The Canon to St John of Kronstadt

Posted on November 1, 2023November 1, 2023 by Father Mark

The Canon to St John of Kronstadt in Tone IV

Ode I, Irmos: Through the deep of the Red Sea, * marched dry shod Israel of old, * and by Moses’ outstretched hands, * raised in the form of a cross, * the power of Amalek was routed in the wilderness.

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

Make firm my senses and mind, O my Savior, that I may worthily hymn the supplications and struggles of Thy servant John our father, who loved Thee and was beloved of Thee.

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

O blessed one who from thy youth wast forechosen to chant unto the first-called apostle in his holy temple, illumined with the radiance of the Cross thou didst flee the gloom of sin, unceasingly offering up prayers and hymnody to God our Savior.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

On a chariot of the virtues didst thou mount to heaven, as once did Elijah on a chariot of fire; hence, beseech thou the Lord that He send down upon us correction of life.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Through thee, O Virgin Theotokos, we who were once deprived of life in paradise have received everlasting life; for thou hast given birth unto Him Who alone is without beginning and giveth life unto all.

Ode III, Irmos: Thy Church, O Christ, rejoiceth in Thee crying aloud: * Thou, O Lord, art my strength, * my refuge and foundation.

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

As one who shared in the manner of life of the apostles and wast an emulator of their life, O divinely inspired one, thou didst set forth the word of truth unto the end.

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

The eye of thy soul beheld the kingdom of heaven, for it was pure; wherefore, thou didst splendidly set forth thy life, and, honoring it in God, we glorify thee.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Let him who doth not labor not eat! These words of the Apostle Paul didst thou proclaim to thy brethren; wherefore, thou didst raise up a house of industry for the sake of the poor, wherein the impoverished and ailing might be provided for, being sustained by the work of their own hands.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Thou art wholly light, all-goodness, all-wisdom; thou canst, as Mother of the Almighty, do all things; thou alone art all-perfect, in that thou art the Mother of the all-perfect King of glory.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII: O blessed John, lamp of Kronstadt, thou whose activity and preaching were continual, who offered up before the throne of the Most High lamentation over the sins of many, and who in the Spirit beheld the bowing down of the heavens at the holy liturgy: Pray thou on behalf of our souls!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone VIII: O ye faithful, with hymns let us magnify the Theotokos, * the unshakable confirmation of the Faith * and the precious gift of our souls: * Rejoice, thou who didst hold within thy womb the Stone of life! * Rejoice, thou hope of the ends of the earth * and aid of the sorrowful! ** Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded!

Ode IV, Irmos: Beholding Thee, the Sun of righteousness, * lifted up upon the Cross, * the Church now standeth arrayed and doth worthily cry aloud: * Glory be to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

Having a firm foundation in Christ, thou didst imitate Abraham of old in thy hospitality, receiving those who came to thee from all lands, and leading them to the Lord; and thus didst thou do that which is pleasing unto God.

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

Desiring to make thy heart a temple of God, it was thy wish to serve unceasingly in the house of God, adorning thy soul with the beauties of heaven.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having extinguished all the passions of the body with the dew of thy feats, thou didst kindle the light of dispassion; wherefore, thou wast shown also to be a child of the everlasting day, O blessed father.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The divine Ezekiel, O most pure one, called thee prophetically the gate which was closed, through which He Who alone is pre-eternal hath passed without change, granting His peace.

Ode V, Irmos: Thou, O Lord, who camest into the world, * art my light, * a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance * those who sing Thy praises in faith.

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

Unceasingly serving thy Lord and ever emulating the labors of the apostles, O father, thou wast deemed worthy of heavenly gifts.

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

Having slain the passionate pleasures of thy corruptible flesh, thou didst enliven thine incorruptible soul with piety, and make of it a house of the divine Spirit.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Earnestly proclaiming the Gospel of Christ unto all, thou wast a daily communicant at the banquet of the Lord, making thyself and thy flock a living offering which was holy in God’s sight.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O most pure one, thou hast given birth unto One of the Trinity, Who, for the sake of His loving-kindness, appeared on earth in two natures; Him do thou unceasingly entreat, that He save our souls.

Ode VI, Irmos: The church crieth out unto Thee O Lord, * ‘I will sacrifice unto Thee with a voice of praise * having been cleansed of the blood of the demons’ * by the blood that for mercy’s sake flowed from Thy side.

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

Thou wast a fruitful olive tree in the house of thy Lord, O divinely manifest John, for the Lord imparted divine knowledge unto thee and strengthened thee in thine apostolic work.

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

Ye are the members of the body of Christ! Thus, with the Apostle Paul didst thou preach, teaching thy flock to love Christ alone, that all may be one.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Thy life is holy, thy discourse, O divinely wise one, was filled with the grace of God, and thy heart became a vessel of grace-filled prayer. Wherefore, with faith and love we honor thee.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The angelic hosts marveled at the ineffable wonder which took place within thee, O most holy Virgin; how He Who is incorporeal and sustaineth all things took flesh from thee.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone IV: O father John, namesake of grace, * who wast chosen by God from childhood, * who in thy youth miraculously received from Him the gift of learning, * and in a dream wast most gloriously called to be a priest: ** Entreat Christ God, that we may all be with thee in the kingdom of heaven.

Ikos: The Holy Spirit Who spake in the prophets and enlightened the whole world through the apostles, Who gave strength to the martyrs and made clear the Orthodox Faith through the holy hierarchs, poured forth His grace abundantly upon thee, O father John; for by thy discourse, by thy works and thy whole life thou didst proclaim the faith of Christ. Wherefore, the Lord hath summoned thee to His habitations; and as thou dost now stand before the throne of His glory, do thou pray that all who honor thee may be with thee in the kingdom of God.

Ode VII, Irmos: In the Persian furnace the youths and descendants of Abraham, * burning with a love of piety * rather than by a flame of fire, * cried aloud saying: * Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord.

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

By the providence of God thou wast revealed to be a light of piety amid the heavy darkness of godlessness and unbelief, O father, calling upon all to cry aloud: Blessed art Thou in the churches of Thy glory, O Lord!

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

Man is formed in the image of God; and thou, O father John, wast a most splendid mirror of the love of God and a dwelling place of the Holy Trinity, Whom we sinners also glorify.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

From the Lord didst thou receive the grace to heal the infirmities and passions of all; visit us also therewith always, that with thee we may all chant in oneness of mind: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, throughout all ages!

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Lady, save thy people, save those who are of the same blood as thee. Save us, O Mother of life and of the whole human race, and, even though we are unworthy to call thee our mother, sanctify, make steadfast and save us by thy supplications.

Ode VIII, Irmos: Having spread his hands, Daniel closed the lions jaws * in their den; * while the zealously pious youths, * girded with virtue, * quenched the power of the fire and cried aloud: * Bless ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

Cleanse our hearts and thoughts by thy supplications, and show us forth to be fertile ground, that, girded about with virtue, we may cry aloud: Bless the Lord all ye works of the Lord!

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

Thou wast crowned with a crown of gifts of grace, contemplating heavenly wisdom and ever crying aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Glory to Thee, O most holy, life-creating Spirit, Who proceedest from the Father and ever restest in the Son! Glory to Thee, O Son of God, Who sanctifiest through the Holy Spirit, and strengthenest and makest us wise! Glory to Thee, O Father, Who art ever well pleased with us through the Holy Spirit! O indivisible Triune Unity, have mercy upon us!

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Rejoice, thou who hast given birth to the salvation of the world! for through thee we have been raised up from earth to heaven! Rejoice, O blessed one, thou protection and dominion, rampart and foundation of those who chant: Hymn the Lord, O ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Ode IX, Irmos: A cornerstone not cut by hand O Virgin, * was cut from thee the unhewn mountain: * even Christ, Who hath joined together the disparate natures; * therefore rejoicing we magnify thee, * O Theotokos.

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

Truly thou wast a light to the world, O holy father, for, having adorned thy soul with godly works, thou wast revealed to be an eminent pastor of the Orthodox Church, being a model for the faithful in word and life; wherefore, we bless thee.

Holy, Righteous Father, John of Kronstadt, pray to God for us.

Keeping the One Creator ever before thy mind, through Whom and in Whom all things exist, with a pure heart and guileless soul thou didst labor for Him throughout thy life as thy Lord; and in no wise wast thou bound by Mammon.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Princes praised thee and many people glorified thee; but, disdaining earthly glory, thou didst desire to be in the eternal mansions of God, there to glorify the Lord always.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

He Who is pre-eternal descended into thy womb, O most holy Virgin, and ineffably, in a manner transcending comprehension and all telling, was born from thee, that He might renew Adam of old; wherefore, we ever magnify thee as the cause of our renewal.

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The Feast of the Glorification of St John of Kronstadt

Posted on November 1, 2023November 1, 2023 by Father Mark

Today is the feast of the glorification of St John of Kronstadt, canonised by the Russian Orthodox Church, Outside of Russia, in 1964 – though the Moscow Patriarchate would not do so until 1990.

Please endeavour to offer a canon or akathist hymn to the great wonderworker on this feast, or honour him in some other way!

Saint John of Kronstadt was born in the village of Sura in Archangel province on October 19, 1829, and was called John in honor of Saint John of Rila (August 18). His parents were very poor but were very devoted to the Church. Even though he was poor, as a young boy John learned to feel compassion for others in their misfortune. His neighbors frequently asked him to pray for them, as they noticed this special grace-endowed gift in him. When John was ten, his parents were able to raise some money and send him to the local school which was attached to the church. At first, the boy had an extremely difficult time with his studies. He worked for days on end, but still failed to keep up.

Writing about his life he once recalled an evening when everyone had already gone to bed. “I could not sleep, and I still failed to understand anything I was taught. I still read poorly and could not remember anything I was told. I became so depressed I fell to my knees and began to pray. I don’t know whether I had spent a long time in that position or not, but suddenly something shook my whole being. It was as if a veil had fallen from my eyes, and my mind had been opened, and I remembered clearly my teacher of that day and his lesson. I also recalled the topic and the examples he had given. I felt so light and joyous inside.” After this experience he did so well he became one of the first in his class to be chosen to go to seminary, and after seminary to the Theological Academy in Saint Petersburg (a great honor at that time).

Throughout his studies, John thought about the importance of forgiveness, meekness, and love, and came to believe that these were the very center and power of Christianity, and that only one path—the path of humble love—leads to God and the triumph of His righteousness. He also thought a great deal about the Savior’s death on the Cross at Golgotha, and pitied those who did not know Jesus Christ. He wished to preach to them about His death and Resurrection. He dreamed about becoming a missionary to distant China, but saw that there was a great deal of work for a genuine pastor of Christ’s flock both in his own city and the surrounding towns.

When John graduated from the Academy he met Elizabeth Nesvitsky who lived in the town of Kronstadt. They dated, he proposed, and they were married. After his studies, John still desired to learn more about his faith and his Church.

It was in this frame of mind that he prepared to be a priest and to enter public ministry. He was ordained a deacon on December 10, 1855, and then priest on December 12. He was assigned to Saint Andrew’s Cathedral in the city of Kronstadt. He said, “I made myself a rule to be as sincere as possible in my work, and of strictly watching myself and my inner life.”

Father John wanted most of all to earn the love of the people in his care, because only a loving attitude could provide the firm support and help he needed as he faced the difficult work of the priesthood. His constant thought was how he would come before the Last Judgment and have to give an account, not only for his own deeds, but also the deeds of his flock, for whose education and salvation he was responsible. To him no one was a stranger; everyone who came to him for help became a friend and relative. He would tell people “The Church is the best heavenly friend of every sincere Christian.” He conducted divine services daily and offered the prayers of the faithful. He called all who rarely receive Holy Communion to prepare themselves and live their lives in a Christian way so that they could receive more often. Listening to Father John, many people changed their lifestyle, repented sincerely, and joyfully received Holy Communion on a regular basis.

At that time the government exiled murderers, thieves and other criminals to Kronstadt. Life was horrible for the exiles. Even children of exiles would become thieves and criminals. He would go to their dugouts, hovels and shacks to visit with them. Not satisfied with staying for five or ten minutes to administer some rite and then leave, Father John believed he was coming to visit a priceless soul, his brothers and sisters. He would stay for hours, talking, encouraging, comforting, crying, and rejoicing together with them.

From the beginning he also concerned himself with the material needs of the poor. He would shop for food, go to the pharmacy for prescriptions, to the doctor for help, many times giving the poor his last few coins. The inhabitants of Kronstadt would see him returning home barefoot and without his cassock. Often parishioners would bring shoes to his wife, saying to her, “Your husband has given away his shoes to someone, and will come home barefoot.” He would also write articles for the newspaper exhorting the people of Kronstadt to “support the poor morally and materially.” These appeals touched the hearts of many and Father John organized many charitable efforts. Realizing that his individual charity was insufficient for aiding the needy, he founded the Orthodox Christian House Parish Trusteeship of Saint Andrew the First-Called. This brotherhood coordinated many charitable efforts throughout the city and helped many needy people.

In 1857, he began teaching in the local city schools. He would tell people, “If children cannot listen to the Gospel, it is only because it is taught like any other subject, with boredom and indifference. Such teaching defeats the purpose of the Gospel. It fails because it forces students only to read words and memorize them instead of making them live in their lives.” To Father John there were no incapable students. He taught in such a way that poor pupils as well as good ones were able to understand. His attention was aimed not so much at forcing students to memorize as to fill their souls with the joy of living according to Christian values, sharing with them the holy thoughts which filled his soul.

When speaking to other priests about their vocation he would say, “You are a representative of the faith of the Church, O priest; you are a representative of Christ the Lord Himself. You should be a model of meekness, purity, courage, perseverance, patience, and lofty spirit. You are doing the work of God and must not let anything discourage you.”

Saint John has performed more miracles than almost any other saint, with the possible exception of Saint Nicholas. Through his prayers he healed the sick, gave hope to the hopeless, and brought sinners to repentance.

Father John labored endlessly in his work for the Lord preaching, teaching, and helping those in need. Having spent his entire life serving God and His people, Father John fell ill and died on December 20, 1908. Almost immediately, people from near and far began to make pilgrimages to the monastery where he was buried. Even today millions of Orthodox Christians in Russia and around the world pray to him to intercede for them as he had always done from his childhood.

Source: Orthodox Church in America

The Canon to St Varus

Posted on November 1, 2023November 1, 2023 by Father Mark

Canon of the Holy Great-Martyr Varus, the acrostic whereof is: ”I praise the sufferings of Varus and his great glory”, the composition of Joseph, in Tone VI

Ode 1, Irmos: When Israel crossed the deep on foot as though it were dry land, beholding the tyrant Pharaoh drowned, he cried aloud: Let us sing to God a hymn of victory!

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

Thou hast appeared in the heights of the Church of Christ as a radiant sun, illumining the fullness of the earth with the brilliance of thy battles, O blessed Varus.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

Embraced by the sweet ardour of divine love, O most blessed one, thou didst deny thyself and didst hasten wisely to all the tortures of the flesh, struggling mightily.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having sensibly bound thyself with the bonds of godly strugglers, O athlete, thou didst break asunder the bonds of falsehood by thy mighty endurance of many torments.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The transcendent Word made His abode within thy womb in manner past recounting, O pure one, and, having been born in godly manner, He hath led to Him the choirs of martyrs. With them we praise thee in hymnody.

Ode 3, Irmos: There is none as holy as Thou, O Lord my God, Who hast exalted the horn of Thy faithful, O Good One, and hast established us upon the rock of Thy confession.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

Thou didst enter upon valiant struggles with mighty resolve, having made thyself steadfast by hope in the good things which are to come and by the most-wise teachings of the martyrs of Christ, O blessed one.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

Beholding the army of the holy athletes suffering lawfully, thou didst show forth their courageous strength, entering upon multifarious torments, O Varus.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As a valiant warrior, O Varus, thou didst find thyself in the sacred regiment, and didst cut down multitudes with the battle-sword of courage, O wise one, being glorified with victories.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Virgin Mother of God, I beseech thee: By the effulgence of grace which is in thee, drive away the most profound darkness of my despair and the clouds of the passions.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Sedalion, Tone I, “Thy tomb, O Saviour…”: Beholding the honoured sufferings of the martyrs, and venerating their fetters with love, thou didst hasten to ascend to the summit of witness, O most wondrous one; for, suspended upon a tree, thou didst endure wounds, until thou didst commit thy spirit into the hands of the Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: O all-pure Virgin, thou hope of Christians, unceasingly entreat God to Whom thou gavest birth in manner past understanding and recounting, on behalf of those who hymn thee, that He grant remission of all our sins and correction of life unto those who ever glorify thee with faith and love.

Stavrotheotokion (replaces the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): Beholding Thee stretched out, dead, upon the Cross, O Christ, Thy most immaculate Mother cried aloud: “O my Son Who art equally unoriginate with the Father and the Spirit, what is this, Thine ineffable dispensation, whereby Thou hast saved the creation of Thine own all-pure hands, O Compassionate One?”

Ode 4, Irmos: Christ is my power, my God and Lord, the honoured Church doth chant in godly manner, crying out with a pure mind, keeping festival in the Lord.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

Adorned with holy wounds, thou didst show thyself to be most comely and the beloved of God Who crowned thy head, O right wondrous Varus.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

Stretched out on a cross and again upon the ground; O glorious one, thou didst endure cruel pangs. Wherefore, in gladness thou hast inherited the life which is devoid of pain.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

The godly martyrs, seeing thee suffering lawfully, strengthened thee with words of patience, O blessed one; and having completed thy valiant sufferings with them, thou hast attained blessedness.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

With praises we crown the divine martyrs, for with divine wreaths the grace of God hath crowned them who cast down the overweening thoughts of the enemy.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Mistress, from the mire of the passions and the passionate thoughts which alienate me from the one pure God lead me up, that I may bless thee with faith.

Ode 5, Irmos: With Thy divine light, O Good One, illumine the souls of those who rise early unto Thee with love, that they may know Thee, O Word of God, to be the true God Who calleth them forth from the darkness of sin.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

Strengthened by divine inclinations, O Varus, with valiant mind thou didst endure unremitting laceration, rending apart the heart of the prideful one, the author of evil.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

The glorious martyr, seeing pieces of his flesh falling to the ground, rejoiced, looking toward eternal and divine rewards with splendour of mind.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

“I hymn, glorify and worship Thee, O Lord God, having been vouchsafed the good things prepared for those who love Thee!” the martyr cried out fervently amid his suffering.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

In that thou hast truly been shown to be more holy than the cherubim and seraphim, O most immaculate one, do thou now sanctify all who with faith call thee sacred, and save them by thy mediation.

Ode 6, Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the storm of temptations, fleeing to Thy calm haven I cry unto Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O greatly Merciful One!

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

Thou didst disdain the words of the all-iniquitous enemy and didst patiently endure unbearable pain of the flames, O much suffering Varus, who prayest for those who praise thee with faith.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

The most mindless tyrant did not cease inflicting wounds upon thee without pity, until thou didst commit thy sacred soul into the hands of God, made radiant with the beauties of thy struggles.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Emulating Christ, thou wast uplifted upon a tree, and hanging thereon, thou didst surrender thy soul to God, Who crowned thee, having suffered valiantly, O athlete.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Mistress, ever direct my lowly soul which is tempest-tossed on the deep of evils, and guide it to the calm haven, for with unfaltering understanding it calleth thee blessed.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4: Following Christ, O martyr Varus, and draining His cup, thou wast crowned with the wreath of martyrdom and joinest chorus with the angels. Pray thou without ceasing for our souls.

Ode 7, Irmos: The Angel caused the furnace to pour forth dew upon the venerable children, and the command of God which consumed the Chaldeans prevailed upon the tyrant to cry: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

O Varus, the all-good Cleopatra helped to bury thee, who wast illumined with gifts of thy struggles, finding through thee the glory of faith manifestly fitting, which thou didst fervently show forth in thine end.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

Shedding tears over thee and embalming thee with precious unguents, the most honoured woman buried in the earth thee who hast buried wicked falsehood and hast illumined us with rays of brilliance from thy grave.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

The ever-memorable one did not cease pleasing thee, the favourite of Christ, O wise and venerable one, until thou didst show thyself to be a mediator for her of the kingdom of heaven which she and her beloved son were vouchsafed through thee.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

By thy mediation, O Virgin, restore me, who am crushed by my countless offences, healing my soul and granting me the words to cry out: Blessed art thou who gavest birth to God in the flesh!

Ode 8, Irmos: Out of the flame didst Thou pour forth dew upon the venerable ones, and didst consume the sacrifice of the righteous man with water; for Thou, O Christ, doest all things whatsoever Thou desirest. Thee do we exalt supremely for all ages.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

Hearkening to a mother’s entreaties, O martyr, and splendidly enrolling her son in the army of heaven, with ineffable loving-kindness thou didst show that thy glory and that of the honoured youth cannot be taken away.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

Cleopatra bore thee out of Egypt like riches beyond price, O martyr, lavishing precious gifts of healings upon all of Palestine, which honoureth thee with love.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

In gladness thou didst complete thy struggles, O valiant warrior of the Almighty, and thou hast been crowned by Him as a victor, O most blessed Varus, thou great glory of the martyrs.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Sins upon sins do I add, yet I do not fear the coming dread judgment. O pure one, overcome the blindness of my soul, and converting me, save me by thine entreaty.

Ode 9, Irmos: It is not possible for men to see God, upon Whom the ranks of angels dare not gaze; for through thee, O most pure one, the Word appeared, incarnate, to men. And, magnifying Him, with the armies of heaven we call thee blessed.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

Manifestly girded about with divine power, O valiant athlete Varus, thou didst cast down the might of the adversary; wherefore, we, the faithful, praise thee, drawing forth abundant healing from thy relics.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

Thy memory hath spread forth upon the ends of the earth like light, like the dawn, like the great sun, O all-praised one, illumining all with the radiant effulgence of thine honoured struggles and driving darkness away from men’s hearts.

Holy Great Martyr Varus, pray to God for us.

The loving mother, beholding her son shining with thee in great glory, magnified the God of all, O martyr, and most earnestly glorified thee as an intercessor most great, having been manifestly enriched by thee.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

The land on which thy most patient body lieth, O wise one, hath been divinely sanctified. By thy supplications, O Varus, grant us remission of sins, amendment of life and deliverance from all difficulties.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Lord, manifesting Himself through thee, the light cloud, O Virgin, wrought utter destruction upon the graven images of Egypt; and He hath vouchsafed the multitude of His athletes to endure, becoming emulators of His honoured sufferings.

Troparion of St Varus the Martyr, Tone 5: Thou didst follow in the steps of the martyrs/ and contend for the glory of Christ./ Thou wast tied to a beam and restored by the Tree of Life,/ and thine intercessions gladden our souls.

Parish News – 30th October

Posted on October 30, 2023October 30, 2023 by Father Mark

Dear brothers and sisters,

It’s always lovely to enjoy the silence of the convent church on a Monday morning, with the smell of Sunday Liturgy’s incense still filling the church, and Sunday’s flowers adorning the Vladimir icon of the Mother of God – especially when the sun is streaming through the stained glass windows. There is always a great sense of peace and holiness after the Liturgy. After the business of a long Sunday, it’s good to do cleaning and tidying and to have the chance to pray in silence and do the little things that always need doing – “gwnewch y pethau bychain”, as St David continues to remind us, through the centuries!

Yesterday’s Liturgy came at the end of a busy week, which started with a gathering of Wessex parishioners in Chippenham, where we had some voice coaching and singing practice, nurturing new voices for our kliros, and practicing English language chants – as was reflected in yesterday’s Liturgy. Many thanks to Masha and Neil for their hospitality, especially as they had only arrived home from their holiday in the small hours of the morning.

I was also able to meet parishioners on Tuesday and discuss mission, outreach and Liturgy for our growing number of Wessex parishioners who continue to come from further and further from South Wales.

Thank you to all all who provided transport and sustenance whilst I was in Somerset and Wiltshire. Your generosity and kindness is greatly appreciated.

Friday saw confessions and preparation for Saturday’s pilgrimage to Llancarfan, and I know that Tracy – our pilgrimage coordinator – had a very busy few days.

The following morning, everything needed for Liturgy was packed into the back of Menna’s Land Rover, and four of the young men of the parish into Tracy’s camper van – both vehicles being a great asset when we go on pilgrimage.

It was an honour and blessing to celebrate the Liturgy for the Saturday of St Demetrios in such an ancient monastic sanctuary, where Slavonic has probably only echoed in the church once before – on our last visit! We were surprised by the chanting of the cherubic hymn to an early chant melody – and in Latin – transposed by Aldhelm as an offering for the occasion:

“Qui cherubin mystice imitamur et vivifice trinitati ter sanctum ẏmnum offerimus. Omnem nunc mundanam deponamus sollicitudinem. Sicuti regem omnium suscepturi. Cui ab angelicis invisibiliter ministratur ordinibus. Alleluia!”

At the end of the Liturgy, a panikhida was celebrated in memory of all of the faithful departed “from ages past”, with the blessing of kolyvo, and we then enjoyed a pilgrimage-lunch in the Fox and Hounds, for which we are very grateful for Tracy’s labours in chasing parishioners with menus and arranging the table and lunch coices with the proprietors.

Lunch was followed by a moleben to St Teilo, before our short journey back to Cardiff.

A thankyou to everyone who made this latest pilgrimage such a lovely occasion and success. As Tracy observed (and I hope she doesn’t mind me quoting her), “Yesterday’s pilgrimage was just delightful. The church, liturgy, lunch, the company, Llancarfan village etc. All 9 pilgrimages to date have been so varied and different.” The variety of our pilgrimages has been striking, and we hope that next month will see an urban pilgrimage to “Lazarica” – the beautiful Serbian Orthodox Church of St Lazar in Birmingham, to venerate the Hilandarska Trojeručica icon of the Mother of God. This will be in the second half of November and we are currently fixing the date.

Despite half-term and quite a few parishioners away, we still had about forty adults, plus children, for Sunday’s Liturgy, with friends from far and wide, including an increased Wessex contingent.

Again, Mass was long and allowed very little time to set up before Liturgy, with the Hours starting a little late. Thank you to all who we ready to set up church in Deacon Mark’s absence. Under Hierodeacon Avraamy’s direction, our brothers were very efficient, and we now look forward to their liturgical involvement, bringing a return to a team of half a dozen or so oltarniky for the Liturgy. This will be a relief, and we await Deacon Mark’s very capable and exact direction and supervision of our young brothers in the sanctuary.

It was good to have English language chants during the Liturgy and we know that we have British parishioners who wish to join the choir to contribute to this, with a willingness to learn our Slavonic chants, as well.

As most parishioners were unable to be at Saturday’s service, we served a litia for the faithful departed after the dismissal of the Liturgy, with the blessing of kolyvo, which was shared after the service. We prayed especially for the newly-departed Reader David and Aleksey, and ask your prayers for their repose. Memory Eternal!

By the end of Liturgy, Deacon Mark had sent photos and video clips from San Remo, where he was blessed to serve in the beautiful 19^th century church, observing how warm and welcoming the community is, with Fr Dionisiy gliding between Slavonic, Romanian and English. It’s always good when we build connections between the parishes of our vast diocese.

Next Saturday sees the Feast of the Kazan Icon, though we will translate the celebration to Sunday morning. This is the first time we will be celebrating the feast without either kitchen or trapeza, though space has been reserved for us in the café across the road, so that we might at least have social time, a drink and bite to eat, with the hope that our students and unwaged will be “looked after” by those of us who are in the position to treat them.

Given our lack of facilities, from next year, we will keep the parish feast on the SUMMER feast of the Kazan Icon, allowing for a parish picnic.

Despite translating the celebration to Sunday, Great Vespers for the feast will still be celebrated on Friday, at 17:00, and I will hear confessions before and after the service. Please email me by noon on Wednesday in order to arrange.

Following Friday confessions, we will have a talk on liturgical prayer in the home, and how lay people can pray the vast majority of the services of the Church without a priest, as has been done in many places where clergy are few and far between – including the Soviet Period, when the clergy had been imprisoned or killed. Given the vast catchment area of our parish, the knowledge of services according to the lay order is very valuable and practical. Some of our young brothers are quite well versed in the performance services according to the lay order, and it will be very useful for as many parishioners as possible to gain this knowledge, especially those who have to travel great distances to services in Cardiff.

With the beginning of British Winter Time, I will celebrate Saturday Vespers at 15:00 hours, and will be able to hear confessions before and after the service, and as usual before Sunday Liturgy. Thank you again to all who come in good time, allowing an hour of confessions before Liturgy. This is working well.

Finally – our sister, Marina, has been collecting fleece blankets to send to children in Dnipro for the winter, and one of our other parishioners has suggested that it would be wonderful if we could mark the feast of the Kazan Icon by bringing fleece blankets to send to Ukraine!

May God bless you all!

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

The Coming Weekend: 27-29 October

Posted on October 26, 2023October 26, 2023 by Father Mark

Dear brothers and sisters,

Tomorrow evening, our parish book club will have its first meeting at the Wenvoe Arms, Old Port Road, Wenvoe, CF5 6AN, and will be commencing St Philaret of Moscow’s Sermons on the Spiritual Life, available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sermons-Spiritual-Life-Philaret-Moscow/dp/1735011606/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1697996493&sr=8-3

Everyone will be most welcome, and the first meeting will start with the first sermon in the anthology.

This coming St Demetrios Saturday will see our October parish pilgrimage to honour of St Cadoc in the medieval church on the site of his monastery at Llancarfan, in the Vale of Glamorgan.

We will celebrate the Hours and Liturgy at 10:00, followed by a general panikhida for all of the faithful departed, after which we will enjoy lunch and time together in the Fox and Hounds.

The Liturgy variables may be found at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ugbN-baM2N9aXv4S6-mBOZauLGsqpiU-/view

After lunch, we will chant a moleben to St Cadoc, and I will hear some confessions at the end of our visit. Those who confessed in preparation for Holy Communion last Sunday are blessed to commune at Saturday’s Liturgy, subject to proper preparation.

Many thanks to Tracy, our pilgrimage secretary, who organises and acts as the hub for our monthly pilgrimages. We very much appreciate the time and effort spent on emails, telephone calls and messaging – to say nothing of coordinating bookings and menus to feed hungry pilgrims.

Please remember that we turn the clocks back one hour on Saturday night / Sunday morning for British winter time.

At the end of Sunday’s Liturgy, we will welcome offerings for a second collection to support Bethany Orthodox Christian school in the Holy Land. Mother Maria, who is in charge of the school has expressed the need and crippling hardship of the conditions in Bethany to parishioners, and given the recent visit of some of our faithful to Bethany, we must try and support this unique and threatened Orthodox school – already struggling as a Christian institution before the outbreak of the current conflict, and now in dire need. Every pound will help, so please give if you are able.

Given the absence of Deacon Mark on Sunday, Father Hierodeacon Avraamy and I will gratefully appreciate help in a quick church set-up, after a constantly lengthening morning mass. I hope that our young brothers will be able and willing to arrange the front of church as promptly as possible. Sunday confessions will start at 10:15, at the back of the church.

May God bless you all!

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

Weekly News – 22nd October

Posted on October 22, 2023October 22, 2023 by Father Mark

Dear brothers and sisters,

I’m very happy to have reached Somerset for a few days, from where I look forward to visiting some of our West of England faithful, as well as having time in Glastonbury – a place that is very special to some of our flock.

Today saw another well attended Liturgy in Nazareth House, and it was good to have so many new faces, with an influx of students, plus Ukrainian visitors. I was happy that most of our young people spent the afternoon after Liturgy in our local café, with plenty of lively conversation. We very much hope that our visitors will be with us again in the very near future.

Many thanks to our choir, whom Hierodeacon Avraamy has happily inspired and given confidence during our lean weeks, even when the kliros is reduced to a trio. Thanks to Olga, our regent, and to Father for exchanging the oltar for the kliros. Thanks also to our parish-sisters, who continue to adorn our icons with flowers, week by week.

As announced at Liturgy, I will hear confessions on Friday, as I will be staying in town overnight before our Saturday pilgrimage to Llancarfan.

Confession requests by noon on Thursday, please. Confessions will continue for as long as needed, and will be planned according to pastoral need. If needed, I will also hear confessions in Nazareth House on Saturday evening, as I will have to visit the convent church to set up for Liturgy.

As most of you will have seen from Karen’s post on WhatsApp, Friday evening will see the first meeting of the book club. To quote:

“Book club news!

We’ll be meeting for the first time this Friday 27th at 7pm, at the Wenvoe Arms, Old Port Road, Wenvoe, CF5 6AN.

We’ve picked this book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sermons-Spiritual-Life-Philaret-Moscow/dp/1735011606/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1697996493&sr=8-3

and we plan on discussing the first sermon. All welcome.”

The Wenvoe Arms is on the 96 bus route from Cardiff to Barry. Thanks Karen!

Saturday’s pilgrimage – St Demetrios Saturday (commemoration of the departed) – will be in St Cadoc’s Church, Llancarfan, starting at 10:00 and we will celebrate the Hours and Divine Liturgy in this ancient church, with its wonderful medieval wall-paintings. Many thanks to the East Vale team ministry area. This comes on top of last Monday’s funeral in Peterston-super-Ely, and I’m pleased that we can build a relationship with Fr Martyn and the other area clergy.

As Deacon Mark announced at Liturgy, he will be away for half-term, so we will be very grateful for a concerted set-up before next Sunday’s Liturgy. The very late time at which mass ends is making set up very pressurised, with this morning’s mass not having finished until 10:50. I will speak to some of our young brothers, and hope that allocation of specific jobs will make things as smooth as possible. Hierodeacon Avraamy will oversee the operations, as I will be hearing confessions.

Thanks to all who are coming for Sunday confessions well before Liturgy, making it possible to fit in an hour’s confessions before the service. We are very grateful for your cooperation.

Towards the end of today’s Liturgy, it was unfortunately necessary to ask parishioners to remain quiet during the Thanksgiving Prayers, even though there should be NO talking at this time. It is regrettable that some of those who have been talking during the prayers, recently, have partaken of the Holy Mysteries and have every reason to concentrate on the Thanksgiving Prayers.

Please, do not talk during the prayers in which we thank the Lord for the gift of His Most Pure Body and Most Precious Blood. Let us listen to the prayers in gratitude, whatever language is being chanted.

As next Saturday’s Liturgy is on a soul-sabbath, commemorations for the departed will be welcome for the Liturgy.

May God bless you all.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

Seeking the Prayers of St Porphyrios of Gaza

Posted on October 21, 2023October 21, 2023 by Father Mark

At this time of great sorrow and suffering, whilst we pray for the peace of the Holy Land and for all who suffer the cruel effects of war, let us turn to St Porphyrios, begging his intercessions for those in besieged Gaza (starved of food, water, medicines and power).

It was in Gaza that St Porphyrios laboured for the Lord and the Christian Faith, fighting the falsehood of paganism with the truth of Faith, his sacred relics lying in the now bomb-damaged monastery that bears his name, and which has sheltered local people regardless of religion – a citadel of humanity, mercy and Christian love for all.

We beseech his prayers and protection for all of the Christians of the Holy Land – a threatened minority facing persecution, hardship and constant violence and hate.

Saint Porphyrius, Archbishop of Gaza, was born about the year 346 at Thessalonica. His parents were people of substance, and this allowed Saint Porphyrius to receive a fine education. Having the inclination for monastic life, he left his native region at twenty-five years of age and set off for Egypt, where he lived in the Nitrian desert under the guidance of Saint Macarius the Great (January 19). There he also met Saint Jerome (June 15), who was then visiting the Egyptian monasteries. He went to Jerusalem on pilgrimage to the holy places, and to venerate the Life-Creating Cross of the Lord (September 14), then he moved into a cave in the Jordanian wilderness for prayer and ascetic deeds.

After five years, Saint Porphyrius was afflicted with a serious malady of the legs. He decided to go to the holy places of Jerusalem to pray for healing. As he lay half-conscious at the foot of Golgotha, Saint Porphyrius fell into a sort of trance. He beheld Jesus Christ descending from the Cross and saying to him, “Take this Wood and preserve it.”

Coming out of his trance, he found himself healthy and free from pain. Then he gave away all his money to the poor and for the adornment of the churches of God. For a time he supported himself by working as a shoemaker. The words of the Savior were fulfilled when the saint was forty-five years old. The Patriarch of Jerusalem ordained Saint Porphyrius to the holy priesthood and appointed him custodian of the Venerable Wood of the Cross of the Lord.

In 395 the bishop of the city of Gaza (in Palestine) died. The local Christians went to Caesarea to ask Metropolitan John to send them a new bishop who would be able to contend against the pagans, which were predominant in their city and were harassing the Christians there. The Lord inspired the Metropolitan to summon the priest Porphyrius. With fear and trembling the ascetic accepted the office of bishop, and with tears he prostrated himself before the Life-Creating Wood and went to fulfill his new obedience.

In Gaza there were only three Christian churches, but there were a great many pagan temples and idols. During this time there had been a long spell without rain, causing a severe drought. The pagan priests brought offerings to their idols, but the woes did not cease. Saint Porphyrius imposed a fast for all the Christians; he then served an all-night Vigil, followed by a church procession around the city. Immediately the sky covered over with storm clouds, thunder boomed, and abundant rains poured down. Seeing this miracle, many pagans cried out, “Christ is indeed the only true God!” As a result of this, 127 men, thirty-five women and fourteen children were united to the Church through Holy Baptism, and another 110 men soon after this.

The pagans continued to harass the Christians. They passed them over for public office, and burdened them with taxes. Saint Porphyrius and Metropolitan John of Caesarea journeyed to Constantinople to seek redress from the emperor. Saint John Chrysostom (September 14, January 27 and 30) received them and assisted them.

Saints John and Porphyrius were presented to the empress Eudoxia who was expecting a child at that time. “Intercede for us,” said the bishops to the empress, “and the Lord will send you a son, who shall reign during your lifetime”. Eudoxia very much wanted a son, since she had given birth only to daughters. Through the prayer of the saints an heir was born to the imperial family. As a result of this, the emperor issued an edict in 401 ordering the destruction of pagan temples in Gaza and the restoration of privileges to Christians. Moreover, the emperor gave the saints money for the construction of a new church, which was to be built in Gaza on the site of the chief pagan temple.

Saint Porphyrius upheld Christianity in Gaza to the very end of his life, and guarded his flock from the vexatious pagans. Through the prayers of the saint numerous miracles and healings occurred. The holy archpastor guided his flock for twenty-five years, and reposed in 420 at an advanced age.

The Canon to St Porphyrios of Gaza

The composition of George, in Tone IV

Ode I, Irmos: Having traversed the depths of the Red Sea with dry-shod feet, Israel of old vanquished the might of Amalek in the wilderness by Moses’ arms stretched out in the form of the Cross.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

The Church, adorned today with thy teachings as with royal purple, O Porphyrios , is made splendid thereby, and hymneth the Lord of all.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

Having shone forth in divine discourses during thy life, thou hast been shown to be a beacon for all men, ever illumining them with thy deeds and teachings, and enlightening the ends of the earth.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Cleansed by the sprinkling of the Holy Spirit and arrayed in a garment of divine virtues, O Porphyrios, thou didst enter into hallowed places to minister as a priest unto Him Who anointed thee.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Son of God, wishing to speak to those who are on earth of His ineffable love for mankind, which passeth understanding, O Bride of God, was born of thee in the flesh, granting regeneration unto the faithful.

Ode III, Irmos: Thy Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, crying aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my consolation!

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

Beneath thy feet didst thou lay low the arrogance of the godless who spake against the God of all Himself.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

With the fire of thy words didst thou wisely consume the kindling of Manes, and to the faithful didst thou extend the enlightenment of thy doctrine.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Setting the feet of the faithful firmly upon a steadfast rock, O Porphyrios, thou didst shake the foundation of the godless from its very footing.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

All the earth is full of the true knowledge and ineffable glory of thy Son and God, O pure one.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Sessional hymn, Tone III: Thou didst shine forth in thy deeds like the morning star and didst drive all heresy from the Church, O holy hierarch Porphyrios; and thou didst enlighten the hearts of the faithful, that they might hymn and glorify the Lord. Wherefore, celebrating thy memory today, we cry out to thee: Entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: He Who alone is Lord, without separating from His divine nature, yet taking flesh in thy womb, remained God though He became a man, preserving thee after thy birth-giving an immaculate Mother and Virgin as thou wast before giving birth. Him do thou entreat, that we be accorded great mercy!

Stavrotheotokion (in place of the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): The unblemished ewe-lamb of the Word, the incorrupt Virgin Mother, beholding Him Who sprang forth from her without pain hanging upon the Cross, lamenting maternally cried out: “Woe is me, O my Child! How is it that Thou dost suffer Who art to deliver man from the indignity of the passions?”

Ode IV, Irmos: Beholding Thee lifted up upon the Cross, O Sun of righteousness, the Church stood rooted in place, crying out as is meet: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

Having within thy soul the Sun of righteousness and the most radiant splendour of the Faith, O Porphyrios, thou didst illumine all the fullness of the Church with thy discourses.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

Made steadfast in the love of God the Word, O Porphyrios, thou didst disdain all the allurement of visible things. Wherefore, we honour thee as an equal to the angels and an honourable and holy hierarch.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As thou didst partake of the ineffable Mysteries, O Porphyrios, thou didst preserve them by thy pure actions in a pure and ineffable manner, as a worthy initiate of the mysteries.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Gloriously is the Church adorned with thy divine magnificence, O pure one; and, manifestly embellished thereby, it doth glorifieth thee with love, hymning thy birth-giving.

Ode V, Irmos: Thou hast come, O my Lord, as a light into the world: a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance those who hymn Thee with faith.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

With thy words of truth thou didst break the chains of the rhetors, O Porphyrios, establishing the dominion of faith in all ways.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

Having drawn forth the Comforter on earth, O venerable one, thou didst pour forth bountiful rivers of the teachings of piety, O Porphyrios.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having dried up the torrents of ungodliness with the fire of thy words, O Porphyrius, thou didst enlighten men with the proclamation of piety.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Strengthened by thee, O all-pure one, with the power of the Spirit we vanquish the adverse foes of the truth of Christ.

Ode VI, Irmos: I will sacrifice to Thee with a voice of praise, O Lord, the Church crieth unto Thee, cleansed of the blood of demons by the blood which, for mercy’s sake, flowed from Thy side.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

O Porphyrios, we all truly have thee as a spiritually animate image of the virtues ever shining forth unto divine deeds; wherefore, we honour thee.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

Robed in the power of the Comforter as are those who behold the Word face to face, thou hast been shown to be invincible to the foe, driving away and cutting down their impiety.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Renewing men by the water of baptism and adoption, thou didst lead them forth as children of the Creator, and didst present them pure and immaculate, O Porphyrios.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Mindful of thy divine mysteries and ineffable glory, which transcend recounting, we who boast in thee, O all-pure one, unceasingly glorify thee as the true Theotokos.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone II: Adorned with thy most sacred ways, thou wast resplendent in the vesture of the priesthood, O all-blessed, divinely wise Porphyrios; and by thine exaltations thou dost spread beauty of healings, praying unceasingly in behalf of us all.

Ode VII, Irmos: The children of Abraham in the Persian furnace, afire with love of piety more than with the flame, cried out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

The Church of Christ, assailed by contrary winds and assaults, O father, didst thou firmly establish with might; and it chanted unto Him: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

With valour didst thou triumph over the assemblies of heretics, O wise father, arrayed in the armour of the Word; and thou didst cry out to Christ in thanksgiving: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Thou didst enter into the paradise of noetic virtues, where thou didst pluck beauteous flowers of truth, with which thou hast shed a sweet fragrance throughout the world, O father Porphyrios.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Virgin, the mighty Word of God, Who was born of thee, hath given thee as strength and dominion unto all the weak who cry out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Ode VIII, Irmos: Stretching forth his hands, Daniel shut the lions’ mouths in the pit; and the young lovers of piety, girded about with virtue, quenched the power of the fire, crying out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

With thy words didst thou arm and establish the Church of Christ, O wise one. Wherefore, it doth ever triumph over the assault of heresies and doth chant victoriously unto Christ, crying out: Bless the Lord, O ye works of the Lord!

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

Having thy mind continually on heaven, O Porphyrios, thou didst ineffably obtain a divine release unattainable by the senses; and beholding the mysteries of Christ with faith, thou didst cry out to Him: Bless the Lord, O ye works of the Lord!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

By thy prayers, O Porphyrios, thou didst stop the mouths of the noetic lions that were wickedly roaring forth blasphemies; and with the mighty darts of thy divine words thou didst crush their jaws, earnestly crying out to Him Who made thee strong: Bless the Lord, O ye works of the Lord!

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

He Who sitteth upon the throne of the Father’s glory, His Son and Word, Who was born of thee in the flesh, O pure one, hath made thee a divine chariot and a most glorious throne, who alone art hymned by all mortals as their Mistress.

Ode IX, Irmos: Christ, the Chief Cornerstone uncut by human hands, Who united the two disparate natures, was cut from thee, the unquarried mountain, O Virgin. Wherefore, in gladness we magnify thee, O Theotokos.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

As precious gifts thou didst bring to the munificent Master thy God-pleasing virtues, and those who have been delivered from heresy by thee, magnifying the Creator of all, O venerable father.

Holy father, Porphyrios, pray to God for us.

With the showers of thy tears thou didst quench the flame of the passions; thou didst serve the Creator with dispassion, and hast been vouchsafed greater glories, O Porphyrios, ever hymning and magnifying Him.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Joining chorus with the angels, saints and the venerable on high, O father Porphyrios, entreat the Lord and Benefactor in behalf of those who hymn and praise thee with faith.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Master, Who for our salvation became a man, hath given thee, O pure one, as a mediator, protection and healing, unto all who glorify thee with faith and magnify Him with love.

Troparion, Tone IV: The truth of things revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, a model of meekness and teacher of abstinence; wherefore, thou hast won the heights by humility and riches by poverty. O father Porphyrios, entreat Christ that our souls be saved!

October 7/20: the Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus

Posted on October 19, 2023October 19, 2023 by Father Mark

The Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus in Syria were appointed to high positions in the army by the emperor Maximian (284-305), who did not know that they were Christians. Envious people informed Maximian that his two trusted counsellors did not honor the pagan gods. This was considered to be a crime against the state.

The emperor, wanting to convince himself of the truth of the accusation, ordered Sergius and Bacchus to offer sacrifice to the idols, but they replied that they honored the One God and worshiped only Him.

Maximian commanded that the martyrs be stripped of the insignia of military rank (their belts, gold pendants, and rings), and then dressed them in feminine clothing. They were led through the city with an iron chains around their necks, and the people mocked them. Then he summoned Sergius and Bacchus to him again and in a friendly manner advised them not to be swayed by Christian fables, but to return to the Roman gods. The saints refuted the emperor’s words, and demonstrated the folly of worshiping the pagan gods.

The emperor commanded that they be sent to the governor of the eastern part of Syria, Antiochus, a fierce hater of Christians. Antiochus had received his position with the help of Sergius and Bacchus. “My fathers and benefactors!” he said. “Have pity on yourselves, and also on me. I do not want to condemn my benefactors to cruel tortures.” The holy martyrs replied, “For us life is Christ, and to die is gain.” The enraged Antiochus ordered Bacchus to be mercilessly beaten, and the holy martyr surrendered his soul to the Lord. They shod Sergius with iron sandals with nails in their soles and sent him to another city, where he was beheaded with the sword.

The Orthodox Church in America

10/17/2017

Canon of the martyrs, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn Sergius the athlete and the ever-memorable Bacchus”, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone I

Ode I, Irmos: Thy victorious right arm hath in godly manner been glorified in strength; for as almighty, O Immortal One, it smote the adversary, fashioning anew the path of the deep for the Israelites.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

O Sergius, thou favorite of Christ, taking the ever-memorable Bacchus as thy fellow intercessor and helper, with him thou didst with godly wisdom endure your agonies to the end. Grant a wise discourse unto me who hymn you.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

Having set yourselves steadfastly upon the immovable rock of the Christian Faith, O holy martyrs, ye were shown to be a rampart and towers of piety established firmly upon a firm foundation.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

Believing the words of Christ and looking toward Him with unwavering gaze, ye spat upon all transitory glory, O holy ones, and were wounded with the love of everlasting glory.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having divested yourselves of family, homeland and honor for Christ’s sake, ye were filled with gladness; and when ye were clad in women’s garments ye put on the robe of incorruption with splendor and manly wisdom.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Mother of God, entreat the Word, to Whom thou gavest birth and Who came to us in the flesh, that He be merciful and well-disposed towards the faithful; for thee have we acquired as our intercessor and salvation.

Ode III, Irmos: O Thou Who alone hast known the weakness of human nature, having in Thy mercy formed Thyself therein: Gird me about with power from on high, that I may chant to Thee: Holy is the living temple of Thine ineffable glory, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

He Who, as God, alone knew all things before they came into being, seeing now your offerings to Him, hath filled you abundantly with the wisdom of discourse, divine knowledge and steadfast thought, for ye are His warriors, O blessed ones.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

O martyred athletes, favorites of Christ, desiring to suffer lawfully, with love for the Creator and divinely wise understanding ye spurned corruptible and transitory glory, this world and the prince thereof.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Standing before the Lord in the all-pure thoughts of your mind, and filled thence with splendor, and manifestly delighting in ineffable blessedness, deliver from dangers those who honor you, O athletes.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Adam, the first to come under the dominion of death, hath now been delivered by thy birthgiving, O only Bride of God; for in manner transcending nature thou gavest birth to the truly hypostatic Life united to the flesh hypostatically, O pure one.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Come, ye who love the martyrs, and let us honor the holy athletes Sergius and Bacchus, the noetic pearls of the Lord, for they manfully trampled the falsehood of the enemy underfoot and destroyed all the might of the idols; wherefore, having received crowns of victory from heaven, as is meet, they join chorus with the angels. With them let us all cry out: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who with love honor your holy memory. (Twice)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: Having fallen into greatly tangled perils from enemies visible and invisible, and been beset by the tempest of my countless offenses, O pure one, I flee to the haven of thy goodness as to my fervent help and protection; wherefore, O all-pure one, earnestly entreat Him Who became incarnate of thee without seed, in behalf of all thy servants who unceasingly praise thee, ever beseeching Him, O all-pure Theotokos, to grant remission of offenses unto those who fittingly hymn thy glory.

Stavrotheotokion (in place of the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): The Ewe-lamb, beholding the Lamb, Shepherd and Deliverer upon the Cross, exclaimed, weeping, and bitterly lamenting, cried out: “The world rejoiceth, receiving deliverance through Thee, but my womb doth burn, beholding Thy crucifixion, which Thou endurest in the loving-kindness of Thy mercy. O long-suffering Lord, Abyss and inexhaustible Wellspring of mercy, take pity and grant remission of offenses unto those who hymn Thy divine sufferings with faith.

Ode IV, Irmos: Habbakuk, gazing with the eyes of foresight upon thee, the mountain overshadowed by the grace of God, prophesied that the Holy One of Israel would come forth from thee, for our salvation and restoration.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

Two beacons shining forth from the West, holding the land against the ungodly and undertaking a journey, have arrived at Thee, the radiant East of salvation, O Christ.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

Neither fire, nor sword, nor persecution, nor wounds were able to separate you from the pious thought of God; for, for His sake, ye despised this life which endeth, O right glorious ones, and have received blessed and imperishable delight.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

The truly unwavering luminaries enlighten the firmament of the Church of Christ with the light of divine effulgence and gladden the souls of the pious, emitting rays of miracles.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

The godly Bacchus and the excellent Sergius in yearly cycle spiritually summon the lovers of piety and of the martyrs to a feast, offering them their valiant deeds.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The sword which guardeth the portal of Eden now withdraweth before the faithful; and it receiveth them with splendor, beholding them marked with the precious Blood of Him Who was born of thy womb, and with grace.

Ode V, Irmos: O Christ Who hast enlightened the ends of the world with the radiance of Thy coming and hast illumined them with Thy Cross: with the light of Thy divine knowledge enlighten the hearts of those who hymn Thee in Orthodox manner.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

Driving away falsehood with the sword of truth and mightily enduring the tyrants’ wounds, ye became victors; and, crowned by Christ, ye now rejoice, as is meet.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

Strengthened by the invincible power and grace of the Trinity, the two martyrs cast down the prince of darkness and those in thrall to him; wherefore, with honor they are called blessed.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

With endurance, spiritual courage and resolute intent, the two glorious martyrs transcended all the bitter fury of the tormenters and make their abode with the angels.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Mother of God, like the dawn thou hast shone forth the never-setting Sun of true righteousness, bearing Him in thine arms united hypostatically to the flesh; wherefore, we all glorify thee.

Ode VI, Irmos: The uttermost abyss hath surrounded us, and there is none to deliver us. We are accounted as lambs for the slaughter. Save Thy people, O our God, for Thou art the strength and correction of the weak!

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

The relics of the martyrs pour forth streams of healings in abundance. O ye faithful, let us therefore fervently draw forth therefrom and bless the athletes, the glorious Sergius and the ever-eloquent Bacchus.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

Hating the abodes of the iniquitous and setting at nought their deception, Sergius and Bacchus made the journey to heaven in right orderly fashion and have reached the calm haven of Christ.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

The portals of heaven are thrown open to the martyred athletes, rendering homage to their honorable suffering, which was like unto the grace-bearing passion of our God, and which driveth away legions of the demons.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

With wisdom we proclaim thee truly to be the Mother of God, O all-pure one; for thou, O Virgin, didst ineffably give birth to the only-begotten Son Who is without beginning and Who shone forth from the Father before time began.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone II, Spec. Mel. “Seeking the highest…”: Manfully arming your mind against the enemy, O most lauded martyrs, ye destroyed all their falsehood, receiving the trophy of victory from on high, and crying out with oneness of mind: How good and joyous it is to be with God!

Ikos: In that Sergius and Bacchus dwell in the heavens and are filled with divine light by Thee, O Christ, go Thou quickly before me who walk in the darkness of ignorance, and rescue me from the passions, O only Immortal One, sending down upon me the vesture of repentance, that with radiant mind I may hymn their splendid feast and cry out, rejoicing: How good and joyous it is to be with God!

Ode VII, Irmos: O Theotokos, we, the faithful, perceive thee to be a noetic furnace; for, as the supremely Exalted One saved the three youths, in thy womb the praised and most glorious God of our fathers wholly renewed the world.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

Rejoice, ye two glorious athletes! Rejoice, ye who splendidly overcame the threat of the tyrants! Rejoice, ye who finished the good race! Rejoice, food that remaineth ever within us! Rejoice, O blessed of God, who manifestly intercede before God!

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

Walking upon the earth, O most radiant martyrs, ye darkened the eyes of the demons and the faces of the persecutors with the light of grace and the rays of your suffering, hymning our praised and all-glorious God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Being animate and living temples of the living God, O most blessed athletes, truly strengthened by the power of God ye vanquished hordes of the enemy, in hymns praising God Who is mighty in battles.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O blessed and most pure Mistress, thou wast an all-pure temple and an all-holy ark, having received the infinite Creator, God, the only-begotten Word, in thy womb, containing the Unapproachable One.

Ode VIII, Irmos: The children of Israel in the furnace, shining more brightly than gold in a crucible in the beauty of their piety, said: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

O Thou Who of old didst cool the flame with dew for the youths, Thou didst strengthen Thy martyrs, who stood firm amid struggles and sang: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

Wisely did the athletes reject the poisonous and spiritually harmful blandishments of the tyrants, crying out to Christ and saying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

Christ hath shown Sergius and Bacchus, who are truly crowned, to be our true preservers, who protect us and chant: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Through the prayers of the martyrs, O Christ our Master, guide my steps to the virtues and vouchsafe that I may readily cry to Thee: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

I bless thee, the true Mother of our God, O pure and most immaculate Mistress, offering thee “Rejoice!” with the angel; for thee do all the works of the Lord unceasingly chant and exalt supremely for all ages.

Ode IX, Irmos: The bush which burnt with fire yet was not consumed showed forth an image of thy pure birthgiving. And now we pray that the furnace of temptations which rageth against us may be extinguished, that we may magnify thee unceasingly, O Theotokos.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

Ye have wholly acquired Christ, for ye forsook the whole world for His sake; and now ye dwell in the heavens with the choirs of the heavenly hosts, beholding the splendors of the blessed.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

O excellent twain, from on high ye impart grace and remission of transgressions unto those who with love offer you praises. Entreating Him Who alone is merciful, and hastening to Him, ye paid no heed to those things which drag men down.

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus, pray to God for us.

Illumined with the splendor of the thrice-radiant Godhead, O invincible martyrs, ye rejected the deluding ungodliness of polytheism and fear of the tormenters; and ye now delight in the incorruptible delight of paradise.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having finished your good race, striving to preserve the Faith of piety, O all-glorious martyrs, ye have been vouchsafed to receive the immovable kingdom, crowned with wreaths of beauty and majesty.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Thy wonders which pass understanding! For thou alone, O Virgin Mother, in manner transcending nature, gavest birth to God the Word become flesh, Who wisely sustaineth and nurtureth all things by His will.

Troparion, Tone IV: In their sufferings, O Lord, Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, they cast down the tormenters and set at nought the feeble audacity of the demons. By their supplications save Thou our souls.

Another troparion, Tone V: O much-suffering Sergius and all-glorious Bacchus, ye adornment of Christian athletes and eye of the Church of Christ, enlighten the eyes of our souls. Entreat the Lord, that we may escape the darkness of sin and may be shown to share in the never-waning light, through your supplications, O saints.

Weekly News: 3/16 October

Posted on October 16, 2023October 16, 2023 by Father Mark

Dear brothers and sisters,

Though we were still a bit short of singers and servers for Sunday Liturgy, it was good to see things settling down to a normal sized congregation, and to have new visitors, whom we hope will return in the future. It was lovely to welcome some of the students from neighbouring Newman Hall, and to be able to chat to them afterwards – on subjects both theological and feline.

We were pleased to have a handful of visitors from our Llanelli mission, making the geographical span of worshippers reach from Carmarthen to Warminster! It’s good to see parishioners car-sharing and ensuring that the maximum number of parishioners are able to reach Liturgy from the further limits of our South Wales and Wessex pastoral area.

With no trapeza at the moment, a good number of parishioners enjoyed social time across the road in Brodie’s café, where we seized the opportunity to discuss plans for a forthcoming pastoral visit to our Wessex parishioners and the need to find a place for Wiltshire Liturgies.

After yesterday’s Liturgy, I was heartened to hear expressions of interest in our pilgrimage to Llancarfan to honour St Cadoc on Saturday 28^th October. Our intention is to celebrate the Divine Liturgy at 10:00. Anyone interested should contact Tracy: t_sbrain@yahoo.co.uk

Our 2022 pilgrimage was very enjoyable and informative, and the welcome we received was warm and generous. See: https://russianorthodoxchurchcardiff.com/celebrating-st-cadoc-at-llancarfan

Today saw me in one of the other churches in the same ministry area as Llancarfan, with a funeral in the medieval church in Peterston-super-Ely. I am indebted to Canon Martyn Davies, the rector, and to the Anglican diocesan authorities for allowing an Orthodox funeral in the village church, and for his generous welcome. It was a pleasure to celebrate in such a wonderful setting, and to chant the ancient words of our funeral hymns in a church that has been a local place of worship and prayer since the Celtic Age of the Saints. For most of the congregation, it was the first Orthodox service they have ever attended and people were very positive and appreciative. Please remember the newly-departed Irina in your prayers. Memory Eternal!

Yesterday’s confessions were certainly numerous, though I think we need to be very clear that Sunday confessions (with great time-pressure) are not the time to discuss general personal or family problems, but the time in which we approach Christ in repentance to confess our sins and seek his healing and forgiveness. There is plenty of time outside confessions to talk about other issues. This week’s confessions will be heard on Friday afternoon/evening, before the talk on the intercession of he saints at 19:00. Requests by noon on Thursday, please.

In addition to our prayers for all who are suffering in the conflicts of the Holy Land and Ukraine, we continue to pray for Maria, Nikolai, Catalin, and Oswald, who are travelling; Brigid, Ludmilla, Mike and Steve, in their sickness; Porphyrios’s father Paul as he undergoes medical treatment; and the newly departed Irina.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

Pokrov in Cheltenham

Posted on October 14, 2023October 14, 2023 by Father Mark

Dear brothers and sisters, S prazdnikom!

We have just returned from Cheltenham, where we had a sun-bathed Liturgy, and a glorious autumn day as we celebrated the feast of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God – for whom our parishioners brought many flowers.

As we have previously reflected, so many feasts of the Mother of God and her wonder-working icons coincide with the pattern our Cheltenham Liturgies, and when the vestments are blue, it seems that we are always blessed with blue sky and the sun shining. However, when we arrived this morning, despite the sunshine outside, the chapel had a chill in the air and needed heating for a while before the faithful arrived.

It was very odd, gathering for Liturgy without Nataliya and mama Galina, but before set up there was the joy of a brief telephone greeting from them in Odessa, where Liturgy had already finished, with the news that their parish priest had donated an icon of the Protection to our little mission – a wonderful blessing and gesture on this feast of the Pokrov.

Many thanks to our sisters for reading and chanting on the kliros, and to Timofey for helping – unexpectedly for him – in the entrances, as he was beckoned into the oltar by Deacon Mark to carry a candle, and we were impressed that he was so helpful after Liturgy, looking for practical tasks to do.

It was lovely to sit down to a relaxed meal in the church hall after Liturgy, and to discuss some plans for the new year, with the hope to have occasional services across the whole parish area of Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, especially to reach out to those who live at the southern ends of our pastoral area.

We look forward to our return in November, when Liturgy will follow the pattern of being on the SECOND Saturday of the month: 11^th November, when we will celebrate the memory of St Anastasia the Roman.

With love in Christ – Hieromonk Mark

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