Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

Paschal Vespers Hymns

By the Grace of God USED IN CONJUNCT ION WITH SERVICE BOOKS

6 June 2019
COMPILED, ADAPTED, EDITED & PRINTED
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ARCHONDISSA & TEACHER BY DIVINE GRACE

Ascension Thursday
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8. A SC E NSION V E SP ERS HY M NS & R E AD INGS


Festal Vespers Hymns – Ascension Day
KINDLY USE THE SERVICE BOOK UNTIL THIS POINT, THEN CAREFULLY FOLLOW
INSTRUCTIONS WITH REGARD TO THESE HYMNS
HYMN OF THE EVENING INCENSE
THE CONGREGATION MUST STAND
PSALM 140/141 – TONE 2
Kyrie ekekraxa pros Se, isakouson mou.
Isakouson mou, Kyrie. Kyrie,
ekekraxa pros Se, isakouson mou,
proshes ti foni tis deiseos mou, en to
kekragene me pros Se, isakouson
mou Kyrie.
Katevthinthito i prosevhi mou os
thimiama enopion Sou. Eparsis ton
hiron mou Thisia Esperini. Isakouson
mou Kyrie!
P ENTE COSTARION - P ROSOM IA – A
Ean anomias paratirisis, Kyrie, Kyrie, If
tis ipostisete? Oti para Si O ilasmos
estin.
O Kyrios anelifthi is Ouranous, ina The
pempsi ton Parakliton to kosmo, i
Ourani itimasan ton Thronon Aftou,
Nefele tin epivasin aftou, Angeli
Thavmazousin, anthropon Orontes
iperano afton, O Patir ekdehete, on
en kolpis ehi sinaidion. To Pnevma to
Agion kelevi pasi tis Angelis Aftou.
Arate pilas i arhontes imon. Panta ta
Ethni krotisate Hiras. Oti anevi
Hristos, opou in to proteron.
Eneken tou Onomatos Sou ipemina Se, Because
Kyrie; Ipeminen i psihi mou is ton
Logon Sou, ilpisen i psihi mou epi
ton Kyrion.
O Kyrios Anelifthi is Ouranous, ina The
pempsi ton Parakliton to kosmo, i
Ourani itimasan ton Thronon Aftou,
Nefele tin epivasin aftou, Angeli
Thavmazousin, anthropon Orontes
iperano afton, O Patir ekdehete, on
en kolpis ehi sinaidion. To Pnevma to
Agion kelevi pasi tis Angelis Aftou.
Arate pilas i arhontes imon. Panta ta
Ethni krotisate Hiras. Oti anevi
2. A SC E NSION V E SP ERS
Lord, I cry out to Thee: hear
me,
O Lord! O Lord, when I cry
out to Thee, hear me! Hear
my voice, when I cry out to
Thee! Hear me, O Lord!
Let my Prayer rise before Thee
like incense - the lifting up of
my hands as the Evening Sacrifice.
Hear me, O Lord!
SCE NSION - TO NE (6) P L AGAL
Thou, O Lord, should mark
transgression, O Lord, who would
stand? For there is Forgiveness
with Thee.
Lord was taken up to Heaven, in
order to send the Holy Spirit to the
world. The Heavens prepared His
Throne; the Clouds were the means
of His Approach. Angels marvelled,
seeing a Human Being higher than
themselves. The Father received
Him Who He has Co-Eternal in His
Bosom. The Holy Spirit gives the
Order to all His Angels: Lift up the
Gates, O you Rulers!” O, clap your
hands all you Nations! For Christ has
Ascended to where He was before!
of Thy Law, O Lord, I waited
for Thee; my soul waited for Thy
Word. My soul Hopes in the Lord.
Lord was taken up to Heaven, in
order to send the Holy Spirit to the
world. The Heavens prepared His
Throne; the Clouds were the means
of His Approach. Angels marvelled,
seeing a Human Being higher than
themselves. The Father received
Him Who He has Co-Eternal in His
Bosom. The Holy Spirit gives the
Order to all His Angels: Lift up the
HY M NS & R E AD INGS
animnin ke Doxazin Sou tin Theotita!
Panta ta Ethni krotisate hiras!
Alalaate to Theo en Foni
Agalliasesos!
Analamvanomenou Sou Hriste, ek tou
Orous ton Eleon, e Dinamis orose
etera ti etera evoon. Tis Estin outos?
Ke fisi pros Aftas. Outos Estin O
krateos ke dinastis, outos Estin O
dinatos en polemo, outos Estin Alithos
O Vasilefs tis Doxis. Ke ina ti aftou
erithra ta imatia? Ek Vosor iki, oper
esti, tis sarkos. Aftos de os Theos en
dexia kathisas tis megalosinis,
apestilas imin to Pnevma to Agion
ina odigisi, ke sosit tas psihas imon.
2 Anevi O Theos, en alalagmo, Kyrios
en foni salpingos.
Anelifthis en Doxi, ek tou Orous ton
Eleon Hriste O Theos Enopion ton Son
Mathiton, ke ekathisas en dexia tou
Patros O ta simpanta pliron ti
Theotiti, ke apestilas aftis Pnevma to
Agion, to Fotizon, ke Sotirizon, ke
Agiazon tas psihas imon.
✞ Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati,
ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton
eonon.
Amin
A SCE NSION A POSTIH A – I
Anevi O Theos en alalagmo, Kyrios en
foni salpingos, tou Anipsose tin
pessousan ikona tou Adam, ke
apostile Pnevma Parakliton, tou
Agiase tas psihas imon.
“NIN APOLIIS TON DOULONSOU...”
& TRISAGION PRAYERS

A SCE NSION A POLYTIKION
Anelifthis en Doxi, Hriste O Theos imon, Thou
haropiisas tous Mathitas, ti epangelia
tou Agiou Pnevmatos. Veveothenton
Afton dia tis Evlogias, oti Si i O Iios
tou Theou, O litrotis tou kosmou. (3)
D ISM ISSAL BL E SSINGS
Redeemer of the world! (3)
A SCE NSION V E SPE RS
Thou Who fill the Universe! And
Thou sent us the Divine Spirit, that
we might Extol and Glorify Thy
Divinity!
All you Nations, clap your hands!
Shout to God with the voice of
Rejoicing!
As Thou were being lifted up from the
Mount of Olives, O Christ, the
Angelic Hosts were watching, and
they said to one another: “Who is
This?” And the other responded: “
This is He Who is Strong and Mighty!
This is He Who is Powerful in Battle!
He is Truly the King of Glory!” “And
why art His Garments red?” “He
comes from Bozrah, which is the
Flesh.” As God, Thou sat at the Right
Hand of Majesty, and Thou sent us
the Holy Spirit, to Guide us and to
Save our soul!
God Ascended with a shout! The Lord
with the sound of the Trumpet!
Ascending in Glory from the Mount of
Olives in the presence of Thy
Disciples, O Christ our God, Thou sat
at the Right Hand of the Father – O
Thou Who fillest the Universe with
Thy Divinity! And Thou sent the
Holy Spirit Who Illumines and
Strengthens, and Sanctifies our soul!
✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and
forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amen
DIOMEL A – T ONE (6) P LAGAL 2
God Ascended with a shout, the Lord
with the sound of the trumpet, to
exalt the fallen image of Adam, and
to send the Paraclete Spirit to
Sanctify our souls.
–T ONE 4
Ascended in Glory, O Christ our
God, after Thou filled the Disciples
with Joy, by Promising to send the
Holy Spirit, and Thou Blessed them
and established their Faith, that
Thou art the Son of God, the
HY M NS & R E AD INGS 7.
Epagi imin kata Eleon Aftou, ke kata to He deals with us according to His Great Hristos, opou in to proteron. Gates, O you Rulers!” O, clap your
hands all you Nations! For Christ has
plithos tis Dikeosinis Aftou. Mercy, and according to the
Ascended to where He was before!
multitude of His Righteousness.
Ke ipen: “Ouhi Laos Mou este – Tekna And He said: “Surely, My People – My
Apo Filaktis proias mehri niktos, apo From the morning watch until night;
filakis proias, elpisato Israil epi ton from the morning watch until night
- ke ou Mi athetisosi?” Children – have not also rejected
Kyrion. – let Israel Hope in the Lord.
Me?”
Ke egeneto aftis is Sotirian ek pasis And He became their Salvation. Kyrie, ti Si, Analipsi, exeplagisan ta At Thine Ascension, O Lord, the
Theon, epi Herouvim, theorisanta Se Cherubim, on whom Thou sit as God,
thispeos Afton.
ton Nefelon anerhomenon, ton ep’ were amazed when they beheld Thee
Ou Presvis, oude Angelos, all’ Aftos O Neither an Elder nor an Angel, but the afton kathezomenon, ke Doxazomen Ascending on the Clouds. And we
Kyrios esosen aftous dia to Agapan Lord Himself, Saved them from all Se, oti Hriston to Eleos Sou: ✞ Doxa Si! Glorify Thee, for Thy Mercy is Good:
aftous, ke fidesthe afton. their tribulation, for He Loved them ✞ Glory to Thee!
and spared them. Oti para to Kyrio to Eleos ke polli par For with the Lord there is Mercy, and
Aftos Elitrosato aftous, ke anelaven He Redeemed and took them up, and afto Litrosis. Ke aftos Litrosete ton with Him is Abundant Redemption;
aftous, ke iperipsosen aftous, pasa tas lifted them up all the days of old. Israil ek pason ton anomion aftou. and He will Redeem Israel from all
imeras tou eonos. his transgressions.
T HE P ROP HECY OF Z E CH ARIAH 14 : 4 & 8 En tis oresi tis Agiis, theorountes Sou tas We have seen Thine Exaltations on
Tade legi Kyrios: Idou Imera erhete Thus says the Lord: Behold! The Days ipsosis Hriste, to apavgasma tis Doxis those Holy Mountains, O Christ,
Kyriou! of the Lord come! tou Patros, animnoumen Sou tin Thou Who art the Brightness of the
fotoidi tou Prosopou morfin, Father’s Glory; and we extol the
Ke stisonte i podes aftou en ti imera And on that Day His Feet will stand proskinoumen Sou ta pathimata, Resplendent Appearance of Thy
ekini epi to Oros ton Eleon, to upon the Mount of Olives, which timomen tin Anastasin, tin Endoxon Face. We worship Thy Passion, we
katenanti Ierousalim, ex Anatolon. faces Jerusalem to the East. Analipsin Doxazontes, eleison imas. honour Thy Resurrection, and Thy
iliou. Glorious Ascension we Glorify: Have
Ke en ti Imera ekini exelefsete Idor Zon And in the Day shall issue forth Living Mercy on us!
ex Ierousalim - to imisi aftou is tin Water from Jerusalem – half of it Enite ton Kyrion panta ta Ethni! Praise the Lord, all Gentiles! Praise
thalassan tin protin, ke to imisi aftou towards the former sea, and half Epenesate Afton pantes i Lai! Him, all you people!
is tin thalassan tin eshatin, en theri, towards the latter sea – so shall it be
ke en eari este outo. in Summer and in Spring. Kyrie, i Apostoli os idon Se, en Nefeles Lord, when Thine Apostles beheld Thee
eperomenon, odirmis dakrion, being lifted up upon the Clouds,
Ke este Kyrios is Vasilea epi pasan tin And the Lord shall be King of all the Zoodota Hriste, katifias pliroumeni, they were filled with sadness. They
Gin, en ti imera ekini este Kyrios is, Earth, and in that Day the Lord shall grieved, and with tearful laments,
thrinountes elegon: “Despota, mi
ke to Onoma Aftou en, kiklon pasan be One Lord, and His Name, One they said to Thee, O Christ, the Giver
easis imas Orfanous, ous di’ ikton of Life: “Master, do not make
tin Gin - ke tin erimon apo Gave eos Name, encompassing all the Earth – Igapisas doulous Sou, os Evsplaghnos, Orphans of us, Thy servants, whom
Remmon, kata noton Ierousalim. even the Wilderness, from Gabe to all’ apostilon, os Ipershou imin, to Thou Loved for pity’s sake – O Thou
Remmon, South of Jerusalem. Panagion Sou Pnevma, Fotagogoun Who art Compassionate! But as
Rama de epi topou meni. Rama shall remain in her place. tas psihas imon. Thou Promised, send us Thine All
Holy Spirit to Guide and Illumine our
Apo tis Pilis Veniamin, eos tou topou tis From Benjamin’s Gate to the place of soul!”
Pilis tis Protis; eos tis Pilis ton the First Gate; to the Gate of the
Gonion, ke eos tou Pirgou Anameil, Corners, and to the Tower of Oti ekrateothi to Eleos Aftou ef’ imas, For His Mercy rules over us; and the
ke i Alithia tou Kyriou meni is ton Truth of the Lord endures forever.
eos ton ipolinion tou Vasileos Anameil as far as the King’s
Katikisousin en afti, ke anathema Winepresses, they will dwell in the eona.
ouketi este eti ke katikisi Ierousalim city, and there shall no more be any Kyrie, tis Ikonomias plirosas to When Thou had completed the Mystery
pepithotos. Curse - and Jerusalem shall dwell Mystirion, paralavon tous Sous of Thy Plan for our Salvation, O Lord,
securely. Mathitas, is to Oros ton Eleon Thou took Thy Disciples with Thee,
FERVENT SUPPLICATIONS
anelamvanes, ke Idou, to stereoma and went up onto the Mount of
P ENTE COSTARION - AS CE NSION A POSTIC HA – I D IOME LA - T ONE 2 tou Ouranou parilthes, O di’ eme Olives. And behold! Thou passes
ptohefsas kat’ eme, ke anavas. Othen through the sky’s firmament! Thou
Etehthis os Aftos Ithelisas! Efanis, os Thou were born, as Thou Thyself so
ouk ehoristhis, to Panagion Sou Who for my sake became poor like
Aftos ivoulithis! Epathes Sarki, O Willed! Thou Appeared as Thou me! And, now, having Ascended
Pnevma exapostilon, Fotizon tas
Theos imon! Ek nekron anestis, Thyself so Wished! Thou suffered in whence Thou were never absent,
psihas imon.
patisas ton Thanaton, Anelifthis en the Flesh, O our God! Thou Rose send down Thine All Holy Spirit to
Doxi, O ta simpanta pliron, ke from the dead, having trampled Illumine our soul!
apestilas imin Pnevma Thion, tou Death! Thou Ascended in Glory!

6. A SC E NSION V E SP ERS HY M NS & R E AD INGS A SCE NSION V E SPE RS HY M NS & R E AD INGS 3.

✞ Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati,
ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton
eonon.
Amin
P ENTE COSTARION
Tin pagkosmion Doxan, tin ex
anthropon sparisan, ke ton Despotin
tekousan, tin Epouranion Pilin,
imnisomen Marian tin Parthenon, ton
Asomaton to asma, ke ton Piston to
egkallopisma. Afti gar anedixhti,
Ouranos ke Naos tis Theotitos, Afti to
mesotihon tis ehthras kathelousa,
Irinin antisixe, ke to Vasilion ineoxe.
Taftin oun katehontes tis Pisteos tin
agkiran, Ipermahon ehomen ton ex
aftis tehthenta Kyrion. Tharsito
tinon, tharsito laos tou Theou. Ke
gar afto polemisi, tous ehthrous os
Pantodinamos.
P ENTE COSTARION - THE A
Ton kolpon ton Patrikon mi horisthis,
glikitate Iisou, ke tis epi gis os
anthropos, sinanastrafis, simeron ap’
orous ton Eleon anelifthis en Doxi, ke
tin pesousan fisin imon simpathos
anipsosas, to Patri sinekathisas.
Othen e Ouranie ton asomaton taxis,
to thavma ekplittomene, existanto
thamvi, ke tromo sinehomene, tin Sin
filanthropian emegalinon. Meth’ on
ke imis i epi gis, tin pros imas Sou
sigkatavasin, ke tin af’ imon
Analipsin Doxologountes, iketevomen
legontes. O tous Mathitas ke tin
tekousan Se Theotokon, Haras apirou
plisas en ti Si analipsi, ke imas
Axioson, ton eklekton Sou tis Haras,
evhes afton, dia to Mega Sou Eleos.
THE ENTRANCE – “FOS ILARON...”
T H E P ROKE IM ENON OF W E DNESD AY
O Theos, en to Onomati Sou Soson me,
ke en ti Dinami Sou Krinis me.
STIHOSO Theos, isakouson tis prosevhis
mou, enotise ta rimata tou stomatos
mou.
4. A SC E NSION
✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and
forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amen
-TH EOTOKION – T ONE 1 imeres, emfanes to Oros tou Kyriou,
Let us praise Mary the Ever Virgin,
Glory of all the world! Born of
human parents, She gave Birth to our
Lord, and is the Gateway to Heaven.
The Adornment of the Faithful, She
is hymned by the Angelic Hosts. For
She has been shown to be Heaven,
and the Temple of the Godhead. She
is the One Who, breaking down the
Wall of Enmity, ushered in peace and
threw open the Kingdom. With Her,
as the Anchor of our Faith, we have a
Defender in our Lord, to Whom She
gave Birth. Take Courage, therefore,
O People of God, take Courage! For
He, the Almighty, will defeat our
enemies!
SCE NSION – TO NE (6) P L AGAL 2 Idou!
Thou never left the Father’s Bosom, O
Sweetest Jesus, even as Thou lived
among those on Earth as Man. And,
today, Thou Ascended in Glory from
the Mount of Olives, and
sympathetically Thou also exalted
our fallen nature, which Thou seated
with the Father. Wherefore the
Celestial Orders of Bodiless Hosts
were amazed by the Wonder, and
were struck with Astonishment, and
overcome with trembling, they
extolled Thy Love of mankind. We
on Earth join them in Glorifying Thy
Condescension to us, and Thine
Ascension from us, and we Entreat
Thee, and say: Thou filled Thy
Disciples, and Thy Mother, the
Theotokos, with Infinite Joy by Thine

Ascension. By their Prayers, wilt
Thou also count us worthy of the Joy
of Thine Elect, because of Thy Great
Mercy.
– P SALM 53/54
Save me, O God, for Thy Name’s sake,
and Judge me by Thy Might.
VERSE O God, hear my Prayer and hear
the words of my mouth.
V E SP ERS HY M NS & R E AD INGS
O Theos, en to Onomati Sou Soson me,
ke en ti Dinami Sou Krinis me.
T H E P ROPHE CY
Tade legi Kyrios: “Este en tes eshates
ke O Ikos tou Theou ep’ ekron ton
Oreon, ke ipsothisete iperano ton
vounon, ke ixousin ep’ afto panta ta
Ethni, ke porefsonte lai polli, ke
erousi. Defte anavomen is to Oros
Kyriou, ke is ton Ikon tou Theou
Iakov, ke anangeli imin tin Odon
Aftou, ke porefsometha en Afti.”
T H E P ROPHE CY OF
Tade legi Kyrios: “Porevesthe,
perielthete dia ton Pilon Mou,
skevasate tin Odon Mou, ke
odopiisate to Lao Mou, ke tous
lithous ek tis Odou diarripsate,
exarate sissimon is ta Ethni!”
Gar O Kyriso epiisen akouston eos
eshatou tis Gis.
“Ipate ti Thigatri Sion: ‘Idou! O Sotir
Sou paragegonen, ehon ton Eaftou
Misthon meth’ Aftou, ke to Ergon
Aftou pro Prosopou Aftou.
Ke kalesi afton ‘Laon Agion’ -
Lelitromenon ipo Kyriou - Si de
klithisi, ‘Epizitoumeni Polis, ke ouk
egkatalelimmeni.’
Tis outos O paragenomenos ex Edom
erithima imation aftou ek Vosor -
outos Oraios en Stoli Aftou - voa meta
Ishios pollis?
“Ego dialegome Dikeosinin ke Krisin
Sotiriou.”
Dia ti Sou Erithra ta imatia, ke ta
Endimata Sou os apo pititou linous?
“Pliris katapepatimenis, linon epatisa
monotatos, ke ton Ethnon ouk estin
anir met’ Emou.”
Ton Eleon Kyriou emnisthin, tas aretas
Kyriou anamniso, tin enesin Kyriou
epi pasin, is imin antapodidosi.
Kyrios, Kritis Agathos to Iko Israil.
A SCE NSION V E SPE RS
Save me, O God, for Thy Name’s sake,
and Judge me by Thy Might.
OF I SAIAH 2 : 2 - 3
Thus says the Lord: “It shall come to
pass in the Last Days, the Mountain
of the Lord, and the House of the
God, shall be visible on the tops of
the mountains, and exalted above
the hills. All Gentiles shall come to
It. Many Gentiles shall travel, and
say: ‘Come! Let us go up to the
Mountain of the Lord – to the House
of the God of Jacob! He will
proclaim His Way to us, and we shall
walk in It!’”
I SAIAH 62 : 10 – 63 : 1
Thus says the Lord: “Go through My
Gates, make a Way for My People,
clear the stones from the path, and
lift up the Standard for the
Gentiles!”
Behold! The Lord caused this to be
heard to the ends of the Earth.
“Tell the Daughter of Zion: ‘Behold!
Thy Saviour has come! And has His
Rewards, and His Work before His
Sight.’”
And shall call them “a Holy People” –
the Redeemed of the Lord – and you
shalt be called “a City sought for and
not forsaken!”
Who is this who comes from Edom
with His garments red, from Bozrah
– so beautiful in His Apparel – with
great Strength?
“I speak of Righteousness and Saving
Judgement.”
Why art Thou Garments red and Thine
Apparel as one who treads in a
winepress?
“I Am full of the treading of grapes,
and there is no man with Me
among the Nations.”
I remembered the Lord’s Mercy, the
Praises of the Lord in all things,
wherein the Lord recompenses us.
The Lord is a Good Judge for the House
of Israel.
HY M NS & R E AD INGS 5.