service files july_5.md

ON THE 5TH OF THE SAME MONTH

O Joyful Light, **Prokeimenon of the day and the Readings.**

Commemoration of our Venerable and Godbearing Father Athanasios of Athos; and of our Venerable Father Lampados the Wonderworker.

**AT VESPERS**

The 1st Section of

Blessed is the man. **At** Lord, I have cried **we insert 6 Prosomia of St Athanasios, doubling them.**

Tone 2.

What panegyrics of praise may we offer to Athanasios? By his actions fairly adorned, richly supplied with graces poured from the bright radiance of God; the sword who cuts down the assaults of the passions; the pillar ablaze with contemplation; the lamp of self-mastery who radiates from the lamp of his soul the commands of God, who grants life to all.

With what garlands of words may we paltry creatures garland Athanasios? The falcon who flies heavenwards, lifted soaring on godlike wings of contemplation; the impregnable tower of humility; the unshakeable wall of discernment; the honoured beauty of the fair adornment of virtues; the one who on behalf of his children implores Christ God the only compassionate

By the torch of your gifts of grace, Venerable Father Athanasios, inspired by God, you were revealed as an ever-radiant dawn, drawing towards the day-break that knows no evening those who are blinded by the fog of the passions; and so, as one who has multiplied his talent, Christ has declared you to be a healer of souls who lances the putrefaction of incurable wounds with the sword of your words, and grants saving strength to those who approach you.

Your life was filled with God, your end was all-holy, Father Athanasios, for by it the whole multitude of the Mountain was assembled and when they saw you lying lifeless on a bier they cried out with mournful words: Grant a final word to your servants, O Saint; tell us, how have you abandoned your children, Father, the children whom you pitied as a father, truly full of sympathy and tender love. But even though here you are hidden in the tomb, we who honour you with love are enriched with you as protector and advocate on high with God.

Who will not call you blessed, All-holy Virgin? Who will not hymn your child-birth without labour? For the only-begotten Son, who shone from the Father beyond time, came forth from you, pure Maiden, ineffably incarnate. By nature he is God, by nature he became man for our sakes, not divided in a duality of persons, but known without confusion in a duality of natures. O honoured and all-blest, implore him to have mercy on our souls.

The Reading is from the Wisdom of Solomon.

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seem to have died, and their departure was reckoned to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them. In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will judge nations and hold sway over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them for ever. Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his Holy Ones, and he watches over his elect.

The Reading is from the Wisdom of Solomon.

The righteous live for ever, and their reward is with the Lord; the Most High takes care of them. Therefore they will receive the crown of glory and the diadem of beauty from the hand of the Lord, because with his right hand he will cover them, and with his arm he will shield them. He will take his zeal as his whole armour and will arm all creation to repel his enemies; he will put on justice as a breastplate, and wear impartial judgement as a helmet; he will take holiness as an invincible shield, and sharpen stern wrath for a sword, and creation will join with him to fight against his frenzied foes. Shafts of lightning will fly with true aim, and will leap from the clouds to the target, as from a well-drawn bow, and hailstones full of wrath will be hurled as from a catapult; the water of the sea will rage against them, and rivers will relentlessly overwhelm them; a mighty wind will rise against them, and like a tempest it will winnow them away. Lawlessness will lay waste the whole earth, and evil-doing will overturn the thrones of the mighty. Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, you that hold sway over multitudes, and boast of crowds of nations. For your dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty from the Most High.

The Reading is from the Wisdom of Solomon.

The righteous, though he die early, will be at rest. For old age is not honoured for length of time, or measured by number of years; but understanding is grey hair for anyone, and a blameless life is ripe old age. He became well pleasing to God and was loved by him, and while living among sinners he was taken up. He was caught up so that evil might not change his understanding or guile deceive his soul. For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good, and roving desire perverts the innocent mind. Being made perfect in a short time, he fulfilled long years; for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took him quickly from the midst of wickedness. Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, or take such thing to heart, that God’s grace and mercy are with his elect, and that he watches over his holy ones.