Holy Glorious Leaders of the Apostles, Peter and Paul

Litya (If the rector desires the Litya, following the sticheron to the Temple, these stichera are sung:)

Tone 2 (by Andrew of Jerusalem) Idiomelon

Let us come today and gather in chorus,

and give an offering of the faithful!

Let us exalt the Apostles Peter and Paul, the two vessels of grace!

Let us worthily crown them with praises!

For they bountifully spread the seed of the Word,

giving all mankind its rich harvest.

Filled with the grace of the Spirit,

they were branches of the True Vine

who tended the fruit that gladdens our hearts.

Let us sing to them with unveiled faces and pure hearts:

“Rejoice, guides of those without reason,

who cared for those who gained wisdom!

Rejoice, chosen friends of the Creator!

Rejoice, stewards of bounty and foes of illusion!”

Let us ever pray to them that they may intercede with their Creator and

Master//

that He may grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls!

Tone 2(by Arsenius)

Let us praise as champions of all the world,

those leaders, Peter and Paul:

the disciples of Christ, and founders of the Church,

true foundations, pillars and trumpets of inspiration,

sounding forth the teachings and sufferings of Christ!

They indeed went out into all the earth

as husbandmen spreading the seed of the faith,

planting for all mankind divine understanding,

revealing the Word of the Trinity.

O Peter, rock and foundation,

and Paul, the chosen vessel:

you were Christ's yoke of oxen, drawing all to the knowledge of God:

the Gentiles, men of the cities and islands.

You brought the Hebrews back again to Christ,//

and now you both intercede that our souls may be saved.

Tone 2(by Germanos)

Peter, leader of the glorious Apostles and rock of the faith,

and Paul, divinely inspired orator and light of the holy Churches:

as you stand before the throne of God,//

intercede with Christ on our behalf.

Paul, the spokesman of Christ and founder of His teachings,

who earlier had persecuted Jesus the Savior,

now you fill the first throne of the Apostles, O blessed one.

Thus you saw things that cannot be spoken,

and ascending to the third heaven you cried://

“Come with me, and be filled with good things!”

Tone 3(by John the Monk)

Citizens of heavenly Jerusalem:

the rock of faith and the orator of the Church of Christ:

you were an invincible team for the Trinity.

You have caught the whole world in your net;

you have endured the contest of suffering.

Today you depart this world for the throne of God:

as you stand before Him with boldness,//

intercede that our souls may be saved!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

Tone 5(by Byzantius)

O Apostles, praised throughout the world,

the Wisdom of God, the Word of the Father,

foretold in His Gospel that you would be His fruitful vines.

You carried in your branches the sweet-tasting fruit of life.

We faithful partake and are filled with gladness.

O Peter, the rock of faith, and Paul, the pride of all the earth,//

strengthen the flock established by your teachings!

now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Tone 5(Theotokion)

We rightly call you blessed,

the unshakable city, the invincible wall,

the firm intercessor and refuge of our souls!//

We glorify you, O Virgin Theotokos!

Date: 2016-01-03; view: 799