Vespers
"Lord, I have cried ..."
TONE 2 (To the special melody: Joseph Of Arimathea)
6. WHEN JULIANNA SAW THE BLESSED MARTYR
BARBARA
DURING HER TERRIBLE TRIAL
SUFFERING FROM HER MANY WOUNDS,
HER BODY PAINFULLY TORN IN MANY PLACES,
SHE CRIED OUT WITH TEARS OF COMPASSION:
"WORD OF GOD AND LOVER OF MANKIND;
GRANT THIS DAY THAT I MAY BE HER COMPANION
IN MARTYRDOM!"
5. SAINTS BARBARA AND JULIANNA,
YOU ARE OF THOSE WHO ALONE HAVE A TRUE VOCATION
FOR RIGHTEOUS LIVING,
FOR YOU ATTACKED THE ENEMY AND GRAVELY WOUNDED
HIM!
THUS YOU ARE WORTHY OF GLORIFICATION BY
CHRIST GOD
FOR YOU TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT THE DESTROYING
PASSIONS AND THEIR EVIL,
GIVING THE MEANS OF HEALING TO ALL THE FAITHFUL!
4. MOST PURE MARTYR BARBARA, WHEN
THOU WAST SENTENCED TO DIE
THU DIDST FACE SWEET DEATH WITH JOY!
THOU DIDST SWIFTLY FULFILL THE ACT OF MARTYRDOM
SLAIN BY THE HAND OF THY MOST EVIL PARENT.
THOU WAST OFFERED UP AS FRUIT TO GOD!
THEREFORE WITH THE WISE VIRGINS THOU TRULY
REJOICETH
AS THOU BEHOLDEST THE LIGHT OF CHRIST, THY
BRIDEGROOM!
Tone 8 (For John of Damascus)
3. WHAT SHALL WE CALL THEE, HOLY THEOLOGIAN
JOHN?
ANOTHER DAVID, FOR THY HYMNS ARE AS THE
PSALMS FOR US?
THOU ART THE TEMPLE OF THE SPIRIT AND THE
PIPE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
THOU DOST SWEETEN OUR EARS AND GLADDEN OUR
MINDS.
THOU CAUSEST THE RANKS OF THE CHURCH TO
REJOICE!
THY TEACHINGS ARE A RIVER OF HONEY, FLOWING
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.
PRAY THAT OUR SOULS MAY BE SAVED!
2. WHAT SHALL WE CALL THEE, FATHER
JOHN, THE MESSENGER OF GOD?
SHINING STAR OF THE HOLY TRINITY?
THOU ENLIGHTENEST OUR EYES WITH DELIGHTFUL
TEACHING.
THOU HAST ENTERED INTO THE CLOUD OF DIVINE
KNOWLEDGE.
LIKE MOSES THOU BEHOLDEST MYSTERIES BEYOND
WORDS OR SPEECH.
THOU PROCLAIMEST THE MUSIC OF HIS WISDOM.
PRAY THAT OUR SOULS MAY BE SAVED!
1. WHAT SHALL WE CALL THEE, BLESSED
ONE?
A SHINING LAMPSTAND? A FAITHFUL MINISTER
OF DIVINE MYSTERIES?
A JOYFUL STAR FOR THE CHURCH, ENLIGHTENING
THOSE WHO DWELL IN DARKNESS?
A WELL-TUNED ORGAN AND SWEET-SOUNDING HARP?
PRAY THAT OUR SOULS MAY BE SAVED!
GLORY... (for Barbara) TONE 6
ABANDONING THY HOME, THY PEOPLE AND EARTHLY
RICHES,
THOU DIDST FLEE THE HATRED OF AN EVIL FATHER,
BARBARA;
THOU WAST WEDDED TO GOD IN A BOND OF LOVE,
THEREFORE HE TOOK THEE TO HIMSELF REJOICING.
PRAY THAT HE MAY SAVE OUR SOULS.
NOW AND EVER ... (Theotokion)
O LADY, I LIFT UP TO THEE THE EYES OF MY
HEART. TURN NOT AWAY FROM MY POOR SIGHS. AT THE HOUR WHEN THE WORLD IS
JUDGED BY THY SON, BE MY REFUGE, HELP AND SHELTER.
Aposticha: Tone 8 (To the special melody: Most Glorious Wonder)
3. ALL-WISE FATHER JOHN,
THOU DOST ENLIGHTEN THE CHURCH WITH SONG
INSPIRED BY GOD.
THROUGH THE OPERATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
GOD OUR FATHER MADE THEE ANOTHER DAVID.
THY HYMNS LEAD US TO THE LORD, BLESSED ONE.
VERSE:
Blessed
is the man who fears the Lord; who greatIy
delights in His commandments!
2. GLORIOUS FATHER JOHN,
IN THE MIDST OF WORLDLY TUMULT,
THOU DIDST ATTAIN THE PEACE OF CHRIST, RIGHTEOUS
ONE.
BY GODLY ACTION AND CONTEMPLATION THOU WAST
ENLIGHTENED WITH HIS WISDOM.
THOU WAST MADE RICH IN HEAVENLY THINGS,
WITH WHICH THOU DOST ENLIGHTEN THE FAITHFUL,
ALL-BLESSED ONE!
VERSE: Precious
in the sight of the Lord is the death of
His saints!
COME, LET US ASSEMBLE IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD
TODAY,
PRAISING THE RIGHTEOUS JOHN WITH JOYFUL
SONG.
HE IS TRULY A DIVINE LAMP;
HE ENABLES US TO SEE THE TRUE LIGHT.
HOW GREAT IS THY GOODNESS, COMPASSIONATE
LORD!
THROUGH HIM WE HAVE LEARNED TO GLORIFY THEE,
ONLY GOOD ONE!
GLORY... TONE 6
THE SOUND OF THY TEACHINGS HAS GONE OUT INTO
ALL THE EARTH,
VENERABLE FATHER JOHN!
THEREFORE THOU HAST FOUND THE REWARD OF
THY LABORS IN THE HEAVENS.
THOU DIDST DESTROY THE HOSTS OF DEMONS
AND REACHED THE RANKS OF ANGELS WHOSE LIFE
THOU DIDST BLAMELESSLY FOLLOW!
SINCE THOU HAST BOLDNESS BEFORE CHRIST OUR
GOD,
ENTREAT PEACE FOR OUR SOULS!
NOW AND EVER... (Theotokion)
O THEOTOKOS,
THOU ART THE TRUE VINE WHO BLOSSOMED FOR
US THE FRUIT OF LIFE:
IMPLORE HIM WE PRAY THEE, O LADY,
TOGETHER WITH THE APOSTLES AND ALL THE SAINTS,
THAT HE MAY HAVE MERCY ON OUR SOULS!
Apolytikion
(Tone 4)
LET US HONOR THE ALL-REVERED SAINT BARBARA;
FOR SHE DID DEMOLISH THE GINS OF THE ADVERSARY AND ESCAPED FROM THEM LIKE
A BIRD, BY THE HELP OF THE CROSS AS WITH A WEAPON.
Glory ... (Tone
8)
THOU HAST SHOWN THYSELF, O GOD-INSPIRED JOHN, AS A GUIDE TO THE ORTHODOX FAITH, A TEACHER OF TRUE WORSHIP AND PURITY, O STAR OF THE UNIVERSE AND COMPANION OF THE BISHOPS, O WISE ONE. THROUGH THY LIGHT THOU HAST ENLIGHTENED ALL, O HARP OF THE SPIRIT. THEREFORE, INTERCEDE WITH CHRIST GOD TO SAVE OUR SOULS.
Both now ... (Tone 8)
THOU WHO FOR OUR SAKE WAST BORN OF A VIRGIN,
AND DIDST SUFFER CRUCIFIXION, O GOOD ONE, AND DIDST DESPOIL DEATH THROUGH
DEATH, AND AS GOD DIDST REVEAL RESURRECTION; DESPISE NOT THOSE WHOM THOSE
HAST CREATED WITH THINE OWN HAND; SHOW FORTH THY LOVE FOR MANKIND, O MERCIFUL
ONE; ACCEPT THE INTERCESSION OF THY MOTHER, THE THEOTOKOS, FOR US; AND
SAVE THY DESPAIRING PEOPLE, O OUR SAVIOR.
Orthros
Exapostelaria (To the special melody: Listen, Women)
(to Barbara)
VIRGIN MARTYR BARBARA,
THOU DIDST SPRING FROM A THORNY ROOT
LIKE A MOST BEAUTIFUL ROSE DYED WITH THE
BLOOD OF THY HOLY SUFFERING!
NOW WITH LOVE THOU SAVE FROM MISFORTUNE//
THOSE WHO KEEP THY SACRED MEMORY!
(to John of Damascus)
THOU DIDST SHINE FORTH LIKE A DIVINE LIGHT UPON THE CHURCH,
OUR FATHER,
ENLIGHTENING IT WITH THE LIGHT OF THY CHARACTER
AND THE SPLENDOR OF THY HYMNS, ADORNING
THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST!
JOHN, NEVER CEASE TO PRAY TO HIM ON OUR
BEHALF!
(to the Theotokos)
SAVED BY THEE, LADY,
WE CONFESS THEE TO BE THE TRUE THEOTOKOS,
FOR THOU DIDST INEFFABLY GAVE BIRTH TO GOD
WHO DESTROYED DEATH BY HIS CROSS,
DRAWING TO HIMSELF THE ASSEMBLIES OF THE
VENERABLE ONES
WITH WHOM WE PRAISE YOU, O VIRGIN!
The Praises (Tone 1)
4. THOU DIDST DESPISE THE SWEETNESS
OF EARTHLY FOOD
AND THY FATHER'S WEALTH.
TURNING AS WELL FROM GLORY, BARBARA,
THY DIDST LOVE THE HEAVENLY BRIDEGROOM!
BEHEADED BY THE SWORD, THOU ENTERED INTO
CHRIST WITH THE WISE VIRGINS.
DISPELLING A DEADLY PLAGUE, THOU DIDST HEAL
THE FAITHFUL
THROUGH THE WORKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
NOW THOU DOST EVER PRAY FOR OUR SOULS!
3. (Tone 2)
THE EVIL ENEMY, WHO LURED OUR FIRST MOTHER INTO SIN,
IS PUT TO SHAME, CONQUERED BY A WOMAN!
CHRIST, THE WORD OF THE FATHER,
INCARNATE OF THE VIRGIN WITHOUT CHANGE OR
CONFUSION,
THROUGH HIS KNOWLEDGE, LIFTED THE CURSE
FROM EVE AND ADAM
AND HE FITTINGLY CROWNED THE MARTYR BARBARA,
FOR HER SAKE GRANTING THE WORLD GREAT MERCY!
2. THE DIVINELY-CALLED MARTYR BARBARA,
SUFFERING IN THE TRIBUNAL, SAID:
MY PRESENT TORMENTS ARE CRUEL, MY TORTURERS,
BUT IT WILL BE JOYFUL TO RECEIVE ETERNAL
LIFE!
I SHALL NEVER PREFER THE THINGS OF EARTH
TO THOSE OF HEAVEN!
THEREFORE CUT AND TEAR MY FLESH;
GIVE ME OVER TO THE FIRE THAT I MAY GO REJOICING
TO CHRIST MY BRIDEGROOM!
THROUGH HER PRAYERS, O CHRIST GOD,
SEND DOWN YOUR MERCIES AND SAVE US
AS WE CELEBRATE HER SUFFERINGS WITH FAITH!
1. COME, PEOPLE, LET US HYMN THE FEAST
OF THE ATHLETE BARBARA TODAY!
NEITHER SWORD, NOR FIRE NOR ANY TORMENT,
NOR THE CRAFTY SNARES OF THE DEVIL
WERE ABLE TO TRIUMPH OVER HER!
WE CRY OUT TO HER WITH FAITH:
ENTREAT CHRIST, GOOD AND MOST GLORIOUS MARTYR,
THAT HE MAY GRANT US GREAT MERCY!
GLORY ... (to St. Barbara) TONE 6
ENTERING INTO THE ROAD OF STRUGGLES, O VENERABLE
MARTYR BARBARA, THOU DIDST NOT FALL AS DID THE FIRST WOMAN.
RATHER, AS A WISE VIRGIN WITH HER LAMP ENKINDLED,
THOU DIDST ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD.
AS A VALIANT MARTYR, THOU DIDST RECEIVE
THE GRACE TO HEAL BODILY SUFFERINGS.
FOR THOSE WHO CELEBRATE THY FEAST TODAY,
DELIVER OUR SOULS FROM ALL THEIR ILLS
THROUGH THY PRAYERS TO THE LORD OUR GOD.
BOTH NOW ... (Tone 6)
O VIRGIN MOTHER OF GOD, SAVE US, FROM WHOM
THE WORD TOOK FLESH IN THY WOMB; PRAY TO HIM TO GRANT SALVATION TO OUR
SOULS.
The Great Doxology
is sung.
Divine Liturgy
1. First Antiphon: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.
2. Second Antiphon: Save us, O Son, who art wondrous in the Saints, who sing to Thee: Alleluia.
3. Third Antiphon: Troparion of St. Barbara
4. After the Little
Entrance:
a. Troparion of
St. Barbara
b. Troparion of
St. John of Damascus
c. Troparion of
the Patron Saint of the Temple
d. Kontakion of
Preparation for Christmas
5. Prokeimenon: The Righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him.
6. Epistle: Galatians 3:23-29
7. Gospel: St. Mark 5:24-34
8. Communion Hymn: The Righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance...