AT VESPERS

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 for the Apostles Peter & Paul, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “With what wreaths of praise…” —

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

Troparion, in Tone IV —

With what wreaths of praise shall we crown Peter and Paul, who were separate in body yet united in spirit, the foremost of the preachers of God, the one as leader of the apostles, and the other as one who labored more than the rest? For Christ our God, Who hath great mercy, doth truly crown them with diadems of glory as is meet.

With what beauties of song shall we hymn Peter and Paul? They are the wings of divine knowledge who soared above the ends of the earth and were upborne to the heavens, the hands of the grace of the Gospel, the rivers of wisdom, the arms of the Cross, wherewith Christ, Who hath great mercy, hath cast down the pride of the demons.

With what spiritual hymns shall we praise Peter and Paul? They have closed the ever-gaping mouths of the ungodly, they are the dreadful swords of the Spirit, the splendid adornments of Rome, the nurturers of the whole world, the noetic and divinely graven tablets of the new covenant, whom Christ, Who hath great mercy, proclaimed in Sion.

And 3 of the twelve apostles, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…” —

As witnesses and beholders of the incarnation of the Word, ye are blessed, O disciples most rich; for ye have appeared to the world, as bright as lightning, and pour forth the sweetness of the noetic mountain. As separate and ever-flowing rivers of paradise ye irrigate the Churches of the nations with divine waters.

Like rays shining with spiritual luster ye were sent throughout the whole world, abundantly showing forth the working of miracles, O ye who were servants of the mysteries of Christ, divine graven tablets of the law ordained by God, inscribed by the grace of God, O initiates of divine mysteries who are most rich.

The pen of the fishermen hath effaced the arrogance of the philosophers and the prating of the orators, while manifestly setting forth the glad tidings of the good mysteries, the divinely wise teachings of the dogmas, the partaking of eternal nourishment, the delight of the angels, and everlasting glory.

Glory…, in Tone VI —

The most honored feast of the apostles hath arrived for the Church of Christ, bringing salvation for us all. Wherefore, mystically plaiting hymns for them, let us say: Rejoice, O lamps unto those who are in darkness, emitting rays of the noetic Sun! Rejoice, O Peter and Paul, ye unshakable foundations of the divine doctrines, friends of Christ, precious vessels! Come ye into our midst, vouchsafing immaterial gifts unto those who praise your feast with hymns.

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

Who doth not call thee blessed, O all-holy Virgin? Who will not hymn thine all-pure birthgiving? For the only-begotten Son Who shone forth timelessly from the Father, came forth, ineffably incarnat

e, from thee, the pure one; and being God by nature, He became man for our sake, not divided into two Persons, but known in two natures without confusion. Him do thou beseech, O pure and most blessed one, that our souls find mercy!

At the aposticha, these stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given a sign…” —

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

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

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, initiated into the mysteries by them both, we hymn Thee, O Almighty Jesus, Thou Savior of our souls.

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

Thou hast given to the sinful 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, Thou Savior of our souls.

Glory…, in Tone VI —

A joyous feast hath shone forth today upon the ends of the earth: the most honored commemoration of the all-wise and preëminent apostles Peter and Paul. Wherefore, Rome, joining chorus, rejoiceth in hymns and songs; and we celebrate, O brethren, observing this most honored day, crying: Rejoice, O apostle Peter, thou true friend of thy Teacher, Jesus Christ our God! Rejoice, O most beloved Paul, thou preacher of the Faith and teacher of the whole world! As ye have boldness, O ye two holy and chosen ones, entreat Christ our God, that our souls be saved.

O Theotokos, thou art the true vine who hast budded forth for us the Fruit of life. With the holy apostles entreat Him, we pray thee, O Mistress, that He have mercy upon 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.