First Saturday of Lent / St. Theodore Saturday. 

Beatitudes on 8, St Theodore, 4 from Ode 3 and 4 from Ode 6.

 

1. The people of Christ, O Lady, long to see the day of thy Son; and in preparation they celebrate this present feast, honoring thee and thy victorious martyr.

 

2. The greatest among martyrs has turned the sadness of this present season into joy, granting us relief from the strictness of the holy Fast.

 

3. Fitting and appropriate is the gift which thou dost grant us through thy prayers, O martyr; for thou callest us to dwell with thee in Paradise, and joyfully we offer thee our gifts of praise.

 

4. Thou hast laid a good foundation through thy victory, O glorious martyr; with a courage surpassing nature thou hast overthrown the beast of destruction that breathed out fire and murder.

 

5. Amazed by the strange vision in which thou hast appeared to him, the Archbishop said: “Who art thou, my lord, that speakest to me? Show me how to find help quickly.”

 

6. Theodore replied: “I am the martyr, listen to me, Boil wheat, and distribute it among the people, and ye shall thus be saved from the polluted food of the avenger.”

 

7. Great is the wonder thou hast performed, Theodore, and marvelous is thy help. Taking courage, then, with undivided heart we turn to thee for refuge, and we pray: save thy servants.

 

8. At the good pleasure of the Father, and through the descent of the Holy Spirit upon thee, thou wast made the dwelling-place of the Light, the pure tabernacle of the Word:

guide me with thy light.

 

At the entrance, the choir sings:

O come let us worship and fall down before Christ, Who art wondrous in the saints, O Son of God, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

 

Troparia & Kontakia

 

Tone 2:  Great are the achievements of faith! /

In the fountain of flame as in refreshing water, /

the holy martyr Theodore rejoiced; /

for having been made a whole-burnt offering in the fire, /

he was offered as sweet bread unto the Trinity. //

By his prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

 

 

Glory… Tone 8: 

Having received the Faith of Christ in thy heart as a breastplate, /

thou didst trample upon the enemy hosts, O great champion; //

and thou hast been crowned eternally with a heavenly crown, as thou art invincible.

 

Both now... Tone 6:

O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, /

O mediation unto the creator unfailing, /

disdain not the suppliant voices of sinners, /

but be thou quick, O good one, to help us who in faith cry unto thee; /

hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, //

thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

 

The Epistle

 

Reader: The Prokimenon in the 7th Tone:  The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him.

Choir:  The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him.

Reader:  Hearken, O God, unto my prayer, when I make supplication unto Thee.

Choir:  The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him.

Reader:  The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord.

Choir:  And shall hope in Him.

 

Reader: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews:  [Heb. 1:1-12 (§303); II Tim. 2:1-10 (§292)]

 

Reader: Alleluia in the 4th Tone.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader:  The righteous man shall flourish like a palm tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader:  They that are planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of our God they shall blossom forth.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

Gospel [Mark 2:23-3:5 (§10); John 15:17-16:2 (§52)]

 

Communion Verse:  In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

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