At Vespers

Glory..., Now & ever..., in Tone III—

On “Lord, I have cried...”, 6 stichera: 3 to the apostles, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given a sign....”—

Troparion of the Apostles, in Tone III—

Glory..., Now & ever...: Troparion of the Forefeast, in Tone IV—

O ye faithful, with sacred hymns let us bless Cleopas, Andronicus, Silvanus and Agabus, Ananias and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Rufus and Sosthenes, Linus and Stachys, Stephen, Timon, Hermas, Phlegon, Mark, Luke, Sosipater, Jason and Gaius, Tychicus and Philemon.

As is meet, let Narcissus and Trophimus be praised, with Cæsarius, Zenas and Aristarchus, Mark, Silas and Gaius, Quartus, Hermes and Asyncritus, Apollos and Cephas, Clement and Justus, Quartus, Erastus, Luke, Onesiphorus, Carpus, Euodias, Matthias and James, Urban and Aristobulus, Tychicus and Aristarchus.

Let us honor the honored preachers of God: Pudens, Herodion and Artemas, Philologus, Olympus and Rodion, Apelles and Amplias, Patrobus and Mark, Tertius and Thaddeus, the wondrous Epenetus, Achaius, Aquila, Lucius, Barnabas and Fortunatus, and glorious Apollos and Crispus.

And 3 stichera to the venerable one, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “When from the Tree....”—

When thou didst wound thy soul with divine desire, O most blessed one, rejoicing thou didst take up thy cross and follow after Christ; and having mortified the carnal-mindedness through abstinence, thou didst receive the living activity of the Spirit, which enabled thee to banish the winter of infirmities with the fervor of thy right acceptable prayers. Wherefore, together we bless thee.

When thou didst cleanse the sight of thy soul through earnest prayers and most intense ascetic labor, O father, thou didst become a temple of the three-Sunned Godhead; and, receiving the divine anointing of the priesthood of God, thou didst penetrate things inaccessible, offering up in sacrifice Him Who was slain for thee, for the sake of an ineffable companionship.

Manifest as meek and guileless, O father Theoctistus, in wholeness of character didst thou truly inherit the land of the meek; and deified through communion with God, thou dost delight in the sustenance of true joy and gladness. Cease thou never to remember us here who ardently honor thee and celebrate thy godly repose.

Splendid hath the past feast been, and most glorious is the present day, for thereon did the magi do homage to the Savior, and hereon a glorious servant hath baptized the Master. Then piping shepherds, beholding the Lord, marvelled; and now the voice of the Father hath proclaimed His only-begotten Son.

At the Aposticha, these stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Thy martyrs, O Lord...”—

“Why dost Thou incline Thy holy head before me who am clay and shadow, O my Christ Who art ineffable Fire, before which the angelic hosts tremble?” said John to his Creator, when He came to be baptized. “Great is Thy condescension, O compassionate Bestower of life!”

Stichos: Therefore will I remember Thee from the land of Jordan and Hermoniem.

Lo! our Enlightenment, Deliverance and Salvation shall enter the Jordan openly to strip Himself naked and be clothed in the waters as in a robe, thus covering the nakedness of all who have been stripped naked by the adverse counsel of the serpent.

Stichos: The waters saw Thee, O God, the waters saw Thee and were afraid.

He that is truly unbearable Fire shall enter into the Jordan to cleanse me who have been destroyed by the wicked violation. In the midst of the waters shall He receive the rain of Heaven, to cleanse me of the defilement of my many transgressions, in that He is compassionate and great in mercy.

Glory…, Now & ever…, of the forefeast, in Tone VI—

Christ the Truth cometh to the Jordan to be baptized by John; and he saith unto Him: “It is I who must needs be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? I who am grass dare not touch the Fire! Sanctify me, O Master, by Thy divine epiphany!”

O holy apostles, entreat the merciful God, that He grant our souls remission of transgressions.

Make ready, O Zebulon! Adorn thyself, O Naphtali! O River Jordan, leaping up, receive thou the Master Who cometh to be baptized! Rejoice, O Adam, with our first mother! Hide not yourselves as ye did before in paradise; for He that beheld you naked hath revealed Himself, that He may clothe you in your primal raiment. Christ hath appeared, desiring to make all creation new!