On Lord, I have cried…, 4 stichera, in Tone I—

Let us celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the Spirit, the conferral of the promise, the fulfillment of hope, the mystery as great as it is honorable; wherefore, we cry out to Thee: O Lord, Creator of all, glory to Thee! Twice

Thou didst renew Thy disciples, O Christ, with the tongues of foreigners, that thereby they might proclaim Thee the immortal Word and God, Who grantest our souls great mercy.

The Holy Spirit giveth all things: He poureth forth prophecies, ordaineth priests, hath taught wisdom to the unlettered and shown fishermen forth as theologians; and He assembleth the whole council of the Church. O Comforter, Who art consubstantial with the Father and the Son, glory to Thee!

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone VIII—

When Thou didst send Thy Spirit, O Lord, as the apostles were sitting, the Hebrew children, beholding this, were filled with awe, for they heard things spoken in other, strange tongues, as the Spirit imparted to them; for the ignorant were made wise, netting the nations for the Faith, and with eloquence they gave utterance to things divine. Wherefore, we cry out to Thee: O Lord Who didst appear on earth and save us from delusion, glory to Thee!

Aposticha stichera, in Tone II—

We have seen the true Light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true Faith, worshipping the indivisible Trinity, for He hath saved us.

Stichos: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

In the prophets Thou didst announce to us the path of salvation; and in the apostles Thou didst shine forth the grace of Thy Spirit, O our Savior. Thou art God in the beginning, Thou art also after all things, for forever Thou art our God!

Stichos: Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

I hymn Thee, the Savior of the world, in Thy courts; and bending my knees, I worship Thine invincible power. In the evening, in the morning, at noon-day, and at every time, I bless Thee, O Lord.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same tone—

Let us hymn the consubstantial Trinity—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; for thus did the prophets, the apostles and martyrs all proclaim.

Then, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…; Trisagion through Our Father. Exclamation. And the troparion of the feast, in Tone VIII—

Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who didst show forth the fishermen as all-wise, sending down upon them the Holy Spirit. O Thou Who lovest mankind, and by them hast netted the whole world, glory to Thee!

And the rest as usual. Dismissal.

After the Introductory Psalm, we chant the first kathisma of the Psalter.

On Lord, I have cried…, 10 stichera: 4 idiomela, in Tone I—

Let us celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the Spirit, the conferral of the promise, the fulfillment of hope, the mystery as great as it is honorable; wherefore, we cry out to Thee: O Lord, Creator of all, glory to Thee! Twice

Thou didst renew Thy disciples, O Christ, with the tongues of foreigners, that thereby they might proclaim Thee the immortal Word and God, Who granteth our souls great mercy.

The Holy Spirit giveth all things: He poureth forth prophecies, ordaineth priests, hath taught wisdom to the unlettered and shown fishermen forth as theologians; and He assembleth the whole council of the Church. O Comforter, Who art consubstantial with the Father and the Son, glory to Thee!

And 6 idiomela in Tone II—

We have seen the true Light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true Faith, worshipping the indivisible Trinity, for He hath saved us. Twice

In the prophets Thou didst announce to us the path of salvation; and in the apostles Thou didst shine forth the grace of Thy Spirit, O our Savior. Thou art God in the beginning, Thou art also after all things, for forever Thou art our God!

I hymn Thee, the Savior of the world, in Thy courts; and bending my knees, I worship Thine invincible power. In the evening, in the morning, at noon-day, and at every time, I bless Thee, O Lord.

Bending the knees of our souls and bodies in Thy courts, O Lord, we, the faithful, hymn Thee, the unoriginate Father, the Son equally without beginning, and the all-holy Spirit Who is equally eternal, Who enlighteneth and sanctifieth our souls.

Let us hymn the consubstantial Trinity—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; for thus did the prophets, the apostles and martyrs all proclaim.

Glory…, Now & ever…, the composition of Emperor Leo the Wise, in Tone VIII—

Come, ye people, and let us worship the Godhead in three Hypostases—the Son in the Father, with the Holy Spirit; for the Father timelessly begat the Son, Who is equally eternal and equally enthroned, and the Holy Spirit was glorified with the Son in the Father: one power, one essence, one Godhead. And worshipping Him, let us all say: O holy God Who hast wrought all things through the Son with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit! O holy Mighty One, by Whom we, have come to know the Father, and through Whom the Holy Spirit hath come into the world! O holy Immortal One, comforting Spirit, Who proceedest from the Father and dost rest in the Son! O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee!

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three readings:

Reading from Numbers

The Lord said to Moses: “Gather Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom thou thyself knowest that they are the elders of the people, and their scribes; and thou shalt bring them to the tabernacle of witness, and they shall stand there with thee. And I will go down, and speak there with thee; and I will take of the Spirit that is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear together with thee the assaults of the people, and thou shalt not bear them alone.” And Moses went out, and spake the words of the Lord to the people; and he gathered seventy of the elders of the people, and he set them round about the tabernacle. And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake to him, and took of the Spirit which was upon him, and put it upon the seventy men that were elders; and when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied and ceased. And there were two men left in the camp. The name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Modad; and the Spirit rested upon them, and these were of the number of those who were enrolled, but they did not come to the tabernacle; and they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, and spake, saying: “Eldad and Modad prophesy in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, who attended on Moses, the chosen one, said: “Lord Moses, forbid them.” And Moses said to him: “Art thou jealous on my account? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, whenever the Lord shall put His Spirit upon them.”

Reading from the Prophecy of Joel

Thus saith the Lord: “Rejoice and be glad, ye children of Sion, in the Lord your God; for He hath given you food fully, and will rain upon you the early and the latter rain, as before. And the floors shall be filled with wheat, and the presses shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will recompense you for the years which the locust, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, and the cankerworm have eaten, even My great army, which I sent against you. And ye shall eat abundantly, and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of the Lord your God for the things which He hath wrought wonderfully with you: and My people shall not be shamed forever. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and there is none else beside Me; and My people shall no more be ashamed forever. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. And on My servants and handmaids in those days will I pour out of My Spirit. And I will show wonders in heaven, and upon the earth: blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord is come. And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Reading from the Prophecy of Ezekiel

Thus saith the Lord: “I will take you out from the nations, and will gather you out of all the lands, and will bring you into your own land: and I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be purged from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols, and I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and will put a new spirit in you: and I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you, and will cause you to walk in Mine ordinances, and to keep My judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell upon the land which I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be to Me a people, and I will be to you a God.”

At Litia, these stichera idiomela, in Tone II—

In the prophets Thou didst announce to us the path of salvation; and in the apostles Thou didst shine forth the grace of Thy Spirit, O our Savior. Thou art God in the beginning, Thou art also after all things, for forever Thou art our God!

I hymn Thee, the Savior of the world, in Thy courts; and bending my knees, I worship Thine invincible power. In the evening, in the morning, at noon-day, and at every time, I bless Thee, O Lord.

Bending the knees of our souls and bodies in Thy courts, O Lord, we, the faithful, hymn Thee, the unoriginate Father, the Son equally without beginning, and all-holy Spirit Who is equally eternal, Who enlighteneth and sanctifieth our souls.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone VIII—

When Thou didst send Thy Spirit, O Lord, as the apostles were sitting, the Hebrew children, beholding this, were filled with awe, for they heard things spoken in other, strange tongues, as the Spirit imparted to them; for the ignorant were made wise and, netting the nations for the Faith, and with eloquence gave utterance to things divine. Wherefore, we cry out to Thee: O Lord Who didst appear on earth and save us from delusion, glory to Thee!

Aposticha stichera, in Tone VI—

Not understanding the powers of the all-holy Spirit, which were upon Thine apostles, O Lord, the nations thought the change of languages was due to drunkenness; but, made steadfast thereby, we unceasingly say thus: Take not Thy Holy Spirit from us, we entreat Thee, Who lovest mankind!

Stichos: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

The coming of the Holy Spirit, which filled Thine apostles, O Lord, enabled them to speak in other tongues; wherefore, what was all-glorious seemed as drunkenness to those who believed not, but to the faithful was the mediation of salvation. Vouchsafe also unto us His effulgence, we beseech Thee Who lovest mankind.

Stichos: Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

O heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Bestower of life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us of all defilement, and save our souls, O Good One.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone VIII—

Once, the languages were confused because of the audacity of the building of the tower; but now, the tongues are rendered wise because of the glory of the knowledge of God. There God condemned the ungodly for their transgression; and here Christ hath enlightened the fishermen with the Spirit. Then, as punishment, discord was established; now, concord is restored, unto the salvation of our souls.

Then, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…; Trisagion through Our Father. Exclamation.

At the blessing of the loaves, the troparion of the feast, in Tone VIII—

Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who didst show forth the fishermen as all-wise, sending down upon them the Holy Spirit. O Thou Who lovest mankind, and by them hast netted the whole world, glory to Thee! Thrice

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

If a vigil is not served, after Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…, the troparion of the feast, once.

After It is truly meet…, and the Trisagion, the kontakion of the feast.

Nocturns is chanted as usual, with the Canon of the Trinity, of the tone, from the Octoechos. 

At God is the Lord…, the troparion of the feast, thrice.

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Special Melody: Joseph marveled…—

O ye faithful, with splendor let us celebrate the last and final feast: this is Pentecost, the fulfillment and conferral of the promise; for thereon the fire of the Comforter descended to earth in the form of tongues, and enlightened the disciples and showed them to be initiates of heavenly mysteries. The light of the Comforter hath come and illumined the world! Twice

And a reading from the explanation of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of John, Homily 51: “In the last day…,” in two parts.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in the same tone & melody—

The wellspring of the Spirit, coming to earth, noetically divided into rivers of fire, and bedewed the apostles, enlightening them; and He was to them a bedewing cloud, a fire enlightening them, a flame raining down. Through them have we received grace, through fire and water. The light of the Comforter hath come and illumined the world. Twice

Polyeleos, and this magnification—

We magnify Thee, O Christ, Bestower of life, and we honor Thy most Holy Spirit, Whom Thou didst send from the Father upon Thy godly disciples.

Selected Psalm verses—

A The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands. [18:1]

B And all the might of them by the Spirit of His mouth. [32:6]

A The Lord looked down from heaven, He beheld all the sons of men. [32:13]

B Fire shall blaze before Him, and round about Him shall there be a mighty tempest. [49:4]

A Coals were kindled therefrom, and He bowed the heavens and came down [17:9-10]

B From the far-shining radiance that was before Him there passed by clouds. [17:12]

A All the ends of the earth shall remember and shall turn unto the Lord. [21:27]

B And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Him. [21:27]

A The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, bringing wisdom to infants. [18:7]

B The earth was shaken and the heavens dropped dew, at the presence of the God of Sinai. [67:9]

A A rain freely given shalt Thou ordain, O God, for Thine inheritance. [67:10]

B Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth. [44:15]

A Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. [18:4]

B Thou wilt send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created; and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. [103:31]

A Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness. [142:12]

B Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. [50:10]

A Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit away from me. [50:11]

B Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy governing Spirit establish me. [50:12]

A The Lord will give speech with great power to them that bring good tidings. [67:12]

B The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. [28:11]

Glory…, Now & ever…

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Thrice

After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Special Melody: That which was mystically commanded…—

After Thine arising from the tomb and Thy divine ascent to the heights of heaven, O compassionate Christ, Thou didst send down Thy glory to the witnesses of God, O Thou Who didst renew an upright Spirit for Thy disciples. Wherefore with the divine plectrum of language, like a musical harp, O Savior, Thou didst mystically make Thy dispensation clear unto all. Twice

And a reading from the writings of St. Gregory the Theologian.

Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV

Prokimenon, in Tone IV—

Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness.

Stichos: O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear unto my supplication.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Gospel According to John, §65 [20:19-23]

The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them: “Peace be unto you.” And when He had so said, He showed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again: “Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said unto them: “Receive ye the Holy Spirit: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”

We do not chant Having beheld the resurrection of Christ…, but straightway recite Psalm 50.

Then, Glory…: Through the supplications of the apostles…; Now & ever…: Through the supplications of the Theotokos…; then the verse: Have mercy on me, O God…; and the sticheron, in Tone VI—

O heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Bestower of life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us of all defilement, and save our souls, O Good One.

Two canons of the feast, the irmoi of each being chanted twice, with a total of 12 troparia.

Ode I

Canon I the acrostic whereof is “Let us celebrate Pentecost”, the composition of Cosmas the Monk, in Tone VII—

Irmos: He Who crusheth battles with His upraised arm covered Pharaoh and his chariots in the sea. Let us sing unto Him, for He hath been glorified!

As of old Thou didst promise the disciples, O Christ Who didst send the Comforting Spirit, Thou didst indeed shine forth light upon the world, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

That which of old was preached by the Law and the prophets hath been fulfilled; for today the grace of the divine Spirit hath been poured forth upon all the faithful.

Canon II composed in iambs by Kyr John Arklas, in Tone IV—

Irmos: He who was slow of speech, having been covered with divine darkness, gave utterance unto the divinely written law; for, having shaken off the mire from his noetic eyes, he beheld He Who Is and learned the understanding of the Spirit, uttering praise with hymns divine.

The pure and honored mouth said: “There shall not be division for you, O friends; for, sitting on the exalted throne of the Father, I will pour forth the Spirit, to shine forth abundant grace upon those who desire it.”

The Word most true, Who hath passed beyond the bounds of the earth, calmly perfecteth the heart; for having finished His work, Christ gladdened His friends, giving them the Spirit through the violent wind and the tongues of fire, as He promised.

As katavasia, the first choir chanteth the first irmos and the second choir the second.

Ode III

Canon I

Irmos: Unto the disciples Thou didst say, O Christ: “Remain ye in Jerusalem, until ye are invested with power from on high; and I will send another Comforter like Me, the Spirit of Me and of the Father, in Whom ye shall be established.”

The descending power of the Spirit of God divinely united into a single concord the sundered voices of those who of old wickedly agreed, bringing the faithful to understanding through the knowledge of the Trinity, in Whom we have been established.

Canon II

Irmos: Of old, the mere prayer to the mighty God of understandings by Hannah the Prophetess, who bore a contrite spirit, broke the bonds of her barren womb and the reproach of the child-bearing, which was hard to endure.

Unapproachable is the most divine Principle; for thereby have unlettered fishermen been shown to be rhetors, who shut the mouths of the sophists with their words and rescue countless souls from the depths of night with the radiance of the Spirit.

The omnipotent, shining Light proceeded from the unbegotten Light, Who, through the Son of the Father’s authority, now revealeth to the nations the conjoined effulgence, the fiery voice in Sion.

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Special Melody: That which was mystically commanded…—

Those who loved the Savior were filled with joy; those who before were fearful received boldness: for the Holy Spirit descended from on high today upon the dwelling of the disciples, and each spake to the people in other tongues; for visible tongues, like fire, were meted out, and this did not burn them, but instead bedewed them.

Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Ode IV

Canon I

Irmos: In latter times, the prophet, perceiving Thine advent, O Christ, cried aloud: I have heard of Thy power, O Lord, for Thou hast come to save all Thine anointed ones!

The Comforter, the true God Who spake in the prophets and was first preached by the Law to the imperfect, today becometh known to the servants and witnesses of the Word.

The Spirit Who beareth the sign of divinity apportioned Himself in fire unto the apostles, and was made manifest through strange tongues, for the divine Power of the Father, Who cometh, is self-bidden.

Canon II

Irmos: O Word, Thou King of kings, Who alone didst issue forth from the Father Who is without cause and Thy Spirit, Who is equal to Thee in might, Who are like unto Thee: As our Benefactor, Thou didst truly send forth the apostles, who chant: Glory to Thy dominion, O Lord!

Having prepared the divine washing of regeneration by Thy word, O compound Nature, Thou dost pour forth upon me a stream from Thy side, which was pierced incorruptibly, sealing me with the fervor of the Spirit, O Word of God.

All things bend the knee to the Comforter, and the Son of the Father, and the Father Who is with Them; for they have seen in the three Persons a Being Who is true, intangible, timeless, and one; for the grace of the Spirit hath shone forth light.

Let all, as many as are servants of the thrice-radiant Essence, be filled with the divine Principle; for Christ, as our Benefactor, in manner transcending nature perfecteth and shineth forth fiery light for our salvation, imparting all the grace of the Spirit.

Ode V

Canon I

Irmos: Out of fear of Thee, O Lord, the spirit of salvation was conceived among the prophets and born on earth; and it maketh the hearts of the apostles pure, and is restored, upright, upon the faithful. For Thy precepts are light and peace.

This Power, which hath come down today, is the good Spirit, the Spirit of the Wisdom of God, the Spirit Who proceedeth from the Father and is manifest to us, the faithful, through the Son: He is bestowed upon those in whom He dwelleth in the nature of holiness, wherein He is perceived.

Canon II

Irmos: O radiant children of the Church, receive ye the fiery dew of the Spirit, the delivering cleansing of sins; for now from Sion hath gone forth the law, the grace of the Spirit in tongues of fire.

As of His own accord He was well-pleased, the Spirit, Who is without a master, proceedeth from the _Father, making the apostles wise in tongues, sealing the life-bearing discourse, conformable and endued with the power of the Father, which the Savior uttered.

That He might heal men’s minds of sin, lo! God the Word, the Author of all, made the apostles an all-pure abode, wherein the light of the Spirit, Who is equal in power with Him and shareth His nature, now dwelleth.

Ode VI

Canon I

Irmos: Sailing amid the tumult of the cares of life, I founder with the ship of sin and am cast to the soul-destroying beast; yet like Jonah I cry to Thee, O Christ: Lead me up from the deadly abyss!

As Thou didst say, O Lord, Thou didst abundantly pour forth Thy Spirit upon all flesh, and all things were filled with the knowledge of Thee, for from the Father wast Thou the Son begotten without corruption, and the inseparable Spirit proceeded from Him.

Canon II

Irmos: O Christ Master, our purification and salvation, Thou didst shine forth from the Virgin, that Thou mightest rescue from corruption Adam, in whose fall our whole race fell, as thou didst save the Prophet Jonah from the belly of the sea monster.

O Almighty One, renew Thou within us who have received Him the true and upright Spirit, Who eternally proceedeth from the Father while remaining wholly united with Him, Who burneth away the defilement of hateful matter and washeth away the mire of evil thoughts.

Swiftly showing the words of heathen blandishments to be cruel, with fiery inspiration Thou dost confirm for the apostles, the dwellers in Sion who await Thy coming, their worthy desire: the Spirit of the Word Who was begotten of the Father.

Kontakion, in Tone VIII—

When, descending, the Most High confused the tongues, He divided the nations; but when He distributed tongues of fire He called all into unity; and together we glorify the most Holy Spirit.

Ikos: Grant speedy and certain consolation to Thy servants when our spirits are despondent, O Jesus. Leave not our souls in sorrows, neither depart from our thoughts amid evil circumstances; but go Thou always before us. Draw nigh unto us, draw nigh, O Thou Who art everywhere present, and as Thou wast ever with Thine apostles, so unite Thyself unto those who desire Thee, O Compassionate One, that, joined together we may hymn Thee and glorify Thy most Holy Spirit.

Synaxarion for the Sunday of Holy Pentecost

Stichos: Christ bestoweth the divine Spirit upon the apostles in tongues of fire, through a mighty wind./ The Spirit is poured forth upon the fishermen on the great day.

On this day, the eighth Sunday of Pascha, we celebrate Holy Pentecost, for we have received this from the books of the Jews. For as they celebrate Pentecost among them, honoring the number seven, and because they received the Law when they had passed fifty days after Passover, so do we, celebrating fifty days after Pascha, receive the most Holy Spirit, Who layeth down laws and guideth toward every truth, and ordaineth those things which are pleasing to God. Be it known that the Hebrews had three festivals: Pascha, Pentecost and Sukkoth, which is, the Feast of Booths. They celebrated Passover in memory of their being led across the Red Sea, for Passover meaneth passing over. And our feast is also such, signifying our passing over from the darkness of sin and our return to paradise. They celebrated Pentecost in memory of their suffering in the wilderness, and how through many tribulations they were brought into the promised land; for they enjoyed the fruit of wheat and wine. And this feast doth commemorate for us our affliction due to unbelief and our entry into the Church; for then we also receive communion of the Body and Blood of the Master. There are those who say that Pentecost is celebrated among the Jews for just this reason; while others say that this was in honor of the fifty days during which Moses, fasting, received the divinely inscribed Law; moreover, they also commemorated the sacrifice of the heifer and the other one carried out by Moses when he ascended the mountain and descended it. In the opinion of others, the Jewish Pentecost was established in honor of the number seven, as has been said; for, multiplied by itself, it gives the number fifty minus one. But the veneration for the number fifty not only extendeth to days, but also to years, for among them fifty years constituted a Jubilee. It was arrived at by multiplying seven years by the number seven. During it they left the ground fallow, and animals were allowed to rest and slaves were emancipated. The third feast is Sukkoth, which is celebrated after the harvesting of fruits, that is, five months after the feast of Passover. It was celebrated in memory of the day on which Moses first set up the tabernacle, which he had seen in the cloud on Mount Sinai and had been constructed by the artisan Bezaleel. Having set up booths, they celebrated this very feast in the fields, and, abiding there, gathered in the fruits of their labors with thanks to God. It seems that it was on the occasion of this feast that David wrote the superscription of the Psalm “Concerning the Press”. This feast was a prefiguration of our resurrection from the dead, when, after the decomposition of our bodily habitation and its re-creation, we will enjoy the fruits of our labors, celebrating in the eternal mansions. One should know that on this day of the celebration of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples. And since it pleased the holy fathers to divide the feasts because of the greatness of the most holy and life-creating Spirit, Who is One of the holy and life-creating Trinity, tomorrow we will relate how the Holy Spirit came down. Through the supplications of the holy apostles, O Christ our God, have mercy upon us. Amen.

Ode VII

Canon I

Irmos: Cast into the fiery furnace, the venerable children transformed the fire into dew, crying out thus in hymnody: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

When the apostles spake of the mighty works of God, the activity of the Spirit was taken by the unbelievers to be drunkenness; but thereby is the Trinity, the one God of our fathers, recognized.

In Orthodox manner let us theologize God, the unoriginate Father, and the Word and the Spirit, Who are equal in might, as the indivisible Nature, crying: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Canon II

Irmos: The melodious music of instruments sounded forth, calling men to worship the inanimate idol wrought of gold; but the radiant grace of the Comforter preferreth that they cry: O only Trinity, Who art equal in power and equally without beginning, blessed art Thou!

Failing to perceive the sound of uttered prophecy, the mindless said that it was drunkenness caused by wine when they heard the strange speech of the apostles; but we, the pious, cry out to Thee in godly manner: O Benefactor of all, blessed art Thou!

The godly Joel, Who saw visions of the divine Principle, thundered forth divine doctrine, saying: I shall pour forth of My Spirit, as discourse, upon those who cry out together: O radiant and three-voiced Nature, blessed art Thou!

The third hour was indeed fortunate in grace, that it might indicate the worship of three Hypostases in singleness of authority; but now on the first, the Lady of days, O Son, Father and Spirit, blessed art Thou.

Ode VIII

Canon I

Irmos: The bush on Sinai which partook of fire without being consumed revealed God unto Moses, who was slow of speech and spake with difficulty; and the zeal of God showed forth the three children in the fire as invincible, who chanted: Hymn the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely forever!

When the inspiration of the most Holy Spirit came down in the form of tongues of fire from heaven upon the fishermen with the sound of a rushing mighty wind, they proclaimed the mighty works of God: Hymn the Lord, all ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Come and, undaunted by the terrifying fire, let us ascend beyond the untouchable mountain and stand on Mount Sion, in the city of the living God, joining chorus now with the Spirit-bearing disciples, chanting: Hymn the Lord, all ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Canon II

Irmos: The thrice-radiant image of the Godhead looseth bonds and bedeweth the flame; and all of fashioned creation blesseth as its Benefactor the one Savior and Accomplisher of all.

Having heard the Father speak the words that save men, Christ said to the apostles: “In a vision of tongues of fire will the Spirit arrange to sit with blessing upon His own.” And creation, once alienated, doth hymn Thee.

O Thou Who alone art self-governing, self-emitting Light, Who bestowest light, Thou didst come as Savior, filling the apostles; and to Thy servants Thou givest the Spirit which filleth as an honored wind.

The mouths of the prophets, filled with the Spirit, sang of Thine advent in the body, O King, and of the Spirit Who issued forth to the faithful from the bosom of the Father—uncreated, the Author of things, equally enthroned—that they might worship the only Incarnation.

We do not chant the Magnificat.

Ode IX

Canon I

Irmos: O Mother who knewest not man, who gavest birth without experiencing corruption, and lent flesh to the Word Who hath fashioned all things, O Virgin Theotokos, thou receptacle of Him Whom naught can resist and dwelling-place of the Infinite: thee do we magnify.

Of old, the zealot of fiery inspiration was upborne, rejoicing, on the burning fiery chariot; and now, that Inspiration, Who hath shone forth from on high, hath manifested Himself to the apostles; and having been sanctified by Him, they spake of the Trinity unto all.

A strange thing, transcending the law of nature, hath been heard of the disciples; for when they spake with one voice through the grace of the Spirit, peoples, tribes and nations, each in its own way, learned of the mighty works of God, receiving the knowledge of the Trinity.

Canon II

Irmos: Rejoice, O Queen, thou glory of mothers and virgins! For even the most skillful and divinely eloquent mouth is not able to hymn thee as is meet; and every mind is at a loss to understand thy birthgiving. Wherefore, together we glorify thee.

It is fitting to hymn the Maiden who produced Life; for in her womb she hid the Word Who concealeth ailing human nature, and Who, now sitting at the right hand of the Father, hath sent forth the grace of the Spirit.

As many of us as divinely-flowing grace hath breathed upon are filled with light and splendor, changed by a strange and most magnificent alteration; and acknowledging the Wisdom which is equal in power and indivisible, we glorify the thrice-radiant Essence.

Exapostilarion: Special Melody: The heaven with stars…—

O most Holy Spirit, Who proceedest from the Father and through the Son didst come upon the unlettered disciples, save those who have acknowledged Thee as God, and have mercy upon them all. Twice

Glory…, Now & ever…: Another exapostilarion, to the same melody—

The Father is light, the Word is light, and the Holy Spirit is light, Who was sent upon the apostles in tongues of fire. By Him is the whole world enlightened to worship the Holy Trinity.

On the Praises, 6 stichera idiomela, in Tone IV—

All the gentiles beheld all-glorious things today in the city of David when the Holy Spirit descended in tongues of fire, as the divinely eloquent Luke doth relate, for he saith: “When the disciples were gathered, there was a sound as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting.” And they all began to speak in strange tongues, strange teachings, the strange commands of the Holy Trinity. Twice

The Holy Spirit hath always existed, is and shall be: without beginning, never ceasing, but ever reckoned and counted with the Father and the Son, life and the Creator of life, light and the Bestower of light, Himself good and the Source of goodness, in Whom the Father is recognized and the Son glorified, and by all is the one power, the one order, the single worship of the Holy Trinity acknowledged by all. Twice

The Holy Spirit is light and life, the noetic Source of life—the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, good, upright, noetic, possessing dominion, cleansing transgressions: God and deifying, Fire and transcending fire, speaking, acting, distributing gifts, by Whom all the prophets and the divine apostles and martyrs have been crowned. Strange is the report, strange the sight—fire distributed in the bestowal of gifts. Twice

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone VI—

O heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Bestower of life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us of all defilement, and save our souls, O Good One.

Great Doxology. Troparion of the feast. Litanies. And the priest intoneth the following dismissal—

May Christ our true God, Who from heaven sent the all-holy Spirit upon His holy disciples and apostles in the form of tongues of fire, through the supplications of His all-pure Mother, of the holy, glorious and most laudable apostles, and of all the saints, have mercy and save us, in that He is good and loveth mankind.

Antiphon I, in Tone II—

Stichos I: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands.

Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us. (and the same refrain after each stichos and Glory…; Now & ever…)

The second choir chanteth the same stichos: The heavens declare the glory of God…

Stichos II: Day unto day poureth forth speech, and night unto night proclaimeth knowledge.

Stichos III: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Glory…, Now & ever…

Antiphon II, in the same tone—

Stichos I: The Lord hear thee in the day of affliction; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee.

Refrain: O good Comforter, save us who chant unto Thee: Alleluia! (and the same refrain after each stichos)

The second choir chanteth the same stichos: The Lord hear thee in the day of affliction…

Stichos II: Let Him send forth unto thee help from His sanctuary, and out of Sion let Him help thee.

Stichos III: The Lord grant thee according to thy heart, and fulfil all thy purposes.

Glory…, Now & ever…: O only-begotten Son…

Antiphon III, in Tone VIII—

Stichos I: O Lord, in Thy strength the king shall be glad, and in Thy salvation shall he rejoice exceedingly.

Troparion, in the same tone—

Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who didst show forth the fishermen as all-wise, sending down upon them the Holy Spirit. O Thou Who lovest mankind, and by them hast netted the whole world, glory to Thee! (and the same troparion after each stichos)

The second choir chanteth the same stichos: O Lord, in Thy strength the king shall be glad…

Stichos II: The desire of his heart hast Thou granted unto him, and hast not denied him the requests of his lips.

Stichos III: Thou wentest before him with the blessings of goodness, Thou hast set upon his head a crown of precious stone.

Entrance verse: Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in Thy strength; we shall sing and chant of Thy mighty acts.

Troparion, in Tone VIII—

Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who didst show forth the fishermen as all-wise, sending down upon them the Holy Spirit. O Thou Who lovest mankind, and by them hast netted the whole world, glory to Thee!

Then, Glory…, Now & ever…: The kontakion, in the same tone—

When, descending, the Most High confused the tongues, He divided the nations; but when He distributed tongues of fire He called all into unity; and together we glorify the most Holy Spirit.

Instead of the Trisagion, we chant—

As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia.

Prokimenon, in Tone VIII—

Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Stichos: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands.

This prokimenon is chanted until the Leave-taking.

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, §3 [2:1-11]

In those days, when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another: “Behold, are not all these who speak Galilæans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians: we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”

Alleluia, in Tone I—

By the Word of the Lord were the heavens established, and all the might of them by the Spirit of His mouth.

Stichos: The Lord looked down from heaven, He beheld all the sons of men.

Gospel According to John, §27 [7:37-52, 8:12]

The last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying: “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He who believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (But this spake He of the Spirit, Whom those who believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said: “Of a truth this is the Prophet.” Others said: “This is the Christ.” But some said: “Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the Scripture said, that Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” So there was a division among the people because of Him. And some of them would have taken Him; but no man laid hands on Him. Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them: “Why have ye not brought Him?” The officers answered: “Never man spake like this Man.” Then answered them the Pharisees: ‘Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on Him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.” Nicodemus said unto them, (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them,): “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?” They answered and said unto him: “Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.” Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying: “I am the Light of the world: he who followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Instead of It is truly meet…, we chant, until the Leave-taking, the irmos: Rejoice, O Queen…

Communion verse—

Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness. Alleluia! Thrice

And after the dismissal of the Liturgy, the Ninth Hour is read, as is the custom.