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RE-EDITED & PUBLISHED - 09 AUGUST 2018 the Greek & English texts that make our Worship much easier
to understand, to participate and to appreciate.
Glory to God for His Great Mercy!
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2. V E S P E R S – S T T H E K L A – T H E O T O K O S OF THE MYRTLE – 24 SEPTEMBER VESPERS – ST THEKLA – THEOTOKOS OF THE MYRTLE – 24 SEPTEMBER 11.
kosmo dia Sou to Mega Eleos. Grace, Hail! For the Lord is with
Thee! And through Thine
Intercessions, He bestows on the
world His Great Mercy.
Apo From
The Synaxis of our Lady Theotokos of the Myrtle filakis proias mehri niktos. Apo
filakis proias elpisato Israil epi ton
the morning watch until night;
from the morning watch until
The Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Of the Myrtle Tree” (Myrtidiotissa) is currently Kyrion. night, let Israel Hope in the Lord.
located in the Monastery church of Myrtides on the
Greek island of Kythera, having derived its title from
O tou Paradoxou Thavmatos! O evnias O Paradoxical Miracle! Such a Blessing
pollis, is i Nisos etihe, Kithiron tis indeed has the Isle of Kythira
the fact that it was found in a myrtle bush during the
para Sou, Theoharitote, igapisas gar obtained and enjoys from Thee, O
fourteenth century.
aftin, osper filostorgos Mitir ke Graced by God, for Thou Loved the
At that time, a shepherd was tending his sheep in a
dedokas, Ikona Sou tin Septin, in people as an affectionate Mother,
deserted valley, which was filled with myrtle bushes.
evlavos proskinousa kravgazi Si and granted them Thy Icon, which
On 24 September - forty days after the Dormition, the
Keharitomeni Here! Meta Sou O they cherish and venerate, singing:
Mother of God appeared to him and told him to seek Kyrios, O parehon to kosmo dia Sou O Full of Grace, Hail! For the Lord is
Her Icon, which had been brought to that place many to Mega Eleos. with Thee and through Thine
years before. . Intercessions, He bestows upon the
The shepherd fell to the ground in amazement, praying to World, His Great Mercy.
the Theotokos. As soon as he got up and turned
MENAION - FESTAL STICHERA – ST THEKLA – TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
around, he saw the Icon in the branches of a myrtle bush. Weeping with Joy, he
carried the Icon home and told his friends and relatives about how he had Oti para to Kyrio to Eleos ke polli par For with the Lord there is Mercy, and
found it. afto Litrosis. Ke aftos Litrosete ton with Him is Abundant Redemption;
When he awoke the next morning, the shepherd realised that the Icon had Israil ek pason ton anomion aftou. and He will Redeem Israel from all
disappeared, and thought that someone had stolen it during the night. his transgressions.
With a heavy heart, he led his sheep back to the spot where he had found the Icon
the previous day – and to his utter amazement, he beheld the Holy Icon once
Kyrie, i ke en thiridi i Thekla, prosepagi O Lord our God, while Thekla sat by the
to potho Sou, alla noeros en Ipsistis, window and paid attention for the
again in the branches of the myrtle bush.
paristameni to Throno Sou, Love of Thee – mentally transported
Glorifying God, the shepherd once again took the Icon home with him but once
exeplitteto tin Sin asigkriton to Heaven, she stood at Thy Throne
again, the next morning, it had disappeared just as it had before and was
evprepian, tou sarkothentos on High and marvelled at the Great
found again in the myrtle bush.
Filanthropos, ina Sosis tas psihas Incomparable Majesty of the
When this sequence of events occurred for a third time, the shepherd realized that
imon. Incarnate One’s Love of mankind and
our Lady, Theotokos, wanted Her Icon to remain where it had first appeared.
Salvation of our soul.
A small church was built to house the Icon, and was entitled “Of the Myrtle Tree.”
The small church was later replaced and enlarged over the years, and many Enite ton Kyrion panta ta Ethni! Praise the Lord, all Gentiles! Praise
Miracles took place there. Epenesate Afton pantes i Lai! Him, all you people!
At the end of the sixteenth century Theodore Koumprianos, a descendant of the Kyrie, i ke desmevthenti i Thekla to O Lord our God, Thekla ran to be with
shepherd who found the Icon, lived in the village of Kousoumari. He was a
Apostolo prosedramen, alla Thy Apostle, shackled as he was and
paralytic, and had an unshakeable Faith that the All Holy Mother of God would
prospathias giinon, ton demon bound in chains, shaking off the
Heal him.
enapesisato, ke krateotit tis sis, chains of attachment to all worldly
Each year on 24 September he sent a family member to the church to light candles alousa agapiseos, veveothisa and mundane affairs. And rather
for him, until one year when he asked his family to carry him to the church so sinedethi, Si to Sotiri ton psihon imon. chained by the Might of Thy Divine
that he might venerate the Icon himself. Consuming Love, fully confirmed in
During the All Night Vigil, a great noise was heard coming from the direction of the Thee, she bound herself to Thee, O
sea. In terror, the people fled the church, thinking that pirates were attacking. Saviour of our soul.
However, the paralysed Theodore was left all alone in the church, Entreating the
All Holy Virgin Mary for Her Protection. Oti ekrateothi to Eleos Aftou ef’ imas, For His Mercy rules over us; and the
Suddenly, he heard Her voice coming from the Icon telling him to get up and flee, ke i alithia tou Kyriou meni is ton Truth of the Lord endures forever.
so he stood up, and then slowly walked out of the church. eona.
Soon he was able to run, and he was able to catch up with his relatives and Kyrie, i ke didaskalou i Thekla, ouhi O Lord our God, Thekla was deprived of
friends, who Rejoiced upon seeing this Miracle. ekousa memonote, alla simparonta her Teacher against her will and was
As it turned out, there was no pirate attack, and the noise was regarded as a Sign of Se ihen, en kero to tis athliseos, ke left alone, but she had Thy Presence
God’s Providence that ensured that the Paralytic woud be left alone in church gimnothisa stolis, eskepeto ti Doxi with her in the hour of her
with our Ever Blessed Lady’s Holy Icon. Since that memorable day, when Sou, ke stefthisa ti hira Sou, proaspizi Martyrdom. And although they
Theodore had been Healed, the Koumprianos family and their friends have ton pshon imon. stripped her, Thy Holy Glory covered
celebrated the Icon’s Feast Day with special reverence. her, and Thou Crowned her with
10. V E S P E R S – S T T H E K L A – T H E O T O K O S OF THE MYRTLE – 24 SEPTEMBER VESPERS – ST THEKLA – THEOTOKOS OF THE MYRTLE – 24 SEPTEMBER 3.
Thine own Hand. Now she zealously ✞ Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
defends our soul.
ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton and to the Holy Spirit, now and
✞ Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, eonon. forever, and to the Ages of ages.
and to the Holy Spirit Amin Amen
MENAION - FESTAL STICHERA – THEOTOKOS – TONE 1
MENAION - FESTAL APOLYTIKION – THEOTOKOS – TONE 4
To septo temeni Sou, pantothen ton The people of Kyrthira know Thee to be Lai nin krotisomen, deft etas hiras O People, let us now with Faith, clap
Kythireon sistimata, pigin Se ontos Truly a Source of Miracles. They
Pistos, ke asomen asmasi, ti our hands and sing sacred songs
thavmaton ginoskonta come from all directions to Thy Holy
Theomitori, en potho kravgaontes. to Her who is the Mother of God,
Shrine.
Here, i Prostasia pnaton ton and with yearning, exclaim: “
MENAION - FESTAL STICHERA – THEOTOKOS – TONE (5) PLAGAL 1
deomenon! Here, i Sotiria ton Hail, O Protector of all who
Theoharitote sintrehousi, ke Sou tin O Lady Full of Grace, they kiss Thy Holy timonton Se potho! Here, i to Entreat Thee! Hail, O Salvation of
septin Ikona, exohos aspazonte. Icon in grand veneration. Paralitou tin iasin vravefsasa!. those who honour Thee with
MENAION - FESTAL STICHERA – THEOTOKOS – TONE 2 yearning! Hail, O Lady who
RETURN TO THE VESPERS SERVICE Restored the Paralytic to health!
Ke tes tou Pnevmatos Theourgikais And they are exceedingly Illumined by BOOK – DISMISSAL BLESSINGS
aktisin, iperfios Theotoke the Rays and Divine Energy of the
katalampomena, Spirit, O Theotokos.
MENAION - FESTAL STICHERA – THEOTOKOS – TONE (6) PLAGAL 2
Se tin Pantanassan ke Prostatin tou They Glorify Thee, O Queen of all and
kosmou Doxazousin, en Pisti Protectress of the world. In Faith
gereronta iperkosmios de imnousi Se, they honour Thee and supernally
ke evharistos voosi, met’ evfrosinis extol Thee. Glowing with Joy, they
lamproforounta. Idou epeskepsato gratefully exclaim: Behold! The
imas i panton Anassa. Queen of all has Visited us!”
MENAION - FESTAL STICHERA – THEOTOKOS – TONE 3
Hieras krotisomen pants, en arripotis de Let
ts hilesi, taftis proskinisomen tin
us all clap our hands, and let us
venerate Her Icon and kiss it with
St Gregory the Theologian
Ikona. undefiled lips.
Mankind is not worth less than livestock,
MENAION - FESTAL STICHERA – THEOTOKOS – TONE (7) VARYS/GRAVE
which, according to Mosaic Law,
Dia taftis i tou kosmou gar, pangenis For the Salvation of all humanity came
sotira genone. Kindini, nosi through Her. Perils and diseases are if fallen into a ditch we are commanded to pull them out
apelavnonte, ke asthenousin i rosis, drien away, and health is granted to
and take care of them. (Deuteronomy 22:1-4)
iper logon harizete. the sick ineffably.
MENAION - FESTAL STICHERA – THEOTOKOS – TONE 4 Therefore, how kind should we be towards our fellow human beings
Taftis gar to ipervallon, iperehi pasan For Her excellence surpasses all when we have been enjoined to have pity on all dumb creatures?
ennian. understanding.
MENAION - FESTAL STICHERA – THEOTOKOS – TONE 1
Dio ahrante Theotoke, ai sin oiforo Therefore, O Immaculate Theotokos, as
Vasili ke Toko zosa, Presveve diineos, Thou now live forever with the Life-
perfrourise ke Sose, apo pasis apilis bearing King Who is Thy Son,
enantas tous Se doxazontas. Tin gar Intercede unceasingly that He Save
sin prostasian kektimetha, us from every hostile threat, since
we are under Thy Protection.
MENAION - FESTAL STICHERA – THEOTOKOS – TONE 1
Is tous eonas aglaofanos Makarizontes. To the ages with splendour we call Thee
Blessed.
THE ENTRANCE – “FOS ILARON...”
Ke ipe Kyrios pros me: “I Pili afti And the Lord said to me: “This Gate “Arhi Sofias, Fovos Kyriou, ke vouli “The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of
keklismeni este, ouk anixthisete. shall remain shut, and shall not be Agion, Sinesis (to gar gnosne Nomon, Wisdom, and the Counsel of Saints is
opened. dianias estin Agathis.) Understanding, (for to know the Law
is the character of a sound mind.)
“Ke oudis ou mi dielthi di’ aftis, oti “And no one shall enter by It, for the
“Touto gar to tropo polin zisis hronon, “For by Me your days will be multiplied,
Kyrios O Theos, Israil, iselefsete di’ Lord – the God of Israel – shall
aftis, ke este keklismeni. enter by It, and it shall remain shut. ke prostethisete si eti Zois.” and years will be added to your Life.”
“Dioti O Igoumenos outos kathite ep’ “Only the Prince shall sit in It to eat RETURN TO THE SERVICE BOOK –
aftin tou fagin arton enopion Bread before the Lord. FERVENT SUPPLICATIONS
Kyriou. MENAION – FESTAL APOSTICHA – ST THEKLA - TONE 1
“Kata tin odon tou Elam tis Pilis “He shall go by way of the Vestibule of O evkleis Protomartyrs, ke Isapostole, Far-famed Protomartyr and Equal to the
iselefsete, ke kata tin odon aftou the Gate, and shall go out by the ton athlouson i Doxa, Kalliparthene Apostles, Glory of female Martyrs,
exelefsete.” same way.” Thekla, iase, voo Si, pathi dina, tis Fair Virgin Thekla, by Thy powerful
Ke isigage me kata tin odon tis Pilis ton And he brought me by way of the North psihis mou ke molopas, Theopithesi Supplications, with God Heal the
Agion tis pros vorran, katevanti tou Gate to the front of the Temple. lites Sou, ke ek Piros, tou asvestou me dreaded passions and bruises of my
Ikou. exarpason. soul, I beseech Thee, and from the
Unquenchable Fire, snatch me.
Ke idon, ke idou! Pliris Doxis O Ikos And I looked, and behold! The Glory of Ipomenon ipemina ton Kyrion, ke prseshe I waited patiently for the Lord, and He
Kyriou! the Lord filled the House of the Lord! mi, ke isikouse tis deiseos mou. heeded me; and He heard my
THE BOOK OF THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON 9 : 1 - 11 Di’ omvrotokou Nefelis, tin floga esvese, Supplication.
I Sofia okodomisen Eafti Ikon ke ipirise Wisdom has built Her House, and has drosizousa Se Thekla, os Pistin ke The Almighty, Divine Power of Christ,
Stilous Epta. set up Seven Pillars. endikos, flegousa apistous i through a Cloud that gave birth to
pansthenis, tou Hristou Thia dinamis, rain, quenched the flame, bedewing
Esfaxe ta Eaftis thimata, ke ekerasen is She has slaughtered Her beasts, and has ke ek thirion ke tavron diaspasmon, Thee, O Thekla, as a Believer and
Kratira ton Eaftis inon, ke itimasato mixed Her Wine, and has also set Her riomeni Se edoxase. just consuming unbelievers and,
tin Eaftis Trapezan. Table. Ke estisen epi petran tous podas mou ke Delivering Thee from being torn
Apestile tous Eaftis doulous, sigkalousa She has sent out Her servants to call katiithine ta diaimata mou. apart by wild beasts and bulls, it
meta ipsilou kirigmatos, os epi from the highest places in the town: Ton Panoreon en kalli, Nymphion Glorified Thee.
kratira, legousa: “Os estin afron, ‘Whoever is simple, let him turn in ahranton, epipothousa Thekla, ton And He established my feet on a Rock
ekklinato pros me.” here!’ mnistira irniso, Pavlou Ekklisias and kept straight my steps.
nimfagogou, epomeni tis rimasi, Filled with longing for our Immaculate
Ke tis endeesi frenon ipen: “Elthete And to him who is without sense, She meth’ ou arthisa is lixin tin panterpi, Bridegroom, All Fair in His Beauty,
fagete ton Emon Arton, ke piete Inon, says: “Come, eat of My Bread, and emnistefso on epothisas. Thou denied Thy suitor, O Thekla,
on kekeraka imin. drink of the Wine I have mixed. following the words of Paul, the
“Apolipete afrosinin, ke zisesthe, ke “Leave ignorance, and Live - and Live in Groomsman of the Church. Raised
zitisate Fronisin, ina viosite, ke Wisdom, and improve Understanding up with him to the Sphere of All
katorthosite Sinesin en Gnosi. by Knowledge. Delight, Thou were Betrothed to the
One for Whom Thou yearned.
1
AN ANGEL OF THE L O RD G O D S HO W ED S T E Z E K I E L C ER T A I N H E A V E N L Y M Y ST ERI E S A N D G O D G A V E H I M
✞ Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
I N S T R UC T I O N S T O B E F U L F I L L E D B Y A L L T HE T R IB E S O F I S R AE L , AC C O RD I N G T O T HE O L D C O V E N A N T , W H IC H and to the Holy Spirit
W O U L D P RE P AR E T H E M F OR T H E F I R ST A P P E A R A N C E O F O U R D I V I N E S A V IO U R AN D H I S N E W D I V I N E
COVENANT.