Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

By the Grace of God

COMPILED, ADAPTED, EDITED & PRINTED Festal Vespers Hymns & Readings
BY
MARGUERITE PAIZIS
ARCHONDISSA & TEACHER BY DIVINE GRACE
GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE OF ALEXANDRIA & ALL AFRICA
ARCHDIOCESE OF GOOD HOPE
HOLY CHURCH OF THE DORMITION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
(25) 26 May 2017
PORT ELIZABETH
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA Third Finding of the Head of St John the Baptist
(COMMEMORATED TODAY SINCE YESTERDAY WAS THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST)
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Feast of St Karpos & St Alphaeus of the Seventy Apostle of Christ, and St Averkios &
PUBLISHED - 28 APRIL 2017 St Helen, the children of St Alphaeus - St George the New Great Holy Martyr of
Sofia, Bulgaria St Makarios the Abbot of Kalyazin Monastery, Uncovering of
his Holy Relics St John the Confessor of the Psichaita Lavra of
Constantinople St Augustine the Evangeliser of Canterbury, England &
Disciple of St Felix of Meassana

Our Eternal Gratitude to Pater Seraphim Dedes & all the contributing Translators for the
Greek & English texts that make our Worship a little easier to understand, to
participate and to appreciate.
Glory to God for His Great Mercy!
www.agesinitiatives.com

NOT FOR MATERIAL PROFIT

8. FESTAL VESPERS HYMNS ST JOHN BAPTIST HEAD 25-26 MAY 2017
 Festal Vespers Hymns & Readings - St John the Baptist
Kindly use the Service Book until this point, then carefully follow instructions
with regard to these Hymns
HYMN OF THE EVENING INCENSE

THE CONGREGATION MUST STAND
PSALM 140/141 TONE 2
Kyrie ekekraxa pros Se, isakouson mou. Lord, I cry out to Thee: hear me, O
Isakouson mou, Kyrie. Kyrie, Lord! O Lord, when I cry out to
ekekraxa pros Se, isakouson mou, Thee, hear me! Hear my voice, when I
proshes ti foni tis deiseos mou, en to cry out to Thee! Hear me, O Lord!
kekragene me pros Se, isakouson
mou Kyrie.
Katevthinthito i prosevhi mou os
thimiama enopion Sou. Eparsis ton
Let my Prayer rise before Thee like
incense - the lifting up of my hands
St John Klimakos
hiron mou Thisia Esperini. Isakouson as the Evening Sacrifice. Hear me, O
mou Kyrie! Lord!
FESTAL SRIHERA IDIOMELON - ASCENSION TONE 1
The Ladder of Divine Ascent
Ean anomias paratirisis, Kyrie, Kyrie, If Thou, O Lord, should mark
Every Virtuous Act we perform
tis ipostisete? Oti para Si O ilasmos transgression, O Lord, who would
estin. stand? For there is Forgiveness and this is particularly true concerning Prayer
with Thee.
should be done with great sensitivity.
Anelthon is Ouranous, othen ke By Ascending to Heavn, O Lord, when
Our soul prays with sensitivity
katilthes, mi easis imas orfanous Thou also descended, do not leave
Kyrie. Eltheto Sou to Pnema, feron us orphaned; may Thy Spirit come, when we have overcome anger.
Irinin to kosmo. Dixon tis iis ton bringing Peace to our world; show
anthropon, erga Dinameos Sou, Kyrie the children of mankind deeds of
Whatever is obtained
Filanthrope. Thy Power, O Lord Who Lovest as a result of long and persistent Prayers
mankind.
will remain.
Eneken tou Onomatos Sou ipemina Se, Because of Thy Law, O Lord, I waited
Kyrie; Ipeminen i psihi mou is ton for Thee; my soul waited for Thy
Logon Sou, ilpisen i psihi mou epi Word. My soul Hopes in the Lord.
ton Kyrion.
Anilthes Hriste pros ton anarhon Patera Thou hast Ascended, O Christ to Thy
Sou, O ton aperigrapton aftou kolon Father Who is without beginning, yet
mi horisthis, ke prosthikin e Dinamis Thou were never parted from His
ti enesi tou Trisagiou ouk edexanto. Bosom, which is uncircumscribed;
All ena Iion, ke meta tin and the Heavenly Powrs accepted no
enanthropisin, egnorisan Se Kyrie, addition to the Thrice Holy Hymn of
Monogeni tou Patros. En plithi Son Praises, but acknowledged Thee, O
iktirmon, Eleison imas. Lord, as One Son, Only Begotten of
the Father, even after the
Incarnation. In the multitude of Thy
Pity, have Mercy on us.
Apo Filaktis proias mehri niktos, apo From the morning watch until night;
filakis proias, elpisato Israil epi ton from the morning watch until night
Kyrion. let Israel Hope in the Lord.

2. FESTAL VESPERS HYMNS ST JOHN BAPTIST HEAD 25-26 MAY 2017 FESTAL VESPERS HYMNS ST JOHN BAPTIST HEAD 25-26 MAY 2017 7.
 FESTAL APOSTIHA - ASCENSION TONE (6) PLAGAL 2
En tis oresi tis Agiis, theorountes Sou tas We
psiosis Hriste, to apavgasma tis Doxis
tou Patros, animnoumen Sou tin
fotoidi tou prosopou morfin,
proskinoumen Sou ta pathimata,
timomen tin Anastasin, tin Endoxon
Analipsin Doxazontes, eleison imas.
RETURN TO THE VESPERS SERVICE BOOK NIN
APOLIIS TON DOULON SOU... etc
FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST JOHN
Os Thion Thisavrisma, egkekrimmenon
ti Gi, Histos apekalipse tin kephalin
Sou imin, Profita ke Prodrome.
Pantes oun sinelthontes, en ti taftis
evresi, asmasi Theigoris, ton Sotira
imnoumen, ton Sozonta imas ek
fthoras tes ikesies Sou.
Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton
eonon.
Amin
FESTAL APOLYTIKION ASCENSION - TONE 4
Anelifthis en Doxi, Hriste O Theos imon, Thou
haropiisas tous Mathitas, ti epangelia
tou Agiou Pnevmatos, veveothenton
afton dia tis Evlogias, oti Si i O Iios
tou Theou, O litrotistou Kosmou. (3)
RETURN TO VESPERS SERVICE BOOK
DISMISSAL BLESSINGS
6. FESTAL VESPERS HYMNS ST JOHN BAPTIST HEAD 25-26 MAY 2017
have beheld Thine Exaltations on
those Holy Mountains, O Christ O
Thou Who art the Brightness of the
Fathers Glory! And we extol the
Resplendent Appearance of Thy
Face. We worship Thy Passion, we
Honour Thy Resurrection, and Thy
Glorious Ascension we Glorify! Have
Mercy on us.
THE BAPTIST TONE 4
Christ has revealed to us Thy Sacred
Head once again a Most Holy
Treasure hidden underground for so
long, O Prophet and Forerunner!
Wherefore, we have assembled for
the Feast of its Findin, singing our
God-Inspired Hymns in praise of our
Saviour, Who Saves us from
destruction, by Thine Earnest
Prayers to Him.
and to the Holy Spirit, now and
forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amen
Ascended in Glory, O Christ our
God, after Thou filled the Disciples
with Joy, by Promising to send the
Holy Spirit, and Thou Blessed them
and established their Faith, that
Thou art the Son of God Redeemer
of the world. (3)
I Angeli Sou Kyrie, tis Apostolis elegon.
Andres Galilei, ti estikate vlepontes is
ton Ouranon? Outos esti Hristo O
Theos, O analifthis af imon is ton
Ouranon, outos elefsete palin, on
tropn etheasasthe afton,
porevomenon is Ouranon, latrefsate
afto en Osiotiti ke Dikeosini.
FESTAL IDIOMELA ST JOHN THE BAPTIST & FORERUNNER - TONE (8) PLAGAL 4
Oti para to Kyrio to Eleos ke polli par For with
afto Litrosis. Ke aftos Litrosete ton
Israil ek pason ton anomion aftou.
Makar, Ioanni Prodrome, iper iliou
avgas anatilasa istrapsen, ek tis Gis i
Kara Sou, ke Pistous katelamprinen,
in osper Thion, thisavron ehontes,
plousian harin apariometha,
Agiazomeni, ke psihas ke somata, ke
logismous, ke panigirizontes, Se
Makarizomen.
Enite ton Kyrion panta ta Ethni!
Epenesate Afton pantes i Lai!
Harin aenaon vriousa, i Iera Kephali,
Sou Makarie Prodrome, Ieri
Theofroni, Agnoounti mniete, os
epispefsas, Pisti ke Hariti, safos piite
taftis tin evrisin, Agiaxomenos, Sin
lao Theofroni ke Vasili, pistin tin
Orthodoxon, thermos kratinonti.
Oti ekrateothi to Eleos Aftou ef imas, For
ke i Alithia tou Kyriou meni is ton
eona.
Tritin teloumen fanerosin, Sou tis septis O
Kepalis, in Trias Estefanosen,
ektmithisan Endoxe, dia zilon ton
entheon, ke ti evresi, taftis agalonte,
Angelon taxis, Martyron sillogos, Thii
Apostoli, ke Profite apantes, meth on
imon, pantote mnimoneve, Kyriou
Prodrome.
Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati
FESTAL VESPERS HYMNS ST JOHN BAPTIST HEAD 25-26 MAY 2017
Thine Angels, O Lord, said to Thine
Apostles: Men of Galilee! Why do
you stand looking upwards to
Heaven? This is Christ our God Who
is taken up from you into Heaven.
He will come again in the same
manner that you have beheld him
going to Heaven! Serve Him in
Holiness and Justice!
the Lord there is Mercy, and
with Him is Abundant Redemption;
and He will Redeem Israel from all
his transgressions.
O Blessed Foreunner, John, brighter
than the suns rays, Thy Head
dawned forth from the Earth, and
Enlightened the Faithful. Having it
as a Sacred Treasure, we obtain rich
Grace for ourselves, being Sanctified
in soul and body, and mind; and, as
we celebrate this Festival, we call
Thee Blessed.
Praise the Lord, all Gentiles! Praise
Him, all you people!
O Blessed Forernner, Thy Sacred Head
that pours forth Grace Everlasting, is
revealed to an unsuspecting Priest of
Godly mind, who clearly sought for
it in Faith and Grace. And he, with
the Godly-minded People and King,
is Sanctified and fervently
Strengthened in the Orthodox Faith.
His Mercy rules over us; and the
Truth of the Lord endures forever.
Glorious John, we celebrate the Third
Appearance of Thy Revered Head,
which the Trinity Crowned after it
had been cut off on account of Thy
Divine Zeal. And Ranks of Angels,
the Assembly of Martyrs, the Holy
Apostles, and all the Prophets
Glorify its recovery! With them,
remember us always, O Forerunner
of our Lord.
Glory to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Spirit
3.
 FESTAL PROSOMIA ST JOHN THE
Thisavros entheon doreon, i A Treasure of Godly Gifts is Thy Head,
theofrouritos kara Sou Prodrome, ek
ton tis Gis lagonon anetilen, in imis
Pistos arisameni, ke proskinountes
Endoxe, ploutoumen dia Sou Hristou
Vaptista, Thavmaton ta paradoxa, ke
ton ptesmaton tin sighorisin.
Ke nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton
eonon.
Amin
FOR ASCENSION TONE 2
Etehthis os aftos ithelisas, efanis, os
aftos ivoulithis, epathes sarki, O
Theos imon, ek nekron Anestis,
Patisas ton thanaton, Anelifthis en
Doxi, O ta simpanta pliron, ke
apestilas imin Pnevma Thion, ton
animnin ke Doxazin Sou tin Theotita.
RETURN TO THE VESPERS SERVICE THE ENTRANCE
FOS ILARON... 
FESTAL PROKEIMENON
O Theos imon en to Ourano ke en ti
Gi. Panta, osa ithelisen, epiisen.
1. En Exodo Israil ex Egyptou, Ikou
Iakov ek laou varvarou.
2. I Thalassa ide ke efigen, O Iourdanis
estrafi is to opiso!
3. Ti si esti, Thalassa, oti efiges, ke si,
Iordani, oti estrafis is ta opiso?
RETURN TO THE VESPERS SERVICE BOOK
FERVENT SUPPLICATIONS, ETC 
THE PRIEST CONTINUES ALOUD:
Ii to Kratos tis Vasilias Sou Evlogimenon Blessed and Glorified is the Power of
ke Dedoxasmenon, tou Patros, ke Thy Kingdom, of the Father, and
tou Iiou, ke tou Agiou Pnevmatos, nin
ke ai ke is tous eonas ton eonon.
Amin
FESTAL APOSTICHA ST JOHN BAPTIST HEAD
Defte tin Timian Kefalin, tin
apotmithisan to xifi, tou aptistou i
Pisti, simeron timisomen, en to evresi
aftis, ipantontes en asmasi, timontes
4. FESTAL VESPERS HYMNS ST JOHN BAPTIST HEAD 25-26 MAY 2017
BAPTIST - TONE (6) PLAGAL 2
O Forerunner. Guarded safely by
God, it came to light from the
hollows of the Earth. With Faith, we
gain possession of it, O Glorious
Baptist of Christ, and as we Venerate
it, we are Enriched through Thee by
the Wonders of Miracles and the
Foregiveness of transgressions.
Now and ever, and to the Ages of
ages.
Amen
Thou were born, as Thou Thyself so
Willed; Thou Appeared as Thou
Thyself so wished. Thou suffered in
the Flesh O our God. Thou Rose
from the dead, having trampled
Death. Thou were taken up in Glory
Thou who fillest the Universe, and
Thou sent us the Divine Spiriti, that
we might Extol and Glorify Thy
Divinity.
TONE (7) VARYS/GRAVE
Our God both in Heaven and on Earth
all things whatsoever He Wills, He
does.
1. In the Exodus of Israel from Egypt,
the House of Jacob from
foreigners.
2. The sea saw them and fled, the
Jordan turned back!
3. What is it to thee, O Sea, that thou
fled, and to thee, O Jordan, that
thou turned back?
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
now and forever, and unto the Ages
of Ages.
Amen
TONE 2
Come, the Precious Head of the Baptist
that was cut off by sword, let us
reverence today. Let us honour it
with loving songs for its discovery,
as It showers us with Gifts of
e pothou, Haritas proheousan, ton
iamaton imin, in per, O lirodis Irodis,
pale proapetemen istro, ti Irodiadi
simplekomenos.
Eki exanatelo Keras to David, itimasa
lihnon to Hristo Mou.
Osper ek matallon O hrisos, outos ek tis Like gold from the mines, so from the
Gis tou Prodromou, i kefali dadouhi,
Stamno dialampousa, ke
fthengomeni tranos, tou Irodou
eleghousa, mihian ke fonon, egli te
Fotizousa, tas dianias imon, in per,
aspazomeni Pisti, simeron timisomen
imnis, os iper imon heou
prevevousan.
Mnisthiti, Kyrie, tou David ke pasis tis Remember David, O Lord, and all his
praotitos aftou.
Pale osper Thios thisavros, stamno
kekrimeni i Kara, tou Vaptistou en ti
Gi, simeron tis perasin, apokaliptete,
osper ploutos proheousas, pigas
iamaton, nosous therapevousa,
psihas Fotizousa. Othen thimidias
apasis, Harin apolavontes imnis,
taftin evlavos egkomiasomen.
Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati
I ton Thion ennion pansevasmios thiki,
ke tis arritou Ousias traos i
provlepsasa, to mystirion Kara Sou,
os ek lagonon mitrikon, ek on tamion
tis Gis, simeron anantetalken, Ioanni
panevfime, ke evodiase pasan tin
ifilion, Agiasmou proheousa Myron,
ke noitos kirittousa Metanias Odon,
ke to Stiri ton olon presvevousa iper
ton psihon imon.
Ke nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton
eonon.
Amin.
FESTAL VESPERS HYMNS ST JOHN BAPTIST HEAD 25-26 MAY 2017
Healings. This is the Head that
foolish Herod severed long ago
when he was ensnared by Herodias
madness.
There shall I cause to spring up a
Horn for David; there I prepared a
Lamp for Mine Anointed.
Earth the Forerunners Head shone
like a torch, granting Light through
the Vessel and clearly speaking of
the shame of Herods adultery and
murder, and with Its Radiance
Illumining our thoughts, we kiss it
with Faith as we honour It with
Hymns today, as he Intercedes with
God on our behalf.
Meekness.
Like a Divine Treasure, hidden long ago
in a jar in the Earth, the Head of the
Baptist is revealed today to the ends
of the world. It pours forth
Fountains of Healings like riches,
Curing sickness and Enlightening
souls. Wherefore, Delighting in the
Grace of every Joy, let us all sing
Hymns of Praise to Christs
Forerunner.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit
Your Head that All Venerable
Repository of Divine Concepts,
which clearly foresaw the Mystery fo
the Ineffable Essence, has arisen
today out of the storehouses of
Earth, as though out of a mothers
womb, O John, who art worthy of all
praises. It poured forth the Fragrant
Oil of Sanctification and perfumed
everything under the sun. It
Spiritually Preaches the Way of
Repentance, and Intercedes with the
Saviour of all, on behalf of our soul.
Now and ever, and to the Ages of
ages.
Amen
5.