ke tmithisa to xifi, is Ouranious

thalamous meta Sou sinisilthen. O

Makarias Mitros! O aston Ieron! Ous
ethilasas Makar Eleftherie, ke tis
fiseos ton Plastin epegnos. Sin afti
oun presveve, eleithine tas psihas
imon.

Ke

nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton

eonon.
Amin.

kissed Thee her sweet son. For

this she, too, was beheaded, and
together with Thee, she entered the
Heavenly Chambers. Such a Blessed
Mother!
Truly Sacred were her
breasts that had nursed Thee, O
Blessed Eleftherios; and from her
Thou came to know the Fashioner of
Nature. Together, now, Intercede for
us, that our souls find Mercy.
Now and ever, and to the Ages of
ages.
Amen

THEOTOKION TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

Despina prosdexe,

tas deisis ton doulon

Sou, ke Litrose imas, apo pasis
anagkis ke thlipseos.

Lady, receive the Supplications of

Thy Servants, and Deliver us from all
necessity and affliction.

THE PRAYER OF ST SYMEON TRISAGION

PRAYERS & OUR LORDS PRAYER
FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST EULEFTHERIOS - TONE (5) PLAGAL 1

Iereon

podiri katakosmoumenos, ke
ematon tis rithris epistazomenos, to
Despoti Sou Hristo Makar aedrames,
Eleftherie Sofe, kathereta tou Satan.
Dio mi pafsi presvevon, iper ton Pisti
timonton, tin Makarian Sou Athlisin.

Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati,

ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton

eonon.
Amin

Thou

were fully adorned with the

Priestly Robes. Thou were dripping
with streams of Thine own Martyric
Blood. In this state, Thou ran to
Christ Thy Master, O Blessed Saint,
Eleftherios, Destroyer of Satan
Thou art wise. Therefore, cease not
Intercedig for us who loyally honour
Thy Blessed Contest of Martyrdom.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and
forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amen

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Festal Vespers Hymns

15 December
St Eleftherios of Illyria

Also the Feast of St Anthea, mother of St Eleftherios & St Caribos the Eparch of Illyria
St Paul of Latros St Stephen the Confessor & Archbishop of Surrentium (Sourozh)
St Tryphon the Abbot & St Jonah, his Disciple, of Pechenga (Kolsk) St Pardos
the Hermit of Palestine St Hilarion, Archbishop of Vereiya St Nektarios of Bitel.

THEOTOKION TONE (5) PLAGAL 1

Here,

Pili Kyriou i adiodevtos!. Here,

Tihos ke Skepi ton prostrehonton is
Se! Here, Ahimaste Limin ke
Apirogame! I tekousa en Sarki ton
piiton Sou ke Theon, Presvevousa mi
Ellipis iper ton animnounton ke
Proskinounton ton Tokon Sou.

Hail,

DISMISSAL BLESSINGS

O Impassable Gate of the Lord!

Hail, Wall and Shelter of those who
take refuge in Thee! Hail, O
Stormless Haven and Unwedded One
who brought forth in the Flesh Thy
Maker and Thy God! Ceaselessly
Intercede on behalf of those who
extol and worship the Son Thou
Bore.

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

By the Grace of God

COMPILED, ADAPTED, EDITED & PRINTED BY MARGUERITE PAIZIS
ARCHONDISSA & TEACHER BY DIVINE GRACE
GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE OF ALEXANDRIA & ALL AFRICA

RE-EDITED & PUBLISHED - 24 OCTOBER 2016

8.

FESTAL VESPERS ST ELEUTHERIOS

OF

ILLYRIA 15 DECEMBER

NOT FOR MATERIAL PROFIT

THE PROKEIMENON

OF THE DAY

O Theos,

St Eleutherios of Illyrios
"From a Good Tree comes Good Fruit. This wonderful Saint had
noble and greatly eminent parents. St Eleftherios was born in
Rome, where his father was an Imperial Proconsul. His mother, S
Anthia heard the Gospel from the great Apostle, St Paul and was
Baptized by him. Having been left a widow early, she entrusted her
only son for study
study and service to St Anicetos the Bishop of Rome.
Rome.

en to Onomati Sou Soson me,

ke en ti Dinami Sou Krinis me.

O Theos, isakouson tis prosevhis

mou, enotise ta rimata tou stomatos
mou.

2.

FESTAL VESPERS ST ELEUTHERIOS

OF

ILLYRIA 15 DECEMBER

Save me, O God, for Thy

Names sake,
and Judge me by Thy Might.

O God, hear my Prayer and hear

the words of my mouth.

STIHOS

VERSE

O Theos,

Save

en to Onomati Sou Soson me,

ke en ti Dinami Sou Krinis me.

O LORD, KEEP US THIS

SUPPLICATION II

EVENING WITHOUT
TO KRATOS...

me, O God, for Thy Names sake,

and Judge me by Thyr Might.

SIN...

&

THE

LITANIES

OF

FERVENT

FESTAL APOSTIHA ST ELEFTHERIOS - TONE 1

Tis Ekklisias prostatis Pater genomenos, Of

os Evanthias gonos, tis Theofronos
ontos, ke mstis Apostolon os Alithos,
pros ton Theon epistrefis laous, tous
prin afronos to sevas ia Theis,
aponemontas tis Demosin.

(PROLOGUE BY ST NICHOLAS)

Having carefully observed how St Eleftherios was Gifted and Illumined

by the Grace of God, the Bishop ordained him a Deacon at the age
of fifteen, a Priest at the age of eighteen, and a Bishop at the age of
twenty.
St Eleftherios' God-given Wisdom made up for what he lacked in
years, and this Chosen One of God was appointed Bishop of
Illyria, with his seat in Valona (Avlona), Albania.
The Good Shepherd guarded his Flock well and increased their
number day by day.
In 120, Emperor Hadrian, a persecutor of Christians, sent the
Commander, Felix, with soldiers to seize St Eleftherios and take
him to Rome.
When the fierce Commander Felix arrived in Valona and entered the
church, he saw and heard the Holy Hierarch of God and in that
very instant his heart changed, and he became a Christian.
St Eleftherios Baptized the Commander,Felix, and joyfully departed
for Rome with him - as if he were going to a Feast and not to his
unjust trial, brutal torture and untimely death.
Emperor Hadrian subjected the noble St Eleftherios to the most
excruciating torture: flogging, roasting on an iron plate, boiling in
pitch, and burning in a fiery furnace.
However, St Eleftherios was Miraculously Delivered from all these
hideous tortures by Divine Power and Grace.
Having witnessed the Martyrdom of St Eleftherios - and particularly
noticing his Miraculous Endurance and unshakable Faith in the
One True Living God - the Roman Eparch, Caribos believed in
Christ and boldly declared himself to be Christian, whereupon he,

WEDNESDAY PSALM 53

Ieris Sou, Kyrie, endisonte Dikeosiin,

ke i Osii Sou Agalliasi Agaliasonte.

Ton

epitokon gineon Pater kidomenos,

eleftherian didos, to Nao Sou fitoses,
evplian de palin allis Thermos,
exetousin epedokas, ke tis nosousin
igian Si horigis, dialampon en tis
thavmasi.

Godly Evanthia Thou were indeed

the son, and Thou beame the Strong
Protector of the Church, O Father, in
Truth by the Apostles Thou had
been taught, and Thou turned many
people who formerly worshipped the
demons as if their gods, and Thou
brought them to the Only God.

Thy

Priests shall clothe themselves in

Righteousness;
Thy Saints shall
greatly Rejoice.

Thou

are well-known, Holy Father, for

many Miracles.
Thou cared for
pregnant women who had come to
Thy Temple, and helped them to
deliver their children with ease; and
to those who Entreated Thee
intently, Thou granted smooth
sailing. Even now, Thou disperse
good health to those who are sick.

Dikeos os fix anthisi, osi i kedros i en The

Righteous shall flourish like a

palm tree; he shall be multiplied
like the Cear in Lebanon.

to Livano plithinthisete.

Tou

Steadfastly

Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

Martyriou tous athlous sterros

ipinegkas, Adrianou mi ptixas, tas
drimias kolasis, eroti tou Ktistou
olous alous, Eleftherie Pansofe, ke tin
tekousan Se sinathlon proslavon,
anelilithas githomenos.

Thou did endure all the

Feats of Martyrdom. Thou were not
frightened facing all of Hadrians
tortures, for Love of Thy Creator had
conquered Thee, O All
Wise
Eleftherios. Thy Mother joined Thee
in Martyrdom, and with Joy Thou
ascended to the Courts on High.
and to the Holy Spirit

FESTAL APOSTIHA ST ELEFTHERIOS - TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

Tis

Ierarhias Sou Osie Pater, tin stolin

efinixas, tes roes ton ematon Sou. En
meso de tou stadiou andrikos
teliothenta idousa Se, epipesousa
isazeto to gliki teknon, i kalos
gennisameni ke threpsameni Se. Dio

FESTAL VESPERS ST ELEUTHERIOS

Devout Father, Thy Episcopal

vestments were dyed red in the
pools of Thy blood.
When Thy
Mother who raised Thee well beheld
how bravely Thou died in the middle
of the stadium, she embraced and
OF

ILLYRIA 15 DECEMBER

7.

Kalos

ton agona Se, tetheameni

telesanta, i kalos Se kiisasa, ton ison
pothisasa,
dianise
dromon,
Si
periplakisa, meson ton skammatos
sofe, kathaper damalis aposfattete.
Meth is Se iketevomen, iper imon
Eleftherie, ton Sotira ke Kyrion,
ekdisopi Panolvie.

Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati

When

Thy Blessed Mother saw that

Thou had finished the Contest well,
she who did well in bearing Thee,
desired to run the same race as
Thou, her son, had. As she held Thy
body in the Arena where Thou lay,
she, like a heifer, was slaughtered
there as well. We fervently Entreat
Thee both to pray in earnest on our
behalf to our Lord God and Saviour,
Christ, O All Blessed Eleftherios.
Glory to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Spirit

ST ELEFTHERIOS TONE (6) PLAGAL 2

Ierefs

ennomotatos,
mehri
telous
ehrimatisas,
maker
Eleftherie.
Ierourgon gar ta Thia ke arrita
mystiria, to ema Sou exeheas iper
Hristou tou Theou, ke Thima
evprosdekton seafton prosigages. Dio
parrisian ehon pros afton, ektenos
iketeve, iper ton Pisti telounton Sin
aisevaston mnimin, ke tous aftin
gererontas risthine pirasmon, ke
pantion kininon ke peristaseon.

Ke

nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton

eonon.
Amin

Thou were a Canonical Priest until the

end, O Blessed Eleftherios; for Thou
performed the Divine and Ineffable
Sacraments, and then spilt Thy own
blood for Christ God, and thus Thou
offered Thyself as an acceptable
Sacrifice.
Since Thou now hast
confidence before Him, earnestly
pray for those who loyally observe
and honour Thy Ever Venerable
Memory, that they be Delivered
from temptations, and from every
peril and from difficult times.
Now and ever, and to the Ages of
ages.
Amen

THEOTOKION TONE (6) PLAGAL 2

Theotoke,

Si i i ampelos i alithini, i
vlastisasa ton karpon tis Zois, Se
iketevomen, Presveve Despina, meta
tou Athloforou ke panton ton Agion,
eleithine tas psihas imon.

TODAY

Theotokos, Thou art the True Vine that

produced the Fruit of Life. O Lady,
we fervently Entreat Thee to
Intercede along with the Martyr, and
all the Saints, that our soul be
treated mercifully.

THERE IS NO

ENTRANCE

THE EVENING HYMN TONE 2

Fos

Ilaron Agias Doxis, Athanatou

Patros, Ouraniou, Agiou, Makaros,
Iisou Hriste! Elthondes epi tin iliou
disin,
idontes
Fos
Esperinon,
imnoumen Patera, Ion ke Agion
Pnevma, Theon.
Axion Se en
pasi keris imnisthe fones esies, Ie
Theou, Zoin O didous dio O kosmos
Se Doxazi!

6.

O Gladsome Radiance of the Holy Glory

FESTAL VESPERS ST ELEUTHERIOS

of the Father Immortal, Heavenly,

Holy, Blessed Jesus Christ. Now that
we have come to the setting of the
sun and have seen the Evening Light,
we praise Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. For it is worthy that at all
times Thou should be praised by
voices encouraging, O Son of God,
the Giver of Life. For which cause the
Universe Glorifies Thee!

OF

ILLYRIA 15 DECEMBER

too, was immediately arrested and subjected to brutal sufferings at

the hands of the executioners before Reposing in Christ when he
was eventually beheaded by sword.
The same fate was endured by St Felix who, together with St
Eleftherios, was beheaded - and thus both were Spiritually
Perfected.
As St Anthia wept over the martyred body of her Beloved son, St
Eleftherios, she was also beheaded by sword.
Their bodies were translated to Valona, where even today St
Eleftherios Glorifies the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ by the many Divine Miracles that occur through his
Intercessory Prayers.
For centuries Orthodox Christians have considered St Eleutherios
and St Anthia to be the Holy Patron Saints of expectant mothers
and safe childbirth.
Their fame as Wonder Workers, the fact that they were mother and
son, and the implications of their names contributed to this belief,
for Eleftherios is a variant of the word Freedom in Greek while
Anthia is similar to Anthos which is Flower.
Furthermore, St Eleutherios is regarded as the Holy Protector of the
oppressed, prisoners and all those undergoing any kind of trial.
In addition, these two Saints, like St Kyprianos and St Justina, repel
and defeat all demonic influences.
Orthodox Christians who lived during the oppression of the Ottoman
Empire regarded St Eleutherios as their Holy Helper and
Champion in their quest for independence.
In Albania where the previous Communist regime had banned the
Orthodox Faith and all religion officially declaring that there
was no God in their country! these Miracle Working Saints
became the Patron Saints of the Orthodox Christian Resistance particularly amongst the Greek Epirote minority in the south of
Albania.
May their memories be Eternal and may they ceaselessly Intercede
with the Lord our God for our Eternal Salvation.

FESTAL VESPERS ST ELEUTHERIOS

OF

ILLYRIA 15 DECEMBER

3.

tou di imas pathi ferontos, ke

apathian vlisantos, athlita Eleutherie.

Festal Vespers Hymns St Eleftherios

KINDLY

USE

CAREFULLY

THE

VESPERS SERVICE BOOK

FOLLOW

INSTRUCTIONS

WIT

UNTIL

THIS

REGARD

TO

POINT.
THE

THEN

FOLLOWING

HYMNS & READINGS.

HYMN

OF THE

EVENING INCENSE - PSALM 140/141 TONE 2

Kyrie

Lord,

Katevthinthito

Let

ekekraxa pros Se,

isakouson
mou.
Isakouson mou, Kyrie.
Kyrie, ekekraxa pros
Se, isakouson mou,
proshes ti foni tis
deiseos mou, en to
kekragene me pros Se,
isakouson mou Kyrie.
i prosevhi
mou
os
thimiama
enopion Sou. Eparsis
ton hiron mou Thisia
Esperini.
Isakouson
mou Kyrie!

I cry out to Thee:

hear me, O Lord! O
Lord, when I cry out to
Thee, hear me! Hear my
voice, when I cry out to
Thee! Hear me, O Lord!

Ean

If

Skevos

Thou

anomias paratirisis, Kyrie, Kyrie,

tis ipostisete? Oti para Si O ilasmos
estin.

Ierotaton, Pnevmatos Thiou

gegenise, tin psihin kathiramenos,
pathon Ierotate.
Enthen hrisma
Thion, Agion edexo, Arhierefs Si
gegonos,
ke
podigetis
laou
Theofronos, ke martys aparatrotos,
tou di imas pathi ferontos, ke
apathian vlisantos, athlita Eleutherie.

TONE 4

Thou, O Lord, should mark

transgression, O Lord, who would
stand?
For there is Forgiveness
with Thee.

Eneken tou Onomatos Sou ipemina Se, Because

Skevos

Ierotaton, Pnevmatos Thiou

gegenise, tin psihin kathiramenos,
pathon Ierotate.
Enthen hrisma
Thion, Agion edexo, Arhierefs Si
gegonos,
ke
podigetis
laou
Theofronos, ke martys aparatrotos,

4.

From

Somatos

Thou

Filaktis proias mehri niktos, apo

filakis proias, elpisato Israil epi ton
Kyrion.

ilogisas,
ekizomenou
tes
mastixi, ke piri prosengizontos ton
noun gar prosiloss, anikasto potho, to
oreotato, kalli tou Thiou erastou. Si
to glikio etrothis eroti, Martyron
egkallopisma, Arhiereon aglaisma,
athlita Eleftherie, presvevta ton
psihon imon.

the morning watch until night;

from the morning watch until night
let Israel Hope in the Lord.

paid no attention to Thy body

tortured by whips and barbs and
brought near to the burning flames
for Thou nailed Thy soul and mind
to the handsome beauty of Thy
Divine Lovers with ardent longing,
and were pricked by His intense,
sweet and unifying Love. Thou art
the Gem of Martyr all and the
adornment of Hierarchs, Martyr, St
Eleftherios, Intercessor on our
behalf.
the Lord there is Mercy, and
with Him is Abundant Redemption;
and He will Redeem Israel from all
his transgressions.

afto Litrosis. Ke aftos Litrosete ton

Israil ek pason ton anomion aftou.

became a Sacred Vessel of the

Holy Spirit of God when Thy Soul
had been Purified of passions, O
Sacred Man;
then by Ordination
Thou received the Holy, Divine
Anointing and became Bishop and
Guide of the Holy People of God, O
Martyr Eleftherios, and an unfailing
witness of Christ Who had suffered
for us and poured out dispassion for
all mankind.
of Thy Law, O Lord, I waited
for Thee; my soul waited for Thy
Word. My soul Hopes in the Lord.

Kyrie; Ipeminen i psihi mou is ton

Logon Sou, ilpisen i psihi mou epi
ton Kyrion.

Apo

Oti para to Kyrio to Eleos ke polli par For with

my Prayer rise before

Thee like incense - the
lifting up of my hands
as
the
Evening
Sacrifice. Hear me, O
Lord!

FESTAL PROSOMIA ST ELEUTHERIOS -

Guide of the Holy People of God, O

Martyr Eleftherios, and an unfailing
witness of Christ Who had suffered
for us and poured out dispassion for
all mankind.

Somatos

Thou

Enite

Praise

Kalos

When

ilogisas,
ekizomenou
tes
mastixi, ke piri prosengizontos ton
noun gar prosiloss, anikasto potho, to
oreotato, kalli tou Thiou erastou. Si
to glikio etrothis eroti, Martyron
egkallopisma, Arhiereon aglaisma,
athlita Eleftherie, presvevta ton
psihon imon.

ton Kyrion panta ta Ethni!

Epenesate Afton pantes i Lai!
ton agona Se, tetheameni
telesanta, i kalos Se kiisasa, ton ison
pothisasa,
dianise
dromon,
Si
periplakisa, meson ton skammatos
sofe, kathaper damalis aposfattete.
Meth is Se iketevomen, iper imon
Eleftherie, ton Sotira ke Kyrion,
ekdisopi Panolvie.

paid no attention to Thy body

tortured by whips and barbs and
brought near to the burning flames
for Thou nailed Thy soul and mind
to the handsome beauty of Thy
Divine Lovers with ardent longing,
and were pricked by His intense,
sweet and unifying Love. Thou art
the Gem of Martyr all and the
adornment of Hierarchs, Martyr, St
Eleftherios, Intercessor on our
behalf.

the Lord, all Gentiles!

Him, all you people!

Thou

FESTAL VESPERS ST ELEUTHERIOS

became a Sacred Vessel of the

Holy Spirit of God when Thy Soul
had been Purified of passions, O
Sacred Man;
then by Ordination
Thou received the Holy, Divine
Anointing and became Bishop and
OF

ILLYRIA 15 DECEMBER

Praise

Thy Blessed Mother saw that

Thou had finished the Contest well,
she who did well in bearing Thee,
desired to run the same race as
Thou, her son, had. As she held Thy
body in the Arena where Thou lay,
she, like a heifer, was slaughtered
there as well. We fervently Entreat
Thee both to pray in earnest on our
behalf to our Lord God and Saviour,
Christ, O All Blessed Eleftherios.

Oti ekrateothi to Eleos Aftou ef imas, For

ke i alithia tou Kyriou meni is ton
eona.

FESTAL VESPERS ST ELEUTHERIOS

His Mercy rules over us; and the

Truth of the Lord endures forever.

OF

ILLYRIA 15 DECEMBER

5.