At the Aposticha, Idiomel Verses. Tone 1.

By Monk John.

Litany and Dismissal.

Glory. Both now.

The mid-point of the Fifty Days is here, when Christ dimly laid bare his divine power by bracing the Paralytic and raising him from his bed with a word. And having worked a marvel in a manner fitting God on a body of clay, he has given us eternal life and his great mercy.

**Verse:** Remember your congregation, which you obtained from the beginning.

In the Temple at the mid-point of the feast, you, the Wisdom of God, stood teaching and refuting the unbelieving Jews, the Pharisees and Scribes, and crying out to them with boldness, ‘One who thirsts, let them come to me and drink living water, and they will not thirst for ever. One who believes in my goodness, rivers of eternal life will flow from their belly. Oh, your goodness and your compassion, Christ our God! Glory to you!

Tone 2.

God is our King: before the ages; he has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

When the mid-point of the feast had come, Jesus went up into the Temple and taught, saying to the doubting Jews, One who thirsts, let them come to me and drink living, eternal water, and they will not thirst for ever. One who believes in me, rivers will flow from their belly, and they will have the light of life.

At the mid-point of the feast, as you were teaching, O Saviour, the Jews said, ‘How does this man know letters, never having learned?’ They did not recognize that you are the Wisdom who ordered the world. Glory to you!

Apolytikion. Tone 8.

At the mid-point of the Feast, O Saviour, water my thirsty soul with streams of true devotion; for you cried out to all, ‘Any who thirst, let them come to me, and let them drink!’ O Source of life, Christ our God, glory to you!.