock of confession of faith in You. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas.

Theotokion.

Ode iv. Heirmos.

The holy Church of God exclaims befittingly, * “Christ is God and my Lord, and He is my strength.” * She is celebrating in the Lord and sings to Him * from a mind that has been purified. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas.

Theotokion.

Ode v. Heirmos.

With Your divine light illumine souls, * who with yearning early in the morning rise to You, O good Lord, I pray, * so that they may know You, Word of God, as truly God, * who calls them back from darkness and from the night of sin. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas.

Theotokion.

Ode vi. Heirmos.

I see when my life becomes rough and stormy like the sea; * temptations feel like turbulence. * So I turn to the safe harbor of Your Church, * and calmly I pray to You: * Raise my life from corruption, very merciful Lord. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas.

Theotokion.

Ode vii. Heirmos.

In the furnace the Lord’s Angel saved the pious men, * blowing through it a dew-laden breeze, * while Chaldean men were completely burned, at God’s command, * persuading the tyrant to confess * and cry aloud, “O God of our fathers, blessed are You.” [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas.

Theotokion.

Ode viii. Heirmos.

From the flame You refreshed pious Servants as with dew * and with water consumed the righteous Prophet’s sacrifice. * You accomplish all, O Christ, simply by willing it. * We exalt You beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas.

Theotokion.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

It is impossible for God to be seen * by people; and angelic orders dare not to look at Him. * But the Word incarnate has been seen by mankind, through you, O all-pure Virgin. * Now magnifying Him, * joining the celestial hosts, all generations call you blest. [SD]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. You received the joyful message.

Theotokion.

At the Aposticha of Lauds.

Aposticha. Mode pl. 2. For the Apostles.

O Christ, when Your Disciples once aboard a boat were tossed by a storm, then they shouted: Save us, Teacher, we are perishing. And now we likewise cry out: We pray You, O humane One and our Savior, rescue us from our distress. [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]

At times, the Apostles, O Lord, with nets seized the depth of the sea, while at others, with dogmas they seized the height of the Kingdom. By their trade they searched the incomprehensible deep. And by faith they reached Your uncircumscribable bosom. And they proclaimed Your timeless Son to the world. By their intercessions and those of all the Saints, have mercy on 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.

Our God has magnified His holy ones and His elect. Be glad and rejoice, all you His servants; for He has prepared the crown and the His kingdom for you. We entreat you, do not forget us. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. You rose within three days.

Pure Virgin, holy Mother of God, * from Him you have received great gifts * of divine grace, * for you physically gave birth * unto Christ the life-giver, * who is one of the persons * of the Trinity, to save our souls. [SD]

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LITURGY

The Beatitudes. Mode pl. 2.

Like the robber I entreat You, O my Savior, * when You come in Your kingdom, remember me, * O Lord, and save me, O only benevolent God. [SD]

O Apostles of the Lord, you were illumined, * and like luminous clouds you showered the world * with the water of inspired knowledge of God. [SD]

You, O glorious Apostles, have illumined * with the true faith in God all the human race, * for you traversed the whole world like mystical rays. [SD]

For the Martyrs.

You experienced the fire of the tortures * for your faith, holy Martyrs, and you received * divine refreshment like dew from the Lord of all. [SD]

Glory.

O believers, as in unison we worship * the divine Holy Trinity, let us say: * “At the entreaties of the Apostles, save us all.” [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

You gave birth the One who with the Father * is beginningless, ineffably through a word. * O Theotokos, entreat Him to save our souls. [SD]