Hieromartyr Anthimos of Nicomedia and
Venerable Theoktistos, companion of Euthymios the Great
The text for the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is found in The Liturgikon.
We give only the variables here.
Priest: Blessed is the Kingdom…
Choir: Amen.
Come, let us worship and fall down before God our King.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
PSALM 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord my God, Thou hast been magnified …
(while the psalm is read, the priest quietly says the 5th, 6th, and 7th Lamp-lighting Prayers)
THE GREAT LITANY
THREE STASES OF THE PSALTER with LITTLE LITANIES “O LORD I HAVE CRIED” 1st Mode
Choir: O Lord, I have cried out unto Thee, hear Thou me; hear Thou me, O Lord. O Lord,
I have cried out unto Thee, hear Thou me. Give ear to the voice of my supplication when I cry out unto Thee: hear Thou me, O Lord.
Choir: Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as the incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice; hear Thou me, O Lord.
+ Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and a protecting door round about my lips.
+ Incline not my heart to evil words, to make excuses in sins.
+ With men that work iniquity; and I will not communicate with the choicest of them.
+ The just man shall correct me in mercy and shall reprove me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head.
+ For my prayer also shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased; their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up.
+ They shall hear my words, for they are sweet; as when the thickness of the earth is broken upon the ground, their bones are scattered by the side of hell.
+ But to Thee, O Lord, Lord, are mine eyes; in Thee have I put my trust, take not away my soul.
+ Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and the traps of the workers of iniquity.
+ Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst I alone escape.
+ I cried unto the Lord with my voice, with my voice unto the Lord, did I make my supplication.
+ I poured out my supplication before Him; I showed before Him my trouble.
+ When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path.
+ In the way wherein I walked have they secretly laid a snare for me.
+ I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me.
+ Refuge failed me; no one cared for my soul.
+ I cried unto Thee, O Lord; I said: Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
+ Attend unto my cry, for I am brought very low.
+ Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.
Verse 10. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy Name.
Since the gulf of my transgressions is great, O Saviour, and I sink grievously in mine offences, give me thy hand and save me, as thou didst save Peter, O God, and have mercy on me.
Verse 9. The righteous shall wait for me until Thou recompense me.
Since the gulf of my transgressions is great, O Saviour… (repeated)
Verse 8. Out of the depths have I cried to Thee, O Lord, Lord hear my voice.
Since I stand condemned by mine evil thoughts and deeds, O Saviour, grant me a mind to turn to thee, O God, that I may cry: Save me, O good Benefactor, and have mercy on me.
Verse 7. Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
Your confession in the stadium, O Saints, terrified the host of the demons and freed men from error. Wherefore, as ye were beheaded, ye cried: May the sacrifice of our lives be acceptable unto thee, O Lord, for out of longing for thee, we have disdained this fleeting life, O Friend of man.
For St. Anthimos in Tone One (**O all-lauded Martyrs**)
Verse 6. If Thou, O Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? For with Thee there is forgiveness.
Employing the dye of thine own blood, * thou didst make the godly vesture of thy priesthood resplendent, O all-blessed Anthimos. * For in true religion, * thou didst go from strength to strength, * from glory unto glory, O godly-minded Hierarch of the Lord; * intercede now with Him for us all, * that He grant peace * and Great Mercy to our souls.
Verse 5. Because of Thy name have I waited for Thee, O Lord; my soul hath waited upon Thy word, my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
At first, as a truly lawful priest, * O all-honored God-proclaimer, thou didst offer to God the dread unbloody Sacrifice; * but as His true Martyr, * thou didst lastly offer up * thine own self unto Christ through thy blood as an accepted sacrifice * and a pleasing whole-burnt offering. * Importune Him * for us all, who sing thy praise.
Verse 4. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch let Israel trust in the Lord. Thou broughtest a host of martyred Saints * unto Christ through thine exhortings and thy counsels, O godly-minded Father Anthimos, * giving admonition * and instruction unto them, * and giving thine own self as a manifest example for their sakes. * Now together with them, pray the Lord * that He grant peace * and Great Mercy to our souls.
For St. Theoktistos in Tone One (**O all-lauded Martyrs**)
Verse 3. For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is abundant redemption, and He will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.
Thy hallowed memorial today, * O our Father Theoktistos, maketh glad the assemblies of monastics, who rejoice * in the splendid beauty * of thy sacred way of life, * in all thy gifts of wonders, and in the beams of grace that shine in thee. * Intercede with Jesus Christ our Lord * that He grant peace * and Great Mercy to our souls.
Verse 2. Praise the Lord, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye people.
The enemy hosts were filled with fear, * all-famed Father Theoktistos, at the force and intensity of thine ascetic deeds; * and they were defeated * by thine unrelenting prayers, * for thou hadst gained Christ God as thy fellow worker laboring with thee;
* Whom do thou now fervently entreat * that He grant peace * and Great Mercy to our souls.
Verse 1. For His mercy is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endureth forever.
O thou who wast wondrous in all things, * thou wast truly God’s creation; for by keeping intact God’s image formed within thyself, * through thy conversation * and the great and ven’rable * monastic habit, thou didst show all that thou wast rightly named in truth. * Now, O Father Theoktistos, pray * Christ to grant peace * and Great Mercy to our souls.
DOXASTICON FOR ST. ANTHIMOS Plagal of 2nd Mode
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou wast an altogether lawful priest even until thine end, O blessed Anthimos; for, ministering the divine and ineffable Mysteries, thou didst shed thy blood for Christ God, and didst offer thyself to Him as an acceptable sacrifice; wherefore, since thou hast boldness with Him, entreat Him fervently for those who celebrate and honor thine ever-venerable memory with faith and love, that they may be delivered from all manner of temptations, perils, and afflictions.
THEOTOKION same mode
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O benign Lady, supplicate thy Son that he grant me pardon of all my transgressions, release me from the lot of those on the left side, and make me worthy of the kingdom.
Entrance with Censer
O GLADSOME LIGHT
CHOIR
O gladsome Light of the holy glory…
Deacon: Evening prokeimenon!
MONDAY PROKEIMENON 4th Mode
1st Chanter: The Lord will hearken unto me when I cry unto him.
Choir: The Lord will hearken… (repeated)
Vs. When I called upon thee, O God of my righteousness, thou didst hearken unto me.
1st Chanter: The Lord will hearken unto me
Choir: when I cry unto him.
Deacon: Wisdom!
READING from the PROPHECY of ISAIAH for a Hieromartyr
Reader: The reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah.
Deacon: Let us attend!
Reader:
Thus saith the Lord, All the nations have gathered together, and their rulers shall be gathered out of them. Who shall announce these things among them? or who shall make you to hear all from the beginning? Let them produce their witnesses and let them be vindicated; and let them speak the truth. Become My witnesses! I also am a witness, saith the Lord God, and My servant whom I have chosen; so that ye may know and believe in Me and understand that I AM. In my Presence, no other god has come to be, and after Me there shall be none. I am God, and beside Me there is no one who saves. I have made the proclamation and have saved; I brought reproach and there was no foreign (god) among you. Ye are My witnesses and I am the Lord God. Even from the beginning I AM; there is none who can deliver out of My hands. I shall act, and who shall reverse it? Thus saith the Lord God Who redeemeth you, (even) the Holy One of Israel.
NOTE: there is no prokeimenon of the prophecy. Continue immediately:
Reader: Give the command!
Priest: Wisdom! Aright! The Light of Christ appeareth to all!
READING from the WISDOM OF SOLOMON for venerable Theoktistos
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading from the Wisdom of Solomon.
Deacon: Let us attend!
Reader:
Though the righteous man come to his end, yet shall he be in repose; for honourable old age does not consist of a long span of time, nor is it measured by number of years. But a good mind is the gray head of men, and an unsullied way of life is the stature of the old man. He was pleasing to God and was loved by Him. Though he lived among sinners he was translated therefrom. He was snatched away, lest evil should alter his understanding, or treachery deceive his soul. For the enchantment of trivialities eclipses one’s awareness of good things, and the roving about of desire disturbs the mind which was free of evil. Although he completed his course in a short time, still he fulfilled long years; for his soul was pleasing to the Lord. For this reason He hastened him out from amidst the wicked. The peoples saw this but did not grasp it, neither did they lay such a thing to mind; namely, that there is grace and mercy among His chosen ones, and visitation among His venerable ones.
LET MY PRAYER ARISE
Priest intones this antiphon from Ps 140:
Let my prayer arise in thy sight as incense;
and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
The choir repeats this refrain, and then repeatedly after each of the verses from the priest. At the conclusion, the priest intones the refrain one last time with the choir completing it:
Priest: Let my prayer arise in thy sight as incense; and let the lifting up of my hands
Choir: be an evening sacrifice.
FERVENT EKTENIA
Deacon: Let us all say with our whole soul…
COMPLETION LITANY for PRESANCTIFIED
[Priest quietly says his prayer during the litany, O God of ineffable and unseen mysteries…]
Deacon: Let us complete our evening prayer unto the Lord.
For the precious Gifts set forth and presanctified, let us pray to the Lord…
THE PEACE with PRAYER OF BOWED HEADS
Followed by the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified as given in the Liturgikon.
At the end, after Psalms 33 and 144 are said, we conclude:
DISMISSAL
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord have mercy.
Priest: The blessing of the Lord and his mercy come upon you through his divine grace and love for mankind, always now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ our God and our Hope, glory to Thee.
Choir: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy (thrice). Master, bless.
May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother; by the might of the Precious and Life-giving Cross; by the protection of the honorable Bodiless Powers of Heaven; at the supplication of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable apostles; of our father among the saints, Gregory the Dialogist, pope of Rome; the holy, glorious and right-victorious martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing fathers; of Saints Peter & Paul, the patrons and protectors of this holy community; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; of the Hieromartyr Anthimos of Nicomedia; and Venerable Theoktistos, fellow ascetic with Euthymios the Great, whose memory we celebrate today, and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and loveth mankind.
Priest: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us.
Choir: Amen.
Portions of the Archdiocesan Service Texts include texts from The Menaion, The Great Horologion, The Pentecostarion, The Octoechos, The Triodion-Holy Week, and The Psalter of the Seventy, which are Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, Massachusetts, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, beyond printing out a single copy for personal non-commercial use, without the prior written authorization of Holy Transfiguration Monastery.