At Vespers

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

Glory..., in Tone II —

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given a sign…” —

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

Troparion, in Tone III —

As radiant as the sun thou didst shine forth, O apostle, with the beams of the Spirit, and hast illumined the whole world with divine knowledge, O blessed one, and driven away the darkness of polytheism with thy divine preaching. Wherefore, celebrating thine all-splendid and right laudable festival today, we glorify thee with piety. Thrice

Now & ever..., Theotokion —

Thou hast thundered forth sacred and saving doctrines upon the whole world, O all-wise one, hast cleansed all creation of the madness of idolatry, O divinely wise one, and hast enlightened the people with the radiance of the knowledge of God. And, demolishing the temples of the idols through grace, thou didst raise up churches for the praise of our God. Thrice

Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Seated in the heights of divine knowledge, O James, thou didst receive the grace of the Spirit, which appeared to thee in the guise of fire and manifestly consumed all the idolatrous filth of impiety with a tongue of flame. Wherefore, we praise thee as an apostle and herald of God, celebrating today thy holy festival. Twice

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Glory…, the composition of Theophanes, idiomelon, in the same tone —

Manifestly receiving the grace of the divine Spirit, O James, thou wast numbered among the sacred choir of the apostles. Wherefore, by His descent from the heavens and His mighty inspiration, He illumined thee with a tongue of fire, and thou hast consumed the thorny ungodliness of the heathen. Entreat Christ God, O divine herald, that our souls be saved.

The Prophet David, the forefather of God, for thy sake gave voice beforehand in psalmody concerning thee, unto Him Who in thee accomplished mighty works: 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 mediatress 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. 3 Readings:

Reading from the First Epistle General of John (1:1-7).

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you: that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Reading from the General Epistle of James (1:1-12).

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the Faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who believed not. And the angels who kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said: “The Lord rebuke thee.” But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying: “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be those who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto Him Who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Reading from the General Epistle of Jude (1:1-25).

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

At Litia, 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 thou didst draw men from the depths of vanity, O right wondrous one, obedient, O James, to the behest of thy Teacher, Who enlightened thine understanding in all things and showed thee forth, O most blessed one, as an apostle and honored divine herald of His unapproachable divinity. Twice

The effulgence of the Spirit descended upon thee in the guise of fire, and made thee a divine receptacle, O blessed one, who quickly drivest away the darkness of ungodliness and dost illumine the world with the radiance of thy most wise words, O thou who givest utterance to mysteries, adornment of the apostles, O blessed witness of Christ.

Illumining those who sit in the darkness of ignorance with the lightning-flashes of thy preaching, O glorious one, thou didst show them to be children of God the Master because of their faith; and thou didst emulate His sufferings and death, and hast become an heir to His glory, in that thou art wise and divinely eloquent, a disciple most true.

Forsaking earthly things, thou didst follow after Christ; and, sealed with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, thou wast sent by Him to nations which were perishing, to convert men to the light of the knowledge of God, O Apostle James. And, finishing 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 of my hope do I set on 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…” —

Thou hast received invincible authority and power over the demons, O apostle, to drive away their dark princes with the name of Christ. Thou hast passed over the earth, shedding light like the sun, and hast taught all the nations, O glorious one, preaching the first salvific coming of Christ.

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

Emulating the primal Goodness, the essential and all-divine Life, thou wast a good man in essence, O James, and wast called the son of divine grace, showing thyself to be an earnest disciple of Christ through the goodness of thy character and the purity of thy mind.

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

As a harp finely tuned by the skill of God, O Apostle James, thou didst set thyself to summon the nations, by thy words and acts teaching them to acknowledge Christ. And thou didst enlighten all to confess the true divinity of Jesus, the Savior of our souls.

Glory…, in Tone V —

With faith we celebrate the most cherished day of thy memorial, O glorious James, honoring thee not as the son of Alphæus, but as the apostle of Christ and preacher of His ineffable incarnation. Wherefore, ever standing with the incorporeal ones, with the choirs of the apostles and martyrs before the throne of the Master, pray thou earnestly to our Savior and God, that He save us.

Thou art the temple and portal, the palace and throne of the King, O most honored Virgin, through whom Christ the Lord, my Deliverer, Who is the Sun of righteousness, hath revealed Himself unto those who sleep in darkness, desiring to enlighten that which He fashioned by His own hand in His image. Wherefore, O most hymned one, as thou hast acquired maternal boldness before Him, entreat Him without ceasing, that our souls be saved.

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

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.