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Vespers
for Holy and Great Friday
STAND
Priest: Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
People: Amen.
Come, let us adore our King and God.
Come, let us adore Christ, our King and our God.
Come, let us adore and bow down to Christ, our King and our God.
Psalm 103
Praise of God's Creation
-Bless the Lord, 0 my soul!
You are very great, 0 Lord, my God!
-Clothed in pomp and brilliance,
arrayed with light as with a cloak.
-Stretching out the sky as a tent-cloth,
covering your lofty halls with water.
-You make the clouds your conveyance,
You surge on the wings of the wind.
-You make spirits your messengers
and flaming fires your attendants.
-You settle the earth on its firm foundation:
it shall stand unmoved from age to age.
-The abyss covers it like a garment;
waters stand over the mountains.
-At your rebuke, they will take to flight,
at the peal of your thunder they will fear.
-They hurdle the hills and run down the dales
to the place you have chosen for them.
-You have set up a boundary not to be passed:
they shall never return to cover the earth.
-Down in the gullies, You make springs to rise:
waters shall go down between the mountains.
-They shall give drink to the beasts of the field;
wild asses will seek them to quench their thirst.
-The birds of the sky will abide by them:
from among the rocks they will raise their song.
-From your lofty halls You refresh the mountains;
the earth shall be fed with the fruit of your works.
-You make green pastures for the cattle
and food-plants for the service of man,
-So that bread may be brought forth from the earth
and wine that gladdens the heart of man.
-So that oil may put a gleam upon his face
and that bread may strengthen the heart of man.
-The trees of the plain will be satisfied,
the cedars of Lebanon that He planted.
-The sparrows will build their nests in them
and the herons will call them their home.
-To the deer belong high mountains,
to rodents, the shelter of the rocks.
-You have made the moon to mark the seasons;
the sun knows the time of its setting.
-You establish darkness and it is night
wherein the forest creatures prowl around.
-Young lions roar for their prey
and call out to God for their meat.
-As the sun rises, they will come together
and lay themselves down in their dens.
-Man will go out to his labor
and work until eventide.
-How great are your works, 0 Lord!
In wisdom You have wrought them all:
the earth is filled with your creatures.
-Even the wide and open sea itself:
within it there are countless creeping things,
living beings small and large.
-Upon it there are ships a-sailing
and that great beast You made to have fun.
-All of them look up to You
to give them their food in due time.
-You provide and they gather up;
You open your hand and they are full.
-You hide your face and they cringe,
You suspend their breath and they die and return to their dust.
-You send forth Your breath and they live:
You renew the face of the earth!
-May the Lord's glory endure forever,
may the Lord rejoice in his works.
-He looks upon the earth and makes it quake,
He touches the mountains and they smoke.
-I will sing to the Lord as long as I live,
I will praise my God as long as I last.
-Would that my thoughts be pleasing to Him
and I will rejoice in the Lord.
-May the sinners vanish from the earth
and may the wicked be no more.
-Bless the Lord, 0 my soul!
-Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever, and forever. Amen.
-Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia.
Glory be to You, 0 God. (3 times with a
bow)
SIT
LITANY OF PEACE
Priest: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For peace from on high, and for the salvation of our souls,
let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For peace in the whole world, for the well-being of the holy
Churches of God and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith,
reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For our holy ecumenical pontiff N., the Pope of Rome, for our
most reverend Archbishop and Metropolitan N., for our God loving Bishop N., for the
venerable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, and all the clergy and the people, let us
pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For our civil authorities and all in the service of our
country, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For this city, for every city and country, and for those
living within them in faith, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For seasonable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the
earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For those who travel by sea, air, and land, and for the
salvation of the sick, the suffering and the captive, let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For deliverance from all affliction, wrath, and need, let us
pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Protect us, save us, have mercy on us and preserve us, O God,
by your grace.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Having remembered our most holy, most pure, most blessed and
glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary with all the saints - let us commend
ourselves and one another, and our whole life, to Christ, our God.
People: To You, O Lord.
Priest: (Silently) O Lord, our God, whose might is beyond description, whose glory
surpasses all understanding, whose mercy is without limits, whose love for man is beyond
expression, now, O Master, in your kindness, look down upon us and this holy church, and
bestow on us and upon those praying with us your abundant mercies and your benefits.
(Aloud) For to You is due all glory, honor, and
worship, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
People: Amen.
STAND
PSALM 140
O Lord, I have cried to You, hear me. Hear me, O Lord. O Lord, I have cried to
You, hear me: receive the voice of my prayer when I call upon You. Hear me, O Lord.
Let my prayer be directed as incense to You, * the lifting up of my hands as an evening
sacrifice; * hear me, O Lord.
SIT
HYMNS OF THE VESPERS
Verse: If You, 0 Lord, mark iniquities,* Tone 1 Lord, who can stand? * But
with You is forgiveness.
Hymn:
All creation was transformed with fear, * when it beheld You hanging on the cross,
O Christ. * The sun was darkened and the foundations of the earth trembled. * All
creation suffered with the One Who created all things. * O Lord, Who willingly suffered
for us, * glory be to You.
Verse: Tone 2 For Your
Name’s sake, 0 Lord, I have waited for You, * my soul has waited for Your word, my
soul has hoped in the Lord.
Hymn:
Why do evil and iniquitous people concern themselves with what is in vain? * Why have they
condemned to death the Life of All? * Q what a great wonder! * The Creator of the World is
handed over to lawless ones, * and He, Who loves mankind, is raised upon the cross, * that
He might free the enslaved of the Abyss who are crying out: * "0 long-suffering Lord,
glory be to You."
Verse: Tone 2 From the
watch of dawn until the night, * from the watch of dawn let Israel long for the Lord.
Hymn:
The all-pure Virgin seeing You, O Word,* lifted upon the cross today, * lamented as a
mother. * Her heart bursting with sorrow and moaning from the depths of her soul, * her
countenance deeply scarred with grief, * she cried out so mournfully: * "O Divine
Child, how great is my sorrow. * 0 Light of the World, 0 Lamb of God, * why have You
passed from my sight?" * Beholding all this, the heavenly hosts were struck with
fear, and they cried out: * "O Incomprehensible Lord, glory be to You."
Verse: Tone 2 For with
the Lord there is mercy and with Him abundant redemption; * and it is He Who will redeem
Israel from all their iniquities.
Hymn:
As she beheld You hanging upon the tree, 0 Christ our God, * she, who gave virgin birth to
You, the Creator and God of All, * cried out in such great sorrow: * "Where has the
beauty of Your countenance gone, 0 my Son? * I cannot endure this sight of unjust
crucifixion. * Hasten and arise * so that I may also see Your resurrection from the dead
on the third day."
Verse: Tone 6 Praise
the Lord all you nations, * exalt Him all you peoples.
Hymn:
Today the Master of Creation stands before Pilate * and the Creator of All is condemned to
the cross. * As a lamb He is willingly led, and fastened with nails. * His side is
pierced, and He, Who rained manna on the earth, * is given drink from a sponge. * The
Savior of the World is struck on the cheek, * and the Creator of All is mocked by His own
servants. * For those who crucify Him, * He entreats His Father, saying: * "Father,
forgive them this sin * because the lawless ones know not what injustice they do." *
O, what a supreme love for mankind.
Verse: Tone 6 For
mighty is His love for us, * and the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Hymn:
O, how could the lawless council condemn to death * the King of Creation * without being
ashamed at the thought of His good works * which He recounted to them, saying: * "0
My people, what have I done to You? * Have I not filled Judea with miracles? * Have I not
raised the dead with a word? * Have I not cured infirmities and sufferings? * So now, what
do you give Me in return? * Why have you not remembered Me? * For the healing you have
wounded Me; * for life you gave Me death; * you hang Me, your benefactor, on a tree as a
criminal. * You treat Me, the Lawgiver, as a lawbreaker. * You condemn the King of
All." * Q longsuffering Lord, glory be to You.
STAND
TONE 5
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, * now and ever, and
forever. Amen.
Hymn:
An awesome and glorious mystery occurs today: * the One Who cannot be contained is now
restrained. * He, Who freed Adam from the curse, is bound. * The Searcher of Hearts and
Souls is questioned unjustly. * He, Who confined the deep, is now confined to prison. * In
front of Pilate now stands the One * before Whom the heavenly powers tremble. * The
Creator is struck by the hand of a creature. * The Judge of the Living and the Dead * is
condemned to the cross. * He, Who conquered hell, is sealed in a tomb. * 0 innocent Lord
Who graciously suffered all things * and saved all mankind from the curse, glory be to
You.
PRAYER OF ENTRANCE
As the "Glory be" is being sung, the priest opens the royal doors and places
incense in the censer. Then taking the holy gospel from the altar and censer in hand, and
preceded by servers carrying a candle, he proceeds around the altar and comes before the
royal doors where he recites the following prayer quietly:
O gracious King, You love mankind and bless all things. With contrite heart and humble
spirit we pray to You, 0 Christ our true God, to bless our going and coming. For Your
coming and dwelling among us and Your going in the Ascension are blessed always, now and
ever, and forever. Amen.
When the people complete the last
Hymn of Vespers, the priest raises the Holy Gospel on high and intones:
Priest: Wisdom! Be attentive!
REMAIN STANDING
HYMN OF THE EVENING
O Joyful Light! * Light and Holy Glory * of the Father immortal, * the heavenly holy,
the Blessed One; * 0 Jesus Christ. * Now that we have reached the setting of the sun, *
and see the evening light, * we sing to God, * Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. * It is
fitting at all times * to raise a song of praise in measured melody to You, * O Son of
God, the Giver of Life. * Behold, the universe sings Your glory.
PROKIMENON
Tone 4
Priest: Let us be attentive! Peace t be with all! Wisdom! Be attentive!
People: They divide my garments among themselves, * and for my vesture they cast
lots; * and for my vesture they cast lots.
Verse: My God, my God, hear me! Why have You forsaken me?
OLD TESTAMENT READING
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: A reading from the Book of Isaiah.
Priest: Let us be attentive!
The reader gives the reading.
Book of Isaiah: 52:13 thru 54:1
Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up, and greatly exalted.
Just as many were astonished at you, My people, so His appearance was marred more than any
man, and His form more than the sons of men. Thus He will sprinkle many nations, kings
will shut their mouths on account of Him; for what had not been told them they will see,
and what they had not heard they will understand.
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He
grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no
stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be
attracted to Him.
He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and
like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves
esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our
transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell
upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the
LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was
afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a
sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and
judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off
out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was
due?
His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death,
because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the LORD was
pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render himself as a guilt
offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of
the LORD will prosper in His hand.
As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His
knowledge the Righteous One, My servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their
iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the
booty with the strong; because He poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the
transgressors; yet He himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.
"Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; break forth into joyful
shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; for the sons of the desolate one will
be more numerous than the sons of the married woman," says the LORD.
STAND
PROKIMENON
Tone 6
Priest: Let us be attentive! Peace be
with all! Wisdom! Be attentive!
People: You have plunged me into the bottom of the pit, * into the darkness and
the shadow of death, * into the darkness and the shadow of death.
Verse: O Lord, God of my salvation, by day and by night I cry out to You.
SIT
EPISTLE
A reading from the Epistle of
St. Paul to the Corinthians is given.
1st Corinthians 1:18 to 2: 2
For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing
foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set
aside."
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not
God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through
its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the
message preached to save those who believe.
For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ
crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are
the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because
the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the
flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world
to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things
which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the
things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast
before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God,
and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, that, just as it is written,
"Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord."
And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of
wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among
you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
STAND
ALLELUIA
Tone 1
Priest: Peace t be to you! Wisdom! Be
attentive!
People:
AIIeIuia, alleluia alleluia!
Save me, O God, for the waters threaten my life.
AlleIuia, alleluia alleluia!
Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak.
AIleIuia, allelula, alleluia!
Let their eyes grow dim so that they cannot see.
AIIeIuia, alleluia, alleluia!
GOSPEL
Priest: Let us stand and listen to a reading of the holy gospel according to Saint
Matthew.
People: Glory be to Your passion, O Lord.
Priest: Let us be attentive! (and chants the gospel) After the gospel reading:
People: Glory be to Your long-suffering, O Lord.
SIT
LITANY OF SUPPLICATION
People: Lord, have mercy. (for
four petitions) Amen.
STAND
HYMN OF GLORIFICATION
Vouchsafe, O Lord, * to keep us this evening without sin. * Blessed are You,
O Lord, God of our fathers, * and praised and glorified be Your Name forever. Amen. *
Lord, Your mercy be upon us, * as we have placed our trust in You. * Blessed are You, O
Lord, * teach us Your precepts. * Blessed are You, O Master, * make us understand Your
precepts. * Blessed are You, O Holy One, * enlighten us by Your precepts. * Lord, Your
mercy endures forever, * despise not the work of Your hands. * To You is due praise, * to
You is due a hymn. * Glory is due to You, * Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, * now and ever,
* and forever. Amen.
SIT
SECOND LITANY OF SUPPLICATION
People: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Grant it, O Lord. (for six
petitions)
To You, O Lord.
Amen.
STAND
Priest: Peace be with all!
People: And with your spirit!
Priest: Bow your heads to the Lord.
People: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Lord our God, You lowered the heavens when You came down for the
salvation of the human race. Now look down on Your servants and on Your inheritance; for
they have bowed their heads to You, the Judge, both awesome and loving. They do not await
the help that is from man, but look for Your mercy and are ready to receive Your
salvation. Guard them at all times, this evening and tonight, against all enemies, against
the devil’s assaults, against vain thoughts and evil dreams. May the might of Your
kingdom be blessed and exalted, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
People: Amen.
HYMNS AT THE PRAISES
TONE 2
Hymn:
When the Arimathean lifted You, * lifeless from the cross, O Lord of Life, * he anointed
You, O Christ, with myrrh, * and wrapped You in a shroud, * and he was moved by heartfelt
love * to kiss Your body not subject to decay; * but was restrained by fear, * and
rejoicing, he cried out to You: * "Glory to Your condescension, O Lover of
Mankind."
Verse: The Lord is King, * in robed splendor.
Hymn:
O Savior of All, * when You placed Yourself for all mankind in a new tomb, * The Abyss,
which ever mocked was terrified when it saw You; * the bonds were shattered, * the gates
were broken, * and the graves opened and the dead arose. * Adam joyfully called out to
You: * "Glory to Your condescension, 0 Lover of Mankind."
Verse: He has made the world firm, * It shall not to be moved.
Hymn:
When You, by divine nature, * indescribable and infinite, * were willingly enclosed in the
tomb, * You ended the mysteries of death, O Christ, * and annihilated the kingdom of
Hades, * favoring this Sabbath Day * with Your divine blessing, glory, and light.
Verse: Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, * for length of days.
Hymn:
When the heavenly powers saw You, O Christ, * calumniated by lawless men, * they were
amazed at Your longsuffering * which our words cannot express. * And when they beheld the
stone of Your tomb * being sealed by the hands * that pierced Your incorruptible side, *
they still rejoiced at our salvation and cried out to You: * "Glory to Your
condescension, O Christ."
STAND
Then in TONE 5:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,* now and ever, and
forever. Amen.
Hymn:
Joseph with Nicodemus, * took You down from the cross, * Your body clothed in glory as
with a robe* but seeing You lifeless, naked, and unburied, * began to weep and lament,
saying:* "Great is my sorrow, O Sweet Jesus!" * The sun, seeing You hanging upon
the cross, was clothed in darkness, * the earth quaked in fear, * and the curtain of the
temple was torn asunder. * But, behold!, I now see You as accepting death for my sake. *
How, 0 my God, shall I bury You? * With what type of shroud shall I wrap You? * With what
hands shall I touch Your body not subject to decay? * 0 Gracious Lord, with what songs
shall I hymn Your departure? * I exalt Your suffering. * I extol in song Your burial and
resurrection, calling out: * "O Lord, glory be to You."
CANTICLE OF ST. SIMEON
Now You shall dismiss Your servant, O Lord, * according to Your word, in peace; *
because my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You prepared * before the face of all
peoples. * A light of revelation to the Gentiles, * and the glory of Your people, Israel.
The Cantor and people recite the following prayers:
—Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
—Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and
forever. Amen.
—O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; O Lord, cleanse us of our sins; O Master,
forgive our transgressions; O Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for Your
Name’s sake.
—Lord, have mercy. (3)
—Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and
forever. Amen.
—Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come Thy will be
done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our
trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
People: Amen.
KNEEL
PROCESSION
Then according to local custom, the procession with the burial shroud takes place while
the people sing repeatedly the following Troparion:
The noble Joseph * took down from the cross Your most pure body. * Anointing it with
spices, * he wrapped it in pure linen, * and placed it in a new tomb.
The procession ends at the grave where the priest places the burial shroud, incenses
it, and venerates it while the people sing:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit, * now and ever, and
forever. Amen.
The angel standing by the grave * exclaimed to the myrrh-bearing women: * "Spices
are meant for the dead, * but Christ reveals Himself as not subject to decay."
A homily or sermon is usually given at this time.
DISMISSAL
Priest: Wisdom!
People: Give the blessing!
Priest: Blessed and glorified are You, O Christ our God, always, now and ever,
and forever.
People: Amen. Make firm, O God, the Catholic faith forever and ever. Amen.
Priest: O all-holy Mother of God, save us.
People: More honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than
the Seraphim, who, a virgin, gave birth to God the Word, you, truly the Mother of God, we
magnify.
Priest: Glory be to You, O Christ, our God, our hope; glory be to You.
People: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
ever, and forever. Amen. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Give the
blessing!
Priest: May Christ, our true God, Who endured dreadful sufferings, the
life-giving cross, and voluntary burial for our sake and for our salvation, have mercy on
us and save us through the prayers of His most holy Mother, and of the holy, glorious, and
praiseworthy Apostles, of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers, and of all the Saints,
for He is gracious and loves mankind.
People: Amen.
The faithful approach to venerate
the burial shroud.
 
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