Lazarus Saturday

Saturday Before Palm Sunday - Saturday of Lazarus

ORTHROS - УТРЕНЯ - MATINS

God is the Lord Ps 117 - Бог Господ

R: God is the Lord and has appeared to us. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Ps 117 

S1: Thank the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy lasts for ever. 

S2: All the nations surrounded me, but I opposed them in the Lord’s name. 

S3: This is the Lord's doing and it is wonderful in our eyes. 

Tone 1

Apolytíkia - Тропари

of Lazarus resurrection - Общее воскресение

Tone 1

O Christ God, you confirmed the universal resurrection by raising Lazarus from the dead before your passion. O Vanquisher of Death, we cry out to you like the children with their palms of victory, “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” (3x)

Small Litany - Малка ектения

P: For yours is the might, and yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen 

Kathísma 1  Седален

Tone 1 - The stone had been secured.

You took pity on the tears of Martha and Mary, * and You ordered that the stone be rolled away from the tomb, * O Christ our God. And then You called * the dead man and resurrected him; * and through him, O Giver of Life,* You assured the world of its resurrection. * Glory to Your dominion, O Savior; * glory to Your authority; * glory to You who established all things by Your word.

Glory. Both now. 

You took pity on the tears of Martha and Mary, * and You ordered that the stone be rolled away from the tomb, * O Christ our God. And then You called * the dead man and resurrected him; * and through him, O Giver of Life,* You assured the world of its resurrection. * Glory to Your dominion, O Savior; * glory to Your authority; * glory to You who established all things by Your word

 Resurrectional Evlogitária,  Благословен еси Господи (Тone 5)

Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes.

The assembly of angels was amazed when it saw you among the dead. O Saviour, by destroying the power of death, you raised Adam with you and freed everyone from Hades.

Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes.

The radiant angel cried to the Myrrhbearers from the tomb, "Why do you women mingle myrrh with your tears? Look at the tomb and understand. The Saviour has risen from the tomb.”

 „Почто мира с милостивными слезами, о ученицы, растворяете?“ Блистаяйся во гробе Ангел мироносицам вещаше: „Видите вы гроб и уразумейте: Спас бо воскресе от гроба.“

Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes.

The Myrrhbearers ran sorrowfully to your tomb very early in the morning, but an angel came to them and said, "The time for sorrow has come to an end. Do not weep, but announce the resurrection to the apostles."

Зело рано мироносицы течаху ко гробу Твоему рыдающия, но предста к ним Ангел и рече: „Рыдания время преста, не плачите, воскресение же апостолом рцыте.“

Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes.

The Myrrhbearers were sorrowful as they approached your tomb, but the angel said to them: Why do you number the Living among the dead? As God he has risen from the tomb."

Мироносицы жены, с миры пришедшия ко гробу Твоему, Спасе, рыдаху. Ангел же к ним рече, глаголя: „Что с мертвыми живаго помышляете? Яко Бог бо вокресе от гроба.“

Glory:

We worship the Father, his Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, one in Being. We cry with the Seraphim, “Holy, Holy, Holy are you, O Lord.”

Поклонимся Отцу и Его Сынови, и Святому Духу, Святей Троице во едином существе, со серафимы зовуще: свят, свят, свят еси, Господи. 

Both now:

O Virgin, because you gave birth to the Giver of Life, you rescued Adam from his sin. You gave Eve joy instead of sadness. The Divine Man who was born from you has restored to life those who had fallen from it.

Жизнодавца рождши, греха, Дево, Адама избавила еси. Радость же Еве в печали место подала еси; падшия же от жизни к сей направи, из Тебе воплотивыйся Бог и человек.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. (X3) O our God and our hope, glory to you.

Small Litany

P: For blessed is your name, and glorified is your kingdom, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen

Kathísma 2 Седален 

Tone 5. Let us worship the Word.

Source of wisdom and foreknowledge, Christ, You still inquired * of the neighbours of Martha in Bethany, O Lord. * And You said, "Where have you laid beloved Lazarus?" * Sympathetically You wept for Your friend four days dead.* Then by Your word alone You raised him, * as the Lord and Giver of Life, * O compassionate Lover of humanity.

Glory. Both now. Repeat.

Source of wisdom and foreknowledge, Christ, You still inquired * of the neighbours of Martha in Bethany, O Lord. * And You said, "Where have you laid beloved Lazarus?" * Sympathetically You wept for Your friend four days dead.* Then by Your word alone You raised him, * as the Lord and Giver of Life, * O compassionate Lover of humanity

Resurrection Ode

P/R: Now that we have seen the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. O Christ, we venerate your cross, and praise and glorify your holy resurrection; for you are our God, and we know no one else apart from you. We address your name. All you faithful, come and venerate Christ's holy resurrection. For see, joy has come into all the world through the cross. Let us always bless the Lord and praise his resurrection. For he has destroyed death by death by enduring the cross for us.

Psalm 50

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your great mercy; and according to the multitude of your compassion, blot out my transgression. * Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. * For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. * Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done evil in your sight, that you may be found just when you speak, and victorious when you are judged. * For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin my mother bore me. * For behold, you have loved truth; you have made known to me the secret and hidden things of your wisdom. * You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; you shall wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. * Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the afflicted bones may rejoice. * Turn your face away from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. * Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. * Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. * Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and establish me with your governing Spirit. * I shall teach transgressors your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to you. * Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, my tongue shall joyfully declare your righteousness. * Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise. * For if you had desired sacrifice, I would give it; you do not delight in burnt offerings . * A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God will not despise a broken and a humbled heart. * Do good in your good pleasure to Sion; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. * Then you shall be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole burnt offerings. * Then they shall offer bulls on your altar.

Kontakion

From Triodion

Tone 2. In seeking the heights.

The joy of all men, the Truth who is Christ our God, the light and the life, the resurrection of the world has appeared unto those on earth, in that He is benevolent, becoming the type of the Resurrection, and granting divine remission unto all.

Oikos - Икос

To Your disciples, O Creator of all Your declared, saying: "Brothers and comrades, our friend has fallen asleep."Thus You foretold them and taught that You know all things as the Creator of all things. "So, onward; let us go and see a strange burial, and behold Mary's lament and the tomb of Lazarus. For I shall work a miracle there, preluding the Cross, and granting divine remission unto all."

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On April 11, we commemorate the holy hieromartyr Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum.

On this day we also commemorate the devout woman Tryphaina of Cyzicus.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Farmuthios.

From the Triodion.

On this day, the Saturday before Palm Sunday, we celebrate the raising of the holy and righteous friend of Christ, Lazarus, who had been four days in the grave.

Verses

O Jesus, You grieve: a token of mortal essence.

Your friend You revive: a token of divine potence.

At the intercession of Your friend Lazarus, O Christ God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Katavasias of Lazarus Saturday

Ode 1. Tone 8.

Of old when the Israelite had crossed * the watery passage as if over a tract of land, * fleeing from the misery of Egypt, * he cried: "To God our Redeemer, O let us sing."

Ode 3.

O divine Master Builder of the celestial vault, * as the only Lover of mankind and Founder of the Church, * establish me, O Lord, in love for You, the believers' * firm support and ultimate object of all desire.

Ode 4.

You are my strength. * You are my power and might, O Lord. * You, my God, are also my exultant joy, * Who deigned to visit our poverty, * without ever leaving the Father's bosom at any time. * To You, then, do I cry out with Habakkuk the Prophet: * To Your power be glory, O Lover of man.

Ode 5.

Why, O Lord, have You cast me * away from Your countenance, O never-setting Light, * and this foreign darkness * now has covered me, miserable that I am? * Bring me back, I pray You, and to the light of Your commandments * guide my ways, I entreat You most fervently.

Ode 6.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, * for many are my iniquities; * and bring me up from the deep * of evils, I supplicate. * For I have cried out to You, God of my salvation. * O my Savior, hearken unto me.

Ode 7.

Those Servants from Judea, * who of old were deported and sent to Babylon, * once treaded on the fire * of the furnace by holding * to the faith in the Trinity * and chanted: Blessed are You the God of our fathers.

Ode 8.

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

O praise and bless Him * who by the armies of Angels * is extolled as King of the heavens, * supremely exalting Him unto all the ages.

Deacon: The Theotokos, the Mother of Light, in hymns let us now glorify.

The Magnificat is omitted.

Canticle 9.

Canon I.

Tone 8. Heirmos.

The pure Theotokos who in her womb * conceived the divine fire * without being burned, let us honour gloriously, O peoples, * magnifying her with never-silent hymns. (2)

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

When they saw him walking who had been dead * for four days, the people * were amazed by the miracle and cried to the Redeemer: * With never-silent hymns, O God, we magnify You.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

In advance affirming Your glorious * arising, my Savior, * from Hades You liberate Lazarus who had been dead for * four days. Hence I magnify You with hymns.

Canon II.

Tone 8. You are the Theotokos.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

In honour of Your Father * and thus demonstrating * that You were not against God, Christ, You pray to Him, * when by an act of Your free will * You raised one four-days-dead.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

An all-trustworthy witness * of Your three-day rising * You show to all in the person of Lazarus, * when from the grave after four days * You raised him, O my Christ.

Glory.

To demonstrate Your human * energy, my Savior, * You walk and weep and You ask where is Lazarus; * and to declare Your divine such, * You raise him from the dead.

Both now.

O Master and my Savior, * by the freely chosen * and voluntary effecting of each of Your wills, * You brought about my salvation * in ways surpassing speech.

Ode 9 of Katavasia. Tone 8.

You are the Theotokos * literally, O Virgin; * and we confess it, for we have been saved through you * whom we, O pure one, with choirs of angels magnify

Small Litany 

P: For all the powers of heaven praise you, and to you we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen 

Holy is the Lord 

Holy is the Lord our God. X3
Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool, for He is holy. 

Exaposteilária - Светилни

Tone 3. Our Saviour from on high.

By Your word, O Word of God, * Lazarus now leaps out of death, * having returned to this life. * Therefore the peoples honour You * with their branches, O Mighty One; * for You shall destroy Hades utterly by Your own death. (2)

Glory. Both now

By means of Lazarus has Christ* already plundered you, O death. * Where is your victory, O Hades? * For the lament of Bethany * is handed over now to you. * Let us all wave against it * our branches of victory

Praises - Хвалитни стихири

Tone 1 Let everything with breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights. To you, O God, is due a song. 

Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his powers. To you, O God, is due a song. 

S8: To fulfil among them the written judgment: this glory have all His holy ones.

O Christ, as You are the resurrection and the life of mankind, You came to the tomb of Lazarus, and demonstrated for us both of Your essences, O long-suffering One; for from the pure Virgin You have come indeed as both God and man. As a mortal You inquired where he was buried, and as God with Your life-bearing summons You resurrected him who had been four days dead.

S7. Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.

You resurrected Lazarus from Hades after he was dead for four days, O Christ, thus before Your own death confounding the dominion of death, and by means of one whom You loved foretokening the liberation of all mankind from corruption. Therefore adoring Your omnipotent authority we cry out: Blessed are You, O Savior. Have mercy on us

S6: Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him for the abundance of his majesty. 

Martha and Mary unto the Savior said: If You had been here, O Lord, then Lazarus would not have died. Then Christ, the Resurrection of those who in death have slumbered, resurrected from the dead the man already four days dead. Therefore, O believers all, come let us adore Him who is coming in glory to save our souls.

S5: Praise him with the trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp.

To Your disciples, O Christ, You granted the tokens of Your Divinity; but You humbled yourself among the crowds, Your intention being to conceal it from them. Therefore as the Foreknower of all things and as God, You predicted to Your Apostles the death of Lazarus. In the presence of the people in Bethany, as though You did not know, as man, You sought to learn the place of Your friend's burial. But when he, who had been four days dead, was resurrected by You, he made Your divine power manifest. O Almighty One, glory to You, O Lord.

S4: Praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute.

You raised Your friend who was four days dead, O Christ, and brought an end to the lament of Martha and Mary, and thus You demonstrated to all that You are the one who fills all things by Your divine dominion, by Your own free will. The Cherubim cry out to You unceasingly: Hosanna in the highest. Blessed are You who are God above all. Glory to You.

S3: Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals; let everything that breathes praise the Lord.

Martha cried aloud to Mary: "Come, for the Teacher is here and is calling for you." And she went quickly to the place where her Lord was. And when she saw You, she cried; she knelt; she worshipped. As she covered Your immaculate feet with kisses, she said, "Lord, if You had been here, our brother would not have died."

S2: Arise, O Lord my God, let Your hand be lifted high, and do not forget Your poor to the end.

Four days after he had died You raised up Lazarus in Bethany. As soon as You came to the tomb, Your voice became life to the dead man; and Hades, groaning in fear, released him. Great was the miracle! Very merciful Lord, glory to You.

S1: I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your wondrous things.

O Lord, even as You said to Martha: I am the Resurrection; so You fulfilled Your word in action by calling back Lazarus from Hades. Resurrect me, also, for I am dead through passions. I beseech You, compassionate One who love mankind.

Glory. Tone 2. From Triodion

Today has a miracle been performed that is great and paradoxical. For from the grave Christ has summoned a dead man of four days and resurrected him, and called him His beloved friend. Let us sing glory to Him who is supremely glorious, so that at the intercessions of Lazarus the righteous, He might save our souls.

From Octoechos

Both now. Theotokion.

You are supremely blessed, O Virgin Theotokos. For through Him who from you became incarnate was Hades taken prisoner, and Adam has been summoned back; the curse has been neutralised, and Eve has been liberated; death has been put to death, and we have been brought to life. Therefore extolling we cry out: O Christ our God, You are blessed, for so was Your good pleasure. Glory to You

Great Doxology –

Велико славословие

¹ Glory to you who have shown us the light! Glory to God in the highest! Peace on earth and goodwill to men! ² We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we thank you for your great glory, ³ O Lord King, heavenly God, almighty Father, O Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and you, O Holy Spirit! ⁴ O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us, for you take away the sin of the world. ⁵ Receive our prayer, for you sit on the right of the Father, and have mercy on us. ⁶ For only you are holy, only you are Lord, O Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.  Amen. ⁷ I will bless you every day, and always praise your name for ever and ever. ⁸ O Lord, allow us this day to be guarded from sin. ⁹ Blessed are you, O Lord God of our fathers! Praised and glorified be your name for ever.  Amen. ¹⁰ O Lord, let your mercy be on us, for we have hoped in you. ¹⁶ Blessed are you, O Lord! Teach me your statutes.  X3 ¹² O Lord, you have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: O Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. ¹⁴ O Lord, I have fled to you; teach me to do your will, for you are my God. ¹⁵ For with you is the source of life, and in your light we will see light. ¹⁶ Stretch out your mercy to those who know you.

Triságion – Святий Боже

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Святы́й Бо́же, Святы́й Крепкий, Святы́й Безсмертный, помилуй нас!

Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς.

Dinamis: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Resurrection Sundays Tropárion

Днес спасение миру бисть

Today salvation has come to the world. Let us sing to the one who rose from the dead, the Author of our life. After he had destroyed death by death, he gave us victory and great mercy.

No Liturgy, go to Apóstolos, Gospel and Vespers

Prokeímenon Tone 3. Psalm 26.

The Lord is my light and my saviour.

Verse: The Lord is the defender of my life.

Deacon: Wisdom.

Reader: The reading is from Paul's Letter to the Hebrews.

Deacon: Let us be attentive.

Reader:

Apóstolos - The Epistle

Heb. 12:28-29; 13:1-8

Brethren, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for God will judge the immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never fail you nor forsake you." Hence we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?" Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.

Priest: Peace be with you.

Alleluia. Tone 6. Psalm 92.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: The Lord reigns; He clothed Himself with majesty.

Verse 2: And He established the world, which shall not be moved.

Priest: (in a low voice) THE PRAYER OF THE HOLY GOSPEL

Shine in our hearts, O Master Who loves mankind, the pure light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our mind that we may comprehend the proclamations of Your Gospels. Instil in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments so that, having trampled down all carnal desires, we may lead a spiritual life, both thinking and doing all those things that are pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the illumination of our souls and bodies, and to You we offer up glory, together with Your Father, Who is without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

The Gospel

Saturday of Lazarus

Deacon: Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest: Peace be with all.

R: And with your spirit.

Deacon: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. John.

Priest: Let us be attentive.

R/S: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

Deacon

John. 11:1-45

At that time, a certain man was ill, Lazaros of Bethany, from the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazaros was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazaros. So when he heard that he was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go into Judea again." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." Thus he spoke, and then he said to them, "Our friend Lazaros has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep." The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazaros is dead; and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazaros had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world." When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying quietly, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled; and he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb; it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odour, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you have heard me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that you did send me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazaros, come out." The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him.

Priest: Peace be with you.

Singer: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

VESPERS 

Confessor and Bishop Basil of Párion C8

Priest: Blessed is our God always, now and for­ever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Ps.103 and Litany

Lord, I have cried - Господи воззвах - Tone 6

Lord, I have cried unto You; hear me. Hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried unto You; hear me. Give heed to the voice of my prayer when I cry unto You. Hear me, O Lord.

Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord!

Tone 6
S5: O Lord, if you mark offences, who will stand? But there is forgiveness with you. 

Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has brought us together. And all of us take up Your Cross and say to You: "Blessed are You, the One, who is coming in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

S4: From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
God the Father's co-eternal Son and Logos, who has heaven as a throne and the earth as a footstool, modestly sat on an irrational colt today, when He came to Bethany. Therefore the Hebrew children with branches in hand extolled Him and cried, "Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes, the King of Israel!

S3: For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions.

Let us also come today, all the new Israel, the Church of the Gentiles, and with the Prophet Zechariah let us exclaim: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Proclaim it aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! For behold, your King comes to you; He is gentle and saving, and mounted upon a foal, the son of a donkey." Celebrate with the children, and with branches in hand extol Him: "Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes, the King of Israel!

S2: Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise Him, all you peoples.

Prefiguring for us Your divine Resurrection, O Good One, by Your command You raised a dead man from the grave, Lazarus, Your friend who had ceased breathing and was four days dead and smelling. Then You symbolically rode upon the foal, carried as if on a chariot, and indicating the Gentiles, O Savior. Therefore Israel, Your beloved, offers You praise from the mouths of nursing infants and innocent babies, as they see You, O Christ, entering the Holy City, six days before the Passover

S1: For His mercy rules over us; and the truth of the Lord endures forever.

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany. Then, his disciples approached Him and said to Him, "Lord, where will You have us prepare for You to eat the Passover?" And He answered them, "Go into the village opposite you, and you will find a man carrying a jar of water. Follow him, and tell the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, I shall keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.'

Glory: Both now:
Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has brought us together. And all of us take up Your Cross and say to You: "Blessed are You, the One, who is coming in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

Deacon (in a low voice): Let us pray to the Lord.

Priest (in a low voice)

Prayer of the Entrance

At evening, at morning and at midday we praise, bless and give thanks, and we pray to you, Master of all things, Lord who love mankind: Direct our prayer before you like incense, and do not incline our hearts to words or thoughts of evil, but deliver us from all that hunt down our souls. For our eyes look to you, O Lord, our Lord, and we have hoped in you.

ENTRANCE with censor 

O Joyful Light - Свете тихий - Phos Ilarón 

(A song of St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem)

Deacon: Wisdom. Let us stand.

People: O joyful light of the holy glory of the im­mortal Father, the heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ. Now that we have reached the setting of the sun and behold the evening light, we sing to God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is fitting at all times to praise you with cheerful voices, O Son of God, the Giver of life. Behold, the world sings your glory.

Prokeímenon Ps 92 Tone 6 

Deacon: The evening prokeimenon.

The Lord reigns; He clothed Himself with majesty.

Verse: The Lord clothed and girded Himself with power.

The Lord reigns; He clothed Himself with majesty.

Verse: And He established the world, which shall not be moved.

The Lord reigns; He clothed Himself with majesty

The Readings - Τὰ Ἀναγνώσματα - Паримѝи

From Triodion

Reader: The reading is from the book of Genesis.

Deacon: Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

Reader: 

Gn 49:1-2, 8-12

Now Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days: Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, and listen to Israel your father. Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's cub; from being a shoot, my son, you have grown up. He bows down, and slept as a lion and a cub; and who shall rouse him? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from his loins, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the expectation of the nations. Binding his colt to a vine, and his donkey's colt to its branch, he will wash his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes. His eyes are gladdened from the wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk."

Reader: The reading is from the Prophecy of Zephaniah.

Deacon: Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

Reader: 

Zep 3:14-19

Thus says the Lord: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Cry aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Be glad and rejoice with your whole heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your iniquities and ransomed you from your enemies. The Lord, the King of Israel, is in your midst; you will no longer see any evil. At that time the Lord shall say to Jerusalem, "O Zion, be of good courage; do not let your hands grow slack. The Lord your God is with you. The Mighty One shall save. He shall bring gladness upon you and will renew you with His love. He will delight over you with joy as in a day of feasting. I shall gather together your broken ones. Alas! who has taken up a reproach against her? Behold, at that time I will act among you for your sake," says the Lord. "I will save the oppressed and welcome those being rejected. I will make them a praise and renowned throughout the whole earth."

Reader: The reading is from the Prophecy of Zechariah.

Deacon: Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

Reader: 

Zec 9:9-15

Thus says the Lord: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Proclaim it aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you; He is righteous and saving; He is gentle and mounted upon a donkey, even a young foal. He will utterly destroy the chariots out of Ephraim and the horse out of Jerusalem. The bow of war shall be utterly destroyed, and there shall be abundance and peace among the nations. He shall rule over the waters as far as the sea and over the rivers to the ends of the earth. And by the blood of your covenant, you freed your prisoners from the pit having no water. you prisoners from the congregation, you shall live in the fortress, and for one day of your exile, I will repay to you double. For I have bent you, O Judah, for Myself as a bow; I have filled Ephraim. And I will arouse your sons, O Zion, against the sons of the Greek, and I will handle you as the sword of a warrior." And the Lord will be over them, and He shall go forth like a lightning bolt. The Lord Almighty shall sound with the trumpet and shall go forth with the tumult of His threat. The Lord Almighty will shield them.

Litany 

(Read it) Сподоби Господи

O Lord, keep us this evening without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is your name to the ages. Amen. O Lord, let your mercy be upon us for we have set our hope in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are you, Master, grant me understanding of your commandments. Blessed are you, Holy One, enlighten me with your commandments. Lord, your mercy is forever. Do not despise the works of your hands. To you is due praise, to you is due song, to you is due glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Petition litany - Просителна ектения - Plirotiká 

Apósticha - Стиховни стихири

Tone 8
Rejoice and be glad, O city of Zion; rejoice and leap for joy, O Church of God. For behold, your King has come in righteousness, seated on a foal, and by children extolled: "Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are You who have an abundance of tender mercies. Have mercy on us.

S1: From the mouths of babies and nursing infants You prepared praise.

The Savior came today to the city of Jerusalem, to fulfil the Scripture. And everyone took branches of palm trees, and spread their garments on the road for Him, recognising that He is our God, to whom the Cherubim unceasingly sing: "Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are You who have an abundance of tender mercies. Have mercy on us.

S2: O Lord, our Lord, how wondrous is Your name in all the earth.

O Good One, You ride on the Cherubim, and You are praised by the Seraphim. And now You rode on a foal, like David said, and children extolled You as God. The Jews blasphemed, in violation of the Law. Your sitting on the foal prefigured that untamed Gentiles would be converted from unbelief to faith. Glory to You, O Christ; only You are merciful and love humanity

Glory: Both now:

Tone 6

Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has brought us together. And all of us take up Your Cross and say to You: "Blessed are You, the One, who is coming in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

Song of Simeon - Сега отпускаш 

B/P: O Master, now let your servant depart in peace according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before all peoples, a light of revelation for the nations and the glory of your people Israel. 

Triságion Prayers 

Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Святы́й Бо́же, Святы́й Крепкий, Святы́й Безсмертный, помилуй нас!

Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς.

Glory to Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All‑holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. (X3)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Apolytíkion - Тропар 

Tone 1

O Christ God, you confirmed the universal resurrection by raising Lazarus from the dead before your passion. O Vanquisher of Death, we cry out to you like the children with their palms of victory, “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Glory: the same

Both now: Tone 4

We were buried with You through Baptism, O Christ our God, and thus by Your Resurrection we have been granted immortal life, and extolling You we cry aloud, "Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are You, the One who comes in the name of the Lord.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

(Lord, have mercy.)

Priest: May the blessing and the mercy of the Lord come upon you by His divine grace and love for mankind, always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

(Amen.)

Make firm, Lord our God, the holy and pure faith of the pious Orthodox Christians, together with the Holy Church and this city forever.

Reader: Amen.

Priest: Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Reader: More honourable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without defilement you gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos we magnify you!

A prayer to St. Nikephóros the Leper

O marvellous Father Nikephoros, great intercessor to the Lord, worshiping your will and strength of spirit, with which you have endured such great anguish and suffering, but have not surrendered the will of God, plead for us — sinners, before the Most High to preserve the Holy Orthodox Church and all the children of God from invasion of enemies and miscreants, diseases and infections. Oh, Wonderful Father Nikephoros, you know best what suffering is. Save us! Great intercessor before the Lord, I humbly plead with you: intercede for me and my loved ones (names) before our Lord God, and ask Him to deliver us from any epidemic, illness, and spiritual suffering. Oh, Reverend Father Nikephoros, a great intercessor before the Lord, asks Him to give us prosperity again this year — that there will be no assault on crops, fruit trees and animals; to bring down good rainfall, to give a warm sun, to produce a rich and abundant harvest. Amen!

Prayer for deliverance from the new pandemic - Coronavirus

It is usually read before dismissal of Vespers, Matins or Liturgy

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord!

People: Lord have mercy!

The priest reads this prayer on the soleas facing east:

Lord, our God, Who are rich in mercy, and with your wise providence govern our life, hear our prayer, receive our repentance for our sins, stop the new infectious disease (the new epidemic), as You once ceased the punishment of Your people in the time of King David.

You, Who are the Physician of our souls and bodies, grant recovery to the sick, raising them hastily from the bed of suffering so that they may glorify You, our Merciful Saviour, and protect the healthy ones from any disease.

Bless, O Lord, strengthen and protect with Your grace all those who with philanthropy and sacrifice take care of the sick at their homes or in hospitals.

Remove all disease and suffering from among the people and teach us to value life and health as Your gifts.

Give us, o God, Your peace and fill our hearts with steadfast faith in Your protection, with hope in Your support and with love for You and our neighbour.

For it is Yours to have mercy on us and save us, our God, and to You we give glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

People: Amen

Dismissal - Отпуст

Priest: Glory to You, O Christ God, our hope. Glory to You.

Reader: Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (X3) Father, bless!

Priest: May He who condescended to sit on the colt of a donkey, for our salvation, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honourable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honourable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, Confessor and Bishop Basil of Párion; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

People: Amen.

Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

People: Amen.