AT VESPERS

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 of the feast, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—

Troparion of the martyr, in Tone V—

Thy holy, all-pure and honored repose was not a separation from those who love thee, but is an unbreakable union, O Virgin; for thou dost ever reveal thyself to those who glorify thee as the true Mother of God, bestowing thy grace and showing that thou hast been given as an intercessor for all men.

Glory…, Now & ever…: troparion of the feast, in Tone I—

Becoming the ark of sanctification of Him Who made His abode within thee, O pure Theotokos, thou art translated by Him from the earth unto rest which groweth not old, illumined with His splendor. Wherefore, from on high thou lookest down upon those who hymn thee with love and proclaim the divine and mighty working of miracles.

Accepting thee, O all-pure one, as a bridal-chamber of great splendor, as an ark of sanctification for His abode, thy Son and Lord showed thee forth to the incorporeal armies and the dwelling-places of the saints as the ineffable glory which delivereth from corruption and misfortunes those who with love hymn thy mighty works, O pure one.

And 3 stichera of the martyr, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “O most lauded martyrs…”—

Revealed as a model of manliness, before the assembly thou didst dare to give thyself over to the arena of suffering, going forth thereto like a general, O martyr Andrew who art most rich. And thou dost ever pour forth the water of healings upon the faithful, receiving grace from the heavens.

Manifest as the namesake of manliness, contending manfully thou didst engage the enemy and destroy him, as though he were another Pharaoh, engulfing his whole army in the streams of thy blood, O right wondrous one. Wherefore, pray thou, that God grant unto our souls peace and great mercy.

O glorious one, thou didst bring to God, the Bestower of good things, a great army which struggled and with thee hath found undying glory through death, O all-glorious one. With them do thou pray, that He grant unto our souls peace and great mercy.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone IV—

When thou didst depart unto Him Who had been ineffably born of thee, O Virgin Theotokos, James the brother of God and first bishop was present, with Peter, the most honorable and preëminent, the foremost of theologians, and the whole divine choir of the apostles, hymning the divine and awesome mystery of God’s dispensation with manifest theology; and, burying thy Life-giving and God-receiving body, they rejoiced, O most hymned one. And regarding one another, they said, marvelling at the wonders of her who transcendeth the all-holy senior ranks of the angels: “Lift up your gates and receive her who gave birth to the Creator of heaven and earth, and with glorifications let us hymn the precious and holy body which contained the Lord Who is invisible to us.” Wherefore, celebrating thy memory, we also cry out to thee, O all-hymned one: Exalt the horn of Christians and save our souls!

At the aposticha, these stichera, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Joy of the ranks of heaven…”—

The assembly of the angels rejoiceth in the immortal repose of the Mother of God; and she, departing for the eternal mansions, is glad and passeth over to the gladness of heaven, to divine joy and everlasting delight.

Stichos: Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest, Thou and the ark of Thy holiness.

Desiring the life on high, thou didst abandon this one, O Theotokos, O Maiden, flower of virginity, who gavest birth to Christ, the Life of all. And the assembly of the angels stood by with reverence at thine honored burial, O Bride of God.

Stichos: The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David, and He will not annul it.

The air is sanctified by thy parting burial hymns; and in thine ascent, O Mother of God Who loveth mankind, is an awesome miracle wrought, O Theotokos who knewest not man. Wherefore, we, the faithful, faithfully do thee homage, O Theotokos who knewest not ­wedlock.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone V—

Come, ye assembly of those who love the feasts of the Church! Come, let us form a choir! Come, and with hymns let us crown the temple, the ark of the rest of God! For today heaven expandeth its bosom, receiving her who gave birth to Him Who is invisible to all, and the earth receiveth the wellspring of Life, who imparteth blessing and is adorned with splendor. The angels form a chorus with the apostles, gazing with awe upon her who gave birth to the Author of life, and who is translated from life unto Life. Let us all bow down before her, praying: O Mistress, forget not thy kinship with those who celebrate thy most holy dormition with faith!

Leaving the glory of earthly rank behind,/ thou didst inherit the kingdom of heaven;/ and with tears of blood as with all-wondrous stones/ thou didst adorn crowns of incorruption,/ and didst lead to Christ an assembly of athletes./ With the choirs of the angels thou didst find Christ, the never-setting Sun,/ in light unwaning, O holy general Andrew./ With those who suffered with thee ever entreat Him,// that He save our souls.

In thy nativity thou didst preserve thy virginity, and in thy dormition thou didst not abandon the world, O Theotokos. Thou passest over unto life, in that thou art the Mother of Life; and by thy supplications thou dost deliver our souls from death.