ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomoia.

Stichera for the Apostles.

Mode 1. N/M (O Martyrs, extolled.)

Glorious Apostles of Christ, disciples called by God, teachers of the whole world, having found the Lord, the Mediator between God and men, you were divinely joined to him and you proclaimed him clearly in the world as perfect God and perfect man.

All-wise Apostles, intercede that I may shake off the folly of my soul, as you have been declared to be truly initiates and revealers of wisdom. Lighting the light of the Paraclete and burning out the rottenness of my mind, make me worthy to call you blessed.

Apostles, who saw God, flooded the whole round world with divine teachings and dimmed the darkness of the idols, enlighten my soul, darkened by the passions; and now intercede that our souls may be given God''s peace and great mercy.

Additional Stichera. For St. Nicholas.

N/M (For the celestial.)

Flying around the flowers of the Church, like a nestling from the nest of the Angels on high, thrice-blessed Nicolas, you ever cry to God on behalf of all of us in the constraints of dangers and temptations, and you free us by your prayers.

Surveying the beauties of things unseen, you understood that dread glory, O holy of holies. Therefore you make manifest to us the heavenly utterances of those ever-living contemplations, most holy one.

By practical virtues you made the beauty of your sacred vestment more resplendent, god-bearing Father. Therefore you minister to us the wonders of those far-famed contemplations, rescuing us from dangers.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.

Virgin Mother of God who did not know wedlock, who gave birth to God in the last times and who was revealed again after childbirth to be a pure virgin, throne and gate and mystical table and lampstand formed of light.

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 1.

Save me, O God, in Your name, and judge me in Your power.

Verse: O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. [SAAS]

At the Aposticha.

Aposticha. Mode 1. For the Apostles.

The harmonious lyre of the Apostles, struck by the Holy Spirit has abolished the rites of the loathsome demons, and by proclaiming the one Lord has freed the nations from the error of idols and taught them to worship the consubstantial Trinity.

Verse: I lift my eyes to You, who dwell in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the maidservant look to the hands of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God until He shall have compassion on us. [SAAS]

N/M (For the celestial.)

Let us together sing the praises of Peter and Paul, Luke, Matthew, Mark, John, Andrew, Thomas, Bartholomew, Simon the Canaanite, James, Philip; and let us fittingly praise the whole assembly of the Disciples.

Verse: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we are greatly filled with contempt; our soul is greatly filled with it. We are a disgrace to those who prosper, and a contempt to the arrogant. [SAAS]

For the Martyrs. Model Melody.

All-praised Martyrs, earth did not hide you, but heaven received you; For you the gates of Paradise stood open, and now within you enjoy the Tree of life. Intercede with Christ that there be granted to our souls his peace and his great mercy.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.

Virgin all-praised, Moses with prophetic eyes saw the mystery that is in you, the bush that though in flames was unburned. For the fire of the Godhead did not burn up your womb, pure Maiden. And so we ask you, as Mother of our God, to grant peace to the world.

__________

ON THURSDAY MORNING

MATINS

After the first Psalter reading, Kathismata. For the Apostles.

Mode 1.

Wise Fishermen of the whole world, as you have received God''s compassion, now intercede also for us who cry: Lord, save your people and your city, and through your Apostles free the souls of us who are held fast by troubles.

N/M (The stone.)

With the net of the word the Fishermen ruined the webs of the rhetoricians by the rod of the Cross and enlightened the nations devoutly to glorify the true God; and therefore we cry to you who gave them power: Glory to the Father and the Son, glory to the consubstantial Spirit, glory to the One who through them enlightened the world.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Unburned you conceived the fire of the Godhead, and without seed you bore the Lord, source of life, O Mother of God full of grace; save those who magnify you.

After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata. For the Apostles.

N/M (The soldiers.)

Let us the faithful honour with hymns the tuneful trumpets of Christ, the horses who troubled the sea of godlessness and drew mankind as from the deep to the inspired harbour of salvation by the grace of the Spirit.

Same Melody.

The Light which outside time shone from Light, in time appeared in flesh to those on earth, and through you, All-blest Apostles, enlightened the world; therefore we all, enlightened by your divine teachings, honour your sacred memory.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.

O ever-virgin Maid, we believers all have you * an advocate with God; and for help and assistance * we run to your holy church and we pray to you earnestly. * Therefore save us from the wicked spite of the demons, * and deliver us from frightful final damnation, * for we ever sing your praise.

After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For St. Nicholas. N/M (The soldiers.)

You physically sojourned in the city of Myra, * and with the Spirit''s myrrh you were noetically anointed, * O Hierarch Nicholas. * By the myrrh of your miracles, * you who pour out myrrh in endless streams filled with fragrance * those who wish to sing you fragrant hymns and to honor * with fragrance your memory.

For the Martyrs. Same Melody.

Let us all beseech Christ''s Martyrs, for they ask for our salvation; and let us in love approach them with faith; they possess the grace of healing; they ward off the regiments of demons, as guardians of the Faith.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.

The godly Disciples and Apostles by their inspired teachings proclaimed your ineffable birth-giving, O Maiden, immaculate Mother of God, teaching that you should be fittingly worshipped; but we beg you: with them ask that those who honour you in faith may be saved.

Canon for the Holy Apostles.

Mode 1. Ode ii. Heirmos.

Your triumphant right hand, in a manner fitting God, has been glorified in strength, O Immortal; for in its infinite strength it broke in pieces the enemy, and made a strange new way for the Israelites in the deep. [EL]

Troparia.

Enlightened by the divine beams of the radiance with triple sun, glorious, godlike Apostles, you were truly gods; therefore, as is fitting, with faith we honour you.

When, through compassion, the Word appeared on earth in the solidity of flesh, having become by faith his best ministers and fulfillers of his commands, O Apostles, you are ever honoured.

Revered Apostles, with the shining rays of light of the all-holy Spirit enlighten me, wholly covered by the darkness of sins, and guide me clearly to the way of repentance.

Theotokion.

Harmony of the Apostles, all-blameless Lady who gave birth to God, as you are Mother of him who spoke in them in a manner fitting God, with them intercede that I may be delivered from the fire of Gehenna.

Canon for St. Nicholas.

Let us all sing. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

You alone know the weakness of mortals and in compassion took its form; gird me with power from on high, to cry to you: Holy the living temple of your ineffable glory, O lover of mankind! [EL]

Troparia.

God, alone invisible, was seen in a body and chose you as his Disciples, all-blessed, glorious Apostles, who to the whole world proclaim his name and his glory beyond worlds.

To you alone I have sinned, O Christ, against you alone I have offended and wickedly defiled my soul; in your mercy cleanse me, save me, O Jesus, alone easily entreated, who have your wise Apostles interceding for me.

As you are compassionate, deliver me, all-praised Apostles, from the bitterness of passions, thoughts and every sin, making my understanding sweet by repentance, for you carry in your hearts the divine sweetness.

Theotokion.

With the immaterial Ministers, with all the Powers on high, with Martyrs and Apostles of Christ, to whom you gave a body from your pure blood, Virgin, did not know wedlock, implore that your servants may be saved.

Canon for St. Nicholas. May my heart. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode iv. Heirmos.

Avvakoum with foreseeing eyes perceived you as a mountain overshadowed by the grace of God, from which, he foretold, the Holy One of Israel would come, for our salvation and refashioning. [EL]

Troparia.

Troubling the seas of godless unbelief by your assaults, glorious Apostles, Horses of Christ chosen by God, you drowned the spiritual enemy and drew to salvation those who had been drowned.

Vessels of the divine splendours of the Spirit, with the enlightenment of repentance make radiant my soul, darkened and home to passions of many kinds, godlike Apostles, blessed by God.

Clouds that rain down the water of life, water my soul, dried up by the drought of the passions and make it sprout with the saving ear of virtues, glorious Apostles.

Theotokion.

Prophets, Apostles, glorious Martyrs, with the Mother of the Redeemer, entreat insistently that we may be redeemed from sins and eternal punishment, from temptations, dangers and afflictions.

Canon for St. Nicholas. Foreseeing in Spirit. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode v. Heirmos.

O Christ, who enlightened the ends of the world by the brightness of your coming, and made them radiant by your Cross, enlighten with the light of your divine knowledge the hearts of those who hymn you with right belief. [EL]

Troparia.

All-honoured Apostles, you have been revealed as mountains dropping down sweetness and fairest joy, destroying all the bitterness of the devil and making the faithful glad.

You recognised Christ who came as a stranger to his own, and joined yourselves truly to him. And so rescue me from the harm of the Stranger, godly Apostles of the Word.

Heal the secret wounds of my soul at the holy intercessions of those who proclaimed in the world your divine coming, O Compassionate, your sufferings and your Resurrection from the tomb.

Theotokion.

With all the Bodiless ones, Virgin Mother of God, implore God the Word to free your servants from irrational deeds and pleasures that bring death.

Canon for St. Nicholas. Make the radiant. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode vi. Heirmos.

The deepest abyss has surrounded us, there is none to deliver. We have been counted as sheep for the slaughter. Save your people, O God, for you are the strength and restoration of the weak. [EL]

Troparia.

You caught the nations in spiritual nets to know the One who was made known for the refashioning of mortals, O Apostles blessed by God.

My wretched soul, my miserable soul, my unrepentant soul, repent and cry out to Christ: I have sinned, be merciful, O Lover of mankind, at the prayers of the Apostles, for you are supremely good.

All-powerful Christ, who Israel of old drew waters from a rock for Israel, dissolving my hardness, make me carry channels of tears at the prayers of the Apostles, for are most merciful.

Theotokion.

O Virgin, entreat as Fashioner and God the One who through loving-kindness was well pleased to be born from you, to save from temptations and disasters those who ever hope in you.

Canon for St. Nicholas. I imitate the Prophet. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode vii. Heirmos.

We the faithful recognise you, O Mother of God, as a spiritual furnace; for as he, the highly exalted, saved the three Children, so he wholly refashioned me, humanity, in your womb, the God of our fathers. praised and glorified above all. [EL]

Troparia.

Jesus the Lord, being source of life, sent out like rivers the Disciples watering with streams of the knowledge of God all that lies beneath the sun, and singing: God of the Fathers, praised and highly exalted.

Carrying in their hearts a spiritual fire, the divine grace of Christ, O Disciples, you burnt up the matter of godlessness. Therefore consume my material passions, God of the Fathers, praised and highly exalted.

Deliver me from the punishment of the fire, O God, at the entreaties of your Disciples, and do not cast me away from your presence, who cry out to in repentance: God of the Fathers, praised and highly exalted.

Theotokion.

Draw me out from corrupting sins and passions, you who were born without corruption from the Mother of God, granting incorruption to those who sing: O God of the Fathers, praised and highly exalted.

Canon for St. Nicholas. O Lord and Savior.

Theotokion.

Ode viii. Heirmos.

In the furnace, as in a smelter, the Israelite Youths shone with the beauty of godliness brighter than gold as they said: All you his works bless the Lord, praise and highly exalt him to all the ages. [EL]

Troparia.

The great Sun unfurled you as his beams into the whole inhabited world, O Apostles, shedding light on believers who cry out: All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and highly exalt him to all the ages.

As spiritual shepherds, as lambs of the Shepherd, as sheep of the Lamb and God our Redeemer, O Apostles who saw God, intercede without ceasing that I may be delivered from the spiritual wolf and from the bitter portion of the goats.

Most miserable soul, groan and cry out to the Lord: I sinned above all others, and I have been utterly lawless. Cleanse me, save me, like the Harlot, like the Publican, like the Thief, O Compassionate, at the acceptable intercessions of the Apostles.

Theotokion.

Mother of God, with Angels and with Apostles, Martyrs and prophets, implore Christ to save those who cry: All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and highly exalt him to all the ages.

Canon for St. Nicholas. The One before whom. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

The burning bush, that was not consumed, was a type of your child-bearing; quench for us now the raging furnace of temptations we pray, O Mother of God, that we may unceasingly magnify you. [EL]

Troparia.

Revealed as godlike and light-giving lamps of the holy Spirit, Blessed Apostles, you enlightened the whole inhabited world with the light-giving rays of your revered and all-wise preaching, so diminishing the darkness of idols.

Being godly branches of the spiritual vine, glorious Apostles, you sprouted with godly grape clusters which pour out the wine of salvation. And so rescue me from the drunkenness of pleasures.

Wretch that I am, I tremble when I consider that fearful judgement seat of yours, O Christ, for now I am beset with shameful and filthy deeds, and before sentence I am condemned. And so, at the prayers of your Apostles, take pity on me.

Theotokion.

You alone made mortals divine by bearing the Word incarnate. Implore him with the Apostles and Martyrs, all-holy Virgin, Bride of God, for all of us who with faith call you blessed and who honour you.

Canon for St. Nicholas. The light-bearing cloud. (NM)

Theotokion.

Exaposteilarion. For the Apostles.

Mode 3. As God you adorned.

O Apostles of the Master, * by your preaching of the Gospel, * from the ocean of deception * you drew the whole world to the light. * Cease not in your intercessions * on our behalf with the Savior.

Another. Same Melody. As God you adorned.

O holy twelve-numbered unit, * the glory of all Apostles, * we pray you join St. Nicholas * that holy bishop of Myra, * and never cease your entreaties * on our behalf to the Savior.

Theotokion. Same Melody.

O Lady, refuge of Christians, * cease not imploring Christ your Son * with St. Nicholas that famous * bishop, and pray on the behalf * of us, your unworthy servants, * that we obtain joy eternal.

At the Aposticha of Lauds.

Aposticha. Mode 1. For the Apostles.

The harmonious lyre of the Apostles, struck by the Holy Spirit has abolished the rites of the loathsome demons, and by proclaiming the one Lord has freed the nations from the error of idols and taught them to worship the consubstantial Trinity.

Verse: We were filled with Your mercy in the morning, and in all our days we greatly rejoiced and were glad; gladden us in return for the days You humbled us, for the years we saw evil things. And behold Your servants and Your works, and guide their sons. [SAAS]

N/M (For the celestial.)

Let us together sing the praises of Peter and Paul, Luke, Matthew, Mark, John, Andrew, Thomas, Bartholomew, Simon the Canaanite, James, Philip; and let us fittingly praise the whole assembly of the Disciples.

Verse: And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the works of our hands. [SAAS]

For the Martyrs.

Be glad in the Lord, you Martyrs, because you have fought the good fight; you have stood against Kings and defeated tyrants; you were not frightened by fire and sword; when wild beasts were devouring your bodies you raised a hymn with the Angels to Christ and received the crowns from heaven, asking that peace be given to the world and his great mercy.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. N/M (For the celestial.)

Like the Prophets let us hymn the Virgin as golden jar of the manna, bush unburned, table and throne, golden lampstand that holds the lamp, unhewn mountain, ark of sanctification and gate of God.

__________

LITURGY

The Beatitudes. Mode 1.

Through food the foe led Adam out of Paradise; but through the Cross Christ led back in the Thief as he cried: Remember me when you come in your Kingdom.

O Apostles, you enlightened all * the ends of earth with the godly rays * of your true teachings, and dispelled * the darkness of ungodliness. * Having gone now to unsetting light, * you are blessed forevermore.

O Christ''s disciples, you had the Father''s own * enhypostatic Wisdom dwelling in you, * which made you wise in things divine. * By the folly of your preaching, * you enlightened the whole wide world, * and you led it knowledge of God.

For the Martyrs.

You endured the tortures manfully, * Martyrs of Christ, as though bodiless. * And you defeated all the foes who are bodiless mightily. * Therefore by all people now * you are blessed and extolled each day.

Glory.

Let us believers worship and adore * the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, * and living Spirit, one in throne, * undivided, inseparable, * single God, to whom we cry aloud: * You are holy, O thrice-holy God.

Both now. Theotokion.

All-pure Virgin, we now call you blest, * as you yourself once had prophesied. * For you gave birth to God, whom hosts * of Apostles proclaimed to all. * Pray with them for forgiveness * of our sins, O all-blameless one.