Martyrs Marcian and Martyrius / Tone 4

St. Demetrius Saturday

 

Vespers: Kathisma 18.

Lord, I have cried, Tone 4, on 6: Martyrs, from the Menaion 3 (Having finished the race); Martyrs, from the Octoechos 3 (Emulating the sufferings of Christ – Friday evening vespers, Tone 4); G: Martyrs, from the Menaion (As disciples and followers); N: Dogmatic Theotokion, Tone 4 (The Prophet David – 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 4 (Martyrs: 2 (O Christ God); Departed: 1 (With the souls of the righteous)); G: Martyrs, from the Menaion (Having fended off heresies); N: Theotokion , Tone 3 (O Theotokos, thou unwedded Mother – 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 4: Martyrs (Armed with the Cross – 2nd hymn of the 1st set of sessional hymns in the Octoechos); Martyrs (In the sufferings, O Lord – 1st hymn of the 2nd set of sessional hymns); Verse (Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel); Martyrs (Adorned with the blood of Thy martyrs – 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 the souls whom Thou has taken – Nekrosimon from the 2nd set of sessional hymns); G/N: Theotokion (O pure and most immaculate one – from the 2nd set of sessional hymns) – or you can use the hymns as arranged in the LTS, p 324f.

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, in peace 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.

        Martyrs (Menaion)                                   4             Holy martyrs, pray to God for us.

        Martyrs (Octoechos, first 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:

        Martyrs (Menaion)                                   6             Holy martyrs, pray to God for us.

        Temple                                                       4             Refrain of the canon of the Temple.

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

        Irmos of the canon of the Martyrs, from the Menaion: O Thou who wast born of the Virgin.

        Katavasia, Odes 3, 6, 8, and 9, the Irmos from the canon of the Martyrs in the Octoechos, Tone 4.

 

After Ode 3, Small Litany (usual), and the Kontakion (Having struggled well from childhood), Ikos, and sessional hymns of the Martyrs, from the Menaion (Continuing your confessions); G/N: Theotokion (Without separating Himself).

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 4, in the Horologion.

Praises, Tone 4, on 4: Martyrs 4 (Who is not filled with awe – from the Octoechos); G: The Nekrosimon in the Octoechos (In the place of Thy rest); N: Theotokion (O only pure and all-pure Virgin). The Small Doxology is read. Litany: Let us complete our morning prayer.

Aposticha: Stichera of the Departed, from Octoechos (Truly awesome is the mystery of death); G/N: Theotokion (Following the words). 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.

 

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. 5:1-10 (§178); I Thess. 4:13-17 (§270).

Alleluia, Tone 4 & Tone 8.

Gospel: Luke 7:1-10 (§29); 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.