The Afterfeast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Jesus Christ, from Edessa to Constantinople (944)
Martyr Diomedes the Physician, of Tarsus in Cilicia (298)
Venerable Cherimon of Egypt (4th c.) · The Thirty-three Martyrs of Palestine
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 Second 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 Second Tone
Verse 10. Bring my soul out of prison, / that I may give thanks to Your Name!
Come let us worship God the Word,
begotten of the Father before the ages,
incarnate of the Virgin Mary;
for having endured the Cross,
He was handed over for burial, as He Himself wished,
and having risen from the dead
He saved me, mankind that had gone astray.
Verse 9. The righteous will surround me, / for You will deal bountifully with me.
Christ our Saviour
by nailing the record against us to the Cross annulled it,
and destroyed the might of death.
We worship His Rising on the third day.
Verse 8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord! / Lord, hear my voice!
With Archangels let us sing the praise of the Resurrection of Christ;
for He is the Redeemer and the Saviour of our souls;
and with dread glory and mighty power He is coming again
to judge the world which He fashioned.
Verse 7. Let Your ears be attentive / to the voice of my supplications!
An Angel proclaimed You, the crucified and buried Master,
and said to the women,
Come, see where the Lord was lying.
For he has risen as he said,
as all-powerful.
Therefore we worship You,
the only immortal.
O Christ, Giver of life, have mercy on us.
For the Afterfeast of the Dormition, in the Second Tone
Verse 6. If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? / But there is forgiveness with You.
With what unworthy lips shall we bless the Theotokos, who is more honorable than creation and more holy than the cherubim and all the angels: the immovable throne of the King, whereon the Most High dwelt; the salvation of the world, the sanctity of God, who on her divine memorial doth richly grant great mercy to the faithful?
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.
What hymns of awe did the apostles of the Word offer thee, O Virgin, when they all stood round about thy bier, crying out in fear: “The palace of the King departeth, the ark of sanctification is exalted, the gates are thrown wide, that the portal of God may enter into joy, unceasingly asking great mercy for the world”?
Verse 4. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, / let Israel hope on the Lord!
What spiritual hymns shall we now offer thee, O most holy one? For thou hast sanctified the whole world by thy deathless dormition, and hast passed over to the things which are above the world, that thou mightest comprehend the beauty of the Almighty and rejoice with Him as His Mother, O pure one, the angelic ranks and the souls of the righteous escorting thee. With them ask peace and great mercy for us.
For the Image Not-Made-by-Hands, in the Second Tone
Verse 3. For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption, / and He will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.
With what eyes shall we mortals look upon Thine image, shining with divine light, upon which the angelic armies cannot readily gaze? For it departeth from the land of the infidel today, and cometh to the Imperial City and to pious people, at the behest of God. Kings attend upon its elevation, falling down before it with fear and faith, O Christ.
Verse 2. Praise the Lord, all nations! / Praise Him, all peoples!
With what hands defiled by sins shall we, the earthly, touch Thine image, O Word, our sinless God, Who art inaccessible to the defiled? The cherubim cover their eyes, trembling; the seraphim cannot bear to look upon Thy glory, and creation travaileth for Thee in fear. Wherefore, O Christ, condemn us not, who unworthily kiss Thy countenance with fear and faith.
Verse 1. For His mercy is confirmed on us, / and the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Again the divine day of the Master's solemnity hath dawned! For behold! He Who sitteth in the highest hath now manifestly visited us in His image. The Invisible One Who is in the highest is seen by the cherubim to be circumscribed, likening Himself to that which was ineffably fashioned by the all-pure finger of the Father in His likeness. And falling down before it with faith and love, we are sanctified.
VII. Glory … Now and Ever
Doxastikon of the Feast, in the First Tone
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
At the divine behest, the God-bearing apostles were caught up from whence they were, and, coming to thine all-pure and life-creating body, they venerated it with love. And the hosts of heaven above, arriving with their Master, were seized with awe as they accompanied the all-pure body which had received God; and they went forth in beauty and cried aloud invisibly to the hierarchies above: “Behold! the divine Maiden, the Queen of all, is come! Lift up your gates, and receive her above the world, who is the Mother of everlasting Light; for it is through her that salvation hath come to all the human race. We cannot gaze upon her, we are unable to render her fitting honor; for her excellence passeth all understanding!” Wherefore, O all-pure Theotokos, dwelling ever with thy life-bearing King and Offspring, pray thou without ceasing, that He preserve and save thy new people from every attack of the adversary; for we have acquired thine intercession, manifestly blessing thee with splendor forever.
The Dogmatikon of the Second Tone
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The shadow of the Law is passed away
with the coming of grace;
for as the bush was not consumed when it was burning,
thus as a Virgin did You give birth,
and a Virgin You did remain.
In the stead of a pillar of fire, there has arisen the Sun of Righteousness;
in the stead of Moses, Christ,
the Salvation of our souls.
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. 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.
XI. 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.
XII. In Place of the Litany of Supplication
First Cantor: Lord have mercy. (Twelve times). Glory … now and ever…
Second Cantor: Amen.
XIII. The Apostikha
For the Resurrection, in the Second Tone
Your Resurrection, O Christ Saviour,
has enlightened the whole inhabited world;
and You have called back Your own creation.
All-powerful Lord, glory to You!
Verse 1. The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty!
By the Tree, O Saviour,
You have removed the curse that was caused by a tree;
and by Your burial You have caused the might of death to die.
You have illumined our race by Your Resurrection.
Wherefore, do we shout to You, O Christ our Lord,
Giver of life, glory to You.
Verse 2. For He has established the world, / so that it shall never be moved.
O Christ, when You were seen nailed upon the Cross,
You inverted the beauty of creation.
Yet withal did the soldiers show brutality when they pierced Your side with a spear.
And the Hebrews did not comprehend the might of Your authority,
seeking to seal Your tomb.
But You, Who for the compassion of Your mercies did accept a tomb,
and did rise in three days,
O Lord, glory to You.
Verse 3. Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, / forevermore!
O Christ God, O Giver of life,
You bore the Passion willingly for the sake of the dead.
You descended into Hades, for You are mighty,
and snatched away from the hand of the proud one
those who there awaited Your coming,
bestowing paradise upon them for an abode instead of Hades.
Wherefore, we beseech You
to give us who glorify Your third-day Resurrection forgiveness of sins,
and the Great Mercy.
XIV. Glory … Now and Ever
Doxastikon of the Feast, in the Fourth Tone
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
When thou didst depart unto Him Who had been ineffably born of thee, O Virgin Theotokos, James the brother of God and first bishop was present, with Peter, the most honorable and preëminent, the foremost of theologians, and the whole divine choir of the apostles, hymning the divine and awesome mystery of God's dispensation with manifest theology; and, burying thy Life-giving and God-receiving body, they rejoiced, O most hymned one. And regarding one another, they said, marvelling at the wonders of her who transcendeth the all-holy senior ranks of the angels: “Lift up your gates and receive her who gave birth to the Creator of heaven and earth, and with glorifications let us hymn the precious and holy body which contained the Lord Who is invisible to us.” Wherefore, celebrating thy memory, we also cry out to thee, O all-hymned one: Exalt the horn of Christians and save our souls!
XV. 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.
XVI. 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.
XVII. The Troparia
Resurrection Troparion, in the Second Tone
All: When You descended to death, O Life immortal, You destroyed hades with the lightning of Your divinity. And when from the depths You raised the dead, all the powers of heaven cried out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You.
Troparion of the Image, in the Second Tone
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We bow down before Thine all-pure image, O Good One, asking forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ God; for Thou wast well pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh of Thine own will, that what Thou hadst created Thou mightest save from slavery to the enemy. Wherefore, we cry out to Thee in thanksgiving: Thou hast filled all things with joy, O our Savior, Who hast come to save the world.
Troparion of the Feast, in the First Tone
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
In giving birth thou didst preserve thy virginity, and in thy falling asleep thou hast not forsaken the world, O Theotokos. Thou hast been translated to life, as thou art the Mother of Life. And by thy supplications thou dost deliver our souls from death.
XVIII. 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.)