AT VESPERS

Litany. Three full prostrations. Dismissal.

Glory..., in the same tone: Repeat the first sticheron: “Valiantly enduring...”—

On “Lord, I have cried...,” 6 stichera for the day from the Triodion, and 4 stichera for the martyrs, the composition of John the Monk, in Tone II—

After “Now lettest thy servant depart in peace...,” the Troparion, in Tone I—

Now and ever...: Dogmaticon theotokion, in the same tone—

Valiantly enduring real torments, rejoicing in that for which they longed, the holy martyrs said one to another: “If we do not shed our garments, we cannot put off the old man. Winter is cruel, but paradise is sweet; the ice is painful, but the acquisition of the Kingdom is delightful. Then, let us not give way, O warriors! Let us endure but a little while, that we may be crowned with crowns of victory by Christ God, the Savior of our souls.” Once

Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Casting off all their garments and entering the lake with trembling, the holy martyrs said one to another: “Let us not spare today our corruptible garments, that we may attain the paradise which we lost! Having once been clothed because of the pernicious serpent, let us now unclothe ourselves for the resurrection of all. Let us disdain the frigid ice and despise the flesh, that we may be crowned with crowns of victory by Christ God, the Savior of our souls!” Twice

Now and ever...: Theotokion—

Seeing tortures as delight, running to the frozen lake as to a warm spring, the holy martyrs said: “Let us not fear the season of winter, that we may avoid the fearsome fire of Gehenna; let our legs be consumed by fire, that they may dance eternally; let our arms be cut off, that they may stretch themselves forth unto the Lord; let us not spare our mortal nature; let us submit to death, that we may be crowned with crowns of victory by Christ God, the Savior of our souls.” Once

Glory..., Now and ever...: Theotokion—

The shadow of the law passed away when grace arrived; for, as the bush wrapped in flame did not burn, so the Virgin gave birth and yet remained a virgin. In place of the pillar of fire, the Sun of righteousness hath shone forth. Instead of Moses, Christ is come, the Salvation of our souls.

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. The Readings for the day (i.e., from the Triodion), and three Readings for the martyrs—

Reading from the Prophet Isaiah (43:9-14)

Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? Thus saith the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon (3:1-9)

But 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.

(5:15-24; 6:1-3)

But 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 instead of an helmet. He shall take holiness 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 fly to the mark. And hailstones full of wrath shall 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 of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.

And the rest of the order for the Presanctified Liturgy.

But if the Presanctified Liturgy be not served, at the Aposticha we chant the stichera from the Triodion, and Glory..., in Tone VI—

In hymnody let us praise the forty passion-bearing martyrs, O ye faithful, and with sweet singing let us cry out to them, saying: Rejoice, ye athletes of Christ: Hesychius, Meliton, Heraclius, Smaragdus and Domnus, Eunoïcus, Valens and Vivianus, Claudius and Priscus! Rejoice, Theodulus, Eutychius and John, Xantheas, Helianus, Sisinius, Cyrion, Angius, Ætius and Flavius! Rejoice, Acacius, Ecditius, Lysimachus, Alexander, Elias and Candidus, Theophilus, Dometian and godly Gaius and Gorgonius! Rejoice, Leontius and Athanasius, Cyril and Sacerdon, Nicholas and Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Chudion and Aglaius, for ye have boldness before Christ our God, O most honored martyrs! Him do ye earnestly beseech, that those who keep your most precious memory with faith may be saved.

O Theotokos, thou art the true vine which hath budded forth for us the Fruit of life. Thee do we beseech: Pray thou, O Mistress, with the holy apostles, that our souls find mercy.

By the pangs of Thy saints, be Thou entreated, O Lord, and heal all our diseases, we beseech Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

When Gabriel announced to thee, Rejoice! O Virgin, the Master of all became incarnate within thee, the holy tabernacle, at His cry, as the righteous David said. Thou wast shown to be more spacious than the heavens, having borne thy Creator. Glory to Him Who made His abode within thee! Glory to Him Who came forth from thee! Glory to Him Who hath set us free by thy birthgiving!