AT VESPERS

**Prosomia. Tone 8. What should we call you.**

Glory. Both now.

**Theotokion.**

What should I name you, Apostle? Heaven, for you declare the glory of God. River, for mystically you water creation. Star, which sheds its light on the Church. Mixing-bowl, which pours out a holy draught. True Friend of Christ. Companion of the Bodiless Powers. Intercede that our souls may be saved.

Or Cross-Theotokion.

Apostle, truly inspired, you were sent out from Christ like a thunderbolt formed of light, wounding enemies, plainly predicting healing for wounded souls; and so, as is fitting, we call you blessed and celebrate today your holy festival. Intercede that our souls may be saved.

Glorious Apostle, who saw God, your feet were made beautiful as they trod the ways of the Lord, and narrowed the ways of the ill-intentioned by the broadening of the divine knowledge of the Word, who appeared in a material body and chose you, blessed one, as a glorious Disciple. Implore him that our souls may be saved.

Those who were granted to see in bodily form the dignity of the Father and his Godhead, proclaimed you, Maiden, as Bride and Virgin, Mother of the Word and God, and dwelling of the Holy Spirit; for in you the Godhead dwelt entirely in bodily form, the fullness of fullest grace.

When the Ewe-lamb who bore you saw you nailed to the Tree, Lord, she tore at her eyes and cried aloud in lamentation, ‘My Son, how do you endure unjust slaughter? How can you, the Immortal, die as a mortal? Give me a word, sweetest light. Look at your Mother as she mourns for you, and glorify her, O Word, by your rising’.