Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Festal Vespers Hymns & Readings

By the Grace of God
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24/25 January 2017

St Gregory the Theologian
of Cappadocia & Contantinople

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RE-EDITED & PUBLISHED - 06 JANUARY 2017

Also the Feast of St Moses, Archbishop of Novgorod

St Felicitas of Rome and her sons: St Januarios, St Felix,
St Philip, St Silvanos, St Alexander, St Vitalos, and
St Marcial St Publios the Ascetic of Syria St Mares the
Singer & Holy Ascetic of Syria St Vladimir, Metropolitan
of Kiev and Gallich St Auxentios, New Holy Martyr of
Constantinople St Anatole I of Optina St Dositheos of
Tbilisi St Gabriel, Bishop of Imereti, Georgia

Our Eternal Gratitude to Pater Seraphim Dedes & all the contributing Translators
elsewhere for the original Greek & English texts and for making our Worship a little
easier to understand, to participate and to appreciate.
Glory to God for His Great Mercy!
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16. F E S T A L V E S P E R S S T G R E G O R Y

THE

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 24 - 2 5 J A N U A R Y

Prologue of Ochrid On Who is Christ?

Our Lord Jesus Christ asks every one of us: "Who
Who do you say Who I Am?"
Am?"

(M A R K

8:27)

Brethren, it is more than two-thousand years from that day when our Lord
Jesus posed this question to His Disciples.
From then until today, this question is put to every generation of mankind every bright day and every dark night - and every generation of mankind
has had to give their answer to this profound and revealing question the
ultimate Question of Life or Death - the answer to which is Life-bearing or
Death-bearing.
"Thou art the Christ - the Son of the Living God!
God!" St Peter responded.
And that heart-felt Confession was approved and praised by our Lord Jesus.

(M A T T H E W

16:16)

When people ask: "Who is Christ?" some say along with the misguided Jews
- that He is ...the Destroyer of the Law and the self-styled Messiah, while
others say - as did Pontius Pilate -that they cannot arrive at the Truth
concerning ... this Man.
However, along with His Holy Apostles, His Faithful Disciples declare with
their sincere Confession that :
He is Christ - the Eternal Word and Only Begotten Son of the Living God
He is our Divine Saviou
Saviour Who is the Redeemer of the entire human race from
sin and Death!
Death!
He is the Resurrected and the Resurrector,
He is the LivingLiving-One and the LifeLife-giver
giver.
ver
And all of us who are Baptized in the Name of the Holy Trinity agree with the
Holy Apostles and the One, Holy, Apostolic and Catholic (Universal)
Church of Christ which, with Her Universal Voice, thus Confesses Christ
our Lord.

2. F E S T A L V E S P E R S S T G R E G O R Y

THE

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 2 4 -2 5 J A N U A R Y

Evagrios the Solitary

If we arm ourselves against anger
Then we will never succumb
To any kind of desire.
Desire provides fuel for anger,
And anger disturbs Spiritual Vision,
Disrupting the State of Prayer.

St Ephraim the Syrian

We begin to go astray when we withdraw from Humility.
Let us stive for sober attention,
That we might recognise our sins\
And be constantly humbled
That we might not nurture like a serpent
A high opinion of ourselves
Or wickedness.

Elder Sophrony of Essex

No one on this Earth can avoid affliction;
and although the afflictions that our Lord sends are not great,
We imagine them beyond their strength and are crushed by them.
This is because we will not humble our souls
and commit themselves to the Will of God.
But our Lord Himself Guides with His Grace
those who are Obedient to God's Will,
and whobear all things with Fortitude for the sake of God
Whom they have so Loved
and with Whom they are glorified forever.
It is impossible to escape tribulation in this world,
but those who are Obedient to the Will of God bear tribulation easily,
seeing it but putting their trust in our Lord,
and so their tribulations pass.

FESTAL V ESPERS ST GREGORY

THE

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 2 4 -2 5 J A N U A R Y

15.


Doxa

Sou.

Doxa

Doxa

to

to enikisanti en Si!

proelthonti

ek

Sou!

to eleftherosanti imas, dia

tou Tokou Sou.

RETURN TO VESPERS SERVICE

DISMISSAL BLESSINGS 

BOOK

Thy Creator and proved to be More

Spacious than the Heavens.
Glory
to Him Who Dwelt within Thee!

Glory

to Him Who came forth

from Thee!
Glory to Him Who has

set us free through Thy Childbirth!

St Gregory of Sinai - on Prayer & Delusion

Be careful not to entertain and readily assent to anything - even if it is
good - before consulting those with Spiritual Experience - and
investigating it thoroughly - so as not to come to any harm.
Always be suspicious of - and keep your intellect free from - colours,
forms and images. For it has often happened that things sent by
God to test our free will, to see which way it inclines and to act as a
spur to our efforts, have in fact had bad consequences.
For when we see something, whether with mind or senses - even if this
thing be from God - and then readily entertain it without consulting
those experienced in such matters, we are easily deceived, or will be
in the future, because of our gullibility.
A Novice should pay close attention solely to the activity of his heart,
because this is not led astray.
Everything else we must reject until the passions are quietened. For
God does not censure those, who out of fear of being deluded, pay
strict attention to themselves, even though this means that they
refuse to entertain what He sends them until they have questioned
others and made careful enquiry.
Indeed, He is more likely to praise their prudence, even though in some
cases He is grieved.

St Mark the Ascetic

Just as a thought is made manifest
Through our actions and our words,
So is our Future Reward made manifest
Through the impulses of our heart

14. F E S T A L V E S P E R S S T G R E G O R Y

THE

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 24 - 2 5 J A N U A R Y

St Gregory the Trinitarian Theologian of Constantinople

St Gregory is known as St Gregory the Theologian, St Gregory of Nazianzos
although that title is more appropriate for his Father St Gregory of
Constantinople and St Gregory the Younger.
He is one of our greatest Holy Church Fathers whose Spiritual Guidance and
Teachings are still very much applicable to every Faithful Orthodox Disciple of
Christ to this very day.
His Commemoration is on 25 January, which is when he Reposed in Christ, on 19
January, which was when the Translation of his Holy Relics occurred, and
together with two other Great Holy Church Fathers, St Basil the Great and St
John Chrysostom on 30 January the Synaxis of the Three Holy Hierarchs.
St Gregory the Theologian is one of the Great Holy Fathers of Cappadocia, which
produced many of our most significant and influential Divinely Inspired
Spiritual Fathers of all time.
St Gregory the Theologian was born in 329 in Arianzos, which was a village of the
second district of Cappadocia, a short distance from Nazianzos.
His Father was St Gregory, who became Bishop of Nazianzos and his mother was
St Nonna, while his two siblings are St Caesarios and St Gorgonia.
St Gregory began his studies in Caesarea, Palestine, in Alexandria, Egypt, and
finally in Athens, Greece.
While sailing from Alexandria to Athens, a violent storm put his life an especially
his Eternal Salvation in peril, since he had not yet been Baptised, which
caused him to fervently and tearfully beseech God to spar him and his fellow
passengers Vowing to dedicate his entire being to His Holy Service.
Just as suddenly as it had arisen, the tempest abated and the rest of the journey
proceeded peacefully and safely.
At Athens, St Gregory was reunited with his good friend, St Basil the Great and their
acquaintance grew into a life-long Brotherly Love.
Another fellow student of theirs happened to be the young Prince, Julian, who
later became infamous as Emperor Julian the Apostate due to his blatant
denial and rejection of Christ and all His Divine Truth, striving instead to
reinstate paganism.
Even while they were in Athens before Julian the Apostate had cast off his
hypocritical mask of piety, St Gregory perceived his unsettled mind and soul,
and commented: What an evil the Roman State is nourishing...! (Orations V:
24)
Having completed their studies in Athens, St Gregory and St Basil decided to take
up a very strict Ascetic Life in the Hermitages of Pontos.
However, St Gregory the Elder, ordained his reluctant son as Presbyter of the
Church of Nazianzos, and later, St Basil Consecrated St Gregory the Theologian
as Bishop of Sasima, which was in the Archdiocese of Caesarea.
Unfortunately, that Consecration became a source of great sorrow for St Gregory,
and was the cause of a serious misunderstanding that drove him and St Basil
the Great apart for the rest of their life, although his Love for St Basil remained
unchanged, which was clearly evident from St Gregorys Funeral Oration on St
Basil.
Circa 379, St Gregory went to the assistance of the Church of Constantinople,
which had already been troubled for 40 years by the Arian heretics.

FESTAL V ESPERS ST GREGORY

THE

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 2 4 -2 5 J A N U A R Y

3.

By the Grace of God Who granted him supremely wise words and many successful
Labours, St Gregory dispelled the corruption of heresy and re-established the
Divine Truth and Teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Second Ecumenical Council elected St Gregory the Theologian as the
Archbishop of Constantinople, having assembled there in 381 and having
condemned the heretical Macedonius as an enemy of God the Holy Spirit.
Nevertheless, when St Gregory went to Constantinople, the heretical Arians had
taken possession of all the churches, so he served our Lord from a small house
Chapel that had been dedicated to St Anastasia the Holy Martyr.
He began preaching his famous five Sermons on the Holy Trinity - Triadica
and when he left Constantinople two years later, the Arians no longer
possessed any of the churches.
St Meletios of Antioch, who was presiding over the Second Ecumenical Council,
had Reposed during the course of the proceedings and St Gregory was
unanimously chosen to succeed him - whereupon he distinguished himself by
his Inspired Expositions of Dogmatic Theology.
Having governed the Holy Church of Christ until 382, St Gregory the Theologian
delivered his Farewell Speech Syntacterion wherein he demonstrated the
Divinity of God the Son before 150 Bishops and Emperor Theodosios the Great.
At the same time he requested and received again unanimously permission to
retire from the See of Constantinople.
He then returned to Nazianzos, where he spent the remaining years of his earthly
life, finally Reposing in our Lord in 391, at the age of 62 years.
The extant writings of St Gregory the Theologian both prose and poems in every
type of meter demonstrate his lofty eloquence and his wondrous breadth of
learning.
In the beauty of his writings, he is considered to have surpassed the Greek writers
of antiquity, and because of his Divinely Inspired Theological thought, he was
worthily entitled Theologian.
Although St Gregory is sometimes addressed as St Gregory of Nazianzos, that title
rightly belongs to his Venerable Father, while St Gregory himself is referred to
by the Holy Church of Christ as St Gregory the Theologian.
In fact, he is especially entitled Trinitarian Theologian since in virtually every
Homily he wrote, he referred to the Holy Trinity and the One Essence and
Nature of the Divine Godhead.
Alexios Athoros dedicated the following to St Gregory the Trinitarian Theologian:
... like an unwandering Star beaming with Splendour, Thou bringest us by
Mystic Teachings, O Father, to the Trinitys sunlike Illumination, O Mouth
breathing with Fire, Gregory Most Mighty!
HTTP://ORTHODOXWIKI.ORG/GREGORY_THE_THEOLOGIAN

St Basil the Great

Seek out, with much care and thought,
a Teacher who will be a safe Guide to you
one who knows well how to lead those who are Journeying towards God
a Teacher who is Rich in Virtue and Wise in Holy Scripture.

4. F E S T A L V E S P E R S S T G R E G O R Y

THE

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 2 4 -2 5 J A N U A R Y

FESTAL APOSTICHA ST GREGORY

THE

THEOLOGIAN -

TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

Tas kardias ton Piston, geiponon ti glossi Thou

hast cultivated the hearts of

Believers by Thy words, O Gregory.
Thou hast yielded abundant Fruit for
God: an ever green pasture of
Righteousness. Thou hast torn out
by the roots the thorns of heresy,
Cleansing the world by Thy Divine
Reasoning. We Faithful, in Joy, offer
praises to Thee. O Inspired Lyre and
Ever Vigilant Mind, Faithful Shepherd
of the Flock of Christ, never cease
Interceding with the Word, O
Theologian, that He Deliver from the
Wolf all who honour Thy memory.

Sou Grgorie, evsevias en aftes,

aithalis evlastisas karpous to Teo, tas
akanthodis eresis prorrizon ektemon,
ke kosmon tous logismous katharotiti.
Dio dehomenos imon ta egkomia, i
Thia Lira, O Grigoros Ofthalmos, ton
Pimenon O Pimin, O ton Likon
agrevtis, presveve ektenos, Theologe
to Logo iper ton psihon imon.

Ke

Now

Amin.

Amen

nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton

eonon.

and ever, and to the Ages of

ages.

THEOTOKION TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

Panton i antilipsis Despina, klonoumeno O

mi Parthene, ek tou skotous ton
dinon, tes tou viou trikimies,
pontoumeno te ai, ranida, tou Eleous
Sou katapempson, ke hira, voithias
Sou parashou mi. Ke tis meridos
axioson, ton eklekton, ke Dikeon me,
os avisson, tetokiia tou Eleous Agni.
RETURN TO VESPERS SERVICE BOOK
PRAYER OF ST SYMEON, ETC 

FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST GREGORY

Pimenikos avlos tis Theologias Sou,

tas ton ritoron enikise salpingas. Os
gar
ta
vathi
tou
Pnevmatos
ekzitisanti, ke ta kalli tou fthematos
prosetethi Si. Alla Presveve Hristo to
Theo, Pater Grigorie, Sothine tas
psihas imon.

Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati,

ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton

eonon.

Amin

Lady, Thou art the Protection of all.

Calm my confusion and distress.
Deliver me from the darkness of sin.
Save me from the Tempest of life
and the Raging of the sea. Send
down upon me the Gentle Rain of
Thy ercy. Stretch forth Thy hand to
help me. Make me worthy of the
Inheritance of the Righteous Elect.
Bestow upon me the Depth of Thy
Mercy, O Pure One.
THE

THEOLOGIAN -

TONE 1

The

Shepherds pipe of Thy Theology

overpowered the trumpets of the
orators for as Thou delved into the
depths of the Spirit, so were Thou
endowed
with
the
Power
of
eloquene.
O Father Gregory,
Intercede with Christ our God to
Save 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
THEOTOKION TONE 1

Tou

Gavriil fthegxamenou Si Parthene

to Here! Sin ti foni esarkouto O ton
olon espotis, en Si ti Agia kivoto, os
efi O Dikeo David. Edihthis Platitera
ton Ouranon, vastasasa ton Ktistin

FESTAL V ESPERS ST GREGORY

THE

When Gabriel uttered Hail! to Thee, O

Virgin, with the Voice was the Lord
of all Incarnated in Thee whom the
Holy Ark of old prefigured, as
Righteous David said. Thou carried

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 2 4 -2 5 J A N U A R Y

13.

FESTAL APOSTICHA ST GREGORY

THE

THEOLOGIAN -

TONE (5) PLAGAL 1

Heris Theologias Pigi, ke Theorias ipsilis Opening

endietima.
Ton Ano Vithon gar
Pater, met evsevous logismou,
erevnisas pasi dietranosas, trisin en
Iliis mian fotos ine sigkrasin,
enizomenin, to tafto tis Theotitos
trissoumenin de, tes septes ipostasesi.
Viou men katharotiti, lamprotiti
logon de, sevin didaskon Triada, tin
Panagian Theopnefste.
Par is
ekpemfthine tes psihes imon disopi, to
Mega Eleos.

Thy mouth, directed by the

Word of God, Thou hast partaken of
the Spirit of Wisdom: Full of Grace,
Thou proclaimed Divine Doctrine,
Thrice-Blessed Gregory. Thou hast
imitated the ceaseless worship of the
Angelic Host, preaching on Earth the
Triune
and
Undivided
Light.
Illumined by Thy Divine Teaching,
we Confess the One Godhead in
Trinity: Pray for the Salvation of ous
souls.

Festal Vespers Hymns & Readings

St Gregory the Theologian
HYMN

Kyrie

Lord,

Katevthinthito

Let

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.

mouth shall speak Wisdom, and

the meditation of my heart,
understanding.

Egli

Theologias tis Sis, tin ton ereseon

skotomenan elisas.
Pigin gar
apavgasmaton, Theosevi logismo,
Theloge fthasas ke Theofroni, avges
tes ekithen, ekdidomenes omilisas.
Diafanes gar, ton Son noun osper
esoptron, ergasamenos, to trisson tis
Theotitos, Pater Fos ke ameriston,
edexo lamprotata, ke tin aktina
plousios, tin eniean ehorisas. In nin
ekdisopi, tes psihes imon dothine, to
Mega Eleos.

Stoma

Dikeou meletisi Sofian, ke i

glossa Aftou lalisi Krisin.

Heris

O Potamos tou Theou, O ai pliris

ton idaton tis Haritos O pasan
evfrenon polin, tou vasileos Hristou,
tis entheis logis ke didagmasi, trifis O
himarrous, to anexantliton pelages.
O ton Dogmaton, akrivis filax
ennomos. O Thermotatos, tis Triados
ipermahos,
organon
to
tou
Pnevmatos, O nous O erigoros.
Evihos glossa to vathos, to ton grafon
erminevousa, Hriston nin disopi, tes
psihes imon dothine, to Mega Eleos.

Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati

12. F E S T A L V E S P E R S S T G R E G O R Y

THE

With

Thy Tongue of Fire, DivinelyInspired Gregory, Thou burned to

ashes the false teachings of the
enemies of God.
Thou hast
appeared to us as a man with Divine
words, speaking in the Spirit of the
Mighty Works of God, writing for us
of the hidden Mystery of the Trinity
of Persons, equal in Power and One
in Essence. Thou hast Enlightened
the ends of the Earth as a Radiant
Sun: Never cease to pray for the
Salvation of our souls.

EVENING INCENSE

CONGREGATION

MUST STAND

PSALM 140/141 TONE 2

To stoma mou lalisi Sofian ke i meleti My

tis kardias mou sinesin.

OF THE

THE

i prosevhi
mou
os
thimiama
enopion Sou. Eparsis
ton hiron mou Thisia
Esperini.
Isakouson
mou Kyrie!

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!

my Prayer rise before

Thee like incense - the
lifting up of my hands
as
the
Evening
Sacrifice. Hear me, O
Lord!

FESTAL STIHERA ST GREGORY

THE

THEOLOGIAN

TONE 1

The

Ean

If

Rejoice,

O River of God, full of the

Waters of Grace, gladdening the
ransomed people of Christ the King
with Divine Teaching:
Rejoice,
torrent of delight and inexhaustible
sea of Truth, Faithful and Just
Guardian of Doctrine, Undefeated
Warrior of the Holy Trinity, Organ of
the Holy Spirit and Ever Vigilant
mind, Thy words explain the deep
Mysteries of Scripture: Pray to chist,
that He may grant our souls Great
Mercy!

Pater

The Tomb, the means of forgetfulness,

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

Pater

Mouth of the Righteous shall

meditate on Wisdom, and his
tongue shall speak of Judgement.

and to the Holy Spirit

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 24 - 2 5 J A N U A R Y

anomias paratirisis, Kyrie, Kyrie,

tis ipostisete? Oti para Si O ilasmos
estin.
Grigorie ta Sa, hili ouh O
proxenos, tis lithis Tafos ekalipse.
Thelogias gar, anedihthis stoma,
evsevias Dogmata, ke nin ti ikoumeni
fthengomenos. Dio iketeve, dorithine
tes psihes imon, tin Irinin, ke to Mega
Eleos.

Thou, O Lord, should mark

transgression, O Lord, who would
stand?
For there is Forgiveness
with Thee.
did not close Thy mouth, O Father
Gregory, for Thou hast been revealed
as the Voice of Theology, declaring
ow to the whole world the Teachings
of the Faith! Pray that Peace and
Great Mercy may be granted to our
soul!

Eneken tou Onomatos Sou ipemina Se, Because

Kyrie, ipeien i psihi ou is ton Logon
Sou. Ilpisen i psihi moue pi ton
Kyrion.
Grigorie
Sofos,
tis
sarkos
exeklinas, to dismenes, ke epivoulon.
Ouranodromo te, epivas tethrippo,
areton ohimati, aneptis pros to kallos
to arriton, ou emforoumenos, nin
vravevis tes psihes imon, tin Irinin, ke
to Mega Eleos.

FESTAL V ESPERS ST GREGORY

THE

of Thy Law, O Lord, I waited

for Thee; my soul waited for Thy
Word. My soul Hopes in the Lord.

Thou

wisely turned from the hostile

and treacherous flesh, and mounting
the Heaven-bound Chariot, O Father
Gregory, Thou were drawn by
Virtues as by Four Horses! Thou
soared aloft into Ineffable Beauty!
Now as Thou Delight in it, grant our
souls Peace and Great Mercy.

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 2 4 -2 5 J A N U A R Y

5.

Apo

filakis proias mehri niktos. Apo

filakis proias elposato Israil epi ton
Kyrion.

Pater

Grigorie Theou, ke anthropon

gegonas, Pistos mesitis ti Hariti. Ke
nin evilaton, evparrisiastis, prosevhes
tithis imin, Hriston mi dialipis pros
Kyrion, presvevon Osie, dorithine tes
psihes imon, tin Irinin, ke to Mega
Eleos.
FESTAL HYMN ST GREGORY

From

the Morning Watch until night;

from the Morning Watch until
night, let Israel Hope in the Lord.

Through

Grace Thou were a Faithful

Mediator between God and men.
Now, as Thou brought Christ,
mercifully turned towards us, O
Father Gregory, by Thy bold Prayers,
never cease to pray to Him, O
Venerale One, that He may grant our
soul Peace and Great Mercy!

THE

THEOLOGIAN TONE 2

Oti para to Kyrio to Eleos ke polli par For

afto Litrosis. Ke aftos Litrosete ton
Israil ek pason ton anomion Aftou.

wih the Lord there is Mercy, and

with Him is abundant Redemption.
And He will Redeem Israel from all
his transgressions.

Defte, en Ieris Melesin, evfimisomen ton Come, in Sacred Melodies, let us Praise
Theigoron, to Grigoron omma tis
Haritos, ke Pansofon stoma tou
Pnevmatos.
Ton Lampron Fostira
ikoumenis, to Mega tis Ekklisias
periihimas, to kleos orthodoxias to
panthavmaston. Theologias tin risin.
Ton Thion Dogmaton, ton aenaon
potamon, tin piin tin vriousan,
amvrosias Thia namata.

the Theologian: the Vigilant Eye of

Grace and All Wise Mouth of the
Spirit; the bright Luminary of the
inhabited Earth, the magnificent
Voice of the Church, the All
Marvellous Fame of Orthodoxy, the
Fountain of Theology;
the Ever
Flowing River of Divine Doctrines,
the Spring issuing Divine Streams of
Spiritual Nectar.

Enite

Praise

Potho,

With Spiritual Love, let us sing today in

ton Kyrion, panta to Ethni,

epenesate afton, pantes i lai.
Pnevmaiko
simeron,
animnisomen ton Ierarhin, ton ton
Apostolon Omoyropon, ke tis evsevias
ipermahon,
tis
Theigorias
tin
plimmiran, to revma tis Didaskalias
to iditaton, ton logon ton ipsigoron
tin asfalian, ta Ouranovronta hili.
Tin piripnoun glossan, tis Sofias ton
Thisavron, tou Logou tou kirika, ton
Piston to egkallopisma.

the Lord, all You Gentiles!

Praise Him, all you peoples!

Praise of the Hierarch who shared

the Apostles Ways. He is the Great
Champion Defender of True Piety;
he is the Flood of Divine Oratory;
the Most Delightful River of
Teaching; the assurance of lofty and
eloquent discourse;
the lips of
Heavenly Thunder; the tongue of
Fiery Breath;
the Treasury of
Wisdom; the Preacher of the Word;
the Adornment of the Faithful.

Oti ekrateothi to Eleos Aftou ef imas, For His Mercy

ke i Alithia tou Kyriou meni is ton
eona.

Imnis

hreostikis apantes, epenesomen

ton Theologon.
Tou Hristou tis
pimnis ton filaka, agrevtin ton likon
de Pansofon, zizanion nothon elatira.
Sporea
orthon
Dogmaton
ton
Panthavmaston, Dioktin eretizonton
ishirotaton, ton epavxisanta ontos,
erigorsi Thia, tou Hristou ta talanta

6. F E S T A L V E S P E R S S T G R E G O R Y

THE

rules over us; and the

Truth of the Lord endures forever.

With Hymns, let us all duly honour the

Theologian, the Guardian of Christs
Flock, the All Wise Hunter of Wolves,
the Uprooter of falsely-sown weeds;
the All Marvellous Sower of Right
Doctrines; the Strongest Persecutor
of heretics, who by Divine Vigilance
truly increased the talents Christ

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 2 4 -2 5 J A N U A R Y

valuable in the life of man.

de ke polipirian pothi tis, ide ta arhea

ke ta mellona ikazin.

But

also, if anyone longs for Great

Experience, She knows the things of
old and portrays the things to come.

Epistate strofas logon ke lisis enigmaton, She understands subtlety of words and
simian ke terata proginoski, ke ekasis
keron ke hronon.

the solution of riddles. She has

Foreknowledge
of
Signs
and
Wonders and the outcomes of times
and seasons.

Ke pasi simvoulos estin Agathi.

And to all She is a Good Counsellor.
Oti athanasia estin en afti, ke evklia en In Kinship with Wisdom there

is
Immortality, and in the Fellowship of
her words there is good repute.

kinonia logon aftis.

Dia touto enetihon to Kyrio, ke edeithin So

Aftou, ke ipon ex olis mou tis kardias:
Thee Pateron, ke Kyrie tou Eleous O
piisas ta panta en Logo Sou, ke ti
Sofia
Sou
kataskevasas
ton
anthropon, ina Despozi ton ipo Sou
genomenon ktismaton, ke diepi ton
kosmon en Osiotiti ke Dikeosini, dos
mi tin ton Son Thronon paredron
Sofian, ke mi me apodokimasis ek
pedon Sou.

I Entreated the Lord and besought

Him, and with all my heart, I said:
O God of our Fathers, and the Lord
of Mercy, Who made all things by
Thy Word, and in Thy Wisdom built
a man, that by Thee He might be the
Master of what is created, and
manage the world in Holiness and
Righteousness, grant me the Wisdom
that sits by Thy Throne, and do not
reject me from among Thy servants;

Oti ego doulos Sos, ke Iios tis Pedisis Sou. Because

I am Thy servant and the Son

of Thy maidservant.

Exapostilon

aftin ex Agiou katikitiriou

Sou, ke apo Thronou Doxis Sou, ina
simparousa
mi
didaxi
me, ti
evareston esti para Si, ke Odigisi me
en Gnosi, ke filaxi me en ti Doxi Aftis.

Send Her forth from Thy Holy Heavens,

and send her from Thy Glorious
Thone, that She might be present
with me and labour, and that I might
know what is well-pleasing to Thee.

For

She knows and understands all

things, and She will Guide me wisely
in my actions and Guard me with
Her Glory.

Logismi

gar thiton pantes

episfalis e epinie afton.

dili,

RETURN TO VESPERS SERVICE BOOK

LITANY OF SUPPLICATION UNTIL 
THE PRIEST CONTINUES ALOUD:

ke

The

reasoning of mortals is cowardly,

and our intents are unsafe.

Ii to Kratos tis Vasilias Sou Evlogimenon Blessed and Glorified is the Power of
ke Dedoxasmenon, tou Patros, ke
Thy Kingdom, of the Father, and
tou Iiou, ke tou Agiou Pnevmatos, nin
ke ai ke is tous eonas ton eonon.

Amin

FESTAL V ESPERS ST GREGORY

of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

now and forever, and unto the Ages
of Ages.

Amen

THE

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 2 4 -2 5 J A N U A R Y

11.

Stoma

The mouth

Stoma Sofon meleta Sofia.

The mouth of the humble meditates on

Dikeou apostazi Sofian, hili de

andron epistante Haritas.

of a Righteous man distils

Wisdom; the lips of Righteous men
distil Grace.

os ikos, ke kosmon Fotisanta, didahon

Thies lamprotisi.

Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati

Wisdom.

The

Righteousness of upright men

Delivers them.

Dikeosii

When

Iios

Fos

Light is with the Righteous continually,

de riete aftous ek Thanatou,

televtisantos Andros Dikeou, ouk
ollite Elpis.
gar Dikeos gennate is Zoin, ke en
agathis aftou karpon Dikeosinis
trigise.

Dikeis dia pantos, ke para Kyriou

evrisousi Harin ke Doxa.

a Righteous man dies, his hope

does not perish.

Righteous son is begotten unto Life

and a good man eats from the Fruits
of Righteousness.
and they will find Grace and Glory
from the Lord.

Glossa Sofon kala epistate, ke en kardia The

tongue of the wise understands

good things, and in a good heart
there is Wisdom.

afton anapafsete Sofia.

Agapa

The

Sofia Kyriou fotii prosopon sinetou.

Fthai gar tous epithimountas Aftin,

Wisdom is Radiant and Unfading.

She comes upon those who long

Kyrios Osias Kardias - dekti de

afto pantes amomi en odo.

pro
tou gnosthine, ke evheros theorite ipo
ton Agaponton Aftin.

Lord Loves Holy Hearts - all the

Blameless are acceptable to Him.
to
know Her beforehand, and is easily
perceived by those who Love Her.

O Orthrisas pros Aftin, ou kopiasi, ke O He

agripnisas
di
amerimnos este.

Aftin,

taheos

who rises early in the morning to

seek Her will not grow weary, and he
who keeps watch for Her will soon
be free from worry.

Oti

For

Sofias ou katishisi pote kakia.

Dia tafta ke erastis egenomin

Wisdom cannot be overcome by evil.

I became a Lover of Her Beauty.

tous Axious Aftis Afti perierhete

zitousa ke en tes triis fantazete Aftis
evmenos.
tou

She goes about seeking those

worthy of Her, and She appears to
them favourably in their paths.

grigoros glossa Sou pros Didaskalian,

en tis osi ton kardion enihousa, tas
ton rathimon psihas dianistisi. Ke
Theofthongis rimasi, klimax evriskete
tous
ek
Gis
pros
Ouranon
anaferousa. Dio Grigorie Theologe,
mi pavsi presvevon Hristo to Theo, ek
kindinon Sothine tas psihas imon.

Ke

ke ezitisa Nimfin agageste emafto.

nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton

eonon.

Amin

Loved Her and sought Her from my

youth, and desired to take Her as a
Bride for myself.

God and one

Works.

poni aftis isin arte, Sofrosinin de ke

Fronisin afti didaski, Dikeosinin ke
andrian, on hrisimoteron ouden estin
en vio anthropis.

THE

who

chooses

The

of
His

Products of Righteousness are the

Virtues, for Wisdom teaches Selfcontrol, Discernment, Righteousness
and Courage, concerning which
things there is nothing more

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 24 - 2 5 J A N U A R Y

TONE

(8) PLAGAL 4

Thy

tongue, which was vigilant in

Teaching, sounds in the ears of
hearts, arousing the souls of the
slothful; and through Thy words of
Godly eloquence, a Ladder is found
leading those on Earth up to Heaven.
Therefore, Gregory the Theologian,
do not cease Interceding with Christ
God, that our souls may be
preserved from dangers and trials.

Now

and ever, and to the Ages of

ages.

Amen
THEOTOKION TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

Vasilefs
ton
Ouranon,
dia
filanthropian, epi tis Gis ofthi, ke tis
anthropis sinanestrafi. Ek Parthenou
gar agnis, srka proslavomenos ke ek
taftis proelthon meta tis proslipseos,
is estin Iios, diplous tin fisin, all ou
tin ipostasin. Dio telion afton Theon,
ke
telion
anthropon,
alithos
kirittontes, Omologoumen Hriston ton
Theon imon, on iketeve Mitir
animfevte, eleithine tas psihas imon.

The

King of Heaven, out of Love for

mankind, appeared on Earth, and
lived among men. He is One Son,
twofold in Nature, but not in
Hypostasis, for He took on Flesh
from a Pure Virgin, and came forth
from Her with that which He had
assumed. Therefore, we Confess
Christ our God, truly proclaiming
that He is One and the same, Perfect
God and Perfect Man. Intently pray
to Him, O Unwed Mother, to have
Mercy on our souls.

RETURN TO THE VESPERS SERVICE BOOK

THE ENTRANCE FOS ILARON... 
PROKEIMENON OF TUESDAY EVENING - PSALM 22:

Mercy, O Lord, shall follow me all

the days of my Life.

tas imeras tis Zois mou.

Oti O panton Despotis Igapisen Aftin.

For the Master of all Loves Her.
Mystis gar esti tis tou Theou episimis, ke She is the Initiae of the Knowledge
ereis ton Ergon Aftou.

and to the Holy Spirit

THEOLOGIAN

Kyrios Pimeni me, ke ouden me

isterisi.
Is topon chlois, ekei me
kateskinose.

STIHOS

Efilisa taftin, ke exezitisa ek eotitos mou I

10. F E S T A L V E S P E R S S T G R E G O R Y

THE

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

To Eleos Sou, Kyrie, katadioxi me, pasas Thy

Kallous Aftis.

ST GREGORY

gave him, as was fitting, and

Enlightened he world with the Divine
Brightness of Doctrines.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall

not want; He has made me lie down
in Green Pastures.

VERSE

To Eleos Sou, Kyrie, katadioxi me, pasas Thy

Mercy, O Lord, shall follow me all

the days of my life

tas imeras tis Zois mou

THE READINGS
THE PROVERBS

OF

OF

THE DIVINE PROPHECIES

S O L O M O N (10:8a, 7a; 3:13-16, 18; 8:32, 34, 4,12, 14, 17, 5-9;
22:24, 22; 15:4b)

Parimion to anagnosma.

The

Sofia! Proshomen!

Wisdom!

FESTAL V ESPERS ST GREGORY

Reading is from the Proverbs of

Solomon.

THE

Let us attend!

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 2 4 -2 5 J A N U A R Y

7.

Mnimi Dikeou met egkomion, ke Evlogia The

Remembrance of the Righteous is

with Eulogies, and the Blessing of
the Lord is upon the head of a
Righteous man.

Kyriou epi kephalin aftou.

Makarios

Blessed

Kritton gar aftin emporevesthe, i hrisiou

The

anthropos, os evre Sofian, ke

thitos os ide Fronisin.

de esti lithon politelon, (ouk

antitassete afti ouden poniron,
evgnostos esti pasi tis engizousin
Aftin.)

profits gained from Wisdom are

better than the Treasures of gold
and silver.
stones, (for nothing
withstand Her.)

evil

will

She is well known to all, and no honour

Ek

Righteousness

is worthy of Her.

Nomon de ke Eleon epi glossis fori.

proceeds

from

Her

carries Law and Mercy upon Her

tongue.

akousate mou, O Tekna:

Semna
gar
ero
ke
Makarios
anthropos, os tas Emas Odous filaxi.

Therefore,

gar Exodi Mou, Exodi Zois,

Etimazete thelisis para Kyriou.

My

ke

hear me, my Son: Blessed is

he who shall hearken to Me and
Guard My Ways.
Issues are the Issues of Life, and
Grace is prepared from the Lord.

Dia

I exhort you, and I utter my voice to the

Oti

For I, Wisdom, dwell with Counsel, and

touto parakalo imas, ke proieme

emin fonin iis athropon.

Ego i Sofia kateskevasa voulin ke

Gnosin ke Ennian Ego epekalesamin.

Emi

Vouli ke Asfalia; Emi Fronisis, Emi

de Ishis.

Noisate

Tinin akaki Panourgian, i e

apedevti enthesthe kardian.

Isakousate Mou ke palin:

Semna gar ero,

ke amigo apo hileon ortha.

Oti

Alithian meletisi O Larigx Mou,

evdeligmena de enantion emou hili
psevdi.

Meta

Dikeosinis panta ta rimata tou

Stomatos Mou - ouden en aftis
skolion, oue strangaliodes.

8. F E S T A L V E S P E R S S T G R E G O R Y

THE

THE BOOK

OF THE

WISDOM

Therefore, I teach you a True Word that

your Hope might be in the Lord, and
filled with the Spirit.
OF

and
Safety
are
Mine;
Discernment is Mine, and Strength is
Mine.

Love those who Love Me - those who

seek Me shall find Me.

Understand Astuteness, O Simple Ones,

and, O Uninstructed, put it in your
heart.

Hear Me, for I speak Sacred Things, and

from My Lips I will bring forth things
that are True.

For the Truth My Mouth shall speak, but

false lips are an abomination before
Me.

All

the Words of My Mouth are with

Righteousness - there is nothing in
them crooked or twisted.

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 2 4 -2 5 J A N U A R Y

SOLOMON 4 : 7 - 15

The

Sofia! Proshomen!

Wisdom!

Dikeos

Although

Reading is from the Book of the

Wisdom of Solomon

ean fthasi televtise, en anapasi

Let us attend!

a Righteous man may die

before his time, he shall be at rest.

este.

Giras gar timion, ou to plihronion, oude Old age

is not honoured for its length

of existence, nor measured by its
number of years.

arithmo eton memetrite.

Polia de esti Fronisis anthropis, ke ilikia Discernment

is grey hair for mankind,

and a spotless life is the maturity of
old age.

giros, vios akilidotos.

Evarestos

There was once a man pleasing to God,

Irpagi,

He

Vaskania

Envy

Teliothis

He

Dia touto espefsen ek mesou panirias.

Therefore,

Yet

Theo genomeno, Igapithi, ke

zon meaxi amartolon, metetethi.
mi kakia allaxi Sinesin aftou, i
dolos apatisi psihin aftou.

gar favlotitos amavri ta kala,

ke remasmos epithimias metallevi
noun akakon.

upon Knowledge and Understanding

I call.

Counsel

Things are evident to those who

Understand, and True to those who
find Knowledge.

Sofias Solomontos to anagnosma.

sons of men.

Ego tous Eme filountas Agapo, i de Eme I

zitountes evrisousi Hari.

gar imin Alithi, ina genite en

Kyrio i Elpis imon, ke plisthiseste
Pnevmatos.

Mouth.

She

Tigaroun,

Didasko

Wisdom is more valuable than precious

Pan de Timion, ouk axion Aftis estin.

gar tou Stomatos Aftis ekporevete
Dikeosini.

evriskousi Gnosin.

is a man who finds Wisdom,

and a mortal who has Discernment.

ke argyriou Thisavrous.

Timiotera

Panta evthea esti tis Noousi, ke ortha tis All

en oligo, eplirose hronous

makrous, aresti gar in Kyrio i psihi
aftou.

de lai idontes ke mi noisantes, mide

thentes epi diania to tiouton, oti Haris
ke Eleos en tis Osiis Aftou, ke Episkopi
en tis Eklektis Aftou.

and Loved by Him, and while living

among sinners he was taken up.
was caught up lest evil change his
Understanding or deceit deceive his
soul.
arising from lack of Judgement
obscures what is good and a whirling
of desire undermines an innocent
heart.
was made Perfect, for in a short
time, he fulfilled long years, for his
soul was pleasing to the Lord.
He took him early from the
midst of evil.

peoples saw this but did not

Understand, nor take such a thing to
heart, that the Lords Grace and
Mercy are with His Elect, and that He
watches over His Holy Ones.

THE BOOK OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON

( P R O V E R B S 10:32a, 33a; 11:2b, 5a, 6a, 18a; 13:2a, 9a; 15:2a; 14:34a; 22:12. W I S D O M O F
S O L O M O N 6:12a, 13, 12b, 14a, 15b, 16a; 7:30b; 8:2c, 2a-b, 3b-4, 7b-d, 8, 17c, 18d, 21e;
9:1-3a, 4-5a, 10-11, 14)

Sofias Solomontos
Sofia!

to anagnosma.

Reading is from the Book of the

Wisdom of Solomon.

Wisdom!

Proshomen!

FESTAL V ESPERS ST GREGORY

The

THE

Let us attend!

T R I N I T A R I A N T H E O L O G I A N 2 4 -2 5 J A N U A R Y

9.