Thank you to all who supported Sunday’s celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, with our joyful Liturgy and moleben. It was a wonderful celebration of the Faith.
I am happy that Sister Anna has agreed to the use of the chapel for a Lenten service at 18:00 each Thursday, following confessions. We will gather again this week, and for evening prayers with the canon/akathist of repentance. May I ask those wishing to make their confession to email me by noon on Wednesday, indicating whether staying for the service as well.
Deacon Mark and I will be celebrating the Divine Liturgy in Cheltenham on Saturday, with our service at Prestbury United Reformed Church commencing with the Hours at 10:00, followed by the Liturgy at 10:30 and a panikhida for the Memorial Saturday.
Deacon Mark and I will return home via Nazareth House to set up for Sunday, and confessions may also be heard at 18:00, for those unable to confess on Thursday.
Without wishing to sound like a school-master, may I reinforce what was said after Liturgy?
There should be NO casual conversation or unnecessary talking during services, and it is not appropriate to go and verbally greet or chat with friends at this time. We can smile, nod and mouth a hello and enjoy the ample chance to catch up after the service.
As soon as the blessing has been pronounced for the Hours, this is liturgical time and the prayer of the Church, not free time for conversations or even private prayers and devotions.
The same goes for the thanksgiving prayers after Liturgy. Despite what was said at the end of Sunday’s service, there were still those who chatted audibly during those prayers.
There should most definitely be no talking during Holy Communion, let alone sitting down to chat. Unless age or health deems it necessary, we do not sit in the Lord’s Presence in the Holy Gifts!
We need to be careful that we do not adopt a casual attitude to being in church, but need to be mindful that even though Nazareth House is not an Orthodox temple, it nevertheless becomes the sacred-place in which the Lord comes to give Himself to us in the Holy Mysteries, where the Church offers the greatest sacrifice of prayer and praise to the Lord in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.
We wish our services to be prayerful, and without unnecessary noise, movement or distraction, so let us all work together to ensure this.
Looking forward to next Sunday, we will be celebrating the Sunday of St Gregory Palamas, and the variables may be found at –
We were blessed with a triumphant celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy in Cardiff, yesterday, and affirmed the fullness and glory of the Orthodox Christian Faith and our obedience to the Sacred Tradition of the Church: an inheritance not of our making, but the deposit of Faith handed down to us by our pious and God-fearing forebears, for us to hand on to the next generation represented by the children and young people of our parish. We know this not to be the case in some places, and this is first hand knowledge given the parishioners who have taken refuge in our parish because of the renovationism, modernism and liberalism they have encountered elsewhere.
Some of those who have joined the parish, despite living far away, have made this clear in conversation over the last few days. However, this is not an occasion to gloat and feel pleased with ourselves, as though we are somehow superior. Our tenacious defence of Othodox dogma and tradition is what the Church demands of us, simply as Orthodox Christians – and from all Orthodox Christians.
Every Orthodox parish – as indeed every diocese and patriarchate – should be an ark of refuge and salvation, as the local manifestation of Christ’s Church, preserving and defending her Faith and sacred Tradition.
It is precisely on account of the swelling tide of schism, heresy and persecution confronting the Church in our present sorrowful times that our Ruling Hierarch wished the faithful to be strengthened and confirmed in the fullness of the Church’s teaching by the solemnity our moleben on the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy – a radiant feast even in these early days of the Great Fast. So, a solemn and comprehensive order of service was blessed for parish use, lacking only the anathemas pronounced by our bishops and some other episcopal parts.
With the addition of the icons the faithful had brought to hold during the service, candles burning before the icons on the high windowsills and additional icons on the shrines that form our temporary ikonostas, their importance in our celebration as a sign of Orthodoxy was clear, and it was a joy to look out from the sanctuary and see parishioners bearing the sacred images of the saints as we started our moleben.
In the Great Litany, our deacons asked the Lord to “look upon His holy Church with a merciful eye, and preserve her safe and unconquered by heresies and superstitions, and keep her in His peace”; to “calm dissensions within her, and by the power of the Holy Spirit convert to a knowledge of the truth all who have apostatised and join them to His chosen flock”; and to “enlighten the minds of those darkened by unbelief with the light of His divine wisdom, and strengthen His faithful and preserve them steadfast in Orthodoxy.”
After the symbol of Faith – the Creed – our deacons solemnly intoned:
“This is the Apostolic Faith!
This is the Faith of the Fathers!
This is the Orthodox Faith!
This Faith confirmeth the universe.”
Commemorating the Holy Equals of the Apostles the Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena, the pious sovereigns of Byzantium, Kieven Rus’ and Russia who defended and upheld the Faith, and the great saints and wonder-workers who struggled in holiness, we chanted Vechnaya pamiat’ / Eternal memory again and again, recognising the debt that we owe to them for the preservation and defence of the Orthodox Faith; for teaching and upholding Orthodox, Catholic and Apostolic dogmas; for their steadfastness suffering and endurance in defending the Faith against heresy and schism.
Among the great names, we heard mention of Athanasius the Great; the great ecumenical teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria; Leo the Great and Flavian the Confessor; the Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils; Maximus the Confessor; Methodius, Patriarch of Constantinople; Theodore the Studite; and the Holy Hierarch Mark, Metropolitan of Ephesus.
After the names of the Holy Equals of the Apostles, the Great Prince Vladimir and Great Princess Olga, we responded to the commemorations of the Great Princes Yaroslav the Wise, Vladimir Monomakh, Alexander Nevsky and Dimitry Donskoy; the first Romanov Tsar, Michael Feodorovich; the martyred Tsar Alexander II; Tsar Alexander III; the Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II and the martyred Imperial Family; also the martyred King Alexander of Serbia. For them all, we prayed “Memory eternal!”
Then, having commemorated the departed Patriarchs of the ancient Orthodox Patriarchates, we remembered Patriarchs of Rus’ and Serbia, New-Martyrs and Confessors and finally the First-Hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the past hierarchs of our diocese of Western Europe and those who ruled the British Diocese when it was a separate eparchy: Archbishop Nikodem, Bishop Nikolai and Bishop Konstantin, of blessed memory.
Completing the commemoration of the departed, our hierodeacon prayed,
“To those who suffered and were slain in various ways for the Orthodox Faith and Fatherland: princes, nobles, and Christian forces, and all Orthodox Christians who have piously reposed in true Faith and in the hope of resurrection unto everlasting life: Memory eternal!”
Our deacons then led our prayers for the living – for the Patriarch and Hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church, for all patriarchs “who stand fast in God’s righteousness, rightly defining the word of truth”, for right-believing hierarchs, for the members of the Imperial House and Orthodox Royal houses, for the Orthodox faithful of the lands of Rus’ and of our God preserved diocese. After each petition the choir and faithful joyfully and enthusiastically chanted “Mnogaya leta!”
Ending with the Te Deum, the moleben was a very special combination of prayer for those who departed into error, and a celebration of the Orthodox Faith and those who have defended it and preserved it.
It was a joyful and festal Triumph of Orthodoxy, strengthening us and encouraging us at the end of the first week of the Fast.
What a contrast to the previous Sunday, when we chanted the stikhira of repentance, prostrating in the Rite of Forgiveness.
Our profound thanks go to all who contributed to our wonderful celebration, especially our choir, who laboured hard, and to our hierodeacon and deacon who were so central to the liturgical rites of the day.
To all Orthodox archpastors and sovereigns, our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, who have departed this life, defending and preserving the Faith: memory eternal!
To our archpastors and pastors, those who struggle in the monastic-life and all of the pious faithful, steadfast in the Faith: many years!
I pray that the festive joy of the Triumph of Orthodoxy may strengthen us and encourage us in our parish life, and as individuals during this season of the Fast.
What joy this first week of the Fast brings, especially when we are blessed with spring weather that outwardly reminds us that this is the springtime of the soul, and should be a season of growth and new green shoots, through fasting, prayer and repentance; through turning back to God; through heeding the words of the kontakion of the Great Canon and simply waking up, being watchful and mindful of the inescapable and abiding presence of Christ: at all times; in all places; in every circumstance; seeing all actions; hearing every word; knowing every thought.
“My soul, my soul arise; Why art thou sleeping? The end is drawing near and thou wilt be confounded. Awake then and be watchful, that thou mayest be spared by Christ God, Who is everywhere present and fillest all things.”
In these first four days of the Great Fast, we are blessed to hear the words of St Andrew of Crete’s Great Canon of Repentance, making this hymnographic dialogue between St Andrew and his soul our personal inner-conversation, as we contemplate sin and repentance, fall and restoration, exile and return.
Despite some of the Old Testament examples, the purpose of this great hymn-cycle is not to plunge us into gloom, but rather to show us the ‘way back’ the means of restoration to a life in God.
Together with the life of St Mary of Egypt (whose intercessions are invoked during the odes of the canon), the Great Canon is held up as a great penitential lesson and example of ‘putting things right’ in this season of repentance. It is a call to action – to turn around and return to the loving embrace of God, in humility and repentance, but nevertheless with hope and joy.
As such, it should kindle determination in us, so that the myriad Biblical examples within its odes and troparia encourage us to press forward, so that cleansed from stain and the tarnishing blackness of sin and disobedience, the image of God may be restored in us, who are each icons of Christ, into whom we have been baptised, Who created us in the divine-image and likeness, and Who seeks the return of the prodigal again and again in His inexhaustible mercy and love.
When we can recall this awesome fact, then we can appreciate why we celebrate the restoration of the holy icons with the Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy on the first Sunday of the fast.
As we celebrate this triumph, let us never lose sight of the fact that our personal triumph is the restoration of the icon of God in each of us, as we labour to put off the old man and put on Christ, though the spiritual labour of our life in Him.
Last Sunday, at the end of Forgiveness Vespers and the beginning of the Fast, we bowed before one another as we sought forgiveness and reassured with the words “God forgives”, and on this coming Sunday it will be the icons before which we shall bow during the Service of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, thanking God for the restoration of the holy icons as the sign of the Incarnation and manifestation of our Holy Orthodox Faith. However, we must each face the fact that this veneration will be meaningless unless we are actively seeking the restoration of the image of God in ourselves.
The iconoclasts defiled and desecrated the sacred images in shocking ways, just as the iconoclast Soviets did in the 20th century, and we react with horror and revulsion at what was done to the icons of Christ, of the Mother of God and the saints. Yet, do we react with equal horror and revulsion to the things by which WE defile and desecrate the image of God in each of us?
In the canon, we chant, “I have stained the garment of my flesh and have defiled that which was made in Thine image and likeness, O Saviour.” However, this observation is meaningless unless we are willing to do anything about it and seek the restoration of this image and likeness.
Let us heed the penitential lessons of the Great Canon, of the life of St Mary of Egypt, of the various Sunday feasts of the Great Fast with their hymns of compunction and repentance, and let us reflect the outward Restoration of the Holy Icons in the inner struggle for the image of God to be restored in us, to shine and become radiant, so that Christ may shine upon the world through us as His abiding presence in the world and icons of His goodness and love.
What an incredible weekend we had Cardiff, with our pilgrimage to Llandaff, in honour of St Teilo and our services for Forgiveness Sunday.
After a week in Walsingham, I was rather tired, but the combination of prayer and fellowship over the weekend certainly put a fresh spring in my step, before the dozens of prostrations during the rite of forgiveness put pay to any bounce and flexibility.
As I have already written, the warmth of our welcome in Llandaff Cathedral was wonderful, and the Dean’s love and devotion to St Teilo over-flowed in his encouragement for us to always feel at home in the cathedral and before the saint’s relics. Father Richard stayed with us for the moleben, and kindly explained some of the cathedral’s history to the faithful before we retired to lunch – greatly enjoying time together over a meal.
Our services for Forgiveness Sunday were very well attended, though not everyone was able to stay for vespers, after refreshments. We were very happy to have the new student-visitors return, and see their commitment to exploring Orthodoxy and being part of our worshipping community. I know that they had a good chat with our parish elders and with some of the other students and young people. This is where the warmth and serious stewardship in our community is so important.
The end of vespers, of course, brought the Rite of Forgiveness, and the number of worshippers became obvious when the growing line of the faithful stretched from the solea, all along one side of the convent church and round the corner to the confession boxes. As always, on this Sunday, it was a joy to quietly sing Paschal hymns, with the members of the kliros joining me as the mutual forgiveness and many prostrations were completed.
I will not be in Cardiff until Thursday, when I will hear confessions in the late afternoon, before the chanting of the Great Canon of Repentance in the convent church at 18:00. May I ask for confessions requests as soon as possible, and not later than midday on Wednesday.
There will be nightly services in the chapel of St David and St Nicholas, where the Great Canon will be chanted from Monday to Thursday), and compline with the akathist-hymn to the Mother of God on Friday. Address: 11 New Rd, Dafen, Llanelli, Carms SA14 8LS.
Looking forward to celebrating the Sunday of Orthodoxy and the Restoration of the Holy Icons, may I encourage parishioners to bring icons to church, so that they may be placed on the capacious window sills around the building. Following, the Liturgy of St Basil, we will offer a moleben for those who have fallen into error.
Obviously, food for refreshments after our services must be lenten/postny. No shellfish please!
Our next parish pilgrimage will be to Capel-y-ffin, where we will offer the Divine Liturgy in honour of St David, meeting at 10:30 and aiming to begin the Hours and Liturgy at 11:00. We will have a pew-picnic after Liturgy and Fr Richard Williams has invited us to visit St Mary’s in Hay-on-Wye (bookshops and tea!!!) afterwards. Anyone interested, should contact Tracy: t_sbrain@icloud.com
Our senior-sister, Menna, would like to remind you all, that there is a very active and vibrant parish WhatsApp group, where parishioners can share news and prayer requests, discuss Orthodox matters, view spiritual and pastoral articles, and generally share aspects of parish-life. Anyone wishing to join should contact her or Deacon Mark.
Equally, anyone wishing to be added to the mailing list should speak to one of the clergy or parish officers who will be glad to add you to the list so that parish circulars are received. I would like to encourage parishioners to read the news and announcements sent out, as it is obvious that some people are missing news and announcements that have been sitting in their inbox.
Wishing you a good start to the Great Fast, with the hope that as many parishioners as possible will pray the Great Canon each evening.
Our busy weekend continued with our celebration of the Divine Liturgy in Nazareth House, and we were very pleased that our kliros was well provided with singers, making for strong and confident singing. Together with the continued blessing of double-deacons, this made for a splendid Liturgy and I greatly appreciate having two deacons with whom to concelebrate and share the Holy Mysteries.
Though we were a little thin on the ground due to half-term, we were very happy to have four new students visiting and experiencing their first Orthodox service, and were able to chat after the service.
After refreshments to break to our fast, we held our AGM, with reports from the clergy and treasurer. Among the topics discussed were the provision of resources and information for visitors and those exploring Orthodoxy, the availability of printouts of the creed and Lord’s Prayer for visitors, developing pilgrimage and reflecting our local culture in parish life – including use of Welsh in the Liturgy. With our bishop having blessed a parish brotherhood, we also touched and the need to invigorate our parish sisterhood, noting that it is not simply our catering department.
As announced at the Liturgy, I will be serving in Walsingham this week, travelling with Norman and Georgina tomorrow. We look forward to the joy of being with our friends there, especially Mother Melangell, whom we have known for many years. Our Liturgy will be blessed by the presence of Father Mark Tattum-Smith from Mettingham, with whom I will concelebrate as a priest for the first time, and with whom we will be discussing local devotions and promoting ROCOR pilgrimage to Walsingham – with our diocesan connections going back to the very first days of the shrine church. We look forward to the development of local Orthodox Walsingham cells.
Whilst I will obviously be contactable in emergencies, may I remind you that Norfolk is a very long way away, and any interactive pastoral needs need to be directed to Fr Deacon Mark. So that he is able to arrange any provision of support.
However, we will be VERY pleased for us to email us with requests for intercessions and intentions: otetzmark@hotmail.com
We will return on Friday, in time for our pilgrimage to Llandaff cathedral on Saturday, where we will celebrate our moleben to St Teilo at 10:00. After our service and time around the cathedral, we will enjoy the hospitality of the Maltster’s Arms for drinks and lunch at midday.
Just to remind you that we are in the eve of Cheese-Fare week and that meat should be consumed by tonight, though fish will be permitted throughout next week. As Orthodox maximalists, we refute the idea of pancake day… but rather enjoy a whole week. So… enjoy!
The first opportunity to hear confessions will be in Nazareth House on Saturday, after our ‘pilgrim lunch’, and I would like those wishing to confess to email me by 16:00 on Thursday to allow me to email as we will be travelling for much of Friday.
Sunday will be Forgiveness Sunday, and we will celebrate the Vespers of Forgiveness after Liturgy, marking the liturgical beginning of the Great Fast.
Please make the most of the week and get ready for the Fast – in terms of food, prayer and reading.
Looking forward to the Fast, it is our hope that by finding twenty readers to commit to reading a kathisma of the Psalter each day, it may be read every day until the eve of Lazarus Saturday. We really need commitment to this rather than people wanting to join in for a week or two, so if you would like to participate in this spiritual offering, as an act of intercession for our parish, please email psaltergroup@fastmail.com for further information.
It was a joy for us to celebrate the feast of the Meeting of the Lord in Llanelli today, and though there was only a handful of us, the Liturgy was full of joyful chanting and fervent prayers, bringing together parishioners from Llanelli, Swansea, Cardiff and Gwlad yr Haf beyond the Bridge (Somerset for the uninitiated).
Our thanks go to Father Luke for celebrating, to Rhydian-Nicholas for serving and to Ruth-Silouana for sharing the kliros with me. It was lovely to sing together, with the support of the faithful – particularly in the spirited Athonite Kyrie eleisons of the Fervent Litany!
Following the service, we enjoyed a shared lunch and were introduced to vegan Pastizio, which went down very well. Despina may well be getting orders and requests during Great Lent!
As we look to more long-term planning, I envisage weekday Liturgies will ordinarily be celebrated in the chapel in Llanelli, unless we have guaranteed singers for the kliros in Cardiff.
Health problems have made it impossible for me to plan weekday Cardiff Liturgies more than a week or two in advance, as things have been unpredictable – but, Llanelli Liturgies can always be managed given the short distance door to door – and having just paced it, I can tell you that the journey is fifty-five steps!
The Chapel of St David and St Nicholas has greatly evolved over the last quarter of a century, starting as a very small oratory/chasovnia in a summer-house, used for reader-services, consequently growing upwards, sideways and lengthways over the decades, through the labours of Father Luke, his sons and son-in-law, members of his family, and the faithful from Llanelli and Swansea.
Recently, the chapel has been blessed with the addition of new icons painted by our Cardiff parishioner, Mikhail Bulashov, who sealed them with their final varnish last week.
Liturgy is celebrated there on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, vespers or compline (depending on the season) on Wednesdays each week as well as weekday services for feasts and during fasts.
In its garden setting, the chapel is an oasis of peace and quiet, and in the spring and summer is surrounded by scented flowers, bees and birdsong, with the feline doyen of the house following the faithful and pleading for attention.
Many of our Cardiff faithful love the chapel and make occasional journeys for services, and I hope that the establishment of weekday festal Liturgies will beckon more parishioners to drive westwards for our festal celebrations.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Dear brothers and sisters, as we stand before the icon of the Meeting of the Lord in our celebration of this feast, we do not see the memorialisation of the Temple rituals of the Saviour’s Presentation and the Virgin’s Purification, with the priestly-offering of the doves that St Joseph bought, but rather the long-awaited encounter of St Symeon the God-Receiver with the infant Lord.
This is our abiding vision of the feast, not priests or figures of the Jewish religious establishment, but rather the elder and the aged prophetess Anna – two figures that had kept vigil in the temple, anticipating the long-awaited Saviour – their gaze, as also that of the Mother of God and St Joseph the Betrothed, centred on the Infant Saviour.
In the first stikhera of vespers, at ‘Lord, I have cried…’ we address the Righteous Elder as we chant:
“Receive, O Symeon, Him Whom Moses beheld in the gloom on Sinai giving the law, and Who hath become a babe, submitting to the law. He is the One Who speaketh through the law; He is the One spoken of by the prophets, Who for our sake hath become incarnate and saveth man. Let us worship Him!”
By the grace and enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, Symeon recognised the Messiah, whom he held in his aged arms, declaring Him whom Moses beheld in the gloom of Sinai to be “the Light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of His people, Israel.”
Gloom, darkness, and shadowy symbols and figures had passed: the Light of the world had come!
How and when St Symeon first realised that the ‘erchomenos’ (the expected One) was drawing near we shall never know, but the joy that filled that righteous old man and drove him forward to take hold of the Child and absorb the meaning of Him in that moment must have been beyond human expression.
The first ode of the canon poetically prompts and pushes him forward, as though we were there as witnesses, encouraging him and hurrying him on his elderly legs.
“Be strong, ye hands of Symeon feeble with age; and ye weary legs of the elder, move quickly and straight to meet Christ…”
…and in the fourth ode, we poetically encourage him not to be shy, but to press forward and take hold of his Light and Saviour:
“O Symeon, rejoicing take up Christ, the little Child, on Whom thou hast set thy hope, the Consolation of the Israel of God, the Creator and Master of the law, Who fulfilleth the order of the law; and cry aloud unto Him: All things are filled with Thy praise!”
As his eyes beheld the Messiah; as his elderly arms held him; as he touched and caressed the Child, can we even begin to understand what he felt in his heart; what joy and relief filled his soul; what awe and wonder possessed his mind; how his ancient frame trembled with what was finally happening?
Symeon’s immense joy and all-possessing sense of fulfilment, contentment and peace remain beyond our understanding, and may be easily overlooked as we chant his memorialised words at vespers, each day:
“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to enlighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel.”
What spiritual light filled the soul of the Elder, and what mysteries did he perceive in the depths of his heart as he withdrew from the precincts of the Temple and from the world with the greatest sense of peace and contentment?
Perhaps he even felt relief that his elderly and frail body could find rest in the peace for which he prayed: the peace from above, for which we ask in the Great Litany.
We pray for that peace and for the salvation of our souls, and though Symeon received that peace, he would not live to see the unfolding of the Saviour’s works of salvation. Nevertheless, he was still able to say, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation…” and in Christ’s victory of the Cross and the Harrowing of Hell, Symeon would once more see the “Light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of His people, Israel” in the Lord as the Conqueror of death and hell and as his salvation.
And what of us?
The annual feast calls us to greet the Lord and to recognise Him, to see Him, as though through Symeon’s eyes, as our Light and salvation – for, as St Sophronios of Jerusalem wrote,
“Through Symeon’s eyes we too have seen the salvation of God which he prepared for all the nations and revealed as the glory of the new Israel, which is ourselves.”
All of the feasts call us to spiritual renewal and participation in the Christian Mystery, and as we celebrate the Meeting of the Lord, the same vesperal verses that usher Symeon forward to receive the Saviour also call us to go press forward:
“Let us come and greet Christ with divine hymns, and let us receive Him Whom Symeon perceived as our salvation.”
“Let us receive Him” not come as bystanders or onlookers, but rather as spiritual participators in the meaning of the feast: the Saviour’s manifest presence in the world as our God and Lord who has revealed Himself to us – not passively observing His presence, but receiving Him and become the very means of this indwelling presence in the world: not in our arms, as those of Symeon, but within our hearts.
As St Theophan the Recluse reminds us, “… all are called to have and carry the Lord in themselves, and to disappear in Him with all the powers of their spirit.”
Each of us must have and carry Him as God-Receivers, as was the Righteous Symeon and as Christ-Bearers like St Ignatius of Antioch, whose feast was celebrated only a few days ago.
We receive and bear Christ through living the Gospel in active lives of prayer, ascetism, fasting and participation in the Holy Mysteries, as members of His Body – the Church – in which we have been joined to Him in Holy Baptism, healed and renewed by Him through repentance and confession, nourished and consecrated by partaking of Him in the Eucharistic Mystery.
Through Christ-centred lives, each of us can say to the Lord, “mine eyes have seen Thy salvation…” and with confidence, we will be able to consciously say the words of St Sophronios:
“By faith we too embraced Christ, the salvation of God the Father, as He came to us from Bethlehem. Gentiles before, we have now become the people of God. Our eyes have seen God incarnate, and because we have seen Him present among us and have noetically received him into our arms, we are called the new Israel. Never shall we forget this presence…”
With the Sunday of the Prodigal Son signalling the approach of the Great Fast, our service heralded our entry into meatfare week and the last seven days of meat before the Sunday of Pascha.
We were blessed to sustain a congregation of around forty-five adults plus children, including Yuriy, whose fifth birthday was celebrated with the chanting of Many Years and the sharing of very nice Medovnik / Honey Cake, made by matushka Alla.
I was very happy that we were able to meet and welcome new Ukrainian faces today, and Father Hierodeacon Avraamy will be working on publicity and advertising among his fellow Ukrainians, some of whom are struggling to find us in Cardiff. He lives in Swansea and is also aware of Ukrainian faithful seeking a canonical Orthodox community not involved in supporting the schism in their suffering homeland.
As you will be aware, although still a cleric of the Dnipropetrovsk Diocese, Hierodeacon Avraamy is now temporarily a cleric of our parish, having been blessed to serve here by both Metropilitan Irenei of Dnipropetrovsk and our own Bishop Irenei.
With the resumption of his ministrations, it was a joy to celebrate the Liturgy with the solemnity of two deacons, and several people commented on how Hierodeacon Avraamy and Deacon Mark work so well together: censing the church in tandem, during the more solemn entrances and alternating the litanies. Far from being more complicated, the Liturgy flows better and without pause. May God bless our deacons and their service as ministers of the Divine Mysteries and sacred services!
It was a relief that the confession arrangements worked pretty smoothly, with a couple of remaining confessions and communion during he thanksgiving prayers. This greatly helped the flow of the Liturgy and management of time.
Having completed the sacramental ministrations of the day, a new icon of St Luke of Simferopol was blessed, having been commissioned by Deacon Mark from the iconographer in our midst, as well as icons purchased fro Oswald’s ‘lavka’.
Following the Liturgy, it was lovely to see parishioners socialising so warmly and catching up with one another, with Oswald having customers at his icon stall, and the sharing of post-Liturgy snacks. Thank you to all who generously provided food and drinks for the faithful – and thank you to all who made the clear up and packing away so much smoother today.
I was very happy that the young men of the parish were able to spend time together over a cup of coffee and some lunch in a nearby café in the afternoon, and was glad to be able to join them and have some social time and conversation about the details of our Liturgy. We are so incredibly blessed to have such a band of pious and spiritually focussed young men, including those baptised over the last fourteen or fifteen months. Having received a blessing from Bishop Irenei to establish a parish brotherhood, dedicated to St David, I look forward to seeing it’s development once we have passed the First Week of the Great Fast. This will unite the brethren of the parish across the generations and the miles, given the geographical dispersion of the parish.
Having continued house-blessings last week, I hope to do a few more in the week ahead, though I will need to be in Llanelli for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Meeting the Lord on Wednesday.
I wish to hear confessions on Thursday, and ask for requests by 12:00 on Wednesday, to allow arrangements to be confirmed.
Saturday will see the Divine Liturgy, a Litia for the Departed and a baptism in Cheltenham, before the return to Cardiff where we will set up the church and celebrate Small Compline at 17:00.
As well as celebrating the Liturgy on Sunday, we shall also have our Annual General Meeting, with feedback from the clergy and parish officers and discussion of the items on our agenda. Again, if you have any matters which you would like to add to the agenda, please email Deacon Mark – rmfisher@ntlworld.com
Finally, as we approach the Great Fast, I would like to encourage you all to have some spiritual reading ready, to be spiritual food and drink to nourish your souls and help sustain the journey to Pascha through the days of Lent. If you haven’t ordered/bought anything, now is the time to do so!
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.
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”.
Dear brothers and sisters,
It is precisely on account of the swelling tide of schism, heresy and persecution confronting the Church in our present sorrowful times that our Ruling Hierarch wished the faithful to be strengthened and confirmed in the fullness of the Church’s teaching by the solemnity our moleben on the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy – a radiant feast even in these early days of the Great Fast. So, a solemn and comprehensive order of service was blessed for parish use, lacking only the anathemas pronounced by our bishops and some other episcopal parts.
Dear brothers and sisters,
It was a joy for us to celebrate the feast of the Meeting of the Lord in Llanelli today, and though there was only a handful of us, the Liturgy was full of joyful chanting and fervent prayers, bringing together parishioners from Llanelli, Swansea, Cardiff and Gwlad yr Haf beyond the Bridge (Somerset for the uninitiated).
Dear brothers and sisters,
