We celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Spirit, the appointed time of the promise and the fulfilment of hope. How great is the mystery? Great indeed and revered! And so we cry out to you: Creator of all, Lord, glory to you! (Twice)
With tongues of foreigners, O Christ, you renewed your Disciples, that through them they might proclaim you, the immortal Word and God, who grant our souls your great mercy.
The Holy Spirit gives all things: makes prophecies flow, perfects priests, taught the unlettered wisdom, revealed fishermen to be theologians, welds together the whole institution of the Church. Advocate, consubstantial and equal in majesty with the Father and the Son, glory to you.
Glory. Both now. Tone 8.
When you sent down
your Spirit, Lord, to the Apostles as they were sitting, then the children of
the Hebrews saw it and were beside themselves with amazement; for they were
hearing them speaking in other, strange tongues, as the Spirit gave them; for
though simple men, they had been made wise; and having caught the nations for
the faith, were preaching things divine; and we also cry out to you: You
appeared on earth and saved us; Lord, glory to you.
Aposticha. Idiomels. Tone 2.
We have seen the
true light, we have received the heavenly Spirit, we have found the true faith,
as we worship the undivided Trinity, for the same has saved us. Verse: Create a pure heart in me, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
In the Prophets you announced to us the way of salvation, our Saviour, and in the Apostles there shone the grace of your Spirit; you are God first of all, and in the future; and to the ages you are our God.
Verse: Do not cast me from your presence; and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
In your courts I will sing your praise, as the Saviour of the world, and bending the knee I will worship your invincible power, at evening and morning and midday, and at every moment I will bless you, O Lord.
Glory. Both now. Same Tone.
Let us sing the
praise of the consubstantial Trinity, Father and Son with the Holy Spirit; for
thus all the Prophets proclaimed, and the Apostles with the Martyrs.
Apolytikion. Tone 8.
Blessed are you,
Christ our God, who revealed the fishermen to be most wise by sending down to
them the Holy Spirit, and so through them catching the whole world in a net:
Lover of mankind, glory to you!
And Dismissal.
AT GREAT VESPERS