AT VESPERS

**After the Opening Psalm we recite the whole of the 1st Kathisma of the Psalter.**

At ‘ Lord, I have cried ’, we insert 10 stichera, and sing 3 of the Resurrection, 3 by Anatolios and 4 Prosomia of the Forefathers.

Today, as we celebrate the memorial of the Forefathers, let us the faithful raise a hymn to Christ the Redeemer, the Lord who magnifies them among all the nations, and faithfully performs extraordinary wonders, as he is mighty and powerful; and he showed forth from them a rod of power for us, pure Mary the Child of God who alone knew no man, from whom the flower, Christ, came forth, blossoming life for all and pleasure without cost and eternal life.

Tone 8.

Master, who delivered the Holy Youths from the fire, and Daniel from the lions’ mouths; who blessed Abraham and Isaac your servant and his son Jacob; who were well pleased to be born from their seed for us, that you might save the Forefathers who had fallen away of old, to be crucified and buried, and you smash all the bonds of death, and you raise all who from every age were among the dead, who worship, O Christ, your eternal Kingdom.

Glory. Tone 6. By Anatolios.

By the dew of the Spirit God’s Youths rejoicing as in rain walked mystically in the midst of the flame, typifying in advance the Trinity and Christ’s incarnation; and as wise through faith they quenched the power of fire. And the just Daniel appeared as a tamer of lions. Besought by their intercessions, O Saviour who loves mankind, deliver us also from the unquenchable and eternal fire, and make us worthy to gain your heavenly Kingdom.

Both now. Theotokion. The 1st of the Tone of the Week.

The faithful, Holy Youths in the furnace of fire, as in dew, mystically prefigured your coming from the Virgin, which shone forth without burning for us. And the just Daniel, wonderful among Prophets, clearly foreshowed your second divine coming when he cried: I see where thrones are set, and the judge has taken his throne, and a river of fire is present; from which at their intercessions may we be delivered, O Master Christ.

Let us the faithful today praise all the Fathers before the law: Abraham, God’s friend, Isaac, born by promise, Jacob and the twelve Patriarchs; honouring with them meek David and Daniel the Prophet of desires, and the three Children who changed the furnace into dew, asking forgiveness of Christ God, who is glorified in his Saints.