ALL THE SAINTS OF THE BRITISH ISLES

ALL THE SAINTS OF THE BRITISH ISLES

On the first Sunday after the commemoration of All Saints, we celebrate the memory of all the Saints who have shone forth in these Isles.

VESPERS

At 'Lord I have cried', we sing 10 stichira, 4 of the Resurrection in Tone 1, and 6 of the Saints:

Resurrectional Stichera. Tone 1.

Bring my soul out of prison to give thanks to Your name, O Lord.

Accept our evening prayers, holy Lord, and grant us remission of our sins, for you alone revealed the resurrection to the world.

The righteous shall wait for me, until You reward me.

Encircle Zion, people, and surround her. Give glory to him who is risen from the dead, for he is our God and has delivered us from our iniquities.

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.

Come, people let us praise and worship Christ, glorifying his resurrection from the dead, for he is our God and has delivered the world from the deception of the enemy.

Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

Heavens, be glad! Foundations of the earth, sound the trumpets! Hills, shout for joy! For behold, Emmanuel has nailed our sins to the cross and he, the Giver of life, has put death to death by raising up Adam, as a loving God.

For the saints of the Isles

If You, O Lord, should mark transgression, O Lord, who would stand? For there is forgiveness with You.

Tone 1: O come, all ye faithful, now let us praise the saints of the Isles, the venerable monastics, the holy bishops, the right-believing princes, all the martyrs and the company of holy women, those known by name and those unknown, for truly by their words and deeds and manifold ways of life and gifts of God, they became saints and God made glorious even their graves with wonders. And now, standing before Christ Who hath glorified them, they pray fervently for us who celebrate the splendour of their feast with love.

Because of Your law, O Lord, I waited for You; my soul waited for Your word. My soul hopes in the Lord.

Tone 2: With what beauty of hymn shall we praise the divinely wise of the Isles, the splendour and adornment of the Church of Christ, the crown of the priesthood, the rule of piety, the never-drying wellsprings of divine healing, the outpouring of the gifts of the Spirit, the streams of manifold wonders which gladden the Isles and all those who seek God. For whose sake the All-Merciful Christ hath cast down the uprisings of the enemy. 

From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.

Tone 8: Let the earth make glad and the heavens rejoice, in praising your toils and struggles, your spiritual courage and purity of mind, O venerable ones, for ye were not overcome by the laws of nature. O holy company and divine assembly, ye are truly the strength of our Isles.

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

Tone 8, to the special melody, 'O most glorious wonder': O blessed kings and queens, divinely-wise princes and princesses, who shine forth with Orthodox loving-kindness and are resplendent with virtues: Ye enlighten all the faithful, driving away the darkness of the demons. Wherefore we honour you as partakers of never-fading grace and unashamed preservers of your inheritance, O right wondrous ones.

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

O all-blessed martyrs of Christ, ye gave yourselves up to voluntary sacrifice and have hallowed the Isles with your blood, bringing splendour even to the skies by your repose; and now ye dwell in the heavens amid the light that never setteth, ever praying on our behalf, O seers of God.

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

With your virtues ye have enlightened the hearts of the faithful, O ye righteous who have shone forth in the Isles. For who can hear of your boundless humility and forbearance and not marvel? Ye foreknew the needs of all, O right-wondrous ones. Ye were models of meekness and guilelessness for all, of pity for the grieving, of swift help for those in misfortune, untroubled havens for those at sea and good speed for those on land. And now as ye have been crowned with unfading wreaths by the hand of Almighty God, do ye beseech Him that our souls may be saved.

For the saints of the Isles

Glory… in Tone 5: Rejoice, O faithful Church of the Isles! Rejoice, O First-Martyrs Alban, Julius and Aaron! Rejoice, O Ninian, Apostle of the North! Rejoice O divine Patrick come to the Irish land with the Gospel of Christ! Rejoice, O David, Enlightener of the West! Rejoice, O Columba, light of the Scots! Rejoice, O Gregory who with thy disciple Augustine, saw not Angles but Angels! For ye all were our first intercessors with the Maker of all, bringers of the Orthodox Faith and guides to the True Light! Rejoice, from every hamlet and town, nurtured by those who now dwell in heaven! These saints have been shown to be guiding lights for our souls! With the brightness of signs and deeds, they have shone forth most mystically unto all the ends of the earth and now they beseech Christ for the salvation of our souls!

Now and ever…Dogmatikon in the Tone of the Week - 1.

Let us praise Mary the Virgin, glory of all the world. Born of human parents, she gave birth to the Lord, and is the doorway to heaven. The adornment of the faithful, she is hymned by the angelic hosts. For she has been shown to be heaven and the temple of the Godhead. She is the one who, breaking down the wall of enmity, ushered in peace and threw open the Kingdom. With her as the anchor of our faith, we have a defender in the Lord, to whom she gave birth. Take courage, therefore, people of God, take courage; for he, the Almighty, will defeat your enemies

Entrance

Joyful Light

Gladsome light of holy glory of the holy, blessed, heavenly, immortal Father, O Jesus Christ: arriving at the hour of sunset and having seen the evening light, we praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. It is worthy for You to be praised at all times with happy voices, O Son of God and Giver of life; and therefore the world glorifies You.

Prokimenon, Tone 6

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

Readings: 

Isaiah 43, 9-14; 

Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear and say, “It is truth.”

“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no saviour. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, and there was no foreign god among you; therefore you are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “that I am God. Indeed before the day was, I am He; and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?”

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I will send to Babylon, and bring them all down as fugitives — the Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships.

Wisdom 3, 1-9; 

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them. In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them for ever. Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect.

Wisdom 5, 15 - 6, 3.

The righteous live forevermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the Most High. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord's hand: for with His right hand shall He cover them, and with His arm shall He protect them. And His zeal will take armour, and He will arm His creation for vengeance upon His enemies. He will vest in the armour of truth, and His helmet shall be judgment without respect of persons. He shall take up the invincible shield of holiness; He shall sharpen His wrath for a sword, and the world shall fight with Him against the mad ones. Then shafts of lightning shall strike down from the clouds, as from a bow well aimed, and shall fly to their mark. And hailstones of wrath shall be cast down as stones, and the waters of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall drown them terribly. A mighty wind shall rise against them, and like a storm shall blow them away; thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. Hear, therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, ye that rule the people, and are proud in the multitude of nations: For power is given you from the Lord, and strength cometh of the Highest.

Litany of Fervent Supplication

Let us all say with all our soul and with all our mind, let us all say.

( Lord, have mercy. ) …

READER - Evening eulogy

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. (Amen.)

At the Lity the stichiron of the church 

and these stichira of the saints in Tone 8:

Rejoice with us, all ye choirs of the saints and angelic hosts, gathered together in spirit, let us sing of thanksgiving to Christ our God. For lo, the countless throng of our kinfolk who have been well-pleasing to God, doth stand before the King of Glory and intercede beseeching mercy for us. They are the pillars and beauty of the Orthodox Faith, they have glorified the Church of God with their ascetic feats and the shedding of their blood, with their teachings and their deeds. They have confirmed the Faith of Christ with signs and wonders. They have shone forth from all the ends of the Isles, establishing the Orthodox Faith herein and with apostolic zeal have taken it to other lands. Some have adorned the desert fens and isles with monasticism, showing the angelic life. Some have undergone trials and mockery, wounding and cruel death by those of this world. And many of every position in life have struggled in other ways. Pray ye all to the Lord that He may deliver the Isles from trial and tribulation, granting us models of patience and forbearance in the face of evil.

Glory… Now and ever… in the same Tone

Let all the ranks of saints and angels make glad with us, singing in spiritual choir. They have beheld Our Sovereign, the Queen of Heaven and Lady of the Isles, Who is glorified by all the faithful. And the souls of all the righteous make glad with them, beholding Her most precious hands stretched forth in supplication beseeching peace for the world, renewal of the Orthodox Faith in the Isles and the salvation of our souls.

Litany of Supplication

Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

At the Aposticha, the Stichira of the Resurrection in the Tone of the Week - 1

By your Passion we were set free from our passions, O Christ, and by your resurrection we were redeemed from corruption. O Lord, glory to you.

Verse: The Lord reigns; He clothed Himself with majesty; the Lord clothed and girded Himself with power.

Let creation rejoice, the heavens be glad, the nations clap their hands with joy. For Christ our Savior, in his love for mankind, has nailed our sins to the cross, put death to death, and given us life by raising the fallen Adam, father of all mankind.

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

You are beyond all understanding, King of heaven and earth, and because of your love for us all, you were crucified of your own will. Hades was filled with bitterness when it met you below, and the souls of the just rejoiced at receiving you. What a miracle this is! That the life of all should taste death in his desire to give light to the world that cries and says: Glory to you, O Lord, risen from the dead.

Verse: Holiness is proper to Your house, O Lord, unto length of days.

The myrrh-bearing women brought spices, and hastened in mourning to your tomb. And when they found your immaculate body gone and learned from the angels of the new and strange miracle, they said to the apostles: The Lord is risen, granting great mercy to the world

 

Glory… in Tone 4: For the saints of the Isles

Celebrating the season of the commemoration of our holy kinfolk, let us call them blessed as is meet, for they have truly passed through all the Beatitudes of the Lord: made poor, they have become rich in spirit; being meek, they have inherited the kingdom of the meek; having wept, they have been comforted; having thirsted after righteousness, they have been filled; having had mercy on others, they have found mercy for themselves; pure in heart, they have seen God as far as such is possible; peace-makers, they have been counted worthy to be adopted as children of God; persecuted and tormented for for piety and righteousness' sake, they now rejoice and make glad in Heaven; and they earnestly beseech the Lord that He will have mercy on the Isles.

Now and ever… Hymn to the Mother of God in Tone 5:

Let our hymns resound, together let us hymn the Birthgiver of God and Queen of Heaven, the Lady of the Isles: Rejoice, O thou who from ages past hast crowned us with thy goodness and grace! Wherefore the Church of the Isles doth celebrate with meet splendour thine all-honoured protecting veil and the memory of thy miracles. Take not thy mercy away from us, O Mother Mary, but look down upon our sorrows and oppression and raise us up once more, making us to be thy Dowry as of old.

Song of Simeon.

Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.

Trisagion Prayers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever 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. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

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

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy 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 Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

Apolytikion, Tone 1

The stone had been secured with a seal by the Judeans, and a guard of soldiers was watching Your immaculate body. You rose on the third day, O Lord and Savior, granting life unto the world. For this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; glory to Your kingdom; glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind.

Glory…the Troparion of the Saints in Tone 8:

From the ends of the earth, O Lord, the Isles of the Sea offer Thee all the saints who have shone forth therein as the fair fruit of Thy saving splendour. Through their supplications and through the Mother of God, preserve Thy Church and Thine Isles in peace profound, O most Merciful One.

Now and ever… Theotokion: O Good One, Thou Who for our sakes wast born of the Virgin and endured the Cross, Who didst cast down death by death and as God revealed the Resurrection, disdain not that which Thou hast fashioned with Thy hands. Show forth Thy love for mankind, O Merciful One. Accept the supplications of the Birthgiver of God Who gave birth to Thee and prayeth for us, and thus save Thy people, O Lord.

Dismissal

—————————————————————————

AT MATINS

At 'God is the Lord' 

Apolytikion, Tone 1

The stone had been secured with a seal by the Judeans, and a guard of soldiers was watching Your immaculate body. You rose on the third day, O Lord and Savior, granting life unto the world. For this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; glory to Your kingdom; glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind.

Glory…the Troparion of the Saints in Tone 8:

From the ends of the earth, O Lord, the Isles of the Sea offer Thee all the saints who have shone forth therein as the fair fruit of Thy saving splendour. Through their supplications and through the Mother of God, preserve Thy Church and Thine Isles in peace profound, O most Merciful One.

Now and ever… Theotokion: O Good One, Thou Who for our sakes wast born of the Virgin and endured the Cross, Who didst cast down death by death and as God revealed the Resurrection, disdain not that which Thou hast fashioned with Thy hands. Show forth Thy love for mankind, O Merciful One. Accept the supplications of the Birthgiver of God Who gave birth to Thee and prayeth for us, and thus save Thy people, O Lord.

Small Litany

Kathisma I.

Tone 1. Automelon.

The soldiers keeping watch at Your tomb, O my Savior, * became as dead for fear of the radiant Angel. * And he proclaimed that You arose to the women who came at dawn. * We extol You, Lord, for You abolished corruption, * and we worship You, our only God, who was buried * and rose from the sepulcher.

Glory. The soldiers keeping watch.

You willingly were nailed to the Cross, loving Master; * as mortal You were laid in a tomb, O Life-giver. * By Your own death did You destroy death's dominion, O Mighty One. * For the sentries of Hades in fear of You shuddered. * With yourself You raised those who were dead from the ages, * for You alone love mankind.

Both now. Theotokion.

All we who run to you and with longing take refuge * in your benevolence know that you are the Mother * of God, and after giving birth are a virgin in very truth. * Now we sinners have you as our only protection. * In temptation we rely on you for salvation, * O only all-blameless one.

Kathisma II.

Tone 1. The stone had been secured.

The women went early in the morning to the gravesite, * and when they beheld the appearance of an angel they trembled. * The sepulcher radiated life; the wonder filled them with astonishment. * Hence they went away, proclaiming the resurrection unto the Disciples. * "Christ has despoiled Hades, as the One * mighty and only powerful, * and He raised up all who were corrupted, * and dispelled the fear of condemnation, by the power of the Cross."

Glory.

When You the Life of the universe were nailed unto the Cross, * and You were reckoned among the dead, O Lord, the Immortal One, * O Savior, on the third day You arose, * and resurrected Adam from decay. * For this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: * Glory to Your sufferings, O Christ; * glory to Your Resurrection; * glory to Your condescension, only One who loves mankind.

Both now. Theotokion.

O Mary, who became the Master's hallowed vessel, * now raise us up, for we have fallen into the chasm * of awful despondency, and transgressions and suffering. * For you have indeed become salvation for sinners, * and their help in need and their prevailing protection; * and you save your servants.

After the Polyeleos

Selected Psalm Verses:

A Hear this, all ye people, give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world (Ps 48,2)

B My mouth shall speak of wisdom and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding (Ps 48, 4)

A Come, ye children, hearken unto me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord (Ps 33, 12)

B I have proclaimed the good tidings of Thy righteousness in the great congregation (Ps 39,10)

A I have declared Thy truth and Thy salvation (Ps 39,11)

B I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I praise Thee (Ps 21,23)

A That I may hear the voice of Thy praise, and tell of all Thy wondrous works (Ps 25,7)

B O Lord I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth (Ps 25,8)

Magnification:

We magnify you, O all ye saints who have shone forth in the Isles, and we honour your holy memory, for ye intercede with Christ our God on our behalf.

I have hated the congregation of evil doers, and will not sit with the wicked (Ps 25,5)

For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and I have not acted impiously toward my God (Ps 17, 22)

The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak of judgement (Ps 36, 30)

His righteousness endureth for ever (Ps 110, 3)

Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice (Ps 131, 9)

Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, they will praise Thee unto ages of ages (Ps 83, 5)

Glory… Now and ever… Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God (thrice)

Resurrectional Evlogetaria.

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

When the hosts of the Angels saw how You were accounted among the dead, they all marveled. You, O Savior, are the One who destroyed the might of death; and when You arose You raised Adam with yourself and from Hades liberated everyone.

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

"Why do you mingle the ointments with your tears full of pity, O women disciples?" Thus the Angel who was shining in the tomb cried to the myrrh-bearing women. "See for yourselves the empty tomb and understand, that the Savior has risen from the sepulcher."

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes. 

Very early in the morning, the myrrh-bearing women were hastening to Your tomb lamenting. But the Angel appeared to them and uttered, "The time for lamentation has ended; weep no more. Go announce the Resurrection to the Apostles."

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

When the myrrh-bearing women had come with their spices to Your sepulcher, O Savior, they heard the voice of an Angel clearly speaking to them, "Why do you account among the dead the One who lives? For as God, He has risen from the sepulcher."

Glory.

We bow down in worship to the Father and His Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, one in essence; and we cry aloud with the Seraphim: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O Lord.

Both now.

Giving birth to the Giver of life, O Virgin, you delivered Adam from sin, and to Eve you have rendered joy in place of sorrow. He who from you became incarnate, God and man, has directed to life him who fell from it.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

Small Litany

For blessed is your name, and glorified is your kingdom, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Ipakoi (Hypakoe) Tone 1.

The repentance of the robber plundered Paradise, while the lament of the myrrh-bearing women revealed the joy. For You had risen, O Christ our God, bestowing on the world the great mercy.

Sessional Hymns of the Saints:

Tone 8: Enlightened by the brightness of the saints, as though entering a paradise most fair, we have found delight in the streams of sweetness. Gazing in wonder at the boldness of their deeds, let us come to love their virtues, crying out to the Saviour: through their supplications, O God, grant us to partake of Thy kingdom.

Tone 1 to the special melody 'Thy tomb, O Saviour…'

Today hath dawned the all-honoured festival of the saints who have shone forth in the Isles. Like unto the radiance of the sun and the brightness of the morning star, they enlighten our minds and arouse our hearts to emulate their godly life and their zeal for the Faith.

Glory… Tone 8:

Today the faithful of the Isles celebrate the commemoration of Thy saints, O Lord. The heavens rejoice and the ends of the earth and the sea make glad. Through their intercessions deign to grant our souls great mercy.

Now and ever… in the same Tone:

Looking down from on high, O Most Merciful Master, visit us who have been afflicted by error and sin, taking us unto Thyself and through the prayers of the Mother of God and all the saints of the Isles grant unto our souls great mercy.

The Hymn of the Ascents - Anavathmoi

Antiphon I. Tone 1.

When I am afflicted, hearken to my distress; Lord, to You I cry out.

Ceaseless does divine longing become in those who dwell in the wilderness, outside of the futile world as they are.

Glory. Both now.

To the Holy Spirit do both honour and glory belong, as to the Father and the Son. Let us therefore sing in praise to the Trinity and one dominion.

Antiphon II.

Having lifted me up to the mountains of Your laws, brighten me with virtues, O God, that I may praise You.

With Your right hand embracing me, O Logos, be my keeper, shelter me, so that the fire of sin not burn me.

Glory. Both now.

By the Holy Spirit all creation is renewed, and thus returns unto its first state. For It is equal in power to the Father and the Logos.

Antiphon III.

Because they said to me, Let us journey to the courts of the Lord, my spirit has been cheered, and my heart rejoices also.

On the house of David there is great fear; for there, when thrones have been placed, all the tribes and tongues of the earth will be judged.

Glory. Both now.

To the Holy Spirit honour, worship, glory and dominion, as befit the Father and the Son, must also be offered. For the Trinity is a Monad, in nature but not in persons.

Prokeimenon.

"Now I will arise," says the Lord; "I will establish them in salvation; I will declare it boldly." (2)

Verse: The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver fired in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

"Now I will arise," says the Lord; "I will establish them in salvation; I will declare it boldly

Gospel dialogue

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. ( Lord, have mercy. )

PRIEST

For you are holy, our God, who rest among the Saints, and to you we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Mode 2.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. (2) Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.

DEACON

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

( Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. )

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

PRIEST: Peace be with all.

( And with your spirit. )

PRIEST: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

(Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.)

PRIEST (from the altar table)

Eothinon 2

Mark. 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back— it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, He is not here; see the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him, as He told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

( Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You. )

READER

Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. Your Cross, O Christ, we venerate, and Your holy Resurrection we praise and glorify. For You are our God; apart from You we know no other; we call upon Your name. Come, all faithful, let us venerate the holy Resurrection of Christ; for behold, through the Cross, joy has come to the whole world. Ever blessing the Lord, let us praise His Resurrection; for having endured the Cross for us, He destroyed death by death.

Psalm 50. 

Glory… 

At the intercession of the Apostles, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offences.

Both now.

At the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offences.

Verse: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression.

Jesus, having risen from the grave as He foretold, has granted us eternal life and great mercy

CANON of All the Saints of the Isles in Tone 8

ODE I

Irmós (Ειρμός): O ye people, let us send up a hymn to our wondrous God, Who freed Israel from bondage, crying out a song of victory to Thee Who alone art Master.

Refrain: All ye Saints of the Isles, pray to God for us!

In spiritual songs let us hymn together our godly fathers and mothers who have shone forth in piety, and whom every island hath brought forth and whom the Church of the Isles hath nurtured.

Rejoice, ye holy Apostles and all ye holy ones of God, who of old built the ancient church and hallowed our land from the beginning. Rejoice, ye first Christians who brought wisdom from Rome and never cease to intercede for us with Christ our God.

Come, O ye lovers of the martyrs, and with hymns let us honour the First Martyrs of the Isles, Alban, Julius and Aaron and all their holy company who would not worship the idols and thus shed their blood for Christ.

Disciple of Martin, thou art the greatness and boast of Whithorn, O holy Ninian, for by thee men were freed from the delusion of idolatry. Thou who didst build the white church, shine forth in the whiteness of thy purity, and pray for the people whom thou hast led to God.

Thou didst chronicle the deeds of the martyrs and upbraid thy people for their sins, O wise Gildas. And as from the lands of the West, thou didst preach repentance as the Forerunner of old, so now do thou shine forth once more in the West as a new Forerunner before the Return of the Lord.

Hymn to the Mother of God: Together with the angelic hosts, O Sovereign Lady, together with the honourable and glorious prophets and apostles and martyrs, pray thou to God for us sinners, who through all the Isles have glorified thee.

ODE III

Irmós: None is holy as our Lord and none is righteous as our God, Whom all creation doth hymn in words of song: None is righteous save thee, O Lord.

Thou art a spiritual paradise, O Island of the Saints, bringing forth a multitude of spiritual blossoms, O blessed fathers and mothers, whose number it is not possible to reckon. We therefore praise and hymn the One Master for all the throng of the saints of the Irish land.

Rejoice and be glad, O servant of Christ, Palladius who was the first sent, bringing the Word of God to the souls of the humble who had long thirsted for the Wisdom and Truth of God. Rejoice, O great and noble Patrick, thou didst go out to the Irish land as Apostle, teaching the Trinity and thus freeing those that were held captive by the demons from the wiles of the serpent. Pray thou now that the souls of all who dwell in the Irish land may be saved.

Come, O ye faithful, let us hymn our compassionate mothers, Brigid the Abbess of Kildare, disciple of Patrick, and Ita, the lover of the Holy Trinity, who both made the light of Christ to shine forth in the hearts of many.

Now let us hymn the monastic fathers: Macartan, Declan, Ailbhe, Enda of Inishmore the father of monastic life, Murtagh, Abbot Senan, holy Ciaran and Finnian of Clonard, the teacher of the three thousand saints of Ireland; and Abbot Brendan the Voyager who took the Word of God to the lands of the Western ocean, Comgall of Bangor, Colman of Cloyne, Finbar of Cork, the holy Abbot Kevin of Glendalough and Maedoc of Ferns, Fintan of Taghmon who prayed for the departed, and Laserian of the holy island.

By thy holy intercessions, thou many thousandfold Thebaid of Irish saints, whose zeal spilled out across the seas, teach us to seek out the salvation of our souls, for thy light hath spread across the ocean to the West and across the sea to the East and all the peoples of the earth sing of thy holy feats.

Theotokion: Lo! The time for the intercession of the Birthgiver of God is come, for temptations have grown manyfold. Behold! Now is the time to sing out to her! Let us therefore say with our whole heart: O Sovereign Lady, help thou thy people!

Kontakion in Tone 3 to the special melody: Today the Virgin…

Today the choirs of the saints who have pleased God in the Isles stand forth in the Church and unseen pray to God for us. With them the angels give glory; and all the saints of the Church of Christ make glad with them, and all together they beseech the Pre-Eternal God for us.

Ikos: The saints are shown to be fair blossoms of the Garden of Eden, laden with the nectar of good works and the sweet scent of Orthodox teachings, whereby our souls are fed and our spiritual thirst is quenched, Come ye therefore, let us hasten beneath their shade and let us bless them as the delight and adornment of the Isles, and as a model and pattern for our lives, for they have received unfading crowns of glory and all together they beseech the Pre-Eternal God for us.

Sessional Hymn in Tone 4 to the special melody: Go thou quickly before…

Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, sent you forth as rays to enlighten the Isles, O favoured ones of God. Wherefore by your divine entreaties, O blessed ones, make radiant my darkened mind and soul.

Glory…Now and ever… in the same tone:

O ye faithful, let us make haste to the divine and healing raiment of God our Saviour, Whose good pleasure it was to take on this flesh and to shed His own blood upon the Cross, thereby redeeming us from bondage to the enemy. Wherefore, we cry out to Him in thanksgiving: Save Thou Thine Isles and beneath Thy precious raiment protect all their peoples and save our souls, for Thou alone lovest mankind.

ODE IV

Irmós: O Word of God, with divine vision the prophet perceived Thee Who wast to become incarnate of the Birthgiver of God, the mountain overshadowed, and trembling he glorified Thy might.

On Man thou first didst sow the Word of Christ, O holy Germanus, bringing forth a heavenly harvest. Together with thy brethren Maughold and Conan, pray that we who sing to thee may be granted great mercy.

Ye were enlighteners of Cymru, holy Cadfan and father of saints Illtyd the learned, together with holy Cadoc, Dyfrig, Teilo, Beuno, Deiniol, Asaph and Tysilio; and thou, O David, who didst gather a great host of monastics and from Jerusalem become the glorious Archpastor of the West. And raising thy voice thou didst silence the ragings of those who knew not Christ. Together with the holy bishops, and the sacred virgin Winefred, and all the saints of Cymru, pray that we too may be delivered from the same.

Exult today, O all ye saints of the Cornish land, hermits and hermitesses, bishops and faithful people, Thebaid of the glory of God in the West! Let Petroc the rock of faith, together with Constantine the King and Piran, Austell, Budoc and the holy virgin Morwenna, leading you in praising Christ our Saviour, now pray to God for the salvation of our souls.

Forsaking thy royal father's home, thou didst seek to live as an anchorite in Devon, O Nectan, blessed martyr of Christ. Bequeath to us purity of speech, and together with thy holy family, do thou intercede for the salvation of our souls.

O Samson the strong, thou didst bring the light of Christ from the Isles of the holy Lide and Helier, and crossing the sea thou didst bring the Gospel to Armorica, there sowing the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the multitudes and casting out the demons from before thee.

Hymn to the Mother of God: O Virgin Bearer of God, thou hope of all Christians, do thou grant unto us thy mercies which thou didst show to our forebears of old, and protect and preserve us from all evil.

ODE V

Irmós: Delivering me from the darkness of the passions, O Christ, vouchsafe, I pray Thee, that out of the deep night of the present age, my spirit may rise at dawn to the light of the day of Thy commandments.

Thou didst come out of the Irish land, O gentle dove, most glorious Columba, and from holy Iona the Scottish land was formed by thy teachings and those of thy many spiritual disciples, the holy Abbots Adamnan, Dunchad and Comgan, and was enlightened with thy wonders.

O holy Kenneth, hallowing of the lands of the West, together with the beloved Kentigern of Glasgow, thou didst bring the grace of the Divine Word and a rich harvest of souls.

Out of the Irish land, thou didst come to the Scots with the flame of the Word, O holy Donan, and together with all thy heavenly companions, and Blaithmac and Adrian, by your blood ye did bring many to the faith of Christ.

O holy Comgall, come from the West, together with the holy fathers Machar, Blane, Drostan, Flannan, Fillan, Maelrubba of the Picts, Maelruain, Fergus and Donald, do thou pray to God for the salvation of our souls.

O Columban and all ye righteous of the Western shores, ye did go east and west, north and south, making the deserts cities and by the Light of Christ in your lives ye have taught us to follow the Master Christ Who alone loveth mankind.

Hymn to the Mother of God: O Lady of the Isles, thou who art the fervent helper for all who have recourse to thee; thou who art the hope of the hopeless, do thou look down upon the afflictions of thy people and reveal to us a sign of thy mercy, O Most Pure One.

ODE VI

Irmós: O Thou who lovest mankind, accept me who am held fast by many sins, and who now fall down before Thy compassion, and save me as Thou didst save the prophet, O Lord.

Rejoice, O holy father Gregory, Apostle of the English, inspired by God, pray that the Angles may become Angels; and thou holy Augustine, first Archpastor of the Church of Canterbury, Mother of the English, who preached to holy Ethelbert, pray to God for the salvation of thy people, for thou wilt present us before His dread Throne at the end of time.

O holy bishops of Canterbury and York, Laurence, Mellitus, Justus, Honorius, Paulinus, together with all your worthy successors, your sound hath gone out unto all the ends of the land, destroying the worship of idols and planting the true Faith in our hearts.

Thou didst spurn a mortal bridegroom for love of the Immortal Bridegroom Christ, O holy Eanswythe, thus founding the first convent for English womankind. And now together with thy holy brothers, do thou pray to God for the salvation of our souls.

Armed with the might of the Cross, thou didst vanquish the enemies of Christ, O holy King Oswald, thus meriting a martyr's crown. Together with the holy martyred Kings, Edwin and Oswin, do thou pray for the salvation of our souls.

Thou didst come forth from the blest Isle of Iona, O lowly Aidan, light of the North, to feed the hearts of the English. Together with the glorious wonderworker and faithful shepherd of the flock of the Word, Cuthbert, and all the saints of the holy island of Lindisfarne, Abbots Finan, Colman, Edbert, Edfrith and Ethilwald, pray now that our sins may be forgiven by the Most Merciful Saviour.

Hymn to the Mother of God: Of old, the Creator of all wrought many wonders through Thee, O Virgin, and saved us from the invasion of enemies. Thus be thou now a protection and aid for Thine Isles, O Lady and Queen, saving us from all the assaults of the enemy.

Kontakion and Ikos of the Resurrection in the Tone of the Week.

Resurrectional Kontakion.

You arose from the sepulcher in glory as God, and with yourself resurrected the world. And mortal nature extolled You as God, and death was obliterated, and Adam is dancing, O Master; and Eve, now redeemed from the bonds, rejoices crying out: O Christ, You are He who grants resurrection to all.

Oikos.

Let us extol, as omnipotent God, the One who rose on the third day, and who smashed the gates of Hades, and who raised from the tomb those who were there from all time, and who was seen by the myrrh-bearing women as He so willed, uttering to them first of all the greeting, Rejoice, and to the Apostles declaring the joy, as the only Giver of life. Therefore in faith the women announce to the Disciples the tokens of victory. And Hades groans, and Death laments, and the world exults and all people rejoice together. For You, O Christ, are He who grants resurrection to all.

ODE VII

Irmós: On the plain of Dura the tyrant once built a furnace to torment those who bore God; and therein the three youths hymned the One God, saying: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

O holy Felix, light of the East, thou didst bring the Faith of Christ to the East Anglian land, baptising the faithful Audrey of Ely and all her holy family, giving heart to Fursey and his brethren, together with the holy Botolph of Iken, do thou intercede for us sinners.

Strengthened by the grace of God, O holy Theodore, the gift of God to the Isles, from Tarsus thou didst come like a second Paul, bringing the unity of Christ to the nations. Together with thy holy companion, Abbot Adrian, do thou now instruct our souls in the light of piety through thy holy prayers.

O holy Abbesses, Mothers Ethelburgh, Hilda, Ebbe, Mildred, Mildgyth, Milburgh, Werburgh, Ermenburgh, Enfleda, Elfleda, Cuthburgh and Edburgh, having acquired the gifts of abstinence and humility, wisdom, faith and perfect love, ye attained the Kingdom that knoweth no evening.

O holy Birinus, Apostle of Wessex, together with our fathers Agilbert, Aldhelm, and Egwin, and Chad in the marches with his holy brother Cedd, Apostle of Essex, and holy Wilfrid who didst enlighten the darkness of the pagans of the south, and the holy bishops of Hexham, Eata, John of Beverley, Acca and Alcmund and all your holy company, together with Erkenwald, light of London, intercede for the salvation of the souls of your people.

Thy tears in the wilderness brought forth fruit an hundredfold, O holy father Guthlac, and by the weapon of thy prayers thou didst vanquish the demons and receive from heaven the grace to heal the diseases of those who honour thee. Together with thy holy disciples, Pega, Bettelin and Cissa, do thou pray to God for the forgiveness of our sins.

Hymn to the Mother of God: Grant us thine aid through thine entreaties, O Most Holy Birthgiver of God. Trials and tribulations have befallen us, sorrows have grown manyfold and our foes have arrayed themselves against us. But, standing forth, do thou, O All-Pure One, deliver us. Cast down the uprisings of our enemies and grant us victory, that all who do evil to thy servants may be put to shame.

ODE VIII

Irmós: Becoming vanquishers of the tyrant and the flames by Thy grace, taking exceeding care to keep Thy commandments, the children cried aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Thou wast adorned with fair speech, O Venerable Bede, for thou didst reveal the mysteries of the Scriptures and glorify the saints of the English land. Together with the holy fathers, Benedict, the lover of the holy images and the holy Abbots Sigfrid and the humble Ceolfrid, do thou intercede for the salvation of our souls.

With zeal overspilling from the Isles, to those who knew not the Word of Christ thou didst go out with streams of living water, O divine Clement, Apostle of the Frisians, followed by the Archpastor Boniface, Apostle of the German lands, who with all his helpers, Willibald, Winnibald, Walburgh, Lioba, Thecla and Willehad, brought light to the darkness, and together with a great host, wast counted worthy of a martyr's crown, and ye were followed by Sigfrid out of Glastonbury, the Apostle of the Swedes.

Wearing the purple of your own blood, ye exchanged your earthly crowns for heavenly ones, O royal martyrs Ethelbert, Alcmund, Kenelm and Wistan; wherefore the miracles at your tombs proclaim your innocence.

In Winchester's royal city thou didst shine forth with the grace of humility, O holy bishop Swithun. Wherefore the Lord exalts thee together with all the saints of Winchester, Hedda, Birnstan and Alphege, and the land of Wessex doth ever make glad in thee.

When the savage Northmen came to the English land, many martyrs were raised up, from Chertsey to Coldingham, in Crowland and Peter's burgh, in Bardney and Ely and a multitude of other places north and south, and like them, thou, our holy patron thrice-crowned Edmund the King, didst not renounce the name of sweet Jesus. Wherefore, O holy martyr, thy tongue did utter words even after thy repose and thy body was resplendent in the grace of incorruption.

In England's darkest hour thou didst comfort the righteous Alfred with thy wise counsel, O holy hermit Neot, and from Athelney went up the prayer of the faithful, that the Orthodox faith might be restored in an England remade, through the servants of God, holy Grimbald, Plegmund and companions, crying aloud; Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.

Hymn to the Mother of God: Thou art the boast of Christians, O Sovereign Lady; thou art a weapon against our enemies and a bulwark for those who flee unto thee. On thee we now call for help, O Lady of the Isles: Let not the foe of mankind rise up against the peoples of thine Isles, but do thou vanquish them and save our souls.

ODE IX

Irmós: O Birthgiver of God, perfection of virginity, who doth exalt this feast with the grace of thy mystic presence, do thou bring to salvation those who magnify the most pure memory of thy Word.

Emulators of the Apostles in labours and watching, ye have presided over the Church, O holy bishops, Oda the renewer, Dunstan the shepherd of souls, Ethelwold the father of monks, mild Oswald, Wulsin and Alfwold of Sherborne, who loved all the English saints; wherefore we magnify you in psalms and hymns.

Obedient to thy father in Christ Dunstan, thou didst win the prize of obedience in martyrdom, O holy King Edward, scion of the repentant Edgar, wherefore thy shrine gave forth miracles of healing. Now that thy holy relics have been revealed in these latter times, do thou show forth thy healings anew.

O holy virgins, Edburgh and Edith, ever guarding yourselves with the sign of the Cross, together with holy Elgiva, Wulfhilda and Ethelfleda, pray for the salvation of our souls.

For thy flock and thy land, thou didst lay down thy life, O holy Archpastor Alphege. As thou didst receive from the First Shepherd a crown of glory, so do thou now pray for the salvation of our souls.

O holy fathers and mothers of the Isles from all the ages, known by name and unknown, revealed and hidden, having attained to the heavenly Zion and the great glory of God, do ye beseech God for comfort and strength for us who are beset by the snares of these latter days, raise up our fallen Isles anew to the purity of the Orthodox Faith, and gather their scattered people into Holy Church before the end.

Hymn to the Mother of God: O Virgin full of grace, who of old enriched the towns and hamlets of thy sea-girt dowry with the images of Thy presence as with traces of sweet fragrance, accept our songs of thanksgiving and deliver thine Isles from all misfortune, for we magnify thee as the never-failing protection of our lands.

Exapostilaria

The Second Eothinon

Tone 2. On the mountain.

The women with the myrrh rejoiced when they saw that the great stone had from the tomb been rolled away. For they had seen a young man sitting within on the right side. And he addressed them, saying: "Lo, Christ has risen from the dead. Go and tell His disciples and Peter too, to proceed to Galilee on the mountain. For He will there appear to you His friends, as He foretold you.

Glory…, of the Saints:

Now let us praise in hymns the never-fading light of the saints of the Isles, initiated into the mysteries of the Word, glorifying Christ Who hath enlightened and loved them, giving them to us as helpers in our sorrows.

Now and ever…; Hymn to the Mother of God of the Resurrection:

The salutation of "Rejoice," prior to Your conception an Angel to the Virgin brought. Again, O Christ, an Angel did from Your tomb roll the stone away. The one, instead of sorrow, tokens of joy ineffable; instead of death, the other heralded You the Giver of life and he magnified You and told the resurrection to the women and Your mystics.

At the Praises, 4 stichira of the Resurrection and 4 of the saints:

Lauds. Tone 1.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God.

Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God.

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

O Christ, we praise in song Your saving Passion, and Your resurrection do we glorify.

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

You endured crucifixion and abolished death and resurrected from the dead. Do therefore now bring peace into our life, O Lord, as the only Almighty One.

Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness.

You stripped Hades of plunder, and humanity You resurrected by Your resurrection, O Christ. Do therefore now account us worthy with a pure heart to praise You and glorify.

Praise Him with the sound of trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre.

We glorify Your divine condescension, and we sing Your praise, O Christ. You were born of a Virgin, and from the Father You remained inseparable. You suffered as a man and voluntarily endured the Cross. As one emerging from a bridal chamber, You rose from the sepulcher, in order to save the world. Glory to You, O Lord

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

Tone 1: Thou didst send Thy Spirit, O Lord, even to us at the ends of the inhabited earth, that the peoples therein might know Thee, the one God in Trinity. Wherefore, having enlightened Thy chosen ones, Thou didst bring them unto Thy Church with faith singing: O our Deliverer, glory to Thee!

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

Tone 2: Gathering together this day, let us bless the lights of the Isles, the martyrs praised by all, the holy bishops, our enlighteners and the founders of our faith, the venerable dwellers in the fens and the islands, the instructors in piety, crying out to them: O ye venerable, ye martyrs, ye righteous and all ye saints of the Isles, beseech Christ our God that He may grant us great mercy.

Verse: The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them.

O venerable fathers and mothers, spiritual blossoms of the Isles, whose humility is our only boast, ye are our strength, for we have acquired you as an inexhaustible treasure. And now, even though your bodily tongues have fallen silent, yet miracles bear witness that the Lord hath glorified you. Therefore beseech Him, that He may grant our souls great mercy.

Verse: Blessed are those who fear the Lord, that walk in His ways.

In Tone 4: O all ye saints of the Isles, having hearkened to the voice of the Gospel and become enflamed with apostolic zeal, ye made haste to enlighten your peoples. Now together with the holy Apostle Andrew the first-Called, the holy victorious Martyr George, and the Enlighteners Patrick and David, do ye pray for us that the Isles may once more bring forth the fruit of salvation through Holy Church.

Glory… Stichiron of the Gospel. Mode 2. The Second Eothinon

The women with their ointments went with Mary to the tomb, and they wondered how they would attain what they desired. Then they saw that the stone was rolled back, and also a godly young man who tried to quiet the disturbance of their souls. For he said, "The Lord Jesus has risen. Therefore, preach it to His Disciples and preachers, that they should go quickly to Galilee; and you will see Him, risen from the dead, as the Giver of Life and Lord."

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 neutralized, 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. Thrice-Holy Hymn.

Troparion of the Resurrection.

Today has salvation come to pass in the world. Let us sing to Him who resurrected from the tomb and is the Author of our life. For, destroying death by death, He gave us the victory and the great mercy.

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AT THE LITURGY

At the Beatitudes, 10 troparia: 6 in the Tone of the week and 4 of the saints in 

Tone 4:

We have not inherited our lands by the sword, but it is by Thy right hand, Thine upraised arm and the light of Thy countenance, and the by tears of Thy saints, their struggles and sweat, by their blood and their teaching, that our homes are firmly established.

When we turned away from Thee and failed to keep Thy commandments, then we were thrust aside and cast down, and we have become the least among all peoples. But have pity on us, O God our Saviour, through the entreaties of Thy saints.

Glory: Hymn to the Holy Trinity: O all-blessed Trinity, return us from exile, heal our sickness and our sorrow and lift up our spirits from sloth and the slumber of sin, that we may be worthy of our fathers and mothers who by their struggles glorified Thy Name in these Isles.

Now and ever…: Hymn to the Mother of God: Gather in the scattered, return those who have been cut off, bring back again those who have fallen away from the Orthodox Faith, comfort the weeping and the sorrowing and heal the dissolution of these Isles, O thou who art full of grace, beseeching God on our behalf with the saints who are our compatriots.

After the Little Entrance, 

Resurrectional Apolytikion.

Tone 1. Automelon.

The stone had been secured with a seal by the Judeans, and a guard of soldiers was watching Your immaculate body. You rose on the third day, O Lord and Savior, granting life unto the world. For this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; glory to Your kingdom; glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind.

Apolytikion of the Parish Church

(Apolytikion of the Parish Church.)

Kontakion. Tone 2.

O Protection of Christians that never falls, intercession with the Creator that never fails, we sinners beg you, do not ignore the voices of our prayers. O good Lady, we implore you, quickly come unto our aid, when we cry out to you with faith. Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who protect now and ever those who honour you

Prokimenon of the Tone of the Week and that of the saints in Tone 7:

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Epistle, as appointed:

The Epistle

2nd Sunday

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

READER

Prokeimenon. Tone 1. Psalm 32.

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we hope in You.

Verse: Rejoice greatly in the Lord, O righteous ones; praise is fitting for the upright.

DEACON: Wisdom.

READER: The reading is from Paul's Letter to the Romans.

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

READER

Rom. 2:10-16

Brethren, glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. All who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

[RSV]

and that of the saints: Hebrews (Heb. 11,32 to 12,2).

Brethren, what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets — who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated — of whom the world was not worthy — wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Alleluia in Tone I:

Verse: O God, Thou givest avengement unto me and hast subdued peoples under me.

Verse: Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, ye righteous.

GOSPEL, as appointed: 

Mt. 4:18-23

At that time, as Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left their boat and their father, and followed him. And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

and that of the saints: 

Matthew, Section 10 (Matt. 4, 25 to 5, 12).

Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Communion Verse:

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright.

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Note: If the church is dedicated to All the Saints of the Isles, at Matins we sing: Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ…; Psalm 50. Glory…: Through the prayers of all the saints of the Isles, O Merciful One; Now and ever…; Through the prayers of the Birthgiver of God…
And instead of Jesus, having risen from the dead…, we sing the stichiron: Celebrating the season of the commemoration…(the first stichiron at the Aposticha at Great Vespers) and the rest as usual.