Ss.
Peter and Paul
It
should go without saying that if one has any possible means of traveling to a
Church
to
attend the liturgy for Ss. Peter and Paul, they should do so. However, if it is not
possible
for one to do so, the following is provided so that at least they can
participate
in
the feast to the extent possible, under such circumstances.
Beatitude Verses: St. Peter, Ode 3: 4; St Paul, Ode 6: 4 1 & 2. O Peter the Apostle, the most sweet mouth of Christ God proclaimed thee as the
blessed and secure treasury of the Kingdom. Therefore we sing thy praises.
3. Jesus the Lord has established upon the rock of thy divine teaching the unshakable Church in which we glorify thee, O Peter. 4. Peter is in body higher than the angels, for Christ said he would sit with him as a judge when openly He would come again.
5. Thou didst disdain all delightful things, for thou wast smitten by love of the Master and the desire for the salvation of all, and thou didst choose to bear witness to Him, O
blessed Paul. Now intercede for the whole world.
6. As a noble emulator of the Master, thou wast sincerely clothed in Him, O Paul, and thou wast all things to all men so that thou mightest gain all things and save the peoples;
and thou didst truly save the ends of the earth, netting them for Christ.
7. Christ gave thee citizenship in heaven, O worthy and blessed Apostle Paul, for thou wast a faithful servant and administrator of His mysteries, and here thou didst not desire
a lasting city.
8. The Lord has looked down upon thee and renewed my being, and He Who is mighty has done great things, as thou didst say, O all-blameless Mother of God. And through
thee my God has saved me from corruption, for He is compassionate.
Troparia Tone 4: O foremost of the Apostles /
and teachers of the world, /
intercede with the Master of all, /
that He grant peace to the world //
and to our souls great mercy.
Glory… Both now… Tone 3: We hymn thee who hast mediated the salvation of our race, O Virgin Theotokos; /
for thy Son and our God, /
accepting suffering on the Cross in the flesh He had received of thee, /
hath delivered us from corruption, //
in that He is the Lover of mankind.
The Epistle
Reader: The
Prokimenon in the 8th Tone: Their sound hath gone forth into
all the earth,
and their words unto the ends of the world.
Choir: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto
the ends of
the world.
Reader: The
heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work
of
His hands.
Choir: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and
their words unto the ends of
the world.
Reader: Their
sound hath gone forth into all the earth.
Choir: And their words unto the ends of the world.
Reader: The Reading is from the Second Epistle of
the Holy Apostle Paul to the
Corinthians: [2nd Corinthians 11:21 - 12:9]
Reader: Alleluia
in the 1st Tone.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: The
heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord, and Thy truth in the
congregation
of saints.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: God
who is glorified in the council of the saints
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel [Matthew 16:13-19]
Kontakia
Tone 2: Thou hast taken to Thyself, O Lord,
/
the firm and
divine-voiced preachers, the chief Apostles, /
for the
enjoyment of Thy blessings and for repose; /
for Thou didst
accept their labors and death as above all sacrifice, //
O Thou Who alone knowest the secrets of our
hearts.
Glory… 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.