AT VESPERS

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

On “Lord, I have cried…”, these stichera, in Tone VIII—

Troparion, in Tone III—

Having mystically acquired the mind of Christ, thou wast called a fool by the world, O all-wise Isidora; for assuming the guise of slothfulness and indifference, while in truth undertaking ineffable labors and struggles at night, thou didst voluntarily accept reproaches and abasement, finding mystic consolation in the grace of God. Wherefore, O blessed one, be thou mindful of us who celebrate thy most joyous memorial.

Glory…, Now & ever… troparion from the Pentecostarion.

Thou didst hide thyself from the eyes of men, diligently fleeing earthly glory, O venerable Isidora, when the Lord was pleased to disclose thy struggles; yet the glory of heaven hath overtaken thee, for now thou canst not escape it, in that the whole world doth unanimously glorify thee, praising thy patience and humble-mindedness. Wherefore, O blessed one, be thou mindful of us who celebrate thy most joyous memorial.

As of old on the day of Pentecost, when the ignorant who beheld the coming of the Spirit mistook His activity for drunkenness, so did the senseless ones call drunkenness the activity of the Spirit of Christ which dwelt within thee, O most lauded and venerable mother Isidora, mocking and reproaching thee; but thou, mystically filled with divine gladness, didst cry aloud with joy: “I glorify Thee, O Christ my King, for Thou hast vouchsafed me to receive dishonor for Thy sake! Wherefore, accept me into Thine eternal mansions, and in Thy kingdom remember me with the honest thief.”

Glory…, in Tone I—

O blessed Isidora, who can tell of thy wondrous humility of mind? Who doth not marvel at thy great patience? Who doth not declare the majesty of thy comely soul? O thou who art divinely wise, entreat Christ God in behalf of those who honor thy holy memory with love.

Now & ever…, from the Pentecostarion.

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera: 3 stichera from the Pentecostarion; and 5 stichera of the apostle, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given a sign…”—

The wondrous Simon, the boast of the apostles, hath passed over the ends of the earth like a brilliant ray, driving away the darkness of polytheism with his saving, brilliant and divine teachings, and hath enlightened all to worship the one Godhead in three Hypostases, indivisible and undivided. Twice

The apostle Simon, going about the ends of the earth, whirling about like a wheel, hath burned away the madness of idolatry from all the land; and, shedding the light of piety, he hath kindled luminous rays of grace for the faithful, that they may worship the one Godhead in three Hypostases, indivisible and undivided. Twice

The apostle Simon, most radiant and all-wondrous, the teacher of the nations, the net of God drawing us up from the depths of perdition with exalted theology, the true preacher, hath now wisely led all to the knowledge of Christ and set forth his corrections as a beautiful banquet.

Glory…, in Tone II—

Thou wast called the namesake of zeal, O right wondrous Simon, in that thou didst zealously emulate Almighty God, and He showed thee to be full of divine miracles; for, possessing strange zeal, O blessed one, thou wast called the namesake of zeal and didst acquire a title in accordance with thy character. Wherefore, dwelling with the heavenly choirs in the highest, entreat the Word, Christ our God, O God-seer, that He grant us great mercy.

Now & ever…: doxasticon from the Pentecostarion.

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three readings:

A Reading from the General Epistle of John [I Jn. 3: 21-4: 6]

Beloved: if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.

A Reading from the General Epistle of John [I Jn. 4: 11-16]

Beloved: if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

A Reading from the General Epistle of John [I Jn. 4: 20-5: 5]

Beloved: If a man saith: “I love God,” and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God Whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

At the aposticha, these stichera, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “O most lauded martyrs…”—

O ever all-memorable Simon, thou didst drink of the torrent of sweetness, imbibing with divine wisdom the understanding of God which thou didst fervently desire. To Him hast thou now joyously passed over, deified by the all-splendid glory of the Trinity and immeasurable peace.

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

O all-wondrous Simon, contemplating the beauty of God, and looking upon it as far as thou art able, delighting therein through a higher union, and deified by His gifts, rejoicing, thou didst reach the only Divine One Whom thou didst desire, O ever all-memorable preacher of Christ, who dwellest now with the angels.

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

O most blessed Simon, thou hast shown thyself to be a faithful mediator between God and men; and now, by thy right bold supplications, render Christ merciful to us, and never cease to entreat the Lord, that He grant unto our souls peace and great mercy.

Glory…, in Tone VI—

Like a high flying eagle thou didst soar over creation, O most sacred Simon, disciple and apostle of Christ, and, burning up the falsehood of idolatry with the fiery sound of thy dogmas, thou didst lead the nations out of the depths of ignorance unto the knowledge of God. And now, pray thou to Christ, that He be merciful to us on the day of judgment.

Now & ever…: doxasticon from the Pentecostarion.

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