GREAT VESPERS For the Feast of ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE

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

Choir: Amen.

People: Come, let us worship and bow down before our King and God.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and God.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Himself, our King and God.

(The congregation recites the opening psalm)

PSALM 104

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

O Lord my God, You are very great!

You are clothed in praise and honor;

You cover Yourself with light as with a garment.

Spreading out the heavens like a curtain,

You cover Your chambers with the waters.

You make the clouds Your chariot,

You walk on the wings of the wind.

You make the winds Your messengers;

Your ministers a flame of fire.

You established the earth on her sure foundation;

She will never be moved.

You cover her with the deep as with a garment.

The waters shall stand above the mountains.

At Your rebuke they shall flee.

At the voice of Your thunder they shall be alarmed.

They go up to the mountains and down to the valleys,

to the place which You appointed for them.

You have set a boundary which they shall not pass;

Neither shall they turn again to cover the earth.

You make fountains gush forth in the valleys.

The waters shall flow between the hills.

They shall give drink to all the beasts of the field

The wild donkeys shall quench their thirst.

By them the birds of the heavens shall have their habitation.

They shall sing among the branches.

You water the mountains from Your chambers.

The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works.

You make the grass grow for cattle,

and vegetation for the service of man;

that You may bring bread out of the earth;

and wine that gladdens the heart of man.

Oil to make his face cheerful

and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

The trees of the plain shall be full of sap,

the cedars of Lebanon which You have planted.

There birds will build their nests.

The stork has her home in the fir trees.

The high mountains are a refuge for stags;

and the rocks for rabbits.

You made the moon to mark the seasons.

The sun knows the time of his setting.

You make darkness and it is night.

In it all the wild beasts of the forest will creep about.

Young lions roar for prey

and seek their food from God.

When the sun rises, they gather together

and lie down in their dens.

Man goes forth to his work,

and to his labor until evening.

How great are Your works, O Lord!

In wisdom You have made them all.

The earth is filled with Your creatures.

This great and wide sea in which are innumerable living things,

both small and great.

There sail the ships,

and there is Leviathan, which You made to play there.

All wait for You,

to give them their food in due season.

When You give it to them, they will gather it up;

When You open Your hand they shall be filled with good things.

But when You have turned away Your face they shall be troubled;

When You take away their breath, they fail and return to dust.

You send forth Your Spirit and they are created;

You renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the Lord endure forever!

May the Lord rejoice in His works!

Who looks upon the earth and makes it tremble,

Who touches the mountains and they smoke.

I will sing praises to my Lord all my life!

I will sing to my God as long as I live!

May my thoughts be pleasing to Him!

I will rejoice in the Lord!

May sinners vanish from the earth

and the lawless be no more.

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The sun knows the time of his setting.

You make darkness and it is night.

How great are Your works, O Lord!

In wisdom You have made them all.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Glory to You, O God!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Glory to You, O God!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Glory to You, O God!

Lord, You are our hope; Glory to You.

THE GREAT LITANY

Priest: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For the peace of God and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For peace in the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For our Archbishop (Name), our Bishop (Name), the honorable presbyters, the deacons in the service of Christ, for all the clergy and laity, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For our country, the president, and all those in public service, that they might be strengthened in every good deed, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For this parish and city, for every city and country, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For favorable weather, an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and temperate seasons, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For travelers by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady , the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

Choir: To You, O Lord.

Priest: O Lord, compassionate and loving, long-suffering and merciful, listen to our prayer and give heed to the voice of our supplication. Guide us in Your way that we may live in Your truth. Gladden our hearts that we may fear Your holy name. You are great and perform wondrous deeds. You are the only God! You are merciful and able to save all those who hope in Your holy name.

For to You belongs all glory, honor and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

PSALM 140:1-2

Choir: Lord, I have cried out to You, hear me. Hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried out to You, hear me. Receive the voice of my prayer when I cry out to You. Hear me, O Lord.

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

VERSES AND HYMNS

Chantor: I cried out to You, O Lord and said: “You are my hope, my share in the land of the living.” Psalm 140:7

Tone 2

With what wreaths of praise shall we crown the great Paul? He is the trumpet of the knowledge of God, the divinely chosen vessel of Christ, the enlightener of the world, whose proclamation of reverence is like a stream watering all of creation. He is the wise teacher of the New Testament through whom we are taught the full knowledge of the Truth.

Chantor: If You retain sins, Lord, O Lord, who would remain standing? With You there is forgiveness. Psalm 129:3-4

With what spiritual songs shall we sing of the godly Paul? He traveled throughout the whole world like an eagle with wings spread in flight. As an initiate in the Gospel of grace, he led the Gentiles to Christ by the word of Truth. He is the great morning star of the Church of the Gentiles, the God-inspired teacher by whom we are trained in the virtues.

Chantor: For the sake of Your name, O Lord, I have waited for You; my soul has waited for Your word, my soul has hoped in the Lord. Psalm 129:5

Today all the faithful sing of you, the blessed Paul! By your teaching, we have been freed from the vanity of idolatry and have been shown the grace of Christ. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, you came to Athens and in a wise and godly speech, you proclaimed the unknown God to those in the Areopagus. Remembering this event, we honor you!

Chantor: From the watch of dawn until the night, from the watch of dawn, let Israel hope in the Lord. Psalm 129:6

Tone 4

Let us worthily sing of the great Paul: the heavenly man, the tabernacle of Wisdom, the instrument of the Holy Spirit, the proclaimer of the knowledge of God, the apostle to the Gentiles and wise teacher of the great mysteries and dogmas of grace.

Chantor: Praise the Lord all you nations, praise Him all you peoples! Psalm 116:1

The Lord called you from heaven and set you apart in your mother’s womb! You were to be a vessel of godly illumination, the great apostle of His divinity and enlightener of the world. You were sent to the Gentiles that through you, O Paul, He might call us to divine knowledge.

Chantor: For mighty is His love for us and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Psalm 116:2

From Zion you appeared to the world and received the Gentiles as your fold and all creation as your portion. You preached the Gospel of Christ to all and enlightened Greece by your teaching. For this reason all of Greece and especially the city of Athens, joyfully sings your praises.

Tone 6

Chantor: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Today we celebrate your memory, O Apostle Paul, and bless your struggles for Christ, your many pains and much labor. You were sent as a sun to us who were sitting in the darkness and shadow of delusion. You preached the Gospel of peace and redemption from our vanities. We who are unworthy were shown to be worthy by your godly preaching and became children of the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. The Church in Athens boasts in you as her unbreakable foundation. O great Apostle and wise teacher, all of Greece is made beautiful by your teaching! Intercede with the Lord to deliver us from every heresy.

Chantor: Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Who would not call you blessed, O holy Virgin? Who would not sing the praises of your giving birth, O Theotokos? The only-begotten Son, who has shone forth eternally from the Father, has been born of You! He who exists by nature as God has, in a manner beyond description, taken on flesh and become human in nature for our sake. He is not divided into two persons, but is known in two natures without confusion. O blessed Lady most pure, intercede with your Son that He will have mercy on our souls.

THE ENTRANCE

Priest: In the evening, morning and at noon, we praise You, bless You, give thanks to You, and pray to You, O Master of all and loving Lord. Guide our prayers aright, as incense before You; do not let our hearts be led to words or thoughts of evil but deliver us from all those who pursue our souls; for it is to You, O Lord, that we lift up our eyes and in You, O Lord, that we hope. O God, do not be ashamed of us.

For to You belongs all glory, honor and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Wisdom. Let us stand.

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

Priest: The evening prokeimenon.

(There is a prokeimenon or special verse from the Book of Psalms to be sung at Vespers each night of the week.)

THE PROKEIMENON

Monday, Fourth Tone

Chantor: The Lord will hear me when I cry out to Him. Psalm 4:3

Verse: You have heard me when I called, O God of my righteousness. Psalm 4:1

Tuesday, First Tone

Chantor: Your mercy, O Lord, will follow me all the days of my life. Psalm 22:6

Verse: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 22:1

Wednesday, Fifth Tone

Chantor: O God, in Your Name save me and in Your power judge me. Psalm 53:1

Verse: O God, hear my prayer. Psalm 53:2

Thursday, Sixth Tone

Chantor: My help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2

Verse: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come. Psalm 121:1

Friday, Seventh Tone

Chantor: O God, You are my defender and Your mercy shall go before me. Psalm 58:17

Verse: Deliver me from my enemies, O God. Psalm 58:1

Saturday, Sixth Tone

Chantor: The Lord reigns and is robed in splendor. Psalm 92:1

The Lord is robed and is girded with power. Psalm 92:1

Verse: For He established the earth so that it cannot be moved. Psalm 92:1

Sunday, Eighth Tone

Chantor: Behold: bless the Lord all you servants of the Lord.

Psalm 133:1

Verse: You who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Psalm 133:1

THE READINGS

The First Reading

Reader: The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles (9:1-22)

Priest: Let us listen attentively!

The Conversion of Saul

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him , “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you , Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.

The Second Reading

Reader: The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles (17:16-34)

Priest: Let us listen attentively!

Paul in Athens

While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and also in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities.” (This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.) So they took him and brought him to the Areopagus and asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? It sounds rather strange to us, so we would like to know what it means.” Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new.

Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, He who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor He made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and He allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for Him and find Him -though indeed He is not far from each one of us. For ‘In Him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said,

‘For we too are His offspring.’

Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed, and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.”

When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed; but others said, “We will hear you again about this.” At that point Paul left them. But some of them joined him and became believers, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

The Third Reading

Reader: The reading is from the holy apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy (4:1-8,16-18)

Priest: Let us listen attentively!

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable, convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away into myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for His appearing.

At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory to the ages of ages. Amen.

THE LITANY OF SUPPLICATION

Priest: Let us say with our whole soul and our whole mind, let us say:

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Again we pray for all pious and Orthodox Christians.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Again we pray for our Archbishop (name), our bishop and father (name), and all our brothers in Christ.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Again we pray for our brethren, the priests, deacons, monks and nuns and all our brethren in Christ.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation; for the forgiveness and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all pious and Orthodox Christians who dwell and sojourn in this city and those who gather for worship in this holy church.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Again we pray for the blessed and ever memorable founders of this holy church and for all our Orthodox fathers, mothers and brethren who have gone before us and who, here or elsewhere, have been laid to pious rest.

People: Eternal be their memory.

Priest: Again we pray for those who bear offerings and do good works in this holy and most venerable church, for those who labor and those who sing and all the people here present who await Your great and rich mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: O Lord our God, be mindful of us sinners, Your unworthy servants, as we call upon Your holy Name: do not put us to shame for having placed our hope in Your mercy. Grant us all of our prayers that are for salvation. Make us worthy to love and fear You with all our heart and to do Your will in everything.

For You are a merciful and loving God and unto You do we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

(The congregation stands and recites the following prayer.)

People: Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this evening without sin.

Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our Fathers!

Praised and glorified is Your name forever! Amen.

O Lord, let Your mercy rest upon us, for we have placed our hope in You.

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

Blessed are You, O Master, grant that I may understand Your commandments.

Blessed are You, O Holy One, enlighten me with Your commandments.

O Lord, Your mercy is everlasting; do not forsake the works of Your hands.

To You belongs praise, to You belongs song, to You belongs glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Priest: Let us complete our evening prayer unto the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy upon us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For this whole evening, that it might be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Priest: For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Priest: For the forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Priest: For all that is good and beneficial to our souls and for peace in the world, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Priest: For the completion of our lives in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Priest: For a Christian end to our lives, peaceful, without shame and suffering; and for a good account before the awesome judgement seat of Christ, let us ask of the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Priest: Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God, and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and whole life to Christ our God.

Choir: To You, O Lord.

Priest: O great and Most High God, You alone are immortal and dwell in unapproachable light! You fashioned all of creation in wisdom, separating light from darkness, setting up the sun to rule the day and the moon and stars to govern the night: make us sinners worthy, at this present hour, to stand in Your presence with thanksgiving and offer You our evening praise. O Lord and lover of mankind, accept our prayer as incense before You, as a sweet spiritual fragrance; grant that this evening and the coming night may be spent in peace; clothe us with the armor of light and grant that the sleep You have given us to refresh us from our weakness may be free from every satanic fantasy. Yea, O Lord of all and giver of every good thing: may we remember Your name throughout the night and enlightened by the practice of Your commandments, may we rise with joy in our hearts, praising Your goodness and praying for our sins and for the sins of Your people. By the prayers of the Mother of God, look upon us in mercy.

For You are a good and compassionate God and unto You do we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Peace be with you all!

Choir: And with your spirit.

Priest: Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.

Choir: To You, O Lord.

Priest: O Lord our God, who parted the heavens and came down for the salvation of the human race, look upon Your servants and Your inheritance who have bowed their heads and bent their necks to You, O Judge both fearful and loving. They do not seek human help but wait upon Your mercy and look to You for salvation. Guard them at all times, this evening and the rest of the night, from all enemies, from every assault of the Devil and from vain thoughts and evil dreams.

May the might of Your kingdom be blessed and glorified, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

AT THE LETE

(The clergy process to the center of the solea.)

Tone 1

Chantor: O apostle Paul, all of Greece rejoices in the Lord, renewed by your teaching and perfected in faith, for you wisely preached the unknown God to us. By your deeds you have made known to all the meaning of redemption in Him, the blessings of new life and the promises of immortality. Bearing as fruit the gifts of the Gospel of grace, you have shone forth brighter than the sun to all. Therefore, we who were brought to Christ through you, celebrate your memory with joy and rejoicing in the Spirit we cry out: O Lord, glory to You!

THE BLESSING OF THE LOAVES

Priest: Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Your steadfast love; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Again we pray for all faithful and Orthodox Christians.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Again we pray for our Archbishop (name), our bishop (name) and for all our brothers in Christ.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, visitation; for the forgiveness and remission of sins for Your servants who celebrate this holy feast (he remembers the names of those who prepared the loaves).

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Again we pray for the protection of this holy church, this city and every city and town, from wrath, famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, foreign invasions, civil strife and accidental death. That our good and loving God may be merciful, gracious and favorable to us, that He may turn and keep from us all wrath and sickness and deliver us from His just rebuke and have mercy on us.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Again we pray that the Lord our God will hear the voice of our petitions and have mercy on us who are sinners.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Hear us, O God our Savior, the hope of those who live everywhere on earth and those far out at sea. Be gracious towards our sins, O Master, and have mercy on us.

People: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For You are a merciful and loving God 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.

Priest: Peace be with all.

Choir: And with your spirit.

Priest: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

Choir: To You, O Lord.

Priest: O most merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, by the intercessions of our all pure Lady the Mother of God and ever virgin Mary; by the power of Your precious and life giving Cross; the prayers of the holy, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist; the holy, glorious and praiseworthy apostles, especially St. Paul the Apostle whose memory we celebrate today; the holy, glorious and triumphant martyrs; our venerable and God bearing fathers; our fathers among the saints, the great bishops and universal teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom; Athanasios, Cyril and John the Merciful who were patriarchs of Alexandria; our father among the saints Nicholas, bishop of Myra in Lycia, the miracleworker; the holy, glorious and great martyrs George the standardbearer, Demetrios the myrrhstreaming, Theodore of Tyre and Theodore the commander, Menas the miracleworker; and the priest martyrs Haralambos and Eleutherios; the holy, glorious and great martyrs Thekla, Barbara, Anastasia, Katherine, Paraskevi and Irene; and all the holy and victorious martyrs; the righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna and all Your saints.

Make our supplications acceptable to You.

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Grant us forgiveness of our transgressions.

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Shelter us beneath the shelter of Your wings.

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Keep us from every enemy and war.

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Make our lives peaceful, Lord.

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Have mercy on us and on Your world and save our souls for You are good and the Lover of mankind.

Choir: Amen.

The priest censes the table with the loaves and sings:

O Theotokos and Virgin, hail O Mary full of grace; the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb for you gave birth to the Savior of our souls. Luke 2:28,42

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

The priest takes one of the loaves and making the

sign of the cross over it, prays:

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, who blessed the five loaves in the desert and from them filled five thousand men: bless these loaves, the wheat, the wine and the oil and increase them in this city and in all Your world and sanctify Your faithful servants who shall eat of them.

For You O Christ our God bless and sanctify all things and to You do we offer up glory, together with your Father who is without beginning and Your all holy, good and life giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Choir: Amen.

The clergy again bless and kiss the loaves and then enter the sanctuary through the Royal Doors, preceded by the deacon, singing:

Priest & People: The rich have become poor and hungered but those who seek after the Lord never shall have want of any good thing. Psalm 34:10 (3 times).

THE APOSTICHA

Tone 1

Who can describe your chains and your afflictions, O glorious apostle Paul? Who can tell of the many struggles and labors which you endured for the Gospel of Christ? You sought to win all people to the Gospel and present the Church to Christ. O apostle Paul, teacher of the churches, pray that the Church will hold fast to your good confession until her last breath.

Chantor: His voice has gone out to all the earth and his words to the ends of the world. Psalm 18:4

Who can describe your chains and your afflictions, O glorious apostle Paul? Your toil and labors, the vigils, your suffering of hunger and thirst, the cold and exposure, the beatings and whippings, the stonings, travails on land and shipwrecks in the ocean depths. You became a spectacle to angels and men. You endured everything through Christ, who gave you the strength to win the world for Christ Jesus, your Lord. We who faithfully celebrate your memory beg you to intercede unceasingly for the salvation of our souls.

Chantor: The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows forth the work of His hands. Psalm 18:1

Let us bless Paul, the teacher from Christ and great apostle, who has delivered us from the vanity of idolatry and led us to the wonderful light of faith. On the Areopagus you brilliantly preached the kindness of God towards us and disclosed the riches of His goodness. O glorious apostle Paul, keep the assembly of the churches unshaken by any heresy.

Tone 8

Chantor: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

All creation venerates your glorious accomplishments and celebrates your triumphs, O glorious apostle Paul. Truly, you lived on earth as though not in the flesh. Through your many labors and with much sweat you presented the Gentiles as subjects to Christ. Now, as with uncovered face you behold the glory of Christ, intercede unceasingly for those who honor you.

Chantor: Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our maker and redeemer, Christ the Lord, came forth from your womb, O Theotokos. Unceasingly we praise you as the most-pure Mother of God. Intercede with Him for the salvation of our souls.

THE SONG OF SYMEON Luke 2:29-32

Priest: Now let Your servant depart in peace, O Master, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples: a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people, Israel.

THE TRISAGION PRAYERS

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

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to 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. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

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

THE LORD’S PRAYER

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 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.

Choir: Amen.

(The choir and congregation sing the hymn of St. Paul.)

Facing danger at sea and fearful persecution, you became a chosen vessel of the Savior. With your sermons you enlightened the nations and to the Athenians you revealed the unknown God. Teacher of the nations, St. Paul the apostle, protector of us all: keep us who honor you safe from every trial and danger.

Chantor: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy spirit now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Your mystery, O Theotokos, is most glorious and surpasses all understanding. Sealed with purity and inviolate in virginity, you are acknowledged without doubt to be the mother who gave birth to the true God. Beg Him to save our souls.

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

Choir: Amen.

People: O Lord our God, make firm the holy and pure faith of the pious and Orthodox Christians in this holy Church and this city forever.

Priest: Most holy Mother of God, save us!

People: More honorable than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, you gave birth to God the Word in virginity. You are truly the Mother of God! You do we exalt!

Priest: Glory to You, O Christ our God and our hope, glory to You!

May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His most pure and holy Mother, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary; by the power of His precious and Life-giving Cross; the protection of all the angelic powers of heaven; the supplications of the holy, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist; the prayers of the holy, glorious and praiseworthy apostles, especially St. Paul the apostle to the Gentiles, whose memory we celebrate this day; the holy and triumphant martyrs; our venerable and God-bearing fathers; the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna and all Your saints: have mercy on us and save us as our good, loving and merciful God.

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

Choir: Amen.