The Canons to St Ephraim and Isaac

Dear brothers and sisters, as we celebrate the feast of Saints Ephraim and Isaac, the Syrians, I am repostig their canons below, combined as I use them in my own prayers.

Canon of the venerable one, the acrostic whereof is: “I honour Ephraim, the noetic Euphrates”, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone VI:

Ode 1, Irmos: When Israel walked on foot in the sea as on dry land, * on seeing their pursuer Pharaoh drowned, * they cried: * Let us sing to God * a song of victory.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

With the Euphrates-like flood of thy supplications water thou my soul, which hath become dry with the burning heat of the passions, and inspire discourse within me who praise thy festival, O all-blessed one.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Shining forth noetic light, thou didst show thyself to be a radiant sun, O Ephraim, illumining all the fullness of the faithful with brilliant virtues and teachings.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Extinguishing the flame of the passions with the streams of tears, O divinely blessed Ephraim, thou wast a precious vessel of the Holy Spirit, pouring forth wellsprings of doctrines.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Having received the incorrupt Word in thy womb, thou hast given birth to Him Who delivereth from corruption those who ever worship Him, O pure Mother and Virgin, who art truly the portal of Life.

Canon of the venerable one, the composition of Gerasimus of the Little Skete of Saint Anna, in Tone VIII:

Another Irmos: The wonderworking staff of Moses, * striking and dividing the sea in the figure of a cross, * once drowned Pharaoh the pursuing charioteer, * while it saved the fleeing people of Israel * as they fled on foot, * chanting a hymn unto God.

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

Give strength and words to my lips, O Word of God and God, that I may hymn the venerable Isaac, who hath radiantly glorified Thee with a perfect life and instructed the ranks of monastics with divinely inspired discourse.

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

Having from thy youth hated all carnal luxury, O blessed Isaac, and been wounded by divine love, thou didst take the Cross of the Lord upon thy shoulders, and with thy brother didst choose a life of asceticism.

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

Borne aloft by the love of Christ the Bestower of life, O venerable one, thou didst soar to the heavenly life, and through ascetic labours wast shown to be a stranger and sojourner on the earth, O most blessed father Isaac.

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

Without knowing wedlock, thou didst conceive God Who for our sake didst become immutably incarnate as we are, through thy pure blood, O most pure Mary Theotokos. Wherefore, deliver us from changing to the worse.

Ode 3, Irmos: There is none as holy as Thou, * O Lord my God, * who hast exalted the horn of The faithful O good One, * and strengthened us upon the rock * of Thy confession.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Having purified thyself of the mire of the passions, thou didst reveal thyself to be a true receptacle of the virtues and a vessel containing the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

In nowise giving slumber to thine eyes, thou didst show thyself to be a temple of the Holy Trinity and a treasury of wisdom, enriching the world with the golden rays of teachings, O blessed one.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

The honoured Church of Christ doth recognize thee as a golden-streamed Euphrates, flowing with torrents of wise doctrines and watering all creation.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

 Incarnate of thy precious blood, One of the Holy Trinity divinely issued forth in two natures, saving by grace the children of Adam, O all-pure one.

Another Irmos: O Lord, Creator of the vault of Heaven * and Builder of the Church, * do Thou strengthen me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, * O Support of the faithful, * O only Lover of mankind.

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

In that thou didst rid thy heart of the bonds of the passions, thou wast shown to be a receptacle of dispassion and a vessel fit for the effulgence of spiritual life, O blessed Isaac, dweller with the angels.

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

Full of the graces of heaven, O venerable one, who didst emulate the angels in thy conduct, at all times pouring forth from thy mouth a discourse of salvation, as it were the sweetness of incorruption.

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

Putting off the burden of the flesh, O father, thou didst elect to make thine abode in the wilderness, uniting thyself unto God with great stillness, prayer and fasting. Wherefore, thou didst become the dwelling-place of the divine Spirit.

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

O all-hymned Maiden who hast given birth unto God and destroyed the ancient sin, by thy grace do thou restore my mind, which hath been marred by the decadence of the passions which sorely afflict me.

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

Kontakion of St Ephraim, in Tone II, Spec. Mel “Seeking the highest …”: Ever looking forward to the hour of judgment, * thou didst bitterly lament, O Ephraim; * and though a lover of stillness * thou wast also a teacher of activity, O venerable one. ** Wherefore, O universal father, thou dost motivate the slothful to repentance.

Ikos: Do thou let but a drop of the waters of thy grace bedew my soul, purifying it of every unclean defilement, that cleansed, it may complete the remaining time of life zealous in all things profitable, and partake of the divine sweetness which thou didst enjoy, for thou dost quench the thirst of all who burn with passions, inspiring the slothful to repentance by thy discourses.

Sedalion of St Ephraim, in Tone V, Spec. Mel “The Word Who is co-unoriginate …”: O ye faithful, on the day of his commemoration let us hymn the treasury of the wisdom of the mysteries of Christ, the cup of divine compunction, for in accordance with his name the godly Ephraim doth ever gladden the hearts of the faithful with divine discourses, as a performer and initiate of the mysteries of the revelations of the Lord.

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

Sedalion, in Tone IV, Spec. Mel., “Go thou quickly before …”: As a divinely radiant lamp of stillness thou shinest the never-waning light of a virtuous life upon the ends of the earth, O wise one; wherefore, we, the choirs of monastics, hymn thee as a divine luminary, O God-bearer Isaac, and we study thy radiant discourses with love.

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

Theotokion in Tone IV: O pure Virgin Mother, unceasingly beseech Christ our God, Who in His ineffable tender compassion didst become incarnate of thee, that He grant us forgiveness of sins, O Maiden, and deliverance from the grievous woes of life; for unto thee, O Mother of God, do we have recourse in faith.

Ode 4, Irmos: Christ is my power, * my God and my Lord, * the holy Church divinely singeth, * crying with a pure mind, * keeping festival in the Lord.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

The power of thy words hath passed through the whole world, O blessed one, driving away the blindness of men’s souls by the exalted radiance of humility.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Thou didst render thy life blameless, cleansing thyself with tears, O right wondrous and divinely revealed one, and by thy wise discourses hast described to all the coming of the Judge.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Having beheld the most glorious height of thy humility, the Lord gave thee exalted  discourse, whereby the grievous uprisings of heresies have been humbled.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Strengthened by the grace of the Almighty, thou didst array thyself against the princes of the demons, O father, and having vanquished them, fervently pray on behalf of us who praise thee.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Let us bless the Virgin as a divine temple, as a holy mountain, as a wellspring of incorruption, as the one who alone was the chosen of God our Creator.

Another Irmos: Thou, O Lord, art my strength and Thou art my power, * Thou art my God and Thou art my joy, * Thou Who, while never leaving the bosom of Thy Father, * hast visited our poverty. * Therefore with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee, * ‘Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind!’

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

Irrigated with the streams of thy sacred teachings, O wise Isaac, multitudes of monastics splendidly produce abundant fruit: the purity of abstinence, prayerful contemplation, and the grace of dispassion, chanting: Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind!

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

With thy whole mind conversing and uniting thyself with the one God, the sight of Whom is beyond comprehension, O venerable one, thou wast filled past understanding with enlightenment, and wast shown to be a light-bearer, a tower of stillness and a most radiant beacon for monastics.

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

Living in the flesh like an incorporeal being, thou didst serve God in stillness, O God-bearer Isaac, and wast granted many graces by Christ, of which do thou grant, if only a small portion, unto me who doth cry aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind!

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

O Theotokos, having given birth unto God in the flesh, without seed, without corruption, in a manner beyond understanding and comprehension, thou hast annulled the condemnation of Eve, at the hour of my judgment do thou also free me from the dread sentence.

Ode 5, Irmos: Illumine with Thy divine light, I pray, O Good One, * the souls of those who with love rise early to pray to Thee, * that they may know Thee, O Word of God, * as the true God, * Who recalleth us from the darkness of sin.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

With torrents of tears, O father, thou didst utterly dry up the depths of pleasures; and with the outpourings of thy doctrines thou hast staunched the torrents of heresies, O blessed one.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Thy mind, illumined by seeking God, O father Ephraim, began to take pleasure in the full vision of God, receiving immaterial revelation as if a mirror of the divine Spirit.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Thou didst truly become a temple imbued with the Trinity, adorned with grace and the radiance of pure virtues, and the fullness of teaching, O father.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Eating of the tree in Eden through the wicked treachery of the serpent I was revealed to be mortal; but thou, having given birth to Christ, the Bestower of life, hast brought me to life, O thou who alone art full of God’s grace.

Another Irmos: O Light never-waning, * why hast Thou turned Thy face from me * and why has the alien darkness surrounded me, * wretched though I be? * But do Thou guide my steps I implore Thee * and turn me back towards the light of Thy commandments.

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

Lifting thy mind to the undefiled good, O saint of Christ, thou didst reveal thyself by thy way of life, to be alien to the things that are in the world, O Isaac, teaching all to disdain that which is corruptible, and in nowise to desire those things that are temporal.

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

Thou wast shown to be a scribe and model of the angelic life, O divinely wise Isaac; wherefore, the grace of the Spirit hath revealed thee to be a divine pastor and a God-bearing hierarch of the Church of Christ.

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

Having been inducted into the divine mysteries because of the purity of thy way of life, O God-bearer, thou didst attain to yet greater deeds, O divine Isaac, archpastor of Nineveh, explaining the words of the Gospel to all, and cleansing the wounds of their souls.

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

Slain by the deception and delusion of the serpent, O most pure one, I flee unto thee who hast given birth to eternal Life. Enliven my mind by thy vivifying help, and guide me to a blameless life.

Ode 6, Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging the flood of temptations, * I run to calm haven, and cry to Thee: * Raise up my life from corruption, * O Most Merciful One.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Setting thy foundation not on sands, but on the inviolate Faith, O God-bearer, thou didst remain undaunted by all the assaults of the enemy, guided by the hand of the Invincible One.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Thy tongue was truly like the pen of a swiftly-writing scribe, showing forth a most pious intellect and tracing the law of the Spirit upon the tablets of our hearts, O father.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Those who navigate the calm expanse of thy dogmas, O divinely wise Ephraim, are delivered from the soul-destroying billows of the abyss and, awakened, are saved by faith from the storm of heresies.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Incarnate, He Who as God is above all noetic beings and visible creatures, issued forth from thy womb, preserving thee incorrupt as thou wast before birthgiving, O Virgin Mother.

Another Irmos: Cleanse me, O Saviour, * for many are mine iniquities; * lead me up from the abyss of evils I pray Thee, * for unto Thee have I cried, * and Thou hast hearkened unto me, * O God of my salvation.

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

Thou didst brighten thy hierarchal vestments through strict observance of the commandments of God, O divinely-inspired Isaac; wherefore, the Saviour hath received thee as one of His own.

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

Directing thy life towards the uttermost Judge, thou didst show thyself to be a true and venerable hierarch, O Isaac, revealing the commandments of the laws of grace unto all.

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

Adorned with the spiritual wisdom which cometh from doing good works, thou wast revealed to be a pious teacher of monastics, O Isaac, guiding them to perfection by thine instructions and deeds.

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

O most pure one, who hast given birth in the flesh to the transcendent God, from the fall hast thou raised the nature of mortals to the heights of their former nobility; wherefore, we glorify 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 of St Isaac, in Tone VIII, Spec. Mel, “To thee, the champion leader…”: By thine angelic way of life thou wast shown to be a divine instrument of the Comforter, * and a model for monastics in all things, O blessed Isaac. * As the habitation of divine grace, ask thou grace and heavenly light for us ** who cry out to thee: Rejoice, O divinely wise father!

Ikos: Thou wast revealed to be an angel in the flesh in thine ascetic labours, O Godbearing Isaac, and by thine angelic voice hast thou set before us the words of salvation, whereby guided to a higher life, we cry out to thee: Rejoice, star coming forth from Syria; rejoice, lamp of stillness! Rejoice, thou who art more sublime than earthly thoughts; Rejoice, partaker of heavenly enlightenment! Rejoice, divinely inscribed pillar of hesychasts; Rejoice, mouth flowing with the honey of spiritual teachings! Rejoice, for thou wast filled with God-given wisdom; Rejoice, for thou deliverest from the evil of the passions! Rejoice, most fervent of the servants of Christ; Rejoice, our godly teacher! Rejoice, wise God-bearer Isaac; Rejoice, our instructor, guided by God! Rejoice, O divinely wise father!

Ode 7, Irmos: An Angel made the furnace bedew the holy Children. * But the command of God consumed the Chaldeans * and prevailed upon the tyrant to cry: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Thou wast shown to be a most excellent giver of laws for monastics, O most honoured one, rescuing them from all the machinations of the enemy. Wherefore, O blessed one, they honour thine honoured and sacred memory on earth.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Thou wast shown to be a most excellent giver of laws for monastics, O most honoured one, rescuing them from all the machinations of the enemy. Wherefore, O blessed one, they honour thine honoured and sacred memory on earth.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Thou wast an excellent instrument of the Spirit, ever sounding forth thine inspirations and playing the saving hymn of repentance for us who hymn thee, O ever-memorable one.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thy conception was beyond description, O Bride of God, for thou hast given birth to the Word of God Who hath delivered all mankind from irrationality granting them the words to cry: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Another Irmos: Once in Babylon the fire stood in awe * of God’s condescension; * for which sake the youths in the furnace, * dancing with joyous steps as in a meadow, chanted: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

Having shone forth like a most radiant sun among the choirs of monastics, O father, thou dost illumine with the radiance of thine instructions, as with beams of light, all who cry out with faith: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

O father, the honourable choirs of monastics know thee to be a divinely-wise describer and guide to the higher life, and as is fitting, celebrate thy memory, O wise father Isaac, thou rule of hesychasts.

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

Caught up by the Spirit to the vision of the mystical mysteries of a higher glory, which passeth understanding, and deified by partaking thereof, thou didst cry aloud: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

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

With the rich streams of thy mercy purify my heart, which hath been defiled by the passions of the enemy, O Maiden; and dispel the darkness of my mind, that I may gaze upon the Light which shone forth from thee.

Ode 8, Irmos: Thou didst make flame bedew the holy children, * and didst burn the sacrifice of a righteous man with water. * For Thou alone, O Christ, dost do all as Thou willest, * Thee do we exalt throughout all ages.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Thou wast shown to be like another sun, O blessed one, and, emitting the beams of thy teachings upon the ends of the earth, thou hast driven away the lightless gloom of all sin with the light of repentance.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Surrounded by the streams of divine dogmas, thou didst flow forth like another river from Eden, watering the face of the earth, O wondrous one, inundating the tares of ungodliness.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Confessing thee to be the true Theotokos, like the angel we cry out to thee with faith: Rejoice! For thou alone hast given birth to Joy on earth, O ever joyous and blessed one.

Another Irmos: In his wrath the Chaldean Tyrant made the furnace blaze, * with heat fanned sevenfold for the servants of God; * but when he perceived that they had been saved by a greater power * he cried aloud to the Creator and Redeemer; * ‘ye children bless, ye priests praise, * ye people, supremely exalt Him throughout all ages’.

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

Thou didst live an angelic life, O most blessed Isaac, and through stillness and the mortification of the passions didst bring forth the first-fruits of the life to come. And now thou dost cry aloud with the angels in the highest: Ye, children, bless! Ye priests, hymn! Ye people, supremely exalt Christ forever!

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

Offering up most earnest prayers and supplications, thou didst unite thyself unto God through purity of mind, and wast shown to be blessed and full of divine grace while yet amid the threefold waves of the flesh. And now in the highest, freed from material things, thou dost manifestly enjoy things ineffable.

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

Having been sacredly arrayed in the vesture of a bishop, O God-bearer, by thy venerable labours and virtuous struggles thou hast rendered it yet more splendid. And now, O Isaac, with the holy hierarchs and the choirs of the venerable thou dost offer up the mystical sacrifice of immaterial praise unto the Lord.

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

Preserving the seal of thy virginity intact after birthgiving, thou gavest suck to the Lord to Whom thou hadst given birth, bearing him as a babe, O Virgin Sovereign Lady, Mary Theotokos. Him do thou beseech, that He grant the cleansing of offences unto those who hymn thine ineffable glory.

Ode 9, Irmos: It is impossible for mankind to see God * upon Whom the orders of Angels dare not gaze; * but through thee, O all-pure one, * did the Word Incarnate become a man * and with the Heavenly Hosts * Him we magnify and thee we call blessed.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Wounded by the love of the Almighty O venerable one, thou didst reach the end of thy life, lamenting and crying out with fear: “Assuage my passing with the waves of thy grace, O Saviour, richly preserving me therewith in the life to come!”

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Thy sweet discourse was replete with compunction and full of enlightenment for those who have recourse to thee, O right wondrous God-bearer Ephraim; and thy life was blameless, adorned and illumined with all manner of divinely radiant virtues.

Venerable Father, Ephraim, pray to God for us.

Thou wast a temple of the Spirit, a river full of life-giving waters, the unshakable foundation of the Church, the confirmation of monastics, and an ever-flowing stream of divine compunction, O right wondrous Ephraim.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The mind of man cannot understand the mystery of thy birthgiving which passeth understanding, O Virgin; for, making His abode within thy womb, God did not violate the seal of thy virginity, as He, Who is unapproachable alone knoweth.

Another Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, * and the ends of the earth were filled with amazement, * for God hath appeared in the flesh, * and thy womb was rendered more spacious than the heavens. * Wherefore, the ranks of men and of angels * magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

Let Isaac, great among the venerable ascetics, the scion of Syria, the God-bearing initiate of the life which is in Christ, the most excellent recorder of the mysteries and the enlightener of monastics, be worthily hymned as one who entreateth God, for he prayeth that great mercy be granted unto us.

Venerable Father, Isaac, pray to God for us.

Thou didst engage in the pious struggle of holy ascesis, O venerable one, and thereby didst piously learn the mysteries of all the wisdom of asceticism, that wisely teaching us to avoid the sophistries of the enemy, we may live virtuously, O Godbearer.

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

Thou hast passed over to the true glory, whose revelation thou didst acquire beforehand; and face to face thou dost gaze upon the effulgence of Christ which is beyond comprehension, O Isaac, adornment of the venerable. Cease not to pray for us who praise thee with love.

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

O unwedded Virgin Mother who ineffably gavest birth to God in the flesh, deliver me from diseases of the flesh, redeem my greatly sinful soul from grievous insensitivity, and illumine my mind with the light of repentance, that I may hymn thee, O greatly hymned one.

Troparion of St Ephraim, in Tone VIII: With the streams of thy tears thou didst irrigate the barren desert, * and with sighs from the depths of thy soul thou didst render thy labours fruitful an hundredfold, * and didst become a beacon for the whole world, resplendent with miracles. ** O Ephraim our father, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.

Troparion of St Isaac, in Tone V: Illumined by rays of the virtues, * O God-bearer Isaac, * in spirit thou wast shown to be a most radiant beacon * of the life which is in Christ; * and by thy divinely inspired teachings, O father, * thou dost guide safely to the way of salvation * those who bless thee ** as a godly servant of Christ.

Canons for the Translation of the Relics of St John Chrysostom

Ode I, Canon of the Theotokos, the acrostic whereof is: “Rejoice, O abode of joy, release from grief,” the composition of John, in Tone VIII:

Irmos: The wonderworking staff of Moses, * striking and dividing the sea in the figure of a cross, * once drowned Pharaoh the pursuing charioteer, * while it saved the fleeing people of Israel * as they fled on foot, * chanting a hymn unto God.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice deliverance from the ancient curse and wellspring of blessings! Rejoice, Mother of Life, destruction of Hades, slaying of death! Rejoice, release from sorrow, spacious dwelling-place of joy! Rejoice O all-praised Theotokos!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice all-immaculate one, thou noetic and animate chariot of the Word! Rejoice, chariot of many names, who art called chariot by the myriads of angels! Rejoice, thou who art incontestably more exalted than the cherubim and surpassest the seraphim!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice Bride of God, who art more sacred than the noetic hosts and higher than all created nature! Rejoice, thou palace of God! Rejoice, fiery throne! Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, who art so called by the myriads of angels!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice undefiled one, who put forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse! Rejoice, offshoot of the rod of Aaron, which, prefiguring thee mystically and profoundly of old, yielded almonds, as thou didst blossom forth Christ.

Canon of the Saint, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn thee, the divine harp all of gold,” the composition of Joseph, in Tone VI:

Irmos: The Red Sea was parted by a blow from the staff of Moses, * and the deep with its Waves became dry, * becoming a path to the unarmed people of Israel, * but to the fully armed ones it became a grave. * A hymn of Praise well-pleasing to God was sung: * gloriously hath Christ our God been glorified.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Ever standing with all the elect before the throne of God, full of unwaning radiance, O venerable one, pray thou that peace and great mercy be granted to us who with faith honor thee and celebrate thy divine return.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The earth danceth and heaven rejoiceth in godly fashion with all mankind, on thy hol feast, whereon thy sacred body was returned to thy flock, O glorious Chrysostom, precious habitation of the Spirit.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The greatly crafty one could not bear the divine brilliance of thy mind, O blessed one, and raised up temptations against thee, as he had against Job of old; even so, he became greatly darkened, for, lo! after thy banishment, O most luminous one, thou didst return to thy flock.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

With thy most golden words hast thou gilded the thoughts of the faithful, Chrysostom; and being banished from thy flock out of hatred, at the behest of God thou hast been returned to them after thy burial, O radiantly praised, all-blessed Chrysostom.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Having given birth unto the most holy God, thou wast shown to be more holy than the Cherubim. Him do thou entreat as the Creator of all, that He sanctify all who bless thee with holy voices, O pure one, thou boast of the fathers and help of mankind.

Another Canon of the Saint, the acrostic whereof is: “I chant a third hymn to him of the golden tongue,” in Tone III:

Irmos: He who of old gathered the waters * into one by His divine decree, * divided the sea for the people of Israel. * For He is our God and supremely glorious, * to Him alone let us sing, for He hath been glorified.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

O God-proclaiming mouth, instrument of golden sound, with the splendor of thy words and thine entreaties enlighten my mind, that I may hymn the memory of thy return, O John, thou namesake of divine grace.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Having set beneath the earth, following the laws of nature, like a brilliant star, like the sun which enlighteneth men, like a luminary of piety, O venerable one, thou hast shone forth again upon us, thy children, emitting abundant rays of miracles.

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

Thou didst fill the whole world with teachings by thy tongue of golden eloquence; and thou hast illumined all with the golden members of healings, causing the darkness of sufferings to vanish by thy return, O venerable one.

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

Uttering divine things, thou didst speak of the Word, One Hypostasis, even though He issued forth from the most pure one in two natures, assuming flesh. Her do we bless unceasingly and glorify with faith, O divine Chrysostom.

Ode III, Canon of the Theotokos, Irmos: O Lord, Creator of the vault of Heaven * and Builder of the Church, * do Thou strengthen me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, * O Support of the faithful, * O only Lover of mankind.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O Lady; most mighty weapon of the faithful! Rejoice, mighty intercession! Rejoice, O help! Rejoice, aid of sinners! Rejoice, rampart for those who call upon thee! Rejoice, thou joy of the world!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, mighty confirmation of man’s salvation! Rejoice, restoration of Adam and Eve, through whom they have regained the ancient inheritance! Rejoice, thou who hast opened paradise again!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, bush unburnt! Rejoice, chariot of the Light! Rejoice, cloud of the Sun! Rejoice, most glorious throne of the King, proclaimed in every place! Rejoice, animate city of Christ the Living God!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O pure Sovereign Lady, Mother who hast not known wedlock! Rejoice, meadow unploughed and un-harrowed, which produced the Husbandman of all! Rejoice, land which shone forth the Truth!

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: O Lord Thou art the God and Creator of all, * becoming poor, Thou hast united Thyself * without passion to a creature, * and offered Thyself as a Passover * for those for whom Thou wast soon to die; * crying: ‘Eat My Body, * and ye shall be firmly established in the faith.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou wast a pure habitation of God fathoming the depths of dogma, O blessed Chrysostom, overwhelming the hearts of the faithful. Wherefore, we celebrate today thine honored return.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou wast a golden instrument sounding forth things ineffable for us, O blessed Chrysostom. Wherefore, we hymn thee with faith at the return of thy relics, O earthly angel of God and heavenly man.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Words of life didst thou utter for us; even though thou wast unjustly envied and driven into a distant exile, and subjected to many tribulations. Yet at the behest of the Creator, thou hast been returned to thy flock after thy repose.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Who can describe the height and depth of thine ineffable birthgiving, O Maiden? For, in a manner surpassing description and comprehension, thou hast given birth unto God, Who hath delivered mankind from corruption. Wherefore, all we, the faithful, rightly bless thee.

Canon II of the Saint, Irmos: O Most High, Ruler of all, * who out of nothing hath established all things, * fashioned by Thy Word, * perfected by the Spirit, * confirm me in Thy love.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The blinded empress hid thee, the most radiant lamp, in caves of banishment; but Christ, having returned thee, hath placed thee upon a most lofty lampstand.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou hast returned, O John Chrysostom, letting flow streams of miracles, pouring forth rivers of healing upon those who with faith honor the memory of thy return.

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

The golden Nile hath returned, flooding forth in discourse and wonders. Let us all make haste and with faith abundantly draw therefrom, that we may be satisfied in all things.

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

Earthly nature is unable to hymn thee, whom the angels hymn as the one who hath given birth unto God in the flesh; yet we, thy servants, with faith, boldly hymn and glorify thee.

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

Sessional Hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the wisdom …”: Having come to know the wisdom which is from on high and the grace of words issuing from God, thou didst shine forth upon all like gold in the crucible, and preaching the Holy Trinity in Unity, thou didst shoot down the delusion of avarice with the arrows of thy words. Wherefore, having denounced the empress with zeal, and having put to shame the alien philosophy of Arius, O John Chrysostom, entreat Christ God, to grant forgiveness of sins to those who celebrate thy holy memory with love. (Twice)

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 in Tone VIII: Having conceived One of the Trinity in a manner transcending nature, O Virgin, and wondrously given birth to Him in a manner surpassing description and comprehension, thou didst cause human nature, which of old had been driven forth, to share in the divine Nature. Wherefore, O all-immaculate one, all we who have been saved by thy birthgiving, assembling, duly call thee blessed, following thy words, and entreating Christ God, that He grant forgiveness of sins unto those who with faith glorify His Mother.

Ode IV, Canon of the Theotokos, Irmos: Thou, O Lord, art my strength and Thou art my power, * Thou art my God and Thou art my joy, * Thou Who, while never leaving the bosom of Thy Father, * hast visited our poverty. * Therefore with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee, * ‘Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind!’

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O thou orient of the effulgence of the Father, and sun of Him Who shone forth from the Father before the morning star: Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, light and animate cloud! Rejoice, O Mother! Rejoice, O blessed one! Rejoice, most glorious and immaculate one!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou, O Sovereign Lady, art the golden censer of the unbearable and immaterial Ember, by Whom the document of Adam’s disobedience, hath been rent asunder, and set afire. Wherefore, I cry to thee: Rejoice, thou through whom joy, the sweetness and acquisition of paradise, hath been granted unto all!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou art the glory, honor and boast of mankind, and the crown and diadem of the angels. Wherefore, heaven and earth, the single Church, cries aloud to thee a multimodal hymn: Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady of the world! Rejoice, thou help of all mankind!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O honored couch which Solomon described of old, surrounded by the mighty sixty: Rejoice, O Virgin, golden ark of noetic sanctity! Rejoice, O divine tongs! Rejoice, fire-bearing bush! Rejoice, O gate, ladder and bridge!

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: The prophet, foreseeing thine ineffable mystery, O Christ, * declared: Thou hast set forth the mighty grace of baptism, * unto all who receive it with faith, * for deliverance from our sins!

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Having acquired a mouth and tongue of fiery inspiration, thou didst manifestly expand the understanding of Scripture, and dying in an unjust exile O venerable father, thy blessed body hath today been bestowed upon us as a gift.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Let Chrysostom now be magnified, the expounder of things ineffable; for, lo! after his temporal death, at the good behest of God, he entereth the Imperial City again, sacredly honored with divine hymns.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Possessing a mind illumined with the radiance of the all-holy Spirit, thou dost enlighten the earth with divine teachings, dispelling the darkness of impiety, O sacred father Chrysostom, converser with the holy angels.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou wast shown to be blessed for righteousness’ sake, O venerable one, having been driven from thy flock by wicked envy; yet, returning now, thou art honored by all with sacred hymns, O wise Chrysostom, holy hierarch of the Lord.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Through thee, O Virgin, salvation hath come and appeared to the world, even Christ, our Redemption Who hath shown forth from thee. Wherefore, we hymn thee as is meet, O pure one, thou boast of the sacred and sanctified habitations of the faithful.

Canon II of the Saint, Irmos: Thou hast shown us steadfast in love, O Lord, * for Thou gavest Thine only-begotten Son over to death for our sake. * Wherefore with thanksgiving we cry unto Thee, * ‘Glory to Thy power, O Lord!’

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

O ye who love discourse, come, and let us honor with sacred words the great adorner of words, who hath now joyfully returned and who with wisdom of words denounced the babblers of vain and ignorant words.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

O Chrysostom, enriching us with a wealth of teachings, thou didst tightly restrain the way of greed, alone, denouncing clearly by the abundance of divine grace, her who was laden with wealth.

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

The bow of the cruel and tyrannical mighty hath been broken; for having lived angelically in the weakness of the flesh, thou hast prevailed, O most sacred Chrysostom, having as petitioners those who before were persecutors.

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

The noetic ranks praise thee with hymnody, O Maiden, for they are unable to look upon Him Whom thou didst bear from thy pure womb, and without change assumed flesh, O all-pure Bride of God.

Ode V, Canon of the Theotokos, Irmos: O Light never-waning, * why hast Thou turned Thy face from me * and why has the alien darkness surrounded me, * wretched though I be? * But do Thou guide my steps I implore Thee * and turn me back towards the light of Thy commandments.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Grant that without grief I may pass the noetic princes, the aerial hordes of tormentors, at the hour of my departure, O Sovereign Lady, that I may joyfully cry to thee: Rejoice! rejoice, O unashamed hope of all!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O most immaculate one! Rejoice, O most pure one, in that thou didst conceive our Joy! Rejoice, purple bloom of purity, sweetly scented! Rejoice, scarlet rose of virginity, dyed red, and sweet-smelling fragrance of God!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O mystic phial which poureth forth myrrh of sweet savor! Rejoice, divine wellspring gushing forth living water! Rejoice, thou who didst bring forth the fruit of the grapes of life, O Sovereign Lady, thou vine uncultivated!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O impassable Gate through which Christ the Lord passed! Rejoice, thou who by thy birthgiving hast opened the portals of paradise! Rejoice, thou on whose account the heavens rejoice and earth doth dance, thou who hast united things above with things below.

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: Bound with the bond of love, * the apostles, having offered themselves to Christ, the Master of all, * had their comely feet cleansed by Him, * proclaiming peace unto all.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou hast been shown to be a lamp shining upon all who are in the night of life, casting light upon and illumining our thoughts with the beams of thy divine words, O father Chrysostom. Wherefore, we hymn thee as is meet.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou didst distribute a wealth of discourse, enriching starved minds, O venerable one of golden speech; and, exiled unjustly, by righteous judgment thou hast been returned again to thy flock, which rejoiceth in thy great accomplishments.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Like a bountiful branch thou didst produce the wine of compunction; and, for denouncing the empress who confiscated the widow’s vineyard, thou wast banished, O father Chrysostom. Wherefore, we honor thy return.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Him Whom the armies of the incorporeal angels cannot see, O Lady, Who lay in thine embrace as an Infant, and Who abased Himself by assuming flesh, didst thou bear, that, so impoverishing Himself, He might enrich the world.

Canon II of the Saint Irmos: I rise at dawn unto Thee, * the Creator of all, * surpassing all worldly understanding; * for Thy commandments are light, * wherein do Thou guide me.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou hast been shown to be like the springtime, mystically perfuming the multitudes of the faithful, with the flowers of grace, dispelling the winter of evil in thy return, O father.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Streaming forth divine things, the wellspring of divine gifts hath returned. Come divinely jubilant, ye who thirst, and draw forth the water of life with faith!

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

The Church of Christ crieth out to thee who hast returned: “Woe is me! For thou, my beauty, hath hid thyself, Yet, O desired one, thou hast returned to me in due time.”

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

O all-immaculate one, render merciful to me Him Who came forth from thy womb, the incarnate Word, Whom Simeon, holding in his arms in the temple, magnified as the Creator.

Ode VI, Canon of the Theotokos, Irmos: I will pour out my prayer unto the Lord, * and to Him will I proclaim my grief; * for my soul is filled with evils, * and my life unto Hades hath drawn nigh, * and like Jonah I pray unto Thee: * Raise me up from corruption, O God.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O Lady, animate vessel, the scarlet that dyed a purple robe for the King of all by thy most pure blood and hast covered the nakedness of Adam! Rejoice, O all-praised one!   

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Tangible bread by nature strengtheneth men’s hearts, O Maiden; and thy holy and hymned name maketh steadfast Christian souls. Hence, every tongue doth joyfully cry out to thee: Rejoice!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, golden candlestick! Rejoice, ark which held God! Rejoice, tabernacle! Rejoice, holy mountain! Rejoice, animate city of the living God! Rejoice, palace of Christ! Rejoice, divine and most splendid temple!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O most immaculate and pure one, excellent flower of nature! Rejoice, civic benevolence of the human race! Rejoice, God-given grace, who hath brought honor upon disgraced human nature by thy birthgiving!

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: The uttermost depths of sin have encompassed me; * and its stormy waves I can endure no more, * wherefore like Jonah I cry out to Thee, O Master: * Lead me up from corruption.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

O all-blessed Chrysostom, thy tongue hath poured forth upon the Church streams of gold and enricheth starving hearts, which glorify thee in sacred manner.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

O all-blessed one, precious hath thy death been in the sight of our God, wherein thy city is glorified by the second return to thy throne, O father Chrysostom.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Blessed is the tomb which holdeth thy precious body, in that it enricheth with miracles those who have recourse thereto with faith, O Chrysostom, all-blessed hierarch.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Having given birth unto the Most High, O most holy Bride of God, thou dost exalt unto the heavens our nature which lieth below. Wherefore, we glorify thee as is meet.

Canon II of the Saint, Irmos: The uttermost depths of sin have surrounded me, * and my spirit perisheth. * but do Thou, O Master, stretch forth Thy lofty arm * and like Peter save me, * O my Helmsman.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The foolish empress cut thee off from the Church of Christ, denouncing thee in a rage; but straightway she found herself cut off, and even after death was reproved by thee, through a miraculous excommunication.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou wast shown to be an instrument of the Spirit accomplishing all things, melodiously sounding forth; but the tyrant empress became deaf, and like an adder passed it by, receiving a most dreadful death as recompense.

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

Though he died a mortal death, Chrysostom clearly taught the rulers to not torment him; for, at first refusing to submit to their commands, he later returned at their request.

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

Contemplating Thee, Who alone art born of a Virgin, even as Thou didst receive flesh and become dual in nature, John Chrysostom utterly rejected both division and commingling, O Jesus, Who art God and man.

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 of the saint, in Tone I: The honored Church was mystically gladdened by the return of thy precious relics; * having hidden them like most precious gold, * and now by thy supplication she bountifully imparteth the grace of healings ** unto those who hymn thee, O John Chrysostom.

Ikos: The lamp of my deeds hath been diminished, O John Chrysostom, and I fear to encounter thy sacred relics; but do thou thyself guide me, and direct my steps, granting me time for repentance, O all-holy one, in so far as thou art a divine preacher of repentance. Do thou still the tempest of my many passions and, rescuing me from the snares of Belial, save me in the end, that I may worthily hymn thy glorious return, as before I also boldly glorified thy repose, O John Chrysostom.

Ode VII, Canon of the Theotokos, Irmos: Once in Babylon the fire stood in awe * of God’s condescension; * for which sake the youths in the furnace, * dancing with joyous steps as in a meadow, chanted: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, Virgin and Mother who hast given birth to the Son, who hast not known wedlock, who alone knewest not a man and alone art incorrupt!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O Bride of God, thou animate Zion of Christ, the King of kings, of which most glorious things have been spoken! Rejoice, ladder whereby we ascend to heaven from earth, and from corruption to life.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

A divinely planted meadow, a fragrant garden cultivated by God, hast thou been shown to be, O Virgin, who hast blossomed forth the Flower of immortality. Wherefore, together we cry out to thee: Rejoice! rejoice, bestower of joy! Rejoice, wellspring of sweetness!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O most honored Lady, deliver me from the disgrace of the passions, that I may cry out joyfully to thee: Rejoice, wellspring of holiness! Rejoice, treasury of all purity! Rejoice, divine receptacle! Rejoice, habitation of Christ!

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: In Babylon the Children feared not the fiery furnace; * but cast into the midst of the flames * they were bedewed and sang: * ‘O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou.’

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Radiant with miracles, adorned with golden theology, thou wast given over to cruel banishment; but returning therefrom, thou hast been glorified by all.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

With the scythe of thy divine teachings thou cuttest wickedness off at the root planting divine knowledge in men’s souls, O holy hierarch Chrysostom. Wherefore, we glorify the return of thy relics.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Returning, O venerable Chrysostom, thou hast brought peace to the alienated and hast been placed in the church of the most wise apostles, with whose honored authority thou wast enriched, O all-praised one.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O all-pure one, thou hast given birth to Jesus Christ, One of the transcendent Trinity. Him do Thou entreat, O all-immaculate Lady, that in His ineffable tender compassion He may forgive my manifold transgressions.

Canon II of the Saint, Irmos: As of old Thou didst bedew * the three pious children in the Chaldean flames, * so also with the radiant fire of Thy divinity * illumine us who cry to Thee, * ‘Blessed art Thou, the God of our fathers!’

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The most audacious woman had thee depart the Imperial City, O most wise one, for denouncing her eviction of the widow; and by her rejection of thy most wise teaching, she hath been left bereft of the grace of God .

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Yet thou didst return sweetly, like the sun which had been covered by clouds, O luminary of exceeding magnificence, unto all who have been enlightened by the mystic splendor of thy luminous golden teachings, O John Chrysostom.

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

I stretch forth my hands unto thee, O Chrysostom, to embrace thee, the escort of the Bride who returnest in splendor, loved exceedingly, in that thou didst tarry for many years.

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

Thou comest to the temple like mystical tongs, bearing the mystical Ember, O most pure one, by Whom Simeon, receiving Him in his arms, was enlightened to prophesy with exceeding clarity concerning the signs of His passion.

Ode VIII, Canon of the Theotokos, Irmos: O ye Children, equal in number to the Trinity, * bless ye God the Father and creator; * sing ye the praises of the Word who descended and changed the fire into dew; * and exalt ye above all for ever * the most Holy Spirit, who giveth life unto all.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O branch which grew out of the root of Jesse! Rejoice, thou who, without being watered, blossomed forth Christ, the beautiful Flower! Rejoice, fertile mountain! Rejoice, mountain overshadowed! Rejoice, mountain of God in Whom the Word Who existeth before all time was pleased to dwell!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

With the iron staff of thy mighty aid do thou fend off the passions which beset me like dogs lying in wait, like roaring wild beasts, surrounding my lowly soul, O Virgin, that I may cry to thee: Rejoice!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou hast been adorned, O thou who art beautiful among women, who hast given birth unto Christ, Who is more comely in beauty than all the sons of mankind. Wherefore, rejoicing, we cry out to thee: Rejoice! rejoice, O pure and joyous Theotokos!  Rejoice, thou who art more glorious than all creation!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O Birthgiver of God, whom Daniel beheld beforehand as a mountain unquarried: Rejoice, thou from whom the Cornerstone was cut! Rejoice, Ember-bearing tongs pleasing unto God! Rejoice, thou who art more holy than the immaterial angels! Rejoice, thou who art more honorable than creation!

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: Suffering affliction for the sake of the laws of their fathers, * the blessed Children in Babylon * scorned the foolish decree of the King. * Standing together in the midst of the flames, they remained unharmed, * and sang a song fitting for almighty God: * ‘O ye works of the Lord, praise ye the Lord * and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.’

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Possessing the authority to loose and to bind, O venerable one, thou hast loosed all the transgressions of those who celebrate thy divine return with splendor. Entreat thou, that they also be deemed worthy of the kingdom of heaven, chanting with a contrite heart: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

In exile, O divinely wise father, thou didst endure pangs, receiving a blessed and glorious end, O Chrysostom, and by the will of God, returning again to thy divine see, thou art honored by those who chant: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The false serpent, unable to bear the darts of thy words, O venerable one, asked to test thee, as he did to the valiant Job; but vanquished by thine endurance for Christ’s sake, he hath been shown to be a source of ridicule for thee, who chantest with faith: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Most Holy Trinity our God, glory to Thee.

O beginningless Father, co-beginningless Son and divine Spirit, indivisible Trinity, one Essence, one Power, one Authority: fill with all good things, those who hymn Thee, delivering them from torment, that they may unceasingly chant: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The human mind is incapable of understanding the mystery of thine ineffable birthgiving, which is beyond comprehension and all telling, O Maiden; for God appeared as a mortal through thee, saving those who had fallen into corruption, and raising them up to their pristine dignity they chant: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely throughout all ages!

Canon II of the Saint, Irmos: United together in the unbearable fire, * yet not harmed by the flame, * the children, champions of godliness, sang a divine hymn: * O all ye works of the Lord, * bless ye the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

With the milk of thy piety thou dost nurture the Church which nurtured thee, O venerable father, giving her seven loaves of the bread of divine grace and pouring forth thy sweetness as a drink of healing, O all-blessed Chrysostom, thou dost nourish us.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The proclamation of thy dogmas went forth into all the earth, O father, yet the mindless empress commanded that thou be driven from thy place; but she was deceived: for as from one of immense height, the rays of thy words have shone forth everywhere.

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

Let the assembly of the faithful be enlightened today, greeting the most excellent of teachers with gladness; for he hath come and is present in body, distributing abundant grace unto all, which we, rejoicing, do richly enjoy.

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

“I behold Thee in Thy mother’s arms, and I know Thee to be unapproachable Divinity by nature. How, therefore, O Word, art Thou Who holds all creation in the palm of Thy hand, held in arms?” thus said Simeon, glorifying Thine ineffable power, O Thou Who art God and man.

Ode IX, Canon to the Theotokos, Irmos: All are awestruck at hearing of God’s ineffable condescension, * for the Most High voluntarily descended and assumed flesh, * becoming man in the Virgin’s womb; * wherefore we the faithful magnify the most pure Theotokos.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Behold, all generations by the divine Spirit, call thee ever-blessed, as thou didst foretell, O Birthgiver of God; and they cry out to thee, as to the one who gaveth birth unto Joy: Rejoice! rejoice, O treasury of life! Rejoice, O wellspring which pourest forth spiritual honey!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O pure Sovereign Lady, thou didst correct the stumbling of our forefather Adam, and didst turn the grief of Eve, our foremother, into joy. Wherefore, we cry to thee, as to the cause of joy: Rejoice! rejoice, O joy of the faithful! Rejoice, gladness of Christians!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Meet it is to cry to thee: Rejoice! for in thee did the ever-existent Joy make His abode in essence, O Virgin Maiden Birthgiver of God. Rejoice, O paradise of sweetness! Rejoice, wellspring of immortality flowing with streams of gold! Rejoice, thou who pourest forth true drink!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The desire for thee doth pierce my heart with the arrow of sweetness, O all-praised one, compelling me to ever call out to thee: Rejoice! and again to cry: Rejoice, peaceful haven! Rejoice, O sweetest impassable sea, who didst drown the noetic Pharaoh!

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: Every tongue is at a loss to praise thee as is due: * even a spirit from the world above is filled with dizziness, * when it seeketh to sing thy praises, O Theotokos. * But since thou art good, accept our faith: * Thou knowest well our love inspired by God, * for thou art the Protector of Christians and we magnify thee.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou wast a rule of the priesthood, O divinely eloquent one, arrayed with righteousness as with divine vesture, having enriched the Church and spiritually laid bare the meaning of the Scriptures with thy words. Wherefore, we celebrate thy return, O father.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou wast shown to be as beautiful as a nightingale, O father, announcing the divine spring of repentance to those who are enslaved to the winter of sin. Though thou wast banished through the treachery of the deceiver, O wise one, thou dost hasten again, rejoicing, to the flock which desireth thee, O blessed Chrysostom.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The hearts of all are jubilant today, beholding thee, the pure Bridegroom, O venerable one, given by grace to the Church, thy Bride; and with unceasing voices they hymn and praise and bless the Bestower of good things, as is meet.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The lamp which was set upon the lampstand of Comana hath come! The adornment of the Church of God hath arrived! Hymn ye the Lord! Sing with gladness! And greeting him spiritually, let us all cry aloud: By thy supplications, save us, O father!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

With the most radiant brilliance of Him Who was ineffably born of thee, O Maiden, illumine my soul which hath been darkened by all manner of transgressions, desiring not to do that which is good, O holy and all-pure Theotokos; that I may unceasingly declare thy mighty works.

Canon II of the Saint, Irmos: New is the wonder and befitting of God: * for the Lord clearly passes through the closed gate of the Virgin: * naked at His going in and God bearing flesh at His coming out, * while the gate remaineth closed. * As ineffably the Theotokos and Mother of our God we magnify her.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The army of angels, the council of the prophets and the divine choir of apostles and martyrs radiantly rejoice with us, sharing in the feast, O all-blessed one, esteeming the grace of thy hymns; for within thee is depicted the life of all.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Lo! the light of the world hath shone forth, the divine and most exalted lamp hath appeared therein, the sweetening abyss of the gifts of God. Come, brethren, let us partake of the light, that we may warm ourselves, and that we all may draw forth therefrom, magnifying Chrysostom with hymns from our heart.

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

Like a hymn offered to thee by a pair of mites, from mine unworthy and wretched soul, bereft of all that is good, and which I proffer out of zeal for the riches of God; Emulating the divine goodness, do thou accept it and render in return divinely – bestowed grace.

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

“Approaching, I tremble,” said Simeon, “yet am I strengthened, holding in mine arms thine Offspring, O Virgin, Who causeth all the earth to tremble at His mere gaze from on high; and I am already removed from the quaking flesh. Rejoicing, I bear the declaration of those things which are to be, fulfilled already in me, and I shall announce the glad tidings of deliverance to those who are in Hades”.

Local Orthodox Devotion to the Mother of God, ‘Our Lady of Walsingham’

Walsingham, a quintessentially English place of pilgrimage in honour of the Mother of God, has paradoxically been the place of many people’s first encounter with the Orthodox Church.

For some, this encounter has been the first step, or else a stepping stone, on their personal pilgrimage to the Orthodox Christian Faith, as we know from our own community and its friends – including our very own starosta and our friend, Schema-Hierodeacon Antony

In that sacred place, the Mother of God appeared in a dream to Richold de Faverches, the Lady of the Manor, in 1056, instructing her to build a chapel according to the dimensions of the Holy House of Nazareth – measurements proved to be correct in the course of history with the translation of the Holy House to Loreto in Italy.

The shrine became a place of countless miracles and throughout the Middle Ages the Holy House and priory at Walsingham were the most important shrine in England, known as England’s Nazareth, benefitting from royal patronage, including that of Henry VIII: tragically the author of its desecration and spoliation.

But, Walsingham’s story is one of resurrection, proving that the veneration of the Mother of God could not be obliterated in these islands, with both restored Anglican and Roman Catholic shrines becoming places of prayer and pilgrimage, and the amazing legacy of Father Alfred Hope Paten continuing to touch the lives of Orthodox Christian pilgrims year after year.

Our Russian Orthodox forebears, exiles with a great love for the Mother of God, became part of this story of renewal in 1938 when the extended Anglican shrine was consecrated, and Archbishop Nestor of Kamchatka celebrated the Hierarchical Liturgy at the church’s high altar.

In the next decade, after the war, St Nikolai Velimirovic served in the shrine church whilst living in the College and convalescing after his liberation from Dachau.

Though the intended Orthodox Church was never built adjacent to the shrine church, pilgrims will be familiar with the little upstairs Orthodox Chapel consecrated on Pentecost-Trinity 1945.

The former monastery of St Seraphim, now sadly little more than a museum, played a pivotal role in the development of the veneration of the saints of Britain through the iconographic labours of Archimandrite David and his spiritual son and successor, Leon Liddament of blessed memory.

For some of us, Walsingham has a very special place in our lives and we greatly look forward to pilgrimages, despite its distance from South Wales. When we are there, we feel the reality of the Mother of God’s maternal care, protection and intercession.

With the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Irenei, I have been able to make pilgrimages and celebrate services in the Chapel of the Life-Giving Spring, in the Anglican shrine-church three or four times a year – usually with the support and good-ministrations of Norman and Georgina, but also through our inclusion in local pilgrimage by Father Dean, and also on parish pilgrimage with members of our South Wales communities.

Whilst worshipping and meeting in the chaplaincy, at Newman Hall, we sustained our ‘Walsingham devotions’ to the Mother of God in the Little Oratory of Newman Hall, with its beautiful Walsingham Icon of the Mother of God. But, that ceased when we were no longer able to worship there with the change of chaplain.

Our local Anglican friends sustain their devotions through their Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham, and I very much hope that – in a similar way – those in our community who love Walsingham and its shrine to the Mother of God (and those who simply wish to deepen their devotion to the Mother of God) may wish to come together regularly to offer devotions and intercessions for the needs of the Church, of our community and the world.

We have not come together to chant the akathist to the Mother of God in honour of her Walsingham Icon since our exodus from Newman Hall in 2020, and my hope and prayer is that we may soon remedy this, as well as looking forward to a parish pilgrimage, introducing new pilgrims to ‘England’s Nazareth.’

As I look forward to serving in Walsingham in Cheese-Fair week, I hope that discussions over the next few weeks may prove fruitful and find others who wish to share in local devotions.

Real Orthodoxy – Not Just Smoke and Mirrors!

Why does fakery posing as Orthodoxy thrive so much in the world?

Why are there so many bogus groups being unquestionably accepted as Orthodox by so many people?

Why is the internet such a perilous place for those trying to navigate the obstacle course of what is presented as Orthodoxy?

Sadly, we see so much pseudo-Orthodoxy in the modern world, based on images, sound-bites, catchphrases and carrot-and-stick exciting ‘possibilities’ – the sort of ‘Orthodoxy’ that often seeks to boldly go where no bishop, priest or congregation has gone before!

Whether it’s the so-called ‘Gallican Orthodox’, ‘Celtic Orthodox’, the ‘Orthodox Church of France’, the ‘British Orthodox Church’ or any other vagante group (often originating from schism, a rogue Syro-Malabarese consecration or Old Catholic cross-pollination with schismatics), the history and ethos will no doubt be convincing and inviting, with a presented uniqueness that nobody else has, and all of the boxes pertaining to packaging and presentation will be ticked.

Of course, even canonical Orthodoxy has mavericks, who do their own thing and create their own mirage (in their own image and as a projection and extension of their own ego) within the protective environment of the Church. This can be even more dangerous.

Cyber-space is awash with slick, well-designed websites of such bogus ‘Orthodox’ communities, clergy or jurisdictions, where the power of the image is well understood; where the value of implied fact (subtle lies that avoid being able to be exactly pinned down or exposed) is deviously exploited; where deliberate vagueness brings misattribution and credit for someone else’s labours; where outright dishonesty leads the unsuspecting into spiritual danger.

The internet and technology makes all of this illusory play-acting increasingly dangerous, especially combined with the ability of any vagante, schismatic or layman-in-vestments with the financial wherewithal (or preferably with someone else’s cheque-book) to equip a convincing Orthodox ‘Temple’, replete with fine icons, splendid vestments, antique church fittings and all of the outward tokens of ‘authenticity’.

Such figures appear resplendent in rich vestments and finery, and may incidentally present a detailed diagram to demonstrate their apostolic succession and validity. When such things aren’t straight forward and simple, but need diagrams, alarm-bells should be ringing!

We especially see this in the various bogus attempts to create ‘Western Orthodoxy’ or autocephalous Western Metropolias, in which case vagante or schismatic idealogues exploit our genuine Orthodox struggle with nationalism and ethnicity to create something ‘new’, non-Slavic, non-Hellenic etc., to make a pseudo-Orthodoxy of their own liking, and one which is totally cut of from the living Sacred tradition of the Church and the spiritual inheritance of past generations. The result is nothing better than the renovationism of the so-called ‘Living Church’ supported by the Soviets.

This is also typical of ‘Genuine Orthodox’ or ‘True Orthodox’ groups (often with a taste for Old Believer primitivism), who have caught on to the power of the image and word in a spiritually naïve or ignorant media-driven world.

How many ‘Metropolitans’ of Moscow (plus a few anti-Patriarchs) are there, complete with their vagante entourage, in white cowls embroidered with seraphim?

Admittedly, sometimes such figures look like they’ve been to a historical costume sale at the local theatre, with their fur-edged mitres incorporating off-cuts of granny’s winter-hat, but increasingly the effect is well considered, convincing and persuasive for the naïve and unsuspecting.

What was farcically transparent ten or fifteen years ago, is becoming harder to spot, simply based on an external glance based on formalism alone.

Depending where we are in the world, when we look around a building, or a beautiful ecclesiastical interior, or when we experience a beautiful service and think “this must be legitimate”, purely based on externals, we may unsuspectingly be in a treacherous situation and are vulnerable to deception.

Yesterday, we celebrated the Sunday of the New Martyrs and Confessors, and the suffering Orthodoxy in which they served and for which they died was so often forcibly stripped and robbed of the outward trappings upon which the pseudo-Orthodox fakes rely so much, and through which they are able to trick the gullible.

In the homily, speaking of the danger of formalism, I did not have time to explore the fact that when our testing of Orthodoxy becomes reduced to formalistic signs and external evidence, and is only shaped by the material manifestations of Orthodoxy, we can be led into great spiritual danger.

In Catacomb services during the Soviet period, poor vestments made from any suitable material took the place of the fine vestments previously worn to celebrate the Liturgy; the absence of holy vessels meant improvising something approximating to the required utensils of the Liturgy; sheets hung from the ceiling, bearing a few little paper icons might be the makeshift iconostasis; any white bread might have taken the place of prosfory, fermented cranberry juice for wine and a bit of conifer resin as the incense in a censer made from a tin can.

As we know from NKVD/KGB files, as well as from the accounts of the faithful, preserved sacred-items from churches and chapels were hidden in houses, where coded knocks on a door or a tune whistled outside a window gained the faithful access to a hidden, quiet service in a makeshift sanctuary, behind carefully masked windows in houses in quiet corners of town.

In prison camps improvisation had to be more imaginative.

The Holy New Martyr, Bishop Maxim of Serpukhov described such a makeshift setting in a box-like fish-drying structure in the Solovetsk Gulag:

“Here was the box, about nine yards long, without windows, the door scarcely noticeable. Light twilight, the sky covered with dark clouds. We knock three times and then twice. Fr. Nicholas opens. Vladika Victor and Vladika Ilarion are already here… In a few minutes Vladika Nektary also comes. The interior of the box has been converted into a church. On the floor, on the wails, spruce branches. Several candles flickering. Small paper icons. The small Plashchanitsa is buried in green branches. Ten people have come to pray. Later another four or five come, of whom two are monks. The service begins, in a whisper. It seemed that we had no bodies, but were only souls. Nothing distracted or interfered with prayer… I don’t remember how we went “home,” i.e., to our Companies. The Lord covered us!”

The same material hardship and poverty characterised Church services in camps in which displaced persons found themselves in Western Europe at the end of the Second World War.

Such observations do not imply that catacomb-like conditions, poverty and improvisation are somehow indicators of Orthodoxy any more or less than the expected normal requisites of liturgical parish life are, but they challenge us to stop and think.

The lack of everything needed for a normal Holy Week and Pascha did not some how nullify or cancel the validity of what the incarcerated New Martyrs and Confessors were celebrating, but neither do the bright and shiny items and vestments from church suppliers confer validity on what we do week by week – whether we are genuine or impostors.

They may tick the formalistic boxes of those who think the outer details enough, but without Faith, without true Holy Mysteries, without clergy who really are clergy, ordained and consecrated by the successors of the apostles – chalice sets, censers, lamps and sacred items become meaningless bric-a-brac and items on a theatre-set.

And, even within legitimate Orthodoxy, the accounts from the suffering Soviet Union remind us that the quality of our Faith is essentially spiritual, not determined by liturgical-materialism, however much we rightly desire the normal essentials of Orthodox liturgical life.

In our Orthodox lives, some of us have worshipped in summer houses and sheds, converted shops, in rooms of houses, in gardens – with very few icons, homemade vestments and furnishings, even with homemade incense when Orthodox incense was difficult to obtain. Though conscious of the poverty of our celebrations, we were comforted by the fact that in no way did it diminish the grace of the services and Holy Mysteries of the Church.

Others visited, and never returned, scandalised by the home-made, the improvised, the lack of a beautiful iconostasis, the ropey singing or the fact that the Liturgy was in a little wooden building at the bottom of a garden.

Of course, at the same time that we struggled in these straightened circumstances, throughout the world, impostors imitating Orthodoxy were able to ‘celebrate’ in beautiful, well-appointed places of ‘worship’, yet devoid of everything true and spiritual and with empty, graceless rituals.

Sadly, the boxes of formalism can easily remain unticked by the connoisseurs and aesthetes, who with their obsession with the outward signs of ‘Orthodoxy’, turn their backs on the Church, on the Holy Mysteries, and on God, Himself, preferring the formalistic trappings of Byzantium to the reality of Orthodox Faith.

We must beware of formalism, and see the bigger picture! We seek to worship God in the beauty of holiness, but beauty without holiness and true Faith is a soul-destroying temptation leading to spiritual death.

It’s better to struggle in Orthodoxy with things home-made, the makeshift and far from perfect, than to have an overflowing sacristy, a gleaming ‘temple’ and everything except Orthodoxy.

Lord, have mercy.

Let us always put FAITH first. Everything is an extra blessing!

Weekly News: Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

Today saw the celebration of the Sunday of the Holy New-Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, as well as the Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican, marking the approach of the Great Fast. 

It was good to sustain our usual number of forty to forty-five worshippers, but it was evident that many in the congregation arrived during the early part of the Liturgy. Admittedly, confessions have made our start rather slow of late, but those communing of the Holy Mysteries should be in church for the Hours, as well as the Liturgy.  

Having settled back into Nazareth House and discovered how best to make things work, the Hours will commence at 10:40 and the Liturgy at 11:00 each Sunday. 

We expected to have Father Hierodeacon Avraamy celebrating with us, but he was unable to join us due to family sickness. We look forward to next week’s Liturgy and the blessing of two deacons for our Liturgy. Last week’s Sunday service was so imposing with two deacons serving in our celebration. 

We are grateful to our chancellor, Archpriest Paul, for sending vestments for Hierodeacon Avraamy, who is one of several Ukrainian clergy blessed to serve in our diocese, bringing great experience and liturgical knowledge. 

CONFESSIONS This was the first week in which no confessions were heard during the preparation of the chalice for Holy Communion, so a few confessions were heard after Liturgy, at which time Holy Communion was also administered.  

We need to be clear that this should really be for those living a distance from the church, and those who are at the mercy of public transport – such as our Ukrainian ladies (living in Ogmore Vale), whose train was cancelled, and who walked for an hour in order to ensure they were able to use alternative transport and attend Liturgy: determination!  

Whilst, confessions/communion worked well, this time after Liturgy – when clergy are tired and need to sit down –  cannot and must not become the default confession and communion time for late-arrivers, especially when there is only one priest. So… this post-Liturgy time will be monitored. 

Last week saw confessions on Thursday and Friday, with a house-blessing on Friday, as well. But, so far, there have been hardly any requests for house-blessings, at least from our parishioners in Wales. So, please do not forget that this is a Theophany tradition each year. We had several requests today, and will make arrangements to visit parish homes. As some of these visits may be on Saturdays, there may not be a public service in the evenings of those days, but rather vespers being celebrated across the parish, in the homes of the faithful, with the possibility of compline being celebrated after setting up the convent-church for Liturgy. 

THE WEEK AHEAD 

Looking forward to the latter this week, I will hear confessions on Thursday and Saturday, so may I ask for requests as soon as possible, but by 14:00 on Wednesday at the latest.  

Prior to pre-Lenten preparations, this week is fast-free. 

There will be no public celebration of vespers this Saturday. 

 CHELTENHAM 

Though our Cheltenham mission Liturgy is usually on the second Saturday of the month, the February Liturgy will be on Saturday 18th February (the third Saturday). As this coming Saturday will see the celebratory anticipation Yuriy’s 5th birthday, Deacon Mark will be otherwise engaged. 

However, for some years, it has actually been our tradition to celebrate the February Cheltenham Liturgy on the afterfeast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple (Candlemas). I’m pleased to say that we will be doing the same this year, and will also have a baptism on this day. 

As usual, our Liturgy will be in Prestbury United Reformed Church, Deep St, Prestbury, Cheltenham GL52 3AW. Cardiff friends would be extremely welcome! 

Confessions will be heard from 09:15, with the Hours at 10:00 and the Divine Liturgy at 10:30. 

WALSINGHAM

As announced at Liturgy, Father Dean of St Mary Butetown has once more extended an invitation for our parishioners to join the July South Wales Pilgrimage to Walsingham, as Norman and I did, last year – making a rather small Orthodox contingent. 

However, whilst there, we were able to join our dear friends who keep the Orthodox lamp burning in Walsingham and celebrated services in the Orthodox Chapel of the Anglican shrine, as well as praying in Mother Melangell’s house-chapel.  

A handful of parishioners have expressed interest in joining the pilgrimage, and I would be very pleased to have faithful from our South Wales communities travelling to Walsingham as a group – as it is already three and a half years since we previously did so, in November 2019. 

The pilgrimage will be from July 24-27. 

Cost:  

  • Full Board and travel by coach £370 (£270 under 16 years) 
  • Full Board only (no coach) £225 (£140 under 16 years) 
  • Children under 5 yrs: FREE 

I will post details on our parish Facebook Page, but any queries may be sent in Georgina’s direction:  georgie.partridge12@gmail.com 

I’m happy to hear that interested parties have already been in touch! 

Additionally, given the place of Walsingham in the spiritual lives of some of our South Wales Orthodox faithful we are discussing the formation of a local Orthodox group akin to the various ‘cells’ of Our Lady of Walsingham, supporting the shrine and the historic Orthodox presence by prayer and pilgrimage, and encouraging devotion to the Mother of God. More to come! 

We discussed this whilst we met at Newman Hall, where we periodically chanted the akathist in honour of the Walsingham Icon of the Mother of God. 

Whilst on this pilgrimage theme – I would like to remind parishioners that I will be in Walsingham for the customary February visit, maintaining the historical links between the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia and the Anglican Shrine. I greatly look forward to celebrating the Liturgy with our friend, the newly-ordained Priest Mark (Tattum-Smith) from Mettingham, whom I hope to see become increasingly involved in ROCOR ministrations in the shrine. 

PILGRIMAGE TO LLANDAFF

Just to remind you that we will be meeting in Llandaff Cathedral for a moleben before the relics of St Teilo, at 10:00 on Saturday 25th February, with time to explore the cathedral and visit St Teilo’s Well before those who wish to do so repair to the Black Lion for lunch. 

Confessions will be heard in Nazareth House that afternoon, when the church is set up for Sunday Liturgy. 

PARISH AGM

We will be holding our parish annual general meeting on Sunday 19th February after the Divine Liturgy, and anyone wishing to raise subjects for our agenda should email our deacon and parish administrator, Father Deacon Mark: rmfisher@ntlworld.com 

No elections are due at this meeting, but the requirement for us us to form an electoral role though the establishment of a parish subscription will be discussed. 

PRAYER REQUESTS 

Your prayers are asked for the newly departed servants of God, the priests Father John Musther (in Keswick) and Father Stephen Fretwell (Oxford); the newly-departed Nikolai; Irina, whose fortieth day fell a few days ago; and Joanna (Mary Joy), whose funeral will take place this week. May their memory be eternal.

Important Information Regarding Confession On Sundays

Dear brothers and sisters,

Further to this week’s newsletter, I would like to let parishioners know that from now on any confessions that are not possible before Liturgy will ordinarily be heard AFTER the service and that Holy Communion will be administered at this time.

THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY CONFESSIONS WHILST THE HOLY GIFTS ARE PREPARED FOR HOLY COMMUNION UNLESS THERE IS A SECOND PRIEST – AND EVEN THEN IT WILL NOT BE GUARANTEED.

We will ensure that everyone who requires confession does so, and that all blessed to commune are able to partake of the Holy Mysteries, but confessions and possibly trying to deal with profound spiritual crises before communion has proved itself neither practicable or appropriate.

Please do not simply think “I only need two minute for a quick confession; what’s the issue?” Someone else may appear behind you, and someone else behind them, and before we know it a queue may have formed!

If time has run out before Liturgy and you still require confession with the intention to commune of the Holy Mysteries, please let one of our oltarniky know when they are preparing zapivka for those communing, and the clergy will reserve communion and be prepared for confession.

By the time the faithful kiss the Cross at the end of the service, the Holy Gifts have been consumed and the vessels cleansed unless we know that reservation is needed. If you request Holy Communion at this time, it will be too late.

Also, confession on Sundays is primarily for those driving long distances or have no possibility of weekday confession, due to personal circumstances. If you are local to Cardiff, please do your best to confess in the week, and recognise the need for those coming from the valleys, the borders and the west of England – of whom many require confession before our Sunday service.

Thank you in advance for your understanding.

May God bless you.

Fr Mark

Parish Newsletter: 30 January 2023

Dear brothers and sisters,

Yesterday’s Liturgy brought a great contrast to our Hierarchical Liturgy, the previous weekend, most notably in the drop to our more usual Liturgy numbers of just over forty – though Nazareth House Chapel swallows that up in its vastness.

We were glad to welcome visitors, who mostly (though coincidently) travelled from Pontypridd. We hope that they will return to share Liturgy with us soon.

The parish was greatly blessed to have two deacons for the Divine Liturgy, with Father Avraamy’s ministrations greatly enriching our celebration. Having served as a deacon for twenty years, with thirteen of those being in the Svyatogorsk-Dormition Lavra, he brings great and very welcome experience to our parish.

I was also greatly appreciative of his pastoral help yesterday, spending time with refugees facing many challenges in their new life in the valleys. It was a blessing that his first Liturgy serving as an assistant cleric of the parish coincided with the visit of a family who hopefully benefitted from a long talk with him (as a fellow refugee), helped by his words and prayers. To Hierodeacon Avraamy – many years!

This is a prompt to point out that there have been problems with the door from the street – the family in question having arrived just as Mass ended and our final set up began, but not being able to get into the building they returned later, when the latch worked and the door fortunately opened! This has happened quite a few times over the last three or four weeks, with some first time visitors going to reception or giving up. The door is always unlocked for the 9:30 Mass and the handle may need turning several times. We have reported this, but the problem continues, so Deacon Mark will attack the latch with WD40 before next Liturgy to ensure the handle turns properly and the latch raises.

As announced at the end of Liturgy, there will be a local pilgrimage to Llandaff Cathedral on Saturday 25thFebruary, to pray before the relics of St Teilo, whose feast falls a few days earlier, whilst I am serving in Walsingham.

A moleben will be served at 10:00 in the Chapel of St Teilo, at the end of the righthand South Aisle, with time to explore the cathedral and a visit to St Teilo’s Well around the corner after the service. It has been suggested that those able to stay may wish to retreat to the Black Lion pub at midday. Tracy has kindly agreed to take on the role of pilgrimage coordinator, as we get pilgrimages under way. It would be useful for us to know how many people are able to join us for this small beginning to our pilgrimage-year, so parishioners are invited to email Tracy: t_sbrain@icloud.com

Having discussed the use of Capel-y-ffin, the smallest church in the principality, with Father Richard Williams at Hay-on-Wye, we intend to make a pilgrimage to the Black Mountains, in honour of St David, on Saturday 18th March.

St David’s foundation at Llanthony, nearby, has been a place of March pilgrimage for many years. However, the darkness, intense cold and dampness of the virtually disused parish church make it an inhospitable place for Liturgy. Capel-y-ffin slightly further up the the Afon Honddu and the valley promises a lighter and more liturgically-hospitable place of worship: a very special place, close to the site of the monastery founded by the eccentric romantic, Father Ignatius of Llanthony in the 19th century.

Father Richard has suggested that we visit Hay-on-Wye after Liturgy, as he would be glad to welcome us at St Mary’s where I hope he will tell us about the early saints Eigen and Eigion who vie for the dedication of one of the churches of the benefice at Llanigon. Details will be confirmed after the pilgrimage has been discussed with Vladika Irenei.

The final pilgrimage note, is to point out that there are still places available for the diocesan pilgrimage to the Holy Land, led by Bishop Irenei, and taking place between 31st July and 12th August. Details may be found at:

https://orthodox-europe.org/content/diocesan-holyland-pilgrimage-2023/?fbclid=IwAR0o5jbnyGeSTt03kciN70pP9YToLKTiIteUXK4pQiCMpB6GU9iGEKDKtl8

I am very happy that some parishioners have registered for the pilgrimage, and I greatly look forward to visiting the shrines of the Holy Land – God-willing – not only with our bishop, but with brothers and sisters of the parish.

In Cardiff, we need to hold a parish AGM, and given the length of Liturgies during the Great Fast, Sunday 19th February will allow us to give three weeks notice, as per the statutes of parishes of the ROCOR. On that Sunday we will hold our parish general meeting after Liturgy, and will ensure that we have refreshments available to see us through to the end of the AGM. No elections are due during this meeting, but the matter of subscription is a priority, so that an electoral-roll is in place for any future voting. If you have any items for the agenda, please email Deacon Mark who acts as the parish administrator: rmfisher@ntlworld.com

This week, I will hear confessions on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, so may I ask for requests by 13:00 Wednesday lunchtime to allow time to contact those requiring a slot?

I wish to keep Saturday as free as possible, so that we can concentrate on the celebration of Great Vespers at 17:00. Church will be open for set up from 16:00.

Please don’t be shy in requesting house blessings, as I hope to get around some of the Cardiff homes of the parish this week, and next weekend, as well as heading further afield and venturing into England – at the ‘eastern end’ of the parish! Also, please remember that there is Theophany Water in Church, so if you have not yet taken any, please bring bottles to collect it.

I continue to ask your prayers for my health. Though the concerns of last autumn are happily behind me, I continue to suffer from oedema and continuing fatigue. Your prayers, in union with those of the saints and angelic-hosts, make an immense difference. We must never be tempted to think otherwise, however dysfunctional our spiritual lives may seem. Joined with the voices of the saints and bodiless powers of heaven, and with one another, even our feeble requests have power and force. Is not even the greatest and most powerful flood anything other than hundreds of thousands of single drops of rain!

In your prayers, we also ask for the remembrance of the newly departed servants of God, the Priest Stephen, Nikolai and Aleksandr, as well as for Stuart-Michael whose fortieth day has just passed, and for the Reader Paul and Joanna who reposed at the turning of the year. May their memories be eternal.

We also ask your prayers for Mirela, whose baby is very obviously imminently due. Having partaken of the Holy Mysteries at yesterday’s Liturgy, may the grace of the Lord’s Most Pure and Holy Body and Blood fortify her in the days ahead!

May God bless you all!

In Christ – Hieromonk MarK

St Ephrem the Syrian’s Fourteenth Hymn on the Epiphany of our Lord

My thought bore me to Jordan,
and I saw a marvel when there was revealed
the glorious Bridegroom who to the Bride
shall bring freedom and holiness.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

I saw John filled with wonder
and the multitudes standing about him
and the glorious Bridegroom bowed down
to the Son of the barren that he might baptise Him.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

At the Word and the Voice my thought marvelled:
for lo! John was the Voice;
our Lord was manifested as the Word,
that what was hidden should become revealed.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The Bride was espoused but knew not
who was the Bridegroom on whom she gazed:
the guests were assembled, the desert was filled
and our Lord was hidden among them.                                                              

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

Then the Bridegroom revealed Himself
and to John at the voice He drew near:
and the Forerunner was moved and said of Him
This is the Bridegroom Whom I proclaimed.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

He came to baptism Who baptises all
and He showed Himself at Jordan.
John saw Him and drew back
deprecating, and thus he spoke:

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

How, my Lord, dost Thou will to be baptised
Thou Who in Thy baptism atonest all?
Baptism looks unto Thee
do Thou shed on it holiness and perfection?

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

Our Lord said I will it so
draw near, baptise Me that My Will may be done.
Resist My Will thou cannot:
I shall be baptised of thee, for thus I will it.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

I entreat, my Lord, that I be not compelled
for this is hard that Thou hast said to me
‘I need thee to baptise Me;’
for it is Thou that with Thy hyssop purifiest all.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

I have asked it, and it pleases Me that thus it should be
and thou, John, why dost thou gainsay?
Allow righteousness to be fulfilled
and come, baptise Me; why art thou standing there?

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

How can one openly grasp
in his hands the fire that burns?
O Thou that art fire have mercy on me
and bid me not come near Thee, for it is hard for me!

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

I have revealed to thee My Will;  what dost thou question?
Draw near, baptise Me, and thou shalt not be burned.
The bridechamber is ready; keep Me not back
from the wedding-feast that has been made ready.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The Watchers fear and dare not
gaze on Thee lest they be blinded
and I, how, O my Lord, shall I baptise Thee?
I am too weak to draw near; blame me not!

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

Thou fearest; therefore gainsay not
against My Will in what I desire:
and Baptism hath respect unto Me.
Accomplish the work to which thou hast been called!

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

Lo! I proclaimed Thee at Jordan
in the ears of the people that believed not
and if they shall see Thee baptised of me
they will doubt that Thou art the Lord.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

Lo! I am to be baptised in their sight
and the Father Who sent Me bears witness of Me
that I am His Son and in Me He is well pleased
to reconcile Adam who was under His wrath.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

It becomest, me, O my Lord, to know my nature
that I am moulded out of the ground
and Thee the moulder Who formest all things:
I, then, why should I baptise Thee in water?

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

It becomes thee to know why I have come
and for what cause I have desired that thou shouldst baptise Me.
It is the middle of the way wherein I have walked
withhold not Baptism.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

Small is the river whereto Thou hast come
that Thou shouldst lodge therein and it should cleanse Thee.
The heavens suffice not for Thy mightiness;
how much less shall Baptism contain Thee!

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The womb is smaller than Jordan;
yet was I willing to lodge in the Virgin:
and as I was born from woman
so too am I to be baptised in Jordan.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

Lo! The hosts are standing!
the ranks of Watchers, lo! They worship!
And if I draw near, my Lord, to baptise Thee
I tremble for myself with quaking.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The hosts and multitudes call thee happy
all of them, for that thou baptisest Me.
For this I have chosen thee from the womb:
fear not, for I have willed it.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

I have prepared the way as I was sent:
I have betrothed the Bride as I was commanded.
May Thine Epiphany be spread over the world
now that Thou hast come, and let me not baptise Thee!

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

This is My preparation, for so have I willed;
I will go down and be baptised in Jordan,
and make bright the armour for them that are baptised
that they may be white in Me and I not be conquered.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

Son of the Father, why should I baptise Thee?
for lo! Thou art in Thy Father and Thy Father in Thee.
Holiness unto the priests Thou givest –
why dost Thou ask for water that is common?

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The children of Adam look unto Me
that I should work for them the new birth.
A way in the waters I will search out for them
and if I be not baptised this cannot be.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

High-priests of Thee are consecrated
priests by Thy hyssop are purified –
the anointed and the kings Thou makest.
Baptism, how shall it profit Thee?

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The Bride thou didst betroth to Me awaits Me
that I should go down, be baptised, and sanctify her.
Friend of the Bridegroom withhold Me not
from the washing that awaits Me.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

I am not able, for I am weak
Thou blazest in my hands to grasp.
Lo! Thy legions are as flame
bid one of the Watchers baptise Thee!

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

Not from the Watchers was My Body assumed,
that I should summon a Watcher to baptise Me.
The body of Adam, lo! I have put on
and thou, son of Adam, art to baptise Me.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The waters saw Thee, and greatly feared;
the waters saw Thee, and lo! They tremble!
The river foams in its terror
and I that am weak, how shall I baptise Thee?

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The waters in My Baptism are sanctified,
and fire and the Spirit from Me shall they receive
and if I be not baptised they are not made perfect
to be fruitful of children that shall not die.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

Fire, if to Thy fire it draw near
shall be burnt up of it as stubble.
The mountains of Sinai endured Thee not
and I that am weak, wherein shall I baptise Thee?

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

I am the flaming fire
yet for man’s sake I became a babe
in the virgin womb of the maiden.
And now I am to be baptised in Jordan.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

It is very meet that Thou shouldst baptise me
for Thou hast holiness to purify all.
In Thee it is that the defiled are made holy;
but Thou that art holy, why art Thou to be baptised?

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

It is very right that thou shouldst baptise Me
as I bid, and should not gainsay.
Lo! I baptised thee within the womb –
baptise me in Jordan!

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

I am a bondman and I am weak.
Thou that freest all have mercy on me!
Thy latchets to unloose I am not able
Thine exalted head who will make me worthy to touch?

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

Bondmen in My Baptism are set free
handwritings in My washing are blotted out
manumissions in the water are sealed;
and if I be not baptised all these come to nought.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

A mantle of fire the air wears
and waits for Thee, above Jordan;
and if Thou consent to it and will to be baptised
Thou shall baptise Thyself and fulfil all.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

This is meet, that thou should baptise Me
that none may err and say concerning Me –
‘Had He not been alien from the Father’s house –
why feared the Levite to baptise Him?’

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The prayer, then, when Thou art baptised-
how shall I complete over Jordan?
When the Father and the Spirit are seen over Thee –
Whom shall I call on, as priest?

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The prayer in silence is to be completed:
come, thy hand alone lay on Me,
and the Father shall utter in the priest’s stead –
that which is meet concerning His Son.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

They that are bidden, lo! All of them stand –
the Bridegroom’s guests, lo! They bear witness
that day by day I said among them,
‘I am the Voice and not the Word.’

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

Voice of him that criest in the wilderness
fulfil the work for which thou didst come –
that the desert whereunto thou didst go out may resound
with the mighty peace thou didst preach therein.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The shout of the Watchers has come to my ears –
lo! I hear from the Father’s house –
the hosts that sound forth the cry,
‘In Thine Epiphany, O Bridegroom, the worlds have life.’

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The time hastes on, and the marriage guests
look to Me to see what is doing.
Come, baptise Me, that they may give praise
to the Voice of the Father when it is heard!

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

I hearken, my Lord, according to Thy Word:
come to Baptism as Thy love constrainest Thee!
The dust worships that whereunto he has attained
that on Him Who fashioned him he should lay his hand.

Response:  Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The heavenly ranks were silent as they stood
and the Bridegroom went down into Jordan;
the Holy One was baptised and straightway went up
and His Light shone forth on the world.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

The doors of the highest were opened above
and the voice of the Father was heard –
This is my Beloved in Whom I am well pleased.
All ye peoples, come and worship Him.

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

They that saw were amazed as they stood,
at the Spirit Who came down and bore witness to Him.
Praise to Thine Epiphany that gladdens all –
Thou in Whose revelation the worlds are lightened!

Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Heaven and earth worship Thee with joy!

St Ephrem the Syrian’s Ninth Hymn on the Epiphany of the Lord


O John, who saw the Spirit that abode on the head of the Son to show how the Head of the Highest went down and was baptised and came up to be Head on earth! Children of the Spirit have ye thus become, and Christ hath become for you the Head: ye also have become His members.

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

Consider and see how exalted ye are; how instead of the river Jordan ye haveglorious Baptism, wherein is peace, spreading her wings to shade your bodies. In the wilderness John baptised: in Her pure flood of Baptism, purely are ye baptised therein.

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

Infants think when they see itsglory that by its pomp its might is enhanced. But it is the same, and within itself is not divided. But the might which never waxes less or greater in us is little or again great, and he in whom is great understanding, great in him is Baptism.

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

A man’s knowledge, if it be exalted exalted also is his degree above his brethren; and he whosefaith is great, so also is his promise and as is his wisdom, so also his crowning. As is the light, which though it be all goodly and equal all of it with itself, yet goodlier is one eye than another.

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

Jesus mingled His might in the water: put Him on my brethren as discerning men! For there are those that in the water merely perceive that they are washed. With our body be oursoul washed! Let the body perceive the manifest water and the soul the secret might, that ye may be made like unto both the manifest and to the secret!

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

How beautiful is Baptism in the eye of the heart; come, let us gaze on it! Like as by a seal ye have been moulded; receive its image that nought may be lacking to us of our image! For the sheep that are white of heart gaze on the glory that is in the water: in your souls reflect it!

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

Water is by nature as a mirror for one who in it examines himself. Stir up yoursoul, ye that discern and be like it! For it, in its midst, reflects your image from it, on it, find an example; in it, gaze upon Baptism and put on the beauty that is hidden therein!

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

What profits it him that hears a voice andknowsnot its significance? Whoever hears a voice and is devoid of the understanding, thereof his ear is filled but his soul is empty. Lo! since the gift is abundant, with discernment receive it.

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

Baptism that is with understanding is the conjunction of two lights and rich are the fountains of its rays. And the darkness that is on the mind departs and the soul beholds Him in beauty, the hidden Christ of glory, and grieves when the glory fails.

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

Baptism without understanding is a treasure full yet empty, since he that receives it is poor in it, for he understands not how great are its riches into which he enters and dwells. For great is the gift within it, though the mean man perceives not that he is exalted even as it.

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

Open wide your minds and see, my brethren the secret column in the air, whose base is fixed from the midst of the water unto the door of the Highest Place, like the ladder that Jacob saw. Lo! By it came down the light unto Baptism, and by it the soul goes up to Heaven that in one love we may be mingled.

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

Our Lord, when he wasbaptisedby John, sent forth twelve fountains and they issued forth and cleansed by their streams the defilement of the peoples. His worshippers are made white like His garments, the garments in Tabor and the body in the water. Instead of the garments the peoples are made white and have become for Him a clothing of glory.

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

From your garments learn, my brethren how your members should be kept. For if the garment, which ever so many times may be made clean is duly kept for the sake of its comeliness, the body which has but one baptism, manifold more exceeding is the care of its keeping, for manifold are its dangers.

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

Again the sun in a house that is narrow is narrowed therein, though he be great: but in a house that is goodly and large when he rises thereon far and wide, in it he spreads his rays and though the sun is one and the same in his nature, in various houses he undergoes changes: Even so our Lord in various men.

Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins of the children of Adam!

The Entrance Prayers and Vesting Prayers of the Divine Liturgy

The celebration of the Divine Liturgy, with the other Holy Mysteries, is the greatest thing that any human being is called upon to do – far greater than reigning as monarchs, governing as politicians, creating as artists, composing as compsers, discovering as scientists or explorers… than walking on the moon or travelling into the depths of outer space.

The fruits, relevance or temporal value of the labours of all of these people is finite, and will perish and pass away in due season.

In the Eucharistic Offering, we encounter Christ the immortal, eternal, changeless and infinite, despite the paradox and  seeming contradiction implicit in the very sacrament itself – in Christ becoming real and present beneath the veils of bread and wine, in space and in time – an earthly place which becomes heavenly, as time merges with eternity in a foretaste of the age to come.

The Divine Liturgy is humanity’s greatest offering and – in as much as the priesthood is a necessary part in this offering – it is humanity’s greatest achievement.

Thus, in accomplishing this Great Mystery, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the love and generosity of the Father, and the selfless self-giving and self-offering of the Son (our High-Priest and Sacrifice), nothing is casual, accidental or ‘optional’ (despite the Liturgical slovenliness and laziness to encountered in some places).

We give our best, we do our best, we try our best – in awe of the almost unfathomable Mystery of Love that comes to pass.

No other human activity or offering approaches the awesome reality of the Holy Mysteries: the apex of the sacramental life of the Church, in Christ’s self-giving of His Body and Blood.

Given this profound truth and reality, before the Divine Liturgy, the bishop or priest does not simply enter the sanctuary and get on with vesting and preparing the gifts.

Rather, mindful that through the power of the Holy Spirit the Saviour will Himself descend to be present, the celebrant spiritually prepares to enter the altar – where the Lord will be truly present – by praying before his entrance.

Though the assembled clergy at the Hierarchical Liturgy makes it much more obvious that the clergy before the ikonostas are praying, I continue to be astounded when parishioners come up to me and try to ask a question, or wish me good morning even from a distance. Is it not obvious that prayers are being offered?

Please be aware that the priest is still preparing for the awesome celebration of the Divine Mysteries.

Be silent, be prayerful yourself, and cause no disturbance – including staying away from the area before ikonostas unless you are there on an obedience.

Equally, please understand that there are prayers throughout the vesting, indeed at the putting on of EVERY article of the vestments, so this is not a time for the priest to be disturbed with requests or for talking in the altar, and he cannot simply put on vestments quickly before hearing your confession.

And, PLEASE, read on to understand what happens before we even begin the prokomidia. It’s a relatively short read, but a valuable one.

May God bless you.

Hieromonk Mark

The priest that desireth to celebrate the Divine Mysteries must first be at peace with all, have nothing against anyone, and insofar as is within his power, keep his heart from evil thoughts, be continent from the evening before, and be vigilant until the time of divine service. When the time is come, he goeth into the temple, in company with the deacon, and together thy make three reverences towards the east before the holy doors.

The deacon saith: Bless, Master.

Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Deacon: Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O Heavenly King and the Trisagion Prayers.

Then they say: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for, at a loss for any defense, this prayer do we sinners offer unto Thee as Master, have mercy on us.

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

Lord, have mercy on us; for we have hoped in Thee, be not angry with us greatly, neither remember out iniquities; but look upon us now as Thou art compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies; for Thou art our God, and we Thy people; all are the works of Thy hands, and we call upon Thy name.

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

The door of compassion open unto us, O blessed Theotokos, for hoping in thee, let us not perish; through thee may we be delivered from adversities; for thou art the salvation of the Christian race.

Then they approach the icon of Christ and kiss it, saying: We venerate Thine immaculate Icon, O Good One, asking the forgiveness of our failings, O Christ God; for of Thine Own will Thou wast well-pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that Thou mightest deliver from slavery to the enemy those whom Thou hadst fashioned. Wherefore, we cry to Thee thankfully: Thou didst fill all things with joy, O our Savior, when Thou camest to save the world.

Then they kiss the icon of the Theotokos, saying the Troparion: As thou art a well-spring of compassion, vouchsafe mercy unto us, O Theotokos. Look upon a sinful people; show forth, as always, thy power. For hoping in thee we cry “Rejoice!” to thee, as once did Gabriel, the SupremeCommander of the Bodiless Hosts.

Then, with bowed head, the priest saith: O Lord, stretch forth Thy hand from Thy holy place on high, and strengthen me for this, Thine appointed service; that standing uncondemned before Thy dread altar, I may celebrate the bloodless ministry. For Thine is the power and the glory unto the ages of ages. Amen.

[According to custom the priest says this prayer: Remit, pardon, forgive, O God, our offenses, both voluntary and involuntary, in deed and word, in knowledge and ignorance, by day and by night, in mind and thought; forgive us all things, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.]

Then they make a bow to each choir, and go into the prothesis, saying: I shall go into Thy house; I shall worship toward Thy holy temple in fear of Thee. O Lord, guide me in the way of Thy righteousness; because of mine enemies, make straight my way before Thee. For in their mouth there is no truth; their heart is vain. Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues have they spoken deceitfully; judge them, O God. Let them fall down on account of their own devisings; according to the multitude of their ungodliness, cast them out, for they have embittered Thee, O Lord. And let all them be glad that hope in Thee; they shall ever rejoice, and Thou shalt dwell among them. And all shall glory in Thee that love Thy name, for Thou shalt bless the righteous, O Lord, as with a shield of Thy good pleasure hast Thou crowned us.

Having come into the sanctuary, they make three bows before the Holy Table and kiss the Holy Gospel and the Holy Table. Then each one taketh his sticharion in his hands, and they make three reverences toward the east, while saying to themselves with each:

O God, cleanse me a sinner and have mercy on me.

Then the deacon cometh to the priest, holding in his right hand the sticharion with the orarion, and bowing his head before the priest, saith:

Bless, Master, the sticharion with the orarion.

The priest saith: Blessed is our God always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Then the deacon goeth to one side of the sanctuary, putteth on the sticharion, praying thus: My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He hath clothed me in the garment of salvation, and with the vesture of gladness hath He covered me; He hath placed a crown upon me as on a bridegroom, and He hath adorned me as a bride with comeliness.

And then kissing the orarion, he placeth it on the left shoulder. Then putting the epimanikia on the hands, with the right cuff he saith: Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; Thy right hand, O Lord, hath shattered enemies, and in the multitude of Thy glory hast Thou ground down the adversaries.

And with the left, he saith: Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding and I will learn Thy commandments.

Then, going to the prothesis, he prepareth the holy things. The holy diskos he placeth on the left side; the chalice, that is the holy cup, on the right; and the rest [the spoon and spear, etc.] with them.

Then the priest vesteth himself thus: taking the sticharion in the left hand, and bowing thrice toward the east, as mentioned before, he signeth it with the sign of the Cross, saying:

​Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Then he vesteth himself, saying: My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He hath clothed me in the garment of salvation, and with the vesture of gladness hath He covered me; He hath placed a crown upon me as on a bridegroom, and He hath adorned me as a bride with comeliness.

Then taking the epitrachelion and signing it, he putteth it on, saying: Blessed is God Who poureth out His grace upon His priests, like unto the oil of myrrh upon the head, which runneth down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, which runneth down to the fringe of his raiment.

Then taking the zone (belt) and girding himself, he saith: Blessed is God, Who girded me with power, and hath made my path blameless, Who maketh my feet like the feet of a hart, and setteth me upon high places.​

Then putting the epimanikia on the hands, with the right cuff he saith: ​Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; Thy right hand, O Lord, hath shattered enemies, and in the multitude of Thy glory hast Thou ground down the adversaries.

And with the left, he saith: ​Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding and I will learn Thy commandments.

Then taking the nabrdnenik and then the palitsa (if awarded it), if he have it, and having blessed and kissed it, he saith: Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Mighty One, in Thy comeliness and Thy beauty, and bend Thy bow, and proceed prosperously, and be king, because of truth and meekness and righteousness, and Thy right hand shall guide Thee wondrously, always now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.Amen.

Then taking the Phelonion, and having blessed and kissed it, he saith thus: Thy Priests, O Lord, shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy saints with rejoicing shall rejoice, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Then, having gone to the prothesis, they wash their hands, saying: I will wash my hands in innocency and I will compass Thine altar, O Lord, that I may hear the voice of Thy praise and tell of all Thy wondrous works. O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. Destroy not my soul with the ungodly, nor my life with men of blood, in whose hands are iniquities; their right hand is full of bribes.But as for me, in mine innocence have I walked; redeem me, O Lord, and have mercy on me. My foot hath stood in uprightness; in the congregations will I bless Thee, O Lord.