Canon I, the Composition of John, the acrostic whereof is: “May my brother be the tongue of the Only-begotten, as was his wont, chanteth John”, in Tone IV
Ode I, Irmos: I shall open my mouth, * and be filled with the Spirit, * and utter discourse to the Queen and Mother; * and be seen radiantly keeping festival, * joyfully praising her wonders.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Rescue my mind from attachments to that which is earthly and material, O hypostatic Wisdom of God the Father, Who sustainest heaven and earth, and grant discourse unto me who crown thy servant.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
The grace of words sweeter than honey, embracing thy sacred soul through the inspiration of God, wrought a strange delight, the common delight of the faithful, the food of salvation.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Thou didst shine forth like a great beacon of the life beloved of the world, and like a giant of great might thou didst hasten from the East, and didst illumine the ends of the world with the rays of thy words, O divine Mark.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Thy divinely eloquent lips and honeyed tongue became the mouthpiece of grace; thy sacred tongue was shown to be as a scribe’s pen: it set down wisdom and poured forth grace.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
With the Mother of God the choir of angelic intelligences received Mark, the heavenly mind, the pure and exalted soul, the revelation of thoughts and mystic writings, the boundary of wisdom.
Canon II, the composition of Manuel the Great Rhetor of the Great Church, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn Mark, the most renowned hierarch of Asia”, 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.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Having become a vessel of the radiance of the Most High because of the beauty of thy virtues, O Mark, thou didst illumine the flock of Christ. Wherefore, having passed on to the unwaning Light, breathe thou illuminating grace of the Word upon those who hymn thy divine memory, O glorious one.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
As I strive to achieve thy praises as is meet, O blessed one, the well-spring of the words of thy divine corrections is seen to be most profound: yet, O father, by thy supplications grant me grace and power equal to thy love.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Let the most honoured Mark, the most holy temple of the grace of God, from whence mystic fragrances are disclosed to all who live piously, unto the glory and praise of the uncreated Trinity our God, Who is one by nature, be praised.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Of old, the sacred eyes of the prophets foresaw thee, O pure one, to be the noetic mountain, the unburnt bush, the impassable gate, the jar and vessel of manna; and with faith we proclaim thee to be in truth the Theotokos, O Bride of God.
Ode III, Irmos: O Theotokos, thou living and plentiful fount, * establish in spiritual fellowship those who sing hymns to thee, * and in thy divine glory * grant them crowns of glory.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Opening the divine floodgates of thy wisdom and knowledge, thou didst water the whole earth, theologising in most Orthodox fashion that the Holy Spirit originates solely from the Father.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Embracing zeal for the house of the Lord, zeal for the dogmas of the Fathers, thou didst set afire thy sacred heart and didst sharpen thine honoured tongue against innovation.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Having courageously dealt with the greatest of struggles and needs, and chosen the virtue and piety of the Fathers, O most blessed one, thou hast now inherited the greatest glory in the heavens.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Let the wondrous Mark, the great beacon for those who are at sea, the great star who liveth in the world, the sweet and most delightful light, the mighty salt of the earth, the tree of divine knowledge, be crowned.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O Theotokos, having given birth unto the Creator of all, Who, in accordance with His immaterial nature, didst supernaturally become a man for all, thou hast renewed human nature which had grown old.
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.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Thou hast been shown to be a reflection of the radiance of the most creative Spirit, O blessed one, illumining the fullness of the faithful with thine unerring teachings, and prevailing upon us to hymn the uncreated Trinity.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Holding forth amid the ranks of the council, thou didst establish the origin of the Holy Spirit by procession from the Hypostasis of the Father, O Mark, gladdening the assemblies of the faithful.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Let the most honourable Mark, the most melodious trumpet, the instrument of music, the sweet-sounding tongue which is moved by the Spirit, the well-spring of true wisdom, full of grace, be praised today.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Inexplicable was the mystery wrought in thee, O most pure one; for thou didst ineffably give birth unto the God of all, and even after having given birth wast shown to be a Virgin. Wherefore, we honour thee as the true Theotokos.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Kontakion of the holy hierarch, the composition of Manuel, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Thou hast appeared …”: With the most wise plaiting of thy words, * O most blessed one, * thou didst stop every blaspheming mouth, * and with thy divine utterance hast enlightened the faithful ** to honour the Trinity in one and the same nature.
Sessional Hymn, the composition of John, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “The Wisdom and Word…”: Flying as though thou wert a bee about the sacred meadow and garden of paradise, which truly flourisheth well, thou didst draw forth a pleasing and fragrant dew from the writings of the Spirit and the holy Fathers of old, O venerable one, from whence thou didst fashion the honeycomb of faith and the honey of knowledge, which, receiving unto their health, rulers and simple folk alike all dedicate hymns of thanksgiving unto thee, O most wise one. Entreat Christ God, that He grant forgiveness of transgressions unto those who with love celebrate thy holy memory.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion, Tone VIII: As thou art the all-immaculate Bride of the Creator, the Mother of the Redeemer who knewest not a man, the dwelling-place of the Comforter, O all-hymned one, make haste to deliver me from the evil workings of the demons, for in mind I have become their plaything, and am a vile habitation of iniquity; and make of me a radiant abode of the virtues, O splendid and incorrupt one, and drive from me the cloud of the passions by thy supplications, and vouchsafe me to share in the never-waning light of the Most High.
Ode IV, Irmos: Perceiving the profound counsel of God, * that the incarnation of Thee the Most High, * will be from a Virgin, * the Prophet Habbakuk cried aloud: * Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
From childhood thou wast shown to be a manly, most excellent and thrice-victorious victor over the wicked prince of this world, and later thou didst do battle against the deception of innovation.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Bearing against deception the mighty weapon and standard of the Cross which is efficacious in battle, like Moses thou didst cleave the sea of the passions and didst likewise drown those who opposed thee.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Yearning with all thy desire from childhood, O ever-laudable one, for Christ, the rare delight, spiritual sweetness, ineffable beauty, thou didst come to hate the pleasures of the world.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
The godliness of thy countenance also portrayed the signs of the divine and angelic interior character and the beauties of thy most splendid and holy soul.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou hast opened the portal of paradise which disobedience shut, O most pure one, having prepared thyself for fervent obedience to the commandments of the Creator; and thou hast been shown to be a path to life, O Sovereign Lady.
Irmos: O Lord, I have heard the mystery of Thy dispensation; * I have considered Thy works, * and I have glorified Thy Divinity.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Grace poured forth from thy lips, O most blessed one, and thou hast enlightened the firmament of the Church with the sweetness of divine deliberations.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Thou wast a most sacred temple of the Holy Spirit, putting forth the divine fragrance of theology for all, O most sacred one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thy radiant memory hath shone forth and enlightened with love the thoughts of those who praise the perfection of thy theology.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou didst surpass the army of immaterial intelligences, O pure one, having given birth unto Him Who hath brought all things into existence and delivered us from deception.
Ode V, Irmos: All creation stands in awe of thy divine glory; * for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, * didst contain within thy womb the God of all, * and gave birth to the timeless Son, * bestowing peace, upon all who hymn thee.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
As an acceptable sacrifice thou didst offer thyself wholly unto God Who was buried for our sake, adorning thy body as a temple of God, thy pure heart as a holy altar, and thy soul as a splendid immolation.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Valiantly thou didst escape the waves of life, overturning them all right intelligently, O blessed one, that thou mightest acquire that which alone is most precious: Christ, the only Pearl; and mightest lay up as treasure divine enlightenment and the knowledge of God.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
With Paul thou didst mightily and valiantly endure all temptations, O blessed one, considering the little and unworthy sufferings of the present age to lead to splendid and never-ending glory.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
The Master Who alone is mighty imparted to thee invincible power, both wholly against the serpent and ultimately against the wicked adulteration of the faith and the violation of its dogmas.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The failing sanctity of the Church of Christ, the holy bride of the Son of God, is radiantly restored and set aright by thy Mark, O holy and most pure Virgin, through thy grace.
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.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
In the midst of the Church thou didst chant a divinely inspired hymn, teaching that the Father alone is the Source of the Godhead, the Begetter of the Son and the Issuer of the Spirit, O most glorious one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Following the words and divine deliberations of the Fathers, O blessed one, thou didst proclaim the Son and the Spirit to be equal in honour to the Father, in that they both originated with the Father as Their Cause, from Whom they both proceeded together.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, ladder of Jacob whereby God descended and drew mortal nature up to heavenly glory, O Bride of God! Rejoice, thou joy of the angels, hope and sure refuge of all the faithful!
Ode VI, Irmos: Celebrating the divine and solemn feast * of the Mother of God * O ye divinely wise, * let us come, clapping our hands, * and glorify God who was born of her.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
By the grace of Him Who alone giveth strength unto those who trust in Him didst thou crush the heads of the iniquitous oppressors, the haters of mankind, and with the sword of the Spirit thou hast cut out the tongues of those who introduce novelties.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
The sea is amazed, all the earth chanteth hymns of thy victory, and the Church proclaimeth thy wonders and rejoiceth, turning all its opponents to flight, O most wise one.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Like a river ever flowing in torrents, the fullness of the Church doth gladden the countenance of the city of God with right dogmas, O divinely eloquent Mark.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
The nourishing torrents of thy divinely eloquent language, pouring forth the dogmas of Orthodoxy upon all, have been revealed to be like the golden and flowing streams of the Nile, sweeter than honey.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou hast given birth unto a new Child, the Son of the ageless Father, O most pure one, and thou art more honourable than creation, in that thou hast revealed the Creator of all creation.
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.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Having inherited the undiminished faith of the preachers of Christ, thou didst maintain it intact in the face of the rulers, O glorious one, being in no wise affrighted by the snares of the Italians.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Withdrawing from vile confusion, O most blessed one, thou didst depart to a spiritual and joyous state, where thou dost now behold the light of the threefold Sun, asking grace for us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst make clear for us the sense of the doctrines of piety, and didst courageously confute those who imagine that essence and energy are one and the same; for, O blessed one, an attribute is by nature indeed different from being.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Mighty One hath done great things for thee, O most pure one, and hath found thee as a lily amid thorns, and through thee hath filled all creation with the fragrance of divinity.
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 holy hierarch, the composition of John, Tone VIII: Taking the divinely wise writings of the theologians into thy heart * as one of truly divine eloquence, thou didst proclaim the procession * of the Holy Spirit as was needful, O ever-laudable one, * and didst seal the most holy Symbol of the Faith; ** wherefore, we chant: Rejoice, O divinely eloquent Mark!
Ikos: One of the chiefs among the angels once announced with fear to the Theotokos: Rejoice! And I, one of those who see thee to be manifest as an angel transcending nature, do marvel as a man and with love chant unto thee such things as these: Rejoice, receptacle of holy purity; Rejoice, treasury of the wisdom of God! Rejoice, seal of the holy theologians; Rejoice, boundary of teachers and the Fathers! Rejoice, unfathomable abyss of spiritual thoughts; Rejoice, wise sea of mystical writings! Rejoice, for thou hast been shown to be a great light of the Church; Rejoice, for even to this day those who think contrary to thee are put to shame! Rejoice, well-spring of the dogmas of the Faith; Rejoice, slayer of the intentions of the innovators! Rejoice, thou by whom we are all made steadfast; Rejoice, thou through whom the truth shineth forth! Rejoice, O divinely eloquent Mark!
Ode VII, Irmos: Refusing to worship created things * in place of the Creator, * the divinely wise youths bravely trampled down the threatening fire * and rejoicing they sang aloud: * O supremely hymned Lord and God of our Fathers, Blessed art Thou.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Beholding the pure robe of Christ defiled, which Christ beautified with His Blood, and which must needs be preserved inviolate, thou didst groan and with noble spirit, champion the Church.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Having acquired steadfast thought when thou wast tempted concerning God and the holy dogmas of the Faith, like a lion didst thou put to flight and rout the hordes of innovators with royal roaring.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
As the magnetism of the lodestone attracteth iron, O divinely wise one, thou didst manifestly draw every man to thyself by the gladness and beauty of thy temperament, the splendour of thy words and the sanctity of thy life, and thou has moved all to the glory of God
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
To the human race, made corrupt through the serpent’s poison, hast thou imparted life, O thou who hast given birth unto the Grain of life Who granteth breath unto all; and thou hast established it firmly and made it to partake of paradise, O 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!
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Rejoicing, thou didst mount to the light of the threefold Sun, and thou delightest to partake thereof; for, teaching on earth in an Orthodox manner thou didst declare to all: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
The Son and the Spirit shone forth timelessly from the Hypostasis of the Father alone, the One by being begotten, the Other by procession; this didst thou declare to be dogma, and thus confirm the faithful to chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst proclaim to all the divine procession of the Comforter which taketh place solely from the Father as its cause, O wise one, and thou hast put to shame the putrid opinions of those who traffic in sacred things, who know not how to chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
By the Fruit of thy womb, O Theotokos, mortal nature hath been freed from the ancient curse and deemed worthy of holy blessing; wherefore it glorifieth and chanteth aloud, crying: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Ode VIII, Irmos: The Offspring of the Theotokos * saved the holy children in the furnace. * He who was then prefigured hath since been born on earth, * and He gathereth all creation to hymn thee: * all ye works praise ye the Lord * and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
The great Steward of all, Who upholdeth and conceiveth all things, He Who provided for a general and most pious confession, O blessed one, setteth thee up as a teacher, father, pastor and mighty champion of all.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
The sophistry of the machinations of those who reason contrary to the dogmas have been shown to be like the darts of babes, the sport of children, a spider’s web; and the power of their tongues hath grown weak when confronted with thy divinely inspired and theological tongue, O thou of godly eloquence.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Having lifted up the eyes of thy thought and stretched thy whole self out before the Lord, that thou mightest cast down the mighty and save the pious, thou didst find Him to be an invincible champion Who granteth discourse to thee as to one worthy to proclaim glad tidings with great might.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Repeatedly bestowing love for God and benefaction upon thy neighbour, as He promised thou hast acquired reward in the present and in the age to come: celestial riches, glory, delight which cannot be taken from thee, life everlasting and the kingdom of heaven.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The hatred of the ancient deceiver and apostate hath driven the Creator’s most excellent creation, the human race, into thousands of deceptions, now as before; yet by thine alliance with the divine herald Mark, O Lady, we are now saved therefrom.
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’.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Illumined from head to toe, O blessed God-bearer, in a pure manner thou didst minister the honoured and holy Gospel of the hierarchy; and, teaching the faithful, thou didst prevail upon them to chant: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Thou didst shine forth like the sun from the East, O venerable one, radiating beams of theology, and enlightening the whole world; wherefore thou hast taught the people to chant unto the Trinity with fear: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
To all didst thou proclaim, O glorious one, that the Hypostases of the Trinity do not take their existence one from another, but proceed from a single Cause; for the Son and the Spirit are both manifestly from the Father, and in no wise one from the other, for they are sprung as from a single unfading Root. Wherefore, we honour thy memory throughout all ages.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O most splendid palace of the Master of all, guide my soul, which hath been darkened by the passions, to the paths of the virtues, that saved by thy mercy, I may chant: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!
Ode IX, Irmos: Let every mortal born on earth, * radiant with light, in spirit leap for joy; * and let the host of the angelic powers * celebrate and honour the holy feast of the Mother of God, * and let them cry aloud: * Rejoice! O all-blessed Theotokos, * thou pure Ever-Virgin.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Let the Christian people now assemble rejoicing, and let the holy and unblemished Churches of the Orthodox be glad today and chant hymns of thanksgiving unto Christ, Who hath put an end to the shame of innovation through a single wise man.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Thou hast inherited true renown and heavenly glory, O blessed one, for, having cut pernicious glory and every other pleasure of life from thy soul as though they did not exist, thou rejoicest with the ranks of the teachers of theology as one who shareth in their life.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
The turtle dove, which hath announced freedom from tribulations unto us who are endangered by a most grievous wave of new deception, taking wing on pinions of gold through the grace of the virtues of the Comforter, hath passed over to the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Thou was set as a mediator between God and the ranks of the faithful, offering up amid grievous trials of the Faith the precious Blood of thy Creator, the Deliverance of the world, by thy right acceptable prayers moving to mercy Him Who by nature is the Lover of mankind.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The ravening and deceitful infernal serpent of primeval malice, who wounded mankind like a babe, grew strong, O most holy Lady; but having given birth unto God, the infinite Word, as a new-born Babe, O uncultivated land, thou hast delivered the human race, O most laudable one.
Irmos: Saved by thee, O pure Virgin, * we confess thee to be truly the Theotokos, * and together with the choirs of the bodiless hosts * thee do we magnify.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
The grace of thy words and theology hath gladdened the Church of Christ, which do thou unceasingly pray to be preserved in peace.
Hierarch of Christ, Mark, pray to God for us.
Now thou dost delight well in the supreme and divine enlightenment for which thou didst long, O most blessed one, whereof do thou make us partakers through thy prayers.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Zeal for Orthodoxy, enkindled in thy pure soul, hath reduced to ashes the blasphemy of the heretics, O blessed Mark.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As one more exalted than the intelligences of heaven and close to God, O pure Virgin, illumine my mind, rescuing me from the depths of all manner of necessities.
Troparion of the holy hierarch, Tone VIII: Instructor of Orthodoxy, and opposer of innovations: * Stairway of the faith, beacon of the Church, and divinely inspired seal of teachers: * O most wise Mark, thou hast enlightened all by thy writings. ** O thou harp of the Spirit, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.