Menaion
for June
Menaion
for June
Prepared by
Reader Michael J. Bishop
St. Nicholas Cathedral
Washington DC
1990
Rev: Friday 4 June 2004
Table of Contents
June Menaion
Martyr Justin the Philosopher and those with him at Rome.
Martyr Justin the Philosopher and those with him at Rome. Martyrs Justin, Charlton and his wife, Charity, Euelpistus, Hierax, Peon, Valerian, and Justus (166). Ven. Dionysius, Abbot of Glushetsk (Vologda—l437). Ven. Agapitus, Unmercenary Physician, of the Kiev Caves (1lth).
Lord I call...
When the icy cold of ignorance ruled over all creation,
And by the assaults of the enemy the many idols were served
Then the glorious martyrs with eager hearts
In the fervor of divine faith poured out their blood with love for Him
Who gloriously poured out His own blood on the cross!
Justin, the noble champion
With his glorious companions,
Following the example of His divine Master
Put on his priestly garment stained with blood.
Now together with the angels they stand in heaven
Interceding before Christ the King of all.
When by the assent of God you went forth to struggles beyond nature,
As you denied the perishing body,
You were strengthened with the might of the all-powerful One:
You were not frightened by the fire or cutting sword!
You bent your necks to God and accepted a blessed end in joy!
Troparion
Tone 4
Your holy martyrs, O Lord,
Through their sufferings have received their incorruptible crowns from You, our God!
For having your strength, they laid low their adversaries,
And shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through their intercessions, save our souls!
Kontakion
Tone 2
Justin, the whole Church of God
Is adorned with the wisdom of your divine words,
Enlightening the world with the radiance of your life.
By the shedding of your blood, you have received a crown.
As you stand before Christ with the angels,
Ever pray on behalf of us all!
St. Nicephorus the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinaple (828)
Great martyr John the New of Sochi, who suffered at Belgrade (330-340). St. John the New of Suceava (Confessor—1332).
Lord I Call
As valiant among martyrs
Your divine inspiration was revealed by your sanctity!
We know you as the ground of truth,
The confirmation of the faith, the teacher of dogmas,
The advocate of devotion,
The dwelling of purity, chosen vessel, sweet savor of the Spirit,
Great treasury of teachings,
The foundation of the Church of Christ!
All-wise, blest and holy hierarch,
We praise you, the successor of the Apostles,
Who shared in the ways of the martyrs,
Imitating the ascetics,
The seal of teachers, a model of divine life,
The initiate of the mysteries of Christ,
Divinely flowing river of understanding,
Drowning the thoughts of the evil and blaspheming one!
You increased the talent of wisdom, most wealthy one,
And were given the joy of your Lord.
Adorned with the grace of the radiance of God
And shining spiritually with the light of the Spirit,
You now stand at the right hand of the Giver of life,
Ever enlightened, glorious one, with His divine brightness!
Troparion
Tone 4
You appeared to your flock as a rule of faith,
An image of humility and a teacher of abstinence!
Because of your lowliness, heaven was opened to you;
Because of your poverty, riches were granted to you.
Holy bishop Nicephorus, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Kontakion
Tone 4
Since you have received a crown of victory from God in heaven,
Save those who honor you with faith, Nicephorus,
As a bishop of Christ and a teacher.
Martyr Lucillian and those who suffered with him at Byzantium
Martyr Lucillian and those who suffered with him at Byzantium: four youths—Claudius, Hypatius, Paul, and Dionysius, and the Virgin, Paula (270-275). Translation of the relies of slain Crown Prince Dimitry of Moscow(l606). Hieromartyr Lucian, bishop. Maximian, presbyter. Julian, deacon. Marcellinus and Saturninus, at Beauvais in France (81-96).
Lord I call
Tone 1
To the special melody All-praised Martyrs
The cruel children of those who through envy killed the Lord
Delivered you up, glorious Lucillian.
You displayed invincible courage
And inherited the delights of paradise.
Therefore, pray that our souls be granted peace and great mercy.
The most holy children,
Submitting to you as to a father,
Suffered steadfastly together with you
Together with illustrious Paula, a saint and martyr worthy of wonder.
Now you dwell with them in the heavens:
Entreat Christ to grant our souls peace and great mercy.
Greatly suffering martyr,
Healing waters ever spring from your grave.
Those who hasten there are cleansed of passions:
Hordes of demons are drowned through the workings of the Holy Spirit.
Pray, therefore, that our souls may be granted peace and great mercy.
St. Metrophanes, First Patriarch of Constantinople (325-326)
Ven. Methodius, Abbot of Pashnoshsk, disciple of Ven. Sergius of Radonezh (1392). Martyrs Frontasius, Severinus, Severian, and Silanus, of Gaul (1st). Martyr Concordius of Spoleto (ca. 175). Hieromartyr Astius, Bishop of Dyrrachium in Macedonia (ca. 110). St. Zosimas of Cilicia, Bishop of Babylon in Egypt (6th).
Lord I call...
Having set all aside
You were revealed as a God-bearer.
Wholly consecrated, the holy anointed of God.
You were robed in the Holy Spirit,
Ever entering the Holy of Holies with splendor,
Robed with godly radiance,
Partaking of the grace of the holy mysteries
As a true and all glorious bishop,
Praying with boldness on behalf of our souls!
All blessed and holy hierarch Metrophanes,
Your life was illumined with the radiance of the virtues.
You enlightened the faithful,
Driving away the darkness of falsehood,
For you were shown to be the bright sun of the truth.
Now you have made your dwelling where the never fading light shines;
You have become a child of the day through the grace of the Holy Spirit!
Therefore as we celebrate your divine and light-bearing memory,
We honor you with love, ever-memorable one!
Your mind was made beautiful by faith
And through yearning for god, divinely wise one.
You were shown to be radiant!
You learned incorruption in your mortal and corruptible body,
Acquiring the splendor of the bodiless ones, all-wise one.
You became a stranger to pleasures
And were adorned with dispassion.
All-wise father and bishop Metrophanes,
You are a shining lamp and intercessor
For those who honor your memory with love!
Troparion
Tone 4
You appeared to your flock as a rule of faith,
An image of humility and a teacher of abstinence!
Because of your lowliness, heaven was opened to you;
Because of your poverty, riches were granted to you.
Holy bishop Metrophanes, pray to Christ our god to save our souls!
Kontakion
Tone 2
You taught and preserved the doctrines of Christ,
Greatly increasing the number of your sheep, holy Metrophanes.
Therefore you now live with the angels in enjoyment of eternal life,
Fervently interceding with Christ for us all!
Hymn of Light
Listen, women
We know you to be a greatly shining star of the church,
Holy hierarch Metrophanes,
For with the council you cast down the blasphemy of Arius,
Enlightening the Church with orthodox teachings.
Therefore, we sing hymns to you with faith!
Glory... now and ever...
Theotokion
Virgin, you gave birth to the hypostatic wisdom,
The transcendent word, the physician of souls and bodies:
Heal the cruel and chronic infection and wounds of my soul,
And ease the pains of my heart!
Hieromartyr Dorotheus, bishop of Tyre (ca. 362)
Translation of the relies of Blessed Igor-George, tonsured Gabriel. Grand Prince of Chernigov and Kiev (1150). Blessed Constantine, Metropolitan of Kiev (1159). Repose of St. Theodore Yaroslavich, older brother of St. Alexander Nevsky (Novgorod—1233). Finding of the relies of Ven. Bassian and Jonah, Monks of Pertomsk (Solovki—1599). Martyrs Marcian, Nicander, Hyperechius, Appolonius, Leonidas, Arius, Gorgias, Selenias, Irenius, and Pambo, of Egypt (4th). Ven. Theodore the Wonderworker, Heimit of the Jordan (ca. 6th). Ven. Anubius, Confessor and Anchorite, of Egypt (5th). Ven. Abba Dorotheus of Palestine (6th). St. Peter of Korcha (Albanian).
Lord I call
Your martyrs, Lord
You were shown to be the tablet of the Spirit of God,
Divinely blest father,
Bearing the teachings of God inscribed upon your divine mind.
You shared them, enlightening those who lay in ignorance.
Therefore by your supplications, father, ask great mercy for us all!
You dyed your priestly vestments in the streams of your divine blood;
Now, Dorotheus, you have entered with joy into the temple of heaven,
To appear before our God who gives crowns to those who have suffered.
Earnestly entreat Him that he send down great mercy on all!
Your life was angelic and your martyrdom was splendid.
Therefore you were counted worthy to dance in joy with the angels,
Enlightening the land, father Dorotheus,
With divine miracles and teachings.
Therefore in your prayers ask God to grant great mercy to all!
Troparion
Tone 4
You participated in the ways of the apostles,
And were enthroned as their successor!
You discovered action an entrance into vision,
Inspired one of God.
Therefore directing the word of truth,
You suffered for the faith to the shedding of your blood!
Bishop and martyr Dorotheus, pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved!
Kontakion
Tone 5
You were resplendent, blessed Dorotheus,
With virtues brighter than the sun and with your sufferings!
You shine forth and enlighten the land,
Dispelling the darkness of idolatry and base heresy.
Therefore, we celebrate your memory with splendor!
Ven. Bessarion the Wonderworker, of Egypt (4th-5th).
Ven. Hilarion the New, Abbot of the Dalmatian Monastery (845). St. Jonah, Bishop of Perm (1470). Van. Paisius, Abbot, of Uglich (1504). Ven. Jonah, Abbot of Klimetzk (1534). Virgin-martyrs Archelais, Thecla, and Susanna, beheaded at Salerno (293). Ven. Visarion the New.
Lord I call...
Most glorious wonder
You were the light of monastics, wise Bessarion.
By the rays of your virtues and the radiance of grace,
You were like a shining lamp for the desert.
Deliver from the gloom of the passions and the darkness of evil,
From all sorrow and temptation,
Those who fervently honor you
And hymn your divine dormition with faith!
You endured standing in the midst of thorns
In your divine love of ineffable struggles;
You revealed an effort equal to that of the martyrs!
You sweeten the bitter waters of the sea
And give drink to thirsting souls, all wise one.
You crossed the rushing torrents of the Nile,
Crossing over its waters dryshod, all praised one!
Knowing you to be like the wise Elijah,
We all openly praise you, Bessarion,
For through God's mercy upon you,
You caused streams of water to fall as rain from the sky!
By your honored prayers you send fountains of rain and divine dew from on high,
With grace, power and invincible protection,
Upon all the faithful!
Troparion
Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile,
And your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance.
By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe!
Our holy father Bessarion, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Kontakion
Tone 2
You imitated the powers on high, venerable Bessarion,
Living by example the life of those who take flight.
Led by steadfast desire to the heavenly beauties of Christ the King,
You put passing things from your mind and attained to Him.
Entreat Him without ceasing for the sake of us all!
Martyrs Kyra. Valeria. and Mary, of Caesarea in Palestine
Hieromartyr Theodotus, Bishop of Ancyra (303). Hieromartyr Marcellinus, Pope of Rome, and with him Claudius, Cyrenus, and Antonina (304). Hieromartyr Marcellus, Bishop of Rome, and those with him: Sisinius and Cyriacus, deacons, Smaragdus, Largus, Apronian, Saturninus, Papias, Maurus, Screcentian, Priscilla, Lucina, and Princess Artemia (304, 305, 306, 310).
Lord I Call
Wedded to the pre-eternal Word,
You completely forsook the folly of idolatry.
You were steadfast in the silence of your lips
That you might hear the Word of God in your hearts!
You were sacrificed to God in your innocence
Like rational ewe lambs.
Therefore, we cry out to you:
“Rejoice, partakers of the ineffable glory of paradise!”
Martyrs, you go out like the wise virgins to meet Christ,
The Bridegroom who comes at midnight.
You wove wedding garments for yourselves
From the blood of your suffering;
You offered your lives to Him as a dowry!
Therefore, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, for you have been crowned in the heavenly mansions!
Martyr Valeria,
Your name signifies strength:
You remained stronger than adamant
In the endurance of martyrdom!
You wounded the proud prince of darkness with the might of the cross!
You entered the heavenly mansions with honor,
Looking down from the heavens upon those who struggle for the faith,
Granting them strength.
Therefore, we cry out to you:
“Rejoice, mighty champion of the faithful!”
Glory...
Tone 6
The most pure and blessed lips of Christ have said:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven!”
Do not fear those who kill the body
But are not able to kill the soul!
All praised martyrs Kyra, Valeria and Mary,
Keeping these words of the Lord in your hearts,
You bowed your necks beneath the sword
In expectation of a crown from God and eternal life!
Therefore, your hope did not put you to shame.
Now as you delight in the mansions of paradise,
Do not forget us who hymn your sufferings with love,
That by your bold mediation and fervent prayers
We may find great mercy with Christ.
Apostikha
Glory...
Tone 3
Come, lovers of the martyrs,
Let us hymn those who are crowned with the diadem of suffering!
Come, lovers of silence,
Let us glorify those who set a watch before their mouths!
Come, virgins,
With gladness let us praise those who incorruptibly preserved their Virginity!
Come, all faithful,
Let us honor the holy memory of those who endured suffering!
Let us cry out to them with heartfelt love:
Rejoice, Kyra, Valeria and Mary, the brides of Christ!
Troparion
Tone 1
As reasonable lambs, you were conducted to Christ the lamb and shepherd,
By the way of martyrdom.
You finished your course and kept the faith;
Therefore, with joyful hearts, honored ones,
We magnify Christ today,
As we recall your holy memory!
Kontakion
Tone 2
Kyra, Valeria and Mary,
You clung to the faith of Christ and loved the faithful promises of God,
Looking for eternal life and the blessedness of paradise!
You steadfastly endured torture and bowed your necks beneath the sword!
Therefore, you have been crowned by the hand of the Lord
And your memory is glorious, passion bearers.
Entreat Christ God, the judge of the contest,
On behalf of those who honor your struggles with faith!
Hymn of Light
Glory...
You fled the night of impiety,
Going out to meet the radiant dawn of the sun of righteousness!
All-praised martyrs Kyra, Valeria and Mary,
You enlightened your minds with His rays,
Wetting your souls with the dew of tears,
Rising early in spirit for the Savior of the world.
You cried out to Him in compunction:
“Seek us out, as You sought the lost sheep, O Lamb of God!
Unite us to Your chosen flock, Good Shepherd,
That we also, imitating Your voluntary sacrifice,
May offer ourselves as an oblation pleasing to You.
At Your dread judgment
May we be delivered from the portion of the goats!”
Translation of the relies of the Great-martyr Theodore Stratelates (319)
St. Theodore, Bishop of Rostov and Suzdal (1023). Finding of the relies of Sts. Basil and Constantine, Princes of Yaroslavl (1 3th). St. Ephraim, Patriarch of Antioch (545). Ven. Zosimas of Phoenicia (Syria—6th).
Lord I Call...
Joseph of Arimathea
You brought yourself wholly to him who gave you perfect life,
As a living and spiritual whole burnt offering,
A most pure and well-pleasing sacrifice!
Therefore, you have become an acceptable intercessor indeed,
Rescuing from the tempest all who hymn you with faith
And call upon you, most blessed martyr Theodore!
You cultivated with diligence
The seed of the word which was sown in your soul;
You increased it through the pangs of your sufferings!
You stored it up wisely in the graneries of heaven
Where you found incorruptible delight!
As you now celebrate there, blessed one,
By your prayers to Christ, save those who hymn you with faith!
Martyr and passion-bearer of Christ,
By your prayers save those in various needs,
Repelling every evil and driving away soul-destroying grief.
Beseech mercy and grace for us, Theodore,
That saved by your supplications,
We may rejoice as we sing hymns to your struggles!
Troparion
Tone 4
Recruited by the truth, passion-bearer Theodore,
You proved yourself a capable general for heaven's king.
You equipped yourself wisely with the arms of faith
And conquered the legions of demons!
Because you showed yourself a victorious athlete, we ever bless you in faith!
Kontakion
Tone 2
You put on the whole armor of faith with great courage,
Glory of martyrs, Theodore;
The Word of God was the arrow with which you conquered the enemy!
Together with all the martyrs,
Ever intercede with Christ God for us all!
St. Cyril. Archbishop of Alexandria (444)
Ven. Cyril, Abbot of White Lake (Byelozersk—1427). Ven. Alexander, Abbot of Kushta (Vologda—1439). Five Nuns beheaded in Persia: Martyrs Thecla, Mariamne, Martha, Mary, and Enmatha (346). St. Columba, Enlightener of Scotland (597).
Lord I Call
As valiant among martyrs
You enlightened your mind with the radiance of the Spirit,
Becoming a shining sun!
You extended the rays of your teachings to the ends of the earth,
Enlightening the fulness of the faithful,
Driving away the darkness of heresies, all-blest God-bearer,
With the power of Him who shone forth from the virgin!
The whole church is adorned, holy Cyril,
With the good words of your preaching,
And arrayed with devotion in fitting beauty.
She honors your holy and venerable memory in a holy manner,
Boast of the orthodox, height of the fathers,
Champion of the most holy virgin at the Council!
All the tinder of heresies
Is burned with your fiery teachings, all-wise one!
The army of the impious who would not submit to the truth
Is drowned in the depths of your understanding, holy Cyril!
The Church of the faithful is ever adorned with your doctrines,
Honoring you with mighty voices!
Glory...
Tone 6
Good and faithful servant,
Laborer in the vineyard of Christ,
You bore the burden of the day
And increased the talent given to you.
You did not envy those who came after you,
Therefore the gates of heaven have been opened to you!
Enter into the joy of your Lord
And pray for us, Cyril our father!
Apostikha
Glory...
Tone 6
Man of god, faithful servant,
Minister of the lord, man of divine desires,
Chosen vessel, pillar and ground of the Church,
Heir to the kingdom:
Never cease to cry out to the Lord for us!
Troparion
Tone 8
Champion of orthodoxy, teacher of purity and of true worship,
The enlightener of the universe and the adornment of the hierarchs:
All-wise father Cyril, your teachings have gleamed with light upon all things.
Intercede before Christ our God to save our souls!
Kontakion
Tone 6
From the well-springs of the Savior,
You have openly poured on us a depth of the teachings of theology,
Drowning heresies and saving your flock unharmed by triple waves,
Blessed and venerable Cyril.
You are shown to be a guide for all lands,
Revealing things divine!
Hymn of Light
To the disciples
Let us sing hymns to the divine recorder
Of the mysteries of the all-divine Trinity!
He transcended sense and understanding,
Learning the depths of the Spirit.
He is a holy hierarch of the lord and a champion of true worship!
Glory,... now and ever...
(of the Pentecostarion or Theotokion)
One who will not kiss your icon with love,
All pure Theotokos,
Will be cast into the fire of Gehenna as a mindless heretic,
But we venerate you with love, all holy one.
Matins Apostikha
Our father Cyril, the heir of God,
Companion of Christ and servant of the Lord:
Your life accorded with your good name,
For understanding was revealed with your gray hairs;
Your bearing bore witness to the innocence of your soul;
Your untroubled speech proclaimed your meekness!
Your life was glorious and your repose is with the saints!
Ever pray on behalf of our souls!
Hieromartyr Timothy, Bishop of Prussa (4th)
Ven. Silvanus, Schema-monk, of the Kiev Caves (Far Caves—13th-14th). Finding of the relies of St. Basil, Bishop of Riazan (1609). St. John Maximovitch, Metropolitan of Tobolsk (1715). Martyr Alexander and Virgin-martyr Antonina at Constantinople (ca. 313). Ven. Theophanes of Antioch (369). St. Bassian, Bishop of Lodi in Lombardy (409).
Lord I Call
As valiant among martyrs
You were raised above the things of the earth
By your active ascetic purification.
Like a living cloud, most blessed one,
You threw down the evil serpent
With the thunder of your miracles
And the awesome lightning of your words!
You received the grace to burn the adversary
With the divine fire of the sacred gifts.
Holy bishop Timothy,
Boast of the people of Prussa,
You are the universal champion and beacon of the world,
Adornment of the Church and holy sacrifice of faith,
The precious and gleaming adornment of the martyrs!
Pray that those who celebrate your most honored memory with faith
May be delivered from corruption and misfortunes!
With your sufferings, timothy,
You wove an all-beautiful garment dyed in your blood.
You received ineffably from on high the heavenly garment
Of incorrupt purity and unchanging life!
Athlete, as you wear this immaterial robe in the heights,
Ever pray on behalf of all who praise you with devotion!
Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas (1st)
Ven. Barnabas, Abbot of Vetluga (1445). Uncovering of the relies of Ven. Ephraim, Abbot of Novotorzhk (1572). Commemoration of the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to a monk on Mt. Athos and the revelation of the hymn “It is truly meet...” (Axion Estin). Icon of the Most-holy Theotokos. “Axion Estin”(”It Is Truly Meet” (10th)).
Lord I Call
As valiant among martyrs
You drew the ends of the earth out of the depths of vain glory
And evil ungodliness
With the net of your words, divinely eloquent Apostle!
You brought them with faith to Christ God
Who had given you such grace.
You are his divine disciple and the preacher of His mysteries,
Apostle Bartholomew!
Jesus our God, the Sun of Righteousness,
Sent you to the whole world like a ray of light
To disperse the gloom of ungodliness, all-glorious one,
And enlighten all who sit in the darkness of ignorance.
You made them heirs of the light,
Divinely wise Bartholomew!
Submitting to the will of Him whose will all things obey,
You imitated Him as a teacher of righteousness.
Because of His suffering on the cross,
You stand before your ultimate desire,
Joining the chorus with the angels and apostles,
Glorious Bartholomew!
You rejoiced as you drained the cup of death.
Tone 3
to Barnabas
To the special melody You Have Given a Sign
You have received invincible authority and power, Apostle,
Over demons in the name of Christ,
To drive away the princes of darkness!
You travelled over the earth radiating light like the sun!
You were the first to arrive in Rome, glorious one,
Preaching the saving coming of Christ!
You imitated the primal goodness
And essential and all-divine life.
You became a good man in essence, Barnabas,
Receiving a name signifying "son of consolation."
By the goodness of your character and purity of your mind,
You showed yourself to be a true disciple of Christ!
Barnabas, you were an instrument well tuned
By the action of the Spirit.
You committed yourself to summoning the nations,
Guiding them to the knowledge of Christ by your words and deeds.
You have enlightened all to confess the true divinity of Jesus,
The Savior of our souls!
Glory...(Byzantine)
Tone 6
All praised Barnabas,
Radiant vessel of the Holy Spirit and Son of consolation,
Even before Paul you were the foremost of the seventy disciples;
With Paul you preached the Gospel to the ends of the earth!
Therefore, fulfilling your talk of grace with your deeds,
You offered yourself as an immaculate whole burnt offering
To your teacher Christ.
Glorious apostle, we pray that you will ever beg
That our souls may be saved in peace!
Glory... now ever...
of the Pentecostarion or (Theotokion):
Who will not bless you, most holy virgin?
Who will not sing of your most pure childbearing?
The only begotten Son shone timelessly from the Father
But from you He was ineffably incarnate!
God by nature, yet man for our sake,
Not two persons but one known in two natures
Entreat Him, pure and all blessed lady,
To have mercy on our souls!
Apostikha
Tone 1
To the special melody Most Praised Martyrs
Your proclamation of salvation,
Apostles and seers of God,
Has gone out into all the earth,
Enlightening the souls of those who were lost,
Bringing to Christ those illumined by grace!
Therefore pray that He may grant our souls peace and great mercy!
Verse: Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the universe!
All-radiant beacons of Christ,
Most precious vessels containing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit through faith
All-wise ones, pillars of the church,
All-glorious heavens declaring the glory of God:
Entreat Him that He may grant out souls peace and great mercy!
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims his handiwork!
Blessed ones, you brought the nations to Christ God,
Delivered by the blood of Him
Who was well pleased to be born on earth.
He freely endured the cross and death.
Glorious ones, entreat Him now
That He may grant out souls peace and great mercy!
Glory...
(To Barnabas)
Tone 8
All-praised Barnabas, Apostle of the Savior,
You are a vessel of faith, the son of consolation,
The calm harbor of the storm tossed!
Since you have boldness, ever pray for our souls
That we may be preserved in peace on the day of your memorial!
Now and ever...
(of the Pentecostarion or:)
Unwedded virgin,
Who ineffably conceived God in the flesh!
Mother of God most high!
Accept the cries of your servants, blameless one!
Grant cleansing of transgressions to all!
Receive our prayers and pray to save our souls!
Troparion
Tone 3
O holy Apostles,
Pray to the merciful God
That He may grant to our souls
Remission of our transgressions!
Kontakion
(To Barnabas)
Tone 2
You were a most true servant of the Lord,
And as the foremost of the seventy Apostles,
You shone forth in your preaching with Paul,
Proclaiming Christ the Savior to all.
Therefore, Barnabas, we hymn your divine memory with songs.
Kontakion
(To Bartholomew)
Tone 4
You have been revealed as a great sun for all the world,
Shining with the radiance of teachings and awesome miracles.
You enlighten those who honor you, Bartholomew, Apostle of the Lord!
(After the First Reading of the Psalter)
Sessional Hymn
Tone 1
The spiritual choir of the Apostles
Was mystically sent into the world by God most high.
They were revealed to be physicians of the suffering,
Calling upon the unity in three persons
They wisely described the divine incarnation
Of the Lord Emmanuel!
Glory... now and ever...
Theotokion
We hymn you, Virgin, as the unburnt bush that Moses beheld,
The mountain of agod, the holy cloud,
The undefiled tabernacle, the God-pleasing table,
The palace of the most high King, the most radiant and impassable gate!
(After the Second Reading of the Psalter)
Sessional Hymn
Tone 4
You enlighten the ends of the earth like stars
With the radiance of splendor:
The divine doctrines of your holy preaching,
Apostles of the Lord,
Initiates of the mysteries of heaven!
Glory... now and ever...
Theotokion
Faithful, let us bless the Theotokos, the fervent aid of those in need,
Our help and reconciliation with God,
For whose sake we have been delivered from corruption!
Magnification
We magnify,
We magnify you,
Bartholomew and Barnabas, Apostles of Christ!
And we venerate the pain and labor of your work
To spread the gospel of Christ!
Verse: From the rise of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised!
Matins Gospel Prokeimenon
Tone 4
Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth * and their words to the ends of the universe!
Verse: The heavens are telling the glory of God and the firmament proclaims His handiwork!
The Holy Gospel
(John 21:15-25)
15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” 19(This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.”
20Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” 23The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
25But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not
contain the books that would be written.
Psalm 51
Post-gospel Verses
Glory to the father and to the son and to the holy spirit.
Through the prayers of Your holy Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas,
O merciful One,
Blot out the multitude of our transgressions!
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Through the prayers of the Theotokos,
O merciful One,
Blot out the multitude of our transgressions!
Have mercy on me, O God,
According to Your great mercy;
According to the multitude of Your compassions,
Blot out my transgressions!
Tone 1
Your proclamation of salvation has gone out into all the earth,
Apostles and seers of God,
Enlightening the souls of the lost and bringing to Christ
Those illumined by grace.
Therefore, pray that He may grant our souls peace and great mercy!
The Canons
Tone 2
Canticle One:
First canon
Irmos:
A triumphant force in days of old
Destroyed the armies of pharaoh in the deep,
As the glorious lord, the word incarnate,
Has destroyed malignant sin,
For gloriously has he been glorified!
V: Holy Apostle Bartholomew, pray to God for us!
God who beholds all beforehand, divinely perceived your mind.
He chose you and enrolled you in the choir of the apostles,
enlightening your heart with grace, all-praised Bartholomew.
Climbing to the height of the virtues, most wealthy one,
you were enriched as an apostle of Christ
with the tongue of fire breathed by the Spirit.
You burn up the tinder of impiety and ignorance.
All-praised Bartholomew,
you were shown indeed to be a God-bearing ember
burning with the radiance of the divine Spirit,
burning the chaff of falsehood
and enlightening the hearts of those who hymn you with faith!
Theotokion
Pure one, tell us how it is that you give such things?
How did you come to be a mother
while glorious with the intact seals of your virginity?
I gave birth to the one God and Lord of all,
Who transcends nature, testing and plumbing the depths!
Second canon
Irmos:
A triumphant force in days of old...
V: Holy Apostle Barnabas, pray to God for us!
As a good man, shown to be a son of consolation,
drive out the affliction of my soul
and the soul-destroying grief of sin,
that filled with gladness, I may sing hymns to you!
Surrounded by the pure radiance of Christ the King of all
Who sprang forth from the tribe of Judah,
you came from the holy tribe of Levi.
Blessed and most wealthy one,
you preached the replacing of the law by grace!
Your splendid life of pure goodness and natural being
showed you to be a lesser god,
rendered blessed by the graces you received from Him,
all-wise and glorious Barnabas,
offspring of divine consolation.
Theotokion
Lady Theotokos, the divine choir of maidens
divinely hymns you as the good one among women
adorned with the beauty of divinity,
for in a manner past telling
you gave birth to the Word, our Benefactor!
Katavasia:
As prescribed by the typicon
Canticle Three:
First canon
Blossomed as a lily at Your coming, Lord,
In which my heart is established!
V: Holy apostle bartholomew, pray to god for us!
All-wise and truly wondrous God-seer,
you were like rain from heaven,
watering the whole world
which had grown dry under the darkness of ungodliness.
You poured out a stream of the drink of salvation,
most honored and truly wondrous Bartholomew,
offering many fruits of salvation to the nations.
You ended the rottenness of idolatry with the salt of grace,
delighting with the sweet teaching of faith
the hearts of those who honor you, most wise one.
Theotokion
We honor you, pure one, the only Virgin Mother,
as the mediator of our salvation,
for you deliver the world by your prayers.
Second canon
V: Holy apostle barnabas, pray to god for us!
Glorious Barnabas, you were seen as a willing cloud
bearing rain for us from the source of grace,
pouring a torrent of nourishment down on us.
The authority of the all-powerful spirit,
seeing that you were a minister of the mysteries of Christ
gifted with many splendors,
set you apart, all-praised one.
Barnabas and Paul, the divinely wise and truly glorious Apostles,
enlightened by the grace of Your cross, Master,
brought the nations to You through faith.
Theotokion
You were shown to be like a lily in your purity,
shining in the midst of thorns, most pure Theotokos,
in the radiance of your virginity.
Kontakion
(to Barnabas)
Ttone 2
You were a most true servant of the Lord,
And as the foremost of the seventy apostles,
You shone forth in your preaching with Paul,
Proclaiming Christ the Savior to all.
Therefore, Barnabas, we hymn your divine memory with songs.
Ikos
The Son of God who is equally eternal with the Spirit, in His good
pleasure became incarnate on earth as a man, granting dispassion
through His honored passion. He ordained you an Apostle, a herald of the faith, wise in teaching and truly wondrous: a true worshiper of the Trinity.//
Therefore, Barnabas, we hymn your divine memory with songs.
Canticle Four:
First Canon
Neither angel nor messenger,
But the Lord Himself made flesh.
And you have brought salvation to me.
Therefore I cry out to You:
Glory to Your power, O Lord!
V: Holy apostle Bartholomew, pray to God for us!
Most honored Bartholomew,
protected by the cross of the Lord,
you destroyed the cruelty of the demons.
By your preaching you dispelled their soul-destroying delusion.
Christ revealed you as a light to the world, most blessed one,
a divine ray of glory, God-pleasing Bartholomew.
You have enlightened all creation with the knowledge of God!
Like a splendid horse, a chariot of the Word,
you trampled the seas of the pagans.
With faith you destroyed the depths of bitter ungodliness.
Theotokion
All pure one, you healed the ancient transgression of Eve,
for the all-divine One made His abode in you
and has restored me, the fallen one.
Second Canon
V: Holy apostle Barnabas, pray to God for us!
Following the commandments of the Master,
all-praised Apostle Barnabas,
you distributed all your property among the poor,
becoming an eloquent preacher of Christ.
You reached the greatest splendor of the virtues
and you found Paul, a divinely spoken Apostle.
Together with him you proclaimed to all
the unfathomable abyss of the mysteries of God.
You passed over the ends of the earth like the sun
with your radiant brilliance, most honored Barnabas.
You followed Paul, enlightening all with your teaching of grace.
You shared in the sufferings of the Savior, all-praised Barnabas;
you are glorified with him in the mansions of heaven,
delighting in joy beyond understanding!
Theotokion
The curse of our first mother Eve
has been abolished by you, all pure one,
for you gave birth in the flesh to the eternal Word
Who has crowned the world with blessings!
Canticle Five:
First canon
For through You, Master, Christ our God,
We have access from the darkness of ignorance,
To Your Father, the Author of light.
V: Holy Apostle Bartholomew, pray to God for us!
You first spoke to Christ, the uncreated Light,
Who appeared to us among created things.
You came to Him, Apostle,
and were enlightened by Him with divine rays.
You lived in the world like a divine dew
granting healing to all, blessed Bartholomew.
You destroyed impiety with prophecy!
You approached the source of light.
You were a lamp, illumined by his radiance,
for you yourself saw the word, most wise Bartholomew!
Theotokion
We remember your words, immaculate one!
We call you blessed,
for through you we have found blessedness
and have been made rich with a life of true honor.
Second Canon
V: Holy Apostle Barnabas, pray to God for us!
You shone with grace as you passed through the shadow of the law!
You enlightened the fullness of the nations,
publishing the gospel by preaching Christ!
You were openly clothed in the might of the Holy Spirit, Apostle,
casting down the evil spirits
and delivering the world from their malice.
You were the voice of one crying among the barren nations,
wise and wealthy Barnabas.
You proclaimed to all the unapproachable mystery of the incarnation of God!
Theotokion
Behold, all-pure Theotokos,
as Isaiah foretold,
in a manner past telling, you contained Christ God within your womb!
Theotokos, you gave birth to Him past nature!
Canticle Six:
First Canon
I call on the unsearchable abyss of your tender mercies:
Lead me out of corruption, O God!
V: Holy Apostle Bartholomew, pray to God for us!
Most wise Bartholomew,
you received the grace to work miracles
and were enriched with the ability to heal.
Thus you tended the flock of the nations.
All glorious one, your fiery tongue
has burned up all falsehood like chaff,
illumining the hearts of the faithful with the preaching of God!
The unoriginate Word, your Teacher, was your source of wisdom,
all-glorious preacher of God.
By grace, you showed that the wisdom of the world is foolishness!
Theotokion
Virgin, you gave birth in a manner past nature,
and you remain eternally a virgin,
thus revealing in images the true divinity of your Son and God!
Second canon
Holy Apostle Barnabas, pray to God for us!
Christ God, You shone on the world as the sun of righteousness,
brilliant with rays of light!
You enlightened Paul and Barnabas!
Wonderful and divinely-spoken Barnabas,
you were a scythe, cutting weeds at the root,
and in a way past telling,
you slashed perennial falsehood with your miracles.
God-pleasing Barnabas,
you were shown to be a law-giver of grace,
applying the images of the Old Testament
to the true manifestation of God!
Theotokion
He who stretched out the heavens by his will
has shown you to be another, earthly heaven.
He appeared, all-pure mother of god,
shining forth from you.
Kontakion
(To Bartholomew)
Tone 4
You have been revealed as a great sun for all the world,
Shining with the radiance of teachings and awesome miracles.//
You enlighten those who honor you, Bartholomew, Apostle of the Lord!
Ikos
Apostle, you saw god and were seen to be like heaven, declaring the glory of God through the Holy Spirit. You were revealed like a
radiant sun for the world, driving away the darkness of delusion by
divine grace. Therefore I pray to you: with your divine rays,
enlighten the blind eyes of my soul, most wealthy one. Grant me
speech, that I may open my mouth and sing on the day of your
commemoration. For today all the faithful with joy//
Honor you, Bartholomew, Apostle of the Lord!
Canticle seven:
First canon
Fanned the flame exceedingly high;
But Christ cast the dew of the spirit over the god-fearing children.
Blessed is He and exalted above all forever!
Holy Apostle Bartholomew, pray to God for us!
You revealed the great mystery of the incarnation of God to the world.
It is infinite and beyond all understanding, Bartholomew!
It is ineffable, understood and believed only by the faithful.
Like a rock, all-holy Bartholomew,
you crushed the foundation of falsehood.
You were shown to be a strong foundation for the Church
which you preserve unshaken.
You used the virtues like paint, all-blessed Bartholomew,
to portray the divine likeness.
As an Apostle of God,
you preached to all the greatly praised coming of Christ!
Theotokion
Pure one, you were untilled,
yet you brought forth the ripe cluster of grapes.
When you saw Him hanging on the tree, you cried out:
“My sweet Child, pour out the new wine
by which the drunkenness of the passions is dispersed!”
Second canon
Holy Apostle Barnabas, pray to God for us!
Barnabas, in holiness you preached the Son Who rests in the saints,
Who is equally unoriginate and enthroned with the Father.
He became man and wrought salvation for us.
The preachers of Christ,
the most honored Barnabas and God-pleasing Paul,
shine with rays of brilliance.
They enlighten the full inheritance of the nations
with their teachings of grace.
Paul nurtured you, divinely blessed Barnabas,
making the word of grace to bloom.
He rejoices today, having produced you as a branch for Christ.
As his successor,
deliver us from our present captivity.
Theotokion
Direct my life, most pure one.
Guide it to your tranquil haven,
for you gave birth to God, the Source of good things,
Who grants abundant goodness to all the faithful.
Canticle Eight:
First Canon
The fiery furnace worked in contradiction:
Burning the Chaldeans,
It refreshed the faithful as they sang:
“All works of the Lord, bless the Lord forever!”
Holy Apostle Bartholomew, pray to God for us!
In wisdom, you taught the Gospel of the Savior to great and small,
to the many and to the few, divinely wise Bartholomew.
Through your teaching,
you created great and glorious signs for all.
You came forth from Zion like a river, most wealthy one,
watering the assemblies of the Church.
You openly caused a stream of spiritual nourishment to flow
as you cried out: “Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord!”
As an Apostle, you were openly adorned
with the most splendid and great gifts of God.
Blessed one, by grace, your rank transcends human glory!
Theotokion
The dispassionate wisdom dwelt alone within your womb,
beyond the wisdom of mankind, most pure one.
He who is beyond all time
came into time by taking upon Himself the substance of the flesh.
Therefore we glorify you, Theotokos, in faith and in love!
Second Canon
Holy Apostle Barnabas, pray to God for us!
Giver of life, as our benefactor,
You called your horses, the glorious Barnabas and wondrous Paul,
to trample on the sea of the nations,
driving out the falsehood of idolatry by the teachings of faith.
Spirit and Comforter, you accomplish all things:
as God, You set shining lights within Your Church
to proclaim Your power and cry out to the Son and the Father:
“Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord!”
You shone with radiance, like the sun in the world,
openly conversing with the spiritual sun, God-pleasing Barnabas.
Burning with His fire, you became a lamp,
revealing the power of His mystery to all!
Most honorable Barnabas,
you enlightened the whole world with your teachings.
You fittingly gained blessedness beyond our understanding
and received from the Master
a crown of splendor in the mansions of heaven!
Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Lord, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
That you might abolish the primal curse
and the mortal condemnation of our first mother,
You were born of the virgin mother, Word of God.
You have granted eternal immortality to all!
We praise, bless and worship the Lord, Singing and exalting Him throughout all ages!
- the Magnificat is sung -
First Canon
Has appeared to us:
God the Lord, made flesh of the virgin,
To give light to those in darkness
And to gather the dispersed.
Therefore we magnify the Theotokos.
Holy Apostle Bartholomew, pray to God for us!
You were a servant of the Word and you had seen Him yourself
as His disciple and godly preacher.
Now you have been counted worthy indeed
to live where the Word is,
as the all-good one Himself truly promised.
Now you stand before the throne of your Master,
enlightened by His rays, divinely wise Bartholomew.
Look down and deliver those who sing hymns to you
from suffering and all the evil that surrounds them.
Granted to become a son of God through your faith,
you were an heir of the treasures of the Father.
How great are the hands which give such gifts!
How great is the generosity of our highly exalted Christ,
Who has glorified you, most blessed god-seer!
Theotokion
The prophets who saw you from afar with seeing eyes,
all proclaimed you to be the one
who would become mother of the Creator and Master of all.
Therefore we call you the most praised Theotokos!
Second Canon
Holy Apostle Barnabas, pray to God for us!
Apostles, you have become light through virtue!
Now stand before the great Light
and beseech the Master to grant peace to the world
and to save our Church, which you have formed!
You openly burned the malice of the orators
with the fire of your wisdom, divinely-revealed Barnabas!
You have within yourself a source of divine light!
Therefore, we honor your most holy feast.
As we now celebrate your memory with faith, Apostle,
we set you before the Master as our intercessor.
We pray, most honored Barnabas, holy preacher of God,
that through your intercession we may obtain remission of our sins.
Theotokion
You were found to be like the dawn of the morning,
shining with rays of virginity
within the night of life.
most pure Mother of God,
you reveal to us the East, the spiritual sun of righteousness!
Hymn of Light
You have visited us
Come, people, let us hymn the Apostles of Christ,
The godly Bartholomew and the wise Barnabas:
They are the preachers of the faith//
Who pray to Christ on behalf of our souls!
GNE...
Of the Pentecostarion or Theotokion:
Pure and only unwedded holy Lady,
Since you are our salvation and our hope,
Entreat our Deliverer Who was born of you,
That He may save the world from falsehood, tribulation and sorrows!
The Praises
As valiant among martyrs
Jesus our God, the Sun of righteousness,
Sent you out, Bartholomew, to the whole world
As a most brilliant ray to dispel the gloom of malice,
To enlighten hearts darkened by ignorance and the assaults of
Passions,//
Divinely-wise and wealthy Apostle! (twice)
Barnabas, you were a pure vessel of the trinity,
Shining with the splendors of the virtues
And receiving their radiance in your heart
Together with the most splendid light of the sun!
You radiantly reflected this upon the ends of the earth,
Enlightening those who sit in the darkness of ignorance,//
God-pleasing Apostle!
Blessed ones, like clouds, you drop the rain of heaven
Upon the ends of the earth!
You water the souls of the faithful with divine grace,
Drowning the tares of ungodliness,
Bringing the souls of the people to fruitfulness!//
Therefore we honor you in praise, Apostles of the Lord!
Glory...(Byzantine)
Tone 5
As the wisdom of God, the ever-existing Word of the Father,
Foretold in the Gospels,
You are fruitful vines, all-praised Apostles,
Bearing ripe and beautiful grapes in your preaching.
We the faithful eat of them
And delight with joy for their taste.
God-pleasing Bartholomew and Barnabas, son of consolation,//
Fervently pray on behalf of our souls!
Now and ever...of the Pentecostarion or (Theotokion):
We bless you, virgin Theotokos,
For Christ, the greatly merciful Sun of righteousness//
Has shone forth from you!
Ven. Onuphrius the Great (4th)
Ven. Peter of Mt. Athos (734). Finding of the relies (1649) and the second glorification (1909)of Blessed Anna of Kashin. Ven. Arsenius, Abbot of Konevits (1447). Ven. Onuphrius, abbot of Malsk (Pskav—1492). Ven. Bassian and Jonah of Pertomsk (Solovki—1561). Ven. Onuphrius and Auxentius of Vologda (15th-16th). Ven. Stephen of Komel, Abbot of Ozersk Monastery (Vologda—1542). Ven. John, Andrew, Heraclemon, and Theophilus, Hermits, of Egypt (4th).
Lord I Call
Most glorious wonder
Father Onuphrius, you were wise in God!
You cut yourself off from the tumult of the world
And climbed to the perfection of heaven.
You desired Him Who is the source of good things
And you received true love from Him, blessed one.
Enlightened by His radiance,//
By your prayers, rescue us from the darkness of sin!
Father Onuphrius, you were wise in God!
You endured the cold of night and burning heat of day
In the hope of future things.
You mortified your members on earth, venerable one,
And have received the life of heaven.
You entered with joy into the bridal chamber, holy one,//
To behold the infinite beauty of your Creator!
Father Onuphrius, you were wise in God!
The glorious Paphnutius found you
Hidden like a treasure in the desert!
He proclaimed clearly to those in the world
The discipline of your struggles.
He enriched the faithful with his account of your god-pleasing life.
By your supplications, all praised and glorious one,//
Show us to be your followers.
Glory...
Tone 6
The sound of your teachings has gone out into all the earth,
Venerable father!
Therefore you have found the reward of your labors in the heavens.
You destroyed the hosts of demons
And reached the ranks of angels whose life you blamelessly followed!
Since you have boldness before Christ our God,
Entreat peace for our souls!
Apostikha
You have kept the image unharmed.
By fasting you set your mind above pernicious passion.
You rose to the Master in His divine image as far as man is able,
Having restrained your nature.
You strove to make the lower part obey the higher
So that the spirit would rule the flesh.
Therefore you are an example to those living the ascetic life,
Dweller of the wilderness!
Teacher of those who run to you for their benefit,
Renowned example of virtue, our Father Onuphrius!
Now in the heavens you behold in all purity the Holy Trinity,
While you pray on behalf of those who honor you in faith and love!
Hymn of Light
The ranks of angels marvelled at the struggles
Which you undertook in the desert:
You fasted for sixty-three years, father!
Now, blessed and venerable one,
You reign with Christ forever, throughout all ages!
GNE...
Theotokion
Mistress, we are saved for your sake!
We confess you to be indeed the Theotokos,
For you ineffably gave birth to God
Who by the cross has destroyed death.
He has drawn the councils of the venerable Onuphrius to Himself.//
Together with him we praise you, O virgin!
Matins Apostikha
We honor you, Onuphrius our father,
The instructor of a multitude of monks!
We have indeed learned to walk rightly in your footsteps!
You are blest, for having labored for Christ,
You denounced the power of the enemy!
Conversor with the angels,
Companion of the venerable and righteous ones!//
Together with them, entreat the Lord that He may grant mercy to our souls!
Martyr Aquilina of Byblos in Syria (293). St. Triphyllius. Bishop of Leucosia (Nicosia) in Cyprus (ca. 370). Van. Andro nicus (1395), disciple of Ven. Sergius of Radonezh. and Ven. Sabbas (15th), Abbots, of Moscow. Martyr Antonina of Nicaea (3rd-4th). St. Anna and her son, St. John, of Constantinople.
Lord I Call
You have given a sign
We celebrate your holy memory, passion-bearing martyr,
Knowing you to be an incorrupt bride adorned by the Holy Spirit!
We bow down in faith before your relics
And ever receive healing for our passions
As we honor you in confidence, most praised Aquilina.
You offered the severing of your limbs as a gift to your Bridegroom!
Therefore, most honored one,
He counted you worthy of the all brilliant bridal chambers.
The transcendent One enlightens you with divine glory.
You stand before Him, rejoicing, Aquilina!
Earnestly pray to Him on behalf of us
Who glorify your suffering with faith.
You were inspired by God, Aquilina,
And held fast by the desire of your Creator.
You showed His suffering with your own flesh, all-praised one,
Enduring each triple wave of pain!
Now as you live in the heavens,
Wearing a crown that does not perish,
Your glory is immune to pain!
And you look upon what the ranks of angels see!
Troparion
Tone 4
Your lamb Aquilina, O Jesus,
Calls out to You in a loud voice:
“I love You, my Bridegroom,
And in seeking You I endure suffering.
In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You,
And died so that I might live with You.
Accept me as a pure sacrifice,
For I have offered myself in love!”
By her prayers, save our souls, since You are merciful!
Kontakion
Tone 3
Christ, the Fountain of life, and your Bridegroom, virgin Aquilina,
Gave you power to heal and save from suffering and grave disease,
For you have been purified by the shedding of your blood//
And have received the crown of martyrdom!
Prophet Elisha (9th B.C.). St, Methodius, Patriarch of Constantinople (847). St. Mstislav-George, Prince of Novgored (1180). Ven. Methodius, Abbot of Peshnoshsk (1392). Ven. Elisha of Sumsk (Solovki—15th-l6th). Ven. Niphon (Mt. Athos—1330).
Lord I Call
Most glorious wonder
Rejoice, all-wise Elisha!
When you had cleansed your mind of bodily pleasures, glorious one,
You received the radiance of the spirit.
Your wholly radiant form passed this brilliance on to all.
Now you make your dwelling with the never-setting light,
Ever interceding on behalf of us who praise you!
Blessed Elisha,
When Elijah was indeed revealed to you riding upon the heavenly chariot,
He left you behind as his zealous disciple,
Glorified by a double portion of spiritual gifts!
In imitation of him you made the river’s waters stand still by grace,
Passing over them, glorious one!
You were made radiant with joy as you magnified Christ!
Showing kindness to the believing Shunamite woman of old,
In holiness you raised up the dead child by a prayer,
For you were a god-inspired, venerated prophet!
Again, with salt you brought the barren waters openly to fruitfulness;
You performed countless miracles by the grace of the all-powerful
Spirit!
Therefore, blessed one, we praise you with hymns!
Glory...
Tone 2
Today the divine coming of the prophets shines forth!
It calls mystically to the souls of those who love the feasts of the Church!
The one who mounted the chariot which crosses the heavens,
The star of the unfading East,
Together with Elisha, the wondrous man,
Broadens the streams of the new Jordan,
Proclaiming the faith with purity!
They openly portray by a double image
The twofold blessing of the harmony and glory of the covenants, both old and new
For those who celebrate the feast of their memory with faith.
Apostikha
Glory...
Tone 6
Prophet and herald of Christ,
Never departing from Christ’s throne of majesty,
You ever support us in our weakness.
You minister in the heights, blessing the universe
And you are ever glorified!
Pray for forgiveness for our souls.
Troparion
Tone 4
The glorious Elijah, an angel in the flesh,
The greatest of prophets and second forerunner of the coming of Christ,
By sending a blessing from heaven upon Elisha,
Dispels sickness, cleanses lepers and brings healing
To all those who honor him.
Kontakion
Tone 2
Blessed Elisha,
You lived the life of a prophet of God.
Therefore you were given grace in abundance!
Together with Elijah, you pray fervently to Christ God for us all!
Hymn of Light
You received a double portion of the grace of Elijah from God!
You give double healing to both souls and bodies
To those who ask this from you in faith.
GNE...
(Of the Pentecostarion or Theotokion)
All-praised virgin Theotokos,
You ineffably gave birth to God!
Earnestly entreat your Son on behalf of us, your servants,
That He may have mercy and save those who praise you with love.
June 14: St. Methodius the confessor, patriarch of Constantinople (847)
Lord I Call...
Tone 4
To the special melody As Noble Among Martyrs
We have come to know you, Methodius,
As a foundation of truth and support of the faith!
You proclaimed teachings consistent with piety;
You were a temple of purity and a chosen vessel of the Spirit’s sweet fragrance;
A great treasury of teachings and a foundation of the Church of Christ,
Teacher of sacred mysteries!
You were a self-moved instrument,
Prompted by the breathing of the Holy Spirit
For by the fiery words of your tongue
You thundered forth divine teachings,
Burning up the tares of the impious enemies//
Who did not venerate the icons of our Lord and God and his pure Mother!
You were counted among the ranks of priests,
The companies of ascetics and the choirs of martyrs,
For you steadfastly withstood the madness of the lawless judge
Even to the point of blood, for the sake of Christ!
When you were confined in the tomb by the decree of the ungodly king,
You were preserved without harm, divinely-wise father!
Prophet Amos (8th B.C.). St. Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow (1461). Ven. Gregory and Cassian, Abbots of Avnezhk (Vologda—1392). Martyrs Vitus. Modestus, and Crescentia, at Lucania (ca. 303). Martyr Dulas of Cilicia (4th). St. Dulas the Passion-bearer, of Egypt. St. Jerome (Hieronymus) of Stridonium (420). Translation of the relies of St. Theodore the Sykeote (ca. 9th). Blessed Lazarus, Prince of Serbia (1789). St. Ephraim, Patriarch of Serbia (14th). Blessed Augustine, Bishop of Hippo (430). Icon of the Most-holy Theotokos, “MARIANICA.”
Lord I Call
Joseph of Arimathea
The spiritual splendor of your mind, all-wondrous prophet,
Manifests a purity reflecting as a mirror,
Illumining the world with the brilliance of divine knowledge,
Prefiguring images of the divine mysteries;//
Causing grace to be granted to all men!
You openly denounced the workers of iniquity
As the mouth of God.
Following righteous teachings and divine judgments,
You condemned them with an inescapable sentence, most-gifted one!
As we behold the fulfillment of your all-wise words, blessed one,
We fittingly praise you with hymns!
You stand before the throne of the Master,
Divinely-eloquent Amos,
Filled with ineffable and divine glory,
Beholding the good things of heaven!
Be mindful of all who honor you with faith
And as you are acceptable to God,
Ask that salvation of soul and remission of sins be granted to us!
St. Tychon, Bishop of Amathus in Cyprus (4th-5th). Ven. Tikhon of Kaluga (or Medin-l 492). Ven. Tikhon (Tychon) of Luchov (Kostroma—1503). Martyrs Tigrius the Presbyter and Eutroplus the Reader, of Constantinople (5th).
Lord I Call
What shall we call you
You had a life equal to the angels, wise Tychon.
By turning from pleasures, you showed yourself to be a vessel of God!
Therefore He fittingly ordained you for the people
As a divine hierarch
And showed you to be a pillar and foundation of the faith.
Divinely inspired and holy one,
You pastured your flock by the waters of true worship!
You were filled with divine understanding
And were shown to be a most wise shepherd,
Faithfully feeding the reason-endowed flock
With the grass of true teachings.
Therefore we now honor your holy festival,
Glorifying aloud the Lord Who has glorified you!
Most blessed Tychon, wise in God,
Pray that our souls may be saved!
God ever glorifies those who glorify Him:
He has glorified you with miracles,
For during your honored and divine commemoration,
Fruit is seen by those who sing hymns to your wonders.
As we faithfully partake of this, wise father,
And give you fitting glory,
We receive sanctification and blessing!
Troparion
Tone 1
Dweller of the wilderness and angel in the body,
You were a wonder-worker, our God-bearing father Tychon!
You received heavenly gifts
Through fasting, vigil and prayer:
Healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith:
Glory to Him Who gave you strength!
Glory to Him Who granted you a crown!//
Glory to Him Who through you grants healing to all!
Kontakion
Tone 3
You became an example of the solitary life, holy one,
Greatly pleasing to God.
Therefore from the Holy Spirit on high
You received power to destroy the idols of error,
To save peoples, to cast out devils and to heal the sick!
Holy Tychon, we honor you as the beloved of God!
Manuel, Sabel, and Ismael, of Persia (362).
Lord I Call
As Noble Among Martyrs
Prizewinners, you are worthy of all praise!
Like brilliant stars you illumine the ends of the world with divine brightness!
You cast away the deep darkness of demons,
Corrupting passions and dangers.
Therefore, glorious ones, as we assemble today,
We celebrate your radiant, light-bearing, joyful and holy feast!
Let wonderful Manuel, blessed Sabel and all-wise Ismael
Be honored with the most sacred hymns:
They openly preached the uncreated Trinity in holiness
In the presence of the enemies.
By an outpouring of blood they extinguished the delusion of idolatry.
They have received unfading glory!
You are great in name, Manuel, Ismael and Sabel:
You reasonably shamed the lawless king
When he lawlessly commanded you to bow down, blessed ones,
And offer unreasonable worship to lifeless gods!
You contended courageously and lawfully,
Weaving crowns of victory for yourselves.
Now you intercede on behalf of the world!
Glory...
(Anatolian)
Tone 6
The glorious martyrs desired You, Word of God,
With singleness of mind!
They did not trouble themselves to worship fire.
The glorious Manuel, the ever-memorable Sabel and thrice-blessed Ismael
Left the land of the Chaldeans:
They were enlightened by Your light
And were armed with the weapons of the faith!
They shamed the despotic Julian, singing hymns to You
Together with the Father and the Spirit.
Now they intercede that our souls may be saved!
Troparion
Tone 4
Your holy martyrs, O Lord,
Through their sufferings have received their incorruptible crowns from You, our God!
For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries,
And shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through their intercessions, save our souls!
Kontakion
Tone 2
Because of your perfect faith in Christ, all-blessed martyrs,
You drank the cup of His sufferings with generous hearts.
You renounced the idols of Persia and yourselves three in number,
Proclaimed your belief in the Holy Trinity.
We beseech you ever to pray for us all!
Hymn of light
Of the great Manuel and the all-glorious martyrs Sabel and Ismael
Woven from three golden strands!
It illumines the hearts of all the faithful with light
And brings rejoicing to their souls.
GNE...
Theotokion
Since you have loving kindness and great mercy,
Most hymned maiden and virgin Theotokos,
Look upon my lowliness;
Destroy the turmoil of the passions and temptations of life
And deliver me from the fire of Gehenna.
Martyr Leontius, and with him Martyrs Hypatius and Theodulus, at Tripoli in Syri a (70-79). Ven. Leontius, Canonarch, of the Kiev Caves (Far Caves-14th). Ven. Teontius the Hagiorite (1605). “BOGOLIOUBSK” Icon of the Most-holy Theotokos [1157).
Lord I Call
What shall we call you
What shall we call you, glorious one?
An offering of Greece, for you came from there?
Or the purification of Crete, for you were offered there?
A lamp, for you shone forth in the darkness?
A valiant one, for you were unconquered by those who wounded you?
Your honor takes many forms, most blessed Leontius!
Pray that our souls may be saved!
What shall we name you, passion-bearer?
Soldier of Christ, for you destroyed the enemy?
Ruler of passions, for you were an athlete of piety?
Feeder of the hungry, since you love the poor?
Righteous one, for you loved heavenly wisdom?
Many were your sufferings and splendid your struggles!
Pray that our souls may be saved!
Who will not wonder at you, Leontius?
Since you received the well-spring of truth,
You pour forth rivers of benefaction to the faithful.
Without payment, you distribute abundant gifts to all who ask!
You gladden those who partake of the waters of goodness!
Pray that our souls may be saved!
Glory...
Tone 1
All-praised athlete, Leontius,
Neither fire, nor wounding, nor the sword
Were able to separate you from the love of Christ!
You suffered manfully in the midst of the tormentors!
Divinely-wise bearer of the crown of victory,
You abolished the offerings of idols!
Now you dance in the heavens:
Pray earnestly that our souls may be saved!
Apostikha
Let heaven rejoice in splendor today!
Let us the faithful on earth be glad
In the memory of the martyr Leontius!
For today has come, crowned not with irrational sacrifice,
But with spiritual flowers and the sacrifice of praise!
For as we offer the bloodless service to the bestower of crowns,
He stands with us, adorned and radiant,
Entreating for us that those who keep his memory in faith
May attain the courts of paradise!
Troparion
Tone 4
Your holy martyr Leontius, O Lord,
Through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God!
For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries,
And shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through his intercessions, save our souls!
Kontakion
Tone 3
Wise Leontius, you exposed to shame the wiles of tyrants
And the impious errors of pagans.
By healing the faithful from illness,
You filled the choirs of angels with joy!
Therefore we celebrate your memory.
Hymn of light
To the special melody Heaven With Stars
You were tried like gold by fire and torments,
Holy martyr Leontius.
You were shown to be a worthy gift for the most high God,
Most glorious athlete.
Now ever pray for the sake of our souls.
GNE...
Theotokion
Pure one, by your strong protection,
Keep us, your servants, unharmed by attacks of the enemy,
For we have you alone as a refuge in our needs.
Holy Apostle Jude, the brother of the Lord (ca. 80). Ven. Barlaam Shenkursk (1462). Martyrs Zosimas the Soldier at Antioch in Pisidia (2nd). Ven. Paisius the Great (5th). St. John the Solitary of Jerusalem (6th). Ven. Paisius of Chilandari (Bulgarian—18th). Repose of St. Job, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus (1607).
Lord I Call
Most Praised Martyrs
Most wise and praised Apostle Jude,
Your sound has gone out into all the earth,
Guiding as lightning to the never-fading light
Those darkened by the delusion of ungodliness!
Since now you are radiant with this light,
Beseech great mercy for our souls!
Wondrous Jude, as the vehicle of Christ,
You brought low the arrogance of idolatry!
By divine speech, you mystically made captivity captive,
For life incorruptible, glorious one!
Since now you delight in this life,
Beseech great mercy for our souls!
You were a disciple of our incarnate God,
Jude, Apostle of Christ.
You were sent by Him as indeed a sheep among wolves,
By your speech turning them away from impiety,
Bringing them to piety and a godly understanding of the Holy Trinity!
Therefore we praise you!
Glory...
Tone 8
You received openly the grace of the divine Spirit, Apostle Jude,
As a participant in the sacred choir of the Apostles!
When the fiery breath came down from heaven,
Breathing forth with a tongue of fire,
You utterly consumed the thorns of idolatry!
Preacher, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved!
Now and ever...
The King of heaven, because of His love for man,
Appeared on earth and dwelt with men.
He took flesh from the pure virgin;
And after assuming it, He came forth from her.
The Son is one; two natures, yet one person.
Proclaiming Him as perfect God and perfect man,
We confess Christ our God!
Entreat Him, unwedded mother, to have mercy on our souls!
Apostikha
You have given a sign
You have obtained invincible authority over demons, Apostle,
And in the name of Christ, power to drive away the princes of darkness!
You have passed through the earth giving light as the sun,
And have taught all nations, glorious one,//
Preaching Christ’s first and saving coming!
Verse: Their sound has gone out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the universe!
You were a man true in action, Jude:
You are called the brother of the Lord,
Resembling the first grace of divine, natural life!
Because of your goodness and the purity of your mind,
You were manifest as a sincere disciple of Christ!
Verse: the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims his handiwork!
As an instrument well-tuned by the hand of God, Apostle Jude,
You were given to the calling in of the gentiles,
Guiding them to the true knowledge of Christ by your words and deeds,
You enlightened all to confess the true divinity of Jesus,
The Savior of our souls!
Glory...
Tone 2
You are wondrous indeed, Apostle Jude!
You were filled with divine zeal:
Burning with ardor for the almighty God,
He revealed you to be filled with divine miracles.
You possessed a wondrous passion,
And obtained a reverent manner through god-like action.
Therefore you are exalted and dwell with the angels on high!
Since you behold God, pray to the Word, Christ our God,
That He may grant us great mercy!
Now and ever...
A new miracle surpasses all ancient miracles!
Who knows of a mother who gave birth without a man,
Who carried in her arms her Creator?
This birth is the will of God!
Since you carried Him as an infant in your arms, most pure one,
And since you possess motherly boldness before Him:
Do not cease praying for us who honor you,
That He may be bountiful and save our souls!
Troparion
Tone 1
We praise you in God, as a faithful witness, Jude,
Knowing you to be the brother of Christ.
You trampled on delusion
And so preserved the faith.
Today as we celebrate your holy memory,
By your intercessions we receive remission of sins.
Kontakion
Tone 2
You were chosen as a disciple for your firmness of mind:
An unshakable pillar of the Church of Christ.
You proclaimed His Word to the gentiles,
Telling them to believe in one Godhead.
You were glorified by Him, receiving the grace of healing,
Healing the ills of all who came to you,
Most praised Apostle Jude!
(After the first reading from the psalter):
Sessional Hymn
Tone 2
The glorious Apostle Jude was a fisher of the nations:
He taught the ends of the earth to worship You
Together with the Father and the Spirit, Christ God!
For his sake, establish your Church;
Send down Your blessing upon the faithful,
For You alone are merciful and the lover of mankind!
GNE...
Theotokion
Through you, ever-virgin Theotokos,
We have become partakers of the divine nature,
For you gave birth to the incarnate God for our sake.
Therefore we all devoutly magnify you!
(After the second reading from the psalter):
Sessional Hymn
Tone 4
Christ, the Sun of righteousness,
Sent you forth as a ray to enlighten the whole world!
Glorious Apostle Jude,
By your divine prayers you enlighten with the unfading light of God
All who keep your holy memory with faith!
GNE...
Theotokion
You are the unashamed hope of all who put their trust in you,
For you alone wondrously gave birth in the flesh to Christ our God!
With the holy Apostle Jude,
Entreat Him to grant cleansing of sins to the world,
And before the end, conversion of life to us all!
Magnification
We magnify you,
O Jude, Apostle of Christ!
And we venerate the pain and labor of your work
To spread the gospel of Christ!
Verse: From the rise of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised!
Matins Gospel Prokeimenon
Tone 4
Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth * and their words to the ends of the universe!
Verse: The heavens are telling the glory of God and the firmament proclaims his handiwork!
Gospel
John 21:15-25
At that time, 15when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” 19(This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.”
20Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” 23The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
25But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Psalm 51
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Through the prayers of the holy Apostle Jude,
O merciful One,
blot out the multitude of our transgressions!
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Through the prayers of the Theotokos,
O merciful One,
blot out the multitude of our transgressions!
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your great mercy;
according to the multitude of Your compassions,
blot out my transgressions!
Tone 1
Your saving voice has gone out into all the earth,
Apostle Jude, seer of God!
Enlightened by grace, you have illumined lost souls and brought them to Christ!
Pray that He may grant peace and great mercy to our souls!
The Canon
On the acrostic: I hasten to praise Jude, the God-seer.
Canticle One:
Irmos: Christ broke the battle in sunder
With His uplifted arm,
And shook horse and rider into the red sea
While He saved Israel who sang a song of victory!
Holy Apostle Jude, pray to god for us!
Most wise Jude, you were an initiate of heaven’s mysteries.
a disciple of the Savior and partaker of the true life:
Most blessed one, move my tongue and direct my speech to your praise!
You took the yoke of the Savior on your shoulder
and cut the ties that bound you.
You sowed the seed of the faith,
renewing all things by grace, all-glorious one.
You brought forth much fruit for the One Who called you!
You gained the incarnate Word as your teacher, God-seer.
Enlightened by His rays, you became a lamp,
reflecting the radiance of the source of light,
truly wondrous one.
Theotokion
Let faith be told, not as a tale of miracles beyond understanding,
for you, all pure one, gave birth to God the Word,
the unapproachable One, clothed in humanity!
Katavasia: (as prescribed by the Typicon)
Canticle Three:
Irmos:
You established the earth upon nothing
By Your command,
Holding up the immeasurable bulk of its weight.
Establish Your Church on the unshakeable rock of Your commandments, O Christ,
For You alone are good, and the Lover of mankind!
Holy Apostle Jude, pray to God for us!
The splendor of Christ’s disciples is exalted
far above all majesty!
They were His friends and peers, kinsmen and companions
who retold His mysteries.
Your brethren praise you, Jude, as the brother
of the pre-eternal Word Who appeared,
shining from the ever-existing and unoriginate Father,
condescending to appear in the flesh.
You mortified your members on earth
and lived with Christ, the life of all.
You are most wealthy and a herald
of life-bearing life for the whole world,
announcing the words of life.
Theotokion
Behold, O pure one, you have been blessed above all others!
You have surpassed all others in holiness!
You are exalted over all, high above the heavenly hosts,
for you are the Mother of God!
Sessional Hymn
Tone 8
You were a brother of the Master Who was born, blessed and all-wise Jude,
Becoming the brother of all the chosen!
You were sent by Him as an Apostle to the ends of the earth,
Sowing the word of faith among all nations.
You enlightened those who labored in the darkness of ignorance
For the evil prince of this world.
Therefore, we cry out to you: “Entreat Christ our God
That He may grant remission of sins to those who honor your holy memory with love!”
GNE...
(Of the Pentecostarion or the Theotokion):
As the immaculate bride of the Creator,
As the unwedded Mother of the Deliverer,
As the vessel of the Comforter, all-hymned one,
Come quickly to deliver me, the dwelling of iniquity,
For I have become the plaything of the demons.
Deliver me from their workings and make me the dwelling of the virtues!
Radiant and incorrupt one, dispel the cloud of my passions.
Through your prayers, grant me communion on high with the never fading Light!
Canticle Four:
Irmos:
Understanding Your divine emptying, O Christ,
Habakkuk cried out to You in prophetic fear:
“You have come for the salvation of your people,
And to save your anointed!”
Holy Apostle Jude, pray to God for us!
Receiving the coming of the Spirit,
the great Apostle became beloved,
having beheld the radiance and beauty of the Savior.
Apostle, you are filled with grace and the spiritual gifts of God:
Guide those who sing hymns to you
to the haven of salvation.
You are protected by the invincible power of the all-holy Spirit,
servant of ineffable mysteries.
You drive away the spirits of evil by the word of grace.
Theotokion
You ineffably conceived your Creator and God,
most immaculate Lady:
beg Him to save us from misfortunes
and to grant salvation to the souls of those who sing hymns to you.
Canticle Five:
Irmos:
I rise early and cry out to You,
Who are clothed with light as with a garment:
Enlighten my darkened soul, only compassionate Christ.
Holy Apostle Jude, pray to God for us!
You left behind the shadow of the law
and preached with splendor the image of the truth,
for you acquired the Truth Himself as your teacher.
You fulfilled the command of the Word, Apostle,
teaching the nations with your doctrines.
You travelled and baptized them with the invocation of the Trinity.
Your divine proclamation, like heavenly rain,
like dew from on high, preacher of God,
dispelled the gloom of idolatry
with the preaching of the one God!
Theotokion
Kill my passions, Theotokos,
and raise up my soul which has been killed by sinful pleasures,
Mother of the true resurrection.
Canticle six:
Irmos: calm the soul-destroying waves
Of the raging sea of passions, master Christ,
And lead me up from corruption, compassionate one.
Holy apostle jude, pray to god for us!
Splendid with the radiance of the teaching of the vision of god
and with the works of life, apostle of Christ,
you have enlightened those in the depths of ignorance.
You have sent a glorious letter to all mankind,
filled with the teaching of the spirit,
all wondrous one, revealed in holiness.
June 19: canon (continued) page four
The god-seer proclaims heavenly things
and with miracles as well, he declares the glory of god the word
Who has appeared in the flesh for our sake!
(Theotokion)
All-holy lady, mother of god,
deliver me from corruption
and still the tumult of the passions,
for you gave birth to the source of dispassion.
Kontakion tone 2
You were chosen as a disciple for your firmness of mind:
An unshakable pillar of the church of Christ.
You proclaimed his word to the gentiles,
Telling them to believe in one godhead.
You were glorified by him, receiving the grace of healing,
Healing the ills of all who came to you,//
Most praised apostle jude!
Ikos
Let us fittingly praise the true preacher of the faith; the strong champion
of the truth! He imitated Christ and was a witness to him, for the most
praised apostle courageously took his sufferings upon his own body://
The most praised apostle jude!
Canticle seven:
Irmos: the most high lord of our fathers
Sprinkled the children with dew,
And put out the flames as they sang with one accord:
Blessed are you, o god!
Holy apostle jude, pray to god for us!
Let us all sing hymns to jude
who became a god-seer by dwelling with god.
Let us chant together:
Blessed are you, o god!
Your tongue, inspired by god and moved by the spirit,
converted the world by preaching Christ to whom we sing:
Blessed are you, o god!
June 19: canon (continued) page five
The lord gives you a heavenly inheritance
and an all-radiant throne.
As you rest upon it you sing in a manner pleasing to god:
Blessed are you, o god!
(Theotokion)
Theotokos and mistress, we proclaim you,
rejoicing with our mouths and our minds,
for you gave birth to god to whom we sing:
Blessed are you, o god!
Canticle eight:
Irmos: the children in the furnace
Wove a song of all creation for you,
Singing to the creator of all:
All works of the lord, bless the lord;
Sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Holy apostle jude, pray to god for us!
You have received the wealth of the nations,
the homage of kings and honor, apostle.
You cry out: all works of the lord, bless the lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever!
You received all the fullness of the comforter which descended.
blessed and all-glorious one.
You cry out: all works of the lord, bless the lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever!
You turned away from corruptible things
and preferred heavenly glory which you knew was abiding.
Therefore you cried out, apostle:
All works of the lord, bless the lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever!
Let us bless the father and the son and the holy spirit,
The lord, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
(Theotokion)
Come, let us sing hymns together to the beauty of jacob,
the all-pure mary!
Let us chant: all works of the lord, bless the lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever!
We praise, bless and worship the lord,
Singing and exalting him throughout all ages!
- the magnificat is sung -
82Canticle nine:
Irmos: rejoice, o isaiah!
A virgin is with child,
And shall bear a son emmanuel, both god and man.
And orient is his name.
Whom magnifying, we call the virgin blessed.
Holy apostle jude, pray to god for us!
Enlightened with the outpouring of the radiance of the spirit,
you send out for all the radiance of miracles past understanding.
for you are a disciple of emmanuel.
Magnifying him, god-seer, we call you blessed!
You beheld the only-begotten one who lowered himself
to assume flesh for our sake.
Now you stand before him with the angelic ranks.
Pray earnestly to him, that he may save our souls.
(Theotokion)
In giving birth to the creator,
the father's fashioner of all things,
you, all-pure one, bear the source and origin,
Who has incomparable and highly exalted pre-eminence.
Therefore as we worship your child, we glorify you!
June 19: the holy apostle jude, the brother of the lord (First century)
Hymn of light
By the spirit
Directing the steps of your beautiful feet on high,
Apostle jude,
You joyfully ascended the steps of heaven!
Standing before the trinity,
You see the son and divine spirit in the father!//
Therefore we celebrate in faith your divine and holy memory!
Gne... (theotokion)
Recalling to myself the hour of the dread judgment,
The number of my evil deeds appalls and frightens me.
But in your fervent prayers have compassion on me,
Granting me salvation, most pure one,//
For you are able to do all that you desire!
June 19: the holy apostle jude, the brother of the lord (First century)
The praises
Venerable father
Obedient to the command of god, all-blessed one,
You preached to all the incarnate word,
Who without change, became like us!
You were his cherished disciple.
As his brother in the flesh, pure one,
You were given to behold his glory with a godly mind!
Therefore we honor you, o jude of divine voice,
And we celebrate your memory.
We cry out to you with faith: ever pray to Christ,//
That he may grant the world unity of mind, peace, and great mercy! (Twice)
Apostle jude,
We call you a mountain with sweet falling springs of divine understanding;
A river fed by the immaterial well of the spirit
Drying up the sea of ungodliness
While mystically watering the hearts and minds of the righteous!
A bright sounding trumpet,
Announcing the divine appearing of the word who saves the world!
Entreat him now; pray to him,//
That he may grant the world unity of mind, peace, and great mercy!
Your brethren praised you, blessed jude:
You were the brother of god who became the divine vessel of the spirit!
Illumined in purity with his splendor,
You were revealed to be a coal burning up falsehood,
While illumining the faithful with the light of pure teaching!
Therefore we honor you as the never-fading morning star.
We celebrate your holy memory,
Crying to you with faith: ever pray to Christ,//
That he may grant the world unity of mind, peace, and great mercy!
Gne... (theotokion)
We call you blessed, virgin theotokos,
And rightfully glorify you:
The unshakeable wall, the invincible city,//
The firm protection and refuge of our souls!
Hieromartyr Methodius, Bishop of Patar (312). Blessed Prince Gleb Andreevich (son of St. Andrew Bogoliubsky-1174). Translation of the relies of St. Gurias, Archbishop of Kazan (1630). Martyrs Inna. Pinna, and Rimma. disciples of Apostle Andrew in Scythia (1st-2nd). Martyrs Aristocleus, presbyter. Demetrian, deacon, and Atha nasius, reader, of Cyprus (ca. 306). St. Leucius, Bishop of Brindisi (5th). St. Gallistus, Patriarch of Gonstantinople (1363). Icon of the Most-holy Theotokos “HODOGITRIA” (”DIRECTRESS”) at the Monastery of Xenophontos on Mt. Athos.
June 20: holy hieromartyr methodius, bishop of patera (c. 312)
Lord I Call
Tone 4 to the special melody
You have given a sign
Your commemoration has appeared with radiance, bishop methodius,
Showing us the way of salvation!
Therefore we sing you praises on this day,
Proclaiming your brilliant struggles
And contests by which you overcame the resourceful evil one,//
Joyfully weaving for yourself a diadem of victory!
You enlightened the fullness of the church with your words,
Divinely-revealed methodius!
By the light of your sufferings
You diminished the darkness of pagan worship.
Now you have passed over to the never-setting light,
Teacher of sacred truths.
Therefore we celebrate your radiant feast today,//
Enlightened with godly devotion.
You stained your sacred robe with streams of blood,
Blessed god-bearing methodius,
As you went forward, rejoicing, into the holy of holies!
There you gaze clearly upon the divine brightness of the trinity,
All-blessed hierarch,//
And are instructed more fully in him who is beyond comprehension and under-
Standing!
Troparion tone 2
Your blood cries out to god from the earth like that of abel,
Divinely wise and holy hierarch, methodius.
You openly preached that god became man,
Putting the heresy of origin to shame!
You were translated to the heavenly bridal chamber://
Ever entreat Christ god that he may save our souls.
Kontakion tone 4
You were a priest of the mysteries of the holy trinity, methodius,
A preacher of the commandments of god that surpass understanding;
The confirmation of orthodox Christians!
You denounced the thoughts of heretics for the sake of the true faith;
Your blood revealed you as a hieromartyr.
Now as you stand with the angels before the face of Christ,//
Entreat him to save our souls!
Martyr Julian of Tarsus in Cilicia (3rd-4th). Hieramartyr Terence (or Tertius). Bishop of Iconjum (Ist). St. Julius. Presbyter of Novara, and his brother, St. Julian the Deacon (5th). Martyrs Archil II (744) and Luarsab II (1622). Kings of Georgia.
June 21: the holy martyr julian of tarsus in cilicia (3rd to 4th centuries)
Lord I Call
As noble among martyrs
Blessed martyr julian,
We celebrate your divine and light-bearing memorial:
We know you as a radiant sun,
Shining on the whole world with the brilliance of your mind;
Casting out the night of disbelief in the true god!//
As we venerate the dust of your relics, we gain strength of soul.
You were lashed with a whip, blessed one,
Kicked frightfully and confined in prison.
While in affliction, you transcended your surroundings:
You were encompassed by wild beasts;
You entered into the deep and were drowned by the sea.
You received your holy end without denying the master of all!//
You are greatly blessed, the glory of the martyrs!
Your most holy and beloved mother
Saw you drift from the waves of the sea to dry land.
By the direction of the spirit,
She faithfully welcomed you, martyr julian.
She entrusted your blameless and sorely-tried body to the tomb://
The body victorious through grace over the devil's tyranny!
Hieromartyr Eusebius. Bishop of Samosata (380). Martyrs Zeno and his servant Zenas of Philadelphia (304). Martyrs Galacteon. Juliana, and Saturninus, of Constantinople. St. Alban. Proto martyr of Britain (ca. 287). Hieromartyr Nicetas of Remesiana (414-420). Martyr Nicetas the Dacian (370-372).
June 22: holy hieromartyr eusebius, bishop of samosata (c. 380)
Lord I Call
What shall we call you
What shall we call you, glorious one?
Faithful bishop and holy teacher;
Support of the orthodox and eye of the church;
Beacon shining forth the light of understanding;
Glorious among martyrs, champion of truth;
A great denouncer of falsehood!//
Pray that our souls may be saved!
What shall we call you, holy hierarch?
River flowing from the spiritual eden,
Watering the earth with mystical streams;
Cup filled with a divine draught drowning the ranks of arius,
Pillar of fire going before the new people by the grace of god!//
Pray that our souls may be saved!
What shall I name you, eusebius?
Bestower of piety and destroyer of blasphemy;
Adornment of passion-bearers and joy of priests;
Sickle cutting down tares and gathering in the heavenly wheat,
Ever-flowing fountain of miracles,
Quenching the fever of infirmities!//
Pray that our souls may be saved!
June 22: holy hieromartyr eusebius, bishop of samosata (c. 380)
Troparion tone 4
You participated in the ways of the apostles,
And were enthroned as their successor!
You discovered action an entrance into vision,
Inspired one of god.
Therefore directing the word of truth,
You suffered for the faith to the shedding of your blood!//
Bishop and martyr eusebius pray to Christ god that our souls may
Be saved!
Kontakion tone 4
You lived with devotion in the rank of bishop,
And trod the path of martyrdom.
You extinquished the burnt offerings of idolators,
Holy bishop eusebius.//
Since you have boldness before Christ, entreat him that our souls
May be saved!
Martyr Agrippina of Rome (253-260). Righteous Artemius of Verkolsk (1545). Translation of the relies of St. Herman. Archbishop of Kazan (1567). Martyrs Eustochius, Gaius. Probus. Lollius. and Urban, of Ancyra (4th). Synaxis of the Saints of Vladimir. The Meeting of the VLADIMIR Icon of the Most-holy Theotokos (in memory of the saving of Moscow from the invasion of Khan Achmed—1480).
June 23: virgin agrippina, martyr at rome under the emperor valerian
(c. 275)
Lord I Call
You have given a sign
You were brought forth, long-suffering agrippina,
As a fragrant rose from the meadow of rome,
Perfuming the thoughts of the faithful with the sweet scent of virtue,
Dispelling the foul odor of the passions by grace.
You are the firm support of the church,
The adornment of martyrs, the boast of virgins,//
An ocean of miracles, all-honorable one!
After your contest in rome,
Christ god gave your relics to sicily as a precious treasure.
You came there, martyr, famous in hymns,
Expelling the vile throng of devils by your authority!
Therefore we bless you and celebrate your struggle today,//
Long-suffering agrippina!
At the command of him who bears the universe,
All-praiseworthy agrippina,
Your friends vassa and paula bore your body on their shoulders.
As they passed from place to place,
You labored by divine grace to perform a sea of far-reaching miracles,//
While resting where god provides refreshment for those whose toils are
Ended!
Troparion tone 4
Your lamb agrippina, o jesus,
Calls out to you in a loud voice:
I love you, my bridegroom,
And in seeking you I endure suffering.
In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in you,
And died so that I might live with you.
Accept me as a pure sacrifice,
For I have offered myself in love!//
By her prayers, save our souls, since you are merciful!
Kontakion tone 4
The radiant day of your splendid struggles has dawned
On which the divine church in honor
Calls all together to cry out to you with gladness:
Rejoice, virgin and martyr,//
Most honored agrippina!
NATIVITY OF THE HOLY CLORIOUS PROPHET. FORERUNNER, AND BAPTIST JOHN. Ven. Anthony. Abbot of Dymsk (Novgorod-1224). Righteous Youths John and James of Meniugi (Novgorod-1566-1 569). Seven Martyred Brothers: Orentius. Pharnacius, Eros. Firmus, Firminus. Cyriacus, and Longinus, in Georgia. All-night Vigil
June 24: the nativity of st. John the baptist and forerunner
Lord I Call
John is born; he ends zachariah's silence.
The father cannot keep silent when his son, the voice of the lord, is born!
When at first, he did not believe, his tongue was silenced,
But now john has been born to free his father:
The voice of the word, the forerunner of light,//
Who always intercedes for our souls!
Today the voice of the word is born
Releasing zachariah's silence;
Revealing the harvest of the church, freeing the bonds of barrenness.
The candlestick of the light is drawing near!
The ray of the sun proclaims his coming//
For the edification of all and the salvation of our souls.
(Anatolian stikheron)
The angel of god's word comes forth from the womb:
The greatest among those born of women!
The most high of the prophets.
Wonderful events precede the divine mystery:
A seedless conception; a marvelous birth!//
You have worked miracles for our salvation: glory to you!
(by st. Andrew of crete)
Today the great forerunner comes from the barren womb of elizabeth;
The great prophet of prophets, none greater than he!
The radiant candlestick of the light; the voice of the word,
The friend of the bridegroom, preparing the lord's chosen people
By purifying them with water before the coming of the spirit.
The flower of the desert, the preacher of repentance,
The purification of transgressions.
He announced the resurrection even to those in hell,//
And he always prays for our souls.
Today the prophet and forerunner appears from the womb:
John the baptizer of our lord jesus Christ.
When he saw the queen come to her servant,
Bearing in her womb the timeless god,//
He leaped in his mother's womb and sang for joy!
Most glorious wonder!
Zachariah asked the angel of the word:
How can elizabeth conceive and bear a son?
I am an old man; my wife is advanced in years.
For his unbelief, he was condemned to silences,
But today he beholds the birth and resumes his speech,
Entering into joy and crying out:
Blessed be the lord god of israel,
For he has visited and redeemed his people,//
Granting to the world great mercy!
John most praised, universal apostle!
The good news of gabriel, the fruit of barrenness!
The holy and righteous flower of the desert!
The beloved friend of the bridegroom Christ!//
Pray to him to save our souls.
Glory... Tone 6
Today the forerunner heralds the coming of the word of god;
Today zachariah's silence is freed,
For the father cannot remain silent at the nativity of the forerunner//
Who will proclaim the world's deliverance with great boldness!
Now and ever...
Elizabeth conceived the forerunner of grace;
The virgin conceived the king of glory!
Both mothers greeted each other with a kiss.
The infant leaped in the womb, praising his master!
His mother was amazed and cried:
Why is this granted me, that the mother of my lord should come to me?//
He will save the forsaken people, since he possesses great mercy!
Apostikha
Tone 2
Let us praise john with psalms and hymns and sp~ritual songs!
The prophet of prophets, the flower of barrenness!
The citizen of the desert, the greatest among those born of women!
Baptizer and forerunner of the savior,
Since you have boldness before Christ in your birth,
Entreat him to grant peace to the world,//
And to our souls great mercy.
Verse: blessed be the lord god of israel: for he has visited
and redeemed his people!
The voice of the word of grace has come:
The preacher of the light of light,
He is born from the barren womb of elizabeth.
Rejoice, people; he comes, preparing the way of salvation for us.
He leaped in the womb and worshipped his master,
The lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world,//
And grants us great mercy.
Verse: you, child, will be called the prophet of the most high!
Today john blossoms from his mother's barren womb
He becomes the last of the prophets.
With boldness, he announces the coming of the lord://
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!
Glory... Tone 8
Today the voice of isaiah the prophet is fulfilled
In the birth of john, the greatest of prophets.
He said: behold, I will send my angel before your face, to prepare your
Way!
Now the warrior of the heavenly king has come.
He truly will prepare the way for our god.
A man by nature, but an angel in manner of life.
He embraced purity and chastity forever.
Now they are his by nature.
Let us all the faithful greet him, crying://
Pray for us, that our souls may be saved!
Now and ever... (theotokion)
Elizabeth greeted the virgin mary:
Why is it that the mother of my lord should come to me?
You bear the king, and I, his soldier.
You, the lawgiver, and I, the proclaimer.
You bear the word, and I, the voice//
Which preaches the kingdom of heaven!
Troparion tone 4
Prophet and forerunner of the coming of Christ,
Although we cannot praise you worthily,
We honor you in love at your nativity,
For by it you ended your father's silence and your mother's barrenness,//
Proclaiming to the world the incarnation of the son of god!
Kontakion tone 3
The woman who had been barren has become fruitful,
And today gives birth to the forerunner of Christ.
He is the greatest and last of the prophets,
For standing in the waters of the jordan
He placed his hands on Christ whom all the prophets had announced.
By so doing he became a prophet himself://
A preacher and forerunner of the word of god!
Theotokion tone 4
The mystery hidden from eternity
And unknown to the angels,
Is manifested to those on earth through you, theotokos!
God being incarnate of you by union without confusion
And of his own will freely enduring the cross for us
And raising the first-formed man,//
Has saved our souls from death!
(After the 1st reading from the psalter)
Sessional hymn tone 4
Today the bud of zachariah has blossomed for us,
Bringing joy to the minds and spirits of the faithful!
He is the adornment of the wilderness and support of the prophets!
Therefore he has been revealed as Christ's forerunner and witness of his
Coming.
Let us then cry out to the baptist with one accord,
Singing songs of the spirit://
Prophet and herald of the truth, intercede that we may be saved!
Gne... (theotokion)
Joseph the betrothed was struck with wonder,
Beholding that which was past nature!
Your seedless conception brought to his mind the dew upon the fleece,
The bush unconsumed by fire; the rod of aaron that budded!
Your guardian testified and cried aloud to the priests, theotokos:
A virgin bears a child,//
And after childbearing remains a virgin!
(After the 2nd reading from the psalter):
Sessional hymn tone 8
You were most gloriously born as the true herald of the coming of Christ,
Far-famed john, the first of the prophets!
And as the voice of the word you cried: repent, the kingdom of heaven is at
Hand!
You prepared the way of the lord and were revealed to the ends of the earth
As the forerunner of grace, the baptist and apostle!
Intercede with Christ our god to grant remission of sins//
To us who celebrate your holy memory with love!
Gne... (theotokion)
All-holy virgin, mother of god, I pray to you:
Heal the passions of my soul and grant me to see my sins,
For I have wounded my body and soul in my foolishness.
Woe is me! what shall I do in the hour when the angels part my soul from my
Body?
Be then, lady, a helper and a warm defender,//
For I, your unworthy servant, have you as my hope!
The magnification
We magnify you,
John, forerunner of the savior;
And we venerate your most glorious birth
From a barren mother and father!
Verse: blessed be the lord god of israel, for he has visited
and redeemed his people.
We magnify...
Prokeimenon tone 4
(The song of zachariah)
And you, child, * will be called the prophet of the most high!
Verse: blessed be the lord god of israel, for he has visited
and redeemed his people!
Luke 1:24-25, 57-68,76,80
Psalm 51
Post gospel verses
Tone 6
Glory to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit.
Through the prayers of the forerunner,
O merciful one,
blot out the multitude of our transgressions!
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Through the prayers of the theotokos,
O merciful one,
blot out the multitude of our transgressions!
Have mercy on me, o god,
according to your great mercy;
according to the multitude of your compassions,//
blot out my transgressions!
Tone 2
He who was hallowed from his mother's womb
Receives the fullness of prophecy
And is born today from a barren womb,
Plainly proclaiming the coming of the lord://
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!
The canon
First canon (by st. John of damascus)
Irmos: lord born of a virgin,
Drown, I pray, the mighty tyrant of my soul
In the depths of freedom from passions,
So that I may sing to you, as on the timbrel,
A song of triumph while beholding the death of the flesh.
Holy john, baptist of Christ, pray to god for us!
As the dawn that precedes the sun,
the offspring of barren parents clearly proclaims the virgin's conceiving.
He makes the enlightenment of grace and godliness
shine to the ends of the world!
You shall truly be called the prophet of the most high,
for you shall go before the face of Christ.
Zachariah, transported by the spirit said to you, his son:
you shall go before the creator to prepare his way
all-praised john.
When he heard the words of the divine message of gabriel,
Zachariah was seen to be disobedient.
He was condemned to silence,
but he was loosed suddenly from this silence,
for john, the voice and forerunner of the word had been born.
(Theotokion)
Spotless theotokos:
the city of god, the king of all,
the pure and divine receiver,
ever guard your inheritance which praises you,
honoring your childbearing with faith.
Second canon (by george)
Irmos: I will open my mouth...
Holy john, baptist of Christ, pray to god for us!
The church of the spirit is adorned with light and beauty,
bearing grace with joy and singing
on this day of the birth of the forerunner!
The herald of grace and bringer of the radiant morning
today reveals the sun of glory,
summoning his brightness to shine without delay
on all the ends of the earth!
By your birth, forerunner,
the night of ungodliness was driven from the earth!
Rays of grace were spread to the ends of the world,
For you reveal the sun that knows no evening.
(Theotokion)
Your conception from barren parents, pure lady
Brought knowledge of your own childbearing without seed,
For an unfruitful womb had brought forth fruit.
Katavasia: I will open my mouth, filled with the spirit;
I will sing a song to the queen and mother!
I will come, rejoicing in the feast,
And I will extol her conceiving!
Canticle three:
First canon
But in you, the wisdom of god the father in person,
For none is holy but you, lover of mankind!
Holy john, baptist of Christ, pray to god for us!
The master's birth is from a virgin,
while the beloved servant's is from an aged and barren womb.
Yet, greatest of wonders,
he rightly goes before.
An aged and barren mother kissed the virgin,
having come to know without a doubt
that the bond of unfruitfulness would be undone
by her childbearing in the will of god.
(Theotokion)
You brought forth god incarnate while unwedded;
then establish me, for I am shaken by the assaults of passion.
There is no other help but you, undefiled one!
Second canon
Holy john, baptist of Christ, pray to god for us!
The sound of your birth from a barren womb
loosed the bonds of your father, glorious john.
His voice clearly proclaims the incomprehensible condescension of Christ,
and the divine things that now are accomplished.
Springing forth from unfruitful impotence,
he revealed the good fruit in Christ,
cutting down with the axe of his preaching
the barren and senseless pride of the jewish nation.
The rays of new grace shine brightly today
from your birth, o forerunner!
Ancient riddles and dark figures of scripture begin to depart!
(Theotokion)
Your childbearing, virgin,
has loosed the bonds of the condemnation of mortals!
You have bound us to yourself by grace,
for honoring you as the theotokos,
we call you blessed.
Katavasia: in your divine glory, theotokos,
Living and inexhaustible fountain,
Spiritually establish your choir, assembled in chorus,
And on this feast of your holy conceiving
Make them worthy of the crowns of glory!
Sessional hymn tone 8
The son of zachariah has risen for our sake from the womb of elizabeth,
As a bright sun, loosening the dumbness of his father.
He cried out to the people with great boldness:
Make straight the ways of the lord, for he sets free and saves those who
Turn to him
John, as you proclaimed him beforehand,//
Pray to him that our souls may be saved.
Gne... (theotokion)
All the choirs of angels wonder, pure virgin,
At the mystery of your awesome childbearing.
How he, who by a single movement of his hand holds fast the universe,
Was held in your arms, and as the pre-eternal one, began to be!
How he, who in his ineffable goodness feeds every breathing creature is fed
On milk!
And praising you, they glorify you as the true theotokos!
Canticle four:
First canon
Jesus, the holy of holies, came on a radiant cloud.
With his holy arm he saved those who cry:
Glory to your power, o Christ!
Holy john, baptist of Christ, pray to god for us!
A mystery precedes the ineffable mysteries,
Revealing them by a form new to the established law of nature,
Foretelling its deliverance from sickness, o Christ,
Its amendment and deification.
Isaiah spoke beforehand about the son,
coming from the father, about to become incarnate,
and about a mortal messenger, equal to the angels, saying:
Behold, I send him before your face to cry in preparation:
Glory to your power, o Christ!
I have been born to serve the master as a servant;
I have come to announce his coming,
that the barren woman who brought forth a flower in her old age
might believe beforehand in the childbearing of the virgin!
(Theotokion)
The transcendent word of the father
was pleased to dwell in the ho1y theotokos as a sweet-smelling mansion.
Her womb was not corrupted, and she suffered no travail,
for she bore emmanuel, both god and man.
Second canon
Holy john, baptist of Christ, pray to god for us!
The rivers prepared their streams,
and the jordan made its waters ready for the master
Who now establishes his baptist,
born today from barrenness!
The maker's own gifts of goodness,
He who is the day that dawns from on high,
bow down before the one who walks the earth
Proclaiming his coming and light.
(Theotokion)
Today john, the loud-crying trumpet
comes forth on earth from a barren womb
revealing to mortals the king and lord
ineffably born of a virgin.
Katavasia: the counsel of god cannot be examined:
The most high was incarnate from a virgin!
The prophet habakkuk foresaw this and cried:
Glory to your power, o god!
Canticle five:
First canon
I shall be exalted, I shall be glorified now,
Taking fallen mankind from the virgin,
And raising him up to the wonderful light of my own divinity!
Holy john, baptist of Christ, pray to god for us!
The earth has raised up a preacher who is true indeed.
He proclaims the son of the virgin to all with the tongue of the spirit:
He who is righteousness came down to us from heaven,
stooping to us in the form of the body.
The lord set you as the all-true candlestick of Christ,
for you send out light on all,
clothing those who are hostile to him in shame as with a garment,
proclaiming forthrightly the son and word of god!
All creation rejoices at your divine birth,
for you, forerunner, were revealed as an earthly angel and heavenly man,
showing forth to us the incarnate god of heaven.
(Theotokion)
The voices of the prophets have told of your wondrous works,
calling you the undefiled mountain, the gate and shining candlestick,
from whom the miraculous light flashed signs of fire indeed
to the whole world, all-pure one.
Second canon
Holy john, baptist of Christ, pray to god for us!
The nature that was weakened before
is now made strong to bring forth good fruits
by your birth from an unfruitful womb.
Life was proclaimed to mortals
by your coming forth, forerunner.
The unquenchable candlestick proceeding from barren parents,
disclosed the sun of glory rising from the virgin,
enlightening all mankind with the light of the descent of grace!
The babbling tongues of the ungodly were bound,
yet their mouths were opened wide,
for the glory of the coming of the god of all
was revealed and proclaimed clearly on earth today by the forerunner!
(Theotokion)
Glorifying your glory in words of prophecy, o virgin,
Elizabeth plainly proclaimed the majesty of your divine childbearing with
joy,
for you are indeed the gladness and boast of us all.
Katavasia: all creation was awed by your divine glory,
For you, virgin, knew no man, yet bore the god of all.
You held in your womb the eternal son
Who grants peace to those who extol you in song!
Canticle six
First canon
And a storm of many sins has wrecked me in the deep,
But as god, snatch my life from corruption,
Greatly merciful one!
Holy john, baptist of Christ, pray to god for us!
As a prophet, you recognized god the word
while still in the womb of your mother.
Proclaiming him there with a prophet's tongue, you confessed him,
beholding in a dark chamber the unapproachable light!
Never silent as the voice of one who cries aloud,
do not cease to pray the deliverer of the world, o baptist,
that he may loose the barrenness of soul
of those who sing the praises of your birth!
(Theotokion)
Your pure womb was revealed, theotokos,
As the unapproachable dwelling of divinity
Upon whom the hosts of heaven cannot gaze without fear!
Second canon
Holy john, baptist of Christ, pray to god for us!
The warring enemy was thrust with a two-edged sword:
your own birth, forerunner!
You told abroad of his destruction,
and of mankind's return to life.
Divine wealth drops down from divine heights
upon the universe,
for the herald of the adoption and grace of the human race
has been born today!
The wilderness spiritually poured forth sweet-smelling myrrh
at your birth from barrenness.
It is the revelation, john of great praise,
of the inexhaustible myrrh received from Christ.
(Theotokion)
The divine forerunner recognized you as the mother of god!
He leaped beforehand in his mother's womb,
proclaiming your great things, pure lady!
Katavasia: let us, believers, clap our hands in gladness,
Fulfilling the most precious feast.
By knowing god through the theotokos,
Let us glorify him who was born of her!
Kontakion tone 3
The woman who had been barren has become fruitful,
And today gives birth to the forerunner of Christ.
He is the greatest and last of the prophets,
For standing in the waters of the jordan
He placed his hands on Christ whom all the prophets had announced.
By so doing he became a prophet himself://
A preacher and forerunner of the word of god!
Ikos
Let us now praise the forerunner of the lord, whom elizabeth has borne to
the priest from a barren womb, but not without seed. For Christ alone
passed through an impassable dwelling-place without seed. A barren woman
gave birth to john, yet he was not born without the help of man. And a
pure virgin whom the father and the spirit of god overshadowed, bore jesus.
But he who came from a barren woman was manifested as a prophet himself://
A preacher and forerunner of the one born from a virgin without seed!
Canticle seven:
First canon
Counting a tyrant's command to be idle talk,
Cried aloud in the midst of the flames:
Blessed are you, lord, god of our fathers!
Holy john, baptist of Christ, pray to god for us!
The entire nature of those born on earth was darkened before,
but you appeared, forerunner!
You were the morning that cried aloud:
Blessed are you, lord, god of our fathers!
Your glorious birth from barrenness, forerunner,
has entirely healed our sick nature, teaching it to sing:
Blessed are you, lord, god of our fathers!
(Theotokion)
Intercede for us who pray to you,
pure and blessed virgin,
for we all hope in you and cry aloud:
Do not despise your servants, lady!
Second canon
Holy john, baptist of Christ, pray to god for us!
He who makes all things by the spirit,