As our young people approach baptism, this is a time of learning about the mystery of repentance, and the Orthodox approach to confession.
We have examples of confessions left to us by different saints, and below is an adaptation from St Dimitri of Rostov.
We have probably shared this before, but gladly do so again, hoping that this will be of value to our parishioners in their preparation for confession.
I confess to the Lord my God and before you, venerable father, all my countless sins, committed by me unto this very day and hour, in deed, word, and thought.
I sin daily and hourly by my lack of gratitude toward God for His great and countless blessings and His constant watchfulness over me.
I have sinned through: idle talking, making fun of others, telling inappropriate jokes or laughing at those of others, speaking irreverently, cursing, swearing, slandering others, gossiping, and all other worthless speech.
I have overeaten, drunk too much, or have dwelt immoderately upon food or drink in my thoughts.
I have been proud, judged and criticised others, been stubborn, hardhearted, vainglorious, self-willed and disobedient. I have excused my sins while magnifying the sins of others, been ambitious, and thought too highly of myself.
I have sinned through anger, arguing with others (in my thoughts, on the internet, and in person), being contentious, irritable, impatient, quicker to speak than to listen, and remembering wrongs committed against myself or others.
I have sinned through lustful and impure thoughts, motivations, desires, glances, words, speech, and actions. (One may add any other related sin here)
I have envied others, greedily desired that which God has not given me, and lacked faith in God’s providential care for me.
I have been inattentive, indifferent, careless, rendered evil for evil, been embittered, light minded – not taking seriously the spiritual warfare that constantly surrounds me; I have tempted others and been dishonest.
I have allowed despondency to plague me, having negative or hopeless thoughts. I have doubted the love of God for me. I have thought or said inappropriate or blasphemous things about God, His Mother, the saints, or those within the Church.
I have been absent from divine services because of laziness and carelessness, absent- minded at prayer both in church and at home. I have skipped my prayer rule and the reading of Scriptures for dishonourable reasons. I have been lazy or procrastinated, not doing the work allotted for the day.
My merciful Lord, I have sinned in deed, word, and thought; in sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and the rest of my mental and physical senses; of all my sins I repent and beg forgiveness.
(One should mention specifically any other sins, or elaborate on one of the sins above, if there is something burdening the soul.)
I also repent and ask forgiveness for all those sins that I have not confessed because of their multitude and my forgetfulness.
Forgive and absolve me, venerable father, and bless me to commune of the holy and life- creating Mysteries of Christ unto the remission of sins and life everlasting.
Dear brothers and sisters – on this day on which we celebrate the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon, we also celebrate the Holy Equals to the Apostles Constantine and Helena.
Though we have a lack of Constantine’s, we greet our sisters baptised in honour of the Holy Empress Helena, congratulating them, asking God’s blessing and praying that he will preserve them for many years!
Многая и Благая лѣта!
Canon of the saints, Tone VIII.
Ode I, Irmos: Having passed through the water as upon dry land, * and having escaped the malice of the Egyptians, * the Israelites cried aloud: * Unto our God and Redeemer let us sing.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
O Thou Who alone art the King of heaven, through the entreaties of Thy favoured ones, free Thou my lowly soul from sin, which now reigneth within me.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
As one who loved the kingdom on high, O blessed Constantine, believing with a pure mind, thou didst worship the King and Master of all.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Illumined with divine light, O divinely wise Helena, thou didst truly forsake the darkness of ignorance and most sincerely enslave thyself to the King of the ages.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Lady, thou portal of the divine East, open unto me the door of repentance, and by thine intercession deliver me from the gates of deadly sin.
Ode III, 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.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Thou didst strive to receive heavenly rewards; wherefore, O divinely wise father, thou didst follow Him Who called thee, forsaking the darkness of the falsehood bequeathed to thee, and didst become a luminary through the divine Spirit.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Having cleaved unto Christ and set all thy hope on Him, O most honoured one, thou didst attain unto His sacred places, wherein the Supremely good One, having become incarnate, endured His most pure sufferings.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Burning with divine desire, O divinely blessed one, thou didst uncover the precious Cross, the weapon of salvation, the insuperable victory, the hope of Christians, which had been hidden in malice.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having fallen away from my sacred citizenship, O most pure one, I have become like a beast and am wholly condemned. O thou who hast given birth to the Judge, deliver and save me from all condemnation.
Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.
Sessional Hymn of the saints, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Having stretched forth thy senses toward heaven and acquired the beauty of the stars, thou wast taught by them the mysteries of the Lord of all; and the weapon of the Cross shone forth in their midst, signifying that in which thou shouldest conquer and achieve dominion. Wherefore, opening the eyes of thy soul, thou didst read the writings and learn about the image. O most honored Constantine, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who celebrate thy holy memory with love. (Twice)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion, Tone VIII: Having conceived the Wisdom and Word in thy womb without being consumed, O Mother of God, thou hast given birth for the world unto the Nourisher of all and Fashioner of creation; and thou didst bear in thine arms Him Who holdeth all things. Wherefore, I beseech thee, O all-holy Virgin, and glorify thee with faith: May I be delivered from transgressions, and, on the day of judgment when I shall stand before the face of my Creator, O pure Virgin Sovereign Lady, grant me thine aid; for thou canst do all things whatsoever thou dost will, O thou who art all-hymned.
Ode IV, Irmos: O Lord, I have heard the mystery of Thy dispensation; * I have considered Thy works, * and I have glorified Thy Divinity.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Christ the Lord pursued thee from heaven, as He had Paul of old, O Constantine, teaching thee to worship Him as the only King.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
With a most radiant sign of stars, O blessed one, Christ the Sun illumined thee, showing thee to be a luminary for the darkened.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O blessed one, thou wast God-loving in nature and right wondrous in thy divine works; wherefore, we glorify thee with faith.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Ever-Virgin who hast given birth to the Sun of righteousness, illumine my soul, which hath been darkened by sins.
Ode V, Irmos: Rising early we cry to Thee, O Lord; * save us, for Thou art our God, * and we know none other besides Thee.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Having risen at dawn unto the never-waning Sun and Master, O divinely wise emperor, thou wast filled with light.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Wearing love and perfect loving-kindness like a robe of royal purple, thou hast now made thine abode in the kingdom on high.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Helena, thou hast joined the choirs of the incorporeal ones, having pleased God by thy virtuous works.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Cleanse thou my soul, which hath been defiled by carnal pleasures through the treachery of the serpent, O Virgin.
Ode VI, Irmos: I will pour out my prayer unto the Lord, * and to Him will I proclaim my grief; * for my soul is filled with evils, * and my life unto Hades hath drawn nigh, * and like Jonah I pray unto Thee: * Raise me up from corruption, O God. Most gloriously didst thou assemble the divine choir of the God-bearing fathers,
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
O Constantine, and through them make steadfast the storm-tossed hearts of all, that they might glorify the Word as equal in honor and co-enthroned with the One Who begat Him.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Having believed on the living Lord Who giveth life unto all, O Helena, thou didst spurn the abominable worship of vain idols and joyously received the kingdom of heaven.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Guided by Thy hand, O Word, through Thee the sovereigns thrust aside the most profound darkness of ignorance and the tempest of cruel godlessness, and arrived, rejoicing, at the calm havens of piety.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Heal thou my heart, which hath grown incurably sick and hath been grievously wounded by the sting of the evil one, O Maiden, and by thine entreaties grant healing unto me, and save me who trust in thee, O most pure one.
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 III, Spec. Mel. “Today the Virgin …”: Today Constantine and his mother Helena * have revealed the Cross, the most precious Tree, * which putteth to shame all the Jews * and is the weapon of faithful kings against the adversary. ** For our sake the great standard hath appeared, terrible in battle.
Ikos: Let us honor Constantine, and Helena his mother; for, hearing the words of David, they recognized the three parts of the Cross in the cedar, the pine and the cypress, upon which the suffering of the Savior was accomplished. And having found it, in preparation to display it before the people, they set it before all the Jews, hidden because of their hatred and jealousy; revealing it to be the great justification. Wherefore, they have been revealed to all as victors, bearing the invincible trophy, the great standard, terrible in battle.
Ode VII, Irmos: The Hebrew children in the furnace * boldly trampled upon the flames, * changing the fire into dew, they cried aloud: * ‘Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, throughout the ages’.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Keeping Thy precepts, Constantine submitted to Thy law. Wherefore, he hath cast down hordes of the iniquitous, crying out to Thee: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God!
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
The Tree which hath drawn all from the pit of destruction, O right wondrous one, and which was buried out of malice, thou didst disclose unto us, burying the most pernicious demons forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By godly works thou didst make thy heart a temple of God, O Helena, and didst likewise build sacred churches for Him, where for our sake He endured His most pure sufferings for our sake.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Willingly committing sins, and enslaved by unseemly habits, I flee now to thy tender compassion. O most holy Sovereign Lady, save me who am in despair!
Ode VIII, 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, * ‘O ye youths bless, O ye priests praise, * O ye people, supremely exalt Him throughout all ages’.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Arrayed in loving-kindness as in a robe and in goodly meekness as in cloak, O glorious one, thou wast adorned with a mind perfect in the virtues as with a crown; and having been translated from earth to the kingdom on high, thou dost cry aloud: O ye priests bless; O ye people supremely exalt Christ throughout all ages!
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Beholding thee rejoicing with thy divinely wise son, in the kingdom of God, O glorious Helena, we magnify Christ Who hath shown us your honoured festival, which illumineth us more brightly than the rays of the sun, wherefore we chant with faith: O ye people supremely exalt Christ throughout all ages!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Wondrous is thy desire and godly thy character, O glorious Helena, thou boast of women! For having attained unto the places where the precious sufferings took place, thou didst adorn them with all-beauteous temples of the Master of all, crying: O ye people supremely exalt Christ throughout all ages!
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Theotokos, enlighten the eyes of my soul, which have been blinded by many crimes; grant peace to my mind and heart, which have been vexed by multifarious pleasures, I pray, and save me who cry: O ye priests bless; ye people supremely exalt the pure one throughout all ages!
Ode IX, Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, * and the ends of the earth were filled with amazement, * for God hath appeared in the flesh, * and thy womb was rendered more spacious than the heavens. * Wherefore, the ranks of men and of angels * magnify thee as the Theotokos.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
The tomb wherein thy sacred and precious body doth lie, O Constantine, doth ever pour forth the radiance of divine healings upon those whoever approach it in purity, driving away the darkness of divers passions and illumining those who praise thee with never-waning light.
Holy Equals to the Apostles, Constantine and Helena, pray to God for us.
Having finished thy life in holiness, thou hast now made thine abode with the saints, full of sanctity and enlightenment. Wherefore, ever pouring forth rivers of healings, thou dost burn up our sufferings, giving drink to our souls, O blessed Helena.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O unoriginate and immortal King, Thou hast vouchsafed Thy heavenly kingdom to the holy Helena and the great Constantine, whom of old thou didst grant to reign piously on earth, and who loved Thee in purity, O Lord. By their supplications have pity on us all.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having conceived, thou hast given birth to the King and Creator of all, O Virgin. And, lo! as a Queen thou standest forth now at His right hand. Wherefore, I beseech thee: at the hour of judgment deliver me from the left side, and number me with the sheep on the right.
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Troparion, Tone VIII: Beholding the image of Thy Cross in the sky, * and like Paul receiving a call not from men, * Thine apostle among kings placed the imperial city in Thy hands, O Lord. * Do Thou ever preserve it in peace, ** through the supplications of the Theotokos, O Thou Who alone art the Lover of mankind.
Until the week before our young brother, Macarius, was baptised in Lazarica, we were unaware that he intended to take the name of the desert father, St Macarius the Great of Egypt, having been inspired by reading his life.
For those unfamiliar with the hagiography of this important desert father, his life follows, together with the canon of his feast, which I hope the newly baptised Macarius will pray regularly, and indeed this may be a prompt for us ALL to pray the canon or akathist to our own name-saint regularly.
When did you last pray the canon or an akathist to the saint whose name you bear? Have you EVER done so? Our name-saint should be part of ourpersonal identity and part of our spiritual life: a friend, guide, protector and companion. If we never talk to them in prayer, honouring them and involinge them in our lives, this relationship and association will go nowhere, and we will end up excluding and dishonouring the saint with whose name we have been baptised into the Lord’s death and resurrection.
Saint Macarius the Great of Egypt was born in the early fourth century in the village of Ptinapor in Egypt. At the wish of his parents he entered into marriage, but was soon widowed. After he buried his wife, Macarius told himself, “Take heed, Macarius, and have care for your soul. It is fitting that you forsake worldly life.”
The Lord rewarded the saint with a long life, but from that time the memory of death was constantly with him, impelling him to ascetic deeds of prayer and penitence. He began to visit the church of God more frequently and to be more deeply absorbed in Holy Scripture, but he did not leave his aged parents, thus fulfilling the commandment to honor one’s parents.
Until his parents died, Saint Macarius used his remaining substance to help them and he began to pray fervently that the Lord might show him a guide on the way to salvation. The Lord sent him an experienced Elder, who lived in the desert not far from the village. The Elder accepted the youth with love, guided him in the spiritual science of watchfulness, fasting and prayer, and taught him the handicraft of weaving baskets. After building a separate cell not far from his own, the Elder settled his disciple in it.
The local bishop arrived one day at Ptinapor and, knowing of the saint’s virtuous life, ordained him to the diaconate against his will. Saint Macarius was overwhelmed by this disturbance of his silence, and so he went secretly to another place. The Enemy of our salvation began a tenacious struggle with the ascetic, trying to terrify him, shaking his cell and suggesting sinful thoughts. Saint Macarius repelled the attacks of the devil, defending himself with prayer and the Sign of the Cross.
Evil people slandered the saint, accusing him of seducing a woman from a nearby village. They dragged him out of his cell and jeered at him. Saint Macarius endured the temptation with great humility. Without a murmur, he sent the money that he got for his baskets for the support of the pregnant woman.
The innocence of Saint Macarius was manifested when the woman, who suffered torment for many days, was not able to give birth. She confessed that she had slandered the hermit, and revealed the name of the real father. When her parents found out the truth, they were astonished and intended to go to the saint to ask forgiveness. Though Saint Macarius willingly accepted dishonor, he shunned the praise of men. He fled from that place by night and settled on Mt. Nitria in the Pharan desert.
Thus human wickedness contributed to the prospering of the righteous. Having dwelt in the desert for three years, he went to Saint Anthony the Great, the Father of Egyptian monasticism, for he had heard that he was still alive in the world, and he longed to see him. Abba Anthony received him with love, and Macarius became his devoted disciple and follower. Saint Macarius lived with him for a long time and then, on the advice of the saintly abba, he went off to the Skete monastery (in the northwest part of Egypt). He so shone forth in asceticism that he came to be called “a young Elder,” because he had distinguished himself as an experienced and mature monk, even though he was not quite thirty years old.
Saint Macarius survived many demonic attacks against him. Once, he was carrying palm branches for weaving baskets, and a devil met him on the way and wanted to strike him with a sickle, but he was not able to do this. He said, “Macarius, I suffer great anguish from you because I am unable to vanquish you. I do everything that you do. You fast, and I eat nothing at all. You keep vigil, and I never sleep. You surpass me only in one thing: humility.”
When the saint reached the age of forty, he was ordained to the priesthood and made the head of the monks living in the desert of Skete. During these years, Saint Macarius often visited with Saint Anthony the Great, receiving guidance from him in spiritual conversations. Abba Macarius was deemed worthy to be present at the death of Saint Anthony and he received his staff. He also received a double portion of the Anthony’s spiritual power, just as the prophet Elisha once received a double portion of the grace of the prophet Elias, along with the mantle that he dropped from the fiery chariot.
Saint Macarius worked many healings. People thronged to him from various places for help and for advice, asking his holy prayers. All this unsettled the quietude of the saint. He therefore dug out a deep cave under his cell, and hid there for prayer and meditation.
Saint Macarius attained such boldness before God that, through his prayers, the Lord raised the dead. Despite attaining such heights of holiness, he continued to preserve his unusual humility. One time the holy abba caught a thief loadng his things on a donkey standing near the cell. Without revealing that he was the owner of these things, the monk began to help tie up the load. Having removed himself from the world, the monk told himself, “We bring nothing at all into this world; clearly, it is not possible to take anything out from it. Blessed be the Lord for all things!”
Once, Saint Macarius was walking and saw a skull lying upon the ground. He asked, “Who are you?” The skull answered, “I was a chief priest of the pagans. When you, Abba, pray for those in hell, we receive some mitigation.
The monk asked, “What are these torments?” “We are sitting in a great fire,” replied the skull, “and we do not see one another. When you pray, we begin to see each other somewhat, and this affords us some comfort.” Having heard such words, the saint began to weep and asked, “Are there still more fiercesome torments?” The skull answered, “Down below us are those who knew the Name of God, but spurned Him and did not keep His commandments. They endure even more grievous torments.”
Once, while he was praying, Saint Macarius heard a voice: “Macarius, you have not yet attained such perfection in virtue as two women who live in the city.” The humble ascetic went to the city, found the house where the women lived, and knocked. The women received him with joy, and he said, “I have come from the desert seeking you in order to learn of your good deeds. Tell me about them, and conceal nothing.”
The women answered with surprise, “We live with our husbands, and we have not such virtues.” But the saint continued to insist, and the women then told him, “We married two brothers. After living together in one house for fifteen years, we have not uttered a single malicious nor shameful word, and we never quarrel among ourselves. We asked our husbands to allow us to enter a women’s monastery, but they would not agree. We vowed not to utter a single worldly word until our death.”
Saint Macarius glorified God and said, “In truth, the Lord seeks neither virgins nor married women, and neither monks nor laymen, but values a person’s free intent, accepting it as the deed itself. He grants to everyone’s free will the grace of the Holy Spirit, which operates in an individual and directs the life of all who yearn to be saved.”
During the years of the reign of the Arian emperor Valens (364-378), Saint Macarius the Great and Saint Macarius of Alexandria were subjected to persecution by the followers of the Arian bishop Lucius. They seized both Elders and put them on a ship, sending them to an island where only pagans lived. By the prayers of the saints, the daughter of a pagan priest was delivered from an evil spirit. After this, the pagan priest and all the inhabitants of the island were baptized. When he heard what had happened, the Arian bishop feared an uprising and permitted the Elders to return to their monasteries.
The meekness and humility of the monk transformed human souls. “A harmful word,” said Abba Macarius, “makes good things bad, but a good word makes bad things good.” When the monks asked him how to pray properly, he answered, “Prayer does not require many words. It is needful to say only, “Lord, as Thou wilt and as Thou knowest, have mercy on me.” If an enemy should fall upon you, you need only say, “Lord, have mercy!” The Lord knows that which is useful for us, and grants us mercy.”
When the brethren asked how a monk ought to comport himself, the saint replied, “Forgive me, I am not yet a monk, but I have seen monks. I asked them what I must do to be a monk. They answered, ‘If a man does not withdraw himself from everything which is in the world, it is not possible to be a monk.’ Then I said, ‘I am weak and cannot be as you are.’ The monks responded, ‘If you cannot renounce the world as we have, then go to your cell and weep for your sins.’”
Saint Macarius gave advice to a young man who wished to become a monk: “Flee from people and you shall be saved.” That one asked: “What does it mean to flee from people?” The monk answered: “Sit in your cell and repent of your sins.”
Saint Macarius sent him to a cemetery to rebuke and then to praise the dead. Then he asked him what they said to him. The young man replied, “They were silent to both praise and reproach.” “If you wish to be saved, be as one dead. Do not become angry when insulted, nor puffed up when praised.” And further: “If slander is like praise for you, poverty like riches, insufficiency like abundance, then you shall not perish.”
The prayer of Saint Macarius saved many in perilous circumstances of life, and preserved them from harm and temptation. His benevolence was so great that they said of him: “Just as God sees the whole world, but does not chastize sinners, so also does Abba Macarius cover his neighbor’s weaknesses, which he seemed to see without seeing, and heard without hearing.”
The monk lived until the age of ninety. Shortly before his death, Saints Anthony and Pachomius appeared to him, bringing the joyful message of his departure to eternal life in nine days. After instructing his disciples to preserve the monastic Rule and the traditions of the Fathers, he blessed them and began to prepare for death. Saint Macarius departed to the Lord saying, “Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.”
Abba Macarius spent sixty years in the wilderness, being dead to the world. He spent most of his time in conversation with God, often in a state of spiritual rapture. But he never ceased to weep, to repent and to work. The saint’s profound theological writings are based on his own personal experience. Fifty Spiritual Homilies and seven Ascetic Treatises survive as the precious legacy of his spiritual wisdom. Several prayers composed by Saint Macarius the Great are still used by the Church in the Prayers Before Sleep and also in the Morning Prayers.
Man’s highest goal and purpose, the union of the soul with God, is a primary principle in the works of Saint Macarius. Describing the methods for attaining mystical communion, the saint relies upon the experience of the great teachers of Egyptian monasticism and on his own experience. The way to God and the experience of the holy ascetics of union with God is revealed to each believer’s heart.
Earthly life, according to Saint Macarius, has only a relative significance: to prepare the soul, to make it capable of perceiving the heavenly Kingdom, and to establish in the soul an affinity with the heavenly homeland.
“For those truly believing in Christ, it is necessary to change and transform the soul from its present degraded nature into another, divine nature, and to be fashioned anew by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
This is possible, if we truly believe and we truly love God and have observed all His holy commandments. If one betrothed to Christ at Baptism does not seek and receive the divine light of the Holy Spirit in the present life, “then when he departs from the body, he is separated into the regions of darkness on the left side. He does not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but has his end in hell with the devil and his angels” (Homily 30:6).
In the teaching of Saint Macarius, the inner action of the Christian determines the extent of his perception of divine truth and love. Each of us acquires salvation through grace and the divine gift of the Holy Spirit, but to attain a perfect measure of virtue, which is necessary for the soul’s assimilation of this divine gift, is possible only “by faith and by love with the strengthening of free will.” Thus, the Christian inherits eternal life “as much by grace, as by truth.”
Salvation is a divine-human action, and we attain complete spiritual success “not only by divine power and grace, but also by the accomplishing of the proper labors.” On the other hand, it is not just within “the measure of freedom and purity” that we arrive at the proper solicitude, it is not without “the cooperation of the hand of God above.” The participation of man determines the actual condition of his soul, thus inclining him to good or evil. “If a soul still in the world does not possess in itself the sanctity of the Spirit for great faith and for prayer, and does not strive for the oneness of divine communion, then it is unfit for the heavenly kingdom.”
The miracles and visions of Blessed Macarius are recorded in a book by the presbyter Rufinus, and his Life was compiled by Saint Serapion, bishop of Tmuntis (Lower Egypt), one of the renowned workers of the Church in the fourth century. His holy relics are in the city of Amalfi, Italy.
The Canon of the venerable one, the acrostic whereof is “I glorify Macarius who is most excellent among ascetics”, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone IV
Ode I, Irmos:The people of Israel, having fled across the watery deep of the Red Sea with dryshod feet, beholding the mounted captains of the enemy drowned therein, sang with gladness: Let us chant unto our God, for He hath been glorified!
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Resplendent with light divine, and dwelling now with the angels, O father, by thy supplications save those who celebrate thy most sacred memory and cry out in joy: Let us sing unto our God, for He hath been glorified!
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Walking unerringly, O all-blessed one, thou didst reach the end of the path which leadeth to life, fleeing tumults, and thou didst put down the uprisings of the demons, crying out with joy: Let us sing unto our God, for He hath been glorified!
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Having mortified carnal-mindedness with ascetic struggles, O father, thou didst submit to the divine Spirit; and, guided by His divine power, thou didst cry out in joy: Let us sing unto our God, for He hath been glorified!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst forsake all beautiful things, loving the eternal beauty which is in the house of the Lord, O father, where the sound is of those who keep pure festival, crying out in joy: Let us sing unto our God, for He hath been glorified!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having conceived in thy womb the unoriginate Father’s timeless Son, Who became flesh for the sake of us men, thou didst ineffably give birth to Him under time; and, rejoicing, we cry out to Him: Let us sing unto our God, for He hath been glorified!
Ode III, Irmos: The bow of the mighty is become weak, and the strengthless have girded themselves with power; wherefore, my heart is established in the Lord.
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Thou didst submit to the law of the Spirit, putting on His armour, O venerable one, and didst not subject thy will to the law of sin.
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Directing thine understanding towards God on high, O God-bearer, thou didst forsake all things on earth, being unceasingly made light by the pangs of abstinence.
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Having burst asunder the bonds of nature by thy supernatural and pure life, O God-bearer, thou didst receive the ability to do things which transcend nature.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
That thou mightest converse with God in stillness, O blessed father, thou didst resolve to dwell in the desert, withdrawing from tumult.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Desiring to save man for his benefit, He Who loveth mankind made His abode within thy womb without being circumscribed, O Mother of God, in that He is our Benefactor.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Kontakion, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Thou hast appeared…”: The Lord truly set thee in the house of abstinence like a star which wandereth not, guiding the ends of the earth with light, O venerable Macarius, father of fathers.
Sessional Hymn, Tone I: Spec. Mel. “Thy tomb, O Saviour…”: Tried by the fire of abstinence like gold in the crucible, O wise one, thou wast shown to shine with great lustre; for which cause thou hast passed over to the kingdom of heaven. Wherefore, praising thee with faith, we cry out: Ask thou grace, mercy and the cleansing away of our transgressions, O father! Twice
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: To the path of repentance guide us who have ever wandered away into the trackless wastes of evil and have angered the all-good Lord, O blessed Mary who knewest not wedlock, thou refuge of despairing men and dwelling-place of God.
Stavrotheotokion: The unblemished ewe-lamb, beholding the Lamb and Shepherd hanging dead upon the Tree, cried out, weeping and exclaiming maternally: “How can I endure Thine abasement which is past recounting, as well as voluntary sufferings, O my Son, mine all-good God?”
Ode IV, Irmos:Seated in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, Jesus most divine hath come on a light cloud, and with His incorrupt arm hath saved those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ!
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Through true asceticism thou didst straightway put off the old corrupt man and sinful passions, O father; and thou didst put on Christ, the new Man, O most honoured one.
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Thy life was shown to be most radiant, as a most excellent standard of every godly virtue, O father, in prayers and fasting, vigils and supplications to Christ, Who loveth mankind.
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Thou gavest no slumber to thine eyelids, O divinely wise father, until thou didst make thyself a most beautiful abode for the Master Who seeth all things; and to Him thou didst cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
In thy youth thou didst show forth chastity, in old age, understanding, and throughout thy life, endurance and long-suffering, and love for all who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou hast brought life to dead men and hast raised up those who have fallen into corruption, O most pure one, having given birth to the Bestower of life, Who delivereth those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ!
Ode V, Irmos:Send down upon us Thine enlightenment, O Lord, and free us from the gloom of transgressions, O Good One, granting us Thy peace.
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Extending the intelligence of thy soul, and directing thy senses, O wise and glorious one, thou didst become a most honoured temple dedicated to God.
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Setting at naught the machinations of the most perverse serpent, thou didst blunt his bitter wiles, ever setting thy soul firmly in divine law.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst adorn the three parts of thy soul, O venerable one, and, having made thy mind master, thou didst have Christ guiding thee to the path of heaven.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Virgin gave birth to our all-pure God, Who hath appointed purity as the law for all and declareth the holiness of piety to all on earth.
Ode VI, Irmos:Prefiguring Thy three-day burial, the Prophet Jonah, praying within the sea monster, cried out: Deliver me from corruption, O Jesus, King of hosts!
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Thou didst ardently love to dwell in the desert, O God-bearer, therein receiving God Who delivered thee and guarded thy steps.
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Thou didst remain unshaken in asceticism, O divinely wise one, maintaining such strictness even to the end, and thereby thou hast manifestly been vouchsafed incorrupt delight.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst live an angelic life on earth, and hast received the dignity of the angels as is meet, standing before the God of all with the angels.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In thy womb, O Mother of God, thou didst conceive the Word of the unoriginate Father, Who for our sake immutably became man like us, and is known in two natures.
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 I, Spec. Mel. “The choir of the angels…”: Having in life reached the end of a blessed life with the choirs of the martyrs, thou dwellest in the land of the meek, as is meet, O God-bearing Macarius; and having populated the desert as it were a city, thou hast received from God the grace of miracles. Wherefore, we honour thee.
Ikos: As a zealous disciple of the God-bearing Anthony, O father, pliable as wax, thou didst truly receive the imprint of his every virtue and struggle. Wherefore, like Elijah to another Elisha, he imparted the grace of miracles in twofold measure to thee, who hast also received the effulgence of the foreknowledge of the truth. The great activity of thy life hath been established throughout the world, awakening those who sleep in the abyss of perdition. Wherefore, we honour thee.
Ode VII, Irmos:O all-hymned Lord God of our fathers, Who saved the children of Abraham in the fire, slaying the Chaldæans whom justice rightly overtook: blessed art Thou!
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Casting down the enemy with the help of God and assistance from on high, thou didst become a victor, crying: O all-hymned Lord God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Having purged away the gloom which cometh from the passions, thou wast illumined with the enlightenment of dispassion, O blessed one, crying: O all-hymned Lord God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having adorned thy soul in magnificent virtues and become beautiful for God with comeliness, thou didst chant, rejoicing: O all-hymned Lord God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Making His abode within thy womb, O Virgin, the Lord Who loveth mankind, the blessed God of our fathers, became incarnate, calling us who had fallen into captivity, that we might become what we were in the beginning.
Ode VIII, Irmos:The birthgiving of the Theotokos saved the pious children in the furnace – then in figure, but now in deed – and it moveth all the world to chant to Thee: Hymn ye the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Receiving the words of eternal life in thy heart, O most blessed one, thou didst cause thy body to wither; and thou didst die to the world, clothing thyself in life-bearing mortality, and criest: Hymn the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
O God-bearer, entreat our only Benefactor, that He be merciful unto those who celebrate thy most sacred memory, asking remission of offenses for them. Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Heeding God with constant inclination, and thus receiving the radiance of effulgence, like a mirror thou sendest forth luminous reflected light upon those who chant: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Ever advancing with divine ascents, thou didst mount the ladder which stretcheth up to the heavens, whereon the Lord had appeared, O father, until thou didst reach those who chant: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We hymn thee, O joyous one, for thou gavest birth for us to God incarnate. Wherefore, we all call thee the Theotokos, the God-receiving table, the beauty of Jacob, crying: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Ode IX, Irmos:Eve, through weakness, abode under the curse of disobedience; but thou, O Virgin Theotokos, hast put forth blessing for the world through the Offspring of thy child-bearing. Wherefore, we all magnify thee.
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Thou didst water the field of thy heart with tears of fasting; and, rejoicing, O God-bearing father, in joy thou now gatherest up the honours of thy struggles like sheaves. Wherefore, we all bless thee.
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Never-waning light shone upon thee, and thou hast received everlasting gladness; and, as thou joinest chorus with the angels around the King and Lord, be thou mindful of those who celebrate thy memory with faith, O most blessed father.
Venerable Father, Macarius, pray to God for us.
Thou didst succeed in eluding the arrows of the demons and their wicked machinations; thy soul was saved, O blessed one, and stood forth, pure and undefiled, and thou hast been vouchsafed the inheritance of heaven. Wherefore, be thou mindful of those who hymn thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst contend according to the law of asceticism, as is meet, O father, and didst triumph. Wherefore, the only Benefactor hath honoured thee with a crown of glory and vouchsafed unto thee divine effulgence and blessed delights.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As thou gavest birth to the Creator of all creatures, O Mother of God, thou hast surpassed every creature in divine glory, holiness and grace, and in the perfection of every virtue. Wherefore, we all magnify thee.
Troparion, Tone I: Thou wast shown to be a desert-dweller, an angel in the flesh and a wonder-worker, O our God-bearing father Macarius. Having received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil and prayer, thou healest the infirm and the souls of those who have recourse unto thee in faith. Glory to Him Who hath given thee strength! Glory to Him Who hath crowned thee! Glory to Him Who worketh healings for all through thee!
The Paschal Canon, the Work of St John of Damascus
Ode I, Irmos: It is the Day of Resurrection, * let us be radiant, O ye people; * Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha: * for from death to life, * and from earth to heaven, * Christ God hath brought us, * as we sing the song of victory.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Let us purify our senses, * and we shall behold Christ, * radiant with the unapproachable light of the Resurrection, * and we shall clearly hear Him say, Rejoice! ** as we sing the hymn of victory.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Let the heavens be glad as is meet, * and let the earth rejoice, * and let the whole world, both visible and invisible, * keep festival: * for Christ is risen, ** O gladness eternal.
To the Theotokos: by Nicephorus Callistos Xanthopolous:
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
Thou dost now gush forth grace for me, O Virgin Theotokos of the Spring, thereby granting me the words, by which I may praise thy Spring, from which issueth forth life and grace unto the faithful; for thou hast caused the Hypostatic Word to flow forth.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
Thy temple, O honored one, hath been shown to be a supra-natural place of healing for all, O Maiden; for clearly it hath raised up from death the faithful that flee thereto, causing an abundance of sweetness to flow forth unto all.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou alone, hast truly been the cause by which grace hath inexhaustibly descended unto us from Heaven; for thou didst cause the blind man to behold light in a manner past understanding, when thou didst call from on high unto Leo in the swampland.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou art the common honour of mankind O honored One, Rejoice O Mary, rejoice; for the Creator of all hath clearly descended upon thee like a drop of rain, showing thee to be an immortal Spring, O Bride of God.
Katavasia: It is the Day of Resurrection, * let us be radiant, O ye people; * Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha: * for from death to life, * and from earth to heaven, * Christ God hath brought us, * as we sing the song of victory.
Ode III, Irmos: Come, let us drink a new drink, * not one miraculously brought forth from a barren rock * but the Fountain of Incorruption, * springing forth from the tomb of Christ, * in Whom we are strengthened.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Now all things are filled with light; * heaven and earth, * and the nethermost parts of the earth; * let all creation, therefore, celebrate the arising of Christ ** whereby it is strengthened.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Yesterday I was buried with Thee, O Christ; * today I rise with Thine arising. * Yesterday I was crucified with Thee; * do Thou Thyself glorify me with Thee, O Savior, ** in Thy kingdom.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
I know thee to be an effulgent and holy temple of the Master of all, O Maiden, and a Spring of incorruption from whence Christ, the Water of incorruption, floweth forth, and from whence we refresh ourselves.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
God hath granted grace unto thy Spring, O Lady, and by its water it dispelled the fearful gall-stone, granting it passage from the emperor who grievously suffered from it.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Abundant grace doth flow forth from thee, O Virgin Theotokos, pouring forth in floods; through thee, the lame skip with joy, a multitude of lepers are cleansed, and demons are suffocated.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Unto all the faithful dost thou impart healings; to kings and common people, paupers and rulers, to poor and rich alike; pouring forth water as a source of a healing of diverse maladies.
Katavasia: Come, let us drink a new drink, * not one miraculously brought forth from a barren rock * but the Fountain of Incorruption, * springing forth from the tomb of Christ, * in Whom we are strengthened.
Chirst is risen from the dead… (Thrice)
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Kontakion, Tone VIII: Thou didst descend into the tomb, O Immortal, * Thou didst destroy the power of Hades. * In victory didst Thou arise, O Christ God, * proclaiming “Rejoice!” to the myrrh-bearing women; * granting peace to Thine apostles, ** and bestowing resurrection on the fallen.
Sessional Hymn of the Theotokos, Tone VIII: Let us all who ask of grace, * with one accord praise the living and ever- flowing divine source, * the most divine Spring, which daily poureth forth * healings unto all mankind, * by comparison a river’s flow is insignificant. * Wherefore, as is due, as we all draw nigh with love, * with faith let us now draw from the Spring inexhaustible strength, * truly immortal, * bedewing the hearts of the pious; * and with our lips let us cry aloud: ** Thou art the comforting solace of the flock of the faithful.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Repeat the Sessional Hymn
Ode IV, Irmos: On divine watch let the God-inspired Habakkuk stand with us, * and show forth the light-bearing angel clearly saying: * Today salvation is come to the world, * for Christ is risen * as Almighty.
Christ is risen from the dead.
As a man-child did Christ appear * when He came forth from the Virgin’s womb, * and as a mortal was He called the Lamb. * Without blemish also, is our Pascha * for He tasted no defilement; ** and as true God, perfect was He proclaimed.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Like unto a yearling lamb, * Christ, our blessed Crown, * of His own will was sacrificed for all, * a Pascha of purification; * and from the tomb the beautiful Sun of Righteousness ** shone forth again upon us.
Christ is risen from the dead.
David, the ancestor of God, * danced with leaping before the symbolical Ark; * let us also, the holy people of God, * beholding the fulfillment of the symbols, * be divinely glad; ** for Christ is risen as Almighty.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
Truly, more numerous than grains of sand, and drops of rain, are the multitude of the deeds of thy Spring, which doth unceasingly and abundantly pour forth upon all the earth, quickly healing all who are grievously ill.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
From thy Spring, water was poured upon the breast of the woman stricken with cancer, O Virgin; and straightway the fatal malady ceased at the pouring, for the cancer simply knew to leave.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Incomprehensible and surpassing nature is that which hath been manifestly accomplished in thee, O Theotokos; for the water of thy Spring is, for those illnesses that are fatal, an antidote clearly unknown to nature.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The enemy doth ever slay me by the attacks of pleasures, O Lady Theotokos of the Spring; turn not away from me, but do thou hasten, O thou who art quick to help, and deliver me from his snares, that I may ever praise thee, O greatly praised one.
Katavasia: On divine watch let the God-inspired Habakkuk stand with us, * and show forth the light-bearing angel clearly saying: * Today salvation is come to the world, * for Christ is risen * as Almighty.
Ode V, Irmos: Let us awake in the deep dawn, * and instead of myrrh, offer a hymn to the Master, * and we shall see Christ, * the Sun of Righteousness, * Who causeth life to dawn for all.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Seeing Thy boundless compassion * they who were held in the bonds of hades * hastened to the light, O Christ, * with gladsome feet, ** praising the Pascha eternal.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Bearing lights, let us approach Christ, * Who cometh forth from the tomb like a bridegroom, * and with the feast-loving ranks of angels * let us celebrate ** the saving Pascha of God.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
The wondrous miracles spoken of concerning thy Spring, O Virgin Maiden, truly astonish the minds of mortal men; for in a manner surpassing nature they sanctify all the faithful.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
The fleece, the manna and Siloam, the rock that poured forth Water, Solomon’s porch, the waters of the Jordan, and the well of the Samaritan woman all depicted thy grace.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Drops from thy Spring, O Virgin Maiden, have raised a dead man. Truly surpassing telling and understanding is that which hath been accomplished! For all things that pertain to thee surpass the telling of mankind, O all-pure one.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Maiden, thou hast healed my sufferings, as thou didst dry up the source of the woman’s issue of blood, and dispel the blistering of skin shriveled by fire, and cure tuberculosis, and the blockage of urine, and dysentery.
Katavasia: Let us awake in the deep dawn, * and instead of myrrh, offer a hymn to the Master, * and we shall see Christ, * the Sun of Righteousness, * Who causeth life to dawn for all.
Ode VI, Irmos: Thou didst descend into the nethermost parts of the earth, * and didst shatter the eternal bars that held the fettered, O Christ, * and on the third day, * like Jonah from the whale, * Thou didst arise from the tomb.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Having kept the seals intact, O Christ, * Thou didst rise from the tomb, * O Thou Who didst not break the seal of the Virgin by Thy birth, * and Thou hast opened for us ** the doors of Paradise.
Christ is risen from the dead.
O my Savior, the living and un-slain Sacrifice, * when, as God, Thou, of Thine Own will, * hadst offered up Thyself unto the Father, * Thou didst raise up with Thyself the whole race of Adam, ** when Thou didst rise from the tomb.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
Rational speech hymneth thee as truly a Spring, O pure one; for in a manner surpassing reason thou hast given birth to the Depth of Wisdom, Who suspended the Waters in the sky, and the earth upon the waters.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
Standing beneath the collapse of the stairs which threatened to crush the painters that were there, O all-holy Spring, thou didst hold them fast, and thou didst save the people when the roof collapsed during the earthquake.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Wombs once bereft of fruit because of barrenness hast thou manifestly healed by the streams of thy Spring; for as thou didst give birth unto the Master of all, while yet a virgin, thou hast also granted them children.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Neither word, nor mind, nor tongue is able to rightly praise thy childbirth, O pure one; even the sublimity of philosophers and the beauty of the eloquence of rhetoricians are humbled before thee.
Katavasia: Thou didst descend into the nethermost parts of the earth, * and didst shatter the eternal bars that held the fettered, O Christ, * and on the third day, * like Jonah from the whale, * Thou didst arise from the tomb.
Chirst is risen from the dead… (Thrice)
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Kontakion, Tone VIII: From thine unfailing fount, O thou who art full of God’s grace, * do thou reward me by the flow of the never-ending streams of thy grace * which surpasseth human telling. * And since thou didst bear the Word in a manner beyond human understanding, * I beseech thee to refresh me with thy divine grace, ** that I may cry to thee: Rejoice, O thou water of salvation.
Ikos: O undefiled Theotokos, thou who ineffably hast given birth to the Word Who was begotten of the Father before the ages, do thou open my mouth, O modest one, that I may praise and acclaim, thee, crying such things as these unto thy Spring: Rejoice, Spring of unceasing joyfulness. Rejoice, Stream of ineffable beauty; Rejoice, Banishment of diverse impairments. Rejoice, Destruction of various ailments; Rejoice, Stream of clarity, curing the believing. Rejoice, water of jubilation, healing a multitude of the ailing; Rejoice, Lymph of wisdom, banishing ignorance. Rejoice, Draught for the heart, brimming with ambrosia in abundance. Rejoice, Bowl of manna streaming with life. Rejoice, Laver and Nectar, divinely-wise flowing; Rejoice, thou who hast shown us the passage from illness. Rejoice, thou who didst quench the fire of sickness; Rejoice, O thou water of salvation.
Hymn of the Resurrection, Tone VI: Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, * let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, * the only sinless One. * We worship Thy Cross, O Christ, * and Thy holy Resurrection we hymn and glorify. * For Thou art our God, * and we know none other beside Thee; * we call upon Thy name. * O come, all ye faithful, * let us worship Christ’s holy Resurrection, * for, behold, through the Cross joy hath come to all the world. * Ever blessing the Lord, * we hymn His Resurrection; * for, having endured crucifixion, ** He hath destroyed death by death. (Thrice)
Jesus having risen from the tomb, * as He foretold, * hath granted us life eternal, ** and great mercy. (Thrice)
Ode VII, Irmos: He Who delivered the Children from the furnace, * became man, suffereth as a mortal, * and through His Passion * doth clothe mortality with the beauty of incorruption, * He is the only blessed and most glorious * God of our fathers.
Christ is risen from the dead.
The godly-wise women with myrrh * followed after Thee in haste; * but Him Whom they sought with tears as dead, * they worshipped joyfully as the living God, * and they brought unto Thy disciples, O Christ, ** the good tidings of the mystical Pascha.
Christ is risen from the dead.
We celebrate the death of death, * the destruction of hades, * the beginning of another life eternal, * and leaping for joy, * we hymn the Cause, ** the only blessed and supremely glorious God of our fathers.
Christ is risen from the dead.
For truly sacred and all-festive is this saving night, * and this shining, light- bearing day, * the harbinger of the Resurrection, * whereon the Timeless Light bodily ** from the tomb upon all hath shined.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
O Ye infirm, draw forth healing for yourselves, for the all-pure one causeth true sweetness to flow from her divine Spring, truly pouring forth a torrent of delight. Wherefore, let us all in faith draw forth from these abundant streams.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
All the faithful are astonished by thy wondrous marvels, O Lady; for thy water hath made the deaf and the dumb eloquent, curing them that suffer grievously and granting them healing.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou dost lead out from the furnace of afflictions those who draw nigh unto thee, O pure one, bedewing them with water from thine awesome spring; for thou didst deliver a man from gout and disfigurement; and heal the leper, and quench malignant boils.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Ye young men and maidens, and all ye men, with heartfelt faith let us radiantly acclaim our Lady; for she hath healed cysts, the punctures of nails, foul sores, inflammations, and palsy.
Katavasia: He Who delivered the Children from the furnace, * became man, suffereth as a mortal, * and through His Passion * doth clothe mortality with the beauty of incorruption, * He is the only blessed and most glorious * God of our fathers.
Ode VIII, Irmos: This chosen and holy day * is the first of the Sabbaths, * the queen and lady, * the feas of feasts, * and the festival of festivals, * wherein we bless Christ throughout the ages.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Come, on this auspicious day of the Resurrection, * let us partake of the fruit of the new vine * of divine gladness of the kingdom of Christ, * praising Him as God ** throughout the ages.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Lift up thine eyes about thee, O Zion, * and see, for behold, there cometh unto thee * like God-illumined beacons, * from the west, and from the north, * and from the sea, and from the east, ** thy children, in thee blessing Christ throughout the ages.
O Most Holy Trinity, our God, glory be to Thee.
O Father Almighty, and Word, and Spirit, * one Nature united in three Hypostases, * transcendent and most divine! * Into Thee have we been baptized, ** and Thee will we bless throughout all ages.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
Thy Spring doth pour forth divine and honorable Water, O Virgin, and by the invocation of divine grace, it doth greatly staunch the effluence of those with dropsy. Wherefore, we honor thee, O Spring, throughout the ages.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
Let us all gladly praise the honorable and life-streaming water; for it doth staunch the sources of phlegm in respiratory maladies, making an open path that it may freely depart. O how great are thy wonders, O pure Birthgiver of God!
We bless the Father, son, and Holy Spirit, the Lord.
What mouth can rightly praise thy wondrous birth-giving, O all-hymned one? And what mind can gaze upon the well-spring of thy miracles and praise them with words? Nature hath not the strength to stand in awe at that which is thine.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All the might of death hath been banished straightway, O Queen and Lady; for thou art the well-spring of Christ the immortal King, our Life, the Water, the Manna, throughout the ages.
Katavasia: This chosen and holy day * is the first of the Sabbaths, * the queen and lady, * the feast of feasts, * and the festival of festivals, * wherein we bless Christ throughout the ages.
Ode IX, Irmos: Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, * for the glory of the Lord hath arisen upon thee; * dance now and be glad, O Zion, * and do thou exult, O pure Theotokos, * in the arising of Him Whom thou didst bear.
Christ is risen from the dead.
O how divine, how loving, * how sweet is Thy voice! * For Thou hast truly promised * to be with us unto the end of the age, O Christ; * having this foundation of hope, ** we the faithful rejoice.
Christ is risen from the dead.
O Christ, Thou great and most sacred Pascha! * O Wisdom, Word and power of God! * Grant us to partake of Thee more fully * in the unwaning day ** of Thy kingdom.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
The water of thy Spring doth surpass all water in essence, O pure Maiden, clearly granting deliverance from grievous illnesses, and supernaturally pouring the fullness of health upon all souls.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
We all behold thy Spring as a new Siloam, a deliverer from infirmities; for having received noetic eyes, we can all now partake of a healthy noetic life.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.
Ye that seek health, hasten unto the Spring; for the grace of the Virgin Maiden doth dwell therein. Leap for joy and be glad, O ye multitudes of the faithful, for in her temple, each according to his need, shall receive the recompense of his request.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The water of thy Spring hath been exalted above the heavens, coursing in streams throughout the abysses of the earth; it is the nourishment of the soul, the nectar of the faithful, the honey from the rock, and the distribution of manna.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Virgin, thou dost gladden the faithful in a manner surpassing nature, by pouring forth grace from thine ever-flowing Spring, and thereby granting us strength against our adversaries, as well as victories, health, and peace, and the fulfillment of our prayers.
Katavasia: Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, * for the glory of the Lord hath arisen upon thee; * dance now and be glad, O Zion, * and do thou exult, O pure Theotokos, * in the arising of Him Whom thou didst bear.
I greatly encourage parishioners to try to read the Paschal Canon every day during the Paschal season, and here publish the English text with the Theotokia verses (to the Mother of God) which are added to the canon after the night of Pascha itself.
Ode 1, Eirmos:It is the Day of Resurrection! Let us be radiant, O ye people! Pascha! The Lord’s Pascha! For Christ our God hath brought us from death to life, and from earth unto heaven, as we sing triumphal hymn!
Christ is risen from the dead.
Let us purify our senses and we shall behold Christ, radiant with inaccessible light of the Resurrection, and shall hear Him saying clearly, “Rejoice!” As we sing the triumphal hymn!
Christ is risen from the dead.
Let the heavens rejoice in a worthy manner, the earth be glad, and the whole world, visible and the invisible, keep the Feast. For Christ our eternal joy hath arisen!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou hast broken through the barrier of death, by giving birth to Christ, the eternal Life, Who today hath shone forth from the tomb, O Virgin all-blameless, and Who hath enlightened the world.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Having beheld thy resurrected Son and God, rejoice thou with the apostles, O Pure One graced of God, and be the first to rejoice, as thou hast received the Cause of joy for all, O Mother of God all-blameless.
Katavasia: It is the Day of Resurrection!…
Ode 3, Eirmos:Come, let us drink a new drink, not miraculously drawn from a barren rock, but the fountain of Incorruption springing from the tomb of Christ in Whom we are established.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Now all things are filled with light: heaven and earth, and the nethermost regions. So let all creation celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, whereby it is established.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Yesterday, O Christ, I was buried with Thee, and today I arise with thy arising. Yesterday I was crucified with Thee. Glorify me, O Saviour, with Thee in Thy Kingdom.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Into incorruptible life have I entered today, through the goodness of Him Who was born of thee, O Pure One, and Who makest all the ends of the earth radiant with joy.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having beheld God, Whom thou hast borne in the flesh, risen from the dead, as He said, O Pure One, dance, and Him as God, O most Pure One, do thou magnify.
Katavasia: Come, let us drink…
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. (Thrice)
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.
Hypakoe, tone 4: When at dawn, the women with Mary came and found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, they heard from the angel: Why seek ye among the dead (as if He were a mortal man) Him Who lives in everlasting light? Behold the grave-clothes. Run and tell the world that the Lord is risen, and has slain death. For He is the Son of God Who saves mankind.
Ode 4, Eirmos: May the divinely speaking Abbacum now stand watch with us, and show forth a shining Angel saying resoundingly: Today salvation hath come to the world; for Christ is risen as Almighty.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Christ revealed Himself as of the male sex when He opened the Virgin’s womb, and as a mortal is He called the Lamb. Thus, without blemish also, is our Pascha, for He tasted no corruption, and, since He is truly God, He was proclaimed perfect.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Christ, our blessed Crown, like a yearling Lamb, of His own good will sacrificed Himself for all, a Pascha of purification, and as the glorious Sun of Righteousness, He has shone upon us again from the grave.
Christ is risen from the dead.
David, the forefather of our divine Lord, leapt and danced before the symbolic Ark of the Covenant. Let us also, the holy people of God, beholding the fulfilment of the symbols, be divinely glad; for Christ hath risen as Almighty.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
He Who created Adam thy forefather, O Pure One, took form from thee, and the habitation of the dead hath He demolished today through His death, and shone upon all things with the divine radiance of the Resurrection.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Beholding Christ Whom thou hast borne, shining forth splendidly from the dead, O Pure One, who art good and spotless among women, and comely, today rejoicing with the apostles in the salvation of all, Him do thou glorify.
Katavasia: May divinely speaking Abbacum …
Ode 5, Eirmos:Let us arise in the deep dawn and, instead of myrrh, offer a hymn to the Lord, and we shall behold Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, Who causest life to dawn for all.
Christ is risen from the dead.
When they who were held by the chains of hell beheld Thy boundless compassion, O Christ, they hastened to the light with joyful feet, exalting the eternal Pascha.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Bearing lights, let us meet Christ, Who cometh forth from the tomb like a bridegroom. And with the ranks of joyfully celebrating Angels, let us celebrate the redeeming Pascha of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Enlightened by the divine rays and the life-bearing Resurrection of thy Son, O most pure Mother of God, the gathering of the pious is filled with joy.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou didst not open the gates of virginity in the incarnation, nor the seal upon the tomb didst Thou destroy, O King of creation; from whence seeing Thee risen, Thy Mother rejoiceth.
Katavasia: Let us arise…
Ode 6, Eirmos: Thou didst descend into the nethermost regions of earth, O Christ, and didst shatter the eternal bars which held the prisoners captive; and like Jonah from the sea-monster, after three days Thou didst rise from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead.
Having kept the seals intact, Thou didst rise from the grave, O Christ, Who didst not violate the Virgin’s womb by Thy birth, and Thou hast opened to us the gates of Paradise.
Christ is risen from the dead.
O my Saviour, while as God Thou didst voluntarily offer Thyself to the Father as an unslain and living sacrifice, Thou didst raise up with Thyself the whole race of Adam, when Thou didst rise from the grave.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
He that of old was held by death and corruption is raised up by Him Who was incarnate of the thy most pure womb, O Theotokos Virgin, unto incorruption and everlasting life.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
He Who went down into the nethermost part of the earth, and came into thy womb, O Pure One, and dwelt and past understanding was incarnate, hath also raised up Adam with Himself when He rose from the tomb.
Katavasia:Thou didst descend…
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. (Thrice)
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 Resurrection, Tone 8:Though Thou did descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of hell, and did rise again as a conqueror, O Christ our Lord, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, rejoice! And giving peace to Thine Apostles, and offering Resurrection to the fallen.
Eikos: The myrrh-bearing maidens anticipated the dawn and sought, as those who seek the day, their Sun, Who was before the sun and Who had once sat in the grave. And they cried to each other: Friends, come, let us anoint with spices His life-giving and buried body – the Flesh Who raised up fallen Adam, and Who now lies in the tomb. Let us go, let us hasten, and like the Magi, let us worship; and let us bring myrrh as a gift to Him, Who is wrapped, not now in swaddling clothes, but in a shroud. And let us weep and cry: Arise, O Lord, Who dost offer Resurrection to the fallen.
Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless One. We worship Thy Cross, O Christ, and Thy Holy Resurrection we praise and glorify; for Thou art our God, and we know no other than Thee; we call upon Thy name. O come all ye faithful, let us worship Christ’s holy Resurrection. For behold, through the Cross joy hath come to all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, let us praise His Resurrection. For by enduring the Cross for us He destroyed death by death. (Thrice)
Jesus, having risen from the grave as He foretold, hath given us eternal life and great mercy. (Thrice)
Ode 7, Eirmos:He Who delivered the children from the furnace, and became man and suffered as a mortal, through His suffering, He clothes mortality with the grace of incorruption. He is the only blessed and most glorious God of our fathers.
Christ is risen from the dead.
The godly wise women came to Thee with myrrh. But Him Whom they sought with tears as dead, they joyfully adored as the living God. And they told to Thy disciples, O Christ, the glad tidings of the mystical Pascha.
Christ is risen from the dead.
We celebrate the death of death, the destruction of hell, the beginning of eternal life. And leaping for joy, we celebrate the Cause, the only blessed and most glorious God of our fathers.
Christ is risen from the dead.
For a truly holy and a supreme feast is this saving night radiant with Light, the harbinger of the bright day of Resurrection, on which the Eternal Light shone bodily from the grave upon all.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thy Son, having put death to death, O All-spotless One, today hath granted unto all mortals the life that abideth unto the ages of ages, the only blessed and most glorious God of our fathers.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
He Who reigneth over all creation, became man, dwelling in thy God-graced womb, and having endured crucifixion and death, is risen in a God-befitting manner, raising us up with Himself, for He is almighty
Katavasia:He Who delivered…
Ode 8, Eirmos: This is the chosen and Holy Day, the first of Sabbaths, the Sovereign and Queen, the Feast of Feasts, and Triumph of Triumphs, on which let us bless Christ forever.
Christ is risen from the dead.
O come, let us partake of the fruit of the new vine of divine joy on the auspicious Day of the Resurrection and Kingdom of Christ, praising Him as God forever.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Cast thine eyes about thee, O Zion, and behold! For lo! Thy children have assembled unto thee from the West and from the North and from the South and from the East, as divinely radiant luminaries, Blessing Christ unto the ages.
O Most Holy Trinity, our God, Glory be to thee.
Father, Almighty, the Word, and the Spirit, one Nature in three Persons united, transcending essence supremely Divine! In Thee we have been baptized, and Thou wilt bless us throughout all ages.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Through thee the Lord came into the world, O Virgin Theotokos, and the womb of hades did He tear open, granting unto us mortals resurrection; wherefore, we bless Him unto the ages.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Laying low all the dominion of death by His resurrection, thy Son, O Virgin, as the mighty God, hath raised us up with Himself and deified us; wherefore, we sing His praise unto the ages.
Katavasia: This is the chosen…
Ode 9, Eirmos:Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord hath risen upon thee. Dance now for joy and be glad, O Sion! And thou, pure Mother of God, rejoice in the rising of Him Whom thou didst bear.
Christ is risen from the dead.
O divine, O dear, O sweetest Voice! For Thou, O Christ, hast faithfully promised to be with us to the end of the world. And holding fast this promise as an anchor of hope, we the faithful rejoice.
Christ is risen from the dead.
O great and holiest Pascha, Christ! O Wisdom, Word and Power of God! Grant that we may more perfectly partake of Thee in the unending Day of Thy Kingdom.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With one voice, O Virgin, the faithful do bless thee: Rejoice, O Portal of the Lord; rejoice, O living City; rejoice, through whom for our sake the Light hath shone, Who, born of thee, is the resurrection of the dead.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Be glad and rejoice, O Portal of the Divine Light; for Jesus set into the grave, hath dawned forth shining more brightly than the sun, and hath illumined all the faithful, O Sovereign Lady who rejoiceth in God.
Katavasia:Shine, shine…
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the graves bestowing life. (Thrice)
The General Order for Chanting a Canon – With Supplicatory Prayers to St Arilda
Dear brothers and sisters, one of our young people recently asked about the order for chanting canons and akathists, so this post will hopefully help.
We have previously published a simple order, which consists of the opening prayers with Psalm 50 and the creed before the canon/akathist, and then “It is truly meet…”, the Trisagion prayers and the dismissal.
The following order is a little more complex, mirroring the order of the moleben, but without readings, and is set out for use when there is no priest.
As you will see, we begin with the opening prayers and the usual moleben Psalm (142).
This is followed by “God is the Lord…” with its verses, and this is always chanted in the tone of the first troparion of the feast or saint that is being honoured.
The troparion is then chanted twice, and after the Glory, we sing the Theotokion, which is a troparion to the Mother of God appointed to follow troparia.
If we are honouring a Great Feast, we chant the troparion twice, and then repeat it after “Glory… Now and ever…”
We then chant Psalm 50, although this is sometimes omitted, and the canon(s) follows.
As some of our parishioners will be visiting Oldbury-on-Severn on Saturday, and will honour the Virgin-Martyr, Arilda, I have taken the canon for a Virgin-Martyr from the General Menaion and used this to illustrate the order of prayer. The General Menaion is used for the variable parts of services when there are none specific to a saint in the monthly menaion. We insert names into the general hymns.
The canon is followed by “It is truly meet…” or a zadostoinik (a hymn to the Mother of God that takes the place of “It is truly meet…”), the Trisagion prayers, the troparion and kontakion (sometimes a prayer) and the dismissal sequence.
Once the faithful get used to this order, it will be straight forward and second nature!
Reader: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us.
People: Amen.
O Heavenly King, O Comforter, * Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, * Treasury of good things and Giver of life, * come and dwell in us, * and cleanse us of all impurity, ** and save our souls, O Good One.
Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (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.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy Name’s sake.
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.
Our Father, Who art in the heavens, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.
Reader: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us.
People: Amen.
Reader: Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
O come let us worship God our King.
O come let us worship and. fall down before Christ our King and God.
O come let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God.
Psalm 142: O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear unto my supplication in Thy truth; hearken unto me in Thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with Thy servant for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath humbled my life down to the earth. He hath sat me in darkness as those that have been long dead, and my spirit within me is become despondent; within me my heart is troubled. I remembered days of old, I meditated on all Thy works, I pondered on the creations of Thy hands. I stretched forth my hands unto Thee; my soul thirsteth after Thee like a waterless land. Quickly hear me, O Lord; my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not Thy face away from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Thy mercy in the morning; for in Thee have I put my hope. Cause me to know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for unto Thee have I lifted up my soul. Rescue me from mine enemies, O Lord; unto Thee have I fled for refuge. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness; for Thy name’s sake, O Lord, shalt Thou quicken me. In Thy righteousness shalt Thou bring my soul out of affliction, and in Thy mercy shalt Thou utterly destroy mine enemies. And Thou shalt cut off all them that afflict my soul, for I am Thy servant.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. (Thrice)
And in Tone 4: God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Stichos 1: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever.
People: God is the Lord…
Stichos 2: Surrounding me they compassed me, and by the Name of the Lord, I warded them off.
People: God is the Lord…
Stichos 3: I shall not die, but live, and I shall tell of the works of the Lord.
People: God is the Lord…
Stichos 4: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
People: God is the Lord…
Troparion, Tone IV: Thy ewe-lamb Arilda, O Jesus crieth out with a loud voice: * “Thee do I love, O my Bridegroom, * and, seeking Thee, I endure suffering. * In Thy baptism I am crucified and buried with Thee. * I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; * I die for Thee, that I may live with Thee. * Accept me, who with love sacrifice myself for Thee, * as an unblemished offering!” ** By her supplications, in that Thou art merciful, save Thou our souls. (Twice)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion, Tone IV: The mystery hidden from all ages * and unknown to the ranks of angels, * hath been revealed to those on earth through thee, O Theotokos: * God incarnate in an uncommingled union, * Who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake, * and through it hath raised up the first-formed man, ** and saved our souls from death.
Reader: Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)
Psalm 50: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee, that Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings Thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.
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The Canon, in Tone VIII
Ode I, Irmos: Let us sing unto the Lord, * who led His people through the Red Sea: * for He alone hath gloriously been glorified.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
By her wondrous actions the all-praised maiden Arilda inspires the choirs of heavenly hosts above and those of us here on Earth below to hymn her holy deeds.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
The Master of all loved the beauty of thy most fair heart, O all-praised one, wherefore He hath made thee worthy to dwell in the heavenly dwellings.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou, O Martyr, without fear underwent suffering, manifold wounds, and execution, taking with thee the sustaining grace of the Savior which helped thee to endure.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We ever hymn thee, O most pure Theotokos, who above nature hast given birth unto the pre-eternal Incarnate and supremely divine Word.:
Ode III, Irmos: O Lord, thou art the confirmation of those who flee to Thee, * Thou art the Light of those in darkness, * and my spirit doth hymn Thee.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
Thou O all-praised Arilda, didst appear before thy judges with a courageous soul, vanquishing the cowardly enemy.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
Sporting neither blemish in thy beauty, nor any failing in thy soul, Christ received thee as a fair bride in His incorruptible palaces.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O all-praised Martyr of Christ Arilda, heal the scars of my soul, and by thine intercessions still the stormy seas of my life.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All Orthodox Christians have acquired in thee a refuge and an unshakable rampart, wherefore we unceasingly magnify thee, O thou who knewest not wedlock.
Katavasia: Pray to God for us, O Holy Virgin-Martyr, Arilda, for we eagerly betake ourselves unto thee, who art a spreedy helper and intercessor for our souls.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
The Sessional Hymn, in Tone VIII: With the streams of thy blood * thou hast drowned the wicked, O all-praised Martyr of Christ, * and from joyous clouds of grace thou dost ever water the spiritual meadows, * rearing up therein the fruits of faith; * wherefore after thy repose thou hast appeared lustrously as a luminous cloud, * shedding forth the testimony of thy life. * O all-praised spiritual athlete Arilda, * pray to Christ God that those whom with love honor thy holy memory * be granted the remission of their sins.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion in Tone VIII: All we, the generations of mankind, * call thee blessed, * in that thou art the Virgin who alone among women * hast given birth without seed unto God in the flesh; * for the fire of the Godhead made its abode within thee, * and thou didst feed the Creator and Lord * with milk as an infant. * Wherefore, we, the race of mankind and of angels, * worthily glorify thine all-holy birthgiving, * and together we cry out to thee: * Entreat Christ God to grant forgiveness of sins ** unto those who with faith worship thine all-holy Offspring.
Ode IV, Irmos: O Lord, I have heard the mystery of Thy dispensation; * I haveconsidered Thy works, * and I have glorified Thy Divinity.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
Presenting thyself as an unstained mirror of divine understanding, thou, O Martyr, doth shine forth in the midst of women sufferers like a golden lamp of priceless beauty.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
Thou didst not offer sacrifice unto the dumb demons, O invincible Martyr Arilda, but rather with love desired to receive a life-bestowing death for thy piety.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With the other passion-bearers, O unblemished Arilda, thou didst bear upon thy body countless wounds, and yet remained without pangs through the manifestation of divine love.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As the only Sinless One, grant deliverance from ignorance unto us, and peace to Thy world, O God, through the intercession of her who gave birth to Thee.
Ode V, Irmos: Rising early we cry to Thee, O Lord; * save us, for Thou art our God, * and we know none other besides Thee.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
Having learned the difference between the spiritual day and the darkness of the world, thou didst rebuke the contentious spirit.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
Imagining he would be able to weaken thy divine strength, O Martyr Arilda, the most cunning enemy hath only made himself a subject of derision.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Grant unto me, O all-praised one, enlightenment and peace, and by thine intercessions disperse the great agitation and confusion that afflicts my soul.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We hymn thee as a Virgin, O Theotokos, even after child-birth, for thou hast brought forth into the world God the Word in the flesh.
Ode VI, Irmos: O Thou that puttest on light as a garment * grant me also a robe of light, * O All-merciful Christ, our God.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
Bearing valiant wisdom of mind while in thy feminine body, thou, O glorious one, didst not fear beasts of land and sea.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
Vanquishing the pride of thy tormentors, thy soul remained unharmed, O invincible Martyr, wherefore thou didst receive a crown of victory.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As righteous and beautiful, as honorable and resplendent with the radiance of virginity, the Bridegroom, even the Lord, hath brought thee to Himself, O most glorious martyr.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As the only one who hath given birth in the flesh unto the Word, we beseech thee to deliver our souls from the snares of the enemy.
Katavasia: Pray to God for us, O Holy Virgin-Martyr, Arilda, for we eagerly betake ourselves unto thee, who art a spreedy helper and intercessor for our souls.
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.
Kontakion, Tone II: Finding thine all-revered temple (and holy spring)* to be a source of healing for our souls, * we the faithful with a loud voice cry unto thee, * O greatly renowned Maiden-Martyr Arilda, ** entreat Christ God unceasingly on behalf of us all.
Ikos: Having gathered together today let us worthily honor the Martyr of Christ Arilda, that by her intercessions, our souls and bodies be may delivered from all pestilence, earthquake and plague, and that we may pass our lives in humility, and thereby be granted to praise God together with all the saints that pleased Him in ages past, and to walk in the un-waning light. For Thou, O Savior, hast bedewed with Thy mercies all those who in faith praise her. Wherefore we cry unto her, unceasingly pray for us all.
Ode VII, Irmos: The Children of Judaea, * who of old came to dwell in Babylon, * trampled underfoot the flame of the furnace * through their faith in the Trinity, * as they sang: “O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.”
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
The manly-courage of the divine Martyrs is beyond understanding, for the Creator of maketh His creation subject to those who in the midst of their suffering cry out: “O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.”
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
The glorious maiden hath silenced the wicked mouths of her tormentors and subdued the pride of the lawless, while in the Holy Spirit she divinely sang: “O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.”
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Of old, the trio of devout youths burned those who superheated the fiery furnace; and now, as then, the Divinely-wise maiden, hymning the Trinity, inspires us to sing: “O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.”
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Savior, when thou didst deign to accomplish our salvation; Thou didst enter the womb of the Virgin and reveal her to be a sure intercessor for all the world: “O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.”
Ode VIII, Irmos: The King of heaven, * Who is glorified by the hosts of angels, * let uspraise and supremely exalt throughout all ages.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
The exceedingly blessed among women Arilda, having been rewarded with grace from the Most High, now hymneth, praising Christ throughout all ages.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
Strengthened by the thought of the Bridegroom and caring for things spiritual, thou didst give up thy body, even unto death, and inherited eternal life.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The Bridegroom, mysteriously descending unto the most pure maiden in the furnace, hath, by the dew of the Holy Spirit, and in accordance with the good pleasure of the Father, saved her who hymneth Christ throughout all ages.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Despise not, O pure Virgin; those that seek thine aid, and who chant and extol thee throughout all ages.
Ode IX, Irmos: With never ceasing praises we magnify thee, * the Mother of God Most High, * who art higher than the most pure hosts, * and who beyond comprehension knew not wedlock, * yet hath truly given birth to God.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
From on high thou wast granted to understand that the flow of thy blood was a token of thy future incorruptible life, O all-praised martyr, wherefore thou hast appeared unto all who draw nigh to thee, to be an inexhaustible treasury of healings.
Holy Martyr Arilda pray to God for us!
In accordance with the law of nature, O divinely-wise one, thou didst suffer death, which thou didst willingly endure; and upon death, which was witnessed to by the flow of thine own blood, thine all-precious body was laid to rest remaining incorrupt.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As the fairest bride of Christ and an illumining sun, as a truly chosen turtle-dove and as a fertile olive tree more comely than the cedars of Lebanon we all praise thee, O godly-revered Arilda.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O bride who knewest not wedlock, receptacle of sweet fragrance, the true and immaculate Virgin and Mother who received in thy womb the heavenly rain descending from the cloud of light, thee do we magnify.
Zadostoinik, Tone VIII: Receive the prayers of thy servants, O Sovereign Lady, and deliver us from every need and sorrow. Thou art our weapon, O Mother of God, and a wall of refuge; thou art the Mediatrix, and unto thee do we run, and now we cry in prayer to thee, that thou mightest deliver us from our enemies. We all exalt thee, O blameless Mother of Christ our God, whom the Holy Spirit hath overshadowed.
Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. 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.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name’s sake.
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.
Our Father, Who art in the heavens, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.
Reader: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us.
People: Amen.
Troparion, in Tone IV: Thy ewe-lamb Arilda, O Jesus crieth out with a loud voice: * “Thee do I love, O my Bridegroom, * and, seeking Thee, I endure suffering. * In Thy baptism I am crucified and buried with Thee. * I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; * I die for Thee, that I may live with Thee. * Accept me, who with love sacrifice myself for Thee, * as an unblemished offering!” ** By her supplications, in that Thou art merciful, save Thou our souls.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, in Tone II: Finding thine all-revered temple (and holy spring)* to be a source of healing for our souls, * we the faithful with a loud voice cry unto thee, * O greatly renowned Maiden-Martyr Arilda, ** entreat Christ God unceasingly on behalf of us all.
Reader: Lord, have mercy. (Forty times)
O holy Virgin-Martyr, Arilda, look upon us with a merciful eye, and hearken unto our small supplication; and as thou didst flee the pollution of the world, and refusing the defilement of sin didst become a ewe-lamb offered unto the Lord, we humbly pray and bessech thee to intercede for us before the Master and Shepherd of His sheep. Help us, that encumbered as we are with the pleasures and ease of life, we may emulate thy martyrdom, resisting the lures and temptations of the world, and may be granted the grace to struggle for purity of body, mind and soul. Pray to God for us, that we may join thee in the Heavenly Kingdom, and that as pure and unblemished offerings, holy to the Lord, He may grant to us healing of soul and body, and great mercy.
People: Amen,
Reader: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
People: More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without defilement gavest birth to God the Word, the true Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) Lord, bless.
Reader: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy Most-Pure, Mother, of the Holy Virgin-Martyr Arilda, and all the saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for Thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind.
The Canon of The Venerable One, the Acrostic Whereof Is: “I Offer a Hymn to the Wise Benedict”: The Composition of Joseph, in Tone II
Ode I, Irmos: Come, O ye people, * let us sing a song to Christ our God, * Who divided the sea, * and made a way for the nation * which He had brought up out of the bondage of Egypt; * for He hath been glorified.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
O venerable Benedict, pray thou that God grant deliverance from all trans- gressions and grace unto me who yearn to hymn thy right laudable memory.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
Taking up thy cross from childhood, in monasticism thou didst follow after the Almighty; and having mortified the flesh, thou wast deemed worthy of life, O most blessed one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Subjecting thyself to the law of God, O right wondrous one, thou didst quell the uprisings of the passions with feats of abstinence, and wast enriched by the grace of dispassion.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Enriched with incorruption on account of thee, O all-pure Birthgiver of God, we cry out to thee who art full of joy: Rejoice, O adornment of the venerable and the righteous!
Ode III, Irmos: O Lord, who didst slay sin upon the tree, * firmly establish us in Thee, * and in the hearts of us who hymn Thee * plant the fear of Thee.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
Full of the living waters of the divine Spirit, O God-bearer, thy soul poured forth rivers of miracles, drying up the flow of ailments.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
Thou didst pass over to abide in the vastness of paradise, O all-blessed one, having trodden the narrow path, and didst choke off the wiles of the demons and the ways of the disorderly.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Watered with streams of thy tears, O Benedict, like a fruitful tree thou didst bring forth a divine harvest of virtues and miracles, by divine grace.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
He Who alone is good passed, incarnate, through thy womb, O most immaculate one, and was seen as a perfect man. Him do thou beseech, that He save those who hymn thee.
Sessional Hymn, Tone I: Being a monk in a manner pleasing to God, thou didst live virtuously and didst receive the grace of healing, O Benedict, working awesome miracles; and having assembled a sacred community, thou didst lead to the Lord multitudes of the saved, O most spiritually rich father. Glory to God Who enlightened thee! Glory to Him Who crowned thee! Glory to Him Who hath glorified thy holy memory!
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.
Theotokion, Tone I: Stretching forth thy divine arms, wherewith thou didst bear the Creator Who in His goodness hath become incarnate, O most pure virgin, beseech Him to deliver from temptations, sufferings and tribulations us who praise thee with love and cry aloud: Glory to Him Who made His abOde within thee! Glory to Him Who issued forth from thee! Glory to Him Who hath delivered us by thy birthgiving!
Stavrotheotokion (replaces the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): In awe of Thy great and dread endurance, O Savior, the most pure one lamented bitterly and cried out to Thee Who wast crucified on the Cross by the iniquitous ones and whose side was pierced with a spear by the soldiers: Glory to Thy love for mankind! Glory to Thy goodness! Glory to Thee Who by Thy death hast rendered mankind immortal!
Ode IV, Irmos: I hymn Thee, O Lord, for I have heard report of Thee, * and I was afraid; * for Thou comest to me, seeking me who am lost. * Wherefore, I glorify Thy great condescension towards me, * O greatly Merciful One.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
Having crucified thyself to the passions and the world, O father Benedict, thou didst please Christ Who stretched out His hands on the Cross of His own will. Him do thou entreat, that He save our souls.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
With feats of abstinence didst thou mortify thy fleshly members, O venerable one; by thy prayer didst thou raise up the dead; thou gavest the paralyzed, who marveled in faith, the ability to walk, and didst heal every infirmity, O father.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By thy vivifying discourse, O venerable one, didst thou render dry and desiccated souls fruitful, bringing forth spiritual and divine fruit, in that thou wast advanced by God, thou most sacred adornment of monastics.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The incarnate Word descended upon thine honored womb like rain upon the fleece, O pure one, and manifestly halted the rains of polytheism and brought an end to the bitter winter, O all-immaculate one.
Ode V, Irmos: O Lord, Bestower of light and Creator of the ages: * guide us in the light of Thy commandments, * for we know none other God than Thee.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
Entreating the God of mercy, O venerable father, like Elijah thou didst fill a cruse, a great vessel, with oil, a thing marveled at by those who watched with faith.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
As one pure of soul, O all-blessed Benedict, in ecstasy, thou didst behold the whole earth resplendent as beneath a single light, for God so honoreth thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Working miracles in Christ, O Benedict, by thy supplication thou entreatest the Judge of the contest, that water gush forth, which remaineth to this day, proclaiming thy wonders.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
He Who dwelleth in the heavens, so desiring, made His abOde within thy pure womb, that He might make habitations for the Trinity of us who proclaim thee to be the Theotokos, O pure one.
Ode VI, Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, * I appeal to the unfathomable abyss of Thy compassion: * Raise me up from corruption, O God.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
Illumined by the effulgence of the Spirit, thou didst dispel the darkness of evil demons, O wonder-worker Benedict, most radiant lamp of monastics.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
How glorious was thy life, O blessed one! How splendid thine honored life whereby thou didst draw the flock of monastics to knowledge of the Savior!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As a resident of the kingdom of heaven, O divinely wise Benedict, pray thou, that we who ever faithfully bless thee may also attain it.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The never-setting Sun of righteousness shone forth from thy holy womb and enlightened the faithful, O all-hymned virgin Theotokos.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion of the venerable one, Tone VI: Thouwast enriched by the grace of God, * and by thy deeds proclaimed thy name. * In prayer and fasting thou wast revealed to be * full of the gifts of the Spirit of God, * O Benedict, favorite of Christ God, * shown to be a healer of the infirm, ** as one who repulses the enemy, the ready helper of our souls.
Ode VII, Irmos: Of old the youths revealed themselves to be rhetors * with a love for supreme wisdom, * for from the depths of their God-pleasing souls, * they theologized with their lips as they sang: * O supremely divine God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
Thou didst acquire life-bearing mortality by laying aside pleasures; wherefore, thou wast deemed worthy to resurrect the dead, O blessed Benedict, crying out: O supremely divine God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
Astonishing a multitude of the faithful, thou didst do as did the great Elijah, raising up a garden for monks by thy venerable labors, and it remaineth ever walled about by thy supplications, O blessed one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The mindless ones who sought to murder thee with evil sorcery were put to shame, O father Benedict, denounced by the foreknowledge in thee, for thou wast preserved by the hand of Almighty God.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Heal thou the passions of my soul, O Virgin who ineffably conceived the Well-spring of dispassion, and grant me a shower of compunction to bring me consolation there, O holy Theotokos.
Ode VIII, Irmos: God Who descended into the fiery furnace * with the Hebrew children, * and transformed the flame into dew, * do ye works hymn, * and supremely exalt as Lord throughout all ages.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
Reigning in Christ over corrupting passions, O divinely wise father, thou wast deemed worthy to dwell in the heavenly kingdom with all who lived righteously and loved God Who seest all things.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
Accepting thy holy supplications, through thee God bestowed the means to live upon those in want, glorifying thee exceedingly with miracles on earth, O thrice– blessed Benedict.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Adorned with the beauties of godly virtues, thou didst pass on to the beautiful mansions to abide with God, O father, and to enjoy His divine beauties for ages without end.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Behold, a Babe, the Son of the Most High, is born of thee, O pure one, as Isaiah crieth out, and He is seen to be thy Son also, O Virgin, making those who honor thee children of the heavenly Father.
Ode IX, Irmos: God the Word, God of God, * Who by ineffable wisdom came to create Adam anew * after his grievous fall to corruption through eating * and Who took flesh beyond all telling from the Holy Virgin for our sake, * Him we faithful with one accord magnify in song.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
Thou wast shown to be like the great sun, illumining creation with awesome signs and rays of the virtues; wherefore, celebrating thy truly luminous memory, we are enlightened with compunctionate thoughts, O father.
Venerable Father, Benedict, pray to God for us.
The flock of monastics assembled by thee giveth praise day and night, having in their midst thy body which poureth forth rivers of miracles abundantly and unceas- ingly enlighteneth their steps, O wise father.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst emit a radiance greater than that of the Sun, O father, fulfilling the commandments of God; and thou hast passed into never-waning light, praying that forgiveness of sins be granted to those who faithfully honor thee; O ever-memorable Benedict.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Virgin, bearer of the Light, drive thou the passions from my soul, and grant that I may behold, in pure manner, the beauty of the Savior Who shone forth ineffably from thy most pure womb, as a light to the nations, O all-hymned one.
Dear brothers and sisters, greetings for the feast of St Gerasimos, famously remembered to taking a thorn from the paw of a lion who came to him, and being befriended by the creature.
His monastery, of which he was abbot, remains a place beloved of pilgrims to the Holy Land.
Saint Gerasimos was a native of Lycia (Asia Minor). From his early years he was distinguished for his piety. Having received monastic tonsure, he withdrew into the desert of the Thebaid (in Egypt). Thereafter, in about the year 450, the monk arrived in Palestine and settled at the Jordan, where he founded a monastery.
For a certain while Saint Gerasimos was tempted by the heresy of Eutyches and Dioscorus, which acknowledged only the divine nature in Jesus Christ, but not His human nature (i.e. the Monophysite heresy). Saint Euthymius the Great (January 20) helped him to return to the true Faith.
Saint Gerasimos established a strict monastic Rule. He spent five days of the week in solitude, occupying himself with handicrafts and prayer. On these days the wilderness dwellers did not eat cooked food, nor did they kindle a fire, but ate only dry bread, roots and water.
On Saturday and Sunday all gathered at the monastery for Divine Liturgy and to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. In the afternoon, taking a supply of bread, tubers, water and an armload of date-palm branches for weaving baskets, the desert-dwellers returned to their own cells. Each had only old clothes and a mat, upon which he slept. When they left their cells, the door was never locked, so that anyone could enter and rest, or take whatever he needed.
Saint Gerasimos himself attained a high level of asceticism. During Great Lent he ate nothing until the very day of the All-Radiant Resurrection of Christ, when he received the Holy Mysteries. Going out into the desert for all of Great Lent, Saint Gerasimos took with him his beloved disciple Saint Cyriacus (September 29), whom Saint Euthymius had sent to him.
When Saint Euthymius the Great died, Saint Gerasimos saw how angels carried the soul of the departed up to Heaven. Taking Cyriacus with him, the monk immediately set off to the monastery of Saint Euthymius and consigned his body to the earth.
Saint Gerasimos died peacefully, mourned by his brethren and disciples. Before his death, a lion had aided Saint Gerasimos in his tasks, and upon the death of the Elder it died at his grave and was buried nearby. Therefore the lion is depicted on icons of the saint, at his feet.
Canon to the venerable one, the acrostic whereof is: “I praise Gerasimos, as I weave for him a crown,” in Tone VIII
Ode I, Irmos: Let us chant unto the Lord, Who led His people through the Red Sea, for He alone hath gloriously been glorified.
Venerable Father, Gerasimos, pray to God for us.
The glory of immortality and a divine crown of incorruption hath Christ given thee who struggled well, O Gerasimos.
Venerable Father, Gerasimos, pray to God for us.
Having the Bestower of light attending to thy supplications, O father Gerasimos, thou didst diminish the darkness of the demons.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Through the streams of thy tears, O father, thou didst bring forth the fruits of immortality like an irrigated tree, O divinely wise Gerasimos.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Ease thou the pain of my heart, O all-pure Theotokos who, in manner past understanding and recounting, gave birth unto Christ without pain.
Ode III, Irmos: Thou art the confirmation of those who have recourse to Thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of the benighted; and my spirit doth hymn Thee.
Venerable Father, Gerasimos, pray to God for us.
Following Him Who endured crucifixion willingly, O venerable one, thou wast wholly crucified to life and to the passions.
Venerable Father, Gerasimos, pray to God for us.
Strengthened by the support of Him Who accomplisheth all things, O wise Gerasimos, thou wast able to trample down all the snares of the mighty one.
Venerable Father, Gerasimos, pray to God for us.
Made strong by an humble mind and a humble spirit, O wise one, thou didst utterly lay low the passions which corrupt the soul.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With the splendours of thy wonders thou dost, like the great sun, enlighten the hearts of all who praise thee with faith.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O all-immaculate one, thou gavest birth unto the Son Who is enthroned with the Father and of the same essence, and Who showeth the portals of life unto all.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sessional hymn, Tone IV, Spec. Mel .“Thou hast appeared today….”: Passing over the wiles of the demons through the activity of the Cross, O venerable one, thou didst become a god by adoption. Wherefore, we faithfully honor thee, O Gerasimos . (Twice)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: Stretching forth thine all-pure hands, O Virgin Mary, protect those who trust in thee and cry out to thy Son: O Christ, grant Thy mercies unto all!
Stavrotheotokion (replaces the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): Beholding thy Son suspended upon the Tree, O all-pure one, thou didst cry out in grief, thy maternal womb rent with pain: Woe is me! How hast Thou set, O mine everlasting Light?
Ode IV, Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thy dispensation; I have understood Thy works, and have glorified Thy divinity.
Venerable Father, Gerasimos, pray to God for us.
Thine enlightened heart became a temple of the Spirit, O father. Wherefore, it poureth forth gifts, healing afflictions by grace divine.
Venerable Father, Gerasimos, pray to God for us.
Submitting to the law of God, thou didst follow the Lord from thy youth, O father, embracing the life of the bodiless ones while yet in the body.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thy steps were directed to the way of salvation, O venerable one, by the guidance of the divine Spirit Who dwelt within thee, O venerable one.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Jesus, Who loveth mankind, Whom thou didst bear in thy womb, O all-immaculate one, do thou beseech, that He save all who hymn thee.
Ode V, Irmos: Waking at dawn, we cry to Thee: Save us, O Lord! For Thou art our God, and we know none other than Thee.
Venerable Father, Gerasimos, pray to God for us.
Having received rays of the Holy Spirit with a purified mind, thou didst become a light to monastics.
Venerable Father, Gerasimos, pray to God for us.
Thy life, shining forth through the constraint of nature, showed thee to be an earthly angel in the flesh.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Filled with the life-imparting waters of the Spirit, thou didst pour forth rivers of wonders, O father Gerasimos.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Theotokos, the incarnate Word descended upon thee like a shower, unto the enlightenment of our souls.
Ode VI, Irmos: Cleanse me, O Saviour, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the abyss of evils, I pray, for to Thee have I cried, and Thou hast hearkened to me, O God of my salvation.
Venerable Father, Gerasimos, pray to God for us.
The weakness of thy flesh, strengthened by the power of Him Who hath shone forth upon us from the pure Virgin, O venerable father, hath brought low the power of the incorporeal foe.
Venerable Father, Gerasimos, pray to God for us.
Having crushed the jaws of the noetic lions by grace, thou didst put down the assaults of the senses, O venerable one. Wherefore, a lion submitted to thee, like a sheep to a shepherd, ministering to thee right dutifully.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Acquiring an angelic life and a mind humble in Christ, O father, thou wast meek. And now, thou hast made thine abode in the land of the meek, filled with divine joy.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Effulgence of the Father dwelt within thee, O pure one, and, born in the flesh, He hath enlightened the world and delivered all from the darkness of polytheism. Wherefore, we hymn thee.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Having been lifted up….”: Burning with heavenly love, thou didst prefer the harshness of the desert of Jordan more than all the delights of the world; hence, a wild beast submitted to thee even until the time of thy death, O father, dying in obedience and grief on thy grave. Thus did God glorify thee. And when thou dost pray to Him, O father Gerasimos, be thou mindful of us.
Ode VII, Irmos: In the furnace the Hebrew children boldly trod the flame underfoot and transformed the fire into dew, crying out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!
Venerable Father, Gerasimos, pray to God for us.
Light and gladness, its spouse, shone forth upon thee, O father, who dost ever abide in the mansions of heaven and dost chant: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!
Venerable Father, Gerasimos, pray to God for us.
Having watered thy heart with showers of tears, O God-bearer, thou bringest forth fruits of virtue, through which, with all the venerable, thou hast received the delight of heaven forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Continue reading →
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.
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.