Martyr Acindynus, and those with him / Tone 5

St. Demetrius Saturday

 

Note: The memorial service for St. Demetrius Saturday is transferred to this day, because the feast of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius (October 26th) falls on a Saturday this year.

 

Vespers: Kathisma 18.

Lord, I have cried, Tone 5, on 6: Martyr Acindynus, from the Menaion 3 (Let us hymn the company of the five martyrs); Martyrs, from the Octoechos 3 (With the streams of their blood – Friday evening vespers, Tone 5); G: Martyr Acindynus (Bearing the wisdom of perfection); N: Dogmatic Theotokion, Tone 5 (Once, the image of the Bride – the tone of the previous Sunday).

No Entrance; Reader: O Gladsome Light; Prokimenon of the day, Tone 7: O God, my helper art Thou.

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

Aposticha: Octoechos, Friday Vespers Tone 5 (Martyr: 2; Departed: 1); G: Martyr Acindynus (Come, let us rejoice in the Lord); N: Theotokion , Tone 2 (Save thy servants from misfortunes – see The Common Theotokia: Theotokia in the Eight Tones in the Appendix of the Menaion).

Troparia: O Apostles, Martyrs, and Prophets; G: Remember, O Lord; N: Theotokion (Holy mother of the Ineffable Light).

Litany: Have mercy on us, O God; Dismissal.

 

Matins: The usual beginning for daily Matins.

In place of God is the Lord, we sing Alleluia, Tone 2, with the following verses (as at a Pannikhida):

1. Blessed are they whom Thou hast chosen and hast taken to Thyself, O Lord.

2. Their remembrance is unto generation and generation.

3. Their souls shall dwell among good things.

Then these troparia: O Apostles, Martyrs, and Prophets x2; G: Remember, O Lord; N: Theotokion (Holy mother of the Ineffable Light).

Kathisma 16. Small litany (usual, not for the departed). Sessional Hymns from the Octoechos, Tone 5: Martyrs (Thou hast given us an indestructible bulwark – 2nd hymn of the 1st set of sessional hymns in the Octoechos); Martyrs (Zealous for the cup of Thy sufferings – 1st hymn of the 2nd set of sessional hymns); Verse (Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel); Martyrs (The hosts of heaven marveled – 2nd hymn of the 2nd set of sessional hymns); Verse (Blessed are they whom Thou hast chosen and taken to Thyself, O Lord); Hymn for the Dead (Unto Thy servants grant rest – Nekrosimon from the 2nd set of sessional hymns); G/N: Theotokion (O Christ God Who shone forth – from the 2nd set of sessional hymns) – or you can use the hymns as arranged in the LTS, p 328f.

The first half of Kathisma 17, with the refrain Blessed art Thou, O Lord, sung slowly, softly, and repeatedly, by the choir, while this is read. The last two verses (If Thy law had not been; & I will never forget Thy statutes) are sung thrice by the choir.

Small Litany (for the departed): Deacon: Again and again, let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Again we pray for the repose… Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: That the Lord God commit… Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: The mercy of God… Choir: Grant this, O Lord. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord  Choir: Lord, have mercy x40, While the priest secretly says the prayer O God of spirits. Exclamation (For Thou art the Resurrection). Choir: Amen.

The second half of Kathisma 17 is read, with the refrain Save me, O Savior, sung while this is read, as above. Last two verses (My soul shall live; & I have gone astray) are sung thrice.

Then immediately, the choir sings the Evlogitaria of the Departed (Blessed art Thou, O Lord; The choir of the saints; and the rest). Small Litany (for the departed, as previously). Sessional Hymn from the Triodion  (Give rest, O our Savior – see the Saturday of Meatfare); G/N Theotokion (O Christ God, Who didst shine forth); Psalm 50.

Canon: In a temple of the Lord or the Theotokos:

        Temple                                                          6              Refrain of the canon of the Temple.

        Martyr Acindynus                                       4              Holy martyrs, pray to God for us.

        Martyrs (Octoechos, 1st Canon)                                4              Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants who have fallen asleep.

        Irmos of the canon of the Temple.

       

        In a temple of a saint:

        Martyr Acindynus                                       6              Holy martyrs, pray to God for us.

        Temple                                                          4              Refrain of the canon of the Temple.

        Martyrs (Octoechos, 1st Canon)                                4              Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants who have fallen asleep.

        Irmos of the canon of the Martyr Acindynus: I will open my mouth.

 

        Katavasia, Odes 3, 6, 8, and 9, the Irmos from the canon of the Martyrs in the Octoechos, Tone 5.

 

After Ode 3, Small Litany (usual), and the Kontakion (The pious and God-bearing martyrs), Ikos, and sessional hymns from the Martyr Acindynus (Suffering in their struggle); G/N: Theotokion (All of us, the generations of men).

After Ode 6, Small Litany (departed), Kontakion (With the saints give rest) and Ikos.

At Ode 9, More Honorable.

After the Katavasia of Ode 9: It is truly meet.

Small Litany (usual).

The Photagogica, Tone 5, in the Horologion.

Praises, Tone 5, on 4: Martyrs 4 (Blessed is the army of the King of heaven – from the Octoechos); G: The Nekrosimon in the Octoechos (O Lord who created me); N: Theotokion (Alas, O my wretched soul!). The Small Doxology is read. Litany: Let us complete our morning prayer.

Aposticha: Stichera of the Departed, from Octoechos (With the light of Thy countenance); G/N: Theotokion (Having conceived Christ the King). It is good to give praise unto the Lord x1. Trisagion. Troparia: O Apostles, Martyrs, and Prophets; G: Remember, O Lord; N: Theotokion (Holy mother of the Ineffable Light). Litany of Fervent Supplication. Deacon: Wisdom! Choir: Father, bless. Priest: He that is. Choir: Amen. Establish, O God. First hour. Dismissal.

 

The Hours: Troparia: O Apostles, Martyrs, and Prophets; G: Remember, O Lord; Kontakion: With the saints give rest.

 

Liturgy: Beatitudes, Octoechos 6.

After the entrance: Troparion to All Saints (O Apostles, Martyrs, and Prophets); Departed (Remember, O Lord); G: Kontakion of the Departed (With the saints give rest); N: Theotokion (In thee we have a wall and a haven).

Prokimenon Tone 8, Be glad in the Lord. & Tone 6, Their souls shall dwell among good things.

Epistle: II Cor. 8:1-5 (§185); 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 (§270).

Alleluia, Tone 4 & Tone 8.

Gospel: Luke 9:1-6 (§40); John 5:24-30 (§16).

Communion Hymn: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous & Blessed are they whom thou hast chosen.

Dismissal.

After the Liturgy, a general Pannikhida is served for all Orthodox Christians.