Great Vespers
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Octoechos, Tone 7
Venerable Father Sisoes the Great

AT PSALM 140

In Tone 7

10.

Come, let us rejoice in the Lord,

Who destroyed the power of death

and enlightened the human race;

and let us cry out with the angels:

Glory to You, our Creator and Saviour!

9.

O Saviour, for our sake You suffered crucifixion and burial;

and, as God, You destroyed death by Your death.

Therefore, we adore Your resurrection on the third day

and we sing: Glory to You, O Lord!

8.

On seeing the resurrection of the Creator,

the Apostles were amazed,

and they sang an angelic hymn of praise:

This is the glory of the Church,

this is the richness of the Kingdom!

O Lord, Who suffered for our sake, glory to You!

7.

O Christ, although You were taken captive by Your enemies,

I still acknowledge You as my God,

and am not ashamed of You;

I will not hide the fact that You were nailed to the Cross.

Your death is my life, almighty Lord,

and I extol Your resurrection.

O Lover of mankind, glory to You!

6.

In fulfilment of the prophecy of David,

Christ revealed His majesty to His disciples in Sion.

He showed Himself to be worthy of equal praise

with His Father and the Holy Spirit;

for He existed from all eternity as God the Word, without a body;

then, out of love for mankind, He became incarnate,

and for our sake He was put to death as a man;

finally, by His own power He arose from the dead.

5.

O Christ, of Your own free will, You descended into Hades;

and, as God the Lord, You destroyed death.

On the third day You arose from the dead and raised up Adam

from the bonds of Hades and corruption.

In joy he cried out and said:

Glory to Your resurrection, O Lover of mankind!

4.

O Lord, You were placed in the tomb as one sleeping,

and on the third day You arose in might and power.

You raised up Adam from the corruption of death,

for You alone are almighty.

In Tone 4

3.

Your all-festive commemoration, venerable one,

has shone forth brightly like the sun!

It enlightens the thoughts of the faithful with the splendour of your wonders

and brightens them with the rays of your mighty works, all-blessed one!

Therefore in celebration we joyously honour you

and faithfully bless you as the boast of monks!

2.

You lived as an earthly angel, most wealthy one,

wasting your body as though it belonged to another.

You ever instructed yourself divinely, father,

with vigils and the remembrance of death.

You grew with great strides to your ultimate desire!

You have indeed drawn near to perfection itself!

1.

At the time of your dormition, father,

an incomprehensible wonder took place:

a choir of angels stood at once before you;

your countenance, wise one, shone like the sun,

revealing your radiant form and the purity of your soul,

showing all the manner of the repose you received!

In Tone 7

Glory… Now…

Immaculate Mother of God,

you became a mother outside the laws of nature,

remaining a virgin in a way that exceeds all description

and human understanding.

The wonder of your birth-giving could not be told in human language,

for your conception of Christ blinded intelligence,

and your birth-giving exceeded understanding:

for whenever God so desires, the laws of nature are broken.

Wherefore, we all firmly believe that you are the Mother of God,

and we eagerly beseech you to intercede for the salvation of our souls.

APOSTICHA

In Tone 7

O Saviour of the world, You arose from the grave,

and together with Your own flesh You raised up mankind.

O Lord, glory to You!

The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

Come, let us worship Christ Who arose from the dead

and enlightened all creation.

For by His resurrection on the third day,

He set us free from the oppression of Hades,

granting us life and His great mercy.

For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.

O Christ, Lover of mankind,

You descended into Hades and destroyed death.

Then You arose on the third day;

and, together with Yourself You lifted up all of us

who glorify Your mighty resurrection.

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.

O Lord, what a fearful sight it was to see You lying in the tomb as if asleep.

Yet on the third day You arose in great power,

and at the same time You raised up Adam who joyfully cried out:

Glory to Your resurrection, O Lover of mankind!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen.

All of us on earth hasten to take refuge in you, O Lady;

and we cry out to you:

O Mother of God, you are the only hope for us;

deliver us from our countless sins, and save our souls.

TROPARIA

In Tone 7

By Your cross You destroyed death;* You opened Paradise to the thief;* You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy,* and changed the apostles* to proclaim that You are risen, O Christ our God,**  offering great mercy to the world.

Glory…

In Tone 1

Dweller of the wilderness and angel in the body!* You were a wonder-worker, our God-bearing father Sisoes!* You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil and prayer:* healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith:* glory to Him who gave you strength!* Glory to Him who granted you a crown!** Glory to Him who through you grants healing to all!

Now…

O Holy Tabernacle, when Gabriel called out to you:* Rejoice, O Virgin, full of grace,* the Lord of All became incarnate of you,* as the righteous David had foretold.* In bearing your Creator, you have shown yourself to surpass the vastness of the heavens.* We, therefore, cry out: Glory to Him Who dwelt in you!* Glory to Him Who came forth from you!* Glory to Him Who has set us free* through your life-giving birth!