At Great Vespers

A Reading from Proverbs

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

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera: 3 of the feast, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “O Lord, even though Thou didst stand before the tribunal...”—

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

O Lord, even though thou didst stand before John as a man, in the Jordan, yet, seated with the Father, Thou didst not depart from Thy throne. And, baptized for our sake, Thou didst free the world from bondage to the alien one, in that Thou art compassionate and lovest mankind.

Glory..., in Tone I, the composition of Byzantius—

O Lord, even though Thou didst surround Thyself as a man with the Jordan’s waters, yet from on high wast Thou confirmed by the descent of the Spirit, and the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee as His Son. But do Thou appear and grant incorruption unto our souls.

Now and ever..., in Tone II—

O immutable Lord, Who before time began wast begotten of the Father, Thou didst come in the latter days and didst take the form of a servant, and as Creator didst renew Thine image; for, being baptized, Thou hast bestowed incorruption upon our souls.

And 5 stichera of the holy hierarch, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “Rejoice, O life-bearing Cross…”—

Rejoice, O sacred one, pure vessel of the Holy Spirit, holy hierarch Philip, divinely inspired instrument, unfathomable abyss of piety, adornment of the Church, great ornament of the royal city of Moscow, confirmation of Russia, helper of the oppressed, close follower of the apostles, emulator of the ways of Chrysostom! Thou didst manfully lay down thy life for thy flock, following the example of Christ, the true Chief Shepherd. Him do thou beseech, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy. Twice

Rejoice, O mouth of lustrous gold, venerable and divinely melodious swallow, unshakable pillar of Orthodoxy, unassailable rampart of our city, refuge of the sorrowful, calm haven for the tempest-tossed, defender against misfortunes and tribulations for those who have recourse unto thee, thou who dost encourage us to chant hymns of divine beauty with zeal, emulator of the martyrs and confessors, who standest together with the holy angels, peer of the apostles! Unceasingly entreat Christ, that He grant unto our souls peace and great mercy.

Rejoice, O sacred one, holy hierarch Philip, for like a sun of surpassing radiance thou shinest everywhere in thy teachings, and didst pasture thy flock on the fields of the Spirit, O thou who art unshakable, in that thou hast been founded upon the firm Rock! Hence, thou didst amaze the tsar with thy courage, praying that his rage be transformed into meekness, and warning him at the same time, for which he, unjustly depriving thee of thy see and thy flock, sent thee to the Otroch Monastery in the city of Tver’, where thou didst receive an undeserved death, praying for those who slew thee, saying: “O Lord, count not this sin against them!” Wherefore, O blessed one, a crown hath been given thee by Christ God, Whom do thou beseech, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy.

Rejoice, O thou who didst bear the light burden of ascetic struggles, thou pure house of the Trinity, vessel of sweet savor, confirmation of the Church, equally enthroned with the apostles, adornment of holy hierarchs, glory of the martyrs and ornament of the venerable, renowned model of the virtues, splendid eminence of humility, defender of the oppressed and feeder of the poor! Entreat Christ, O blessed one, that He grant unto our souls peace and great mercy.

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

Rejoice, and be glad, O most glorious city of Moscow! Celebrate with splendor, assembling together, O ye Churches of Christ! Dance, O divinely gathered flock! Today the universal festival of the archpastor doth summon us. Come ye, therefore, and let us radiantly celebrate his memorial, saying: Rejoice, O divinely wise and holy hierarch, who didst arm thyself with spiritual courage as with a breast-plate, and by the authority given thee by the one God didst infallibly rebuke those who would not heed thee! Rejoice, divine consolation for those who are troubled of soul, defender of the oppressed, right tranquil haven for all the faithful! Wherefore, surrounding thy most precious shrine, we venerate it with love, O holy hierarch Philip, and through thee we ask to receive the God’s love for man, that by thy supplications He may grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.

Now & ever…, of the feast, in Tone II—

The Sinless One asketh baptism, that He may cleanse the world of the falsehood of the enemy. And the Master of all is baptized by a servant, and through water granteth cleansing unto the human race. To Him let us cry out: O our God Who hast appeared, glory be to Thee!

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; those who 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.

Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. Thus the righteous one who is dead shall condemn the ungodly who are living. For they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not understand what God in His counsel hath decreed of him. For He shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that they shall be speechless; and He shall shake them from the foundations; and they shall be utterly laid waste, and shall be in sorrow; and their memorial shall perish. And when they cast up the account of their sins, they shall come with fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to their face. Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted him and made no account of his labors. When they see it, they shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the strangeness of his salvation, so far beyond all that they looked for. And repenting and groaning for anguish of spirit they shall say within themselves: “This was he whom we had sometimes in derision, and a proverb of reproach. We fools accounted his life madness, and his end to be without honor. How is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is among the saints? Therefore, have we strayed from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness hath not shined unto us, and the sun of righteousness rose not upon us. We wearied ourselves in the way of wickedness and destruction; yea, we have gone through deserts, where there lay no way: but as for the way of the Lord, we have not known it.

The mouth of the righteous droppeth wisdom; and the lips of wise men exude grace. The mouths of the wise teach wisdom, and righteousness shall deliver them from death. When the righteous man dieth, his hope doth not perish. For the righteous son is born for life, and a good man shall eat of the fruits of righteousness. Light always shineth upon the righteous, and they find grace and glory from the Lord. The tongue of the wise knoweth what is good, and wisdom resteth in their heart. The Lord loveth holy hearts, and all are acceptable to Him who are ­blameless in their way. The wisdom of the Lord enlighteneth the face of him who hath understanding. For she overtaketh those who desire her, in making herself known unto them; and she is easily seen by those who love her. Whoso seeketh her early shall have no great travail; and whoso watcheth for her shall quickly be without care. For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, and showeth herself favorably unto those in the ways. Evil never prevaileth over wisdom. For the sake of her I became a lover of her beauty. I loved her, and sought her out from my youth. I desired to make her my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty; yea, the Master of all Himself loved her. For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a revealer of His works. Her labors are virtues, for she teacheth temperance and prudence, which are such things that men can have naught that is more profitable in their life. If a man desire much experience, she knoweth all things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to come; she foreseeth signs and wonders, and the events of times and seasons. And she is for all a counsellor of good things. Moreover, by means of her I shall obtain immortality, for in the exercise of conference with her there is prudence. Wherefore, I prayed unto the Lord, and besought Him, and with my whole heart I said: “O God of my fathers and Lord of mercy, Who hast made all things with Thy word, and ordained man through Thy wisdom, that he have dominion over the creatures which Thou hast made, and order the world according to equity and righteousness! Give me wisdom, who sitteth by Thy throne, and reject me not from among Thy children, for I am Thy servant and the son of Thy handmaid. Send her out of the heavens, from Thy holy dwelling-place and from the throne of Thy glory, that, being present with me, she may labor with me, that I may know what is pleasing in Thy sight; and that she may lead me toward understanding, and preserve me in her glory. For all the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain.”

At Litia, these stichera—

In Tone I: As is meet, O father Philip, thou hast not forsaken thy homeland, but hast returned to the royal city of Moscow, where thou wast a hierarch hallowed by the Holy Spirit, and didst shepherd thy flock with great labors, bearing for its sake great oppression and dishonor, and enduring banishment; and thou didst suffer for it even unto death, and hast passed over, rejoicing, unto Christ. And now the Church, seeing thee again in its midst, hath been gladdened by thy return, for, receiving thy remains as a gift beyond price, it crieth aloud to the Master: By the supplications of thy hierarch, O Christ, grant unto Thy people forgiveness and great mercy.

In Tone II: An earthly angel, a heavenly man, a lover and beholder of divine glory hast shown thyself to be, having subdued the passions and enslaved the flesh, O Philip. O fellow sufferer with the apostles and peer of the martyrs, right zealously fulfilling the law of Christ, thou didst lay down thy life for the people; and now, standing before the throne of Christ, pray thou in behalf of us, thy children.

Thou wast an unshakable pillar of the Church of Christ, O father, for, afire with divine zeal, thou didst rightly and justly denounce injustice, didst exhort the tsar and the people to follow the Traditions of the apostles and the fathers, didst command that the division of the realm and wickedness cease, and didst manfully adjure them by the authority given thee by God. Wherefore, as a true pastor, thou didst lay down thy life for thy flock, O emulator of Christ the true Shepherd. And now, O hierarch Philip, pray thou that all who honor thy sacred memory with love may be saved.

Glory…, in Tone IV—

It is fitting that the royal city of Moscow ever have Philip as its hierarch, like a royal ornament, a treasure which cannot be taken away, who giveth to all the saving riches of confession, and gathereth all together to chant hymns of divine beauty. Unto him let us cry aloud: O holy hierarch and confessor, entreat Christ God in behalf of our souls!

Now & ever…, of the feast, in Tone VIII—

Today creation is enlightened! Today all things are glad, those of heaven and those on earth! Angels and men mingle together! For where the King arriveth, there doth order prevail. Wherefore, let us all hasten to the Jordan and see how John baptizeth the sinless head which no man fashioned. And, chanting the cry of the angel, let us exclaim together: The grace of God hath appeared, saving all men, and illumining and granting mercy unto the faithful!

On “Lord, I have cried...,” 6 stichera: 3 of the afterfeast, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “O Lord, even though Thou didst stand before the tribunal...”—

O Lord, even though thou didst stand before John as a man, in the Jordan, yet, seated with the Father, Thou didst not depart from Thy throne. And, baptized for our sake, Thou didst free the world from bondage to the alien one, in that Thou art compassionate and lovest mankind.

O Lord, even though Thou didst surround Thyself as a man with the Jordan’s waters, yet from on high wast Thou confirmed by the descent of the Spirit, and the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee as His Son. But do Thou appear and grant incorruption unto our souls.

O immutable Lord, Who before time began wast begotten of the Father, Thou didst come in the latter days and didst take the form of a servant, and as Creator didst renew Thine image; for, being baptized, Thou hast bestowed incorruption upon our souls.

And 3 stichera of the martyr, in Tone I: Spec. Mel: “Joy of the ranks of heaven...”—

As Christ led David up out of the pit of the passions, so did He raise thee up, O martyr, from the miry clay of the delusion of idolatry; for He mystically set thy feet upon the rock of the knowledge of Him. Beseech Him, that we may be saved.

Neither the desire of thy spouse, nor the love of thy children, nor thy dignity, nor yet thy wealth in possessions and estates, caused the strength of thy soul to waver from the true faith in Christ, O most blessed Polyeuctus.

Even before the grace of thy suffering, O martyr, thou wast truly adorned with the works of righteousness. Wherefore, in accordance therewith, thou wast counted worthy to be a faithful witness of Christ, being piously baptized in thine own blood into His death.

The hosts of the angels today join chorus to commemorate the martyr Polyeuctus, and the race of man doth faithfully hold festival, and joyously crieth out: Rejoice, O most laudable one, who hast triumphed over the subtle snares of Belial, and hast been crowned by Christ with the wreath of victory! Rejoice, warrior of our great King and Savior, who destroyed the temples of the idols! Rejoice, adornment of martyrs! Pray thou that those who faithfully keep thine ever-honorable memory may be delivered from every threat.

Today the Creator of heaven and earth approacheth the Jordan in the flesh; the Sinless One asketh baptism, that He may cleanse the world of the falsehood of the enemy. And the Master of all is baptized by a servant, and through water granteth cleansing unto the human race. To Him let us cry out: O our God Who hast appeared, glory be to Thee!