Canon of the Martyrs, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn the children of Sophia, who are manifest as exceeding splendid,” the composition of Theophanes, in Tone I

Ode I, Irmos: Thy victorious right arm hath in godly manner been glorified in strength; for as almighty, O Immortal One, it smote the adversary, fashioning anew the path of the deep for the Israelites.

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

O Master Christ, grant me the effulgence of Thy transcendent and ineffable wisdom, that I may hymn Thy magnificent and right glorious martyrs, the offspring of Sophia.

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

Thy name was manifestly adorned by thy manner of life, O divinely wise and glorious Sophia; for, illumined with the grace of wisdom, thou didst spend thy whole life in desiring wisdom.

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

Thy most blessed fruit, adorned with the number of the all-divine Trinity, struggled like athletes for Him, O most wise Sophia, thou namesake of the divine Wisdom.

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

The three virgin maidens, Faith, Hope and glorious Charity, having cleansed body and soul with the virtues, were brought in martyrdom to Thee, O Christ, the noetic Bridegroom.

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

He Who made His abode as God in thy womb, O all-pure one, Who took upon Him my whole form and was seen before in the form of God, hath renewed all. Wherefore, all we, the faithful, glorify thee as the Theotokos.

Ode III, Irmos: O Thou Who alone hast known the weakness of human nature, having in Thy mercy formed Thyself therein: Thou dost gird me about with power from on high, that I may chant to Thee: Holy is the living temple of Thine ineffable glory, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

Hearkening to the voice of Christ calling them to a life devoid of death and suffering, the crowned virgin martyrs followed Thee, crying out to Thee, O Holy One: O Thou Who lovest mankind, holy is the animate temple of Thy pure glory!

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

As He promised, Christ gave you strength as ye stood before the tribunal as martyrs; and He filled you with divinely inspired wisdom and showed you forth as radiant, O victorious martyrs, resplendent in the grace of virginity.

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

Ye dulled the greatly arrogant mind of the enemy and cast down his pride, contending with great wisdom; and with the streams of your blood ye drowned him who of old boasted that he would destroy the sea.

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

Filled to abundance with the exalted wisdom of Christ, with elect and sage wisdom the three daughters of Sophia put to shame the savagery of the torturers and their unbearable cruelty, giving utterance to divine teachings.

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

In holy manner thou gavest birth to Christ, the Holy of Holies, the holy tabernacle of sanctity, Who resteth in the saints; and to Him do we cry out: Holy is the animate temple of Thine ineffable glory, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

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

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

Sessional hymn, Tone I, Spec. Mel:.“The choir of the angels…”: O reason-endowed ewe-lambs of the Lamb and Shepherd, ye were given over to cruel torments and have been shown to be equal in honour with the angels. Wherefore, in gladness of heart we all celebrate your sacred memory, O divinely wise maidens.

Ode IV, Irmos: Habbakuk, gazing with the eyes of foresight upon thee, the mountain overshadowed by the grace of God, prophesied that the Holy One of Israel would come forth from thee, for our salvation and restoration.

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

Strengthened by divine grace, the right victorious Faith, Charity and Hope manfully put to shame the threats of the tyrant; and burnt by the fire, the most wise ones were led to Christ the Bridegroom.

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

Protected by the armour of the Cross, the holy Faith, Charity and Hope were able to endure the wounds of their torturers with fortitude, opposing sin most mightily even to the shedding of their blood.

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

Faith, Charity and Hope, the three radiant lamps of the wisdom of the Trinity, illumined and manifestly shining, enlighten the Church most splendidly, for our salvation and defence.

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

O most lauded Theotokos, thou holy of holies, from thee shone forth the Deliverer, the expectation of the nations and the salvation of the faithful, the Lord and Bestower of life, unto the salvation of us who hymn thee.

Ode V, Irmos: O Christ Who hast enlightened the ends of the world with the radiance of Thy coming and hast illumined them with Thy Cross: with the light of Thy divine knowledge enlighten the hearts of those who hymn Thee in Orthodox manner.

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

The three God-bearing virgins, bound by faith and nature, endured tortures with patience of will, and they put to shame the audacious one, uttering mysteries of wisdom which are in God.

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

Our first mother rejoiceth, seeing the deceiver, who of old drove her from Eden, vanquished by Hope, Faith and Charity, the divinely wise women born of Sophia.

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

Wounded by Thy love and Thy divine ardor, O Christ, the honoured maidens spurned the venomous flattery of the tyrant and willingly endured the wounds of tortures.

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

Beholding thee, the hosts of heaven rejoice, and with them the assemblies of men make merry; for they have been united by thy nativity, O Virgin Theotokos, which we glorify as is meet.

Ode VI, Irmos: The uttermost abyss hath surrounded us, and there is none to deliver us. We are accounted as lambs for the slaughter. Save Thy people, O our God, for Thou art the strength and correction of the weak!

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

Rejoicing, O Master, the three honoured and laudable maidens, equal in number to the Trinity, placed their hope in Thine all-pure hands.

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

Resplendent with the beauties of virginity, they adorned themselves with the wounds of martyrdom, and have received from on high a twofold crown from Christ, the most compassionate Bestower of life.

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

Into the temple of Thee, Who reignest over all, were the precious treasures of virginity brought, O Master, to share in Thy kingdom; for Thou art their light and gladness.

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

The forefathers of our race rejoice in thee, O all-pure Virgin, receiving Eden through thee which they had lost through their transgression; for thou wast pure before giving birth and art pure even after thy birth-giving.

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

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

Kontakion of the Martyrs, Tone I, Spec. Mel. “Thy tomb, O Saviour…”: Faith, Hope and Charity, revealed as most sacred branches of the honoured Sophia, through grace made foolish the wisdom of the Hellenes; and having suffered and been shown to be victorious, they were crowned with an incorruptible crown by Christ the Master of all.

Ode VII, Irmos: O Theotokos, we, the faithful, perceive thee to be a noetic furnace; for, as the supremely Exalted One saved the three youths, in thy womb the praised and most glorious God of our fathers wholly renewed the world.

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

Manifestly illumined with the thrice-radiant grace of unity, the virgins destroyed the utter darkness of the demons, theologising concerning the Light in three Hypostases, and chanting: Praised and all-glorious is the God of our fathers!

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

Possessing mansions in the heavens, O light-bearing souls, with gladness ye now join chorus with the angels, gazing upon eternal glory and saying: Praised and all-glorious is the God of our fathers!

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

Showing steadfast opposition like the three youths, the maidens manfully trampled upon the fire; for, being equal in number with them, the God-bearing virgins acquired the same understanding of the praised and all-glorious God of our fathers.

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

O pure one, thou givest remission of transgressions unto those who hymn thee with faith, delivering them from temptations and every evil circumstance; for we have now acquired thee as a refuge, O Bride of God, in that thou didst bear the praised God of our fathers in thine arms.

Ode VIII, Irmos: The children of Israel in the furnace, shining more brightly than gold in a crucible in the beauty of their piety, said: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

The divinely radiant virgins Faith, Hope and Charity, were more lustrous than gold in the beauty of their piety, saying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

The virgins who are radiant and were manifestly splendid amid their torment let us hymn, O ye faithful, saying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

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

The shrines of the athletes ever pour forth a stream of healing abundantly, copiously and richly upon those who with faith cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

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

Holy ground wast thou, O pure one, giving birth to the life-bearing Ear of grain: Christ, the Mediator of everlasting life, to Whom we all cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Ode IX, Irmos: The bush which burnt with fire yet was not consumed showed forth an image of thy pure birth-giving. And now we pray that the furnace of temptations which rageth against us may be extinguished, that we may magnify thee unceasingly, O Theotokos.

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

Filled with thrice-radiant light, and delighting now in the divine radiance, O ye who are equal in number to the virtues and bear their names: love, hope and faith, make us steadfast by hope, love and faith.

Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, pray to God for us.

Let the might of heaven now subdue the tempest of heresy which besetteth us, O invincible athletes. We entreat you, O good virgins: pray ye unceasingly, that God grant oneness of mind to the faithful.

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

Having passed through the night of this life, O most wise ones, ye have reached the unwaning day, making merry as martyrs and boasting in grace as virgins, being counted worthy of the divine and incorruptible kingdom.

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

O, how hath the Virgin given birth unto the eternal and hypostatic Word, the effulgence of the hypostasis of the Father, our Benefactor and Lord, Who became incarnate of her, whom we magnify as is meet.

Troparion, Tone IV: In their sufferings, O Lord, Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee our God; for, possessed of Thy might, they set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. By their supplications save Thou our souls.

Ode I, Irmos: Having traversed the water as though it were dry land, and escaped the evil of Egypt, the Israelite cried aloud: Let us chant unto our Deliverer and God!

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

O Tikhon, holy hierarch of Christ: do thou thyself grant me understanding and speech, that I may worthily hymn the glory wherewith Christ the Lord hath glorified thee.

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

A ray of divine light hast thou shone upon us. Come, ye children of the light, that we may be illumined thereby, that, magnifying the holy hierarch with hymns, we may become warmed by the Spirit.

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

Let us glorify the blessed Tikhon, the successor to the apostles, enthroned with the holy hierarchs, dweller with the venerable, by whose intercession we obtain salvation.

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

The Master of all, having taken flesh of thee ineffably, O Mary Theotokos, became perfect man; and when thou gavest birth, He kept thee as pure as thou hadst been before giving birth. Him do thou entreat, that He save our souls from misfortune.

Ode III, Irmos: O Lord, Fashioner of the vault of heaven and Creator of the Church: establish me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, confirmation of the faithful, Who alone lovest mankind.

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

Wounded with the love of Christ, O blessed one, from thy youth didst thou follow Him with unwavering desire, disdaining every carnal pleasure.

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

The passions of youth which vex the flesh didst thou cut down with the sword of the love of wisdom, offering thyself as a sacrifice to Christ the Master.

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

O Tikhon, with greater love didst thou cleave unto wisdom, made steadfast in the fear of God, for it is the beginning of wisdom.

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

Let us hymn the divine temple of God! Let us bless the holy Virgin, deified and delivered from misfortunes by her!

Sessional Hymn of the saint, Tone VIII: From thy youth wast thou a temple of the Holy Spirit; for, having cleansed thy soul of passions through thy faith, the grace of the Comforter doth dwell therein. Wherefore, even after thy repose, thy body hath been preserved incorrupt. Entreat Christ God that those who honor thee be delivered from corrupting passions.

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.

Sessional Hymn of the feast, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Joseph marvelled…”: Thou wast transfigured on Mount Tabor, O God, in the midst of the all-wise Elijah and Moses, with James, Simon and John. And Peter, who was there, said to Thee: “It is good for us to make here three booths: one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for Thee, Christ our Master!” O Thou Who then shone forth Thy light upon them, illumine our souls!

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

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

Like a lamb wast thou tended by Christ; like a shepherd didst thou tend thy flock, leading them to the pasture of thy life-bearing teachings.

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

An initiate of the mysteries of the doctrine of Christ, thou didst illumine the people with the knowledge of Him, showing forth His truth by word and deed.

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

A true and faithful guard wast thou over the house of God, watching over it in deed, giving an example by thy life, and by word, for thou didst diligently instruct, and by thought, for thou didst take thought for its well-being.

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

Finding thee to be a haven and rampart, a refuge and hope, a protection and a fervent intercessor, the faithful have recourse to thee and earnestly cry out to thee, as the blessed Tikhon hath taught us: O all-holy Theotokos, save us!

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

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

O holy hierarch, Christ, Whom thou didst love, Whom thou didst desire, for Whose sake thou didst struggle, do thou now beseech in behalf of thy servants, that, being merciful, He may grant a peaceful life to all of us that honor thy memory.

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

Filled with faith and the love of Christ, thou didst show thyself to be as a river, abundantly watering all the land of Russia with the word of thy teachings, O blessed Tikhon.

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

Like a bee gathering sweet honey from quickly fading blossoms, O father, thou didst gather spiritual treasure from the corruptible world, and thereby thou dost satisfy us all.

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

Fill thou our hearts with gladness, O most pure and divine Maiden, who gavest birth to the Cause of joy, destroying all the grief of sin.

Ode VI, Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, 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.

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

Being pure of heart, thou didst cleave unto the pure Christ; being holy, unto the Holy One; being loving, unto Him Who loveth; being meek, unto the Meek One, crying unceasingly: It is good for me to cleave unto God!

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

The comfort, pleasure, honor, wealth, glory and all the treasures of the world didst thou despise, soaring aloft to the heavenly Jerusalem, to the home of thy Father, where there are many mansions.

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

Insults, sorrows and abuse didst thou joyfully endure, mindful that there is no crown without a victory, no victory without a contest, no contest without battle, and no battle without a foe.

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

O Virgin Lady, Mother of the Creator: thou art the joy of the heavenly hosts, the blessed helper of the human race. Pray thou that our souls be saved!

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

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

Kontakion, Tone VIII: Successor to the apostles, adornment of holy hierarchs, teacher of the Orthodox Church: beseech the Master of all to grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls!

Ikos: Having adorned thy soul with virtue and enlightened thy mind with love of wisdom, thou didst show thyself to be a good shepherd of the flock of Christ, teaching it by word and writing, admonishing and instructing, giving an example of what thou didst say by thy life. Wherefore, by Christ, the Chief Shepherd, hast thou been adorned with a crown of glory in heaven, shining forth on earth in the incorruption of thy relics and pouring forth abundant streams of wonders upon those who call upon thee in faith, O divinely wise Tikhon. Pray to the Lord, that He grant our souls great mercy!

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

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

In patience didst thou possess thy soul, O blessed one, and thou didst traverse the narrow path which alone leadeth to everlasting life, ever directing thy gaze toward the way of the Cross of Christ, the Judge of the contest, and setting an image thereof as a model for thy life.

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

Thy whole self didst thou surrender to the love of God: soul and body, heart and mind, memory and will, purpose, ambition, word, deed and thought didst thou consecrate out of love for God.

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

O blessed Tikhon, thou didst show thyself to be a father of orphans, a defender of widows, the wealth of the poor, the consolation of the sick and admonition of the wealthy, a staff for the aged, the instructor of the young, and a model of virtue for monastics.

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

Rejoice, O Mary! Rejoice, thou who gavest birth to the Savior of the world! Be thou a haven for us who are tempest-tossed by the storm of life, a calm harbor amid the deep of sorrows, and guidance to the heavenly mansions.

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

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

A son of the Kingdom while yet on earth, thou didst ever yearn for the Son of God, crying out to Him: Be Thou my food and drink; be Thou the light of my soul; be Thou my surcease amid sorrows; be Thou life everlasting according to the resurrection, that I may supremely exalt Thee unto the ages!

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

Ever mindful of the fall of Adam, the redemption through the sufferings of Christ, the hour of death, the dread Judgment, the torment of sinners and the blessed state of the righteous, thou didst lament, setting us an example of compunction and purifying thyself aforetime for eternal glory.

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

Having undertaken travails in this life out of faith and piety, thou didst sweetly rest from thy labors and wast granted repose; for thou didst descend into the grave, ripening like wheat for the harvest of God at the time of the reaping.

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

With the hyssop of the life-creating Blood of the Lamb, Who was slain for the salvation of the world, and Who took flesh of thy most pure blood, do thou sprinkle and cleanse me, who am defiled, O Mistress, that I may be made whiter than snow by thy maternal assistance.

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

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

A mediator and fervent intercessor for us before God hast thou been shown to be, O hierarch, making supplication to the Master through thy prayers. Ask thou remission of transgressions, O father, for those who faithfully celebrate thy sacred memory and magnify thee with heartfelt love.

Hierarch of Christ, Tikhon, pray to God for us.

O thou who hast been illumined with the radiance of God the Light, enlighten us who are benighted by the passions of life; and, having received of Him the authority to loose and to bind, loose thou our transgressions and vouchsafe the kingdom of heaven unto those who celebrate thy memory and magnify thee as is meet.

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

Mercifully accept this, our hymn of praise, which is offered up to thee with abundant fervor, from our unworthy and wretched souls, O holy hierarch, granting us withal grace abounding in compassion.

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

Thou didst raise up fallen Adam, O Mother of God, who gavest birth to the new Adam. Do thou also raise us up, who are fallen like Adam of old, but who fervently believe in the grace of the New.

Troparion, Tone VIII: From thy youth thou didst love Christ, O blessed one; and thou wast an example unto all by word, life, love, spirit, faith, purity and humility. Wherefore, thou hast made thine abode in the heavenly mansions, where, standing before the throne of the all-holy Trinity, do thou pray that our souls be saved, O holy hierarch Tikhon.

Troparion, Tone IV: O guide of Orthodoxy, teacher of piety, preacher of repentance, emulator of Chrysostom, most excellent pastor, new beacon and wonderworker of Russia: well didst thou shepherd thy flock, and by thy writings thou hast instructed us all. Wherefore, adorned with a crown of incorruption by the Chief Shepherd, do thou entreat Him that our souls be saved.

 

The Martyrs Archdeacon Laurence, Pope Sixtus, Deacons Felicissimus and Agapitus, and the soldier Romanus were citizens of Rome, and suffered in the year 258 during the reign of Emperor Valerian (253-260). Saint Sixtus was born in the city of Athens, and at first he was a philosopher, but later he became a follower of Christ. When he arrived in Rome, he showed himself to be a wise and devout member of the Church. Over a period of time, he passed through the various ranks of the clergy, and became the Bishop of Rome following the martyric death of Saint Stephen (August 2). Several Roman Hierarchs preferred to die rather than offer sacrifice to idols. Soon, Saint Sixtus was also arrested and imprisoned together with his deacons Felicissimus and Agapitus.

When Archdeacon Laurence visited Saint Sixtus in prison, he cried out with tears, “Where are you going, Father, without your son? Where do you hasten without your Archdeacon? Never have you offered the Bloodless Sacrifice without me. Take me with you, so that I may join you in shedding our blood for Christ!”

Saint Sixtus replied, “I am not forsaking you, my son. I am old and I accept the lesser battle, but greater suffering awaits you. You must achieve the greater victory and triumph over your tormentors. Three days after my death, you shall follow after me.”

Then he entrusted Archdeacon Laurence with the Church’s treasures and sacred vessels, telling him to distribute these to the poor. He gathered them up and went around the city on foot, to the clergy and impoverished Christians who were in hiding, helping them according to their needs.

When he heard that Saint Sixtus had been brought to trial with his deacons, Saint Laurence went there in order to witness the outcome. Seeing that the martyrs were obstinate in their refusal to offer sacrifice to the idols, Valerian ordered them to be taken to the temple of Mars outside the city walls, and put to death if they did not offer incense to the idols. When he saw the pagan temple, Saint Sixtus prayed for it to be destroyed. There was an earthquake which caused part of the temple to collapse, and the statue of Mars was shattered to pieces. Saint Laurence cried out, “Father, I have fulfilled your command, and have distributed the treasures of the Church which you entrusted to me.”

After hearing about treasure, the soldiers placed him under guard. Saint Sixtus and the other martyrs were beheaded in front of the temple on August 6, 258. Afterward, the soldiers brought Saint Laurence to the Emperor, informing him that they had heard the Archdeacon mention something about the Church’s hidden treasures. The Emperor ordered him to reveal where the treasures were, and the Archdeacon asked for three days in order to collect them. Then Saint Laurence gathered all the poor and the needy, and brought them to the Prefect, saying, “Behold the treasures of the Church.”

The ruler became very angry at this and ordered Hippolytos (Iππόλυτος) who was in charge of the prison, to throw the Archdeacon into the dungeon with other prisoners. There the Saint restored the sight of a man named Lucillus. Hippolytos was amazed at this, and asked to see the Church’s treasures. Saint Laurence told him that if he believed in Christ and was baptized, he would find true wealth and everlasting life. Hippolytos said that if this was true, he would do as he asked.

Hippolytos took Saint Laurence to his home, where he instructed and baptized the jailer and all his household, consisting of nineteen persons. Soon afterward, Hippolytos was ordered to bring the Archdeacon to Emperor Valerian. Seeing that the Saint had not agreed to offer sacrifice, he ordered that Saint Laurence be tortured. Still, the Archdeacon refused to sacrifice to the idols. As the Martyr endured these torments, a soldier named Romanus cried, “Laurence, I see a radiant youth standing by you, and wiping your wounds. Entreat Christ, Who has sent His Angel to you, not to abandon me.”

Then Valerian commanded Hippolytos to return the Saint to prison. Romanus brought a pitcher of water and asked the Martyr to baptize him. Immediately after the soldier was baptized, he was seized by other soldiers and taken to the Emperor. Before anyone could question him, Romanus shouted, “I am a Christian.”

The Emperor ordered him to be taken outside the city and beheaded on August 9.

The next day, Saint Laurence was placed on a rack, scourged with whips with sharp iron points attached to them, and then was stretched out naked on a red-hot iron gridiron with burning coals underneath it. The Holy Martyr glanced at the ruler and said, “You have already roasted one side of my body, now turn me over to the other side so you may taste what you have roasted.”

Then he glorified God, saying, “I thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, that You have found me worthy to enter Your gates.”

Saint Laurence received the unfading crown of martyrdom on August 10, 258.

That night, Saint Hippolytos took the Saint’s body he wrapped it in a shroud with spices. Then he and the priest Justin brought the relics to the home of a widow named Kyriake, where it remained until evening. Later, many Christians escorted the Saint’s body to a cave on the widow’s property. After praying all night, they buried the Martyr there with honor. Then Father Justin served the Divine Liturgy, and everyone partook of the Holy Mysteries.

Saint Hippolytos and the other Christians suffered martyrdom three days after the death of Saint Laurence, on August 13.

Source: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2022/08/10/102258-martyr-and-archdeacon-laurence-and-those-with-him-of-rome

The canon of the saint, the acrostic whereof is: “Most wisely do I hymn the mighty Laurence”, in Tone IV:

Ode 1, Irmos: O Thou who wast born of the Virgin, * drown I implore Thee, in the depth of dispassion * the triune nature of my soul, * as Thou didst the mighty strongholds of the warriors, * that in the mortality of my flesh * as on a timbrel * I may chant a hymn of victory.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

Taking delight in the garden of sweetness and joining chorus with the angelic hosts as is meet, as a warrior of Christ, pray thou that He grant effulgent radiance unto me who hymn thee, O blessed Laurence.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

Entering upon the feats of honoured torment, O Laurence, in steadfastness of soul thou didst show thyself to be a victorious spiritual athlete, magnificently arrayed in the crown of righteousness and a diadem of victory.

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

As thou wast a child of the light and of the day, thou hast shone forth upon us sensibly like the sun from the west, illumining the ends of the earth with a most splendid radiance, O all-glorious martyr Laurence.

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

Delivered from the bonds of Hades and corruption, and from the condemnation of the law, by thine honoured birth giving, O most holy Virgin, we cry to thee in thanksgiving: Rejoice, O thou who art full of joy, thou saving portal of grace!

Ode 3, Irmos: The bow of the mighty hath waxed feeble * and the weak have girded themselves with strength: * therefore is my heart established * in the Lord.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

With the Cross as thy standard, thou didst valiantly array thyself against the enemy, and wast shown to be crowned with victory, O right-wondrous one.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

Protected by the law of Christ, as one invincible thou didst oppose the laws of the impious with courageous endurance, O all-blessed one.

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

Strengthened by the power of God, thou didst destroy the feebleness of polytheism and didst elucidate the pre-eternal divinity of Christ.

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

Equal to the Father and the Spirit in nature, essence and divinity, and to men also, was the Word Who didst become incarnate of thee, O all-immaculate one.

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

Sessional Hymn, in Tone 8, Spec. Mel – “Of the Wisdom …”: Having amassed heavenly riches and brought them to the poor, thou didst distribute them, and gave thy bread also to the hungry, and thereby having acquired life incorruptible, thou didst shine forth in thy confession of Christ, O glorious one. Wherefore, having courageously suffered under the law, thou didst receive from God a crown for thy labours, O spiritual athlete Laurence. Entreat Christ God, that He grant forgiveness of sins unto those who with love honour thy holy memory.

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

Repeat sessional hymn.

Ode 4, Irmos: He who sitteth in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, * Jesus the true God, * is come in a swift cloud * and with His sinless hands he hath saved those who cry: * Glory to Thy power, O Christ.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

For love of the Word, the servant of the Word, adorned with eloquence and spirituality, hath been slaughtered, and now reigneth in righteousness with the Word, enjoying gladness and His glory.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

Piously fighting off the slumber of impiety with divine vigilance, O sacred martyr of Christ, by thy martyr’s stand thou didst cut off from thine eyes the sleep which is unto death.

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

Protected by the true armour of piety against the proponents of the impious opposition, for the sake of the Faith thou didst utterly cast down the memory of them by thy love of morality.

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

Having put aside all the defilement of the primeval food, we are nurtured with the Grain of Life from heaven, Which arose from the earth from the Virgin. Let us hymn her as the mediatress of good things.

Ode 5, Irmos: The wicked will not behold Thy glory, O Christ, * but we who rise early to hymn Thee shall behold Thee, * the Only-Begotten effulgence of Thy Father’s divinity, * O Lover of mankind.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

Thine eyes fixed with unwavering vision upon divine beauties, O right wondrous Laurence, Thou didst spurn all the beautiful things on earth and the cruel pangs of thy body.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

Having recognized Christ, Who became a servant for us, through gifts received from the Father, and having become His servant, thou didst depart unto Him through the shedding of thy blood, O most blessed one.

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

O blessed one, thou didst offer thyself unto Christ as a sacred oblation and a magnificent adornment; and having adorned the tabernacle of heaven, thou dost now abide there delighting in radiance.

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

The only-begotten Son, of the same essence and like unto the Father, of His own will becameth akin to mankind, the Most High being incarnate from thy womb, O Virgin Mother.

Ode 6, Irmos: I have reached the depths of the sea * and the tempest of my many sins hath engulfed me; * but do Thou raise up my life from the abyss * O Greatly-Merciful One.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

Kindling a material fire, thou didst prepare thyself as sweet food for the King of all, Who loveth and craveth our salvation, O all-glorious one.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

Thou didst draw nigh wholly to the light of the ruling Trinity, and being radiant, as God’s servant, thou dost illumine those who hymn thee, O spiritual athlete.

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

Strengthened with divine power, lying on the heated grill thou didst endure torment for the love of Christ, enkindling thy soul with fire and spiritual dew.

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

O Virgin Mother, thou wast the place of God’s lodging, an animate throne, the holy mountain, the ark, the divinely wrought tabernacle, and the golden candle-stand.

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

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

Kontakion of the saint, in Tone 2, Spec. Mel – “Seeking the highest …”: Kindling thy heart with divine fire, * thou didst utterly reduce the fire of the passions to ashes, * O God-bearing martyr Laurence, * thou confirmation of spiritual athletes; * and in the midst of thy sufferings * thou didst cry aloud with faith: ** Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ!

Ikos: Assembling, O ye faithful, with hymns let us all honour the spiritual athlete Laurence, who shone forth in the world like a steady beacon, as an initiate of ineffable mysteries; for by his supplications we are delivered from grievous transgressions. And having cleansed our hearts, let us glorify Christ Who glorifieth him who is mighty amid sufferings and who saith: Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ!

Ode 7, Irmos: Thou didst save the children of Abraham in the fire * and slay the Chaldeans, * who unjustly entrapped the righteous ones. * O supremely hymned Lord, God of our fathers, * blessed art Thou.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

Forechosen to celebrate the Mysteries and serve the Word, thou wast shown to be a sacred vessel and oblation of the temple of heaven, chanting unto the Creator: O supremely hymned Lord God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

Covered by the law of the life which is in Christ, O most blessed Laurence, thou didst not bow thy mind to those who imposed laws of death and corruption, but chanted: O supremely hymned Lord God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

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

Clad in a body as one who manifestly felt no pain, O most blessed one, with valorous mind, and as one most noetically rich, thou didst dare the all-devouring fire, crying aloud: O supremely hymned Lord God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

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

Thou wast shown to be the noetic eastward portal of the Most High Who, in a manner beyond speech and understanding, appeared to mankind on earth through thee, O Bride of God: the blessed God of our fathers.

Ode 8, Irmos: O almighty Redeemer of all, * having descended and bedewed the children * in the midst of the flame, * Thou didst teach them to sing: * All ye works bless and hymn the Lord.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

In thy steadfastness of mind thou wast mightier than the unbearable flame, burning as if in another’s body, O blessed one, yet chanting with faith: All ye works bless and hymn the Lord!

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

Like unto the three children, thou didst quench the burning embers of the fire with the dew of divine grace, crying aloud and chanting: All ye works bless and hymn the Lord!

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

As Christ was thine enlightenment, He girded thee about with His own might, and led thee up to Himself as thou didst piously chant: All ye works bless and hymn the Lord!

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

A rod sprung forth from the root of Jesse wast thou, and in a manner past nature thou gavest rise to Christ my God and Lord, the Flower of the Godhead. Let all works bless thy birthgiving, O Virgin!

Ode 9, Irmos: Eve dwelt under the curse of sin * because of the infirmity of disobedience; * but thou, O Virgin Theotokos, * hast through the Offspring of thy pregnancy * blossomed forth blessing upon the world. * Wherefore, we all magnify thee.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

Thou didst offer thyself as a perfect sacrifice and incense pleasing unto the Master, being tried by the fire of suffering like gold in a crucible; whereby thou didst become a foremost adornment of the Church, O right wondrous one.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Laurence, pray to God for us.

Deified by the direct sight of God and by a higher union, O Laurence, in word and by divine vision thou wast radiantly illumined by the uttermost Light. Wherefore, we all call thee blessed.

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

Thou didst shine forth from the West like the sun, O blessed one, O great and most glorious wonder; illumining all the Church with thy beams, O right wondrous one; and warming all with the fervor of faith. Wherefore, we all call thee blessed.

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

The prophets, beholding images of thy birthgiving, O all-immaculate one, were instructed thereby from afar by divine inspiration, loudly proclaiming it to the world, and we now marvel at their fulfilment.

Troparion, tone 4: In his sufferings, Thy martyr Laurence O Lord, * received an imperishable crown from Thee, our God; * for, possessed of Thy might, * he set at naught the tyrants and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. ** By his supplications save Thou our souls.

Prayer from the Great Euchologion “For One Who Is Ill and Cannot Sleep”

O God, Great, Praised, Incomprehensible and Ineffable, Who didst fashion man with Thy hands, taking dust from the earth, and Who didst honour him with Thine Image, O Jesus Christ, Most-desired Name, together with Thy Father Who is without beginning, and Thy Most-Holy, Good, and Lifegiving Spirit: Do Thou manifest unto Thy servant, N., and visit him (her) in soul and body, being entreated by our most-glorious Sovereign Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary; by the holy Bodiless Powers of Heaven; by the honourable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; by the holy, glorious and all-praised Apostles; by the holy, glorious and right-victorious Martyrs; by our Fathers among the Saints and ecumenical Teachers: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; by Athanasius and Cyril, Nicholas of Myra in Lycia, Cyril and Methodius, Teachers of the Slavs, Spyridon the Wonderworker, and all the holy Hierarchs; by the holy Apostle, Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen; by the holy, glorious Great-Martyrs: George the Trophy-bearer, Demetrius the Myrrhgusher, Theodore Stratelates, and all the holy Martyrs; by our Venerable and God-bearing Fathers: Anthony, Euthymius, Savvas the Sanctified, Theodosius (Founder of the Common Life), Onouphrius, Arsenius, Athanasius the Athonite, and all the Venerable Ones; by the holy Unmercenary Physicians: Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Panteleimon and Hermalaeus, Samson and Diomedes, Thalelaeus and Tryphon, and all the rest; by Saint(s), N. (of the Day); and by all Thy Saints; and grant unto him (her) a peaceful sleep, the sleep of bodily health and salvation, and life and strength of soul and body, as once Thou didst visit Abimelech, Thy favourite, in the house of Agrippa, and gavest him the consolation of sleep, that he not see the Fall of Jerusalem, and having nourished him with sleep, didst raise him up again in the twinkling of an eye, to the glory of Thy goodness; and as Thou didst make manifest Thy holy glorious Seven Youths, confessors and witnesses of Thine Appearance in the days of the Emperor Decius and the Apostate, having sustained them in the cave for 372 years, as infants kept warm in their own mother’s womb, none having endured corruption, to the praise and glory of Thy love for mankind, and for a testimony and confession of our regeneration and the resurrection of all. Do Thou Thyself, therefore, O Lover of Mankind and King, be present now also with the infusion of Thy Holy Spirit, and visit Thy servant, N., and grant unto him (her) health, strength and power, by Thy grace, for with Thee every action is good, and every gift is perfect. For Thou art the Physician of our souls and bodies, and unto Thee do we send up glory, thanksgiving and worship, together with Thy Father Who is without beginning, and Thy Most-Holy, Good, and Lifegiving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Commemorated on August 4/17 

The Seven Youths of Ephesus: Maximilian, Iamblicus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodianus (Constantine) and Antoninus, lived in the third century. Saint Maximilian was the son of the Ephesus city administrator, and the other six youths were sons of illustrious citizens of Ephesus. The youths were friends from childhood, and all were in military service together.

When the emperor Decius (249-251) arrived in Ephesus, he commanded all the citizens to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. Torture and death awaited anyone who disobeyed. The seven youths were denounced by informants, and were summoned to reply to the charges. Appearing before the emperor, the young men confessed their faith in Christ.

Their military belts and insignia were quickly taken from them. Decius permitted them to go free, however, hoping that they would change their minds while he was off on a military campaign. The youths fled from the city and hid in a cave on Mount Ochlon, where they passed their time in prayer, preparing for martyrdom.

The youngest of them, Saint Iamblicus, dressed as a beggar and went into the city to buy bread. On one of his excursions into the city, he heard that the emperor had returned and was looking for them. Saint Maximilian urged his companions to come out of the cave and present themselves for trial.

Learning where the young men were hidden, the emperor ordered that the entrance of the cave be sealed with stones so that the saints would perish from hunger and thirst. Two of the dignitaries at the blocked entrance to the cave were secret Christians. Desiring to preserve the memory of the saints, they placed in the cave a sealed container containing two metal plaques. On them were inscribed the names of the seven youths and the details of their suffering and death.

The Lord placed the youths into a miraculous sleep lasting almost two centuries. In the meantime, the persecutions against Christians had ceased. During the reign of the holy emperor Theodosius the Younger (408-450) there were heretics who denied that there would be a general resurrection of the dead at the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some of them said, “How can there be a resurrection of the dead when there will be neither soul nor body, since they are disintegrated?” Others affirmed, “The souls alone will have a restoration, since it would be impossible for bodies to arise and live after a thousand years, when even their dust would not remain.” Therefore, the Lord revealed the mystery of the Resurrection of the Dead and of the future life through His seven saints.

The owner of the land on which Mount Ochlon was situated, discovered the stone construction, and his workers opened up the entrance to the cave. The Lord had kept the youths alive, and they awoke from their sleep, unaware that almost two hundred years had passed. Their bodies and clothing were completely undecayed.

Preparing to accept torture, the youths once again asked Saint Iamblicus to buy bread for them in the city. Going toward the city, the youth was astonished to see a cross on the gates. Hearing the name of Jesus Christ freely spoken, he began to doubt that he was approaching his own city.

When he paid for the bread, Iamblicus gave the merchant coins with the image of the emperor Decius on it. He was detained, as someone who might be concealing a horde of old money. They took Saint Iamblicus to the city administrator, who also happened to be the Bishop of Ephesus. Hearing the bewildering answers of the young man, the bishop perceived that God was revealing some sort of mystery through him, and went with other people to the cave.

At the entrance to the cave the bishop found the sealed container and opened it. He read upon the metal plaques the names of the seven youths and the details of the sealing of the cave on the orders of the emperor Decius. Going into the cave and seeing the saints alive, everyone rejoiced and perceived that the Lord, by waking them from their long sleep, was demonstrating to the Church the mystery of the Resurrection of the Dead.

Soon the emperor himself arrived in Ephesus and spoke with the young men in the cave. Then the holy youths, in sight of everyone, lay their heads upon the ground and fell asleep again, this time until the General Resurrection.

The emperor wanted to place each of the youths into a jeweled coffin, but they appeared to him in a dream and said that their bodies were to be left upon the ground in the cave. In the twelfth century the Russian pilgrim Igumen Daniel saw the holy relics of the seven youths in the cave.

The Orthodox Church in America

Canon of the saints, Tone II

Ode I, Irmos: Come, ye people, let us chant a hymn to Christ God, Who divided the sea and guided the people whom He had led forth from the bondage of Egypt, for He hath been glorified.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

Come ye, and with faith let us honor the youths who have shone forth, seven in number; for they shed greater light upon the Church of Christ than the seven lamps did upon the temple of the law.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

While alive of old, the seven youths were clothed in Christ’s mortality of flesh, and, most gloriously receiving death as a dream, they confirm the doctrine of the resurrection.

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

Jericho fell at the seventh sounding of the trumpets, and the uprising of falsehood hath now fallen down to hades and been destroyed through the sevenfold proclamation of the athletes’ faith.

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

Thou makest birthgiving new again, O thou who knewest not wedlock; for the everlasting Word, Who with the Father and the divine Spirit is equally without beginning, became incarnate of thee, without forsaking His union with Them.

Ode III, Irmos: Establish us in thee, O Lord Who hast slain sin by the Tree, and plant the fear of Thee in the hearts of us who hymn Thee.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

Ye were shown to be seven fixed stars shining with faith, O athletes; and ye have guided to the haven of salvation those who are sinking in the abyss of falsehood.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

Standing undaunted before the tribunal, O holy ones, as the Maccabees once did, having enrolled in the army of Christ, ye resigned from the army of corruptible life.

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

As is meet, O holy youths, ye showed yourselves to be a sacrifice of prayer pleasing unto God, firmly dispelling the foul stench of falsehood with a savor of sweet fragrance.

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

The bush on Sinai prefigured thine all-glorious birthgiving, O Virgin; for thou wast not consumed by the fire of the Godhead when thou didst receive it into thy womb with faith.

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

Sessional hymn, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Go thou quickly before…”: As pillars of the Church of Christ, ye firmly overturned the ramparts of unbelief, O ye seven martyred brethren. Wherefore, having dispelled the wrath of the Greeks before your death, and the tempest of heresy again after your death, holding fast to your faith in the resurrection, pray ye that we be made steadfast in the Faith.

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: O most immaculate Virgin who gavest birth to the transcendent God, unceasingly entreat Him with the incorporeal ones, that, before the end, He grant remission of transgressions and correction of life to us who with faith and love hymn thee as is meet, O thou who alone art most hymned.

Stavrotheotokion (replaces the Theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): As she beheld Thee, O Word of God, suspended upon the Cross, Thine all-pure Mother exclaimed, lamenting maternally: “What is this new and strange mystery, O my Son? How is it that Thou, the Life of all, dost taste of death, desiring to bring life to the dead, in that Thou art full of loving-kindness?”

Ode IV, Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, of Thy glorious dispensation, and I have glorified Thine unapproachable power, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

We hymn the seven honored youths, the sacred company manifestly honorable in their number.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

The youths of Ephesus showed the ungodly emperor to be foolish, whose mind was filled with the vainglory of falsehood.

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

O holy youths, through your faith ye were truly shown to be all-immaculate offerings and sacrifices for the Lord.

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

O pure and ever blessed one, cease thou never to pray for us, that we may be delivered from all tribulation.

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.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

Dying first a common death on earth without feeling it, O youths of Ephesus, ye straightway arose in manner transcending nature, manifestly assuring all of the resurrection of the dead.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

Consecrating yourselves to God through the confession of the true Faith, as lawful athletes of the Lord ye were delivered from prison and wounds, O wise ones, and have received crowns.

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

Having firmly vanquished the falsehood of idolatry and the teachings of impious heresies, O glorious martyrs, ever preserve those who confess the resurrection of the dead.

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

The Transcendent One, Who, without confusion, is perfect man and perfect God and was born of the holy Mother, existeth in two natures but one hypostasis.

Ode VI, Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy loving-kindness: Lead me up from corruption, O God!

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

Let the seven holy youths, equal in number to the pillars of the wisdom of God, be praised, for with their words they crushed the ungodly command of the tyrants as with stones.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

Preserved by the law of divine providence, ye received ready burial in the cave, O saints, wherein ye were revealed as both dead and incorrupt.

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

Ye arose as witnesses to incorruption, driving away a corrupt and moribund religion, and pray to God in behalf of those who set their hope on the resurrection.

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

Now hath women’s nature rejoiced! Now hath grief come to an end and joy blossomed forth! For Mary hath given birth to Joy: Christ, our Savior and God.

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…”: Spurning the corrupt things of this world and accepting gifts of incorruption, though they died yet did they remain untouched by corruption. Wherefore, they arose after many years, burying all the unbelief of the wicked. O ye faithful, praising them today in laudation, let us hymn Christ!

Ode VII, Irmos: The all-wise children did not worship the golden body, but entered into the flame themselves and mocked the gods of the heathen. They cried aloud in the midst of the flame, and the Angel bedewed them, saying: The prayer of your mouths hath already been heard.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

The youths have been shown to be pure and chosen vessels of God. Through them the doctrines of heresy are driven from the Church and Orthodoxy shineth forth, for He is the resurrection of every soul and all flesh, in that He hath been born.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

Truly the holy youths were shown to be steadfast in their suffering immediately before death; and after death they were shown to be alive through divine glory, in themselves piously assuring the true resurrection.

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

“The resurrection will be for both souls and material bodies; for as it is not possible to come into the world without a body, so can the body not exist without a soul!” the all-praised ones said; “The soul is either glorified or put to shame.”

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

O Mary who gavest birth to God, the Savior of all, thou art the setting aright of the despairing, the restoration of sinners, the hope of the hopeless and the help of those who chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Ode VIII, Irmos: Thou didst once prefigure Thy Mother in the furnace of the children, O Lord; for her image drew from the fire those who entered it, without being consumed. We hymn and exalt her supremely for all ages, who through Thee hath been made manifest today to the ends of the earth.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

O divine youths, having severed the root of ungodly bitterness and the falsehood of heresy which grew malignantly, ye bring forth the fruit of faith; and, buried alive for your faith, ye rose from the dead.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

O ye seven holy youths and athletes, foremost among the Ephesians, ye have been shown to be the divine confirmation of the Church of Christ and the kingdom of the faithful, which we exalt supremely for all ages.

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

Showing themselves to be steadfast on the earth and equal in number to the stars making an unwavering transit of the divine faith, the youths cried out: We exalt Thee supremely, O Christ, forever!

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

No one hath perished, O pure Mother of God, who, in Orthodox manner, placeth his hope and faith in thee, but only they who out of envy refuse to venerate the image of thy countenance.

Ode IX, Irmos: Thee do we magnify, O blessed and most pure Theotokos, who through thy virginal womb ineffably didst make God incarnate, the Luminary Who shone forth before the sun and hath come to us in the flesh.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

The resurrection of the saints hath now been revealed as a wealth of wonders and a revelation of the mysteries of God; for though they once died a natural death, they have now risen devoid of corruption, arrayed as though they had never died.

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus, pray to God for us.

A treasury of strength and a firm bulwark of faith hath the cave of the children been shown to be, proclaiming the coming resurrection of all; for it hath resurrected not Lazarus four days dead, but those dead for centuries.

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

O ye seven youths, pillars of the wisdom of God, having suffered lawfully, ye have been invested with the crown of martyrdom; and by your Orthodox teaching ye have revealed the resurrection, as champions of the Church who pray for those who hymn you.

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

Thou didst preserve thy soul and body undefiled, O pure one, and Christ the King desired thy beauty and showed thee forth as the Mother of His incarnation, O all-glorious Mary, ever bestowing salvation upon me.

Troparion, Tone IV: In their sufferings, O Lord, Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, they set at nought the tormenters and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. Through their supplications save Thou our souls.

Or this troparion, in the same tone: Great is the wonder of faith! The seven holy youths abode in the cave as in a royal chamber, and died without falling into corruption; and after much time they arose as from sleep, as an assurance of the resurrection of all men. Through their supplications, O Christ God, have mercy on us.

Kontakion 1: Chosen passion-bearer of Christ and gracious healer, who freely grantest healing unto the sick, we praise thee in songs as our protector. Since thou hast boldness with the Lord, free us from all harm and sickness who cry with love unto thee: Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Ikos I: We know thee, glorious Panteleimon, as an earthly angel and heavenly man. For adorned with angelic purity and martyrdom thou hast passed from earth to Heaven, where with the angels and all the saints standing before the throne of the Lord of Glory, thou prayest for all of us on earth who venerate thee with these invocations:

Rejoice, torch of piety.

Rejoice, most glorious lamp of the Church.

Rejoice, adornment of venerable martyrs.

Rejoice, support of the faithful in unflinching endurance.

Rejoice, outstanding boast of youth.

Rejoice, thou who having grown up in the world, wast not of the world.

Rejoice, angel in the flesh, surpassing mortals.

Rejoice, warrior of Christ of invincible courage.

Rejoice, witness of heavenly mercy.

Rejoice, vessel of divine knowledge.

Rejoice, thou by whom faith hath been exalted.

Rejoice, thou by whom delusion hath been dethroned.

Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Kontakion 2: Seeing thee to be a chosen vessel, the Lord loved the beauty of thy soul. Despising all earthly glory and pleasure, thou didst long to adorn thyself with the crown of martyrdom. Hence, wounded with divine love, thou didst jubilantly sing: Alleluia.

Ikos 2: Possessing divinely inspired knowledge, O valiant warrior Panteleimon, thou didst astound the Emperor Maximian by the courage of thy soul and by the words with which thou didst fearlessly preach Christ. Wherefore praising thy boldness, we cry unto thee:

Rejoice, thou who didst despise Maximian’s threats.

Rejoice, thou who didst not follow the advice of the godless.

Rejoice, propagator of true adoration.

Rejoice, uprooter of demon worship.

Rejoice, accuser of the fury of torturers.

Rejoice, overthrower of the delusion of idolatry.

Rejoice, thou who didst disperse the assembly of the godless.

Rejoice, thou who didst exchange the corruptible for heavenly joy.

Rejoice, converser with immaterial angels.

Rejoice, fellow chorister of longsuffering saints.

Rejoice, thou by whom Satan was put to shame.

Rejoice, thou by whom Christ is glorified.

Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Kontakion 3: By the power of the Most High given unto thee and by thy strong patience thou didst render powerless the torturer’s insolence, O valiant victor who wast undaunted by fire, wild beasts, and the wheel. When beheaded with the sword, thou didst receive the crown of martyrdom, wounded with divine love and singing: Alleluia.

Ikos 3: The monastery which hath thy precious head as a great treasure, O divinely wise martyr, is filled with joy over it. Praising the grace of healing given unto thee by God, the monks thankfully cry unto thee:

Rejoice, all-radiant lamp of Nicomedia.

Rejoice, vigilant guardian of the monastery that honoureth thee.

Rejoice, thou through whom godlessness grew cold.

Rejoice, thou through whom the knowledge of God hath increased.

Rejoice, bright glory of the passion-bearers.

Rejoice, joyous report of the Orthodox.

Rejoice, gracious source of healings.

Rejoice, worthy container of great gifts.

Rejoice, fragrant myrrh who dost sweeten souls.

Rejoice, ready helper of those who call upon thee.

Rejoice, thou who didst give sight unto the blind.

Rejoice, thou who didst cause the lame to walk.

Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Kontakion 4: Possessed by a storm of polytheistic thoughts, the impious Emperor was confused upon learning from the doctors, who were jealous of thee, that thou healest all kinds of hopeless illnesses by the Name of Christ. We therefore glorify with gladness our wonderful God in thee, and we cry unto Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 4: When the people of Nicomedia heard of thy great compassion for the suffering and of thy free healing of all illnesses, everyone rushed to thee with faith in the healing grace in thee. Receiving swift healing of all their diseases, they glorified God and magnified thee, Saint Panteleimon, their most gracious healer, crying unto thee:

Rejoice, thou who art anointed with the myrrh of grace.

Rejoice, thou who sanctifiest the Temple of God.

Rejoice, great glory of the pious.

Rejoice, firm wall of the oppressed.

Rejoice, thou who surpassest the wise in knowledge.

Rejoice, thou who enlightenest the thoughts of the faithful.

Rejoice, recipient of divine gifts and source of many of the Lord’s mercies for us.

Rejoice, speedy helper of the suffering.

Rejoice, harbor of the storm-tossed.

Rejoice, instructor for those gone astray.

Rejoice, thou who dost heal the sick freely.

Rejoice, thou who dost work miracles abundantly.

Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Kontakion 5: The Lord worked a glorious miracle through thee when through His servant Hermolaus, He called thee into His marvellous light. After thy prayer to Christ, a child who had died from snakebite at once revived and stood up healed. Thenceforth, recognizing the Giver of Life as the True God of all, with firm faith thou didst cry unto Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 5: The blind man whom thou didst touch with prayer in the Name of Christ recovered his sight, O glorious martyr. Renouncing thy father’s polytheism, thou wast baptized by the priest Hermolaus and didst embrace thy mother’s religion with which thou didst also enlighten thy father. We therefore cry aloud unto thee, Saint Panteleimon, as unto a glorious servant of God and wonderful healer:

Rejoice, thou who hast great devotion for God.

Rejoice, thou who art ever aflame with the fire of divine love.

Rejoice, thou who didst listen to the teachings of the priest Hermolaus.

Rejoice, thou who didst follow the advice of thy mother Eubule.

Rejoice, thou who didst give away everything to obtain Christ.

Rejoice, thou who didst vanquish love for the world by love for God.

Rejoice, thou who didst renounce worldly pleasures and didst accept for Christ cruel sufferings.

Rejoice, thou who didst become a partaker of Christ’s Passion.

Rejoice, thou who didst overcome all the passions.

Rejoice, thou who through grace wast adorned with dispassion.

Rejoice, thou who dost fill with joy those who hasten to thee.

Rejoice, thou who dost heal all freely by the grace of Christ.

Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Kontakion 6: The blind man enlightened by thee in body and soul became a preacher of the truth. Like the blind man of the Gospel, he boldly preached Christ unto all as the True Light that enlighteneth every man. Because he reproached the impious Emperor and the pagan gods, he was beheaded and rose to the never-waning light in Heaven to sing unto God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6: Standing before the Emperor’s tribunal with a radiant face, thou didst boldly declare in the hearing of all, O thrice-blessed Martyr Panteleimon: Mine all-healing power and glory is Christ, the True God, the Lord of all, Who raiseth the dead and healeth all infirmities. For this confession we bless thee and say:

Rejoice, thundering mouth of the deity of Christ.

Rejoice, mellifluous tongue that declareth His plan of salvation.

Rejoice, orator of sublime theology.

Rejoice, wise sower of piety.

Rejoice, sweet-sounding flute of faith.

Rejoice, glorious preacher of Orthodoxy.

Rejoice, faithful follower in Christ’s footsteps.

Rejoice, joyful seer of Christ’s glory.

Rejoice, comfort of those reproached by unbelievers.

Rejoice, support of those who confess the Faith.

Rejoice, giver of help unto those who need it.

Rejoice, obtainer of blessings for those who honour thy memory.

Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Kontakion 7: Myrrh was poured out upon thy soul, O divinely wise healer Panteleimon, from the Comforter Spirit. Hence, after thy death, thy venerable relics by their fragrance banish the stench of the passions and give healing unto those who with faith cry unto God: Alleluia.

Ikos 7: When the worshippers of idols beheld the paralyzed man raised and walking through thy prayer, Saint Panteleimon, many believed in Christ. However, the demon’s priests, consumed with jealousy, incited the vain Emperor to anger. For this reason, unto thee who wast mercilessly tortured and burnt for Christ, we cry with compunction:

Rejoice, thou who didst despise earthly pleasures.

Rejoice, thou who wast above material comforts.

Rejoice, thou who didst regard as nothing all the beautiful things in this world.

Rejoice, thou who didst shake thyself free of fleeting glory.

Rejoice, thou who didst remain free from the nets of the devil.

Rejoice, thou who didst vanquish the wiles of the torturers.

Rejoice, thou who didst not spare thy life for Christ.

Rejoice, thou who wast shewn to be an enemy of hostile flesh.

Rejoice, thou who didst impede the spread of polytheism.

Rejoice, thou who by the power of God didst defeat the idols.

Rejoice, sharp arrow by whom enemies are wounded.

Rejoice, mediator who defendest the faithful.

Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Kontakion 8: The Lord appeared unto thee in a wonderful way, encouraging and upholding thee in the tortures for His Name. In the person of the priest Hermolaus, the Lord cooled the boiling lead into which thou wast thrown, and in the sea He untied the great stone from thy neck and brought thee unharmed onto land. Whereafter having been brought again before the Emperor, thou didst sing triumphantly unto Christ our God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8: While dwelling noetically wholly in Heaven, thou leavest not those below on earth but remainest with us through the relics of thy holy skull, O great passion-bearer of Christ. Receiving from the Lord enlightenment and sanctification, thou givest blessings unto those who cry unto thee thus:

Rejoice, thou who art filled with divine wisdom.

Rejoice, discerner of God’s providence.

Rejoice, delight of minds made wise by God.

Rejoice, gladness of souls who love God.

Rejoice, bright pearl of Christ.

Rejoice, glorious sanctification in soul and body.

Rejoice, dweller in the courts of the firstborn in Heaven.

Rejoice, inhabitant of the ever-blessed bridal halls.

Rejoice, beholder of the light of the Trinity.

Rejoice, fervent mediator in thy prayers to God for us.

Rejoice, thou who grantest illumination unto souls.

Rejoice, thou who givest comfort unto the afflicted.

Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Kontakion 9: All nature marvelled, Great Martyr, at the radiance of grace and the wealth of virtues in thee. Thou art a model of angelic purity, great courage in cruel sufferings, strong love for Christ, and great compassion for the people for whom thou doest glorious things that they may sing: Alleluia.

Ikos 9: Eloquent orators cannot worthily praise thy struggles, O glorious victor Panteleimon. By the invincible power of God, though young in years, thou didst conquer the ancient, primordial enemy and didst put to shame the deluded idolaters. Full of wonder at thy faith and purity, we truly cry unto thee:

Rejoice, joyful sight of angels.

Rejoice, worthy wonder of men.

Rejoice, thou who didst shed thy blood for Christ, and in death didst shed milk.

Rejoice, thou who didst give up thy body to a martyr’s death for His sake.

Rejoice, splendid model of confession.

Rejoice, valiant warrior of the King of kings.

Rejoice, thou who didst conquer the ruler of darkness.

Rejoice, thou who by thy victory didst gladden Heaven and earth.

Rejoice, blessed inhabitant of the world above.

Rejoice, wise pilgrim of the world below.

Rejoice, tree adorned with the fruits of the gifts of grace.

Rejoice, thou who carriest palms of victory.

Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Kontakion 10: Full of compassion as a true imitator of Christ the Giver of Mercy, thou wast renamed by Him Panteleimon — that is, all-merciful — for thou pourest mercy upon all who hasten to thine aid. Pour it also abundantly upon us who cry unto God concerning thee: Alleluia.

Ikos 10: Finding thee a strong wall resistant to all kinds of torture, the torturer tried to break thy spirit by the teeth of wild beasts and the spikes of the torture wheel, but all to no effect. The power of Christ restrained the fierceness of the beasts, and the frightful wheel on which thy body was turned immediately broke to pieces. Wherefore unto thee, invincible passion-bearer Panteleimon, we cry:

Rejoice, precious chosen-one of Christ.

Rejoice, exquisite fragrance of God.

Rejoice, firm diamond of the Church.

Rejoice, unshakable tower reaching unto Heaven.

Rejoice, tamer of visible beasts.

Rejoice, crusher of invisible dragons.

Rejoice, thou who wast stained with thy blood shed for Christ, mixed with milk.

Rejoice, thou who hast received glorious crowns.

Rejoice, thou who bringest joy unto angels and men.

Rejoice, thou who hast been glorified by God in Heaven and on earth.

Rejoice, celestial one who singest in the choirs of the martyrs.

Rejoice, holy one who delightest in the sweet vision of Christ.

Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Kontakion 11: A funeral song do we offer unto thy sacred immolation for Christ, in which milk instead of blood flowed from thee, Great Martyr, and the olive tree under which thou wast beheaded was all covered with healing fruit. It is fitting that we cry fervently unto Christ Who wonderfully glorifieth those who glorify Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 11: A luminous ray wast thou, divinely wise Panteleimon, unto those sitting in the darkness of polytheism, leading them unto the Sun of Righteousness, Christ God. Him do thou entreat that we who offer unto thee glad praises may ever live in the light of His Commandments:

Rejoice, bright star, shining in the noetical firmament.

Rejoice, ray of light, shining for Christian people.

Rejoice, thou who wast mystically illumined by the Sun, Christ.

Rejoice, thou who in spirit roamest the earth.

Rejoice, beautiful tabernacle of the Holy Ghost.

Rejoice, honourable vessel who pourest out healing.

Rejoice, treasury of purity.

Rejoice, namesake of mercy.

Rejoice, heir of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Rejoice, partaker of eternal glory.

Rejoice, patron of those in distress upon the sea of life.

Rejoice, unmercenary healer who helpest those who invoke thee with faith.

Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Kontakion 12: Thou didst receive an abundance of grace, O thrice-blessed one, according to the greatness of thy love for Christ God, Who also shewed thee to be a source of healing. Thou curest free of charge the sicknesses of soul and body of those who approach thee with faith and cry unto God: Alleluia.

Ikos 12: Chanting of thy longsuffering labors for Christ, O our defender and healer Panteleimon, we praise thy great patience, we bless thy martyr’s death, we honour thy holy memory, and in praise we cry unto thee:

Rejoice, sweet-sounding trumpet of piety.

Rejoice, sword who didst cut down impiety.

Rejoice, thou who wast struck at the olive tree for Him Who didst stretch out His hands on the Tree of the Cross.

Rejoice, by being burnt for Him, thou didst extinguish the furnace of delusion.

Rejoice, by thy wounds, thou didst wound the opponents of Christ.

Rejoice, by thy blood, thou didst dry the streams of idolatrous blood.

Rejoice, thou who wast thrown into boiling lead for Christ.

Rejoice, thou who wast sunk into the sea for His Name.

Rejoice, thou who didst remain unharmed therein by the providence of God.

Rejoice, thou who didst pass through tortures of fire and water into the peace of Heaven.

Rejoice, thou who didst pour unfailing streams of mercy upon the faithful.

Rejoice, gracious and compassionate physician who grantest healing through grace.

Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Kontakion 13: Since thou art a longsuffering passion-bearer of Christ and a healer, O holy Panteleimon, graciously accept from us this small offering. Heal us of our many and various ailments, and through thine intercession protect us from enemies visible and invisible. Pray to the Lord that we may be delivered from eternal torment, and that we may continually sing in His Kingdom: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. (Chanted thrice)

Ikos 1: We know thee, glorious Panteleimon, as an earthly angel and heavenly man. Adorned with angelic purity and martyrdom, thou hast passed from earth to Heaven. Standing before the Throne of the Lord of Glory with the angels and all the saints, thou prayest for all of us on earth who venerate thee with these invocations:

Rejoice, torch of piety.

Rejoice, most glorious lamp of the Church.

Rejoice, adornment of venerable martyrs.

Rejoice, support of the faithful in unflinching endurance.

Rejoice, outstanding boast of youth.

Rejoice, thou who having grown up in the world, wast not of the world.

Rejoice, angel in the flesh, surpassing mortals.

Rejoice, warrior of Christ of invincible courage.

Rejoice, witness of heavenly mercy.

Rejoice, vessel of divine knowledge.

Rejoice, thou by whom faith hath been exalted.

Rejoice, thou by whom delusion hath been dethroned.

Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

Kontakion 1: Chosen passion-bearer of Christ and gracious healer, who freely grantest healing unto the sick, we praise thee in songs as our protector. Since thou hast boldness with the Lord, free us from all harm and sickness who cry with love unto thee: Rejoice, Great-Martyr and Healer, Panteleimon.

A Prayer: Saint Panteleimon, we who suffer from godless persecutors as well as from illnesses and disabilities, beseech thee to increase our love for Jesus Christ Who suffered cruel and unjust treatment for the sake of our salvation. We do not deserve such salvation or any benefits from the saints in Heaven. Yet, since thou dost freely give, and since all gifts come only through God, we implore thee to heal all our afflictions and illumine our souls unto His service and glory. We thank thee, Saint Panteleimon, for not rejecting us in our weakness but helping us in our time of need. Amen.

Prayer: O Holy Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, thou imitator of God’s mercy! Look down in thy loving kindness and hearken unto us, sinners, who offer heartfelt prayers before thy holy icon. Ask for us from the Lord God, before Whom the Angels stand in heaven, remission of our sins and transgressions. Heal the ills of body and soul of the servants of God whom we here commemorate, who are here present, and of all Orthodox Christians who seek thy help. For behold, we, who because of our sins are possessed by bitter ills and have no help or consolation, yet flee to thee for refuge, since thou hast been given Grace to pray for us and to heal every ill and every disease. Grant, therefore, to all of us, by thy holy prayers, health and strength of soul and body, a good growth in the Faith and in devotion, and all that is needful unto this temporal life and unto our salvation: So that, having been granted great and rich mercy thorugh thee, we may glorify thee and Him that bestoweth all good things, our God Who is wondrous in His Saints, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.