At Great Vespers

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

A Reading from Proverbs

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera: 4 in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “When from the Tree…”—

A Reading from Proverbs

Dwelling bodily in Myra, thou wast truly shown to be myrrh, having been anointed with noetic chrism, O holy Nicholas, hierarch of Christ; and thou dost perfume the faces of those who with faith and love ever celebrate thy most glorious memory, freeing them from misfortunes, perils and sorrows by thy prayers unto God, O father.

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

As a true namesake of victory, to the faithful people thou hast shown thyself to be mighty amid perils, O holy Nicholas, hierarch of Christ; for whenever thou art invoked, thou dost quickly hasten to those who with love have recourse to thy protection. For, appearing to the faithful by day and at night, thou savest them from dangers and evil circumstances.

In a dream thou didst appear to the Emperor Constantine and to Ablavius, and instilling fear in them, thou didst speak to them thus: “Quickly release those whom ye hold bound in prison, for they deserve not a lawless execution. But if thou wilt not obey me, I will petition the Lord and King against thee when I pray!”

For those of us who find ourselves amid misfortunes as we journey by land or sail the seas, for those of us who are nearby or far removed, thou art a great and fervent advocate, an exceeding merciful and mighty intercessor, O holy Nicholas, sacred preacher of Christ. Wherefore, assembling, we cry: Entreat the Lord, that we may be delivered from every evil circumstance.

And 4 in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: “With what wreaths of praise…”—

With what wreaths of praise shall we crown the holy hierarch who, while bodily in Myra, doth spiritually reach out to all who love him in purity, the advocate and helper of all, the comforter of all the sorrowful, the refuge for all amid misfortunes, the pillar of piety, the champion of the people? For his sake hath Christ, Who hath great mercy, cast down the arrogance of the enemy. Twice

With what songs of hymnody shall we praise the holy hierarch, the opponent of impiety and champion of piety, the leader, great ally and teacher, who putteth to shame all the infamous, the destroyer of Arius and his minions? For his sake hath Christ, Who hath great mercy, cast down the arrogance of the enemy.

With what hymns of prophecy shall we praise the holy hierarch, who foresaw things far distant and unerringly prophesied things afar off as though they were near, who watcheth over the whole world and delivereth all the oppressed, who of old appeared to the divinely wise emperor in a dream and delivered from execution those unjustly arrested, and bestoweth great mercy?

Glory…, in Tone VI—

Assembling, O ye who love the feasts of the Church, let us hymn the adornment of hierarchs, the glory of the fathers, the wellspring of miracles and great defender of the faithful, saying: Rejoice, O protector of Myra, honored primate and steadfast pillar of its Church! Rejoice, O most radiant beacon, illumining the ends of the earth with wonders! Rejoice, divine joy of the sorrowful and fervent intercessor for the oppressed! And now, O blessed Nicholas, cease not to entreat Christ God in behalf of those who honor thine ever-gladsome and most illustrious memory with faith and love.

Now & ever…, of the forefeast, in the same tone—

Adorn thyself well, O cave, for the ewe-lamb cometh, bearing Christ in her womb! O manger, receive Him Who by His word hath loosed us mortals from irrational activity! Ye shepherds, piping, bear witness to the awesome wonder! O magi from Persia, bring ye gold, frankincense and myrrh to the King, for the Lord hath revealed Himself through the Virgin Mother! And, gazing down upon Him, His Mother made obeisance to Him as though she were His handmaid, and greeted Him as she held Him in her embrace, saying: “How wast Thou sown within me, and how didst Thou spring forth within me, O my Deliverer and God?”

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three readings:

The memory of the just is praised, and the blessing of the Lord is upon his head. Blessed is the man who hath found wisdom, and the mortal who knoweth prudence. For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver. And she is more valuable than precious stones: no precious thing is equal to her in value. For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth righteousness proceedeth, and she carrieth law and mercy upon her tongue. Hearken to me, O children, for I will speak solemn truths. Blessed is the man who shall keep my ways; for my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and in them is prepared favor from the Lord. Ye, O men, do I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men. I, wisdom, have built up; upon counsel, knowledge and understanding have I called. Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine. I love those that love me; they that seek me shall find grace. O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge. Hearken unto me again; for I will speak solemn truths. For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse. They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge. For I will instruct you in truth, that your hope may be in the Lord, and ye may be filled with the Spirit.

The mouth of the righteous droppeth wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish. The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse. False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable unto Him. Wherever pride entereth, there will also disgrace: but the mouth of the humble doth meditate wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the overthrow of the rebellious shall spoil them. Possessions shall not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. When a just man dieth, he leaveth regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy and causeth joy. Righteousness traceth out blameless paths: but ungodliness encountereth unjust dealing. The righteousness of upright men delivereth them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction. At the death of a just man his hope doth not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perisheth. A righteous man escapeth from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place. In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare for citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous. In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospereth, but at the destruction of the wicked there is exultation. At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted, but by the mouths of ungodly men it is overthrown. A man void of understanding sneereth at his fellow citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.

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 lust 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 doth visit His chosen.

At Litia, these stichera idiomela, the composition of Byzantius—

In Tone II: Christ God hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith and model of meekness, O holy hierarch Nicholas. For which cause, as thou emittest sweet fragrance in Myra, thy divine corrections shine forth in splendor everywhere, O intercessor for the orphans and widows. Wherefore, pray thou unceasingly, that He save our souls.

O father Nicholas, the shrine of thy relics, like a phial, enricheth Myra with myrrh. And, appearing to the emperor in a vision during sleep, therein thou didst free from death, fetters and prison those unjustly held condemned. Now, as then, do thou ever appear in visions, praying for our souls.

O father Nicholas, even though the land of Myra hath fallen silent, yet the whole world, which hath been enlightened by thee with the sweet fragrance of thy myrrh and the multitudes of thy miracles, crieth out in hymns of goodly laudation; and we, saved by thee from condemnation, cry out with those in Myra, chanting: Pray thou, that our souls be saved!

In Tone IV: O father Nicholas, as the phial of the all-holy Spirit, thou pourest forth the sweet fragrance of divine perfume in Myra; for, having emulated the apostles of Christ, thou travellest the world over in the report of thy miracles. Wherefore, appearing during sleep to those afar off and to those nearby, thou deliverest from death those who were to be executed through an unjust sentence, and most gloriously savest from misfortunes many who call upon thee. Wherefore, by thy supplications, from besetting evils free us also, who ever praise thee.

In Tone VIII: The fruit of thy valiant deeds hath illumined the hearts of the faithful, O venerable father. For who, hearing of thy boundless humility, hath not marvelled at thy patience, thy solicitude toward the poor, thy consolation of the sorrowful? Thou hast taught all in godly manner, O holy hierarch Nicholas, and hast now been crowned with a never-fading wreath. Pray thou in behalf of our souls.

Throughout this fleeting life thou didst hasten to praise the Lord, O Nicholas, and He hath glorified thee in the true life in heaven. Wherefore, having acquired boldness before Him, pray that He save our souls.

Glory…, in Tone VI—

O good and faithful servant, husbandman of the vineyard of Christ: thou didst bear the burden of the day and didst increase the talant entrusted to thee; and thou didst not envy those who came after thee. Wherefore, as the portals of heaven are open to thee, enter thou into the joy of the Lord, and intercede for us, O holy Nicholas.

Now & ever…, of the forefeast, in the same tone—

Hold festival, O Sion! Be glad, O Jerusalem, thou city of Christ! Receive the Creator Who is contained in the cave and the manger! Open unto me thy gates, and, entering therein, I shall behold Him Who holdeth all creation in His hand, wrapped as a babe in swaddling-clothes: the Lord and Bestower of life, Whom the angels hymn with unceasing voices, and Who saveth our souls.