AT VESPERS

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 for the feast, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Called from on high…”—

Before Thine honored Cross and suffering, taking with thee those of Thy sacred disciples whom Thou didst ordain beforehand, Thou didst ascend Mount Tabor, O Master, desiring to show them Thy glory. And seeing Thee transfigured and shining more brightly than the sun, they fell prostrate and, amazed by Thy power, cried out: “Thou art the timeless Light, O Christ, and the Effulgence of the Father, even though Thou hast been pleased to manifest Thyself in the flesh, O Immutable One!”

O Word, Thou Word of God from before time began, Who dost clothe Thyself with light as with a garment: Thou didst deign to be transfigured before Thy disciples in brilliance surpassing the sun’s; and Moses and Elijah have stood before Thee, proclaiming unto the living and the dead that Thou art the Lord, and glorifying Thine ineffable dispensation and mercy, and the exceeding great loving-kindness whereby Thou hast saved the world, which perisheth through sin.

When Thy disciples stood before Thee, O Lord, the voice of the Father manifestly called Thee His beloved Son—Thee Who wast born of the cloud which is the Virgin, and becamest incarnate, and art transfigured upon Mount Tabor, surrounded by a cloud of light, in that Thou art of one essence and equally enthroned with the Father. Wherefore Peter, marvelling, said: “It is good to be here!”, not knowing what he said, O greatly merciful Benefactor.

And 3 stichera of the saint, in Tone VI: Spec. Mel.: “Having set all aside…”—

Having set aside all the enchantment of sorcery, and the abomination of the Persians, and their vile worship, thou didst hasten to God Who sustaineth mankind by His wise providence; and, like the apostles, by His name thou didst heal both the afflictions of animals and the ailments of the men who earnestly had recourse to thee, O favored one of Christ. Him do thou entreat with boldness, in behalf of our souls.

Thou didst offer thy whole life to the Lord, and didst fervently apply thyself to the course of fasting, O venerable one, showing forth unfaltering prayer, all-night vigilance, unceasing hymnody, and a life angelic and immaculate. Hence thou hast been enriched with the ability to work miracles; for thou didst tell thy servants to glorify the Lord. Him do thou entreat with boldness, in behalf of our souls.

Wholly arrayed in the armor of the Cross, and equipped with the unbreakable shield of faith, thou wast terrifying to the adverse hordes of the demons, and, anointed with the wounds of faith and divine invocations, didst drive them away; and hast saved from their harm those who tread the path of piety, O Dometius, thou favorite of Christ. Him do thou entreat with boldness, in behalf of our souls.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone VI—

Foreshadowing Thy resurrection, O Christ our God, Thou didst take three of Thy disciples—Peter, James and John—and didst ascend Tabor. And as Thou wast transfigured, O Savior, Mount Tabor was clothed with light. Thy disciples cast themselves upon the ground, O Word, unable to endure the sight of Thine invisible countenance. Angels ministered to thee in fear and trembling; the heavens were afraid and the earth quaked, beholding the glory of the Lord upon the earth.

The Great Prokimenon, in Tone VII—

Our God is in heaven and on earth; all things soever He hath willed, He hath done.

Stichos: When Israel went out of Egypt, and the house of Jacob among a barbarous people, Judæa became His sanctuary, Israel His domain.

Stichos: The sea beheld and fled, Jordan turned back.

Stichos: What aileth thee, O sea, that thou fleddest? And thou Jordan, that thou didst turn back?

Then, the litanies.

But if the feast of the Transfiguration itself fall on Saturday, we chant the prokimenon, “Our God is in heaven and on earth…”, on Friday evening, at vespers, and chant the Saturday evening prokimenon, “The Lord hath reigned…”, in its usual place. And if the feast of the Transfiguration fall on Sunday, we chant the Saturday evening prokimenon in its usual place, and the great prokimenon, “Our God is in heaven and on earth…”, on Sunday evening, at vespers.