AT VESPERS

After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man…”, the first antiphon.

Making themselves like unto the incorporeal ones, O Lord, with prayer and abstinence Thy saints dispelled the passions of the flesh and, shining with wondrous works, have illumined the hearts of all. Through their supplication grant Thy people great mercy.

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

At “Lord, I have cried…”, these stichera of the venerable fathers, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel. “Thy martyrs, O Lord…”—

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Troparion, in Tone IV—

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Taking up zeal for the virtues, Dalmatus and Isaacius manifestly set at nought the heresy of Arius and Nestorius, and as champions of the Orthodox have received the acclaim of all. Through their prayers, O Christ, grant Thy people great mercy.

Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in the same tone—

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Having shown yourselves to be stars of the firmament of asceticism, O venerable fathers, ye have illumined the monastics, dispelling the darkness of the demons. Wherefore, even after your repose ye are called blessed, praying that all be saved who celebrate your godly memory.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

But if Alleluia be chanted instead of “God is the Lord…” at Matins, then we chant first the following stichera of the Theotokos, in the same tone and melody—

From the hands of the serpent who hath brought death to mankind, and who wageth war utterly to slay me with deception, do thou wrest me for the Master. Crush his jaws, I pray, and set at nought his wiles, that, delivered from his talons, I may magnify thy power.

A barren tree devoid of the fruit of salvation am I, O all-immaculate one. Wherefore, I tremble at the thought of Christ’s visitation, lest I be cast into the unquenchable fire, wretch that I am. I therefore fall down before thee, crying: Deliver me, therefore, and show me forth to thy Son as fruitful, O pure one, by thy mediation.

My thoughts are defiled, my lips false, and all my deeds impure. What, then, shall I do? How shall I meet the Judge? O Virgin and Mistress, entreat the Lord, thy Son and Creator, that He accept my spirit in repentance, in that He alone is compassionate.

Woe is him who hath angered his God! Woe is me who abide in despondency and slothfulness and ignorance, as I do! O Virgin and Mistress: help me who am benighted, and entreat thy Son and Creator to grant me forgiveness of mine offenses.

Or the Stavrotheotokion—

The unblemished heifer, beholding her Bullock hanging upon the Tree, nailed there of His own will, cried out, lamenting piteously: “Woe is me, O my most beloved Child! What hath the thankless synagogue of the Jews rendered unto Thee, wishing to leave me bereft of Thee, O my most Beloved?”

O God of our fathers, Who ever dealest with us according to Thy gentleness. Take not Thy mercy from us, but by their entreaties govern our life in peace.

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera, in Tone VI: Spec. Mel.: “Having set aside…”—

Hating the tumults of the world, O venerable one, thou didst love Christ alone, and taking His Cross upon thy shoulder, thou didst bear it, divinely armed; and didst drown the most wicked serpent in showers of tears. Through abstinence thou didst elude the passions of the flesh, O wise one, and through patience, fasting and frequent prayers didst make thy flesh subject to thy spirit. Through dispassion of soul and purity of mind thou didst acquire from the Lord the struggle of thy labors. Wherefore, celebrating thy memory, we entreat thee: Beseech the Lord, that our souls find mercy. Thrice

O venerable father Anthony, out of love for Christ thou didst forsake all things on earth, and didst embellish thy life with ascetic labors. Through abstinence and tears thou didst purify the eye of thy soul. Thy mind thou didst enlighten with dispassion and didst adorn it with divine humility. Thou didst assemble a multitude of monastics, and by thy teachings, as by a ladder ascending to heaven, didst mount the heights of the virtues. Wherefore, thy children, now standing round about thy shrine, lovingly cry out to thee: Beseech the Lord, O all-blessed one, that our souls find mercy. Thrice

O divinely wise father Anthony, thou didst shine forth wondrously from Rome like the sun, and guided by the hand of God thou didst sail the waters on a stone, like one of the incorporeal ones, reaching Novgorod the Great, where thou didst raise up an all-honorable temple to the Mother of God; and therein thou didst assemble multitudes of disciples, to hymn the Mistress Theotokos, and didst found a great monastery, wherein thou didst industriously struggle in fasting and vigils, the endurance of ill treatment and lying on the ground, possessed of purity of soul and body, and the remembrance of death. O our venerable father, pray thou that our souls be saved. Twice

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

Come, ye multitudes of monastics, and let us offer up today the chanting of psalms and spiritual flowers as to the true adornment of monks and dweller with the venerable; and offering praise, let us say: Rejoice, greatly luminous beacon leading multitudes of monks unto Christ! Rejoice, boast and confirmation of Novgorod the Great, right tranquil haven of all the faithful, and cleansing of those who are sick in sin, who dost elevate them to love divine! Wherefore, standing round about thine all-honored and holy shrine, which even the angels hold in reverence, we kiss it lovingly. O Anthony our venerable father, through thy prayers unto God we ask that we receive God’s love for mankind. Ask peace for the world and great mercy for our souls.

In His love for mankind, the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt among men; for He Who received flesh from the pure Virgin and came forth from her having received human nature, is the only Son of God, two in nature but not hypostasis. Therefore, proclaiming Him to be truly perfect God and perfect man, we confess Christ our God. Him do thou beseech, O Mother unwedded, that our souls find mercy!

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three readings:

The righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the Most High. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall He cover them, and with His arm shall He protect them. He shall take to Him His jealousy for complete armor, and make the creature His weapon for the revenge of His enemies. He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment for an invincible shield. His severe wrath shall He sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with Him against the unwise. Then shall the right-aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them. Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. Hear, therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. For power is given you by the Lord, and sovereignty from the Most High.

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery, and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for Himself. As gold in the furnace hath He tried them and received them as a burnt offering. And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. They that put their trust in Him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with Him: for grace and mercy is to His saints, and He hath care for His elect.

Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. For honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is ­measured by number of years. But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. He pleased God, and was beloved of Him: so that living among sinners he was translated. Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind. He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: for his soul pleased the Lord; therefore hasted He to take him away from among the wicked. This the people saw, and understood not, neither laid they up this in their minds: that His grace and mercy is with His saints, and that He hath respect unto His chosen.

At Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and these stichera, in Tone VI—

Today thine all-radiant and most festive memorial hath shone forth, O venerable Anthony, truly calling together a vast company of fasters and the choirs of the holy—angels and men—to the praise of our God Who is worshipped in Trinity. Wherefore, hastening with faith to the precious shrine of thy relics, we receive abundant healings, for which cause we entreat thee: Ever grant health of soul unto us who bless thee with faith.

Today we offer thee hymnody of praise on thy memorial, O father. Accept it and approach God in thy supplications, and deliver us from standing on the left hand, but vouchsafe us a place at the right, that we may all worthily bless thee as our fervent helper, O venerable father Anthony.

Glory…, in Tone VI—

A radiant and most festive day hath dawned for us like a second sun, and enlighteneth the councils of all who love the feasts of the Church. The honorable commemoration of the wondrous Anthony driveth away the darkness of primal gloom, calling Novgorod the Great to his precious and wonderworking shrine. Wherefore, venerating it with fear and joy, let us pray to him as to the meek David, that he grant our homeland victory over the enemy, that he ask peace for the world and great mercy for our souls.

O Theotokos, thou art the true vine which hath budded forth for us the Fruit of life. Beseech Him with the holy apostles, we pray thee, O Mistress, that He have mercy upon our souls.