The Afterfeast of the Holy Transfiguration
The candles outside the altar have been lit. The Holy Doors remain closed. When all is ready, the designated layperson crosses himself three times with bows and begins:
I. The Opening
Lead Cantor: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
Second Cantor: Amen. Glory to You, our God, glory to You.
(Plain chant)
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and filling all things. Treasury of blessings and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, cleanse us from every impurity and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All: Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.
Lead Cantor: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ Our God have mercy on us and save us.
Second Cantor: Amen. Lord have mercy. (twelve times)
Glory to the Father, to the Son, to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship God our King.
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and our God.
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
II. Psalm 103
(Can be chanted antiphonally between the Lead & Second Cantors — the Lead taking the flush lines, the Second those indented.)
Bless the Lord, O my soul. Lord my God, You are very great;
You are clothed with honor and majesty. You cover Yourself with light as with a garment.
You stretch out the heavens like a curtain and lay the beams of Your chambers in the waters.
You make the clouds for your ascent and You walk on the wings of the wind.
You make Your angels spirits, Your ministers a blazing fire.
You laid the foundation of the earth that it should never be moved.
You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.
At Your rebuke, they fled; at the voice of Your thunder, they hurried away.
They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys to the place that You established for them.
You have set a boundary that they may not pass, that they never again flood the earth.
He sends the springs into valleys that run among the hills.
They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst;
By them live the birds of the air; from among the rocks, they pipe their calls.
He waters the hills from His chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His labor.
He causes the grass to grow for the cattle and green plants for our nourishment, that we may grow food from the earth,
Wine that gladdens our hearts, oil to make our faces shine and bread that strengthens our bodies.
The trees of the plain are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which He planted;
There the sparrows make their nests; there the heron has made its abode.
The high mountains are a refuge for the deer and the rocks for the badgers.
You made the moon to mark the seasons: the sun knows its time for setting.
You make darkness and it is night, in which all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
The young lions roar after their prey and seek their food from God.
The sun rises; they gather themselves together and lay down in their dens.
Mankind goes off to work and to labor until the evening.
Lord, how great are Your works. In wisdom, You have made them all:
The earth is full of Your creatures. So is this great and wide sea, in which there are creeping things without number, creatures, both small and great.
There go the ships; there is that sea beast, which You made to sport therein.
All these wait upon You, that You may give them their food in due season.
They gather what You give them; when You open Your hand, they are filled with good.
When You turn away your face, they are troubled. You take away their breath, they shall cease, and to their dust, shall they return.
You send out Your Spirit and they shall be created and You shall renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the Lord, endure through the ages; the Lord shall rejoice in His works.
He looks on the earth and it trembles; He touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord throughout my life; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
My meditation of Him shall be sweet; I will be glad in the Lord.
Let the sinners be consumed from the earth and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, my soul.
The sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness and it is night.
Lord, how manifold are your works. In wisdom, You have made them all.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, our God. (thrice)
III. In Place of the Great Litany
First Cantor: Lord have mercy. (Twelve times). Glory … now and ever…
Second Cantor: Amen.
IV. The First Kathisma
(Chanted antiphonally, the First Cantor taking the verses and the Second Cantor the alleluias)
Blessed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 1:1)
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the godless will perish.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 1:6)
Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 2:11)
Blessed are all who trust in Him.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 2:13)
Arise, Lord; save me, my God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 3:8)
Salvation is the Lord's and Your blessing is upon Your people!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 3:9)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to You, our God. (Thrice)
V. Lord, I Cry (Psalms 140, 141, 129)
(Led by the First Cantor in the First Tone)
Lord, I call upon You, hear me!
Hear me, O Lord!
Lord, I call upon You, hear me!
Receive the voice of my prayer,
when I call upon You! //
Hear me, O Lord!
Let my prayer arise
in Your sight as incense,
and let the lifting up of my hands
be an evening sacrifice! //
Hear me, O Lord!
(Chanted antiphonally by the First and Second Cantors — the First taking the flush lines, the Second those indented.)
Set, O Lord, a watch before my mouth, and a door of enclosure round about my lips.
Incline not my heart unto words of evil, to make excuses for my sins.
With men that work iniquity; and I will not join with their chosen.
The righteous man will chasten me with mercy and reprove me; as for the oil of the sinner, let it not anoint my head.
For yet more is my prayer in the presence of their pleasures; swallowed up near by the rock have their judges been.
They shall hear my words, for they be sweetened; as a clod of earth is broken upon the earth, so have their bones been scattered nigh unto Hades.
For unto You, O Lord, O Lord, are mine eyes, in You have I hoped; take not my soul away.
Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and from the stumbling-blocks of them that work iniquity.
The sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone until I pass by.
With my voice unto the Lord have I cried, with my voice unto the Lord have I made supplication.
I will pour out before Him my supplication, mine affliction before Him will I declare.
When my spirit was fainting within me, then You knew my paths.
In this way wherein I have walked they hid for me a snare.
I looked upon my right hand, and beheld, and there was none that did know me.
Flight has failed me, and there is none that watch out for my soul.
I have cried unto You, O Lord; I said: You are my hope, You are my portion in the land of the living.
Attend unto my supplication, for I am brought very low.
Deliver me from them that persecute me, for they are stronger than I.
VI. The Stichera on Ten
For the Resurrection, in the First Tone
Verse 10. Bring my soul out of prison, / that I may give thanks to Your Name!
Receive our evening prayers,
O Holy Lord,
and grant us forgiveness of sins;
because You alone made known the Resurrection in the world.
Verse 9. The righteous will surround me, / for You will deal bountifully with me.
Go around Sion, You peoples,
and encompass her,
and give glory in her to Him who rose from the dead;
for He is our God,
who has redeemed us from our iniquities.
Verse 8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord! / Lord, hear my voice!
Come You peoples,
let us hymn and worship Christ
as we glorify his Resurrection from the dead:
because He is our God,
who has redeemed us from the error of the foe.
For the Afterfeast of the Transfiguration
Verse 7. Let Your ears be attentive / to the voice of my supplications!
Come, and with faith let us celebrate together the all-radiant and divine transfiguration of Christ, and, transformed by a goodly transformation, let us spiritually mount to the lofty summit of the virtues with the disciples of Christ, that, taught with them the revelation of awesome mysteries, we may glorify the Savior and Lord.
Verse 6. If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? / But there is forgiveness with You.
Rejoice piously and be glad, O honored Church of the faithful, celebrating now this honored and most radiant feast; for the Master of all, Who is now transfigured, doth manifestly illumine with the brilliance of ineffable splendor the disfigurement of man, radiantly emitting an effulgence which surpasseth the brightness of the sun.
Verse 5. For Your Name's sake I wait for You, O Lord. My soul has waited for Your word; / my soul has hoped on the Lord.
The God and Creator of all, taking the form of a servant in the ineffable richness of His loving-kindness, now saveth man from the ancient darkness, His face shining, disclosing the effulgence of the Godhead in His flesh; wherefore, filled with awe and fear, the disciples worshipped the Master of all, falling prostrate.
For the Holy Apostle Matthias, in the First Tone
Verse 4. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, / let Israel hope on the Lord!
O Apostle Matthias, thou didst complete the divine choir from whence Judas had fallen, and with the divine brilliance of thy wise discourses thou hast driven away the gloom of the madness of idolatry with the grace of God. Make thou supplication now, that He grant unto our souls peace and great mercy.
Verse 3. For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption, / and He will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.
(Repeat:) O Apostle Matthias, thou didst complete the divine choir from whence Judas had fallen, and with the divine brilliance of thy wise discourses thou hast driven away the gloom of the madness of idolatry with the grace of God. Make thou supplication now, that He grant unto our souls peace and great mercy.
Verse 2. Praise the Lord, all nations! / Praise Him, all peoples!
O blessed Matthias, thou didst traverse the noetic Eden like a river overflowing with divine waters; and thou hast given the earth mystic waters to drink, and hast shown it to be fertile; wherefore, pray thou, that God grant unto our souls peace and great mercy.
Verse 1. For His mercy is confirmed on us, / and the truth of the Lord endures forever.
O divinely inspired Matthias, with the lightning-flashes of thy teachings thou didst hallow the circuit of the world, illumining all, guiding all to the knowledge of God, making those who slept before in the darkness of vanity and the gloom of all ungodliness to be receptacles of the light.
VII. Glory … Now and Ever
Doxastikon of the Apostle, in the Sixth Tone
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Grace was poured forth in thy lips, O glorious Apostle Matthias, and thou wast a beacon of the Church of Christ, teaching the reason-endowed sheep to believe in the consubstantial Trinity, in the one Godhead.
The Dogmatikon of the First Tone
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Let us hymn the whole world's glory,
engendered from mankind
and who gave birth to the Master,
the Gate of heaven, Mary the Virgin,
the song of the Bodiless Powers and adornment of the faithful;
for She has been proclaimed Heaven and Temple of the Godhead.
She by destroying the middle wall of enmity has brought peace instead
and thrown open the King's palace.
Therefore, holding fast to Her as anchor of the faith,
we have as champion the Lord born from Her.
Take courage therefore, take courage, people of God;
for He will make war on the foe as All-powerful.
VIII. O Gladsome Light
There is no entrance with the censer.
All: O gladsome Light of the holy glory of the immortal, heavenly, holy and blessed Father: O Jesus Christ. Lo now that we have come to the setting of the sun, as we behold the evening light, we hymn Thee: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. Meet it is for Thee at all times to be magnified by joyous voices, O Son of God and Giver of life. Wherefore the whole world doth glorify Thee.
IX. The Evening Prokimen
(Psalm 92:1,5)
Lead Cantor (plain-chanting, not singing; from the middle of the nave): The Prokimen in the Sixth Tone. The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty.
Second Cantor: The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty.
Lead Cantor: The Lord has clothed and girded himself with strength.
Second Cantor: The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty.
Lead Cantor: For He has established the world and it shall not be moved.
Second Cantor: The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty.
Lead Cantor: Holiness befits Your house, Lord, for length of days.
Second Cantor: The Lord is King…
Lead Cantor: … He is robed in majesty.
X. The Readings
Three readings are appointed for the Apostle.
The First Reading — The Acts of the Apostles 1:15–26
In those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty): “Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Haceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that He was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection.” And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said: “Thou, Lord, Who knowest the hearts of all men, show which of these two Thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The Second Reading — The First Epistle of St. John 3:21–4:6
Beloved: If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.
The Third Reading — The First Epistle of St. John 4:11–16
Beloved: If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
XI. In Place of the Augmented Litany
First Cantor: Lord have mercy. (Twelve times). Glory … now and ever…
Second Cantor: Amen. God, preserve the Holy Orthodox Faith and Orthodox Christians, to the ages of ages.
XII. The Evening Prayer
(Can be plain-chanted antiphonally by the Lead and Second Cantors)
Count us worthy, Lord, of passing this evening without sin.
Blessed are You, Lord God of our Fathers; may Your Name be praised and glorified unto the ages. Amen.
Let Your mercy be upon us, Lord, for we have placed our hope in You.
Blessed are You, Lord, teach me your commandments.
Blessed are You, Master, grant me understanding of Your statutes.
Blessed are You, Holy one, enlighten me by Your precepts.
Lord, Your mercy endures to the ages; despise not the work of Your Hands.
Indeed, it is fitting to praise You and sing hymns to You. It is fitting to glorify You: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
XIII. In Place of the Litany of Supplication
First Cantor: Lord have mercy. (Twelve times). Glory … now and ever…
Second Cantor: Amen.
XIV. The Apostikha
For the Resurrection, in the First Tone
By Your Passion, O Christ,
we have been freed from passions,
and by Your Resurrection we have been delivered from corruption.
Lord, glory to You.
Verse 1. The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty!
All creation, let it rejoice,
let the heavens be glad,
let the nations clap their hands with gladness;
for Christ our Saviour has nailed our sins to the Cross
and by slaying death has granted us life,
raising all Adam's fallen race,
as He loves mankind.
Verse 2. For He has established the world, / so that it shall never be moved.
Being King of heaven and earth, O Incomprehensible,
You were crucified willingly through love for mankind;
when Hades met You he was embittered,
and the souls of righteous receiving You rejoiced,
while Adam, seeing You his Creator in the infernal regions, arose.
O the marvel!
How did the life of all taste death?
Except that He wished to enlighten the world,
which cries out and says:
You who rose from the dead, Lord glory to You!
Verse 3. Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, / forevermore!
Carrying sweet spices the Myrrhbearing Women reached your tomb
with haste and with lamentation;
and not finding Your most pure Body,
but learning from the Angel the new and marvellous wonder,
they said to the Apostles:
The Lord has risen,
granting the world His great mercy.
XV. Glory … Now and Ever
Doxastikon of the Apostle, in the Second Tone
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Full of divine zeal, O right wondrous Apostle Matthias, with zeal thou wast zealous for God Almighty, Who hath shown thee to be full of divine miracles; for, possessing strange zeal, thou didst acquire integrity through thine actions. Wherefore, dwelling with the heavenly choirs in the highest, pray thou to the Word, Christ our God, O beholder of God, that He grant us great mercy.
Of the Feast, in the Second Tone
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
O Christ God Who wast transfigured on Mount Tabor, showing the glory of Thy divinity to Thy disciples, illumine us all with the light of the knowledge of Thee, and guide us on the path of Thy commandments, as Thou alone art good and lovest mankind.
XVI. The Canticle of St. Symeon
(St. Luke 2:29–32)
Lord now let Your servant depart in peace, / according to Your word: / for my eyes have seen Your salvation / which You have prepared in the presence of all people, / a light of revelation to the Gentiles // and for glory to Your people Israel.
XVII. The Trisagion Prayers
Second Cantor: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us! (thrice)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All: Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.
Lead Cantor: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ Our God have mercy on us and save us.
Second Cantor: Amen.
XVIII. The Troparia
Resurrection Troparion, in the First Tone
All: When the stone had been sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Your most pure Body, You arose on the third day, O Saviour, granting life to the world. Therefore, the powers of heaven cried out to You, O Giver of life: Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ. Glory to Your kingdom. Glory to Your providence, O only Lover of mankind.
Troparion of the Apostle, in the Third Tone
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O holy Apostle Matthias, entreat the merciful God, that He grant to our souls remission of transgressions.
Troparion of the Feast, in the Seventh Tone
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God, Who didst show Thy glory unto Thy disciples as far as they could bear it. May Thine everlasting light shine forth also upon us sinners through the prayers of the Theotokos. O Bestower of light, glory be to Thee!
XIX. The Dismissal
All: More honorable than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, in virginity you gave birth to God the Word. True Birth-giver of God, we magnify you.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy. O Lord, bless.
First Cantor: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
Second Cantor: Amen.
(All come forward and venerate the icons.)