day 29

June 29: Holy, Glorious, All-praised Apostles Peter & Paul

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 4 stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given a sign…”—

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone—

Troparion, in Tone IV—

The 29th Day of the Month of June

Thine honored apostles hast Thou given to Thy Church as a boast, O Lord, and therein shine forth the noetic luminaries Peter and Paul, as stars of the Word, shedding light upon the whole world. By them hast Thou enlightened the darkness of the West, O Almighty Jesus, Savior of our souls. Twice

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone—

Commemoration of Holy, Glorious, All-praised & Preëminent Apostles Peter & Paul

Thou hast granted confirmation unto Thy Church, O Lord: the steadfastness of Peter, the understanding and splendid wisdom of Paul, and the truly divine proclamation of them both, which dispelleth the deception of the Greeks. Wherefore, having been initiated into the mysteries by them both, we hymn Thee, O Almighty Jesus, Savior of our souls.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

At Little Vespers

Thou hast provided the sinful with a model of repentance: Thy two apostles. For the one denied Thee at the time of Thy suffering, yet repented, while the other opposed the preaching of Thee, but later came to believe. And both are preëminent among the assembly of their peers, O Almighty Jesus, Savior of our souls.

Glory…, the composition of John the Monk, in Tone VIII—

Thou didst vex and persecute the Church, O most blessed Paul, but when thou wast called from heaven, thou didst defend it most gloriously. Pray thou now, that it be delivered from misfortunes, and that our souls be saved.

Thy protection is spiritual healing, O Virgin Theotokos, for fleeing thereto we are delivered from the ailments of our souls.

Prokimenon of the day.

At the aposticha, these stichera, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “When from the tree…”—

O Peter, foundation of the apostles, rock of the Church of Christ, prince of Christians: Gloriously tend the sheep of thy fold, protect thy lambs from the wolves of falsehood, deliver thy flock from grievous perils; for thee have we truly acquired as a never-tiring advocate before God, and, boasting in thee, we are all saved.

Stichos: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

O Paul, fisher of the nations, intercessor for Christians, beacon for the whole world, ever-speaking mouth of Christ the living God, who in preaching the divine Faith hast passed over all the ends of the earth like the sun: From the bonds of sin release all who praise thee and are adorned by thy supplications.

Stichos: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands.

O Peter, preëminent disciple! O Paul, who completed the rank of the apostles! O foremost preachers, earnestly pray ye now to God with boldness, and send down speedy help and release from misfortunes upon us who are sorrowful, that we may boast in faith, by deeds revealing your protection now in your tabernacle.

Glory…, the composition of John the Monk, in Tone IV—

Having chosen thee as the first, O Peter foundation of the Faith, Christ crowned thee, as He, the Master of all, foretold unto thee, saying: “Blessed art thou, O Simon bar Jonah, for flesh and blood hath not disclosed and made thee My sacred herald, but my Father Who is in the heavens!” Him do thou beseech, O divinely blessed apostle, that He grant us great mercy.

Deliver us from our needs, O Mother of Christ God, who gavest birth unto the Creator of all, that we all may cry out to thee: Rejoice, O thou that alone art the intercession for our souls!

O first-enthroned among the apostles and teachers of the whole world: Entreat the Master of all, that He grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.

The mystery hidden from before the ages and unknown even to the angels, through thee, O Theotokos, hath been revealed to those on earth: God incarnate in unconfused union, Who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake and, thereby raising up the first-formed man, hath saved our souls from death.