ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomoia.

Stichera for the Apostles.

Mode pl. 2. N/M (When the saints.)

Having received the heavenly power of the Paraclete, Christ''s Apostles routed the regiments of the foe. They rebuked kings, put the wise to shame, simple and unlettered, naked and unarmed they were drawn up in accordance with the Gospel. While they worked deeds of wonder by the word of grace. And so, making the nations obedient to Christ, they intercede with boldness on behalf of our souls.

Your glorious Disciples, yearning after you and denying themselves, fervently followed you. Taking up the Cross behind you, in obedience to your command, they left the earth behind and obtained heaven as their portion, turning the nations to the true knowledge of you. And now, having become your subjects through all things, they ever intercede with boldness on behalf of our souls.

I pass my whole in indifference, Lord supremely good, and have arrived fruitless before the end, wretch that I am, carrying only the burdens of evil deeds that are now hard to carry. Scatter them, Lover of mankind, with the weight of your mercy, and give me compunction and saving conversion, O God, at the acceptable and godly intercessions of your Apostles, whom I bring to intercede with her who bore you.

Additional Stichera. For St. Nicholas. N/M (O Christ, as it is written.)

Blessed Nicolas, help me as I fall before you, and enlighten the eyes of my soul, wise Saint, that I may see clearly the Giver of light, the Compassionate Lord.

Enemies are seeking me out to do me evil, holy Hierarch. Rescue me, as you have freedom of approach to God, save me from harm and deliver me from men of bloodshed.

With faith we have now gained you, O Hierarch, as a haven without storms, an unbreachable wall, a tower of safety, a door of repentance and a faithful guide and champion.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.

The Virgin''s giving birth without travail has clearly become for us the greatest of gifts, for God makes new again our nature that was corrupted and refashions what is human.

At the Aposticha.

Aposticha. Mode pl. 2. For the Apostles.

When your Disciples were storm-tossed in the boat, O Christ, they shouted out, ''Teacher, save us, we are perishing!'' And now we cry aloud, ''Saviour who love mankind, deliver us from our constraints, we beg.''

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]

Lord, the Apostles once grasped the depth of the sea through nets, later the height of the Kingdom through teachings. By their skill they searched the depth that cannot be grasped, while by their faith they reached your bosom that cannot be circumscribed, and they proclaimed to the world your Son who is beyond time. At their intercessions and those all the Saints, have mercy on us.

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.

Your Cross, Lord, became for your Martyrs an invincible weapon. For they saw the death that lay before them and looking forward to the life to come, they were given power by their hope in you. At their entreaties, have mercy on us.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mother of God, you are the true vine who gave bud to the fruit of life. We implore you, ''Intercede, Sovereign Lady, with the Apostles and all the Saints, that he have mercy on our souls''.

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ON THURSDAY MORNING

MATINS

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

Mode pl. 2.

As you were present in the midst of your Disciples, O Christ, and gave them peace; come, be with us too and save us.

N/M (You are the good hope.)

You were sent out on earth as light; * you illumined all people * by what you taught, which was most wise. * And you drove out the darkness * of polytheism by teaching about God. * The Trinity''s illumination shone from you. * By you were many peoples saved * from error void of light, * O Apostles of the Savior.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Open the gate of compassion to us, blessed Mother of God; hoping in you, may we not fail. Through you may we be delivered from adversities, for you are the salvation of the Christian race.

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

O Lord, the memory of Your Apostles is like the Garden of Eden, for all the world greatly rejoices in it. Grant us peace and great mercy, by their supplications.

Your twelve Apostles, O Lord, were seen on earth like a sun with twelve torches. Through them you withered the harm of error; through them you brighten the souls of Your servants. Through them will You also save us, O compassionate Savior.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. N/M (You are the good hope.)

O Lady holy and pure, as our God''s blessed Mother, * you ineffably gave birth to the Creator of all. * We beseech you to join the sacred Apostles in imploring His goodness every day, * to deliver us from passions and grant us forgiveness of sins.

After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For the Apostles.

The fishermen overturned the flawed philosophies, and from the depths of vanity they drew everyone up, with the net of the true Faith in God; and to God they brought those who rightly believe in Him, and who ever magnify Him.

For the Martyrs.

O Lord, the memory of Your Saints is like the Garden of Eden, for all creation greatly rejoices in it. Grant us peace and great mercy, by their intercessions.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Standing in your glorious church, O Theotokos, we think we are standing in heaven. O heavenly Gate, open to us the door of your mercy.

Canon for the Holy Apostles.

Mode pl. 2. Ode i. Heirmos.

Crossing the sea as on dry land Israel watched Pharao the pursuer drowning in the deep and they cried out, ''Let us sing a song of victory''. [EL]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas.

(NM)

Theotokion.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

None is holy as you, O Lord my God, who have exalted the horn of your faithful people, O Good one, and established me on the rock of confession of you. [EL]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode iv. Heirmos.

Christ is my power, my God and Lord, the holy Church cries out from a pure mind in song befitting God, as it keeps festival in the Lord. [EL]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode v. Heirmos.

With your divine radiance, O Good One, illumine, I beg, the souls of those who rise to you at dawn with love to know you, Word of God, to be truly God, calling them back from the gloom of offences. [EL]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode vi. Heirmos.

Watching life''s sea rising with a tempest of temptations, fleeing to your calm haven, I cry out to you, ''Bring my life up from corruption, O Most merciful. [EL]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode vii. Heirmos.

An Angel made the furnace moist with dew for the godly Youths, while God''s command consuming the Chaldeans persuaded the tyrant to cry out, ''Βlessed are you, God of our Fathers''. [EL]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode viii. Heirmos.

From flame you made a source of dew for the Saints and with water you consumed the sacrifice of a righteous man with flame. For you do all things, O Christ, simply by willing them. We highly exalt you to all the ages. [EL]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

It is impossible for humans to see God, on whom the ranks of Angels dare not gaze. But through you, O All-pure, the incarnate Word has been seen by mortals. As we magnify him, with the heavenly armies we call you blessed. [EL]

Troparia.

Theotokion.

Canon for St. Nicholas. (NM)

Theotokion.

At the Aposticha of Lauds.

Aposticha. Mode pl. 2. For the Apostles.

When your Disciples were storm-tossed in the boat, O Christ, they shouted out, ''Teacher, save us, we are perishing!'' And now we cry aloud, ''Saviour who love mankind, deliver us from our constraints, we beg.''

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]

Lord, the Apostles once grasped the depth of the sea through nets, later the height of the Kingdom through teachings. By their skill they searched the depth that cannot be grasped, while by their faith they reached your bosom that cannot be circumscribed, and they proclaimed to the world your Son who is beyond time. At their intercessions and those all the Saints, have mercy on us.

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.

Our God has magnified His holy ones and His elect. Be glad and rejoice, all you His servants; for He has prepared the crown and the His kingdom for you. We entreat you, do not forget us.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. N/M (O Christ, as it is written.)

Mother of God, you are the true vine who gave bud to the fruit of life; we implore you, Sovereign Lady, intercede, together with the Unmercenary ones and all the saints that he have mercy on our souls.

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LITURGY

The Beatitudes. Mode pl. 2.

Like the robber I entreat You, O my Savior, * when You come in Your kingdom, remember me, * O Lord, and save me, O only God who loves mankind.

O Apostles of the Lord, you were illumined, * and like luminous clouds you showered the world * with the water of inspired knowledge of God.

You, O glorious Apostles, have illumined * with the true faith in God all the human race, * for you traversed the whole world like mystical rays.

For the Martyrs.

You experienced the fire of the tortures * for your faith, holy Martyrs, and you received * divine refreshment like dew from the Lord of all.

Glory.

O believers, as in unison we worship * the divine Holy Trinity, let us say: * "At the entreaties of the Apostles, save us all."

Both now. Theotokion.

You gave birth the One who with the Father * is beginningless, ineffably through a word. * O Theotokos, entreat Him to save our souls.