The Canon to St John of Damascus: Defender of the Holy Icons

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Dear brothers and sisters, Sunday’s celebration of the Triumph of Orthodoxy reminded me that I had been remiss in sharing the canon to St John of Damascus with one of our parishioners, so I am posting the canon to this great Church Father below, hoping that parishioners might do a little on-line research into this holy father and his defence of sacred imagery in the life and worship of the Church.

Canon of the Venerable One, Tone II

Ode I, Irmos: In the deep of old the infinite Power overwhelmed Pharaoh’s whole army. * But the Incarnate Word annihilated pernicious sin. * Exceedingly glorious is the Lord, * for gloriously hath He been glorified.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

To me who desirest to begin thy praises, grant me now thy honeyed voice, O venerable one, wherewith thou didst with hymns illumine the Orthodox Church which honoureth thy memory, O father John.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

To me who desirest to begin thy praises, grant me now thy honeyed voice, O venerable one, wherewith thou didst with hymns illumine the Orthodox Church which honoureth thy memory, O father John.

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

Perceiving the nature of things most excellently, as a wise judge keen of intellect, thou didst prefer eternal things to those which do not last; for thou didst trade transitory things for those which are abiding, O John, where Christ hath now glorified thee.

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

Thou hast been shown to surpass all creation, visible and invisible, O pure Ever-virgin; for thou gavest birth to the Creator, in that it was His good pleasure to become incarnate in thy womb. Him do thou entreat with boldness, that He save those who hymn thee.

Ode III, Irmos:  The desert of the barren Church of the nations * blossomed like a lily * at Thy coming, O Lord, * therein hath my heart been established.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Thou didst distribute thy wealth, thereby giving it back to God; wherefore, the kingdom in the heavens hath been prepared for thee, and thou hast now received abundant rewards, O John.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Thou didst distribute thy wealth, thereby giving it back to God; wherefore, the kingdom in the heavens hath been prepared for thee, and thou hast now received abundant rewards, O John.

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

Receiving a talant of wisdom, O John, thou didst adorn the Church of Christ, adorning it with thy deeds; and, departing this life, thou hast increased it exceedingly.

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

The ranks of angels were astonished, O most pure one, and the hearts of mortals were filled with awe at thy birthgiving. Wherefore, we honour thee, the Theotokos, with faith.

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.

Sedalion of the venerable one, Tone III: Thou hast been shown to us to be a melodious and sanctified trumpet, O most sacred one, sounding forth in hymnody the teachings of the Lord and Saviour to the ends of the earth; and by thy words thou hast illumined the earth, O venerable John, entreat Christ God, that He grant us great mercy. (Twice)

Stavrotheotokion, Tone III (replaces the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): The unblemished ewe-lamb of the Word, * the incorrupt Virgin Mother, * beholding Him Who sprang forth from her without pain * suspended upon the Cross, cried out, maternally lamenting: * “Woe is me, O my Child! * How is it that Thou dost suffer willingly, * desiring to redeem mankind ** from the indignity of the passions?”

Ode IV, Irmos: From a Virgin didst Thou come forth, not as an ambassador, * nor as an Angel, * but the very Lord himself incarnate, * and didst save me, the whole man; * wherefore I cry unto Thee: * Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Thou didst distribute thy wealth, thereby giving it back to God; wherefore, the kingdom in the heavens hath been prepared for thee, and thou hast now received abundant rewards, O John.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Submitting to the command of Christ, thou didst forsake the beauty, wealth, sweetness and splendour of the world; and taking up thy cross for His sake, O wise John, thou didst follow after Him.

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

Impoverishing thyself for Christ Who impoverished Himself for the sake of our salvation, thou wast glorified with Him as He promised, and dost now reign with Him Who reigneth for ever, O John.

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

All of us, the faithful, know thee to be the haven of salvation and an invincible rampart, O Lady Theotokos; for by thy supplications thou dost deliver our souls from tribulations.

Ode V, Irmos: O Christ God Thou art a mediator between God and man; * for by Thee, O Master, * we have been led from the night of ignorance, * to Thy Father, the Source of light.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Made steadfast in the divine life by the fear of Christ, O father John, thou didst subject all thy carnal mind to thy spirit, cleansing thy senses.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Made steadfast in the divine life by the fear of Christ, O father John, thou didst subject all thy carnal mind to thy spirit, cleansing thy senses.

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

Having assiduously purified body, mind and soul of all defilement, O divinely wise one, thou didst receive the splendour of the threefold Sun, Who hath enriched thee with radiant gifts.

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

Entreat thy Son and Lord, O pure Virgin; that He grant deliverance from the assaults of the adversary to all captives and peace to those who place their hope on thee.

Ode VI, Irmos: I am held fast in the depths of sin O Saviour, * and am overwhelmed by the sea of life, * but as Jonah was delivered from the sea-monster, * so also deliver me from the passions, * and save me.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Illumined by the grace of the Spirit, and clearly enriched by the knowledge of secular things, thou didst generously give thy wealth to the needy, O John.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Illumined by the grace of the Spirit, and clearly enriched by the knowledge of secular things, thou didst generously give thy wealth to the needy, O John.

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

Like the choirs of heaven didst thou adorn the Church in Orthodox manner, intoning divine harmonious hymns to the Trinity.

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

Thou gavest birth without knowing a man, O Virgin, and remainest eternally virgin, revealing the true Godhead of thy Son and God in images.

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 venerable one, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Having been lifted up upon the Cross …”: Let us hymn John, the honoured and divinely eloquent speaker and hymnographer, * the instructor and teacher of the Church, * the opponent of the enemy; * for taking up the Cross of the Lord as a sword, * he hath cut down all the falsehood of heresies, * and as a fervent intercessor before God ** he bestoweth forgiveness of transgressions upon all.

Ikos: Together let us cry out to the instructor, teacher and priest of the Church, as an initiate of ineffable mysteries: By thy supplications to God open our mouths and grant that we may speak the words of thy doctrines; for thou didst appear in the world as one who shares in the Trinity, shining forth in the world like another sun, illumining all with thy miracles and teachings, like Moses ever instructing in the law of the Lord. And thou wast a luminary in word and deed, praying unceasingly, that forgiveness of transgressions be given to all.

Ode VII, Irmos: The godless order of the lawless tyrant * fanned the roaring flame; * but Christ bedewed the God-fearing children with the Spirit, * therefore He is blessed and supremely exalted.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Afire with zeal, thou didst strike down all the false knowledge of God-opposing heresies with thy splendid writings, O John, manifestly making clear what had been sown of old by the wise and written carefully.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Afire with zeal, thou didst strike down all the false knowledge of God-opposing heresies with thy splendid writings, O John, manifestly making clear what had been sown of old by the wise and written carefully.

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

With the discourses and the dogmas compiled by thee, thou didst fervently denounce the blasphemous impiety of the abominable disciples of Manes, who strove to infect the Church of Christ, O John.

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

O undefiled Virgin, Mother unwedded, we know thee to be more holy than the saints, in that thou alone hast given birth to the immutable God; for thou hast poured forth incorruption upon all the faithful by thy divine birth giving.

Ode VIII, Irmos: In Babylon, the activity of the fire was once divided, * for, by the command of God it consumed the Chaldeans, * but bedewed the faithful, who chant: * Bless ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Thou didst openly denounce the division of Nestorius, the confusion of Severus and the monothelite foolishness, O thrice-blessed John, shining forth the radiance of Orthodoxy upon all the ends of the earth in the one true Faith.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Thou didst openly denounce the division of Nestorius, the confusion of Severus and the monothelite foolishness, O thrice-blessed John, shining forth the radiance of Orthodoxy upon all the ends of the earth in the one true Faith.

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

The enemy abundantly sowed the tares of heresy in the Church of Christ, that the worship of Christ in His precious icons might be eliminated; but he did not find thee sleeping, O all-blessed John, who uprooted every seed of evil.

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

Without seed didst thou conceive Him Who is inseparable from the Father and dwelt in thy womb as God and man, and thou hast given birth to Him ineffably, O most pure Theotokos. Wherefore, we confess thee to be the salvation of us all.

Ode IX, Irmos: The Son of the Unoriginate Father, God and Lord, * hath appeared to us incarnate of a Virgin, * to enlighten those in darkness, * and to gather the dispersed; * therefore the all-hymned Theotokos do we magnify.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Thou hast taught all the children of the Church to hymn in an Orthodox fashion the adored Unity in Trinity, and to clearly theologize concerning the divine incarnation of the Word, O John, explaining those things which many find difficult to understand in the sacred Scriptures.

Venerable father, John, pray to God for us.

Thou hast taught all the children of the Church to hymn in an Orthodox fashion the adored Unity in Trinity, and to clearly theologize concerning the divine incarnation of the Word, O John, explaining those things which many find difficult to understand in the sacred Scriptures.

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

Having hymned the ranks of the saints, the pure Theotokos, the forerunner of Christ, the apostles, the prophets, fasters and wise teachers, the righteous and the martyrs, O John, thou dost now abide in their mansions.

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

In a manner beyond understanding, O Virgin Theotokos, thou didst become the bridal-chamber of the incarnation of the Word, arrayed and embroidered with the glory of the virtues. Wherefore, we proclaim thee to be the Theotokos, O allimmaculate one.

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Troparion of the venerable one, Tone VIII: Teacher of Orthodoxy, instructor of piety and chastity, * luminary of the Church, God-inspired nourishment of monastics, * O supremely wise John, thou spiritual flute illumining all, ** entreat Christ God that our souls be saved.

Parish News – Second Week of Great Lent

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Dear brothers and sisters,

After the rigours of the first week of the Great Fast, with the penitential themes of the Great Canon of Repentance, our Sunday celebration in St Faith’s offered a festal day, as we celebrated the Triumph of Orthodoxy and the restoration of the Holy Icons in 842, and the institution of this annual feast in 843. through the faith of the most-pious sovereigns, the Empress Theodora and her son, the Emperor and Autocrat Michael III. May their memory be eternal!

If we mention Orthodox Christianity to people, one of their primary associations is the central place of icons in our worship and culture.

The icons, rooted in the Lord’s Incarnation, with its material, physical, and representational possibility through the Saviour’s coming in the flesh, are not simply a physical manifestation of our Faith, but a sign of God’s entry into the physical realm of His creation.

In His prologue, St John the Theologian wrote that “…the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.» (John 1:14), and through the icons of the Lord, we continue to proclaim with St John, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.” (1st letter of St John 1:1)

St John of Damascus, a defender of the veneration of the Holy Icons wrote, “I boldly draw an image of the invisible God, not as invisible, but as having become visible for our sakes by partaking of flesh and blood. I do not draw an image of the immortal Godhead, but I paint the image of God who became visible in the flesh.”

When we encounter the icons we remember that “God is the Lord, and hath revealed Himself to us.” (Psalm 118:27), above all in the Incarnate Lord, Who is the perfect expression of the meeting of the Divine and the human, the heavenly and earthly, Spirit and matter/creation, the Uncircumscribable and the circumscribable.

In their reflection of Him, this meeting is also manifested in the lives of the saints, and, by extension, in the Holy Icons, through which we are able to physically express our spiritualw relationship with God, with the Mother of God and the Saints, recalling that St Basil clearly reminds us that, “ the honour given to the icon passes to the prototype.” Thus in our veneration of the Holy Icons, we worship God and honour the Theotokos and the Saints, through whom He has revealed and manifested His Grace, blessing the world through the God-pleasers who have shown us the path of the Christian life.

It was wonderful to e surrounded by so many icons in St Faith’s yesterday: some of the icons being people’s name-saints; others icons especially dear to our brothers and sisters; others important icons in the life of our Church, through which God has poured forth grace, miracles and healing.

After the Cross, the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, led us in our procession, and the fact that we followed the Saviour’s Life-Giving Cross and the Mother of God, along with the saints, sums up what should be the true Christian life.

May the Holy Icons always be our window and invitation into the heavenly life, and into eternity and the glory of the age to come!

I am starting this week with a quiet few days after last week’s daily services in Cardiff and “abroad” – and what a wonderful week it was!

From Monday to Thursday, Great Compline with the Great Canon was chanted in the Oratory Church, and the Akathist to the Lord’s Saving Passion was chanted on Friday. In the coming weeks, this will be chanted in Nazareth House on Thursday evenings.

I would encourage the faithful to continue to turn to the Great Canon in their personal prayers throughout the Fast, and we will, of course, chant the whole Great Canon in the matins of Thursday of the fifth week.

The first Saturday of the Feast, that of St Theodore was celebrated in Warminster, where we were blessed with a quiet and prayerful Liturgy in the sun bathed Chapel of St Lawrence, where we enjoyed a Lenten lunch after the service. Thanks to our Wessex faithful for their labours and dedication. Those unable to attend through illness and family commitments were very much in our prayers.

This week, there  will be a Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts in Father Luke’s lovely garden chapel in Llanellion Wednesday at 18:30, and this will be repeated every few weeks during the Fast.

In Cardiff, we will chant the akathist in honour of the Lord’s Saving Passion in Nazareth House at 18:00 on Thursday, and we will celebrate the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified in the Oratory at 14:00 on Friday – St David’s Day according to the Patristic Calendar!

We know that the time of our akathists in Nazareth House will change, but at the moment the Sisters have heard no news of forthcoming evening masses.

I will be able to hear confessions both before and after the Thursday and Friday services, but would appreciate an indication of any pre-service confessions, so that I know how early to arrive.

On the second Saturday of the Great Fast, we will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and a memorial service in Prestbury United Reformed Church, in Cheltenham at 10:00, and the variables for the Liturgy may be found at the orthodoxaustin website: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bRkhlpW0u0FFlAOy5yWLlQlGE6HYway1/view

On this coming Sunday of St Gregory Palamas, we will again celebrate Liturgy in St Faith’s, Llanishen, as we are still awaiting permission to move to St Philip’s.

Trapeza will hopefully be rather less rushed than on the last two Sunday’s, but can we please encourage every able person to roll up their sleeves to help tidy up, and please be proactive in looking for jobs that need doing, and ask if you can help in any way. This wil be greatly appreciated.

As clergy, Father Mark and I want the chance to join parishioners and talk with them at trapeza, and especially to welcome visitors, but for the last two Sundays have had no opportunity to do so, or to eat and drink anything before leaving Cardiff as we are still packing, together with young Stefan, until the last minute.

Let’s all please work together so that we can have fellowship and share time together after Liturgy, and young people… please take the lead! We are greatly blessed to have so many young people, and this is their chance to contribute to parish life.

This coming Sunday is dedicated to St Gergory (Palamas) of Thessaloniki, and the variables for the Liturgy may be found here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17D-3ciEAFOPCa4QGyZn7HDHrVClTQDJD/view

As previously announced, the Lenten service of Holy Unction will be celebrated in our diocesan cathedral on Saturday 29 March at 14:00, and both Father Mark the Younger and I will concelebrate with our bishop in the Holy Mystery.

Though I mooted the idea of travelling by hired bus, due limited numbers of attendees and the cost of transport, we hope that parishioners will car-share to attend this celebration. The bishop has given the exceptional blessing for the Mystery to be celebrated in parishes without the presence of a bishop.

Though this is normal in some local Churches, it is not in ROCOR, where the unction is celebrated in assembly/sobor, hence its Slavonic name of soborovanie.

Only baptised and recently confessed Orthodox Christians may receive Holy Unction, with the blessing of their spiritual father, and no child who is not yet confessing partakes of this Holy Mystery.

Once we have news about St Philip’s we can discuss Holy Week and Pascha and publish our service schedule. Until then, we are unable to speculate. Please continue and pray for a smooth and favourable relocation to Tremorfa, and soon!

Asking your forgiveness for Christ’s sake.

May God bless you all! Good strength in this second week of the Fast.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

 

Parish News – Great Lent

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Dear brothers and sisters, 

I think that all would agree that it was an immense joy to celebrate the Sunday of Forgiveness in St Faith’s Llanishen, in a church full of sunlight and warmth – both spiritually and literally, and it was a blessing to have so many young people, and to welcome new visitors.

Congratulations to all who confessed and partook of the Holy Mysteries!

After the last two weeks of Typika and communion – as lovely as our services were – it was reassuring to celebrate the Liturgy, and especially with such a well thronged choir who sang splendidly, with the gentlemen singing a Byzantine setting of the anaphora in English – seizing the chance before the longer melodies of the Liturgy of St Basil in the weeks to come.

Thanks to our singers and readers, and indeed to our servers – especially the youngest and newest additions.

Despite the limited time after our long liturgical run of the Hours, Liturgy and Vespers, we were glad that parishioners were able to enjoy a last pre-Lenten lunch before the discipline and asceticism of the Fast, in which we must eat according to need and NOT want. 

There is no place for want and desire in the weeks ahead, in which each of us should learn that, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Let the Words of the Holy Scriptures – especially the Gospels and the Psalms – be our nourishment in the coming weeks, together with the lives and teachings of the saints made perfect in Christ!

We had so much hoped that we would already be settled in St Philip’s, with Lenten services at traditional times this week, but this is sadly not to be this year! As a result, we must fit in with Oratory services.

I will pray vespers very simply in the Oratory at noon each day from Monday to Thursday, with the Great Canon being chanted at 15:00, and we are very grateful to have somewhere to pray, despite the early hour, encouraging parishioners to pray the Great Canon at home… ideally in the evening.

The Divine Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts will be celebrated at noon on Friday, and the normal Eucharistic fast should be kept by those communing, with the customary prayers of preparation.

The Divine Liturgy for the Saturday of St Theodore will be celebrated in the Chapel of St Lawrence, in Warminster, on Saturday, with the Hours and Liturgy commencing at 10:30.

We will return to St Faith’s in Llanishen to celebrate the Triumph of Orthodoxy and the restoration of the Holy Icons with the Hours, Divine Liturgy and traditional moleben. Weather permitting, we will make the most of the setting with a procession around the church – so please bring an icon to carry! During the Liturgy, our icons can adorn the window ledges and bring the faces of the saints to St Faith’s!

We will again have trapeza, enjoying vegan fare. No shellfish please. Though some local Orthodox Churches are very keen on shellfish in Lent, we will stick to the ascetism of vegan food.

As we celebrate “clean Monday”, we now enter the season of turning off the TV and i-player, putting aside the games console, loosing ourselves from the grip of social media, and turning to our icon-corner to pray: picking up our prayer rope and Psalter, persevering in spiritual reading and asserting the sovereignty of the soul over the body.

For some of our parishioners, this is their first “involved” Great Lent, and we encourage them to enjoy the simplicity of the season by putting needless things on hold, not worrying about rumbling stomachs or the aches from prostrations, and to proactively look for opportunities to pray more and enjoy spiritual reading.

An important detail is to cut down social life to spend more time in prayer and seclusion, and less time talking, so that when we do get together, it really is an occasion to enjoy one another’s company and conversation.

It is also the season to avoid unnecessary travel, which undermines the praxis of the Fast for Orthodox Christians.
It is sthe season forelf-renunciation, action and spiritual struggle… and it is NOT meant to be easy, like giving up chocolate or watching soaps. Orthodox Great Lent is not tokenistic: it is maximal and a time of spiritual warfare.

Fight well!

“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 and fillest all things.

Душе́ моя́, душе́ моя́, воста́ни, что спи́ши? Коне́ц приближа́ется,/ и и́маши смути́тися. Воспряни́ у́бо,/ да пощади́т тя Христо́с Бог, везде́ сый и вся́ исполня́яй. ”

Asking your forgiveness for Christ’s sake.

Nizkiy poklon – Hieromonk Mark

A Supplicatory Canon to the Mother of God For When We Prepare For Confession

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This canon, which is to be found the Greek Great Book of Needs, is also chanted at Tuesday Compline in the week of tone six of the Octoechos. Whilst we are having confessions during Saturday Compline, this may be pertinent to be chanted at that time, and would certainly be valuable for parishioners as they prepare for confession and Holy Communion. In the Euchologion (Book of Needs) it is followed by a prayer of absolution by St John of Damascus, making it clear that it is intended for use in this context.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

A Composition of Monk Euthymios, the Chancellor, Tone 6.

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.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

In every way I lament my vile life and the multitude of mine abominable sins. How shall I confess to thee, О pure one? I am at a loss and filled with fear. Yet help me, О Lady.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

How shall I begin to speak of my wicked and grievous falls, plagued as I am by the passions? Woe is me! What shall I do? Yet before the end take pity on me, О Lady.

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

I ever contemplate the hour of death and the dread tribunal, О most pure one, yet am I grievously led astray by my most wicked habits. But do thou help me.

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

The corrupter of the good, seeing me now stripped naked of godly virtues, fallen far away from God and become a stranger to Him, striveth to devour me. But do thou prevent him, О Lady.

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.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

I have vilely besmirched my soul with mine evil and abominable deeds, plagued as I am by the passions, О Lady Theotokos. Where then shall I go, who  am wholly stuck fast in despondency?

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Though created in the image of God, I have sullied my prodigal self by mine haughty will, О pure one, and through my likeness, in works, in word and thought, I have committed unseemly deeds.

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

There is no other man who hath committed such unseemly acts, nor any other born into the world as darkened in mind as I, О good one; for I have defiled my divine baptism.

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

I have reached the end of mine evils, О most holy Virgin. Quickly help me, for heaven and earth cry out bitterly because of my vile and wicked deeds.

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.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The ranks of angels and the armies of the hosts of heaven are in awe of the might of thy Son, О pure one. But I am in despair, stuck fast in my lack of fear.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

All the earth hath been amazed and astonished, beholding me committing evil, wicked and vile acts, and it marvelleth at the great loving-kindness of thy Son.

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

I have wickedly defiled the temple of my body, and the temple of the Lord which we enter with trembling; for although I am a prodigal, I enter it without shame. Woe is me!

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

Lady, show me not, О show me not to have wandered away from the tabernacle of thy Son, though I am in every way unworthy, but wash me. clean of the defilement of my transgressions.

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.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

With thy divine effulgence, О good one, cure my soul of the passions which the corrupter hath sown therein, and deliver me from his bitter captivity, for he laughs me to scorn, beholding my helpless state.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Adam broke the only commandment of thy Son, О Virgin, and was driven into exile. How shall I lament the abyss of my transgressions, for I am a criminal and have fallen away from Him?

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

Shown of old to be a murderer of his brother, Cain was cursed by God. What shall I do, who am most arrogant? I have now brought death upon my soul, and am not ashamed.

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

I have wholly emulated the cruel Esau in gluttony and eating to satiety, and have defiled my soul by drunkenness and my life with intemperance. Who will not weep for me, who am plagued by the passions? Woe is me!

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

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

My life is prodigal, my soul defiled, my way of living wholly accursed. I have grievously dishonored my whole body with evils. Wherefore, hasten thou to help me, О Virgin.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Mine end lieth before me, and I cannot bear it, О good one. My conscience denounces me, for all my wicked deeds and my prodigal life confront me, and I fear the judgment of thy Son, О pure one.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. The burning of my flesh, the dreadful river of fire which cannot be quenched, and the insatiable worm await me; but dispel them By thy prayers, О most pure one.

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

I am held fast now by trembling, О good one, and I fear the pursuit of the evil one; for before the end the corrupter desires to slay me, holding me wholly captive, stripped naked of the virtues.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

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

Sessional hymn, Tone 6: Thou art the hope, bulwark and refuge of thy people, О Virgin, from whom the Savior of all was born without pain, and thou hast saved those who set their hope on thee; for thou didst weep for thy Son at the foot of the Cross. Him do thou now beseech, that He deliver from corruption all who hymn thee.

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.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Seven times seven hath the evil one fanned a flame for me with the passions, ever striving to slay my heart with thoughts of fornication; wherefore, with the streams of my tears extinguish it, О Mother of God, and save me.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Despise me not who am dishonoured with the mire of my transgressions, О good Lady, for, seeing me in despair, the most evil enemy mocketh me; but do thou thyself raise me up with thy mighty hand.

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

Awesome is the tribunal, О my numb soul which is art rife with passions, and endless and terrible are the torments; yet fall down now before the Mother of thy Judge and God, and be not downcast.

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

A slave of the passions, I have been mired in a multitude of boundless evils and have defiled my soul, body and mind; wherefore, О most pure one, with the light of thy radiance quickly lead me to the sweetness of dispassion.

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 supremely exalt throughout all ages.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Virgin Mother, who hast given birth to God Who is One of the Trinity and didst bear Him in thine arms, quench thou the fiery furnace of the passions, and bathe my soul in streams of tears.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

I fear the arrival of death, О most pure one, and am now wholly afraid of the judgment thereof, for I have committed evils and am in nowise ashamed. In thy prayers take pity on me before the end, О Virgin.

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

О Lady, grant me unceasing groans and give me showers of tears to wash away my many transgressions and cleanse mine incurable sores, that I may inherit everlasting life.

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

I confess to thee the multitude of mine evils, О Lady, for no one else in the world hath so angered thy God, Son and Lord; wherefore, quickly move Him to mercy toward me, О Virgin,

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.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Knowing the might of thy great supplication, О most pure one, lo! I approach thee with great fear and love; for thy maternal pleas to thy Son are truly able to accomplish much, for through His loving-kindness is He inclined to mercy.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Take the choirs of the archangels and the multitude of the heavenly armies of my Creator, the assemblies of apostles and prophets, the martyrs, the venerable and the hieromartyrs, О pure one, and pray for us to God.

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

Let me obtain thine aid now and at that hour when my spirit shall depart, О pure one, and, rescuing me quickly, deliver me from the tyranny of the demons, and leave me not in their clutches, О good and most immaculate one.

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

I await the compassionate Judge, thy Son Who is the Lover of mankind, О pure one. Disdain me not, but render Him well-disposed towards me, that at His most pure tribunal He may set me on His right hand, О all-immaculate one, for I have set my hope on thee.

All of this canon talk! What does it even mean?

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With all of this pre-Lenten talk of the Great Canon, there must be newer parishioners asking “but what is a canon?!?”

In this case we are talking of a hymn-cycle written to reflect the Biblical Odes, with hymn verses (troparia) alternating with refrains.

A good explanation is to be found on orthowiki, so we will simply quote:

“There are nine Biblical Canticles that are chanted at Matins These form the basis of the Canon, a major component of Matins.

The nine Canticles are as follows:

Canticle One – The (First) Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-19)

Canticle Two – The (Second) Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:1-43)

Canticle Three – The Prayer of Hannah (I Kings 2:1-10) KJV: 1+Samuel 2:1-10

Canticle Four – The Prayer of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3:1-19)

Canticle Five – The Prayer of Isaiah (Isaiah 26:9-20)

Canticle Six – The Prayer of Jonah (Jonah 2:2-9)

Canticle Seven – The Prayer of the Three Holy Children (Daniel 3:26-56)

Canticle Eight – The Song of the Three Holy Children (Daniel 3:57-88)

Canticle Nine – The Song of the Theotokos (the Magnificat: Luke 1:46-55); the Song of Zacharias (the Benedictus Luke 1:68-79)

Originally, these Canticles were chanted in their entirety every day, with a short refrain inserted between each verse. Eventually, short verses (troparia) were composed to replace these refrains, a process traditionally inaugurated by Saint Andrew of Crete.

Gradually over the centuries, the verses of the Biblical Canticles were omitted (except for the Magnificat) and only the composed troparia were read, linked to the original canticles by an Irmos. During Great Lent however, the original Biblical Canticles are still read.

Another Biblical Canticle, the The Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32), is either read or sung at Vespers.”

Source: https://orthodoxwiki.org/Biblical_Odes

The canons – usually, but not always appointed to be chanted during matins – are a great liturgical treasure of our Church, and a great accomplishment of Byzantine hymnography, associated with some great hymnographers: St Andrew of Crete, St John of Damascus, St Joseph the Hymnographer.

The first two names are, of course, particularly associated with two of the great liturgical canons: the Great Canon of Repentance, and the Paschal Canon – both of which have a very important place in Orthodox liturgico-spiritual life.

Other canons, which we know particularly well are the Canon of Preparation for Holy Communion, the lesser Penitential Canon included in most Slavic type prayerbooks, and the “three canons”, chanted as part of preparation for Holy Communion in the East Slavic tradition: the Supplicatory Canon to the Saviour (O Sweet/Sweetest Jesus, in the Old and New Rites respectively), the Small Supplicatory Canon to the Mother of God), and the Small Supplicatory Canon to the Guardian Angel).

Supplication to St Varus, for those who have died without Holy Baptism made the canon to the Great-Martyr popular in Russia, Belorus and Ukraine, and similarly the canon to St Paisius for those who have died without repentance.

Over the centuries after the reforms of Patriarch Nikon, the growing popularity of akathist hymns (of varying, and sometimes dubious quality) largely supplanted the chanting of canons by many believers, but it is firstly to the canons that we should turn for intercessory prayer and supplication, rather than akathist hymns, as the canons are the liturgical prayers and hymns of the Church.

The faithful would greatly benefit by including the canons in their day-to-day prayer-life, particularly for Great Feasts of the Lord and the Mother of God, and for the feasts of our major saints, as well as regularly praying the various canons for the sick and the departed.

This is easier for those praying in Slavonic, as the Kanonik is freely available as a unified collection of texts, in print and electronically, but with the wealth of liturgical material available on-line, a little searching will lead those praying in English to a wealth of resources – especially in the monthly menaia to be found online at the ponomar project (https://www.ponomar.net)

…and at st-sergius.org (http://www.st-sergius.org/services/pent/100.pdf), both also having texts in Slavonic.

On our Parish webpage, we are keen to publish such liturgical canons, and also give the Slavonic links on WhatsApp.

As an extremely geographically dispersed community, the canons in our daily prayers can be a source of liturgical and prayerful unity across the miles, as we mark the feasts and seasons in our homes in the cities, towns and villages in which we live.

The Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete, with its amazing overview of the mystery of repentance through the characters of the Bible should be upon everyone’s lips this week… wherever we are!

As we seek to increase our prayers in Lent, the liturgical canons should be part of our expanded prayer-life!

The Canon to the Mother of God, in Honour of Her Iveron Icon

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Ode I. Irmos: The staff of Moses, once working a miracle, striking the sea in the form of a cross and dividing it, drowned the mounted tyrant Pharaoh, and saved Israel who fled on foot chanting a hymn unto God.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Accept these hymns of praise from my defiled lips, O all-immaculate one, as before thy Son, my God and Lord, accepted the widow’s two mites, and grant me remission of my transgressions, that I may magnify thee as is meet.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

The hymnody of the angels befitteth thee, the Mother of God; for in strange manner thou gavest birth unto their Creator. But accept from us, O Mistress, these humble prayers, that we may chant unto the Lord: Gloriously hast Thou glorified Thyself in our weakness!

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

The waters grew firm, and the waves became solid in the midst of the sea, bearing thine icon, O Mother of God. Wherefore, make firm my quaking heart upon the rock of the commandments of Christ.

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

Thou wast a helper and protector for the Monastery of Iveron, O Virgin, sinking the forces of Amira and their ships in the sea. Drown thou also in the depths of the lovingkindness of thy Son all the passions of my soul and my countless transgressions.

Ode III. Irmos: O Christ Who in the beginning established the heavens in wisdom and founded the earth firmly upon the waters: make me steadfast upon the rock of Thy commandments, for none is holy, save Thee Who alone lovest mankind.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Establish thou my heart in hope on thee, O Mother of God; take thou all pride and vainglory from my darkened mind, that I may cry out: None is as holy as the Lord, and none is as righteous as our God!

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Thou, O Mother of God, dost gird the weak about with strength and feedest the hungry. Visit thou also mine infirmity, and nurture me, who hunger and thirst, on the Bread of Life Who came down from heaven to earth through thy virginal womb.

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

Raise me up from the ground, wretch that I am, and lift me up out of the mire of sin, though I am poor; grant prayer unto me who now make entreaty, that magnifying thine assistance, I may hymn thee.

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

Show forth my barren mind as fruitful, O good Virgin who wast born of a barren woman; for through the appearance of thine icon thou grantest an abundance of all good things.

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

Sedalion, Tone IV: Today the splendid festival of our helper hath dawned! Let creation leap up, and let the assemblies of men join chorus! for the holy Theotokos calleth us together to behold her fire-bearing icon which illumineth the faithful with rays of mercy. Wherefore, rejoicing, we cry aloud: O Lady; from famine, fire, the sword and tribulations save us who honour the appearance of thine icon.

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

The foregoing hymn is repeated.

Ode IV. Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord! Thou art my power! Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, hast visited our lowliness. Wherefore, with the prophet Habakkuk I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Thy virtue hath covered the heavens, O Mother of God, and the earth hath been filled with thy praise; but thou hast departed for the salvation of men, and hast come to save thine inheritance.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Thy virtue hath covered the heavens, O Mother of God, and the earth hath been filled with thy praise; but thou hast departed for the salvation of men, and hast come to save thine inheritance.

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

Hearing report of thine arrival, the monks of Athos were afraid and, considering thy works, were filled with awe. And when my soul is troubled, be thou mindful of thy mercy, O Mistress, that I may cry out: Glory to thine aid, O Mother of God!

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

Thou art my might and power, O Theotokos. Through thee do I find rest in the day of my sorrow, and through thee do I pass from the land of wandering into the inheritance of heaven; and I rejoice in the Lord, my God and Saviour.

Ode V. Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never- waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? Yet turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

O pure one, look upon the people of thy flock who wake at dawn out of the night, and who surround thy divinely praised icon, entreating remission of their sins, emendation of life and a share in divine glory. Yea, thrust us not away from thy face, O Mother of the never-waning Light.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

All in thy flock, joining chorus together with all their soul and mind, honour thine icon with psalms, spiritual songs and divine hymnody, asking forgiveness and salvation of soul. And as thou art our healing, O Mistress, Bride of God, grant them unto us.

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

Thy temple, O Virgin, hath been shown to be another garden of paradise, having the icon of thy beauty in its midst like the tree of life; and all, venerating it fervently with reverence and love, cry out: O Mistress, grant us peace! Pay thou our purchase price, for we know none other consolation than thee!

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

Having acquired thee as a river of sweetness ever gushing forth a torrent of plentitude, the manna of heaven, and abundance and grace, O Maiden, they that dwell in thy monastery hymn thy birthgiving.

Ode VI. Irmos: Cleanse me, O Saviour, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the depths of evil, I pray; for to Thee have I cried: hearken unto me, O God of my salvation!

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Engulfed by the tempest of the sea of life, in sorrow of heart I cry out to thee, O Mistress, and to thee do I flee, as to a calm haven. Lead up my life from corruption!

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

The uttermost abyss of sins hath encompassed me, and my spirit perisheth; but extend thou thine outstretched arm, O Mistress, and render me unharmed who approach thine icon, as thou didst Gabriel.

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

Turn me not utterly away from thy countenance, O Mother of the never-waning Light; neither let me drown in the abyss of mine iniquities, that my life may escape corruption, and I may sacrifice with a voice of praise and confession.

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

Carrying a bodily temple completely defiled, I dare to offer my humble prayers to thee, the Most Pure Temple of the Eternal Word, in thine honourable temple, before thy holy icon. But thou, as the Merciful One, cleanse me in thy compassion.

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

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

Kontakion, Tone VIII: Even though thy holy icon was cast into the sea by the widow who was unable to save it from the foe, O Theotokos, yet hath it been shown to be the preserver of Mount Athos and the gatekeeper of the Monastery of Iveron, frightening away the enemy and delivering from all misfortunes and dangers them that honour thee in our homeland.

Ikos: Beholding the icon of the Mother of God which appeared in the pillar of fire, the company of fasters of Iveron cried out: O Master, count us worthy to receive the icon of Thy Mother, for the consolation of our earthly sojourn! And do thou, O Gabriel, dare to tread forth upon the sea and take the treasure re- vealed to us in thine arms, that it may be for us an ever-vigilant guardian, a protection and joy for all Christians.

Ode VII. Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the fire stood in awe of the condescension of God; wherefore, the youths, dancing with joyous step in the furnace, as in a meadow, chanted: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

I have sinned, I have committed iniquities, I have acted unrighteously before Thee, O Lord Jesus! Yet as thou art good, O Theotokos my Mistress, quench the fire of His just wrath with thy fervent mediation, that we may chant unto Him: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

With the streams of thy compassions, O Mother of God, bedew us who are burning up in the furnace of temptations and misfortunes, that our enemies may be put to shame, and that all may understand that thou alone, O Mistress, art glorified throughout the whole universe.

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

We hymn thee, O Mother of God, as the throne of the King of glory, more honourable than the cherubim, the animate temple wherein the Lord madeth His abode, the firmament of the heavens wherein shone Christ, the Sun of righteousness; and we exalt thee supremely for all ages.

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

Thou art the gladness of them that dwell in the wilds and the consolation and boast of the Imperial City, O Virgin Mary, who art all-hymned and exalted supremely forever.

Ode VIII. Irmos: Madly did the Chaldean tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but seeing them saved by a greater power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

The hosts of the angels hymn thee, the human race exalteth thee, and all creation blesseth thee, O all-pure Virgin Theotokos. Accept from me, who am unworthy, the praise I offer thee.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Sing, ye monks of Athos! Bless, O Iberian lands! O land of Russia, exalt supremely the good Mistress who gusheth forth rivers of miracles through her wonder-working icon! We praise, bless and bow down before thee, O Theotokos, hymning and exalting thee supremely for all ages!

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

It is not only Holy Athos which is enlightened by the likeness of the Iveron icon; but the reigning city of Moscow was also adorned therewith, receiving miraculous help therefrom and acquiring a well-spring of consolation therein.

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

The land of Novgorod, and other cities and towns were likewise sanctified by copies of thine icon, and have been enlightened by miracles, O Mistress, crying out: Hymn ye the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Ode IX. Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God appeared to men in the flesh, and that thy womb becameth more spacious than the heavens. Wherefore, the ranks of angels and men magnify thee who art the Theotokos.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

The mystery of the profundity of thy birthgiving striketh the intelligence of the angels with awe, O Virgin, and thine all-pure icon driveth the demons away; for, unable to bear the sight of its power, they flee and vanish. And we lovingly bow down and venerate it, and magnify thee, the Theotokos.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Come, ye all, let us adore, fall down and exalt the Mother of God, who hath looked upon us, the humble, filling the hungry with good things and hath made a covenant of mercy with us by the appearance of her wondrous icon.

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

O Virgin Theotokos, hope of Christians, extend unto our generation thy mercies which thou didst bestow upon our fathers. Protect and save us from all evil.

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

O most merciful helper of Christians, the tongue of neither angel nor man is able to hymn thee worthily, in that thou art more honourable than all creation and more glorious than earthly things. O Mistress, mercifully accept this entreaty offered thee by us. Ever save us, for in thee have we placed our trust.

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Troparion of the Icon, Tone I: The audacity of those who hate the image of the Lord * and the might of the impious * came godlessly to Nicaea, * and emissaries inhumanly interrogated the widow * who piously venerated the icon of the Mother of God; * but at night, she and her son cast the icon into the sea, crying aloud: * “Glory to thee, O pure one, * for the trackless sea hath given thee its breast! * Glory to thy straight journey, ** O thou who alone art incorrupt!”

 

The Feast of the Iveron Icon

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Greetings on this feast of the Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, known to us through the Hawaiian Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon, and to some of our brothers who have venerated the precious original Wonder-working icon in the Athonite monastery from which it draws its name.

This icon has been very much loved by the Russian Orthodox Church since the arrival of a copy in Moscow durin the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, in 1648 when it was enshrined in a chapel at the Resurrection Gate, at the entrance to Red Square, near the walls of the Kremlin.

Many of you are familiar with not only the story of this ancient icon, but also with the canon and akathist, which I very much encourage you to pray on this feast, but for those who are unaware of the history of this treasure of the Church, we will share a brief account of the ‘life’ of the icon.

“During the reign of Emperor Theophilos (829-842) the Byzantine Empire was in turmoil because of the heresy of iconoclasm. In accordance with the Emperor’s orders, thousands of soldiers scoured the Empire, searching in every corner, city, and village for any hidden icons.

A pious widow living near the city of Nicaea had concealed an Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in her home. Before long, the soldiers found it, and one of them stabbed it with his spear. By God’s grace this terrible deed was overshadowed by a miracle: blood began to flow from the wounded face of the Mother of God. The frightened soldiers ran away after witnessing this.

The widow spent the entire night keeping vigil and praying before the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. In the morning, by God’s will, she took the Icon to the sea and cast it upon the water. The holy Icon stood upright on the waves and began to drift westward.

Time passed, and one evening (circa 1004), the monks of Ivḗron Monastery on Mount Athos noticed a pillar of light, shining upon the sea like the sun. This miraculous sign lasted for several days, while the Fathers of the Holy Mountain gathered together and marveled. Finally they went down to the edge of the sea, where they beheld the pillar of light standing over the Icon of the Theotokos. When they approached, however, the Icon moved farther out to sea.

At that time a Georgian monk named Gabriel was living at the Ivḗron (Georgian) Monastery. The Theotokos appeared to the Athonite Fathers and told them that only Father Gabriel was worthy to retrieve the holy Icon from the sea. She also appeared to Father Gabriel and told him, “Go into the sea, and walk upon the waves with faith, and everyone shall witness my love and mercy for your Monastery.”

The monks found Father Gabriel and led him down to the sea, chanting hymns, and censing with holy incense. Father Gabriel walked upon the water as if it were dry land, and taking the Icon in his hands, he carried it back to shore. This miracle occurred on Bright Tuesday.

While the monks were celebrating a Service of thanksgiving, a cold, sweet spring miraculously gushed forth from the ground where the Icon was standing. Afterward, they took it into the church and placed in the sanctuary with great reverence.

The next morning one of the monks went to light the lamps in church and discovered that the Icon was no longer where they had put it; now it was on the wall near the entry gate. The monks took it down and returned it to the sanctuary, but the next day the Icon was found once again at the Monastery gate. This miracle recurred several times, until the All-Holy Virgin appeared to Father Gabriel, saying, “Inform the brethren that from now on they must not carry me away. For what I desire is not to be protected by you; but instead I shall protect you, both in this life, and in the age to come. As long as my Icon remains in the Monastery, the grace and mercy of my Son shall never be lacking!”

Filled with great joy, the monks built a small church near the Monastery gate in honor of the Mother of God, and placed the wonderworking Icon inside. This holy Icon came to be known as the “Ivḗron Mother of God” or Πορταΐτισσα in Greek.1 Through the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, many miracles have taken place and continue to take place throughout the world.”

1 Πορταΐτισσα = The Gate-Keeper.

Parish News – 24 February

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Dear brothers and sisters, thanks again to the parishioners who supported our Sunday service in the Oratory.

Once again, the choir’s joyful singing was a great consolation and helped make Sunday feel as normal as possible despite the lack of Eucharistic Liturgy.

Thanks to all who helped in their various ways… but a little reminder that things need putting away as well as putting out, so if you helped at the set up, it would be much appreciated if you put the same objects away – wherever we are.

It was a joy to have Yuriy serving for the first time, on the same day that he made his first confession, and we are happy to report that he is keen to serve each week under the watchful eye of Stefan, his honorary ‘big brother’.

I was very happy that the faithful were able to venerate the relics of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross and the Holy Protomartyr of Britain, St Alban, at the end of our service, with a few others also able to venerate the relics of St Ambrose of Milan and St Gerasimos of Jordan that I finally found in the large collection of relics in the sacristy.

I now look forward to a moleben to these Holy Fathers, and will bring a larger reliquary to house the small theca (moshchebnik).

After a visit to Cheltenham for house blessings – and a quick excursus into my home county of Worcestershire, to bless a home in Pershore – I am currently in Wiltshire, where we had our end of month service of compline with the akathist to the Mother of God, in honour of her icon ‘The Healer.’ After the service, we blessed Porphyrios’s home and enjoyed supper together.
I still have a few house blessings to do in Cardiff and hope that these can be completed in the next week and a half.
Looking ahead, this week, we will meet for our customary akathist at 18:00 in Nazareth House on Thursday, though the time will change in future weeks due to the University chaplain celebrating Mass at 18:00 on weekdays.
I will be available to hear confessions from 17:00, and will continue to do so after the service.
We will have our customary Friday devotions before the Cross, in the Oratory at 15:00, and will again chant the Ninth Hour and Akathist to the Precious and Life-Giving Cross.
Please message me if you would like to confess before the service. I will also be available for confessions afterwards.
As those in church heard, we seem to finally be making headway with St Philip’s, through the friendly contact between our chancellor and the archdeacon of Llandaff. 
However, with some administrative arrangements to be completed, next Sunday’s Liturgy will need to be in St Faith’s Church, Morris Ave, Llanishen, Cardiff CF14 5JW.
We will have access from 10:30, and commence the Hours and Liturgy at 11:00, and, as it will be Forgiveness Sunday, vespers and the rite of mutual forgiveness will follow.
Please, make every effort to ensure that you are reconciled with everyone, mend any broken relationships before we begin the fast, and make peace in the case of outstanding arguments and conflicts.
Though we will have trapéza, we must watch the clock, as the Anglican parishioners will be setting up for a children’s service at 15:00.
Things may look a little minimal, but I am sure we can live with that!
Can those able to offer lifts to carless parishioners who live in town please get in touch?
 
Having already finished eating meat on Sunday, this week’s fasting rules allow the consumption of dairy foods and eggs every day… so please enjoy the traditional cheese-fair / bliny week before we commence the Great Fast on Monday 3 March – a day of total abstinence for all who can do so.
 
Please use the remaining time before the fast to sort spiritual reading material, and to print any texts that may be needed for prayers. Though we now have a good number of parishioners, we are still a few short of the hoped-for twenty participants, and would welcome a few more people to join us.

Just to clarify for those who may be reticent, our Psalter reading is simply a personal offering at home in our daily prayers, rotating the 20 kathismas (sections of the Orthodox Psalter) as we read them, so that in the forty days, we read each the 20 kathismas twice. 
Each of us starts on a specific kathisma and we work through the Psalter and go back to the beginning after kathisma 20, so it’s just a staggered start and between us, we read the complete 150 Psalms every day.
It doesn’t involve going anywhere or needing to read in public, just a small chunk of each day for extra prayer at home during the Great Fast.
If you are interested, please email psaltergroup@fastmail.com
 
Finally, may I remind you of Piran’s request of any storage space that anyone has in a garage, as his self-storage comes to an end?
 
Asking your forgiveness for Christ’s sake.
 
May God bless you.
 
In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

Parish News: 17th February

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Heartfelt thanks to those who supported our rather different Sunday service, with the chanting of the Ninth Hour and the Typika in the Oratory Church, with the added blessing of having our familiar shrines and the candlestands from the old Sheffield parish at the centre of our worship.

Praise God that we were able to pray together and partake of the Holy Mysteries, trying to keep the service as familiar and normal as possible, with the choir singing most of the service, rather than a reader chanting everything.

It was strange not to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, but nevertheless a joy to mark the second day of the Meeting of the Lord, having kept the feast in Cheltenham, on Saturday.

Parishioners commented how reassuring and comforting it was to receive such a warm welcome from the Oratorian Fathers and the Latin Mass congregation, and were touched by such kindness and generosity, and it was reassuring to see parishioners relax and enjoy time in the hall after Liturgy.

Although we still await news of St Philip’s, I am pleased to anounce that through the good offices of the Reverends Elaine Jenkyns and Ruth Greenaway-Robbins, we will soon be able to celebrate Sunday Liturgies in St Faith’s Church, Morris Avenue, Llanishen, CF14 5JD, as a temporary solution.

I am awaiting confirmation as to whether we would be able to start this Sunday, so please keep an eye on our social media and on your email inboxfor updates.

This week, we will follow our current practice of chanting an akathist  on Thursday evening, in Nazareth House at 18:00. This week, we will chant the akathist to the Mother of God, in honour of her icon,”The Softener of Evil Hearts” – «Умягчение Злых Сердец».

We will celebrate devotions before the relic of the Cross in the Oratory Church on Friday afternoon at 15:00.

As Great Lent approaches, we are keen to arrange the cutomary Lenten parish Psalter reading group, wishing to ensure that the complete Psalter is recited every day. Those wishing to participate should email psaltergroup@fastmail.com 

Our Lenten services will greatly depend on what happens in the next few weeks, in terms of permissions for church use. We will endeavour to have as full a week of worship as possible in the first week of Lent, but we must bear in mind that our first week of the Great Fast conincides with the beginning of western Lent, so this may affect the evening chanting of the Great Canon.

Last year saw us anticipate compline by chanting the Great Canon at 15:00, which was not ideal, but there was no alternative in the Oratory. We will however explore opportunities for evening worship, though public worship on western Ash Wednesday may not be possible.

Please think about spiritual reading for the approaching Fast, and consider some of the titles already recommended, as well as acquiring a copy of the Great Canon: an essential resource for the season.

  • The Great Canon: The Work of St. Andrew of Crete
  • The Ladder of Divine Ascent, by St. John Climacus
  • The Lausiac History of Palladius (Lives of the Monks of Egypt):
  • The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Apophthegmata Patrum: The Alphabetic Collection: 59 (Cistercian Studies Series, 59)
  • The Paradise of the Holy Fathers Vol II (Sayings of the Fathers and Questions and Answers about the monastic life)
  • The Arena, by St. Ignatii (Brianchaninov)
  • The Field: Cultivating Salvation: 1 (Complete Works of Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov)
  • The Refuge: Anchoring the Soul in God: 3 (Complete Works of Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov)
  • My Life in Christ, by St. John of Kronstadt
  • A Spiritual Psalter or Reflections on God (St Ephrem the Syrian)
  • Father George Calciu: Interviews, Talks, and Homilies
  • Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
  • Monk of Mount Athos: Staretz (St) Silouan 1866-1938
  • Saint Silouan, the Athonite
  • The Divine Liturgy: A Commentary in the Light of the Fathers:
  • Homilies on the Divine Liturgy, by Hieromartyr Seraphim Zvezdinsky

As the Great Fast draws closer, we must continue to pray fervently as we await permissions to settle into our hoped-for new place of worship, and be ready to be flexible, creative and resourceful in the meantime.

Asking your forgiveness for Christ’s sake.

May God bless you.

Hieromonk Mark

The Canon For the Meeting of the Lord

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Canon of the Meeting, the acrostic whereof is: “Joyously the elder embraceth Christ”, the composition of Cosmas of Maïuma, in Tone III

Ode I, Irmos: The sun once passed over dry land born of the deep, for the water became firm as a wall on either side when the people traversed the sea, chanting in God-pleasing manner: Let us sing unto the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified!

Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.

Let the clouds pour forth rain, for Christ the Sun Who is borne aloft upon a light cloud is brought to the temple as a babe on the arm of the unblemished one. Wherefore, O ye faithful, let us cry aloud: Let us sing unto the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified!

Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.

Let the clouds pour forth rain, for Christ the Sun Who is borne aloft upon a light cloud is brought to the temple as a babe on the arm of the unblemished one. Wherefore, O ye faithful, let us cry aloud: Let us sing unto the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified!

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

Be strong, ye hands of Symeon feeble with age; and ye weary legs of the elder, move quickly and straight to meet Christ, joining chorus with the incorporeal ones, chanting: Let us sing unto the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified!

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

O ye heavens stretched out in wisdom, be glad; and rejoice, O thou earth! For Christ the Artificer, having come forth from the most blessed womb of His Mother, is borne by the Virgin Mother to God the Father as a babe, He Who was before all the ages, for gloriously hath He been glorified!

Katavasia: The sun once passed over dry land born of the deep, for the water became firm as a wall on either side when the people traversed the sea, chanting in God-pleasing manner: Let us sing unto the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified!

Ode III, Irmos: O Lord, Thou confirmation of them that trust in Thee, establish the Church which Thou hast acquired with Thy precious blood.

Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.

He that was first begotten of the Father before the ages hath appeared as the first-born Babe of the undefiled Virgin, stretching forth His hand unto Adam.

Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.

He that was first begotten of the Father before the ages hath appeared as the first-born Babe of the undefiled Virgin, stretching forth His hand unto Adam.

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

God the Word hath appeared as a babe, setting aright the first-created man, who through deception had become childish of mind.

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

The Creator, having become a Babe without undergoing change, hath shown forth our nature, the product of the earth to which it doth return again, to be like unto divinity.

Katavasia: O Lord, Thou confirmation of them that trust in Thee, establish the Church which Thou hast acquired with Thy precious blood.

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

Sedalion, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Joseph marvelled…”: Of old, on Mount Sinai, Moses beheld the back-parts of God, and in the midst of the darkness and whirlwind he was counted worthy to hear the still small voice of God; and now Symeon hath received in his arms God Who hath become immutably incarnate for our sake. And he hastened to leave things here below for life everlasting;therefore, he cried out: “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart, O Master!”

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

The foregoing sedalion is repeated.

Ode IV, Irmos: Thy virtue hath covered the heavens, O Christ; for having issued forth from Thine immaculate Mother, the ark of Thy holiness, Thou hast appeared in the Temple of Thy glory as a babe borne in arms, and all things have been filled with Thy praise.

Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.

Rejoicing, the Theotokos cried out: O Symeon, initiate of ineffable mysteries, take in thine arms Christ, the Word become a babe, of Whom thou wast informed of old by the Holy Spirit, and cry out to Him: All things are filled with Thy praise!

Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.

Rejoicing, the Theotokos cried out: O Symeon, initiate of ineffable mysteries, take in thine arms Christ, the Word become a babe, of Whom thou wast informed of old by the Holy Spirit, and cry out to Him: All things are filled with Thy praise!

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

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!

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

Beholding the unoriginate Word borne as a babe in the flesh by the Virgin as on the throne of the cherubim, the Author of all, Symeon marvelled and cried out to Him: All things are filled with Thy praise!

Katavasia: Thy virtue hath covered the heavens, O Christ; for having issued forth from Thine immaculate Mother, the ark of Thy holiness, Thou hast appeared in the Temple of Thy glory as a babe borne in arms, and all things have been filled with Thy praise.

Ode V, Irmos: In a vision Isaiah beheld God exalted upon a throne borne aloft by angels of glory, and he cried: Woe is me! for I have beheld beforehand the incarnate God, the unwaning Light, Who reigneth with peace!

Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.

The divine elder, comprehending the glory that was manifested of old to the prophet, beholding the Word held in His Mother’s arms, cried out: Rejoice, O pure one, for as a throne dost thou hold God, the Light unwaning, Who reigneth with peace!

Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.

The divine elder, comprehending the glory that was manifested of old to the prophet, beholding the Word held in His Mother’s arms, cried out: Rejoice, O pure one, for as a throne dost thou hold God, the Light unwaning, Who reigneth with peace!

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

The elder, bowing low and divinely touching the feet of the Mother of God who kneweth not wedlock, said: O pure one, thou dost bear Fire! I fear to hold the infant God, the Light unwaning, Who reigneth with peace!

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

Isaiah, purified by the burning ember brought by the seraphim, and the elder illumined by the Mother of God, cried to her: thou hast given me Him Whom thou dost bear in thine arms as with tongs, the Light unwaning, Who reigneth with peace.

Katavasia: In a vision Isaiah beheld God exalted upon a throne borne aloft by angels of glory, and he cried: Woe is me! for I have beheld beforehand the incarnate God, the unwaning Light, Who reigneth with peace!

Ode VI, Irmos: The elder, beholding with his own eyes the salvation which was come to me from God, cried out to Thee, O Christ! Thou art my God!

Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.

In Sion wast Thou set as a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense for the disobedient, and the inviolate salvation of the faithful.

Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.

In Sion wast Thou set as a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense for the disobedient, and the inviolate salvation of the faithful.

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

Manifestly bearing the lineaments of Him Who begot Thee before the ages, Thou hast now been clothed in the weakness of mortals in Thy lovingkindness.

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

Now lettest Thou depart in peace him that worshipped Thee as the Son of the Most High, the Son of the Virgin, God become a Child.

Katavasia: The elder, beholding with his own eyes the salvation which was come to me from God, cried out to Thee, O Christ! Thou art my God!

Kontakion, Tone I: O Thou Who didst hallow the Virgin’s womb by Thy birth and didst bless the hands of Symeon as was meet, by anticipation Thou hast now saved even us, O Christ God. But in the midst of battle grant peace to Thy community, and strengthen the hierarchs whom Thou hast loved, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind.

Ikos: Let us make haste to the Theotokos, desiring to behold her Son borne to Symeon. Looking upon Him from heaven, the bodiless hosts are amazed, saying: “Things wondrous, most glorious, unapproachable and ineffable do we behold: for He Who created Adam is borne as an infant; He Whom nought can contain is held in the elder’s arms; He Who is in the infinite bosom of His Father is of His own will limited by the flesh, but not in His divinity, He Who alone loveth mankind.”

Ode VII, Irmos: We hymn Thee, God the Word Who bedewed the theologizing children in the fire and dwelt within the incorrupt Virgin, and piously we chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.

I go to announce the glad tidings unto Adam who dwelleth in hades and unto Eve, cried Symeon, joining chorus with the prophets, singing: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.

I go to announce the glad tidings unto Adam who dwelleth in hades and unto Eve, cried Symeon, joining chorus with the prophets, singing: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

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

God Who doth deliver the mortal race shall go even unto hades; He shall grant remission to all, sight to the blind, and even the mute shall chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

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

And Symeon foretold to the Virgin: A sword shall pierce thy heart, O incorrupt one, beholding thy Son upon the Cross, to Whom we cry out: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Katavasia: We hymn Thee, God the Word Who bedewed the theologizing children in the fire and dwelt within the incorrupt Virgin, and piously we chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Ode VIII, Irmos: United in the unbearable fire, yet unharmed by its flame, the pious youths chanted a divine hymn in intercession: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Glory to Thee, our God; glory to Thee.

O people of Israel, beholding your glory, Emmanuel, the Babe born of the Virgin, now join ye chorus in the presence of the Ark of God, chanting: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Behold, cried Symeon, this One Who is both God and Babe shall be a sign of contradiction. O ye faithful, let us cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

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

God the Word, being Life itself and having become a Babe, shall be the downfall of the disobedient, but the restoration of them that chant with faith: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

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

Be it known that of the following fourteen refrains, the first two are used before the irmos and its repetition; then each troparion of the canon receiveth four refrains, one for each time it is executed. When all fourteen refrains have been used with the irmos and troparia, both choirs come together and chant the first refrain before repeating the irmos as katavasia.

Katavasia: United in the unbearable fire, yet unharmed by its flame, the pious youths chanted a divine hymn in intercession: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Refrain: O Virgin Theotokos, thou hope of Christians, preserve and save those who trust in thee.

Ode IX, Irmos: In the shadow and the writings of the law do we behold an image, O ye faithful: every male child which openeth the womb is consecrated to God. Wherefore, we magnify the first-born Word of the unoriginate Father, the first-born Son of the Mother who kneweth not man.

Refrain: “It is not the elder who holdeth Me, but rather I hold him; for he asketh Me to dismiss him.”

In the shadow and the writings of the law do we behold an image, O ye faithful: every male child which openeth the womb is consecrated to God. Wherefore, we magnify the first-born Word of the unoriginate Father, the first-born Son of the Mother who kneweth not man.

Refrain: “It is not the elder who holdeth Me, but rather I hold him; for he asketh Me to dismiss him.”

In the shadow and the writings of the law do we behold an image, O ye faithful: every male child which openeth the womb is consecrated to God. Wherefore, we magnify the first-born Word of the unoriginate Father, the first-born Son of the Mother who kneweth not man.

Refrain: How dost thou hold the Ember, O mystic tongs? How dost thou feed Him Who sustaineth all

In the shadow and the writings of the law do we behold an image, O ye faithful: every male child which openeth the womb is consecrated to God. Wherefore, we magnify the first-born Word of the unoriginate Father, the first-born Son of the Mother who kneweth not man.

Refrain: O daughter of Phanuel, come and stand with us, and give thanks to Christ the Savior, the Son of God.

The ancients were wont to offer a pair of new-born doves and two young birds, but the godly elder and the chaste prophetess Anna serve in their stead, magnifying the only-begotten Son of the Father, Who was born of the Virgin and is borne into the temple.

Refrain: The chaste Anna proclaimeth awesome things, confessing Christ, the Creator of heaven and earth.

The ancients were wont to offer a pair of new-born doves and two young birds, but the godly elder and the chaste prophetess Anna serve in their stead, magnifying the only-begotten Son of the Father, Who was born of the Virgin and is borne into the temple.

Refrain: The chaste Anna proclaimeth awesome things, confessing Christ, the Creator of heaven and earth.

The ancients were wont to offer a pair of new-born doves and two young birds, but the godly elder and the chaste prophetess Anna serve in their stead, magnifying the only-begotten Son of the Father, Who was born of the Virgin and is borne into the temple.

Refrain: Unapproachable to angels and men is what was wrought within thee, O pure Virgin Mary.

The ancients were wont to offer a pair of new-born doves and two young birds, but the godly elder and the chaste prophetess Anna serve in their stead, magnifying the only-begotten Son of the Father, Who was born of the Virgin and is borne into the temple.

Refrain: The pure dove, the unblemished ewe-lamb, beareth the Lamb and Shepherd into the temple.

Thou hast imparted unto me the joy of Thy salvation, cried Symeon. Accept Thou Thy servant, for I am weary of the shadow, as a mystic and sacred preacher of the new grace, magnifying Thee in praise!

Refrain: O Christ, Thou King of all, grant victory over all heresies to thy faithful hierarchs!

Thou hast imparted unto me the joy of Thy salvation, cried Symeon. Accept Thou Thy servant, for I am weary of the shadow, as a mystic and sacred preacher of the new grace, magnifying Thee in praise!

Refrain: O Christ, Thou King of all, grant me fervent tears, that I may weep over my soul, which I have wickedly ruined!

Thou hast imparted unto me the joy of Thy salvation, cried Symeon. Accept Thou Thy servant, for I am weary of the shadow, as a mystic and sacred preacher of the new grace, magnifying Thee in praise!

Refrain: Let us piously praise the thrice-radiant Godhead in three Hypostases.

Thou hast imparted unto me the joy of Thy salvation, cried Symeon. Accept Thou Thy servant, for I am weary of the shadow, as a mystic and sacred preacher of the new grace, magnifying Thee in praise!

Refrain: O Virgin Mary, illumine my soul which hath been grievously darkened by the pleasures of life!

The aged Anna, chaste and venerable, prophesying in sacred manner, openly con- fessed the Lord in the temple, and she magnified the Theotokos, proclaiming her to all present.

Refrain: O Virgin Theotokos, thou hope of Christians, preserve and save those who trust in thee.

The aged Anna, chaste and venerable, prophesying in sacred manner, openly con- fessed the Lord in the temple, and she magnified the Theotokos, proclaiming her to all present.

Katavasia: In the shadow and the letter of the Law, * let us, the faithful, discern a figure: * every male child that openeth the womb * shall be sanctified to God. * Therefore we magnify the firstborn Word * and Son of the beginningless Father, * the firstborn Child of a Mother who hath not known a man.

Troparion, Tone I: Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace, * for from thee hath shone forth Christ our God, the Sun of righteousness, * illumining those in darkness. * Be glad, also, O righteous elder * who hath received in thine arms the Redeemer of our souls, ** Who granteth us the resurrection.