40 Martyrs of Sebaste

Vespers: Kathisma 18. Small litany.

Lord, I have cried, Tone 8, on 6: Triodion 3 (As we reach today – LTS, p. 182); 40 Martyrs 3 (Valiantly enduring present torments); G: 40 Martyrs (Valiantly enduring real torments); N: Dogmatic Theotokion, Tone 2 (The shadow of the law).

Entrance with the censer; O Gladsome Light; Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 6: Hearken O God, unto my prayer, when I make supplication unto Thee. Reading: Gen. 8:21-9:7. Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 6: Hearken unto us, O God our Savior. Reading: Prov. 11:19-12:6. Three readings of the 40 Martyrs.

Vouchsafe, O Lord; Litany: Let us complete our evening prayer.

Aposticha: Triodion (The proud-speaking Pharisee – LTS, p. 183); G: 40 Martyrs (In hymnody let us praise the forty passion-bearing martyrs) N: Theotokion, Tone 4 (O Theotokos, thou art the true vine).

Now lettest Thou Thy servant. Trisagion to Our Father. Troparion: 40 Martyrs (By the pangs which Thy saints suffered); G/N: Theotokion (When Gabriel announced).

Litany: Have mercy on us, O God; Prayer of St. Ephraim, with 3 prostrations. The prayer: O All-Holy Trinity, the Consubstantial Dominion. Blessed be the name of the Lord x3. G/N: Psalm 33 is read. Priest: Wisdom! Choir: It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and most blameless and Mother of our God. Priest: O most holy Theotokos, save us. Choir: More honorable. Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ our God and our Hope, glory to Thee. Choir: G/N: Lord, have mercy x3. Father (Master) bless! Dismissal.

Great Compline: After the first Trisagion, Troparion of the 40 Martyrs (By the pangs of Thy saints); G/N: Resurrectional Theotokion, Tone 1 (When Gabriel announced). After the second Trisagion: we sing Have mercy on us, O Lord, as usual. Canon from the Octoechos, Tone 7. After It is truly meet, Trisagion; Kontakion of the Martyrs (Having left all the army of the world). O Lord of hosts, be with us is not sung. After More honorable, the prayer of St. Ephrem with three bows. The Trisagion is not said. Lesser dismissal.

Matins: The usual beginning of daily matins.

God is the Lord, Tone 1; Troparion of the 40 Martyrs (By the pangs of Thy saints) x2; G/N: Resurrectional Theotokion, Tone 1 (When Gabriel announced).

Kathismas: 10, 11, and 12. After the first two Kathisma, no Small Litany, but immediately: Lord, have mercy. x3, and the Sessional Hymns of the Triodion. After the last Kathisma, Small Litany; Sessional Hymns of the 40 Martyrs (O ye forty godly martyrs); G: 40 Martyrs (O wondrous athletes); N: Theotokion (O Theotokos and Mistress).

Polyeleos and Magnification of the Martyrs: We magnify you, O holy passion-bearing martyrs of Sebaste, and we honor your venerable sufferings, which ye did endure for Christ. Psalm verse: Our God is refuge and strength; a helper in afflictions which mightily befall us.

Sessional Hymn of the 40 Martyrs (Adornment of the holy martyrs); G/N: Theotokion (I weep now).

Hymns of Ascents, First Antiphon, Tone 4: From my youth. Prokimenon of the 40 Martyrs, Tone 4: We went through fire and water, and Thou didst bring us out into refreshment. Matins Gospel: Luke 21:12-19 (§106).

Psalm 50; G: Through the prayers of the Martyrs of Sebaste; N: Through the prayers of the Theotokos; Have mercy on me, O God; Sticheron of the 40 Martyrs (Prophetically David cried aloud). Save, O God, Thy people.

Canon (Odes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7):

40 Martyrs 8 Holy Forty Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Irmos of the Martyrs (twice).

Katavasia: I shall open my mouth.

Canon (Ode 2):

Triodion 8* Glory, O Lord, to Thy precious Cross.

Irmos of the first three-canticled canon (See now, see that I am your God, before all ages).

Katavasia: Irmos of the second three-canticled canon (See now, see that I am your God, who have sanctified for you).

Canon (Odes 8 and 9):

40 Martyrs 6 Holy Forty Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Triodion 8* Glory, O Lord, to Thy precious Cross.

Irmos of the Martyrs (twice).

Katavasia: Irmos of the second three-canticled canon (O ye angels and ye powers of heaven).

After Ode 3: Sessional hymn of the 40 Martyrs (Having served Christ); G/N: Theotokion (Having fallen into subtle snares).

After Ode 6: Kontakion (Having left the army of the world) and Ikos of the 40 Martyrs.

At Ode 9: More honorable.

Exapostilarion of the 40 Martyrs (Let us hymn as is meet); G: 40 Martyrs (Let the forty member choir); N: Theotokion (O Virgin-Mother, who, though a maiden).

Praises (all the verses are read, down to Praise Him for His mighty acts), 40 Martyrs 4 (Come ye, O brethren); G: 40 Martyrs (O athletes of Christ); N: Theotokion (We, the faithful, bless Thee). Priest: Glory to Thee, who hast shown us the light. Small Doxology is read; Litany: Let us complete our morning prayer.

Aposticha: Triodion (Consider, my soul, how the vainglorious Pharisee was condemned – LTS, p 189) x2; Martyricon of the Triodion (Bravely have ye fought); with the usual refrains from the Horologion; G: 40 Martyrs (Chanting a hymn); N: Theotokion (O impassible portal). It is good to give praise x1; Trisagion prayers; Troparion of the 40 Martyrs; G/N: Theotokion (When Gabriel). Litany: Have mercy on us, O God. Immediately after the exclamation of the Litany: Prayer of St Ephraim with 3 prostrations and immediately the First Hour.

* Each Ode of the second three-canticled canon contains an additional troparion, following the theotokion, and not counted with the 8. This troparion is read in addition to the 8 troparia with the refrain Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

First Hour: Kathisma 13. Troparion and Kontakion of the Menaion. After O God, be gracious unto us, the Prayer of St Ephraim with 3 prostrations, and immediately O Christ, the True Light. Full Dismissal.

Third, Sixth and Ninth Hours: Kathismas 14, 15, and 16. Troparion and Kontakion of the Menaion. Prayer of St Ephraim with 3 prostrations only. At the Sixth Hour, after the Theotokion of the Hour: Troparion of the Prophecy, Prokimenon, Reading (Isa. 25:1-9) and second Prokimenon of the Triodion.

Typika: The Beatitudes are read, not sung. Kontakia: In a temple of the Lord: Kontakion of the Temple; G: 40 Martyrs; N: O protection of Christians.

In a temple of the Theotokos: Kontakion of the 40 Martyrs; G/N: Kontakion of the Temple.

In a temple of a saint: Kontakion of the Temple; G: Kontakion of the 40 Martyrs; N: O protection of Christians.

Then, Lord, have mercy x40; G/N: More honorable; In the name of the Lord. Priest: God be gracious unto us. Prayer of St Ephraim with 3 prostrations. Reader: O all-holy Trinity. Priest: Wisdom! Choir: It is truly meet. Priest: O most-holy Theotokos, save us! Choir: More honorable. Priest: Glory to Thee. Choir: G/N; Lord, have mercy x3, Father, bless! Priest: Lesser dismissal.

Vespers with the Divine Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts: Kathisma 18.

Lord, I have cried, Tone 3, on 10: Idiomelon of the Triodion aposticha x2 (I have surpassed the Publican – LTS, p. 192); Cross 4 (O merciful Lord – LTS, p. 190f); 40 Martyrs 4 (The choir of forty-fold splendor); G: 40 Martyrs (Prophetically David cried aloud); N: Cross (Today He Who is intangible in essence – from the Triodion, p. 349).

Entrance with the Gospel; O Gladsome Light; Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 6: Sing unto the Lord, chant unto His name. Reading: Gen. 9:8-17; Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 6: May Thy salvation, O God, be quick to help me; Reading Prov. 12:8-22. Let my prayer arise and Prayer of St Ephraim.

There is no Small Litany, but immediately after the prayer, the usual exclamations for the reading of the Epistle. Prokimenon of the Menaion, Tone 5, Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us and shalt preserve us. Epistle: Heb. 12:1-10 (§331). Alleluia, Tone 4. Gospel: Matt. 20:1-16 (§80).

Communion verse: O taste and see. & Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.