Great Vespers

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Octoechos Tone 8

Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel

Venerable Father Stephen the Sabbaite

Holy Father Julian, Bishop of Kenomane

AT PSALM 140

In Tone 8

10.

O Christ, during this spiritual service,

we sing to You these evening prayers,

commemorating the mercy You have shown us

by Your resurrection.

9.

O Lord, O Lord, do not cast us away from Your face;

but in Your kindness have mercy on us

through Your resurrection.

8.

Rejoice, O holy Zion,

the Mother of Churches and the dwelling-place of God;

for you were the first to receive the forgiveness of sins

through the resurrection.

7.

Christ the Word was begotten by God the Father before all ages;

yet in these latter times,

He freely willed to take flesh from the Virgin who did not know man.

By His death on the cross and His resurrection,

He saved mankind from the ancient curse of death.

6.

O Christ, we glorify Your resurrection;

for by rising from the dead

You freed the race of Adam from the sufferings of Hades,

and as God You granted eternal life

and great mercy to the world.

5.

Glory to You, O Christ our Saviour,

the only-begotten Son of God;

for You were nailed to the cross,

and then arose from the dead on the third day.

4.

We glorify You, O Lord;

for of Your own free will You suffered crucifixion for our salvation.

Almighty Saviour, we worship You.

We implore You not to cast us away from Your face;

but hear our prayer and save us by Your resurrection,

for You truly love mankind.

In Tone 4

Standing before the throne of the tri-luminary Godhead,

brilliant with the rays of Its unceasing light,

you cry out joyfully, Gabriel, leader of the angels,

with all the powers above:

Holy are You, O Father!

Holy are You, co-eternal Word!

Holy are You, Holy Spirit!

One glory, one kingdom, one nature, one Godhead, and one power!

The eternal wisdom established you, Gabriel,

a light reflecting things divine, illumining the whole creation,

revealing to us the divine mystery hidden from before the ages:

God who is bodiless made flesh in a virgin womb

and become man that He might save mankind.

Destroy the wanton violence of Hagar’s sons:

the enemies who attack your flock;

heal the divisions of the church,

calm the storm of unending temptations;

deliver from danger and calamities those who honour you in love,

and hasten to your protection, Gabriel the archangel,

the intercessor for our souls!

In Tone 8

Glory… Now…

Out of his love for mankind the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt with men, for He assumed a human body from the pure Virgin and was seen in the flesh He received from her. He is the One and only God having two natures but not two persons. Wherefore we profess and declare the truth that Christ our God is perfect God and perfect Man. O Mother, who knew not carnal union, intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.

APOSTICHA

In Tone 8

O Jesus, You descended from heaven

so that You might ascend the cross.

O immortal Life, You came to die.

You are the true light to those who live in darkness,

and You are the resurrection of the fallen.

Therefore, O Saviour of all, we glorify You.

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

Let us glorify Christ, the Saviour of our Souls

Who arose from the dead.

For He took upon himself a soul and a body,

and during His passion He separated the one from the other.

His pure soul went down to conquer Hades,

while His holy body lay uncorrupted in the grave.

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

O Christ, we glorify Your resurrection with psalms and hymns.

For by Your victory over death

You delivered us from the sufferings of Hades,

and as God You granted us eternal life and great mercy.

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

O Lord of all, Creator of heaven and earth,

You are above all understanding.

Through Your passion on the cross

You freed us from the sufferings of Hades.

And, after condescending to be buried, You arose in glory;

and with Your mighty arm You also raised up Adam.

O most merciful Lord, we glorify You;

for by Your resurrection on the third day

You granted us remission of sins and eternal life.

Glory… Now…

O Virgin, You have never known wedlock,

Yet You conceived God in the flesh

in a manner which words can never describe.

You thus became the Mother of God on high.

O Immaculate Lady, receive the supplication of your servants

and grant us the cleansing of our sins.

Accept now our prayers and beseech God to save all of us.

TROPARIA

In Tone 8

You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,** glory be to You.

In Tone 4

Glory…

Commander of the heavenly hosts,* we who are unworthy beseech you,* by your prayers encompass us under the wings of your incorporeal glory,* and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry out to you:* deliver us from all harm,** for you are the commander of the powers on high!

Now…

O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created man,** and saved our souls from death.

people!