AT VESPERS

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

Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

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

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “Having set all aside…”—

Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

O venerable Maximus, thou didst preach Him Who, in His loving-kindness, became man in His good pleasure, Who is known as having two wills and activities; and thou hast stopped the gaping mouths of the abominable ones who, at the temptation of the devil, the author of evil, worship Him as having a single will and activity.

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “Having set all aside…”—

Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

With the cords of thy doctrines, O father Maximus, thou didst strangle Pyrrhus, the evil-minded trifler, and didst endure persecution and tribulations, O ever-memorable one, cruelly wounded, thy tongue cut off, and the divine hand, which is ever stretched forth to God, writing wherewith thou hast wrought exalted words.

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

O blessed one, thy tongue was holy, sharpened by the Spirit like the pen of scribe, writing the law of the divine virtues with comely letters of grace upon the tablets of our hearts and imparting by thy doctrine the incarnation for men, in two essences, of Him Who desired to appeared in a single Hypostasis.

And 3 stichera of the martyr Neophytus, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…”—

O all-glorious wonder! The dove which came from on high converseth with the martyr Neophytus in human speech! Wherefore, he is resplendent with the angelic life wherein he suffered mightily, though but a youth. O the godly works of the martyr tortured in five ways! By his supplications save our souls, O Christ, in that Thou art compassionate.

O all-glorious wonder! Neophytus of perfect wisdom, from earliest infancy performeth miracles through the activity of the Spirit: by his entreaties he causeth water to pour forth from a rock, and raiseth up the dead woman, whose offspring he was. O the godly works of the martyr tortured in five ways! By his supplications save our souls, O Christ, in that Thou art compassionate.

O all-glorious wonder! the thrice-blessed Neophytus suffered for Christ, put to fright the enemy with his excellent visions, quenched the fire when he was cast therein, and showeth savage beasts to be terrified. O the invincible might wherein the athlete causeth all to marvel! By his supplications save us, O God!

Glory…, of the venerable one, in Tone VI—

O venerable father, word of thy corrections hath gone forth into all the earth. Wherefore, thou hast found the reward of thy labors in the heavens, hast destroyed hordes of the demons, and attained unto the ranks of the angels, whose life thou didst blamelessly emulate. As thou hast boldness before Christ, ask peace for our souls.

The unblemished ewe-lamb and immaculate Mistress, when, of old, she beheld her Lamb upon the tree of the Cross, exclaimed maternally and, marvelling, cried out: “O my Child most sweet, what new and most strange sight is this that I see? How hath the thankless synagogue betrayed Thee to be tried by Pilate and condemned Thee to death, Who art the Life of all? Yet do I hymn Thine ineffable condescension, O Word!”

On “Lord, I have cried…”, these stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…”—

O wondrous solemnity! O sacred memorial! The martyred maiden, adorned with virginity and arrayed in light, is received into the eternal habitations, her garments whitened on earth in the blood of the Lamb; wherefore, we join chorus with the angels, and, clapping our hands, cry aloud: Rejoice, O Agnes, thou bride of Christ!

O all-glorious passion-bearer, thou unblemished ewe-lamb, thou meek turtle-dove, thou chosen vessel of purity: how can we hymn thy sufferings, how can we venerate thy wounds? Yet, marvelling at thy struggles, we cry out to thee with compunction: Rejoice, O Agnes, thou bride of God!

O Peter, preëminent among the apostles, who wast a good shepherd for thy lambs and sheep, in the city which received thy blood greet the unblemished ewe-lamb who now cometh forth therefrom, who is slaughtered for Christ and with her own blood doth purify it of pagan defilements. Wherefore, lead her quickly unto the Lamb, to be wedded, while the angels and the choirs of the righteous chant in hymnody: Rejoice, O Agnes, thou bride of Christ!

Glory…, in Tone VI—

The Christians hid thy suffering body beneath the earth, O immaculate Agnes, shedding bitter tears, persecuted and oppressed by the heathen; but the maiden Emerentiana, obtaining boldness, denounced their mindlessness, and, slain by stoning, she died a martyr’s death at thy grave. And when thou didst appear with her in joy and glory undimmed, all the faithful ineffably rejoiced in thee. And now, having recourse to the precious shrine of thy relics, we fervently cry to thee: Forget us not, O Agnes, in thy supplications most bold!

A sword passed through thy heart, O all-pure Mistress, as Symeon said, when thou didst behold Him Whom, at His ineffable utterance, shone forth from thee lifted up upon the Cross, as One condemned from among the iniquitous, given vinegar and gall to drink, His side pierced, His feet and hands nailed; and, lamenting, thou didst exclaim, crying out maternally: “What is this new mystery, O my Child most sweet?”

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

When thou didst renounce all earthly mindedness, O father Maximus, having enlightened thy reason with the Cross thou didst choose Christ, the Pearl beyond price, Who showed thee to be all-wise, enmeshing thee in the net of faith. Wherefore, we beseech thee, O father Maximus: Entreat Christ God, that He make us wise and save our souls. Twice

When thou didst undertake thy journey for the sake of Christ, O all-wise Maximus, quenching all the burning arrows of the evil one by the Cross thou didst acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit, Who glorified thee as a wonderworker, revealing cures and healings. Wherefore, we pray to thee, O father Maximus: Entreat Christ God, that He grant us grace and save our souls. Twice

When thou didst translate many books from Greek into the Slavonic language, O venerable Maximus, elucidating the Faith by the Cross, thou wast slandered and condemned to prison, where, though thou didst lack ink, thou didst compose a canon to the Holy Spirit, inscribing it upon the wall with coal. Wherefore, we pray to thee, O much-suffering Maximus: Entreat Christ God, that He strengthen us and save our souls. Twice

When thou didst enlighten the false darkness of despondency, O holy Maximus, making thy soul steadfast by the Cross, thou didst acknowledge God as the true Father, Who called thee to the kingdom of heaven as a son, making thee whiter than snow. Wherefore, we pray to thee, O father Maximus: Entreat Christ God, that He grant us peace and save our souls. Twice

Glory…, in Tone I—

On the day of thy departure unto God, O venerable Maximus, our hearts are filled with pity, and wellsprings of tears pour forth. The multitude of monks crown thee, their father, teacher and instructor, with words of compunction; and the whole land of Russia is never-endingly adorned with thy sweet discourses.

Let us hymn the Virgin Mary, the glory of the whole world, who sprang forth from men and gave birth unto the Master, the portal of heaven, and the subject of the hymnody of the incorporeal hosts; for she hath been shown to be heaven and the temple of the Godhead. Having destroyed the middle-wall of enmity, she hath brought forth peace and opened wide the kingdom. Therefore, having her as the confirmation of our faith, we have as champion the Lord born of her. Be of good courage! Yea, be ye of good cheer, O people of God, for He vanquisheth the foe, in that He is almighty!

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. Those who 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.