Proverbs to the Most Holy Theotokos. Andrey Slyushkin Presents: or

The word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite in the third year of Ahab's kingdom, saying, Go and show yourself to Ahab, and I will give rain on the earth. And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou that thou that troublest Israel? And Elijah said, “It is not I who trouble Israel, but you and your father’s house, because you have despised the commandments of the Lord and are following the Baals; Now go and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of the groves, who eat at the table of Jezebel. And Ahab sent to all the children of Israel and gathered all the prophets to Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people and said, How long will you be limping on both knees? if the Lord is God, then follow Him; and if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word. And Elijah said to the people: I am the only prophet of the Lord left, and the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men, and four hundred prophets of the groves; Let them give us two bulls, and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it up, and put it on the firewood, but let them not add fire; and I will prepare another calf and put it on the wood, but I will not add fire; And you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord my God. The God who will give the answer through fire is God. And all the people answered and said: Well, so be it. And Elijah said to the prophets of Baal: Choose for yourself one bull and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but do not add fire. And they took the calf that was given to them, and prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying: Baal, hear us! But there was no voice, no answer. And they galloped around the altar they had made. At noon Elijah began to laugh at them and said: Shout with a loud voice, for he is a god; maybe he’s lost in thought, or busy with something, or on the road, or maybe he’s sleeping, so he’ll wake up! And they began to shout with a loud voice, and stabbed themselves as usual with knives and spears, so that blood flowed over them. Noon passed, and they were still raging until the time of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no answer, no hearing. And Elijah the Tishbite said to the prophets of Baal: Now go away, so that I too may perform my sacrifice. They walked away and fell silent. Then Elijah said to all the people, Come to me. And all the people came up to him. He restored the destroyed altar of the Lord. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the Lord said thus: Israel shall be your name. And he built an altar of these stones in the name of the Lord, and made a ditch around the altar, with a capacity of two hundred grains, and laid the wood on the altar, and cut the calf, and laid it on the wood, and said: Fill four buckets of water and pour it on the burnt offering. and for firewood. And they did so. Then he said: repeat. And they repeated. And he said: do the same a third time. And they did it a third time, and the water flowed around the altar, and the trench was filled with water. During the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached and cried to heaven and said: Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel! Hear me, Lord, hear me now in the fire! Let this people know this day that You alone are God in Israel, and that I am Your servant and have done everything according to Your word. Hear me, Lord, hear me! Let this people know that You, Lord, are God, and You will turn their hearts to You. And the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and consumed the water that was in the trench. Seeing this, all the people fell on their faces and said: The Lord is God, the Lord is God! And Elijah said to them, Seize the prophets of Baal, so that not one of them may escape. And they seized them, and Elijah took them to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there. And Elijah said to Ahab: “Harness your chariot and go, so that the rain does not catch you.” And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel and stooped down to the ground, and put his face between his knees, and prayed to the Lord. Meanwhile, the sky became gloomy with clouds and wind, and heavy rain began to fall. Ahab got into his chariot, wept, and rode to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was upon Elijah. He girded his loins and fled before Ahab as far as Jezreel. And Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, and that he had killed all the prophets with the sword. And Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say: if you are Elijah, and I am Jezebel, then let the gods do this and that to me, and even more, if by this time tomorrow I do not do with your soul what was done with the soul of each of them. . When he saw this, he arose and went to save his life, and came to Beersheba, which is in Judea, and left his servant there. And he himself went into the desert for a day's journey and, coming, sat down under a juniper bush, and asked for death for himself and said: Enough is enough, Lord; take my soul, for I am no better than my fathers. And he lay down and fell asleep under a juniper bush. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him: get up, eat and drink. And Elijah looked, and behold, at his head was a baked cake and a pitcher of water. He ate and drank and fell asleep again. And the Angel of the Lord returned a second time, touched him and said: Arise, eat and drink, for a long road is before you. And he got up, ate and drank, and, refreshed with that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God Horeb. And he entered a cave there and spent the night in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and the Lord said to him: Why are you here, Elijah? He said, “I have been jealous for the Lord God of hosts, because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, destroyed Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword; I am left alone, but they are also looking for my soul to take it away. And he said, Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, and behold, the Lord will pass by, and a great and strong wind will tear apart the mountains and break the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord will not be in the wind; after the wind there is an earthquake, but the Lord is not in the earthquake; after the earthquake there is fire, but the Lord is not in the fire; after the fire there is a breath of quiet wind, and the Lord is there. Hearing this, Elijah covered his face with his mantle, and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. And a voice came to him and said to him: Why are you here, Elijah? He said, “I have been jealous for the Lord God of hosts, because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, destroyed Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword; I am left alone, but they are also looking for my soul in order to take it away. And the Lord said to him: Go back on your way through the desert to Damascus, and anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat as a prophet in your stead. 1 Kings 18:1, 17–41, 44, 42, 45–46; 19:1–16

Divine services on July 31-August 1 (all-night vigil and liturgy) are dedicated to the more than famous Russian saint - Seraphim of Sarov. In the proverbs of the All-Night Vigil dedicated to St. Seraphim, among other things, it is said: “Listen, kings, and understand, learn, judges of the ends of the earth! Listen, you who possess multitudes and who are proud before the nations! The righteous live forever; their reward is in the Lord, and their care is with the Most High. Therefore they will receive a kingdom of glory and a crown of beauty from the hand of the Lord, for He will cover them with His right hand and protect them with His arm” (Proverbs of Solomon).

ALL-NIGHT VIgil

BLESSED IS THE HUSBAND
Blessed is the man who does not follow the counsel of the wicked. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
For the Lord knows that the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked will perish. Alleluia (three times).
Work for the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling. Alleluia (three times).
Blessed are all who hope. Alleluia (three times).
Arise, Lord, save me, my God. Alleluia (three times).
Salvation is the Lord's, and Your blessing is upon Your people. Alleluia (three times).
Glory, And now: Alleluia (three times)
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to You, God (three times)

VERSES I cried out to the Lord [St. Seraphim of Sarov]:
Lord, I called to You, hear me. / Hear me, Lord.
Lord, I have called to You, hear me: / Hear the voice of my prayer, / Sometimes I will cry to You. / Hear me, Lord.
May my prayer be corrected, / like incense before You, / the lifting of my hand, / an evening sacrifice. / Hear me, Lord.
From the depths I cried to You, Lord, Lord, hear my voice.
Oh, glorious miracle, / an ascetic of piety appears in Sarov / and a warm prayer book to God / The wonderful Seraphim appears to us; / rejoice, O monastery of Sarov, / having within you the relics of the venerable one; / leap, O multitudes of Orthodox, / the wonderful Seraphim, who has intercessor in troubles and crying out to him: / Rejoice, luminary of the Russian land, / cast away the darkness of those who oppose you / and pray to the Lord / to grant peace and great mercy to our souls.
Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my prayer.
Oh, glorious miracle... - repetition of the previous stichera
If you see iniquity, Lord, Lord, whoever stands; / for You have purification.
Oh, wondrous miracle, / for truly in the monastery of Sarovstey / an unshakable pillar of piety - / the blessed Seraphim appears to us, / also, gathering the God-wise, / ascending to the heights in spirit, / crying out to the venerable one: / reverend Father Seraphim, / praying to the Lord / to grant peace and great mercy to our souls.
For Thy name's sake I have endured Thee, O Lord; my soul has endured in Thy word; / my soul trusteth in the Lord
Oh, wonderful miracle... - repetition of the previous stichera
From the morning watch until the night, from the morning watch, let Israel trust in the Lord.
Wonderful are Your secrets, O Christ God, / for You have given us a lamp, the Venerable Seraphim, / faithful people in opposition to a strong champion, / a monk and all Orthodox Christians of the prayer book, / praise and affirmation of the holy monastery; / even now he prays to You, Lord, / to grant peace and great mercy to our souls.
For the Lord has mercy, and He has much deliverance, and He will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.
When you entered, Reverend, into the desert of Sarov, / then you were completely distracted by your own will, /
You showed firm obedience to everyone: / You endured vexation and dishonor, rejoicing, / Stresses and wounds from evil people You accepted,/ and you prayed for them, Reverend. / We, glorifying your honorable memory, / pray to you, Reverend: / Pray to the Lord / to grant world peace / and great mercy to our souls.
Praise the Lord, all nations, praise Him, all people.
Blessed is the monastery of Sarov, / having you, Reverend Father Seraphim, / a treasure of virtues, a vessel of purity, / a guardian of chastity, a friend of grace, / a source of healing, a free doctor for the sick, / a true faster, a comforter in sorrows, / a quiet refuge for those overwhelmed by worldly passions;/ To us, who honor your memory, pray, Reverend Father Seraphim, to grant us peace and great mercy.
For His mercy is established upon us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Today the assemblies of the faithful rejoice / in your memory, Reverend Seraphim, / and cry out loudly: / you, for the love of Christ, / left all the red of the world / and entered the Sarov desert, / were you in no way afraid invisible enemy struggles, / but with your prayers you swept them away like dust; / in the same way you prayed to the Lord / to grant peace and great mercy to our souls.

Come, gathered together the faithful, / today we will glorify the most wonderful father with songs of praise / and we will cry out to him: / Reverend Father Seraphim, / you have truly been honored with Divine life, / we will receive from God the crown of incorruptible glory, / for this sake
The monastery of Sarov boasts of you, / but people, who honor your venerable relics and see the miracles that happen, / glorify the Lord who glorifies you, / to Him pray, Reverend, / to grant peace and great mercy to our souls.

The King of Heaven appeared on earth for his love for mankind, and lived with men: he received honest flesh from the Virgin, and passed from Her with the perception: there is one Son, purely by nature, but not by hypostasis. In the same way, the perfection of that God, and the perfection of man, truly preaching, we confess Christ our God: pray to Him, O Blessed Mother, to have mercy on our souls.

Quiet light of holy glory, / Immortal, Heavenly Father, / Holy Blessed Jesus Christ. / Having come to the west of the sun, / having seen the evening light, / we sing of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, God. / Thou art worthy at all times / to be a reverend voice, / to the Son of God, giving life, / in the same way the world glorifies Thee.

Prokeimenon, tone 5: God, in Your Name save me and in Your power judge me.
Poetry: God, hear my prayer, inspire the words of my mouth.

THE REVEREND'S PROMOES:
[proverbs and lithiums may be omitted]
Wisdom of Solomon reading (chapters 5 and 6)(translating to Russian language)
The righteous live forever; their reward is in the Lord, and their care is with the Most High. Therefore they will receive a kingdom of glory and a crown of beauty from the hand of the Lord, for He will cover them with His right hand and protect them with His arm. He will take full armor - His jealousy, and will arm the creation for vengeance on its enemies; He will put on armor - righteousness, and put on a helmet - impartial judgment; will take an invincible shield - holiness; He will sharpen His stern wrath like a sword, and the world will take up arms with Him against the foolish. Well-aimed arrows of lightning will rush and from the clouds, like from a tightly drawn bow, they will fly to the target. And, like a stone-throwing weapon, hail will fall with fury; The water of the sea will be angry with them and the rivers will drown them fiercely; the spirit of power will arise against them and scatter them like a whirlwind. Thus iniquity will devastate the whole earth, and wickedness will overthrow the thrones of the mighty. So, listen, O kings, and understand, learn, O judges of the ends of the earth! Listen, you who possess multitudes and who are proud before the nations! Dominion has been given to you from the Lord, and strength from the Most High.

Wisdom of Solomon reading (chapter 3)
The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and torment will not touch them. In the eyes of the foolish, they seemed dead, and their outcome was considered destruction, and their departure from us was considered destruction; but they are at peace. For, although they are punished in the eyes of people, their hope is full of immortality. And although they were punished a little, they would be greatly favored, because God tested them and found them worthy of Him. He tested them like gold in a crucible and accepted them as an all-perfect sacrifice. When they are rewarded, they will shine like sparks running along a stem. They will judge the nations and rule over the nations, and the Lord will reign over them forever. Those who trust in Him will know the truth, and the faithful will abide with Him in love; for grace and mercy are with His saints and providence for His elect.

Wisdom of Solomon reading (chapter 4)
The righteous man, even if he dies early, will be at peace, for honest old age is not measured in longevity and is not measured by the number of years: wisdom is gray hair for people, and blameless life is the age of old age. As one who has pleased God, he is beloved, and, as one who lived among sinners, he is reposed and caught up, so that malice does not change his mind, or deceit does not deceive his soul. For exercise in wickedness darkens what is good, and the excitement of lust corrupts a gentle mind. Having achieved perfection in a short time, he performed long summers; for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, and therefore he hastened from the midst of wickedness. But people saw this and did not understand, did not even think that grace and mercy were with His saints and providence for His elect.

Vouchsafe, Lord May we be preserved without sin this evening. Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is thy name forever. Amen.
May Thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we trust in Thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord, teach me by thy justification. Blessed art thou, O Lord, enlighten me with thy justification. Blessed are You, Holy One, enlighten me with Your justifications.
Lord, Your mercy endures forever, do not despise the work of Your hand. Praise is due to You, singing is due to You, glory is due to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Stichera on LITIA:
Voice 1: With what praiseworthy crowns / do we crown the great ascetic, / the Venerable Seraphim? / Who, like a good mentor, / appeared in the firmness of faith and virtue, / with God-inspired teachings and life equal to the angels, / who came to teach him. / We also cry out to him: / pray, reverence, to Christ God / to establish the Orthodox faith / and to save our souls.
Come, monk of multitudes,/ today let us piously praise the venerable one,/ the true disciple of Spasov,/ who trampled down worldly delusion,/ who bore the yoke of Christ early/ and put to shame the armies of demons./ To him we cry out to him:/ do not forget us, Father Seraphim,/ who praise and who honor your holy memory.
Your bright and Divine memory, / Reverend Seraphim, surprise everyone, / for you are incorporeal, in the flesh you have put to shame the invisible enemies, / but the whole country of Tambov / and the holy monastery of Sarov, / having your holy relics, boasts, / for these are the health / of all , with faith flowing in, is given./ Moreover, enlightened by you,/ we cry out to you, O Reverend:/ pray for our souls to be saved.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice today, everyone Russian land, / and the holy monastery of Sarov, rejoice. / The faithful multitude, having gathered together today, / let us glorify the venerable father, / shepherd and teacher, / the God-wise mentor to the lost, / the quick healer of all the sick, / the great adornment of the Russian land, / who we praise with our hearts :/ Reverend Seraphim,/ save us with your prayers.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
You are the temple and the door, / the chamber and throne of the Kings, / the All-Honorable Virgin, / Who is my Savior, Christ the Lord, / appearing in darkness to those sleeping, / the Sun of righteousness, although you can enlighten what you created in His image with His own hand. / Moreover, O All-Singing One, / like the mother who has acquired boldness towards Him, / constantly pray for the salvation of our souls.

VERSES on the verse [of the monk]:
Rejoice, interlocutor angel, / reverence Seraphim, / having lived piously on earth, / you taught many who came to you the fear of the Lord; / we are illuminated by the grace of the Most Holy Spirit, / you saw the future as if it were the present, / and you filled many sorrowing souls with tenderness and joy. / In the same way we pray to you: / pray to the Lord for those who honor you.
Honorable before the Lord is the death of His saints.
Rejoice, wonderful teacher of those who went astray,/ you were deemed worthy to enter Christ the Lord in the temple with the Archangels and Angels./ And now, Reverend,/ in Heaven, I enjoyed the sight of that,/ praying for us,/ by faith creating your memory.
Blessed is the man, fear the Lord, / He will greatly delight in His commandments.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, / for you commanded everyone to preserve the true faith of Christ, / and, having lusted after the Highest life, / you hated wealth: / now you have beheld the ineffable beauty of Heaven / and enjoyed the sweet singing of the Angels. / Also pray to the Lord / to grant us peace and great mercy.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Reverend Father Seraphim, / who will confess your labors and illnesses? / Or what tongue will utter your cruel desert life, / vigil and fasting, / still staying in seclusion, / silent lips and unceasing prayer? / You truly appeared as an adornment to a faster, / a shameless prayer book to God. / We also cry to you: / Rejoice, rule of monastic life; / Rejoice, great consolation in troubles and sorrows / and warm representative for all. / Pray, reverend, for our souls to be saved.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
My Creator and Savior, Most Pure One, / Christ the Lord, from Your lies passed, / Sheathed herself in me, Adam’s first vows of freedom./ Moreover, Ti, All-Pure One, / as the Mother of God and De We,/ truly we cry without silence:/ Rejoice, Angelic, rejoice , Lady,/ Representation and Protection// and the Salvation of our souls.

Now do You let Your servant go, O Master, according to Your word, in peace; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light for the revelation of tongues, and the glory of Your people Israel.

Troparion of St. Seraphim of Sarov, tone 4 (twice):

Virgin Mary, Rejoice,/ Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You:/ Blessed are You among women,/ And blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, // For You have given birth to the Savior of our souls

Psalm 33:
I will bless the Lord at all times,/ let His praise be in my mouth./ My soul will glory in the Lord,/ let the little ones hear, and be glad./ Magnify the Lord with me,/ and let us exalt the Name Him together./ Seek the Lord, and hear me, / and deliver me from all my sorrows. / Come to Him, and be enlightened, / and your faces will not be ashamed. / This beggar cried, and the Lord heard and, / and saved him from all his sorrows. / He took up arms and The angel of the Lord is around those who fear Him ,/ and He will deliver them./ Taste and see that the Lord is good:/ Blessed is the man who trusts in Nan./ Fear the Lord, all your saints,/ for there is no deprivation for those who fear Him./ Riches become poor and hungry sha:/ those who seek the Lord// will not be deprived of any good.

END OF EVENING. BEGINNING OF MORNING
(the lights are turned off, the Six Psalms are read: Psalms 3, 37, 62, 87, 102, 142)

God is the Lord, and having appeared to us, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord

Troparion of St. Seraphim, tone 4 (twice):
From your youth you loved Christ, Reverend, / and you ardently desired to work for the One, / in the wilderness of your life you labored with unceasing prayer and labor, / with a tender heart you acquired the love of Christ, / the Heavenly Seraphim in hymnology, a companion, / in love, flowing to you to Christ imitator, / the same chosen one, beloved of God, appeared to the Mother, / for this sake we cry out to you: / save us with your prayers, our joy, / warm intercessor before God, / Blessed Seraphim.

GLORY AND NOW:
Theotokos, tone 4:
Hidden from time immemorial/ and an unknown mystery by the Angel, / by You, Mother of God, God appeared to those who exist on earth, / in unfused union we embody, / and the Cross will be received for our sake, / by which we have resurrected the primordial Nago, // saved our souls from death.

Polyeleos:
Praise the Name of the Lord, praise it, servants of the Lord. Alleluia.
Blessed is the Lord from Zion, who lives in Jerusalem. Alleluia.
Confess to the Lord that He is Good, for His mercy endures forever. Alleluia.
Confess to the God of Heaven, for His mercy endures forever. Alleluia.
We magnify you, / Reverend Father Seraphim, / and honor your holy memory / mentor of monks // and interlocutor of angels.

Sedalen of the Reverend, tone 7 (twice):
Praying for your virtuous life, reverend, now in the Russian land, / and you were glorified by all with songs of praise: / for you, like Elijah, entered the chariot of virtues, / you flew into Heaven with your soul / and there you were crowned with a righteously radiant crown. / Moreover, Thankfully, we cry out to you, blessed Seraphim: / pray to Christ the God of sins to grant / to those who honor your holy memory with love.

Degree - Antiphon 1, tone 4:
From my youth/ many passions have fought me,/ but stand up for me// and save me, my Savior.
You who hate Zion,/ be put to shame by the Lord,/ like grass for fire,/ you will be withered.

Glory, and now: By the Holy Spirit / every soul is alive, / and is elevated by purity, / / is illuminated by the Trinity unity, the sacred mystery

PROKIMENON, tone 4:The death of His saints is honorable before the Lord.
Poem: What shall we render to the Lord for all that we have rendered?
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Poem: Praise God in His saints, praise Him in strengthening His power.

GOSPEL according to Matthew (chapter 11: 27 - 30) [translating to Russian language]
The Lord said to His disciples: all things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father; and no one knows the Father except the Son, and to whom the Son wants to reveal it. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls; For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Through the prayers of St. Seraphim, O Merciful One, cleanse our many sins.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Merciful One, cleanse our many sins.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your mercies, cleanse my iniquity.
Today, faithfully, spiritually triumphant / in the deliberate feast of the reverend father / and piously rejoicing, / let us cry out warmly: / Rejoice, blessed Seraphim; / Rejoice, Heavenly man and earthly Angel; / Rejoice, having guided many on the path of salvation; / Rejoice, faithful praise and affirmation of the Russian land. / Pray for our souls.

Next reads CANON
(in eight songs of the canon, read from the beginning of the anointing of parishioners with oil, the meaning and beauty of the events celebrated by the Church today are revealed)

On song 9 of the canon:Song of the Most Holy Theotokos:
My soul magnifies the Lord / and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
The most honorable Cherub / and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, /
without corruption of God the Word, who gave birth, / the present Mother of God, we magnify Thee.
As if you have looked upon the humility of Your servant, / behold, from now on all your generations will bless Me.
For O Mighty One, do greatness to Me, and holy is His name, and His mercy throughout all generations of those who fear Him.
Create power with Your arm, / squander the proud thoughts of their hearts.
Cast down the mighty from the throne, / and lift up the humble, fill the hungry with good things, / and let go of the rich.
Israel will receive His servant, / remember his mercies, / as he spoke to our fathers, / Abraham and his seed, even unto the ages.

After canon: VERSES on praise:
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord from heaven, / praise Him in the highest. / A song to God is fitting for you.
Praise Him, all His Angels, / praise Him, all His Powers. / A song to God is fitting for you.
Praise Him according to His strength, / Praise Him according to the abundance of His majesty.
The all-honorable feast of the Sarov monastery has arrived, / in memory of the Venerable Seraphim, / to whom we now cry out: / Rejoice, thou who shone and affirmed the fasting, / like a monk a star, like a sorcerer, / showing the way to the Heavenly abodes, / glorious praise of the priest, / an inexhaustible source of love and chastity , / the most luminous lamp of spiritual reasoning; / Rejoice, great rule of virtues.
Praise Him with the trumpet, / Praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
The all-honorable holiday of the Sarov monastery has arrived... - repetition of the previous stichera
Praise Him in the tympanum and face, / praise Him in the strings and organ.
Blessed Father Seraphim, / You truly followed Christ, / attracting everyone to yourself with brotherly love and kindness, / with meekness and humility, / teaching many the virtuous path. / With the same love, we bless your memory, / Reverend Seraphim.
Praise Him with cymbals of good acclaim, praise Him with cymbals of shouting./ Let every breath praise the Lord.
You moved into the desert, Reverend, / and there you were filled with spiritual wisdom, / you ascended to the heights of virtue. / Moreover, we cry to you: / Rejoice, church decoration, / good consolation for the priest, / splendor and praise for the monk, / Blessed Seraphim, / pray Christ our God grant greater peace to the universe and great mercy to our souls.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Come, gather together the monks and fasting class, / come, many people named for Christ, / with the songs of the true faster, we will honor, crying out: / Rejoice, guided in the footsteps of the Lord Christ by the narrow path, / and a quick helper to those who come to you in troubles and sorrows, / and intercessor for salvation wonderful./ Rejoice, adorned with the gift of prophecy,/ prophesied as the present, the future,/ pray, Reverend Seraphim,/ for those who honor your holy memory with faith and love.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Translation of the sorrowing, / change of the sick, O Mother of God All-Singing, / save the city and the people, / those who struggle, peace, those overwhelmed by silence, / one and only Representative of the faithful.

BASIC TEXTS OF THE SERVICE AND CHANTS FOR NATIONAL SINGING
Finding the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker
Icons of the Mother of God, called “Tenderness” or “Joy of all joys”. St. Macrina, sisters of St. Basil the Great. St. Diya. Blgv. book Roman (Olegovich) Ryazansky. Right Stefan of Serbia. Svtt. Demetrius of Rostov, Mitrofan and Tikhon of Voronezh.
LITURGY

1st antiphon:
Bless the Lord, my soul, Blessed are you, Lord.
Bless, my soul, the Lord, and all that is within me, His holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget all His rewards.
Who cleanses all your iniquities, who heals all your illnesses.
He who delivers your belly from corruption, who crowns you with mercy and bounty.
Who fulfills your desires for good: your youth will be renewed like an eagle.
The Lord is generous and merciful, long-suffering and abounding in mercy.
Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, His holy name.
Blessed are you, Lord.

2nd antiphon:
Praise the Lord, my soul.
I will praise the Lord in my belly, I will sing to my God as long as I am.
Do not trust in princes, in the sons of men, for there is no salvation in them.
His spirit shall depart and return to his land: in that day all his thoughts shall perish.
Blessed is he who has the God of Jacob as his helper; his trust is in the Lord his God,
who created heaven and earth, the sea and everything that is in them;
keeping the truth forever, bringing justice to the offended, giving food to the hungry.
The Lord will decide the chained; The Lord makes the blind wise;
The Lord raises up the downtrodden; The Lord loves the righteous;
The Lord protects strangers, He will accept the orphan and the widow, and He will destroy the path of sinners.
The Lord will reign forever. Thy God, O Zion, unto generation and generation.
Only Begotten Son, and the Word of God, He is immortal, and He who deigned for our salvation to be incarnate from the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, immutably made man, crucified Christ God, trampling death by death, the One of the Holy Trinity, glorified to the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.

Blessed:
In Your Kingdom remember us, Lord, when you come in Your Kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for to them is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who cry, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blesseds of mercy, for there will be mercy.
Blessed are those who are pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for these shall be called sons of God.
Blessed is the expulsion of truth for the sake of them, for those are the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile you, and mistreat you, and say all sorts of evil things against you, who lie to me for my sake
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is abundant in heaven.

During the small entrance with the Gospel:
Come, let's worship and let us fall to Christ.
Save us, Son of God, risen from the dead, singing Ti: Alleluia.

Troparion of St. Seraphim, tone 4:
From your youth you loved Christ, O blessed one,/ and you ardently longed for that One to work,/ you labored in the desert with unceasing prayer and labor,/ having acquired the love of Christ with a tender heart,/ you appeared as the chosen one beloved of God to the Mother./ For this reason we cry out to you:/ / save us with your prayers, Seraphim, our reverend father.

GLORY: Kontakion of St. Seraphim, tone 2:
Leaving the beauty of the world and the corruption in it, O Reverend, / you moved into the Sarov monastery / and, having lived there like an angel, / you were the path to salvation for many, / for this reason, you glorified Christ, Father Seraphim, / and enriched you with the gift of healings and miracles ./ We also cry out to you: Hail, Seraphim, our reverend father.

AND NOW: Kontakion of the Mother of God, tone 6:
The representation of Christians is unshameful, / intercession to the Creator is immutable, / do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, / but advance, as the Good, / to the help of us, who faithfully call You; / hasten to prayer and labor come to supplication, // interceding ever since, the Mother of God, who honor Cha.

Prokeimenon, tone 7: Honest before the Lord / the death of His saints.
Poem: What shall I repay to the Lord for all that I have repaid?

Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians (chap. 5:22 - 6:2) [translating to Russian language]
Brethren, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. There is no law against them. But those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. If we live by the spirit, then we must act by the spirit. Let's not be vain, irritate each other, envy each other. Brethren, even if a person falls into any sin, you who are spiritual correct him in the spirit of meekness, each one watching himself, so as not to be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.

GOSPEL according to Luke (ch.6:17-23)
At that time Jesus stood out of the blue, and many of His disciples, and many people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and seaside places Tire and Sidon, who came to listen to Him and be healed of their illnesses, also those suffering from unclean spirits; and were healed. And all the people sought to touch Him, because power came from Him and healed everyone. And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples and said: Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they excommunicate you and revile you and call your name dishonorable because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

Prayer to St. Seraphim, Sarov Wonderworker
O wonderful Father Seraphim, great Sarov wonderworker, soon an obedient helper to all who come running to you! During the days of your earthly life, no one was tired of you or comforted by your departure, but everyone was blessed by the vision of your face and the benevolent voice of your words. Moreover, the gift of healing, the gift of insight, the gift of healing for weak souls has appeared abundantly in you. When God called you from earthly labors to Heavenly rest, none of your love passed away from us, and it is impossible to count your miracles, multiplying like the stars of heaven: for all over the ends of our earth you appeared to the people of God and granted them healing. In the same way, we cry out to you: O most quiet and meek servant of God, daring man of prayer to Him, whoever calls upon you, reject him! Offer up your powerful prayer for us to the Lord of hosts, may He grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is useful for spiritual salvation, may He protect us from the falls of sin and may He teach us true repentance, so that we can enter into the eternal without stumbling. Heavenly Kingdom, where you now shine in eternal glory, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity forever and ever. Amen.

Proverbs reading. [Chapters 3 and 8.]: The memory of the righteous is with praise, and the blessing of the Lord is on his head. Blessed is the man who has gained wisdom; and mortal is he who has gained understanding. It is better to have this bath than gold and silver treasures. The most honest stone is of great value, but what is honest is not worthy of it. The length of days and years of life are in her right hand; in her hand is her wealth and glory. Truth comes from her lips, but law and mercy are on the tongue. Listen to me, O children! honest river: and blessed is the man who keeps my ways: for my sake, go away from your belly, the will of the Lord is prepared. For this reason, I pray to you, and offer my voice to the sons of men: for I have arranged wisdom for counsel, and I have called upon reason and meaning. My advice and affirmation, my mind, my strength. I love me who loves me, but those who seek me will find grace. Understand, then, that there is no malice in deceit, and apply your hearts to non-punishment. Listen to me again, O honest river, and I will open the right mouth: for my throat will learn the truth, but lying lips are abomination to me. With truth are all the verbs of my mouth: nothing in them is obstinate, below is depraved: All rights are for those who understand, and simply for those who gain understanding. For I will teach you the truth, that your hope may be in the Lord, and that you may be filled with the Spirit.

Proverbs reading. [Chapters 10 and 11]: The lips of the righteous drop wisdom, but the tongue of the unrighteous perishes. The lips of righteous men drip with grace, but the lips of the wicked are corrupted. The flattering measure is abomination before the Lord: but the weight of righteousness is acceptable to Him. Wherever vexation enters, there is dishonor: but the lips of the humble are taught wisdom. The accomplishment (improvement) of the right will guide them, and the inclination of those who deny will save them: They do not profit from wealth in the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver them from death. A righteous man has died, leave repentance behind: but the wicked’s destruction is at hand and ridiculed. The truth of the blameless man corrects the paths, but unrighteousness falls into wickedness. The truth of righteous men will deliver them: but without advice they are captivated by iniquity. If a righteous man dies, hope will not perish; but the praise of the wicked will perish. The righteous will run away from the catch, but the wicked will surrender in his place. The mouth of the wicked is a snare to the citizenry, but the feeling of the righteous is prosperous. In the good of the righteous the city will be restored, and in the destruction of the wicked there will be joy: In the blessing of the righteous the city will rise, and the mouth of the wicked will be dug up. A citizen devoid of reason swears, but a wise man remains silent.

Reading the Wisdom of Solomon. [Chapter 4.]: Even if the righteous suffers death, he will be in rest. Old age is honestly not many years old: it is counted below in the number of years. Gray hair is the wisdom of man, and the age of old age, a clean life. Having been well-pleasing to God, he was loved, and the living sinner in the midst was put to death. He was delighted, lest malice change his mind, or flattery deceive his soul. The zeal of evil is darkened by a good one, and the soaring of lust changes the mind of a gentle one. Having died in time, fulfill his duty: for his soul was pleasing to the Lord. For this reason, trying to escape from the environment of wickedness. People, having seen and not understood, thought lower than this: for grace and mercy are in His saints, and visitation is in His elect.

The singing was in two choirs, as always during a solemn service. The same deacon, as it turned out, was also present at the vigil, Father Vasily from Simferopol (Simferopol and Crimean diocese), who, in addition, brought an icon Saint and Confessor Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky), Archbishop of Simferopol and Crimea and I will skuf him. The icon was placed in the center of the temple, along with the image of the Resurrection of Christ and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

The holy saint of God Luke, who shone forth in the host of saints of the Church of Christ as a confessor, showed in his person the image of a good shepherd, healing ailments both mental and physical, and showed an example of combining the ministry of an archpastor and a doctor. His theological treatises awaken faith and convince those who doubt the truth of the existence of God, refuting various pseudoscientific theories. By his feat the saint showed what it means to “carry the cross of Christ.”

Archbishop Luka (in the world Valentin Feliksovich Voino-Yasenetsky) was born in Kerch on April 27 / May 10, 1877. After graduating from high school, after thinking about the choice of life path, he decided that he was obliged to do only what was “useful for suffering people,” and chose medicine. After graduating from university, the future saint practiced medicine and scientific research. In the 1920s he worked as a surgeon in Tashkent, actively participating in church life, attending meetings of the church brotherhood. The words of Bishop Innocent of Tashkent: “Doctor, you need to be a priest” were perceived as God’s call. After three years of service as a priest, Father Valentin took monastic vows with the name of the apostle, evangelist and physician Luke, and on May 30, 1923, Hieromonk Luke was secretly consecrated bishop. From this time on, the Vladyka’s way of the cross as a confessor begins. Numerous arrests, torture and exiles did not weaken the Saint’s zeal in fulfilling his archpastoral duty and serving people as a doctor.

The Monk Shio (Simeon) Mgvimsky was born in Syrian Antioch. His parents were Christians and raised their son as the only heir. The young man received a good education, studied Holy Bible and already in early years was gifted with the ability to interpret the Word of God. Having learned about the holy ascetic John, Shio secretly left his parents' house and went to the saint. The Monk John sent the young man to his parents, predicting that his parents would become monks. Prediction

Soon it was fulfilled: Shio distributed the inheritance and took monastic vows from St. John.

20 years later, the Monk Shio, along with 12 other chosen disciples of St. John, went to Iveria (Georgia) to preach the Word of God. With the blessing of the Catholicos of Georgia Evlavius and his teacher, the Monk Shio settled in a cave west of the city of Mtskheta, where he carried out severe ascetic labors, for which he was awarded miraculous visions. It became known about the solitary life of the ascetic, and soon the place of the saint’s feat turned into a monastery in which the monk founded a temple in the Name of the Most Holy Trinity. Later other churches were erected: in honor of the Mother of God and John the Baptist. All churches were consecrated by Catholicos Macarius. The number of brethren increased, and the monk blessed the founding of the Mgvima monastery for them, while he himself continued the feat of salvation in seclusion. The Monk Shio reposed on May 9/22, having received the Holy Mysteries on the eve and having taught the last saving instructions to the brethren. The relics of the saint of God were buried in the monastery he founded. The Monk Shio is known as the author of 160 teachings for the brethren.
^

Martyr Christopher of Lycia

Day of Remembrance: May 9 / 22

The holy martyr Christopher lived in the 3rd century and suffered around the year 250, under the emperor Decius (249 - 251). There are many different legends about his life and miracles; his memory is honored in both the Eastern and Western Churches. (The memory of the martyr Christopher is especially revered in Spain, where people resort to his prayers for contagious diseases.) His origin is spoken of differently. According to some sources, he comes from the Canaanites, according to others, from the Cynocephalians.

Saint Christopher was a man of tall stature and extraordinary strength, but his face was beast-like. According to legend, Saint Christopher initially had a beautiful appearance, but, wanting to avoid temptations for himself and those around him, he asked the Lord to give him an ugly face, which was fulfilled. Before his Baptism, he bore the name Reprev (unfit), which was associated with his disfigured appearance. Even before Baptism, Reprev confessed faith in Christ and denounced those who persecuted Christians. For this he was once beaten by a certain Bacchus and accepted the beating with humility. Soon after this, 200 soldiers were sent to bring him, a famous strongman, to Emperor Decius. Reprev obeyed without resistance. Miracles happened along the way: a dry cane blossomed in the saint’s hand; through his prayer, the loaves that the travelers lacked multiplied, just as the Savior multiplied the loaves in the desert. The soldiers accompanying Reprev were amazed by miracles, believed in Christ and, together with Reprev, were baptized Bishop of Antioch Vavila.

When Saint Christopher was brought to the emperor, he was horrified by his appearance and decided to force him to renounce Christ not by violence, but by cunning. He called two harlot women, Callinicia and Aquilina, and ordered them to persuade Christopher to renounce Christ and obtain his consent to sacrifice to idols. But the women themselves were converted by Saint Christopher to faith in Christ and, returning to the emperor, declared themselves Christians, for which they were subjected to cruel torture and died as martyrs. Decius also sentenced to execution the soldiers sent for Saint Christopher who believed in Christ. The emperor ordered the martyr to be thrown into a red-hot copper box. However, Saint Christopher did not experience suffering and remained unharmed. After many cruel tortures, the martyr's head was finally cut off with a sword. This happened in 250 in Lycia. With his miracles, the holy martyr Christopher converted up to 50 thousand pagans to Christ, as St. Ambrose testifies. Subsequently, the relics of St. Christopher were transferred to Toledo, and later to the Abbey of Saint-Denis in France.
^

Troparion of the Martyr Christopher Voice 4

Decorated with garments from the blood,/ Stand before the Lord, the King of hosts, Christopher, ever-memorable,/ from there, with the Bodiless and the martyrs, eat/ the trisagion and terrible sweet singing./ By the same token, save your flock with your prayers.
^

Events of the day.

Alas, this year the duty falls on this very day. But the day before I attended an all-night vigil

vigil. Since the anniversary of the consecration of the St. Nicholas Church in Arkhipo-Osipovka, Father Georgy invited everyone to the festive service there (Metropolitan Isidor of Ekaterinodar and Kuban served there), the temple is half empty on this day (especially the day before). And before, even on this day it was full and the service was performed in full rite - with lithium. Alas, the temple was half empty this time and the service was without a litany. But the proverbs were read. The proverbs of this holiday are more interesting because of the third, where, in essence, the answer is given to those lamenting “why are there so many good people dies quickly."
^

Proverbs to Saint Nicholas.

Proverbs reading. [Chapters 10 and 11.]: The lips of the righteous will drop wisdom, but the tongue of the unrighteous will perish. The lips of righteous men drip with grace, but the lips of the wicked are corrupted. The flattering measure is abomination before the Lord: but the weight of righteousness is acceptable to Him. Wherever vexation enters, there is dishonor: but the lips of the humble are taught wisdom. The accomplishment (improvement) of the right will guide them, and the inclination of those who deny will save them: They do not profit from wealth in the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver them from death. A righteous man has died, leave repentance behind: but the wicked’s destruction is at hand and ridiculed. The truth of the blameless man corrects the paths, but unrighteousness falls into wickedness. The truth of righteous men will deliver them: but without advice they are captivated by iniquity. If a righteous man dies, hope will not perish; but the praise of the wicked will perish. The righteous will run away from the catch, but the wicked will surrender in his place. The mouth of the wicked is a snare to the citizenry, but the feeling of the righteous is prosperous. In the good of the righteous the city will be restored, and in the destruction of the wicked there will be joy: In the blessing of the righteous the city will rise, and the mouth of the wicked will be dug up. A citizen devoid of reason swears, but a wise man remains silent.

Reading the Wisdom of Solomon. [Chapter 4.]: Even if the righteous suffers death, he will be in rest. Old age is honestly not many years old: it is counted below in the number of years. Gray hair is the wisdom of man, and the age of old age, a clean life. Having been well-pleasing to God, he was loved, and the living sinner in the midst was put to death. He was delighted, lest malice change his mind, or flattery deceive his soul. The zeal of evil is darkened by a good one, and the soaring of lust changes the mind of a gentle one. Having died in time, fulfill his duty: for his soul was pleasing to the Lord. For this reason, trying to escape from the environment of wickedness. People who saw and did not understand, thought lower than this: for grace and mercy are among His saints, and visitation among His elect.

Archbishop Luka (in the world Valentin Feliksovich Voino-Yasenetsky) was born in Kerch on April 27 / May 10, 1877. After graduating from high school, after thinking about the choice of life path, he decided that he was obliged to do only what was “useful for suffering people,” and chose medicine. After graduating from the university, the future saint was engaged in medical practice and scientific research. In the 1920s he worked as a surgeon in Tashkent, actively participating in church life, attending meetings of the church brotherhood. The words of Bishop Innocent of Tashkent: “Doctor, you need to be a priest” were perceived as God’s call. After three years of service as a priest, Father Valentin took monastic vows with the name of the apostle, evangelist and physician Luke, and on May 30, 1923, Hieromonk Luke was secretly consecrated bishop. From this time on, the Vladyka’s way of the cross as a confessor begins. Numerous arrests, torture and exiles did not weaken the Saint’s zeal in fulfilling his archpastoral duty and serving people as a doctor.

From 1946 to 1961 Vladyka Luke was the ruling bishop of the Crimean diocese. His Eminence Luke died on June 11, 1961, on the Day of All Saints who shone in the Russian land. But the shepherd did not leave his flock. Numerous miraculous healings were accomplished through his prayers. In 1996, the discovery of the holy remains of Archbishop Luke took place, which currently rest in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Simferopol. May God, through the prayers of St. Luke, give us strength in bearing our cross and in good confession of the Holy Orthodox Faith.
^

Troparion to Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky), Archbishop. Krymsky, Spanish

To the proclaimer of the path of salvation, / confessor and archpastor of the Crimean land, /

true keeper of fatherly traditions, / unshakable pillar, teacher of Orthodoxy, / godly physician, Saint Luke, / pray to Christ the Savior unceasingly /

grant unshakable faith to the Orthodox / salvation and great mercy.

^ Saint Father Luke, pray to God for us!

But let's return to the description of the service. The Gospel read at Matins is dedicated to Christ's first visit to Jerusalem. The Lord speaks to the Jews and... faced with distrust, so His words only embittered them and they even wanted to stone him, but the Lord evaded the angry crowd. And here is part of this chapter: 1 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in elsewhere, is a thief and a robber; 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 The doorkeeper opens to him, and the sheep obey his voice, and he calls his sheep by name and leads them out.

4 And when he has brought out his sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

5 But they do not follow a stranger, but run from him, because they do not know the voice of a stranger.

6 Jesus spoke this parable to them; but they did not understand what He was saying to them.

7 So again Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”

8 All of them, no matter how many of them came before Me, are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not listen to them.

^ 9 I am the door: whoever enters through Me will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

10 The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it more abundantly.

^ 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

12 But a hireling, not a shepherd, whose sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and runs; and the wolf plunders the sheep and scatters them.

^ 13 But the hireling flees because he is a hireling, and does not care about the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd; and I know Mine, and Mine know Me.

15 How the Father knows Me So and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 I have other sheep which are not of this fold, and these I must bring: and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock and one Shepherd.

It is interesting that when reading the canon of the irmos, it was sung by the side choir, and the katavasia - in this case, the irmos of the Easter canon were sung - by the upper choir. At the end of the song “God Establish the Holy Orthodox faith Orthodox Christians forever and ever” was sung by the upper choir and deacon Father Evgeniy Gabov. Deacon Father Alexy Kulnev was sent temporarily to the Church of the New Martyrs….

On the day itself I was on duty, so, alas, I could only be on duty mentally. Still, I’ll give you the readings of the day. First the privates. First, an excerpt from the Acts of the Apostles, which talks about the famous sermon of the Apostle Paul in the Athens Areopagus. It is interesting that, as noted by the famous theologian Protodeacon Andrei Kuraev, where in the quotation of the apostle’s address to the Athenians in the Slavic text there is the word “fearing God”, and in Russian - “devout”, in Greek there is something like “demon-friendly”: 15 Those who accompanied Paul escorted him to Athens and, having received orders to Silas and Timothy that they would quickly come to him, they set off.

16 While waiting for them in Athens, Paul was troubled in spirit at the sight of this city full of idols.

17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God and every day in the square with those who meet.

18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to argue with him; and some said: “What does this vain guy want to say?”, and others: “It seems that he is preaching about foreign deities,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.

^ 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus and said: Can we know what this new teaching is that you are preaching?

20 For you are putting something strange into our ears. Therefore, we want to know what it is?

^ 21 The Athenians are all living at them Foreigners did not spend their time more willingly than talking or listening to something new.

22 And Paul stood among the Areopagus and said: Athenians! I can see from everything that you seem to be especially devout.

23 ^ For, passing and examining your shrines, I also found an altar on which is written “to an unknown God.” This, which you honor without knowing, I preach to you.

24 God, who created the world and everything in it, He, being the Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by hands ^ 25 and does not require the service of human hands, How would having need of anything, Himself giving to all things life and breath and all things.

26 From one blood He brought forth the whole human race to inhabit all the face of the earth, having appointed predetermined times and limits for their habitation, 27 so that they would seek God, lest they feel Him and find Him, although He is not far from each of us: 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, just as some of your poets said: “We are His generation.”

29 So we, being the race of God, should not think that the Divinity is like gold, or silver, or stone, which received an image from the art and imagination of man.

30 Therefore, leaving the times of ignorance, God now commands people everywhere to repent, 31 for He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed, having given proof to all by raising Him from the dead.

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, but others said, “We will hear from you about this at another time.”

33 So Paul went out from among them.

34 But some men came to him and believed; among them was Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damar, and others with them.

And here is the Gospel, again reminding us of the days before the suffering of Christ: 1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had died, whom He raised from the dead.

2 There they prepared a supper for Him, and Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those who sat with Him.

3 And Mary took a pound of pure spikenard precious world, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the world.

4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Simon Iscariot, who wanted to betray Him, said: 5 Why not sell this ointment for three hundred denarii and give it to the poor?

6 He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. He had at to myself monetary box and carried that they put it there.

7 And Jesus said, Leave her alone; She saved it for the day of My burial.

8 For you always have the poor with you, but not always Me.

9 Many of the Jews knew that He was there, and they came not only for Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

10 And the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also, 11 because for his sake many of the Jews came and believed in Jesus.

12 The next day, the multitude of people who had come to the feast, hearing that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took palm branches and came out to meet Him and exclaimed: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!

14 Jesus found a colt and sat on it, as it is written: 15 Fear not, daughter of Zion! Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a colt.

16 His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus became glorified, then they remembered that this was written about Him, and they did it to Him.

17 The people who were with Him before testified that He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead.

18 Therefore the people met Him, for they heard that He had performed this miracle.

^ 19 The Pharisees said to each other: Do you see that you do not have time to do anything? the whole world follows Him.

20 Of those who came to worship on the holiday, there were some Greeks.

21 They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying: Master! we want to see Jesus.

22 Philip goes and tells Andrey about this; and then Andrew and Philip tell Jesus about this.

^ 23 Jesus answered and said to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; and if it dies, it will bear much fruit.

^ 25 He who loves his life will destroy it; But he who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.

26 Whoever serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there will my servant also be. And whoever serves Me, My Father will honor him.

^ 27 My soul is now indignant; and what should I say? Father! deliver Me from this hour! But for this hour I have come.

28 Father! glorify Your name. Then a voice came from heaven: I have glorified it and will glorify it again.

^ 29 The people stood and heard That, said: it's thunder; and others said: The angel spoke to him.

30 To this Jesus said: This voice was not for Me, but for the people.

31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.

32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to Me.

33 He said this, making it clear by what kind of death He would die.

34 The people answered Him: We have heard from the law that Christ abides forever; How then do You say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?

^ 35 Then Jesus said to them: For a little while yet the light is with you; walk while there is light, lest darkness overtake you: but he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.

36 As long as the light is with you, believe in the light, that you may be sons of light. Having said this, Jesus walked away and hid from them.

37 He performed so many miracles before them, and they did not believe in Him, 38 so that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Lord! who believed what they heard from us? and to whom was the arm of the Lord revealed?

39 Therefore they could not believe, because, as Isaiah also said, 40 this people have blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and convert, that I might heal them.

41 These things said Isaiah, when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

42 However, many of the rulers believed in Him; but for the sake of the Pharisees they did not confess, lest they should be put out of the synagogue, 43 for they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God.

Next is holiday reading. I'll give you the first one reading passage From the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Hebrews: 17 Obey your teachers and be submissive, for they are vigilantly watching over your souls, as those who are obliged to give an account; so that they do this with joy, and not sighing, for this is not good for you.

^ 18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, because we desire to behave honestly in everything.

19 I especially ask you to do this so that I can be returned to you as soon as possible.

20 And the God of peace, who raised up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant, our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 may He perfect you in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ. Glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

And here is the Gospel: 1 On Saturday, the first after the second day of Easter, He happened to pass through sown fields, and His disciples plucked ears of corn and ate them, rubbing them with their hands.

2 And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do what you ought not to do on the Sabbath?”

3 Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and those with him were hungry?”

4 How did he enter into the house of God, take the showbread, which no one should eat except the priests, and eat it, and give it to those who were with him?

5 And he said to them: The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

6 And it happened on another Sabbath that He entered the synagogue and taught. There was a man whose right hand was dry.

7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched Him to see if He would heal on the Sabbath, in order to find an accusation against Him.

8 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to the man who had the withered hand, Arise and come into the midst. And he stood up and spoke.

9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, what should you do on the Sabbath? good or evil? save your soul or destroy?” They were silent.

10 And looking at them all, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so; and his hand became as healthy as the other.

11 They became furious and talked among themselves about what they should do to Jesus.

12 In those days He went up to the mountain to pray and spent the whole night in prayer to God.

13 When the day had come, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James Alpheus and Simon, called the Zealot, 16 Judas Jacob and Judas Iscariot, who later became a traitor.

^ 17 And He went down with them and stood on level ground, and a multitude of His disciples, and a great crowd from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal regions of Tire and Sidon, 18 who came to listen to Him and be healed of their illnesses, also those suffering from unclean spirits; and were healed.

^ 19 And all the people sought to touch Him, because power came from Him and healed everyone.

20 And He lifted His eyes to His disciples and said: 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are those who mourn, for you will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when people hate you and when they excommunicate you and revile you and call your name dishonorable because of the Son of Man.

^ 23 Rejoice in that day and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. This is what their fathers did to the prophets.

25 Woe to you who are now full! for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now! for you will mourn and lament.

26 Woe to you when all people speak well of you! For this is what their fathers did to the false prophets.”

Of course, by “crying” we usually mean those who cry about their sins, but not simply, but CORRECTED, which few of us do, and why “woe to those who laugh”? Yes, because when we talk about human entertainment, as a rule, we are talking about empty pastime - a person spends time on entertainment, wasting his days, and time goes by, goes away, but it could have been spent on correction, speaking of the “rich” , we are no longer talking about those who are financially secure, for this wealth can be disposed of in different ways, but about those who consider themselves rich spiritually, which is the fruit of pride, and pride is the beginning of a person’s death and if he considers himself spiritually secure, he has no need for salvation and the fate of such a person is terrible...

Father Evgeniy Lukoyanov served in the Church of the New Martyrs, who after the liturgy gave a sermon, from which, due to my duties, I only heard what he said about the importance of communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ...

As for the cathedral, they noted that the visiting deacon told the biography of St. Luke, a particle of whose relics he brought...

For any Mother of God holidays the proverbs are the same:
1. Genesis reading.
Jacob left the sworn student and went to Harran. And you found a place and slept there: for the sun went down, / and was taken from the stone of that place, and set the head for yourself, and slept in that place. And I saw a dream. And the ladder was established on the earth, its head reaching to heaven, and the Angels of God ascended and descended on it. The Lord established himself on it, and said: I am the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac, do not fear: the land where you write on it, I will give it to you and to your seed. And your seed shall be like the sand of the earth, and shall spread over the sea, and the valley, and the north, and to the east; and all the tribes of the earth will be blessed because of you and because of your seed. And behold, I am with you, keep you on every path, even if you go. And I will return you to this land, as I am not the imam to leave you until I create all that is great in your words. And Jacob arose from his sleep, and said: for the Lord is in this place, but I know not. And he was afraid and said: How scary is this place; not this, but the house of God and this gate of Heaven. Gen 28:10–17
2. Reading the prophecies of Ezekiel.
Thus says the Lord: from day to day the priests will make your burnt offerings and the rest of the things on the altars, and I will accept you, says the Lord Adonai. And turn me to the path of the outer holy gates, looking to the east, and this byahu will be closed. And the Lord said to me: this gate will be shut and not open, and no one will pass through it; for the Lord God of Israel will pass through them, and they will be shut. As if the Abbot will sit in them to carry bread, he will enter along the path of the Elam gates and will leave along his path. And he led me along the path of the holy gates that are to the north, straight to the temple, and I saw, and behold, the temple of the Lord was filled with glory. Eze 43:27; 44:1–4
3. Reading parables.
Wisdom created for herself a house and established seven pillars. Slain Your sacrificial offering, and dissolved the wine in Your cups, and prepared Your table. He sent His servants, calling them to the cup with a high sermon, saying: Let him who is foolish turn away to Me. And to those who require intelligence, he says: Come, eat My bread, and drink the wine that I have dissolved for you. Leave madness and live, and seek reason, and live, and correct your reason in knowledge. He who punishes the wicked will receive dishonor for himself, but he who reproaches the wicked will dishonor himself: for the reproof of the wicked wounds him. Do not reprove the evil, lest they hate you. Reprove the wise one, and he will love you. Give wine to the wise, and he will be wise. Tell the righteous, and he will receive it. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord and the counsel of the saints, understanding: to understand the law of the thought is good. In this way, you will live a lot of time, and the years of your life will be added to you. Proverbs 9:1–11

Proverbs to the Most Holy Theotokos. Andrey Slyushkin Presents: or