SAINT REVEREND JOHN OF RILA SUNDAY ORTHROS ВЪЗКРЕСНА УТРИННА Priest: Blessed is our God always, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen. Triságion Prayers – Трисвятое Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (х3). Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our offences. O Holy One, visit and heal our weakness, for your name's sake. Lord have mercy (х3). Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. 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 the evil one. P: For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages. Amen. R: O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries and preserve your commonwealth by virtue of your cross. Glory: O Christ our God, since you were willingly raised on the cross, grant mercies to your new community which is called by your name. Establish our faithful rulers with your power and grant them victories over their enemies. May your help be a weapon of peace and an invincible trophy. Both now: O fearful Champion, you cannot be put to confusion, so do not despise our prayers. O Good Lady, all-praised Theotokos, make firm Orthodox government, save those whom you have called to rule over us and grant them heavenly victory, for you alone are blessed who gave birth to God. Short Litany of Fervent Supplication – Кратка сугуба ектения Priest: O God, have mercy on us in your great mercy. We plead with you, “Listen and have mercy”. Lord have mercy (х3). 2 Again we pray for faithful and Orthodox Christians. 3 Again we pray for our father and Archbishop N and for all our brotherhood in Christ. 4 For you are a merciful God who loves the human race, and we send up glory to you, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and to the ages of ages. Amen. R: In the name of the Lord, bless, Father. P: Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-creating and undivided Trinity, always, now and ever and to ages of ages. Amen. The priest reads the first six morning prayers during the recitation of Psalms 3, 62 and 37 in the altar, and the second six prayers during the recitation of Psalms 102, 87 and 142, in front of the Royal Doors. Exápsalmos – Шестопсалмие R: Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to men of good will (х3). O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise – Ps 50 (х2). Psalm 3 O Lord, why have those who trouble me increased? Many rise against me. 3 Many say about my soul: There is no salvation for him in his God. 4 But you, O Lord, are my helper, my glory and the one who raises my head. 5 I cried to the Lord with my voice, and he heard me from his holy mountain. 6 I laid down and slept; I woke up, for the Lord will help me. 7 I will not fear countless people, who ambush me on every side. 8 O Lord, rise! O my God, save me, for you have struck down all my powerless enemies; you have broken the teeth of sinners. 9 Salvation comes from the Lord, and your blessing is on your people. And again 6 I laid down and slept; I woke up, for the Lord will help me. Psalm 37 2 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your fury, or discipline me in your anger. 3 For your arrows are fixed in me, and you have pressed your hand on me. 4 There is no health in my flesh because of your anger, and no peace in my bones because of my sins. 5 For my lawless deeds have risen higher than my head, and pressed me down like a heavy burden. 6 My bruises have festered and mouldered, because of my foolishness. 7 I was distressed and always bent down; I went about with a sad face all through the day. 8 For my loins were filled with festering, and there is no health in my flesh. 9 I was distressed and deeply humbled; I have roared with the sighing of my heart. 10 O Lord, all my longing is before you, and my groaning is not hidden from you. 11 My heart was troubled, my strength failed me, and even the light of my eyes is not with me. 12 My friends and neighbours came and stood opposite me; my relatives stood far away. 13 Those who searched for my soul used violence; those who sought evil for me spoke empty words, and considered treachery all through the day. 14 I was like a deaf person and did not hear; I was like a mute who did not open his mouth. 15 I became like someone who cannot hear, and has no answers in his mouth. 16 O Lord, I have hoped in you; O Lord my God, you will listen to me. 17 For I said: Never let my enemies rejoice over me; when my feet slipped, they spoke boastfully against me. 18 For I am ready for scourges, and my grief is always before me. 19 For I will speak about my lawlessness, and be anxious about my sin. 20 My enemies live and are stronger than I; those who hate me unjustly have increased. 21 Those who repay me with evil for good slandered me, because I pursued goodness. 22 O Lord, do not forsake me; O my God do not stand far from me. O Lord of my salvation, attend to my help. And again 22 O Lord, do not forsake me; O my God do not stand far from me. O Lord of my salvation, attend to my help. Psalm 62 1b O God my God, I rise early for you, my soul has thirsted for you. How often has my flesh longed for you in a trackless and waterless desert land. 3 Therefore I have appeared before you in the holy place, to see your power and glory. 4 For your mercy is better than life; my lips will praise you. 5 Therefore I will bless you throughout my life, and raise my hands at your name. 6 My soul will be filled as though with marrow and rich food; my mouth will praise you with joyful lips. 7 When I remembered you on my bed, I thought about you at dawn. 8 For you have become my help, and I will rejoice in the shelter of your wings. 9 My soul has clung to you; ¢ your right hand has upheld me. 10 They have sought my soul in vain, and will go into the depths of the earth. 11 They will be handed over to the power of the sword, and be portions for foxes. 12 But the king will rejoice in God, and everyone swearing by him will be praised, for the mouth preaching injustice has been closed. And again 7b I thought about you at dawn, for you have become my help, and I will rejoice in the shelter of your wings. 9 My soul has clung to you; your right hand has upheld me. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God (х3). Lord have mercy (х3). Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Psalm 87 2 O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried before you by day and night. 3 Let my prayer come before you, and bend your ear to my plea. 4 For my soul was filled with evil, and my life has approached Hades. 5 I have been counted with those who go down to a pit, and become like someone helpless, free among the dead, 6 like the wounded sleeping in the grave, whom you have no longer remembered; they have been cut off from your hand. 7They laid me in the lowest pit, in dark places and in the shadow of death. 8Your fury has pressed me down, and you have brought all your waves against me. 9You have distanced my companions from me; they have made me a horror for themselves; I have been handed over and could not escape. 10My eyes have grown weak with poverty; O Lord, I have cried to you all through the day, and stretched out my hands towards you. 11Will you perform wonders for the dead, or will physicians raise them so that they can thank you? 12 Will anyone in the grave recount your mercy, or speak about your truth in destruction? 13Will your wonders be known in darkness, or your justice in a forgotten land? 14But I have cried to you, O Lord, and my prayer will come before you in the morning. 15O Lord, why do you reject my soul, and turn your face from me? 16I am destitute and in troubles from my youth; after being exalted, I was humbled and distressed. 17Your anger has swept over me, and your terrors have troubled me. 18They have surrounded me like water; all through the day they have completely encircled me. 19 You have distanced friend and neighbour from me, as also my acquaintances because of my misery. And again 2 O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried before you by day and night. 3 Let my prayer come before you, and bend your ear to my plea. Psalm 102 1b Bless the Lord, O my soul, and everything within me bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his rewards. 3 He is merciful towards all your offences and heals all your diseases. 4 He frees your life from corruption; he crowns you with mercy and pity. 5 He satisfies your desire with good things; your youth is renewed like an eagle's. 6 The Lord brings about merciful deeds, and judgement for all who are wronged. 7 He has made his ways known to Moses; his wishes to the sons of Israel. 8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, patient and full of pity. 9 He will not always be angry, nor will he be furious for ever. 10 He has not dealt with us for our offences, or repaid us for our sins. 11 For as high as the heaven is above the earth, so has the Lord strengthened his mercy on those who fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so has he distanced our offences from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his sons, so has the Lord pitied those who fear him. 14 For he knows how we are made, and has remembered that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are like grass; he will bloom like a flower of the field. 16 For a wind passes over him and he will not exist; he will no longer know his place. 17 But the Lord's mercy is from age to age for those who fear him. 18 His justice is for the sons of sons, for those who keep his covenant, and remember to do his commandments. 19 The Lord has prepared his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. 20 Bless the Lord, all his angels, champions in strength who do his word, and listen to the sound of his speech. 21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers who do his will. 22 Bless the Lord, all his works, in every place of his sovereignty; bless the Lord, O my soul. And again In every place of his sovereignty; bless the Lord, O my soul. Psalm 142 1b O Lord, listen to my prayer, note my plea in your truth, and listen to me in your justice. 2 Do not enter not into judgement with your servant, for no one living will be justified in your sight. 3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has humbled my life to the ground, and placed me in darkness like those long dead. 4 My spirit within me has become weary, and my heart within me is troubled. 5 I remembered days of old, mused on all your works, and thought about the works of your hands. 6 I stretched out my hands to you; my soul was like a waterless land for you. 7 O Lord, quickly listen to me, my spirit has fainted. 7b Do not turn your face from me, in case I become like those who go down to a pit. 8 Make me listen to your mercy in the morning, for I have hoped in you. 8c O Lord, teach me the way along which I should walk, for I have raised my soul to you. 9 O Lord, rescue me from my enemies, for I have fled to you for refuge. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; your good Spirit will guide me on level ground. 11 O Lord, you will give me life for your name's sake, and bring my soul out of distress in your justice. 12 You will destroy my enemies in your mercy, and cut off all who trouble my soul, for I am your servant. And again 1d O Lord, listen to me in your justice. Do not enter not into judgement with your servant, for no one living will be justified in your sight. Glory: Both now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God (х3). O our God and our hope, glory to you! Eiriniká – Мирна (велика) ектения Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord, Lord, have mercy. 2 For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. 3 For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the Holy Churches of God and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord. 4 For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord. 5 For all faithful and Orthodox Christians, let us pray to the Lord. 6 For our Archbishop N, for the honourable order of presbyters, for the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord. 7 For our [rulers and nations], and for every power and authority in them, let us pray to the Lord. 8 For this town [city/country/lace/monastery/island], for every city, monastery, island and village and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord. 9 For favourable weather, an abundance of the earth’s fruits and temperate seasons, let us pray to the Lord. 10 For those who travel by land, air or water, for the sick and suffering, for those in captivity and for their safety and salvation, let us pray to the Lord. 11 For our release from every affliction, fury, danger and anguish, let us pray to the Lord. 12 O God, help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us by your grace. 13 As we commemorate our all-holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God. To you, O Lord. Priest: For to you belong all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. God is the Lord (Ps 117) – Бог Господ R: God is the Lord, and has shone over us. Blessed is the one who comes in the Lord’s name – Ps 117. S1: Thank the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy lasts for ever. S2: All the nations surrounded me, but I opposed them in the name of the Lord. S3: This is the Lord's doing and it is wonderful in our eyes. Apolytíkia – Отпустителни тропари Resurrection Apolytikion Glory Of St. John of Rila, Tone 1 (Покаяния основание) O saint, equal to the angels, you were a model of repentance, an example of mercy, a standard of comfort and spiritual perfection. O father John, you lived with prayer, fasting and tears, so plead with Christ our God for our souls! or (version, published by OCA): Your life was a foundation of repentance and a model of compunction, an image of consolation and spiritual perfection, equal to the angels, O venerable one. You persevered in prayer, fasting and tears, O Father John; intercede with Christ God for our souls. Theotokion in Tone 1 (Гавриилу вещавшу) At the sound of Gabriel’s voice calling out to you: Hail, Virgin, the Master of all became incarnate in you the holy Tabernacle as David the righteous said. By bearing your creator, you have shown yourself to be more vast than the heavens. Glory to him who dwelled in you: glory to him who came forth from you; Glory to him who by your birth‑giving has set us free. Small Litany D: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord! D: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by your grace. D: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos, the ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves and one another and our whole life unto Christ our God! P: For yours is the might, and yours is the kingdom and yours is the power, of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Kathísmata Kathisma 1 and 2 from Paraklitikí (Седални 1 и 2 от Октоиха) Kathisma 3, Tone 8 (Седален на св. Йоан) When you accepted a pastoral capacity, you wisely pastured your flock, O holy one, since you longed for the teaching of Christ with all your soul, in which you enlightened yourself, and raised all to zealousness for the angelic life, that they may together glorify the Lord. O blessed John, plead with Christ our God to grant forgiveness of sins to those who honour your sacred memory with love! Glory, Both now: O blessed Virgin, Mother of God, I pray that you will heal the fierce passions of my soul, and grant me forgiveness for my sins that I have done madly by defiling my soul and body, for I despair! Woe to me! What will I do at that hour when angels will separate the soul from my passionate body? Then be my helper and warmest advocate, for in you I hope as your servant! Evlogitária – Благословен еси, Господи Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes. The assembly of angels was amazed when it saw you among the dead. O Saviour, by destroying the power of death, you raised Adam with you and freed everyone from Hades. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes. The radiant angel cried to the Myrrhbearers from the tomb: Why do you women mingle myrrh with your tears? Look at the tomb and understand. The Saviour has risen from the tomb. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes. The Myrrhbearers ran sorrowfully to your tomb very early in the morning, but an angel came to them and said: The time for sorrow has come to an end. Do not weep, but announce the resurrection to the apostles. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes. The Myrrhbearers were sorrowful as they approached your tomb, but the angel said to them: Why do you number the Living among the dead? As God he has risen from the tomb. Glory: We worship the Father, his Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, one in Being. We cry with the Seraphim: Holy, Holy, Holy are you, O Lord. Both now: O Virgin, because you gave birth to the Giver of Life, you rescued Adam from his sin. You gave Eve joy instead of sadness. The Divine Man who was born from you has restored to life those who had fallen from it. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God (х3). O our God and our hope, glory to you. Small Litany D: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord! D: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by your grace. D: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos, the ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves and one another and our whole life unto Christ our God! P: For blessed is your name, and glorified is your kingdom, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Ypakoi from Paraklitikí (Октоих) Anavathmoi – Степенни – Ps 128 on the leading tone from the Paraklitikí (Октоих) Canon – Канон Канон на преподобния, гл. 8, с акростих „Радуйся, Йоане, светилниче пресветлий“. The canon of the Holy Father, Tone 8, with the acrostic “Rejoice John, Most Illuminated Lamp." The acrostic cannot be respected in translation. Ode 1, Irmos: Having crossed the water as though it were dry land, and escaped from the wickedness of Egypt, the children of Israel shouted aloud: Let us sing unto our Deliverer and our God. The wise light of wisdom I ask you to give me now, O Holy Father, when I begin to sing your honest life, and fill my mouth with divine grace! You have truly become like an angel, removed yourself from everything in the world, and fleeing with body and soul, settling in the wilderness, like Moses you beheld of God. You have drunk from the fountain of the gospel waters, and now rivers of wonders, O holy father John, are flowing from you, and you are watering those who come with you by faith. Theotokos: Your womb was inhabited by God the Word, pure Virgin, and He, like a drop falling on the earth, renewed with His dew the human nature that was burning with the flames of malice. Ode 3, Irmos: You are the support of those who come to You, O Lord, You are the light of those in darkness, and my spirit glorifies You. Filled with the Spirit and stretching out your mind to heaven, you have given up corruptible food, and have eaten angelic bread. With the flows of your tears you have watered the desert land, and it has brought you unploughed chickpea. As a bird that wants to fly to God, О Holy Father, you have made a nest for yourself in the tree, freeing yourself from earthly thoughts. Theotokos: Entreat Jesus, your Son, to be merciful to me, who does evil, Most pure one, so that I will not see His face turn from me! Kontákion From the Paraklitikí (Октоих) on Resurrection Sundays Kontakion, Tone 8. Desiring an angelic life, O Holy Father, and leaving all earthly things, you came to Christ, and being surrounded by His commandments, you became a steadfast pillar against enemy attacks. Therefore we cry to you: Rejoice, Father John, illuminated light. or (version, published by OCA): Imitating the life of the angels and forsaking all earthly things, you fled to Christ, O venerable one. Protecting yourself with His commandments, you were shown to be an unshakable pillar against the attacks of the enemy. Therefore, we cry to you: “Rejoice, O Father John, most brilliant light!” Ikos: You shined on the earth in words and deeds, the earthly angel and heavenly man, the glorious John, let all we faithful come together in praise, singing to him and saying: Rejoice, sapling from Sredets; rejoice, desert’s disciple! Rejoice, you who have loved God from youth; rejoice you who accepts nothing from this world! Rejoice, you who have shown the higher way by the shepherd's work; rejoice you, who with the spear of your patience overthrew the evil dragon! Rejoice you, who shone above the mountains like the sun; rejoice you, who is full of scents of mountains and hills! Rejoice you, who enlightened with wonders cities and villages; rejoice you, who illumines with virtue all countries! Rejoice, solid fence of your flock; rejoice you, a godly victory for the devout! Rejoice, Father John, most shining light! Sinaxarion This month, on the nineteenth day, we celebrate the transfer of the venerable relics of our holy Reverend John the Wonderworker from Rila to Sredets (Sofia). By his prayers, Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen. Katavasías – Катавасии Отверзу уста моя 1: I will open my mouth and be filled with the spirit. I will sing a song to the Queen and Mother. I will come, rejoice in the feast and praise all her glory. 3: O Theotokos, living and inexhaustible fountain, strengthen those who are united in spiritual fellowship and who sing your praises. Make them worthy to receive crowns of glory in your divine glory. 4: The counsel of God cannot be scrutinised. The Most High was incarnate from a Virgin. The prophet Habakkuk foresaw this and cried, “Glory to your power, O God!” 5: O Virgin, all creation was amazed at your divine glory, for you knew no man. You held thee God of all in your womb and gave birth to the eternal Son. You order salvation for all those who praise you. 6: O devout people, come and clap hands while we observe this divine and most precious feast of the Mother of God. Let us glorify God who was born from her. 7: The devout youths worshipped the Creator rather than created things. They courageously trampled on the threatening fire and joyfully sang, “Blessed are you, most praised Lord, the God of our fathers.” 8: Let us praise, bless and worship the Lord. The Lord who was born from the Theotokos saved the holy children in the furnace. The one who was then prefigured has now been born on earth and gathers the whole inhabited earth to sing, “All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord and exalt him above all for ever“. Gospel Dialogue – Евангелски чин D: Let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy P: For you, O God, are holy and rest in the Holy Place. We send up glory to you, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. R: Let everything with breath praise the Lord (х2). Praise God in his saints; praise him in the firmament of his power – Ps 50. R: Let everything with breath praise the Lord. D: And that we may be counted worthy to listen to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord our God. Lord have mercy (х3) D: Wisdom. Stand up. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. P: Peace be with you all. And with your spirit P: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to N. P/D: Let us be attentive. R: Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you. Gospel This is read from the north side of the Holy Table on Sundays of the Resurrection. On principal feasts it is read from the Holy Doors. R: Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you. Resurrection Ode Като видяхме Христовото възкресение Read on Sundays of the Resurrection R: Now that we have seen the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. O Christ, we venerate your cross, and praise and glorify your holy resurrection; for you are our God, and we know no one else apart from you. We address your name. All you faithful, come and venerate Christ's holy resurrection. For see, joy has come into the entire world through the cross. Let us always bless the Lord and praise his resurrection, for he has destroyed death by death by enduring the cross for us. Psalm 50 If the Gospel is of the Resurrection, the psalm is sung and the book is brought out for veneration at verse 6, otherwise it is read. O God, have mercy on me in your abundant mercy, and wipe out my offence through your great compassion. Wash me thoroughly from my lawless act, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my lawlessness, and my sin is always before me. I have sinned against you alone, and done this evil before you, so that you might be justified in your words, and overcome when you are judged. For see, I was conceived in lawlessness, and my mother gave birth to me in sin. 6 For see, you have loved truth, and revealed to me the hidden and secret things of your wisdom. You will sprinkle me with hyssop and I will be clean; you will wash me and I will become whiter than snow. You will make me hear about joy and gladness; the humbled bones will rejoice. Turn your face from my sins, and wipe out all my lawlessness. O God, create a pure heart within me, and renew an upright spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, or remove your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and make me firm with your directing Spirit. I will teach the lawless your ways, and the ungodly will return to you. O God, set me free from the guilt of blood; O God of my salvation, my tongue will rejoice in your justice. O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise. For if you had wanted sacrifice, I would have given it; you will not be pleased with burnt offerings. Sacrifice for God is a broken spirit; God will not despise a broken and humbled heart. O Lord, be good to Zion in your pleasure, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then you will be pleased with a sacrifice of justice, with an offering and burnt sacrifices. Then they will offer calves on your altar. (Sundays) And have mercy on me, O God. Sundays of the Resurrection Слава: Молитвами преподобнаго Glory: Tone 6 O merciful Lord, blot out the abundance of our offences through the prayers of the Saint. Both now: O merciful Lord, blot out the abundance of our offences through the prayers of the Theotokos. S: O God, have mercy on me in your abundant mercy, and wipe out my offence through your great compassion. Jesus has risen from the tomb as he foretold, and grants us eternal life and great mercy. Sticheron from the Menaion, Tone 6 The holy triumph of your holy memory has been shone today, O godly Father John, for you have clung to God from an early age, and followed in His footsteps. You swam over the worldly rebellion, as though it were an essential sea storm, and you reached the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, we, who honour your relics, are truly glorifying Christ, who gave you to us as a zealous supplicant for us; we worship your holy memory with love. Intercession – Спаси, Господи Short Form Deacon: O God, save your people and bless your inheritance. Visit your world with mercy and compassion; exalt the horn of Orthodox Christians and send down on them your rich mercy, through the prayers of our all-pure Lady, Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, by the power of the honourable and life-giving cross, through the protection of the honourable bodiless powers of heaven, through the prayers of the honourable, glorious, prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, of the holy, glorious, all-praised apostles, of the holy, all-praised and victorious martyrs, of our holy and God-bearing fathers, of the holy and just forebears of God, Ioachim and Anna, of Saint John of Rila and of all the saints. We ask you, only merciful Lord: Listen to us sinners as we pray to you, and have mercy on us. Lord have mercy (х12). P: Through the mercy, compassion and love for the human race of your uniquely-fathered Son, with whom you are blessed, together with the all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Ode 9 – Честнейшую Priest: The Theotokos, the Mother of Light, in hymns let us now glorify. S1: My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. R: You are more honourable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim. You gave birth to God the Word without defilement; O true Theotokos, we glorify you. S2: For he has regarded his servant’s humility; see, from now all generations will call me blessed. R: S3: For the Almighty has accomplished great things for me, and his name is holy. His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him. R: S4: He has accomplished strength with his arm, and scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. R: S5: He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the humble. He has satisfied the hungry with good things, and dismissed the rich with nothing. R: S6: He has helped his servant Israel in remembering his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed for ever. R Canticle 9 of Katavasias (Всяк земнородний) Let every mortal born on earth, radiant with light, in spirit leap for joy; and let the host of the angelic powers celebrate and honour the holy feast of the Theotokos, and let them cry: Rejoice! Pure and blessed Ever-Virgin, who gave birth to God. Small Litany P: For all the powers of heaven praise you, and to you we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Holy is the Lord – Свят Господ Sundays of the Resurrection only Holy is the Lord our God (х3). Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool, for he is holy. Exaposteilária – Светилни On Resurrection Sundays these are in the tone of the Gospel. First one on the Resurrection Sunday. GLORY of the saint – по Жени, услишите: Rejoice, O desert of Rila! Rejoice, O heritage of monastics! Come, all you faithful to surround the sanctuary of the saint’s relics, which pours out streams of healing. With praises we cry out to him: Rejoice, sapling from Sredets and good growth of the desert! BOTH NOW the Theotokion from Paraklitikí (Октоих). Praises – Всякое дихание from Paraklitikí and Menaion (acc. to Typikon) (От октоиха 4 и от минея 4): Let everything with breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights. To you, our God, belongs a song. 2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his powers. To you, our God, belongs a song. S8: This glory will be for all his holy ones. S7: Praise God in his saints; praise him in his mighty firmament. S6: Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him for the abundance of his majesty. S5: Praise him with the trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp. S4: Praise him with cymbal and dance; praise him with strings and flute. Tone 4, of St. John: Blessed are you, because, when you had heard the words of the one who, for His many mercies and immense kindnesses, desired to save the human race, you despised delusion. You readily left your native land, fellowship with your relatives and transitory pleasures, and followed in the footsteps of Christ our God, whom you ask to save and enlighten our souls! S3: Praise him with tuneful cymbals; praise him with joyful cymbals. Let everything with breath praise the Lord. Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ, О blessed saint – neither worldly ornament, nor native land, nor relationship with loved ones, nor vain glory, because all this is nothing to you. Like a deer burning with thirst, you went to the fountain of living water, Christ our God, whom you ask to save and enlighten our souls! S2: O Lord God, rise; let your hand be exalted, and never forget the poor. The Lord has chosen you as unique among the saints and among the ascetics. O most God-like father, and multiplier of talents among the faithful servants, your spirit now rejoices in the joy of your Lord, and your venerable body belongs to us, exuding fragrances and bringing healing, through the grace of Christ our God, whom you ask to save and enlighten our souls! S1: O Lord, I will thank you with all my heart; I will recount all your wonders. With restraint you have conquered the passions of the flesh in your rational soul. You were adorned with the wings of dispassion, and accepted grace to heal human infirmities and to cast out the deceitful spirits. Therefore, blessing you, the assemblies of monks, and the company of believers, celebrate your memory. We praise the glorious Christ our God, whom you ask to save and enlighten our souls! Glory, Tone 8: O chosen flock of Christ, come and join us in the veneration of the memory of the Blessed John, who revealed in the Rila desert! Here his honourable body lies before us, as the confirmation of our faith, the jewel of the monastics, the shame of heretics, but for believers, the resurrection. Even after his death he gives the blind insight, makes the lame walk, straightens the stooped, strengthens the weak, banishes demons, and fortifies the faithful against their adversaries. As he stands in spirit before the Lord's throne, he always prays to the Lord for those who, with love and faith, celebrate his holy memory. Both now: (Преблагословена еси, Богородице) Blessed are you, Theotokos and Virgin, the Incarnate of you captivated hell, Adam was called out, the oath was trampled, Eve was freed, death was mortified, and we have risen. That's why we cry in glorifying: Christ, our God, is blessed, favouring thus, glory to You. Great Doxology – Велико славословие 1 Glory to you who have shown us the light! Glory to God in the highest! Peace on earth and goodwill to men! 2 We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we thank you for your great glory, 3 O Lord King, heavenly God, almighty Father, O Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and you, O Holy Spirit! 4 O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us, for you take away the sin of the world. 5 Receive our prayer, for you sit on the right of the Father, and have mercy on us. 6 For only you are holy, only you are Lord, O Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. 7 I will bless you every day, and always praise your name for ever and ever. 8 O Lord, allow us this day to be guarded from sin. 9 Blessed are you, O Lord God of our fathers! Praised and glorified be your name for ever. Amen. 10 O Lord, let your mercy be on us, for we have hoped in you. 16 Blessed are you, O Lord! Teach me your statutes. (х3) 12 O Lord, you have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: O Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. 14 O Lord, I have fled to you; teach me to do your will, for you are my God. 15 For with you is the source of life, and in your light we will see light. 16 Stretch out your mercy to those who know you. Triságion – Святий Боже Resurrection Sundays Tropárion – Днес спасение миру бисть Today salvation has come to the world. Let us sing to the one who rose from the dead, the Author of our life. After he had destroyed death by death, he gave us victory and great mercy. The Divine Liturgy follows without a break. The litanies and concluding prayers are said privately by the clergy. Prepared and translated by priest Trayan Goranov Bulgarian Western and Central European Diocese