Catechism 1-B

Catechism Class

CLASS 1-B: Beauty, Vespers

Theological Themes

Theme	Vespers
Creation	Introductory Psalm (103)
Fall	Lord, I Call
Redemption	O Gladsome Light
Eschaton	Song of Symeon

Four themes figure prominently within the spiritual journey – the journey of salvation – of every believer. They are: creation, fall, redemption, and eschaton, or last things.
The liturgical cycle of the whole day is framed by the theme of Creation, which appears at the start of vespers and again at the end of matins. Praise of God is the highest form of prayer, and the contemplation of the works of creation prompts the glorification of the Creator. The themes of Fall, Redemption, and Eschaton are found in sequence within vespers and again in matins.

To repeat, these themes are not limited to the above-named parts of the services.
– from OCA website

Vespers

Psalm 103

This psalm, which glorifies God’s creation of the world, is man’s very first act of worship, for man first of all meets God as Creator.
– Fr. Thomas Hopko. OCA website

3 Who stretchest out the heaven as it were a curtain; Who supporteth His chambers in the waters,
4 Who appointeth the clouds for His ascent, Who walketh upon the wings of the winds,
5 Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire,
6 Who establisheth the earth in the sureness thereof; it shall not be turned back for ever and ever.

What does that sound like?

Genesis Ch 1?

16 To bring forth bread out of the earth; and wine maketh glad the heart of man.
17 To make his face cheerful with oil; and bread strengtheneth man's heart.

What does that remind you of?

Eucharist

31 Thou wilt take their spirit, and they shall cease; and unto their dust shall they return.
32 Thou wilt send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created; and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Notice the order here

they cease, return to dust, sending the Spirit, created, renewed!
The eschaton, final resurrection!

“Lord I call”

Ps 140, 141, 129, 116

Offering of incense.

Ps 140

Prayers from the fallen condition. The wording of the prayers implies distance.
1. Lord, I call upon Thee, hear me. Hear me, O Lord.
2. Let my prayer arise in Thy sight as incense. And let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord

Ps 141

Prayers to rely wholly on God

Ps 129

again, acknowledge our distance from God and our desire to rely wholly on Him.

Ps 116

Special verses between Psalm verses for Saint/Feast

Daily Worship of Israel

And Aaron shall burn upon it fine compound incense every morning; whensoever he trims the lamps he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lights the lamps in the evening, he shall burn incense upon it; a constant incense-offering always before the Lord for their generations.
Exodus 30:7-9

Gladsome Light

For Christians baptism replaced circumcision, and the bloodless sacrifice of the Eucharist replaced the bloody sacrificial offerings which took place in the temple. Nothing, however, was introduced to replace the rite of lighting the evening lamp.
– Evening Worship in the Orthodox Church. L. Ouspenskiy

O Gladsome Light of the holy glory of the Immortal Father, heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ. Now we have come to the setting of the sun and behold the light of evening. We praise God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For it is right at all times to worship Thee with voices of praise, O Son of God and Giver of Life, therefore all the world glorifies Thee.

Entrance with evening light.
Christ, it the Light that illumines all.
Candle at Baptism/Christmation

Song of Symeon

Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation: which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people. A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and to be the glory of Thy people Israel

What is Symeon saying?
How does it connect with the previous parts of the service?
How does it reflect eschaton? For one, Symeon’s own life is at an end.

Like Symeon we have recieved the light. This hymn is here to remind us that we must make the Meeting of Our Lord a personal feast. We must greet Him and accept him like Symeon.

The service of Vespers takes us through creation, sin, and salvation in Christ. It leads us to the meditation of God’s word and the glorification of his love for men. It instructs us and allows us to praise God for the particular events or persons whose memory is celebrated and made present to us in the Church. It prepares us for the sleep of the night and the dawn of the new day to come. On the evening before the Divine Liturgy, it begins our movement into the most perfect communion with God in the sacramental mysteries.
– Fr. Thomas Hopko. OCA website