AT VESPERS

A Reading from the Third Book of Kings

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

Now & ever…, from the Pentecostarion, or theotokion.

Troparion, in Tone VIII—

A Reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah

Thou didst give a most mighty weapon to our emperor: Thy precious Cross, whereby he reigned on earth in righteousness, shining forth in piety, and hath been vouchsafed the kingdom of heaven by Thy loving-kindness. And with him do we glorify Thy loving dispensation, O almighty Jesus, Thou Savior of our souls. Twice

Glory…, Now & ever…: Troparion from the Pentecostarion.

A Reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah

Thou didst give to thy pious favorite, O Thou Who lovest mankind, the wisdom of Solomon, the meekness of David and the Orthodoxy of the apostles, in that Thou art the King of kings and Lord of lords. Wherefore, we glorify Thy loving dispensation, O almighty Jesus, Thou Savior of our souls. Twice

Thou wast the first to subject the royal purple willingly to Christ, O ever-memorable emperor, acknowledging Him as God, the Benefactor of all Who reigneth over all, the Victor over every principality, Who transcendeth all dominion. Wherefore, O thou who lovest Christ, Jesus Who loveth mankind, the Savior of our souls, hath appointed thee as ruler.

Glory…, the composition of Byzantius, in Tone II—

Receiving from God the highest of rich gifts, O most mighty and all-great Constantine, thou didst prosper well therein; for, having been illumined through baptism with the rays of the all-holy Spirit by the holy hierarch Silvester, thou wast shown to be invincible among kings, and as a gift didst give to thy Creator thine empire and the pious imperial city. Wherefore, as thou hast boldness, cease thou never to pray to Christ God, that He grant forgiveness of offenses and great mercy unto all who keep thy memory.

Now & ever…, from the Pentecostarion.

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three Readings:

Solomon stood up in front of the altar before all the congregation of Israel; and he spread out his hands toward heaven: and he said: “O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like Thee in heaven above and on the earth beneath. If the heaven and the heaven of heavens will not suffice Thee, how much less even this house which I have built to Thy name? Yet, O Lord God of Israel, Thou shalt look upon my petition, to hear the prayer which Thy servant doth pray to Thee in Thy presence this day, that Thine eyes may be open to this house day and night, even toward the place of which Thou didst say: ‘My name shall be there, to hear the prayer which My servant prayeth at this place day and night.’ And Thou shalt hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, and of Thy people Israel, which they shall pray toward this place; and Thou shalt hear in Thy dwelling-place in heaven, and Thou shalt do and be gracious.”

[Is. 61: 10-62: 5]

Let my soul rejoice in the Lord; for He hath clothed me with the robe of salvation, and the garment of joy: He hath put a crown on me as on a bridegroom, and adorned me with ornaments as a bride. And as the earth putting forth her flowers, and as a garden its seed, so shall the Lord, even the Lord, cause righteousness to spring forth, and exultation before all nations. For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as light, and My salvation burn as a torch. And the gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and kings thy glory: and one shall call thee by a new name, which the Lord shall name. And thou shalt be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. And thou shalt no more be called Forsaken; and thy land shall not more be called Desert: for thou shalt be called My Pleasure, and the land Inhabited: for the Lord hath taken pleasure in thee, and thy land shall be inhabited. And as a young man liveth with a virgin, so shall thy sons dwell in thee: and it shall come to pass that as a bridegroom will rejoice over a bride, so will the Lord rejoice over thee.

[Is. 60: 1-14]

Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and there shall be gross darkness on the nations: but the Lord shall appear upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And kings shall walk in thy light, and nations in thy brightness. Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold thy children gathered: all thy sons have come from afar, and thy daughters shall be borne on men’s shoulders. Then shalt thou see, and fear, and be amazed in thine heart; for the wealth of the sea shall come round to thee, and of nations and peoples; and herds of camels shall come to thee, and the camels of Madiam and Gæpha shall cover thee: all from Saba shall come bearing gold, and shall bring frankincense, and they shall publish the salvation of the Lord. And all the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered, and the rams of Nabæoth shall come; and acceptable sacrifices shall be offered on My altar, and My house of prayer shall be glorified. Who are these that fly as clouds, and as doves with young ones to Me? The isles have waited for Me, and the ships of Tharsis among the first, to bring thy children from afar, and their silver and their gold with them, and that for the sake of the holy name of the Lord, and because the Holy One of Israel is glorified. And strangers shall build thy walls, and their kings shall wait upon thee: for by reason of My wrath I smote thee, and by reason of mercy I loved thee. And thy gates shall be opened continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; to bring in to thee the power of the gentiles, and their kings as captives. For the nations and the kings which will not serve thee shall perish; and those nations shall be made utterly desolate. And the glory of Lebanon shall come to thee, with the cypress, and pine, and cedar together, to glorify my holy place. And the sons of those who afflicted thee, and of those who provoked thee, shall come to thee in fear; and thou shalt be called Zion, the city of the Holy One of Israel. Because thou hast become desolate and hated, and there was no helper, therefore I will make thee a perpetual gladness, a joy of many generations. And thou shalt suck the milk of the gentiles, and shalt eat the wealth of kings: and shalt know that I am the Lord Who saveth and delivereth thee, the Holy One of Israel.

At Litia, the sticheron of the temple; and these stichera of the saints—

In Tone I: As is meet, we celebrate thy memory, O Constantine, equal of the apostles, thou foundation and boast of all kings; for, illumined by the rays of the Spirit, thou didst enlighten the whole Church of Christ, gathering together assemblies of the faithful from everywhere in the city of Nicæa, where the audacity of the impious was extinguished and the tongues of the heretics grew weak and foolish, while the crown of the Orthodox was lifted high when the Faith was revealed. Hence, thou hast been glorified by thee, O most glorious one, and wast proclaimed to be the father of all kings, being the first to receive thy robe of royal purple from God. Wherefore, we who celebrate thy memory entreat thee with faith: ask thou cleansing of transgressions for our souls.

The composition of Byzantius, in Tone II: Thou didst not receive thy name from men, but, like the divine Paul, didst have it from Christ God on high, O all-glorious Constantine. For, beholding the sign of the Cross in the sky, thou wast thereby caught as goodly prey, and therein thou hast been shown to be an invincible victor over enemies visible and invisible. Wherefore, we on earth entreat thee as a fervent advocate, that in thy boldness thou ask for us enlightenment, cleansing and great mercy.

The memory of the pious Constantine hath shone forth today, poured out like myrrh; for, desiring Christ, he spurned the idols, raising up a temple on the earth to Him Who was crucified for our sake; and in the heavens he hath received the crown of hope.

In Tone III: Passing through the age of thy youth, like the godly Paul thou didst receive a divine gift from on high, and with the full armor of the Cross didst set at nought the warfare of the cruel adversary. O apostle Constantine, thou boast of kings, pray thou to the Lord in our behalf, that our souls be saved.

In Tone IV: Praise is sung to God by lips of clay on the day of thy divine memorial, O most lauded Constantine; for thou wast shown to be a most excellent warrior of the word of faith, reviling the carven faces of the idols. And now thou hast found rest in the effulgence of the Trinity, illumining our thoughts by thine entreaties.

Glory…, in Tone V—

Adorned by thy might, O emperor, the Church mystically rejoiceth today, and honoreth thy most precious memory as is meet with all praise, crying aloud: Rejoice, O thou who didst emulate Paul, taking up the Cross of Christ and crushing the snares of the adversary! Rejoice, O most excellent among emperors, equal in honor to the apostles! Rejoice, thou confirmation of the faithful and mighty bulwark of kings! O blessed Constantine, thou adornment of kings, cease thou never to pray to the Lord in our behalf, in that thou hast boldness.

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

O Constantine, thou wast the first emperor among Christians to receive thy scepter from God; for the sign of salvation, which was hidden in the earth, was revealed to thee, whereby thou didst subdue all nations beneath the feet of the Romans, in that thou didst have the life-creating Cross as thine invincible weapon, O blessed one, whereby thou wast brought to our God.

Stichos: I have raised up one chosen out of My people; I have found David My servant.

Truly blessed and hallowed is the womb which bore thee, O peace-loving emperor, divinely crowned Constantine, thou joy of Christians, glory of the Romans, wealth and champion of orphans and widows, protection of the lowly, correction of those who are in confusion and sorrow, and true deliverance of captives.

Stichos: Wherefore God, thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness.

Wounded by desire and love for Christ, the mother of the all-sweet offspring arrived with haste in holy Zion, at the holy place wherein our Savior was voluntarily crucified for our salvation; and there, taking up the Cross, she cried out, rejoicing: “Glory to Him Who hath given me that for which I hoped!”

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

The all-radiant light, the royal and never-waning star, passing from unbelief to faith in the Godhead, was led to sanctify his people and city; and, beholding the image of the Cross in the sky, he heard a voice therefrom say: “By this conquer thine enemies!” Wherefore, receiving the understanding of the Spirit as a renowned priest and king, with oil thou hast established the Church of God, O father, thou glory of Orthodox kings, whose shrine poureth forth healing. O Constantine, equal of the apostles, pray thou for our souls.

Now & ever…, from the Pentecostarion.

Beholding the image of Thy Cross in the sky, and like Paul receiving a call not from men, Thine apostle among kings placed the imperial city in Thy hands, O Lord. Do Thou save it ever in peace, through the supplications of the Theotokos, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind.