At Great Vespers

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

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Called from on high…”—

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Troparion, in Tone III—

When He who trieth the hearts of men perceived thy godly mind, O apostle, with His divine foreknowledge, He delivered thee from injustice and the world; then, making thee a universal light, and commanding thee to illumine and shine upon the ends of the whole world, He manifestly counted thee worthy to write His divine Gospel. Him do thou entreat, that He save and enlighten our souls. Twice

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

Or this troparion, in the same tone—

When the Word Who is without beginning called thee away from thy tax-booth to be His disciple, He cried out to thee, commanding thee to follow Him and promising thee a share in His kingdom; then, O most blessed one, forsaking all things and abandoning the tumult of the crowd, thou didst steadfastly follow after him. And now, O God-seer, thou art manifestly full of the ineffable vision of Him. Him do thou beseech, that He save and enlighten our souls. Twice

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Of old the prophets’ clear vision perceived thee to be a holy stone, rolling upon the earth and crushing the snares of the deceiver; and the hypostatic Wisdom, O most wise one, made thee a light to the world and a preacher of righteousness and truth, radiant with the beams of the three-Sunned Light, O most honored one. Him do thou entreat, that He save and enlighten our souls. Twice

O servant of the all-divine Wisdom, when the unapproachable Light came in the flesh as was His will, dispelling the gloom of ignorance, then, summoned, thou didst follow His life-bearing commands, being a keeper thereof in manner past understanding, a beacon of the Church, and a dwelling-place of Christ, O Matthew. Him do thou beseech, that He save and enlighten our souls.

Thou wast shown to burn up deception with a tongue of fire, O Matthew most lauded and all-wise, receiving the advent of the Comforter, Who maketh thee radiant by His essence; hence, thou hast astonished the every thought of those who listen to thy words, relating to men the mighty works of the Almighty. And now thy sound hath gone forth into all the earth, O divinely inspired one. Him do thou entreat, that He take pity on all who hymn thee.

Glory…: Idiomelon, in Tone IV—

When Christ called thee to heavenly discipleship, thou didst diligently follow Him, O God-pleaser, casting aside without hesitation every exercise of earthly care; for, receiving with goodly submission an understanding worthy of the heavenly kingdom, thou didst put aside a base life and vain glory. And having been made an evangelist out of a publican, thou wast shown to be a light to those in darkness and a guide to salvation for the lost. And now thou art a most fervent intercessor for the whole world and the saving protector of those who honor thee, O Matthew.

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

The Prophet David, the forefather of God, for thy sake giveth voice beforehand in psalmody concerning thee, unto Him Who in thee accomplished mighty works, saying: The Queen stood at Thy right hand. For God Whose good pleasure it was to become incarnate of thee without father showed thee, His Mother, to be the mediator of life, that He might renew His image which had become corrupt through the passions; and having found the sheep which had strayed among the mountains and become lost, He taketh it upon His shoulders and bringeth it to His Father; and Christ, Who is possessed of great and rich mercy, in accordance with His will, uniteth it with the hosts of heaven, and saveth the world, O Theotokos.

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three Readings:

Reading from the First Epistle General of Peter (1:1-2:6)

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by those who have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He Who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written: Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, Who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in God Who raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, Who liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto you. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To Whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture: Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he who believeth on Him shall not be confounded.

Reading from the First Epistle General of Peter (2:21-3:9)

Beloved, Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him Who judgeth righteously: Who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the Tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Reading from the First Epistle General of Peter (4:1-11)

Beloved, forasmuch as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he who hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: who shall give account to Him Who is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For, for this cause was the Gospel preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ: to Whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

If the pastor so desire, Litia may be chanted: the sticheron of the temple, and these stichera of the apostle, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—

With the rod of grace, O right wondrous one, thou didst draw men from the abyss of vanity, submitting to the precepts of thy Teacher, Who wholly enlightened thine understanding and showed thee forth as an honored apostle and a divine proclaimer of His unapproachable Divinity, O most blessed Matthew.

The effulgence of the Spirit descended upon thee in the guise of fire, and made of thee a divine habitation, O blessed one, who quickly drivest off the gloom of ungodliness and enlightenest the world with the splendor of thy most wise words, O blessed one, thou proclaimer of the mysteries of God, adornment of the apostles and beholder of Christ.

Having illumined with the lightning flashes of thy preaching those who sit in the darkness of unbelief, O glorious one, thou didst show them forth as children of our God and Master by their faith. Thou didst emulate His sufferings and death and didst become a heir to His glory, in that thou art a wise proclaimer of God, a disciple of truth.

Glory…, in Tone II—

Forsaking earthly things, thou didst follow after Christ, signed with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and sent by Him to the gentiles who were perishing, to turn men to the light of the knowledge of God, O Apostle Matthew. And, having completed the struggles of thy divine suffering and divers torments, thou didst commit thy soul to Christ. Him do thou entreat, O most blessed one, that He grant us great mercy.

All my hope do I place in thee, O Mother of God: keep me under thy protection.

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

With the trumpet of thy words thou didst summon men to the knowledge of God, O ever-lauded one; and, having driven the assemblies of the deceived from the earth, thou didst guide the faithful to one unity of mind, and prayest now that those who ever celebrate thine honored memory with faith may be delivered from corruption and misfortunes.

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

Christ our God, Who armed thee with the fiery tongue of the Holy Spirit, showed thee forth, O apostle, as a mighty opponent of falsehood, wherewith thou hast received the splendid honors of grace. Him do thou entreat, that those who with faith ever celebrate thine honored memory be delivered from corruption and misfortunes.

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

Penetrating the depths of the Spirit, O apostle, thou didst grasp inexhaustible riches, and, drawing forth abundant grace therefrom, thou hast evangelically bestowed it upon all of us. And now thou prayest, that those who with faith ever celebrate thine honored memory be delivered from corruption and misfortune.

Glory…, in Tone VI—

Like a high-flying eagle thou didst most gloriously soar from the depths of evil to the uttermost heights, O most lauded Matthew; for thou didst follow in the steps of Christ Who hath covered the heavens with virtue and filled the whole earth with His knowledge. Thou didst show thyself to be an ardent emulator of Him, proclaiming His glad tidings that peace, life and salvation are given to those who piously submitted to the precepts of God. Do thou likewise guide us thereto who please the Creator and call thee blessed.

Christ the Lord, my Creator and Deliverer, Who came forth from thy womb, O all-pure one, and robed Himself in me, hath freed Adam from the curse. Wherefore, like the angel do we unceasingly cry out to thee, O most pure one, who art truly the Mother of God and Virgin: Rejoice! Rejoice, O Mistress, thou intercession, protection and salvation of our souls!

O holy apostle and evangelist Matthew, entreat the merciful God, that He grant unto our souls remission of transgressions.

Zealously following Christ the Master, Who, in His goodness, appeared to men on earth and called thee from thy tax-booth, thou wast shown to be a chosen apostle and a clarion-voiced proclaimer of the Gospel to the whole world. Wherefore, we honor thy precious memory, O divinely eloquent Matthew. Entreat the merciful God, that He grant remission of sins unto our souls.

We hymn thee who hast mediated the salvation of our race, O Virgin Theotokos; for thy Son and our God, accepting suffering on the Cross in the flesh He had received of thee, hath delivered us from corruption, in that He loveth mankind.