Books - Sources
Menaion Supplement - August 16
Memory of our devout father Gerasimos of Kephallenia
__________
VESPERS
PRIEST
Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR
Amen.
While the Introductory Psalm is being read, the Priest stands in front of the holy Table and reads the so-called Lamp-lighting Prayers.
READER
Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.
Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.
Stand for the reading of the Introductory Psalm.
Psalm 103 (104).
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are magnified exceedingly; You clothe Yourself with thanksgiving and majesty, who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like a curtain; You are He who covers His upper chambers with water, who makes the clouds His means of approach, who walks on the wings of the winds, who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire. He established the earth on its stable foundation; it shall not be moved unto ages of ages. The deep like a garment is His covering; the waters shall stand upon the mountains; at Your rebuke they shall flee; at the sound of Your thunder, they shall be afraid. The mountains rise up, and the plains sink down to the place You founded for them. You set a boundary they shall not pass over; neither shall they return to cover the earth. You are He who sends springs into the valley; the waters shall pass between the mountains; they shall give drink to all the wild animals of the field; the wild asses shall quench their thirst; the birds of heaven shall dwell beside them; they shall sing from the midst of the rocks. You are He who waters the mountains from His higher places; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Your works. You are He who causes grass to grow for the cattle, and the green plant for the service of man, to bring forth bread from the earth; and wine gladdens the heart of man, to brighten his face with oil; and bread strengthens man’s heart. The trees of the plain shall be full of fruit, the cedars of Lebanon, which You planted; there the sparrows shall make their nests; the house of the heron takes the lead among them. The high mountains are for the deer; the cliff is a refuge for the rabbits. He made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night, wherein all the wild animals of the forest will prowl about; the young lions roar and snatch their prey, and seek their food from God. The sun arises, and they are gathered together; and they shall be put to bed in their dens. Man shall go out to his work and to his labor until evening. O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom; the earth was filled with Your creation. There is this great and spacious sea: the creeping things are there without number; the living things are there, both small and great; there the ships pass through; there is this dragon You formed to play therein. All things wait upon You, that You may give them food in due season. When You give it to them, they shall gather it; when You open Your hand, all things shall be filled with Your goodness. But when You turn Your face away, they shall be troubled; when You take away their breath, they shall die and return again to their dust. You shall send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Let the glory of the Lord be forever; the Lord shall be glad in His works; He looks upon the earth and makes it tremble; He touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I exist; may my words be pleasing to Him, and I shall be glad in the Lord. May sinners cease from the earth, and the lawless, so as to be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night.
O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom. [SAAS]
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)
Our hope, O Lord, glory to You.
THE PEACE LITANY
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.
The first stanza of Kathisma 1 of the Psalter may be read, followed by the short litany.
DEACON
Again and again in peace let us pray 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
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 Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR
Amen.
CHOIR
Mode 1.
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]
Show Stichologia
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, a door of enclosure about my lips.
Incline not my heart to evil words, to make excuses in sins.
With men who work lawlessness; and I will not join with their choice ones.
The righteous man shall correct me with mercy, and he shall reprove me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head.
For my prayer shall be intense in the presence of their pleasures. Their judges are swallowed up by the rock.
They shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. As a clod of ground is dashed to pieces on the earth, so their bones were scattered beside the grave.
For my eyes, O Lord, O Lord, are toward You; in You I hope; take not my soul away.
Keep me from the snares they set for me, and from the stumbling blocks of those who work lawlessness.
Sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone, until I escape.
I cried to the Lord with my voice, with my voice I prayed to the Lord.
I shall pour out my supplication before Him; I shall declare my affliction in His presence.
When my spirit fainted within me, then You knew my paths.
For on the way I was going, they hid a trap for me.
I looked on my right, and saw there was no one who knew me.
Refuge failed me, and there was no one who cared for my soul.
I cried to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living.”
Attend to my supplication, for I was humbled exceedingly.
Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.
Bring my soul out of prison to give thanks to Your name, O Lord.
The righteous shall wait for me, until You reward me.
Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.
Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
Hide Stichologia
Stichera for the Feast.
From Menaion - - -
Mode 1. Automelon.
Ὢ τοῦ παραδόξου θαύματος.
If You, O Lord, should mark transgression, O Lord, who would stand? For there is forgiveness with You. [SAAS]
Marvel at the wondrous paradox! * Now the fount of our life has been laid within a tomb; * her tomb has become a ladder to heaven above. * Gethsemane, holy place, * the Theotokos reposed in you. Celebrate! * Believers, together sing, * having the Archangel Gabriel leading us. * “We salute you, Lady full of grace: O rejoice! For the Lord * is with you and is granting to the world great mercy through you.” [SD]
Because of Your law, O Lord, I waited for You; my soul waited for Your word. My soul hopes in the Lord. [SAAS]
Oh! So impressive are your mysteries! * You are known, O Pure one, as the throne of God Most High; * and from earth to heaven, you were transported today. * Your glory is grand and bright, * with graces shining divine and resplendent light. * O virgins, be lifted up into the heights with the Mother of God the King. * “We salute you, Lady full of grace: O rejoice! For the Lord * is with you and is granting to the world great mercy through you.” [SD]
From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. [SAAS]
Dominions and Principalities * honor your Dormition * with Authorities and Thrones * and Powers and Cherubim and the sublime Seraphim. * And we, born on earth, exult, * as we are decked in the glory you have from God. * To you bow the heads of state, and with Archangels and Angels they sing to you, * “We salute you, Lady full of grace: O rejoice! For the Lord * is with you and is granting to the world great mercy through you.” [SD]
For the Saint.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 4. To a brave one.
Ὡς γενναῖον ἐν Μάρτυσι.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions. [SAAS]
Now your Island is jubilant * at your Relic, which all revere. * Holy one, she crowns you with sacred songs of praise. * She is enriched in obtaining you, a treasure unplund’rable, * a most earnestly disposed * intercessor who champions her causes zealously * and preserves her from every kind of danger. For to God you have great access, * God-bearing father Gerasimos. [SD]
Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise Him, all you peoples. [SAAS]
Your illustrious way of life, * O most blessed Gerasimos, * radiated brilliantly everywhere you went, * starting in Trikke and then upon Mt. Athos, throughout the East, * Sinai, and within the caves, by the Jordan, and deserts of * Zion’s holy land. * You were placed in your Monastery lastly, as an awe-inspiring treasure, * for you were filled with the gifts of grace. [SD]
For His mercy rules over us; and the truth of the Lord endures forever. [SAAS]
Demons forcibly are expelled, * the infirm are restored to health, * and the grievous hardships of famine disappear, * and the aridity of the earth * dissipates, and lives are saved. * For your Island, having found * your august and respected name * as a precious gift * that was given to her by the Creator, by your holy intercessions, * is thus presented with her requests. [SD]
Glory. Both now.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 1.
By the command of God, O company of feast lovers, let us crown our greatest helper who has lately appeared. [SD]
Mode pl. 1.
Observing his joyful and most sacred memory, we magnify him.
Mode 2.
Surrounding the highly revered casket with gladness, we fully enjoy its grace.
Mode pl. 2.
Viewing the all-venerable Body, from which grace emanates, let us sing hymns of praise. And piously honoring the servant of Christ, let us hasten to cry out in song: Behold, the renowned Gerasimos is on display.
Mode 3.
Indeed, we have received a God-given gift, ornamented with solid gold votive offerings.
Grave Mode.
For you have come to grant us all a blessing from God. we shall not cease to gaze at you, even if it is impossible to bestow worthy honor on you.
Mode 4.
For both alive and after death, you are the treasure that made us rich.
Mode pl. 4.
Therefore, O venerable God-bearing father, unceasingly intercede with Christ, and the immaculate Maiden, Mary the Mother of God, that He guard us your children, and that He save us from every hostile assault, since we are under your protection.
Mode 1.
And to the ages with splendor we call you blessed. [SD]
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. 2.
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. [SAAS] (2)
Verse: I lifted my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The Readings
Menaion Supplement - - -
READER
The reading is from the Wisdom of Solomon.
DEACON
Wisdom. Let us be attentive.
READER
WSol 3:1 – 9
The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torture will ever touch them. In the eyes of the undiscerning they seemed to have died, and their departure was considered to be misfortune, and their passage from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in man’s view they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Though chastened in a few things, great kindness will be shown them, for God tested them and found them worthy of Himself. He tested them like gold in a furnace and accepted them as a whole burnt offering. In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and they will run about like sparks through straw. They will judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall reign over them unto the ages. Those who trust in Him will understand truth, and the faithful shall continue with Him in love, because grace and mercy are upon His elect [and He watches over His holy ones]. [SAAS]
READER
The reading is from the Wisdom of Solomon.
DEACON
Wisdom. Let us be attentive.
READER
WSol 5:15 – 6:3
The righteous live forever, and their reward is with the Lord; and their care is by the Most High. Therefore they shall receive a kingly dwelling of dignity and a crown of beauty from the hand of the Lord, because He will shelter them with His right hand and protect them with His arm. He will take His zeal as His full armor and will turn His creation into weapons against His enemies. He will wear righteousness as a breastplate and put on impartial judgment as a helmet. He will take holiness as an unconquerable shield and sharpen His relentless wrath for a sword; and creation will fight with Him against the senseless. Well-aimed flashes of lightning will strike and leap to their object as from a well-drawn bow of clouds; and hailstones full of anger will be hurled as from an engine of war. The water of the sea will be vexed with them, and the rivers will wash over them severely. A powerful wind will oppose them, and like a storm it will winnow them away. Lawlessness will lay waste all the earth, and wrongdoing will overturn the thrones of rulers. Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and take pride in yourself over a multitude of nations. For power was given to you from the Lord, and your lordship from the Most High. [SAAS]
READER
The reading is from the Wisdom of Solomon.
DEACON
Wisdom. Let us be attentive.
READER
WSol 4:7 – 15
Though a righteous man may die before his time, he shall be at rest. For old age is not honored for its length of existence, nor measured by its number of years; but discernment is gray hair for mankind, and a spotless life is the maturity of old age. There was once a man pleasing to God and loved by Him, and while living among sinners he was taken up. He was caught up lest evil change his understanding or deceit deceive his soul. For envy arising from lack of judgment obscures what is good, and a whirling of desire undermines an innocent heart. He was made perfect, for in a short time he fulfilled long years, for his soul was pleasing to the Lord; therefore, He took him early from the midst of evil. Yet peoples saw this but did not understand, nor take such a thing to heart, that the Lord’s grace and mercy are with His elect and that He watches over His holy ones. [SAAS]
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.
Litany and Blessing of Loaves.
CHOIR
Idiomelon 1.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 1.
With canticles and songs, let us extol the divine Gerasimos, the new Ascetic and newly appearing star, that rose from the East. For through self-control he mortified his body, and with dispassion he purified his soul. And thus he made himself a dwelling place for God, even during his life in the body. Therefore, even after death, he is glorified, his body on earth and his soul in heaven, and he intercedes on behalf of our souls. [SD]
Idiomelon 2.
Mode pl. 2.
Today, your Island rejoices in your most august memorial, O blessed God-bearing Gerasimos. And with it all the faithful are filled with gladness and exultation. As a newly appearing star, you shone upon the world, sparkling with the brightness of grace. And you intercede on behalf of our souls. [SD]
Idiomelon 3.
Mode pl. 2.
O blessed God-bearing Gerasimos, while you were alive, we were very glad to be enriched by your presence. And likewise after your death, we have been counted worthy to have you, O wonderful Saint. Therefore, with a kiss we reverently salute your divine and venerable body, and we implore you to beseech God, on behalf of our souls. [SD]
Idiomelon 4.
Mode pl. 2.
When your soul was sacredly wounded by divine longing and intense love, O most wonderful Gerasimos, you laid aside the longing for parents, and you withdrew from relatives and friends; and you went far away, moving from place to place. From many examples of godly lie, as from flowers, like a wise honey bee you collected the honey of virtue, and you stored it in your soul, as in a spiritual beehive. Therefore Christ glorified you on earth, through the working of miracles; and in heaven He accounted you worthy of the joy of the elect. Intercede that we also may be accounted worthy of this, as we become imitators of your life, and yearly observe our memory. [SD]
Idiomelon 5.
Mode 2.
In the heavenly dwellings, O holy one, together with the choirs of the saints, your spirit rejoices eternally. And your miracle-emanating body, superior to decay, and preserved in Kefallinia, is splendidly honored. Your august name is extolled everywhere, for in you Christ is glorified, and He glorifies those who glorify Him. [SD]
Glory.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Idiomelon. Mode pl. 1.
O devout father, sublime Gerasimos, you emulated the manners of Moses who saw God, and of Elias the Zealot. You followed the Baptist in the straight paths. You were outside of the world and the flesh. Your life transcended the visible. Therefore Christ has glorified you worthily. On earth, He preserved your divine body free from decay, for you preserved that which was created in the image of God free from blame. In heaven, He placed your spirit where the dwelling is of those who rejoice. Cease not to intercede with Him, on behalf of those who honor you. [SD]
Both now.
Mode pl. 1.
Come, O congregations fond of celebrating feasts; come and let us form a choir. Come, let us deck the Church with songs, as the Ark of God goes to her place of rest. For today the heavens expand their vaults, receiving her who gave birth to Him who is not contained by anything. And the earth, yielding up the fount of life, is adorned with the blessing and the majesty. Angels stand in concert with Apostles, gazing with great awe, as the Mother of the Author of life is transported from life to life. Let us all bow down to her in reverence, and entreat, “O Lady, do not forget your kindred ties to us, who loyally celebrate the feast of your all-holy Dormition.” [SD]
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 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, and the servants of God […] who are celebrating this feast.
Again we pray for the protection of the Holy and Great Church of Christ, our Sacred Archdiocese (and this Sacred Metropolis), this city and every city and land, from wrath, famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, sword, foreign invasion, civil strife, and accidental death. That our good and benevolent God may be merciful, gracious, and forgiving, and may divert and disperse all anger and disease coming against us, and deliver us from His impending justified threat and have mercy on us.
Again we pray that the Lord our God may hear the prayer of us sinners, and have mercy on us.
PRIEST
Hear us, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of earth and of those far off at sea, and forgive us, O Master, forgive us our sins, and have mercy on us. 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.
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
Most merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God,
through the intercessions of our all-immaculate Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, heavenly, bodiless powers, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, our fathers among the saints, the great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; Athanasios, Cyril, and John the Merciful, patriarchs of Alexandria, Nicholas, bishop of Myra, Spyridon, bishop of Trimythous, Nektarios of Pentapolis, the wonderworkers; the holy, glorious, great martyrs George the triumphant, Demetrios the myrrh-streamer, Theodore the soldier, and Theodore the general; Menas the wonderworker; Charalambos and Eleutherios, the hieromartyrs; the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs; the glorious great Martyr and all-laudable Euphemia; the holy and glorious Martyrs Thecla, Barbara, Anastasia, Katherine, Kyriake, Fotene, Marina, Paraskeve and Irene; our venerable and God-bearing fathers; (local patron saint); holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; our devout and God-bearing father Gerasimos the New Ascetic, whose memory we celebrate, and all Your saints:
Accept our prayer; grant us forgiveness of our transgressions; protect us under the shelter of Your wings; drive away from us every enemy and adversary; grant peace to our life; Lord, have mercy on us and on Your world; and save our souls, as You are good and benevolent.
PRIEST or: CHOIR
Hymn to the Theotokos.
O Virgin Theotokos, rejoice, Mary full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb; for you have borne the Savior of our souls. [SD]
DEACON
Let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR
Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST
Blessing of the Loaves.
Lord, Jesus Christ our God, who in the wilderness blessed the five loaves and from them satisfied five thousand men, we pray You bless these loaves, this wheat, wine, and oil, and multiply them in this city, and throughout Your world; and sanctify Your faithful servants who partake of them.
For You are He who blesses and sanctifies all things, Christ our God, and to You we offer up glory with Your Father who is without beginning and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR
Amen.
CLERGY
Rich men turned poor and went hungry; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. [SAAS]
CHOIR
Rich men turned poor and went hungry; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. [SAAS] (2)
CHOIR
Aposticha.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 2. Joseph took You down.
Ὅτε ἐκ τοῦ ξύλου.
When the ardent love for God alone * carried you away, blessed father, from things corruptible, * then you set your good desire against all other things, * and you followed Him and escaped * far off to a desert * wilderness, wherein alone did you converse with Christ. * Whom, now, never cease importuning * on behalf of those who at all times * honor you, O sacred one, and call you blest. [SD]
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His holy one. [SAAS]
O God-bearing father, you appeared * as a new ascetic and worker of many miracles. * For you slew within yourself the foe who hates mankind, * the insidious enemy, * exaltedly boasting * that he had deceived and wholly tricked the human race. * Therefore, with divine hymns and longing, * we observe the feast of your holy * memory, O godly Saint Gerasimos. [SD]
Verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he will delight exceedingly in His commandments. [SAAS]
Father, you completely withered up * all untamed commotions of passions, through self-control of the flesh. * On the earth you struggled like some other fleshless one, * and you deadened your appetites * through labors and hardships, * and became the habitation of the Spirit of God. * Therefore, blessed man of great suff’ring, * do remember us who now duly * celebrate the feast of your august repose. [SD]
Glory.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 4.
O glittering luminary of the celestial way of life, you shined in the world, brightly adorned with the beauty of the Spirit, your intellect sparkling with brilliance. Therefore, we are rich possessing you as our protector, O holy Gerasimos. And as we devoutly kiss your venerable body, we entreat you fervently, to intercede on behalf of our souls. [SD]
Both now. For the Feast.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 4.
When you, O Virgin Theotokos, passed away to Him who was ineffably born of you, present were James, the brother of the Lord and first hierarch, and Peter, the most honorable and preeminent paramount of the Theologians, and the entire holy choir of Apostles. With utterances unveiling secrets of theology, they all extolled the divine and sublime mystery of the dispensation of Christ our God. And when they had buried your body that had generated life and had hosted God, they were filled with joy, O all-lauded Lady. From on high, the all-holy and most venerable host of Angels marveled at the wonder. Out of respect they bowed for you, and they called out to one another: “Lift up your gates, and receive her who gave birth to the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Let us sing hymns of glory and extol her august and holy body, which held the Lord who to us is invisible.” And now, we also celebrate your memory and sing aloud to you, O all-lauded Lady: Exalt the Christians’ horn of strength and save our souls. [SD]
Stand for the reading of prayers
PRIEST
Song of Simeon
Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. [NKJV]
PEOPLE
Trisagion Prayers.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
PRIEST
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.
CHOIR
Amen.
Apolytikion.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 1. As a citizen of the desert.
Τῆς ἐρήμου πολίτης.
Most venerable God-bearing father Gerasimos, * God who cares for all things manifested you on the earth * a protector of believers everywhere, * and their helper who is quick to offer aid. * For you remedy the ailments of both the soul * and body by the grace you have. * Glory to Christ, who glorified you! * Glory to Him for your miracles! * Glory to Him for all the cures that He works through you. [SD]
Glory. Another.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 1. As a citizen of the desert.
Τῆς ἐρήμου πολίτης.
As the offspring of Trikkala, the pride of Cephalonians, * protector of Omalon Monastery, we extol you, O Gerasimos. * For truly in this life you lived on earth * as a heavenly angel of God. * And therefore your precious body was counted worthy of glory and incorruption. * Glory to Christ who glorified you; * glory to Him who kept you from decay: * glory to Him who gave you to the faithful, as one who sleeplessly intercedes. [SD]
Both now.
Apolytikion of the Feast.
From Menaion - - -
Mode 1.
You gave birth yet preserved your virginity. You fell asleep in death yet did not desert the world, O Theotokos. You were transported to life, as you are Mother of Life and, by virtue of your intercessions, deliver our souls from death. [SD]
PRIEST: Let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST
May the blessing and the mercy of the Lord come upon you by His divine grace and love for humankind, 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.
CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST
Glory to You, O Christ our God. Glory to You.
May 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, our devout and God-bearing father Gerasimos the New Ascetic, whose memory we celebrate, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
CHOIR
Amen.