Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church - Edmonton

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading: “Blessed is the man…” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 6

1. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

O Christ, You won the victory over Hades,* You ascended the cross so that You might raise up with Yourself* all those who dwelt in the darkness of death.* Almighty Saviour, You are free from death* and bestow life by Your divine light.* We, therefore, beseech You to have mercy on us.

1. The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

Today Christ has conquered Death.* He has risen from the grave as He had foretold,* bestowing great joy upon the world.* Therefore, let us all lift up our voices and sing:* O Fount of Life, O Light whom no one can approach,* Almighty Saviour, have mercy on us.

1. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

O Lord, where can we sinners flee from You,* for You are present in all creation?* You are present in heaven, for it is Your dwelling place.* Your power prevails in Hades where You conquered Death.* O Master, Your sustaining hand touches even the depths of the sea.* Where, then, can we take refuge except in You?* We, therefore, prostrate ourselves before You and pray:* O Lord, risen from the dead, have mercy on us.

1. Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

We exult in Your cross, O Christ,* and we sing the glory of Your resurrection.* For You are our God, and we have no other Lord but You.

In Tone 2

1. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

With what crowns of praises shall we honour the praised martyrs,* the kind intercessors of the faithful people,* the adornment of Rus’-Ukraine and joy of the world?* Though separated in body, they were united in spirit.* By their wisdom they conquered the diabolical powers with the help of Christ,* who gives great mercy to the world.

1. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

With what ornaments shall we adorn the praised Borys,* who manfully endured sufferings,* and Hlib, who equalled him in zeal?* Both are bright shining lights,* which illumine all pious souls with the radiance of virtue.* Having learned Christ’s commandments,* they worthily achieved glory    * and entreat Him who grants to all great mercy.

1. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

With what spiritual hymns shall we celebrate the splendorous feast* of the glorious martyrs who for the sake of the Christ,* spurned the corruptible glory of the world?* One was pierced in the side with a spear* while the other was slaughtered like a lamb.* Christ God worthily glorified them;* for this they have received the gift of healing* and implore great mercy for all.

In Tone 8

3 .For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

O praiseworthy Martyrs of Christ,* you considered attacks by persecutors and violent death to be as nothing.* Boldly you armed yourselves with courage for battle,* and robed yourselves in glorious victory.* You were numbered with all the Just* with whom we bless you in constant praise.

1. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

O most blessed Martyrs of Christ,* you gave yourselves up freely to be sacrificed.* With your blood you sanctified the earth,* you brightened the air by your departure from this life.* Now you live in heaven, in a never-setting light.* O Martyrs, who see God, always pray for us.

1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

O invincible Martyrs of Christ,* with the dew of divine grace* you pass through the pain of fire without harm.* You are considered worthy to live by the waters of peace,* since you received a crown of victory.* With joy we celebrate your holy feast,* and we give glory to Christ.

In Tone 6, Glory…

Come, let us extol the wonderworkers and martyrs* who suffered and overcame the opposing enemy.* Today, gleaming with light, they stand before Christ rejoicing.* Therefore, let us with joy and love celebrate their memory crying out:* Rejoice, intercessors of the world and victors over the enemies!* Rejoice, physicians of the sick and routers of demons!* Rejoice, amiable twins, excellent brothers, glorious Borys and wonderful Hlib!* As lovers of Christ implore the Holy Trinity for us,* for the peace of the world and the salvation of our souls.

Now…Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?* Who would not sing a hymn of praise* to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?* The Only-begotten Son Himself,* begotten of the Father before all ages,* was made flesh out of you in a manner* that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!* And for our sake, He who is God by nature* assumed the nature of a man.* He is not divided into two persons;* He is understood to have two natures* without commixion or confusion.* O noble and blessed Woman,* intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.

Readings: (1) Isaiah 43:9-14; (2) Wisdom 3:1-9; (3) Wisdom 5:15-6:3

Aposticha

In Tone 6

O Christ our Saviour,* the angels in heaven sing the praises of Your resurrection;* make us on earth also worthy* to extol and glorify You with a pure heart.

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

Almighty God, You destroyed the brazen gates and bars of Hades,* and raised up fallen mankind.* Therefore, with one accord, we cry out:* O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!

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

Christ willed to renew us from our corruption of old* by being nailed to a cross and placed in a tomb.* When the women came to anoint His body they tearfully cried out:* O, what sorrow afflicts us!* O Saviour of All, how could You consent to occupy a grave?* If you truly willed this, then why did You allow Your body to be stolen?* How were You removed?* What place now conceals Your life-bearing body?* O Lord, appear to us as You promised* and put an end to our tears.* As they were lamenting, an angel appeared and cried out to them:* Do not weep, but tell the apostles that the Lord is risen,* granting sanctification and great mercy to the world.

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

O Christ, You were crucified of Your own free will,* and by Your burial You imprisoned Death.* As God, You rose in glory on the third day,* granting life and great mercy to the world.

In Tone 8, Glory…

Come, faithful of the Ukrainian churches,* and behold how innocently the martyr Borys accepts the sentence,* whose side they pierced at the instigation of the devil,* causing him the shedding of blood.* Behold Hlib who like a lamb was slaughtered by his brother Sviatopolk.* They received crowns while their brother perished in oblivion.* They received glory and pray for our souls.

Now…

O most pure Virgin, who ineffably conceived God in the flesh,* O Mother of the Most High God,* accept the supplications of your servants, all pure One,* and grant us the forgiveness of sins* and the salvation of our souls.

Troparia

In Tone 6

Angelic powers were upon Your tomb* and the guards became like dead men;* Mary stood before Your tomb* seeking Your most pure body.* You captured Hades without being overcome by it.* You met the Virgin and granted life.* O Lord, risen from the dead,* glory be to You!

In Tone 2

Glory…

O genuine passion-bearers and true followers of the Gospel of Christ,* chaste Borys and innocent Hlib,* you did not oppose your brother turned enemy* who killed you bodies but could not touch your souls.* Therefore let the wicked lover of power shed tears of lament* while you rejoice in the presence of the Holy Trinity with angelic choirs.* Pray that the land of your kinsmen may be pleasing to God* and that all the children of Rus’ may be saved.

Now…

O Mother of God, the mysteries which surround you are exceedingly glorious,* and beyond the power of understanding.* For you retained the seal of purity,* and your virginity remained inviolate;* yet you are acknowledged, without doubt,* to be the Mother who gave birth to the true God.* We beg you, therefore, to entreat Him to save our souls.

DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 6: Angelic powers were upon Your tomb* and the guards became like dead men;* Mary stood before Your tomb* seeking Your most pure body.* You captured Hades without being overcome by it.* You met the Virgin and granted life.* O Lord, risen from the dead,* glory be to You!

Troparion, Tone 2: O genuine passion-bearers and true followers of the Gospel of Christ,* chaste Borys and innocent Hlib,* you did not oppose your brother-turned-enemy* who killed your bodies but could not touch your souls.* Therefore let the wicked lover of power shed tears of lament* while you rejoice in the presence of the Holy Trinity with angelic choirs.* Pray that the land of your kinsmen may be pleasing to God* and that all the children of Rus’ may be saved.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 6: With His life-giving hand* Christ our God, the Giver of life,* raised all the dead from the murky abyss* and bestowed resurrection upon humanity.* He is for all the Saviour,* the resurrection and the life, and the God of all.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 3: Today your all-glorious memory has shone forth,* O noble passion- bearers of Christ, Borys and Hlib,* summoning us to gather for the praise of Christ our God.* Wherefore, we who hasten to your relics,* receive the gift of healing by your prayers, O saints, for you are godly physicians.

Prokeimenon, Tone 6
Save Your people, O Lord,* and bless Your inheritance.
verse: Unto You I will cry, O Lord, my God, lest You turn from me in silence. (Psalm 27:9,1)

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
To the saints who are in His land, the Lord has made wonderful all His desires in them.

Epistle: Romans 15:1-7 (NRSV)
Brothers and Sisters, we who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Romans 8:28-39 (NRSV)
Brothers and Sisters, we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Alleluia, Tone 6
verse: He who lives in the aid of the Most High, shall dwell under the protection of the God of heaven.
verse: He says to the Lord: You are my protector and my refuge, my God, in Whom I hope. (Psalm 90:1,2)
verse: The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of their afflictions.

Gospel: Matthew 9:27-35 (NRSV)
At that time, as Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this.” But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district. After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.” Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.

John 15:17-16:2 (NRSV)
The Lord said, I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Servants are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. It was to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’ “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. “I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God.

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)