Books - Sources
Menaion Supplement - September 7
Devout St. Kassiane the Hymnographer
__________
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.
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 Holy Woman.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 1. For all the powers of heaven.
Τῶν οὐρανίων ταγμάτων.
If You, O Lord, should mark transgression, O Lord, who would stand? For there is forgiveness with You. [SAAS]
Kassiane, the devout saint, was reared and trained in divine * learning and admonition, * then through her own incessant * labors of ascetical discipline was purified, and richly received * the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment in her soul. * O believers, let us sing her praise. [VPA]
Because of Your law, O Lord, I waited for You; my soul waited for Your word. My soul hopes in the Lord. [SAAS]
Kassiane, the devout saint, noble and beautiful, * was born with mighty blessings * of the all-holy Virgin. * God-inspired poet and most favored was she * and a daughter of the Queen City. * She has enlightened the world by her life and toils. * O believers, let us honor her. [VPA]
From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. [SAAS]
Kassiane, full of virtues, refused the love of the king, * for her heart was afire * with insatiable yearning * for the King of all and so she became * the sweet lyre of the divine * Holy Spirit and lived a life pleasing God. * O believers, let us honor her. [VPA]
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions. [SAAS]
Kassiane, the devout saint, vessel of self restraint * struggled in the caves of * the island of Kassos. * To women monastics she became a lamp * and was shown as a spotless dove. * She was noetically filled with the light of God. * O believers, let us honor her. [VPA]
Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise Him, all you peoples. [SAAS]
Kassiane, the devout saint, forsook the cares of the flesh* with its corrupted beauty; * instead she was enraptured * by the uncreated comeliness of Christ * which remains ever incorrupt. * We ask, O Mother, always intercede for us * who run to you and sing your praise. [VPA]
For His mercy rules over us; and the truth of the Lord endures forever. [SAAS]
Kassiane, the most blessed, heard coming to her cell * the footsteps of the sovereign * and she went away and hid * as Eve had done in paradise of old * at the sound of the Lord of all * but unlike Eve who was hiding because of fear * Kassiane was hiding out of dignity. [VPA]
Glory.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode pl. 2.
Let us honor Kassiane, for great humility prevented her from falling into many sins and she sought the Lord’s mercy. She refused the golden apple which would have led to an earthly kingdom, and she attained to the heavenly kingdom through her great toils and a life full of love for God and wisdom. And now she rejoices with Him who inclined the heavens because of His ineffable condescension, and she intercedes unceasingly that He send His rich and immeasurable mercy unto us. [VPA]
Both now. For the Forefeast.
From Menaion - - -
Mode pl. 2.
Today, God who rests upon the noetic thrones has prepared a holy throne for Himself upon the earth. He who established the heavens in wisdom has prepared an animate heaven, in His love for mankind; from a fruitless root, He raised for us a life-bearing plant, His Mother. God of wonders and the hope of the hopeless, Lord, glory to You. [VPA]
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. Grave Mode.
You are my protector, O God. Your mercy shall go before me. [SAAS] (2)
Verse: Rescue me from my enemies, O God, and redeem me from those who rise up against me.
You are my protector, O God. Your mercy shall go before me.
The Readings
Menaion Supplement - - -
READER
The reading is from the Proverbs of Solomon.
DEACON
Wisdom. Let us be attentive.
READER
Pr 25:2 – 14
The Glory of God hides a word, and the glory of the king honors deeds. Heaven is high, and earth is deep, but he heart of the king is incapable of disproof. Beat drossy silver, and it will be made entirely clean. Slay the ungodly from before the kings, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. Do not brag on yourself in the presence of the king, neither stand in the places of princes; for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up to me,” than for you to be humbled in the presence of the prince. Speak the things your eyes see. Do not enter into a quarrel quickly, that you may not be sorry in the end. When your frined reproaches you, retreat and do not despise him, lest your friend continue to reproach you, and your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but be equal to death for you. Grace and friendship free a man; keep these for yourself, that you may not be reproached, but guard your ways peaceably. As a golden apple in a small necklace of sardius stone, thus it is to speak a wise word. As a very expensive sardius stone set in a golden earring, so is a wise word to an obedient ear. [SAAS]
READER
The reading is from the Proverbs of Solomon.
DEACON
Wisdom. Let us be attentive.
READER
Pr 31:10, 12 – 19, 25
Who will find a courageous [woman]? For such a one is more valuable than precious stones. She weaves wool and linen cloth and is productive with her hands. She is like a ship trading afar off, so she procures her livelihood. She also rises before dawn and gives food to her household, and appoints tasks for her maidservants. Seeing a farm, she buys it, and from the fruits of her hands she plants her plot of land. Strongly girding her loins, she strengthens her arms for work. She experiences work as a good thing, and her lamp is not quenched all night. She extends her arms to do profitable things, and she applies her hands to the spindle. She opens her hands to the poor and reaches out with her fruit to the needy. She clothes herself with strength and dignity and rejoices in the last days. [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.
CHOIR
Aposticha.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode pl. 1. Rejoice.
Χαίροις ἀσκητικῶν.
Rejoice, * Kassiane praised in song, * support of women * who travail in the ascetic life; * you pondered the pleasures * and fleeting honors of life * and you then appraised them to be counterfeit * Instead you took up the yoke * of the all-holy Lord, our God * and with devotion * followed Him like the heavenly * hosts who sing His praise * in unending, thrice-holy hymns. * As we, the faithful, come today * to honor your memory, * we now sing anthems acclaiming * you the beloved vessel of grace * and ask that you mediate * and intercede for us eternally * with Christ, our loving God. [VPA]
Verse: I waited patiently for the Lord, and He heeded me; and He heard my supplication. [SAAS]
You cried * unto to the Lord, chosen one,* beautiful diadem * in the cluster of women saints,* “Do not disdain me, your servant, * although you know, being God, * all the darkness dwelling in my soul and mind * and all of my many sins; * but, O Savior of all the world,* instead receive now * of my tears the bitter streams * and the multitude * of the sighs springing from my heart. * For You move the water of * the sea up to form the clouds * and you offer the water * of life eternal to all of those * who faithfully draw near * to your spring of divine favor, infinite and rich. [VPA]
Verse: And He established my feet on a rock and kept straight my steps. [SAAS]
Rejoice * Kassiani, the defense * helper and guardian, * of the people of Kassos, * the image of stillness and pure, virginal ewe, * the abode of virtues and beauty of soul. * You took your abode in caves * and you fasted with steadfastness. * The ground was your bed * as you grew in humility. * So we ask you now, * having boldness before our God, * fervently implore the Lord * and your longing Bridegroom * that he send to us all who * exalt your honorable memory * the powerful and holy medicine * to destroy all the devices of the enemy. [VPA]
Glory.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode pl. 4.
You consumed the thorns of the passions by the fire of the unceasing ascetic labors and put on a garment of dispassion. You appeared like light, O mother who love the virtues. Having led your fleeting bodily vessel to servitude by vigils and the greatest of labors, you received the light of God as lightning, and you purified your reasoning. And now, God-bearer Kassiane, being together with the choirs of angels and beholding the beauty of Christ, we ask you to intercede for our souls. [VPA]
Both now. For the Forefeast.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode pl. 4.
On this solemn day of our feast, let us proclaim, with a spiritual lyre, that from the seed of David, the mother of Life, who dispelled the darkness, is born today. She is the recreation of Adam and restoration of Eve, the spring of incorruption and the deliverance from corruption. Through her we have been deified and have been freed from death. Let us, the faithful, cry out to her with Gabriel: “Rejoice, O Lady full of grace, the Lord is with you, and through you He grants us the great mercy.” [VPA]
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 pl. 1. As the Father and Spirit.
Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.
You were wise to refuse the proposal of the king, * for your heart was aflame with the love of the Lord * And we, the faithful, now in song * extol your virtue and your skill, * for God inspired you to write * sacred poems for the Church, * Kassiane, most exalted. * And we ask you to petition that we * be made worthy of the kingdom of God. [VPA]
Glory. Both now. For the Forefeast.
From Menaion - - -
Mode 4. Joseph marveled.
Κατεπλάγη Ἰωσήφ.
Unto us is born today Mary the child of God, * as the branch from Jesse’s root, and as the fruit of David’s loins, * and all creation is re-created and deified. * O heaven and the earth, rejoice in unison. * Sing praises unto her, O all you Gentile clans. * Joachim is exultant, and Anna is keeping festival, crying out: * “The barren woman bears the Theotokos, * the nourisher of our Life.” [SD]
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: Master, give the blessing.
PRIEST
Blessed is Christ our God, the One who is, 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 mother Kassiane the hymnographer, whose memory we observe, 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.