Di

PRIEST

Amin

PEOPLE

evhon ton Agion Pateron imon,

Kyrie Iisou Hriste, O Theos imon,
eleison ke soson imas

Through the Prayers of our

Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our
God, have mercy on us and Save us.
Amen

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Festal Vespers Hymns

By the Grace of God

COMPILED, ADAPTED, EDITED & PRINTED
BY
MARGUERITE PAIZIS
ARCHONDISSA & TEACHER BY DIVINE GRACE
GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE OF ALEXANDRIA & ALL AFRICA
PO BOX 28348
SUNRIDGE PARK
6008
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

(Kindly use the Vespers Service Book together with these Hymns)

7 January
Synaxis of St John the Baptist

MARGUERITE.PAIZIS@GMAIL.COM

OR DOWNLOAD DIRECTLY FROM

MARGUERITE PAIZIS ON SCRIBD OR WWW.SCRIBD.COM/WRITERS4574

(LINKS ON FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, TWITTER & GOOGLE+)

RE-EDITED & PUBLISHED - 21 DECEMBER 2016

Tone 2
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

NOT FOR MATERIAL PROFIT

8. F E S T A L V E S P E R S H Y M N S S Y N A X I S

OF

ST JOHN

THE

BAP TIST 7 JANU ARY 2017

Kindly use the Vespers Service Book until

this point, then carefully follow instructions
pertaining to the following Hymns where
applicable.

descending like a dove, Confirmed

the certainty of the Word. O Christ
our God, Who Appeared and
Illumined the world: Glory to
Thee!

peristras, eveveou tou Logou to

sfales. O Epifanis Hriste O Theos, ke
ton kosmon Fotisas: Doxa Si!

DISMISSAL BLESSINGS

Sofia!
P R I E S T Wisdom!
O on Evlogitos, Hristos O Theos imon, Christ our God, the Eternal is Blessed,
Pantote, nin ke ai, ke is tous eonas
ton eonon.

HYMN

Kyrios
Orthodoxon
Orthodoxon
tafti Ekklisia
eonon.

EVENING INCENSE

OF THE

THE

Amin
Stereose

CONGREGATION

MUST STAND

PSALM 140/141 TONE 2

Kyrie

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.

Katevthinthito

i prosevhi
mou
os
thimiama
enopion Sou. Eparsis
ton hiron mou Thisia
Esperini.
Isakouson
mou Kyrie!

Lord,

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

anomias paratirisis, Kyrie, Kyrie,

tis ipostisete? Oti para Si O ilasmos
estin.

If

BAPTIST

TONE 2

Thou, O Lord, should mark

transgression, O Lord, who would
stand?
For there is Forgiveness
with Thee.
Illumination, O Lord, Who
Enlightens everyone, when the
Forerunner beheld Thee coming to
be Baptised, his soul Rejoiced, while
his hand trembled. He pointed at
Thee and said to the people: Behold,
the One Who Delivers Israil! The
One Who frees us from corruption! O
Sinless One, O Christ our God:
Glory to Thee!
O Thy Law, O Lord, I waited
for Thee; my soul waited for Thy
Word. My soul Hopes in the Lord.

OF

ST JOHN

THE

BAP TIST 7 JANU ARY 2017

and to the Holy Spirit, now and

forever, and to the Ages of ages.

Amin
Amen
Kyrie eleison (3)
Lord, have mercy. (3)
Pater Evlogison!
Father, Bless!
Doxa Si O Theos, i Elpis imon, Doxa Si! P R I E S T Glory to Thee,

O God our

Hope, Glory to Thee!

Hristos O Alithinos Theos imon, tes

Presvies
tis
Panahrantou
ke
Panamomoou Agias Aftou Mitros.
Dinami tou Timiou ke Zoopiou
Stavrou.
Prostasies tou Timiou,
Evdoxou Profitou, Prodromou ke
Vaptistou Ioannou.
Ton Agion
Endoxon ke Kallinikon Martyrion.
Ton Osion ke Theoforon Pateron
imon.
Ton Agion ke Dieon
Theoptoron Ioakim ke Annis. .. On
ke tin Mnimin epiteloumen ke panton
ton Agion, eleise ke Sose imas, os
Agathos ke Filanthropos ke Eleimon
Theos.

Amin
2. F E S T A L V E S P E R S H Y M N S S Y N A X I S

in Honour than the

Cherubim, and in Glory greater
beyond compare than the Seraphim,
O Thou Who without corruption gave
Birth to God the Word and Who art
truly Theotokos: we Magnify Thee.

ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton

eonon.

Eneken tou Onomatos Sou ipemina Se, Because

Kyrie, ipeien i psihi ou is ton Logon
Sou. Ilpisen i psihi moue pi ton
Kyrion.

Amen
R E A D E R Greater

Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

Ton Fotismon imon, ton Fotisanta panta Our

anthropon, idon O Prodromos,
Vaptisthine paragenomenon, Heri ti
psihi, ke tremi ti hiri. Diknisin Afton,
ke legit is lais: Ide O Litroumenos ton
Israil, O Elefthreon imas ek tis
fthoras.
O anamartite, Hriste O
Theos imon: Doxa Si!

Amen
Preserve,

O God, the Holy and

Orthodox Faith of Pious and
Orthodox Christians, together with
this Church, and this city until the
Ages of ages.

PRIEST

PEOPLE

Timioteran ton Herouvim ke

Endoxoteran asigkritos ton Seraphim,
tin
adiafthoros
Theon
Logon
tekousan, tin ontos Theotokon, Se
Megalinomen.

my Prayer rise before

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

PEOPLE

O Theos tin Agian ke

Pistin ton Efsevon ke
Hristianon sin ti Agia
ke ti Poli tafti is eonas

Amen.
Tin

Let

FESTAL STIHERA SYNAXIS ST JOHN

now and always, and to the ages of

ages.

FESTAL VESPERS HYMNS SYNAXIS

May

Christ, our True God, have Mercy

on us, through the intercession of
His Most Pure and Holy Mother;
through the Power of the Precious
and Life-giving Cross; the Protection
of the sublime Spiritual Powers in
Heaven; the Supplications of the
Precious, Glorious Prophet and
Forerunner John the Baptist; of the
Holy,
Glorious
and
Victorious
Martyrs; of our Saintly and Godinspirred Fathers; of the Holy and
Righteous Ancestors Joachim and
Anna; of whose memory
we commemorate, and of all the
Saints, and Save us, for He is
Gracious and Loves mankind.

PEOPLE

OF

ST JOHN

THE

Amen

BAP TIST 7 JANU ARY 2017

7.

Defte

mimisometha tas fronimous

Parthenous, defte ipantisomen to
fanenti espoti, oti poilthen os nimfios
pros ton Ioannin. O Iordanis idon Se
eptixe ke eminen. O Ioannis evoa;
Ou tolmo kratise korifi Athanatou.
To
Pnevma
katirheto
en
idi
peristeras, Agia eta idata, ke oni
Ouranothen: Outos Estin O Iios Mou,
O elthon is ton Kosmon, Sose genos
anthropon. Kyrie: Doxa Si!

Come, let us go like the Wise Virgins, to

meet our Master Who has Appeared,
for as a Bridegroom, He has come
forth to John. The Jordan, beholding
Thee, was driven back in Fear! John
cried out: I dare not touch Thine
Immortal
Head!
The
Spirit
descended like a dove, Sanctifying
the waters, and a Voice called from
on High: This is My Son Who h come
into the world to Save mankind! O
Lord: Glory to Thee!

PRAYER OF ST SYMEON & THE VESPERS

S E R V I C E 
FESTAL APOLYTIKION -

THEOPHANY TONE 1

En

While Thou were Baptisd in the Jordan,

Jordani Vaptizomenou Sou, Kyrie, i

tis Triados Efanerothi proskinisis.
Tou
gar
Gennitoros
i
Foni
prosemartyri Si, Agapiton Se Iion
Onomazoua. Ke to Pnevma en idi
peristras, eveveou tou Logou to
sfales. O Epifanis Hriste O Theos, ke
ton kosmon Fotisas: Doxa Si!

Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati

O Lord, the Worship of the Trinity

was revealed, for the Voice of the
Father bore Witness to Thee, naming
Thee His Beloved Son, and the Spirit,
descending like a dove, Confirmed
the certainty of the Word. O Christ
our God, Who Appeared and
Illumined the world: Glory to
Thee!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit

FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST JOHN

Mnimi

Dikeou met egkomion, Si de

arkesi i
Martyria tou Kyriou
Prodrome. Anedehthis gar ontos ke
Profiton sevasmioteros, oti ke en
rithris
Vaptise
katixiohis
ton
kirrittomenon.
Othen tis Alithias
iperathlisas, heron evingeliso ke tis
en Edi, Theon fanerothenta en sarki,
ton eronta tin amartian tou kosmou,
ke parehonta imon to Mega Eleos.

Ke

nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton

eonon.

Amin

BAPTIST TONE 2*

The

Memory of the Just is observed

with Hymns of Praise; for Thou
suffice the Testimony of the Lord, O
Forerunner. Thou hast proved to be
truly more venerable than the
Prophets, since Thou were granted
to Baptise in the River the One
Whom they proclaimed. Wherefore,
when for the Truth Thou had
contested, Rejoicing, to those in
Hades Thou preached the Gospel,
that God was manifested in the
Flesh, and takes away the sin of the
world, and grants to us His Great
Mercy.

Now

and ever, and to the Ages of

ages.

Amen
FESTAL APOLYTIKION -

En

THE

Jordani Vaptizomenou Sou, Kyrie, i

tis Triados Efanerothi proskinisis.
Tou
gar
Gennitoros
i
Foni
prosemartyri Si, Agapiton Se Iion
Onomazoua. Ke to Pnevma en idi

6. F E S T A L V E S P E R S H Y M N S S Y N A X I S

OF

THEOPHANY TONE 1

While Thou were Baptisd in the Jordan,

ST JOHN

O Lord, the Worship of the Trinity

was revealed, for the Voice of the
Father bore Witness to Thee, naming
Thee His Beloved Son, and the Spirit,
THE

BAP TIST 7 JANU ARY 2017

Tou

When

Apo

From

Litrotou
imon,
po
doulou
Vaptizomenou, ke ti tou Pnevmatos
Parousia martyroumenou, efrixan
orose Angelon stratie, foni de
Ouranothen inehthi ek Patros. Outos
on O Prodromos hirothete, Iios mou
iparhi O Agapitos, en O iidokisa,
Hriste O Theos imon: Doxa Si!

our Redeemer was Baptised by

His servant, and the Holy Spirit was
present and bore witness to Him, the
Angelic Hosts watched and trembled,
and from Heaven a Voice came from
the Father: He upon Whom the
Forerunner lays his hand, is My
Beloved Son, in Whom I Am well
pleased! O Christ our God:
Glory to Thee!

filakis proias mehri niktos. Apo

filakis proias elposato Israil epi ton
Kyrion.

the Morning Watch until night;

from the Morning Watch until
night, let Israel Hope in the Lord.

Ta Iordania rithra, Se tin Pigin edexato, The Waters of the Jordan received Thee,
ke O paraklitos, en idi peristeras
katirheto, kline korifin, O klinas
Ouranous, karazi ke oa, pilos to
plastourgo. Ti mi epitatis tai per
eme?
Ego hrian eho tou Sou
Vaptismou. O anamartite, Hriste O
Theos imon: Doxa Si!.

FESTAL HYMN ST JOHN

Who art the Source, and the Holy

Spirit came down like a dove. Thou
Who bowed the Heavens now bow
Thy Head. The Clay cries out to
Thee, our Fashioner, and says: Why
dost Thou command me to do what
is beyond me?
I need Thee to
Baptise me! O Sinless One, O Christ
our God: Glory to Thee!
BAPTIST TONE 1

THE

Oti para to Kyrio to Eleos ke polli par For

wih 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.

Panevfime

Enite

Praise

Ipsothen

Prodrome Hristou, Vaptista

Theolipte Se efsevos Makarizontes,
Hriston Doxazomen, ton en Iordani,
klinanta tin karan Si, ke fisin ton
vroton Agiasanta.
Afton oun
Presveve, dorithine tes psihes imon,
tin Irinin ke to Mega Eleos.

ton Kyrion, panta to Ethni,

epenesate afton, pantes i lai.

prosevlepsas Sofe, Ioanni

Prodrome, Patros tin Doxan tin
arriton, Iion en idati, ke to Pnevma
ides, apelthon os pelian, katheron ke
Fotizon ta perata. Dio Tridos Se,
Mistipolon
anamelpontes,
Sou
timomen, tin Thian Panigirin.

Baptist nd Forerunner of Christ, O

God-Inspired and praised by all, we
call Thee Blessed, and by so doing,
we Glorify Christ, Who in the Jordan
bowed His Holy Head to Thee, and
Sanctified the nature of mankind.
Intercede with Him for us, and
Entreat Him to grant upon our soul,
surpassing Peace and Great Mercy.
the Lord, all You Gentiles!
Praise Him, all you peoples!

Wise John the Forerunner, Thou

beheld the Fathers Ineffable Glory
from Heaven, and Thou beheld His
Only Son standing in the water, and
the Spirit like a dove descending
upon Him, Purifying and Santifying
the world. Wherefore, O Mystic of
the Trinity, we Extol Thee and
Honour Thy Sacred Feast.

Oti ekrateothi to Eleos Aftou ef imas, For His Mercy

rules over us; and the

Truth of the Lord endures forever.

ke i Alithia tou Kyriou meni is ton

eona.
FESTAL VESPERS HYMNS SYNAXIS

OF

ST JOHN

THE

BAP TIST 7 JANU ARY 2017

3.

Rosthis

By

Thia Hariti Hristou, Vaptista ke

Prodrome, Si ton Amnon imin edixas,
ton kosmou eronta, amartias pasas.
Ke afto prosirmosas, diada Mathiton
Heron simeron.
On kathiketeve,
dorithine tes psihes imon, tin Irinin,
ke to Mega Eleos.

Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati

ST JOHN

THE

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit

BAPTIST

Ensarke

Ke

the Divine Grace of Christ Thou

were Strengthened, O Forerunner
and Baptist, John, and thus Thou
showed us the Lamb of God Who
takes away the sins of the world.
And on this day, Thou Joyfully sent
two Disciples to follow Him.
Intercede with Him, Entreating Him
to bestow upon our soul His
Surpassing Peace and Great Mercy.

TONE

(6)PLAGAL 2

Lihne, Prodrome tou Sotiros,

vlastima Stiras, file tou ek Parthenou,
on skirtimasi nidios prosekinisas, ke
Evaptisas namasi tou Iordanou, touto
Presveve deometha Profita, tas ton
mellonton imas ekfigin trikimias!

Light in the Flesh and Forerunner of our

nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton

eonon.

Now

Amin

Saviour, O Offspring of a barren

mother and Friend of the One Born
of a Virgin: Thou hast worshipped
Him by leaping in the womb, and
have Baptised Him in the waters of
the Jordan.
We Entreat Thee to
Intercede with Him, O Prophet, that
we may escape from the impending
Mighty Tempests!
and ever, and to the Ages of
ages.

Amen

FESTAL APOSTICHA ST JOHN

Os

thlassa ide ke efigen! O Iordanis

estrafi is ta opiso!

Logos Epefani en Sarki, to geni

ton anthropon, istato Vaptisthine en
Iordani, ke elege pros afton O
Prodromos.
Pos ektino hira, ke
apsome
korifis
kratiousis
ta
simpanta? I ke ek Marias iarhis
vrefos, all ida Se Theon proeonion,
epi tis Gis Vadizis, O imnoumenos ipo
ton Seraphim ke doulos Despotin,
Vaptizin ou memathika. Akatalipte
Kyrie, Doxa Si!

Who

Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

tis gigenon etheasato?

Ioannis antefise, ke ton ependionta,
Ouranon
Nefeles,
gimnoumenon
olon? Ke ton pigas ke potamous,
dimiourgounta
idasi
venonta?
Ekplittome tin afaton, ikonomian Sou
despota! Mi varinis ton doulon Sou,
foveris epitagmasin!

is it to Thee, O Sea, that Thou

fled? And to Thee, O Jordan, that
Thou turned back?
among mankind, replied john,
hath seen the Sun being Cleansed?
And the One Who covered the
heavens with
clouds,
stripped
naked? Who has seen the One Who
made the springs and rivers, Himself
enter the waters? I stand amazed at
Thine Ineffable Dispensation, O
Master! Do not burden Thy servant
with fearful Commands!

and to the Holy Spirit

the swallow
that brings Divine Tidings of Grace,
O Forerunner, Thou hast made
known clearly to mankind the
Dispensation of the King, Who shone
forth in Brightness from a Pure
Virgin for the Restoration of
mankind. Thou banish the dominion
of dark and evil ways, and Guide the
heart
of
those
Baptised
in
Repentance to Eternal Life, O Blessed
Prophet Divinely Inspired.

Theofthongos helidon, tranos tin

Ikonomian tou Vasileos, vroton to
geni e Agnis fainos anatilantos, is
meropon
anaklisin,
katemnisas
prodrome, on skithropon ithon,
apelavnon to trema, ke ois aidiou
epivalesthe ithinon, tas kardias ton
en Metania Vatizomenon, Makar
Thelipte.

the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, the

House of Jacob from foreigners.
God in Heaven and on Earth: all
things He Wills, He does.

Panta, osa ithelisen, epiise

OF

DIVINE PROPHECIES

RETURN TO VESPERS SERVICE BOOK UNTIL THE FESTAL APOSTICHA 

4. F E S T A L V E S P E R S H Y M N S S Y N A X I S

to Me today, the Saviour of all

replied to the Forerunner, for I
bring to pass Mystery. Serve Me
with trembling, yet do not withdraw
in Fear, for Undefiled by nture, I
stand before you in the waters of the
Jordan, and Am Baptised as Man,
thereby Renewing Adam, shattered
by sin.

Os tou Pnevmatos erastis, ke tis Haritos As the Lover of the Spirit,

O Theos imon en to Ourano ke en ti Gi: Our

NO READINGS

sea beheld Them and fled! The

Jordan turned back!

Ilion riptomenon,

God in Heaven and on Earth: all

things He Wills, He does.

laou varvarou.

The

What

Thalassa, oti efiges? Ke Si,

Iordani, oti estrafis is ta opiso?

O Theos imon en to Ourano ke en ti Gi. Our

En Exodo Israil ex Egyptou, Ikou Iakov ek In

he beheld Thee approaching, O

Master, John the Forerunner was
amazed, and as a Faithful Servant, he
cried out in Fear: O Saviour, what is
this Humility? What is this Poverty
Thou hast put on? In the Wealth of
Thy Goodness and Compassion,
Thou hast raised up mankind from
our humiliation by vesting Thyself in
him!

Ti Si esti,

THE ENTRANCE FOS ILARON 

FESTAL PROKEIMENON TONE (7) VARYS/GRAVE

Panta, osa ithelisen, epiisen.

When

Come

di Mi simeron, epitelounti
Mystirion, o Prodromo antefise,
friktos diakonison, O Sotir ton olon,
ke mi diliasis. Ton sintriventa gar
Adam, ti amartia kenopioumenos,
Vaptizome os anthropos, O kata fisin
amolintos, Iourdanou tis idasin, en is
lepis paronta me.

God the Word in the Flesh, Appeared to

mankind, accepting Baptism in the
Jordan, and the Forerunner said to
Him: How shall I stretch forth my
hand, and touch the Head of Him
Who rules all things?
Although
Thou art the Child of Mary, I know
Thee to be the Pre-Eternal God.
Although Thou walk upon the Earth,
Thou art Hymne by the Seraphim.
And I who am but a servant, know
not how to Baptise the Master O
Lord: Glory to Thee!

OF

ST JOHN

THE

BAP TIST 7 JANU ARY 2017

BAPTIST - TONE 4

Devro

THEOTOKION TONE (6) PLAGAL 2

Theos

ide se Despota, O Ioannis O

Prodromos, pros afton afikomenon,
ekthamvos genomenos, os egnomon
doulos, Sin fovo evoa. Tis i tapinosis
Sotir? Tis i itohia, in perivevlise? O
Plouto gathotitos, tapinothenta ton
anthropon,
animpsosas
os
Efsplaghnos, os afton endisamenos.

THE

Ke

nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton

eonon.

Amin.
FESTAL VESPERS HYMNS SYNAXIS

Now

and ever, and to the Ages of

ages.

Amen
OF

ST JOHN

THE

BAP TIST 7 JANU ARY 2017

5.