22 November / 5 December 

Saints Archippus, Philemon and Apphia, Apostles of the Seventy were students and companions of the holy Apostle Paul. In the Epistle to Philemon, the Apostle Paul names Saint Archippus as his companion, and mentions him again in the Epistle to the Colossians (Col. 4:17).

Saint Archippus was bishop of the city of Colossae in Phrygia. Saint Philemon was an eminent citizen of this city, and the Christians gathered in his home to celebrate church services. He was also made a bishop by Saint Paul and he went about the cities of Phrygia, preaching the Gospel. Later on, he became archpastor of the city of Gaza. Saint Apphia, his wife, took the sick and vagrants into her home, zealously attending to them. She was her husband’s co-worker in proclaiming the Word of God.

During the persecution against Christians under the emperor Nero (54-68), the holy Apostles Archippus and Philemon and Apphia were brought to trial by the ruler Artocles for confessing faith in Christ. Saint Archippus was brutally slashed with knives. After torture, they buried Saints Philemon and Apphia up to the waist in the ground, and stoned them until they died.

Source: The Orthodox Church of America

Ode I, Canon of the feast, the acrostic whereof is “O Lady, grant thou grace and discourse”, the composition of George, in Tone IV:

Irmos: I shall open my mouth, * and be filled with the Spirit, * and utter discourse to the Queen and Mother; * and be seen radiantly keeping festival, * joyfully praising her entry.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O most pure one, we know thee to be a treasury of wisdom and an ever-flowing fountain of grace; and we pray thee rain down upon us knowledge, that we may praise thee forever.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Being a temple and palace more exalted than the heavens, O most pure one, thou wast set apart in the Temple of God to be prepared as a divine dwelling-place for His advent.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Shining with the Light of grace, the Theotokos hath illumined all and assembled us to adorn her most splendid festival. Come ye, let us draw nigh to her!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The glorious portal which surpasseth human thought, having opened the doors of the Temple of God, doth now command us who have assembled to delight in her divine wonders.

Canon of the saints, the acrostic whereof is “I glorify thee who lovest Christ, O Philemon”, the composition of Joseph, in Tone II:

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.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

Joining chorus joyously in the mansions of heaven, O accomplisher of sacred things, grant grace unto me who hymn thy holy memory in a godly manner, for thou hast been glorified.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

Giving drink to men’s hearts with the streams of thy words, O blessed and right wondrous Apostle Philemon, thou hast prepared them to accomplish divine understandings with faith.

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

Having delivered men’s souls from the gloom of the madness of idolatry, O wise apostle, thou hast illumined them with the splendours of the Spirit, doing the sanctified works of the sacred Gospel.

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

O pure one, of old the divine assembly of the prophets truly described thee from afar in many and varied images, as the only one who gave birth to the Master.

Ode III, Canon of the Feast, Irmos: O Theotokos, thou living and plentiful fount, * establish in spiritual fellowship those who sing hymns of praise * of thine honoured entry: * grant them crowns of glory.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Receiving the pure and undefiled one, who is more splendid than all creation, the animate bridal chamber of God, the beautiful Temple and chamber doth appear today like a bride adorned for her wedding.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

David, preceding the chorus, doth leap and dance with us, declaring thee, O all-pure one, to be the queen all-adorned, standing in the Temple before our King and God, O most pure one.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

From her, whom transgressions issued forth among the race of mankind, hath her correction and incorruption blossomed forth, the Theotokos, who is led today into the house of God.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The angelic armies and the multitudes of all mankind leap for joy, and they advance as lamp-bearers before thy countenance, proclaiming thy majesty in the house of God.

Canon of the Saints, 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.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

Preaching the sufferings and resurrection of Christ, O right glorious Philemon, thou dost raise us up from the tomb of unbelief and mortality.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

With sacred hymnody let us praise the godly Onesimus and Philemon, Apphia and Archippus, the stars who illumine the ends of the earth.

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

Having purified the eyes of your mind, ye received divine vision and have raised erring hearts up to knowledge, O most sacred ones.

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

Having been shown to be pure and supremely incorrupt, O Virgin, thou didst receive within thy womb God the Word Who hath cleansed nature, which had been defiled by our fall into sin.

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

Kontakion of the saints, Tone II, Spec. Mel. “Seeking the highest…”: Let us praise the apostles of Christ, * the glorious Philemon, the sacred Archippus, Onesimus, Mark and Apollos, * and with them the all-wise Apphia * as most radiant stars illumining the ends of the earth; ** and let us cry out: Pray ye unceasingly on behalf of us all!

Sessional Hymn of the apostle, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Cultivating stony hearts with the plough of the word, O sacred husbandman, thou didst prepare them for divine knowledge, and, casting down the temples of the idols, O blessed one, thou didst erect churches to the glory of thy Creator. Wherefore, assembling, we who are illumined in a most sacred manner glorify thy holy memory, O Philemon, and cry out to thee together: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who honor thy holy memory with love.

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, the same tone, Spec. Mel. “That which was mystically commanded…”: Let David the psalmist rejoice, and let Joachim and Anna join chorus, for the radiant Mary, the divine lamp, issued forth from them like a holy fruit, and she rejoiceth, entering the temple, and beholding her, the son of Barachiah blessed her, and, rejoicing, cried aloud: “Rejoice, O wonder of the universe!”

Ode IV, Canon of the Feast, Irmos: Perceiving the profound counsel of God, * that the incarnation of Thee the Most High, * will be from a Virgin, * the Prophet Habbakuk cried aloud: * Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Temple of God, receiving today the portal through whom none may pass, hath ceased to perform any service of the Law, crying: Truly truth hath appeared to those who are on earth!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The mountain overshadowed, which Habbakuk beheld of old, prefigured her who hath made her abode in the inaccessible chambers of the Temple, flourishing with virtues, for she doth cover the ends of the earth therewith.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

All the earth hath seen most glorious things, things strange and marvellous, for the Virgin, receiving food from an angel, doth receive tokens of God’s dispensation.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Revealed as the temple and palace and animate heaven, O divine bride of the King, thou art brought today to the Temple of the Law to be kept for Him, O most pure one.

Canon of the Saints, 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.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

With the Cross as mast and sail, thou didst pass over the cruel abyss of the temptations of life without foundering, O blessed one, directing many of those at sea to the harbour of salvation through divine grace.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

The godly city of Colossae manifestly setteth forth radiant luminaries: the sacred Archippus, Philemon and Apphia, and the glorious Onesimus, who enlighten the ends of the world.

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

A divine river arose in thy heart, O godly eloquent one, stopping the rivers and torrents of ungodliness; and through grace giving drink to souls parched by the burning heat of ignorance, O glorious one.

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

I hymn thee, O truly all-hymned one, who supra-naturally gave birth to the all-hymned Word of God, and I pray: In that thou art good, O Bride of God, heal thou the infirmities of my lowly soul.

Ode V, Canon of the Feast, Irmos: All creation stands in awe of thy divine glory; * for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, * didst enter into the temple of the Lord; * thyself being a most pure temple, * bestowing peace, upon all who hymn thee.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The most pure Virgin, the glorious sanctity and sacred offering which is brought today to the Temple of God, is preserved as a habitation for our one God, the King of all, as He Himself knoweth.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Zachariah, having of old beheld the beauty of thy soul, cried out in faith: Thou art the deliverance, thou art the joy of all, thou art our restoration, through whom the Uncontainable One shall appear unto me contained.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O, thy wonders which pass understanding, O all-pure one! Strange is thy birthgiving; strange is the manner of thy maturation; strange also, most glorious and unutterable by mortals, are all thy wonders, O Bride of God.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

As a most radiant lamp, O Bride of God, hast thou shone forth today in the house of the Lord, illumining us with the precious gifts of thy wonders, O pure and all-hymned Theotokos.

Canon of the Saints, 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 Apostles, pray to God for us.

Seeing those ailing with the wounds of evil deeds, O glorious Philemon, by thine active discourse thou didst heal those cruelly sick with the madness of idolatry.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

As a sure guide, O Philemon, thou didst point out the paths of salvation to those grievously lost, and wondrously led them to love Christ, the only Way.

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

Today the honoured Church of Christ in Colossae doth sing the splendid festival of the godly Archippus, honouring also the divinely eloquent Philemon.

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

O Lady, save us who are tempest-tossed by the cruel billows of temptations, the audacious assaults of barbarians and the attacks of the cruel demons.

Ode VI, Canon of the Feast Irmos: Celebrating the divine and solemn feast * of the Mother of God * O ye divinely wise, * let us come, clapping our hands, * and glorify God who was born of her.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou Who hast upheld all things by Thy word hast hearkened to the prayer of the righteous ones. Wherefore, Thou hast loosed the infirmity of the barren woman, in that Thou art compassionate, and given them her who is the cause of joy.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Wishing to make His salvation known to the Gentiles, the Lord hath now taken from among mankind her who hath not known wedlock, as a sign of reconciliation and renewal.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

As a house of grace, wherein treasures of the ineffable dispensation of God are laid up, O all-pure one, thou didst share in unfading delight in the Temple.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Receiving thee as a royal diadem, O Bride of God, the Temple hath been rendered splendid and been elevated to better things, beholding in thee the fulfilment of the prophecies.

Canon of the Saints, Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, * I appeal to the unfathomable abyss of Thy compassion: * Raise me up from corruption, O God.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

Thou hast been revealed to be a heaven proclaiming to all the saving glory of Him Who glorified thee and numbered thee among His seventy apostles, O most noetically rich martyr.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

Having become a stranger to thy native land, with thy strange discourse thou didst pursue those who had become estranged from God, O hierarch Philemon, and showing them to be inhabitants of Sion.

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

Shining with sacred virtues, and splendidly pleasing God, thou didst hasten to the heavens, where thou dost rejoice with the angels, O Apphia.

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

The Word became incarnate within thy womb and became known as a man in His compassion, that He might deify mankind, O all-immaculate Maiden.

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 feast, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Having been lifted up …”: The most pure temple of the Saviour, * the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, * the sacred treasury of the glory of God, * hath been brought into the house of the Lord this day, * bringing with her the grace that is in the divine Spirit. * To her do the angels of God chant the hymn: ** She is the heavenly tabernacle!

Ikos: Beholding the grace of the ineffable and divine mysteries of God made plainly manifest in and filling the Virgin, I rejoice; yet I know not how to understand this strange and ineffable image. How hath the pure one alone been shown to be above all creation, visible and immaterial? Wherefore, wishing to praise her, I am greatly in awe in mind and word; yet, bold, I proclaim and magnify her, saying: She is the heavenly tabernacle!

Ode VII, Canon of the Feast, Irmos: Refusing to worship created things * in place of the Creator, * the divinely wise youths bravely trampled down the threatening fire * and rejoicing they sang aloud: * O supremely hymned Lord and God of our Fathers, Blessed art Thou.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Lo, today a joyous spring hath dawned upon the ends of the earth, enlightening our souls, thoughts and minds with grace: the festival of the Theotokos. Let us mystically make festival this day!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Let all things – heaven and earth, the ranks of angels and the multitudes of mankind – bear gifts today unto the Queen and Mother of God; and let them cry aloud: Our joy and deliverance is brought into the Temple!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Scriptures have come to pass, the Law hath faded like a shadow, and rays of grace have shone forth upon thee who hast entered into the Temple of God, O pure Virgin Mother wherein thou art blessed.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Heaven and earth and the netherworld are subject to thine Offspring as Creator and God, O all-pure one, and every nation of mortals doth confess that the Lord and Saviour of our souls hath appeared.

Canon of the Saints, Irmos: When the golden image was worshipped on the plain of Dura, * Thy three children spurned the impious command, * and, cast into the midst of the flame, * they were bedewed, and sang: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

Beautiful were thy precious feet, O Philemon, which meekly trod the paths of the Gospel, announcing sacred peace to all those who do battle, and hindering the assaults of the demons.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

The profound darkness of the Gazanenes was dispelled by the light of thy words, in that thou art a most sacred performer of the sacraments, O apostle, and among them thou wast most excellent, shepherding them all and teaching them to chant: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

The city of Gaza first shared in thy god-pleasing labours, being the first bishop there, O salvific hierarch Philemon, and as a sacred herald thou didst instruct them to cry aloud: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

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

As a lover of Christ, Who loved mortals in His compassion, O Philemon, thou didst transform hate-filled enemies into loving friends through love, whereby they chanted unto God: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

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

O Virgin, thou art the strength of the lowly, the radiant lamp, the divine table, the impassable gate, the throne and palace of God, the staff of Aaron and the golden jar bearing Christ, the Manna of life.

Ode VIII, Canon of the Feast, Irmos: Hearken, O pure Virgin Maiden, * that Gabriel may tell thee the true counsel of the Most High of old. * Make ready to receive the Godhead; * for through thee the Infinite One hath come to dwell among mankind. * Wherefore, rejoicing, I cry aloud: * Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Anna, once, leading the most pure temple to the house of God, faithfully said unto the priest, crying aloud: Now accept thou this child, given me by God; lead her into the Temple of the Creator; and, rejoicing, chant unto Him: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

And Zachariah then, beholding them in the Spirit, said unto Anna: Thou dost bring hither the true Mother of Life, whom the prophets of God have clearly foretold as the Theotokos! How, therefore, can the Temple hold her? Wherefore, marvelling, I cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The handmaid of God have I been, answered Anna unto him, and I call upon Him with faith and prayer to accept the fruit of my birth-pangs, that, having received this child, I might bring her that was born unto Him that bestowed her. Wherefore, I cry aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Truly this is a matter of the Law, the priest said to her, and strange doth this thing seem unto me, beholding her that doth most gloriously surpass the holy ones in grace led into the house of God. Wherefore, rejoicing, I cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Canon of the Saints, 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.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

Bearing the word in thy heart like a splendidly lit lamp, O glorious one, thou didst raise up to the day of the knowledge of God those who before were like lamps extinguished and lay in the deep-darkness of ignorance.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

Thy sacred departure unto God was rendered magnificent by the sacred presence of the apostles and the incorporeal intelligences, whose life thou didst emulate on earth, as an initiate of the sacred mysteries, O divinely eloquent Philemon.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

Manifestly exuding the sweet-smelling myrrh of sacred miracles, O blessed and wise Philemon, thou didst perfume the minds and thoughts of the pious, dispelling the fetid passions of those who supremely exalt Christ.

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

Like radiant stars ever shining in the firmament of the Church, the wondrous Archippus, Apphia, Philemon and Onesimus illumine our souls.

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

Thy womb hath truly been revealed to us as a new garden of paradise, O pure Theotokos, producing the Tree of Life, and it hath led back into paradise those who died through the fruit of the tree, giving them life.

Ode IX, Canon of the Feast, Irmos: In nowise may the hand of the defiled * touch the animate ark of God; * and let the lips of the faithful * never-silently cry out with joy to the Theotokos, * chanting the words of the angel: * Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace! * The Lord is with thee!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O pure Theotokos, as thou hast the most radiant beauty of purity of soul and art full of the grace of God from heaven, with the ever-existent light thou dost ever enlighten those who cry out with joy: Truly thou art more highly exalted than all, O pure Virgin!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thy wonder doth surpass the power of words, O pure Theotokos, for in thee I perceive a body impervious to the movement of sin. Wherefore, thankfully I cry out to thee: Truly thou art more highly exalted than all, O pure Virgin!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Most gloriously did the Law prefigure thee, O pure one, as the tabernacle, the divine jar, the awesome ark, the veil, the staff, the inviolable temple and portal of God. Wherefore, all these things teach us to cry to thee: Truly thou art more highly exalted than all, O pure Virgin!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

In hymnody David cried out to thee prophetically, calling thee the daughter of the King in the comeliness of thy virtues, beholding thee standing, elaborately adorned, at the right hand of God. Wherefore, in prophecy he cried out: Truly thou art more highly exalted than all, O pure Virgin!

Canon of the Saints, 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.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

Deified by divine communion, shining ‘with ineffable light and ever filled with spiritual joy, O Philemon, thou dwellest in the heavens with the most sacred choir of the sacred apostles as is meet.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

Wondrous is thy character, comely and beautiful thy life, and most glorious was thy repose, O blessed apostle, as the radiant day whereon, forsaking that which is on earth, thou didst ascend in gladness to the circles of heaven.

Holy Apostles, pray to God for us.

Today the whole Church of Christ is glad, spiritually ordaining festive joy at thy memorial, for thou hast preserved it unshaken by thy god-pleasing supplications to God the Saviour, O most sacred Philemon.

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

The shrine of thy relics poureth forth drops of healing upon those who approach it reverently, O blessed Apostle Philemon, for it banishes illnesses and hallows the souls of all who ever celebrate thy divine memory.

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

O all-immaculate one, thou bearest Him Who holdeth all things, and who didst nourish the Nurturer, in nowise experiencing the usual pangs of birthgiving. Thy wonder surpasseth understanding, and fills with awe both angels and mortals, who know thee to be the only Virgin Mother of God.

Troparion of the apostles, in Tone III: O holy Apostles * entreat the Merciful God * that He grant remission of sins ** unto 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.

Troparion of the feast, in Tone IV: Today is the prelude of God’s good will * and the proclamation of the salvation of mankind. * The Virgin hath manifestly appeared in the temple of God, proclaiming Christ unto all. * To her let us cry aloud: ** Rejoice, O thou fulfillment of the Creator’s dispensation!

20 November / 3 December 

Saint Gregory the Decapolite was born in the Isaurian city of Decapolis (ten cities) in the eighth century. From his childhood he loved the temple of God and church services. He read the Holy Scripture constantly and with reverence.

In order to avoid the marriage which his parents had intended for him, he secretly left home. He spent all his life wandering: he was in Constantinople, Rome, Corinth, and he lived as an ascetic on Olympus for a while. Saint Gregory preached the Word of God everywhere, denouncing the Iconoclast heresy, strengthening the faith and fortitude of the Orthodox, whom the heretics in those times oppressed, tortured and imprisoned.

Through his ascetic effort and prayer, Saint Gregory attained the gifts of prophecy and wonderworking. After overcoming the passions and reaching the height of virtue, he was permitted to hear angelic singing in praise of the Holy Trinity. Saint Gregory left the monastery of Saint Menas near Thessalonica, where he had labored for a long time, and he went again to Constantinople in order to combat the Iconoclast heresy. At the capital, a grievous illness undermined his strength, and he departed to the Lord in the year 816.

Saint Gregory was buried at a monastery in Constantinople, and many miracles took place at his tomb. As a result, the monks removed the holy relics of Saint Gregory and enshrined them in the church where people could venerate them.

When Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453, the relics of Saint Gregory were carried to the region of the Danube by a Turkish official. In 1498 Barbu Craiovescu, the Ban of the Romanian Land (Wallachia) heard of the miracles performed by the holy relics and bought them for a considerable sum of money. Barbu Craiovescu placed the relics in the main church of Bistritsa Monastery which he founded in Rimnicu Vilcea, where they remain to the present day.

Saint Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople, from his early years devoted all his time to prayer and the study of Holy Scripture. The Lord granted him the great good fortune to be a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom (November 13), who at first ordained him as a deacon, and then to the holy priesthood. He witnessed the appearance of the Apostle Paul to Saint John Chrysostom. Saint Proclus received from his teacher a profound understanding of Holy Scripture, and learned to elucidate his thoughts in a polished form.

After the exile and death of Saint John Chrysostom, the holy Patriarch of Constantinople Sisinius (426-427) consecrated Saint Proclus as bishop of the city of Kyzikos, but under the influence of Nestorian heretics he was expelled by his flock there.

Saint Proclus then returned to the capital and preached the Word of God in the churches of Constantinople, strengthening listeners in the Orthodox Faith and denouncing the impiety of the heretics. He once preached a sermon before Nestorius in which he fearlessly defended the title “Theotokos” in speaking of the holy Virgin. Upon the death of the Patriarch Saint Sisinius, Saint Proclus was chosen to take his place. Having thus been made Patriarch of Constantinople, he guided the Church over the course of twelve years (434-447). By the efforts of Saint Proclus, the relics of Saint John Chrysostom were transferred from Comana to Constantinople in the time of the holy emperor Saint Theodosius II (408-450).

When Saint Proclus was Patriarch, the Empire suffered destructive earthquakes, lasting for several months. At Bithynia, in the Hellespont, and in Phrygia cities were devastated, rivers disappeared from the face of the earth, and terrible flooding occurred in previously dry places. The people of Constantinople came out of the city with the patriarch and emperor at their head and offered prayers for an end to the unprecedented calamities.

During one prayer service, a boy from the crowd was snatched up into the air by an unseen force and carried up to such a height that he was no longer to be seen by human eyes. Then, whole and unharmed, the child was lowered to the ground and he reported that he heard and he saw the angels glorifying God singing: “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal.” All the people began to sing this Trisagion Prayer, adding to it the refrain, “Have mercy on us!” Then the earthquakes stopped. The Orthodox Church sings still this prayer at divine services to this very day.

The Constantinople flock esteemed their Patriarch for his ascetic life, for his concern about the downtrodden, and for his preaching. Many works of the saint have survived to the present day. Best known are his discourses against the Nestorians, two tracts of the Saint in praise of the Mother of God, and four tracts on the Nativity of Christ, setting forth the Orthodox teaching about the Incarnation of the Son of God. The activity of the holy patriarch in establishing decorum in all the church affairs gained him universal esteem. Surrounded by love and respect, Saint Proclus departed to the Lord after serving as Patriarch for twenty years.

Canon of the Venerable Gregory, the composition of Joseph, in Tone VIII.

Irmos: The wonderworking staff of Moses, * striking and dividing the sea in the figure of a cross, * once drowned Pharaoh the pursuing charioteer, * while it saved the fleeing people of Israel * as they fled on foot, * chanting a hymn unto God.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

By thy supplications, O blessed Gregory, enliven my lowly soul, which hath been slain by the passions; for thou hast now received the life which ageth not, having mortified thy members on earth with the struggles of asceticism, O venerable one.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Abstaining from the pleasures of the body with purity of mind, O father, from childhood thou wast an instrument of the Spirit, splendidly receiving His powers and being recognized as godly of visage.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

With divine desire thou didst cause the desires of the flesh to wither away, O blessed one, espousing to thyself purity as a bride, from whom thou didst beget all the virtues as children for thyself, and who made thee a child of God, O ever memorable one.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

O most pure and blessed one, thou heavenly ladder stretching from earth unto the heavens, ineffable is the wonder and incomprehensible the vision, for God the Word hath come down to mortal mankind! Do thou save those who have recourse unto thee.

Canon of the Holy Hierarch Proclus, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone I.

Irmos: Thy victorious right arm, * in a manner befitting God, * hath been glorified in strength, O Immortal One; * for in its infinite strength it shattered the enemy, * fashioning anew a path for the Israelites through the deep.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

The peer of the noetic archangels in activity and true discourse, O God-receiver, thou standest with them before the throne of the adored Trinity, O Proclus, Whom do thou beseech, that we be saved.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

Manifestly following in the footsteps of Chrysostom, O all-blessed and ever-memorable one, thou didst receive his divine priestly vestments as a paternal inheritance, O right glorious father.

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

In that Isaiah of old cried out in the Spirit that God would come to earth, Nestorius, who blasphemously slandered the incarnation, was deposed in council by thee, O thrice blessed one.

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

With divinely inspired discourses thou didst explain the awesome incarnation of the Word of God from the Virgin, proclaiming her to be the Theotokos, following the all-wise dogmas of the apostles.

Ode III, Canon of the Venerable One, Irmos: O Lord, Creator of the vault of Heaven * and Builder of the Church, * do Thou strengthen me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, * O Support of the faithful, * O only Lover of mankind.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Having ascended the mountain of the virtues, O venerable father, thou didst enter into the darkness of vision and, comprehending, thou didst contain, as far as thou wast able, Him Who is unapproachable in essence, O father, being filled with enlightenment.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

With heavenly light He Who was born in a cave for the deliverance of mortal mankind illumined thee like Paul, O all-blessed one, who of old wast dwelling in a cave, showing thee to be luminous, O father Gregory.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

The heavenly portal, the most pure Mother of Christ, furnished thee with wings, O father, who wast beset by the assaults of the demons, and through the grace of the Spirit rendered thee able to soar above them with strength.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Rejoice, O thou who alone hast given birth to the Lord of all! Rejoice, thou who hast mediated life for all! Rejoice, thou mountain overshadowed and unquarried, confirmation of the faithful! Rejoice, O all-immaculate one!

Canon of the Holy Hierarch, Irmos: Thou alone knowest the weakness of human nature * and in compassion hast assumed its form; * do Thou gird me with power from on high, * that I may cry unto Thee: * Holy is the animate temple of Thine ineffable glory, O Lover of mankind!

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

Receiving light from Light in a most godly manner, O all-blessed one, thou didst become a light for the Church. Wherefore, the divine Light shone upon thee noetically, as is written, and, illumined thereby, thou dost enlighten those who hymn thy memory.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

Sounding forth the thunder of thy dogmas, and as the walls of Jericho were cast down so were all the audacities and armies of heresy, and thou hast won the trophy of victory, manifestly proclaiming the incarnation of God from the Virgin.

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

Setting thy mouth to the well-spring of wisdom, O Proclus in that thou art pleasing to God, thou didst draw forth divine waters of spiritual wisdom, drowning the turbid rivers, and ungodly opinions of Nestorius, O all-blessed one.

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

The only-begotten Son who is ineffably understood to be with the Father on high, was the only-begotten born of thee below in a supra-natural manner past understanding, O most pure one; and hath deified mankind, O most pure Lady Theotokos. Wherefore, we call thee blessed.

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

Kontakion of Saint Proclus, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Thou hast appeared…”: Today the most honoured of all cities * doth truly celebrate as is meet on the feast of thine honoured repose, ** O wise Proclus, father of fathers.

Sessional Hymn of Saint Gregory, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Go thou quickly before…”: Illumined with divine splendour, thou hast driven away the darkness of the soul-destroying passions, O most wise Gregory; and caught up to the most-pure heights of dispassion, thou hast most gloriously shone forth rays of healings, having made thine abode in the never-waning light of the Kingdom of Christ.

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 Saint Proclus, Tone III, Spec. Mel. “Of the divine Faith…”: Being a divine and sacred preacher, O all-praised teacher of the mysteries, enriching the Church with divine doctrine, thou didst proclaim the most pure Virgin to be the Theotokos and didst thereby put Nestorius to shame. Wherefore, we all faithfully honour thy memory, asking that we be granted great mercy.

Ode IV, Canon of the Venerable One, Irmos: Thou, O Lord, art my strength and Thou art my power, * Thou art my God and Thou art my joy, * Thou Who, while never leaving the bosom of Thy Father, * hast visited our poverty. * Therefore, with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee, * ‘Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind!’

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

He Who in His goodness for our sake became a stranger by a strange descent, O Gregory, seeing thee a stranger for His sake, received thee who wast far from thy homeland and made thee a divine heir of His Kingdom, adorned with the virtues.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

For Christ Who for our sake became a babe and a child, O venerable one, didst thou give thyself over to a school of children, being as innocent as a babe, O divinely wise and venerable father; and with divine humility thou didst humble the malice of the enemy, O blessed Gregory.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Watered with the showers of thy tears as with divine dew, O father Gregory, thou didst cause every virtue to grow bringing forth the blossoming of fruitfulness from the tree of perfect fasting planted by the springs of water.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

O blessed and all-immaculate Mother of God, heal thou the wounds of my soul, still the pleasures of the flesh, illumine my darkened heart, bring peace to my mind and deliver me from all the harm and assaults of the enemy.

Canon of the Holy Hierarch, Irmos: Perceiving thee with prophetic eyes * as the mountain overshadowed by the grace of God, * Habbakuk proclaimed that the Holy One of Israel * would come forth from thee, * for our salvation and restoration.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

The resounding thunder of the words of thy proclamation and the teachings of thy doctrines gladden the Church of God with wisdom, dispelling the audacity of heresy, O all-glorious and sacred Proclus.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

Having purified thine honoured body by abstinence like gold by fire, O most sacred and wise one, didst thou present it to the Creator as beautiful. Wherefore, He hath forever bestowed the vesture of the priesthood upon thee.

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

Being a sacred hierarch, and accustomed to divine knowledge, thou didst generously grant the divine radiance of enlightenment unto all, for the salvation of souls, O right glorious one.

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

Having in a manner past understanding received the divine Ember in thy womb, O all-immaculate one, thou wast truly not consumed; for the bush of old prefigured thy birth-giving, for our salvation and restoration.

Ode V, Canon of the Venerable One, Irmos: O Light never-waning, * why hast Thou turned Thy face from me * and why hath the alien darkness surrounded me, * wretched though I be? * But do Thou guide my steps I implore Thee * and turn me back towards the light of Thy commandments.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

By thine actions thou didst show thyself to be a fertile vine of the Word, O venerable father, bearing the magnificent ripe grapes of the virtues which exude the spiritual wine of salvation, making glad the hearts of the faithful.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Glorious Rome, receiving thee from the East with faith, O father, as a never-waning lamp, became enlightened by thy precious gifts; for thou didst have Christ within thy soul like a light illumining those who beheld thee, O father.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Walking the paths of life with godly vigilance as a favourite of God, as a husbandman of the commandments of Christ with the power of the Spirit, thou didst slay the serpent who lay in wait to bruise thy heel.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

O Ever-Virgin Mother, intercessor for the world, pilot me and guide me to the right path, and direct my thoughts along the straight paths of righteousness, setting aright the steps of my soul.

Canon of the Holy Hierarch, Irmos: Thou hast shone upon us with the radiance * of Thy coming O Christ, * and illumined the ends of the world with Thy Cross, * enlighten with the light of thine understanding * the hearts of those who with right worship hymn Thee.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

Radiant as a beacon, O all-blessed one, thou wast shown to be a champion of the Church of God, clearly explaining the nativity of the Immutable One from the divine and all-holy Virgin, O glorious one.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

Placing the dogmas of the glorious incarnation of God from the Virgin in thy sling, like the godly David of old didst thou fell the audacious character of Nestorius as did Goliath the Philistine.

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

Full of the teachings of Paul, and having beheld a vision of him, O most elect one, thou wast shown to be another Elisha, mystically anointed with the priesthood as with divine unction.

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

God took upon Himself neither confusion nor co-mingling in the womb of the Virgin, issuing forth in the flesh; but what He had been, that He remained: revealed immutably to be both God and man in His activities.

Ode VI, Canon of the Venerable One, Irmos: Cleanse me, O Saviour, * for many are mine iniquities; * lead me up from the abyss of evils I pray Thee, * for unto Thee have I cried, * and Thou hast hearkened unto me, * O God of my salvation.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Deified by mystic visions and divine splendours, and by thy yearning for God, O most sacred one, as a divine prophet, as a favourite of God thou hast been deemed worthy of the grace of God.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Thou didst perfect thy life in silence, O divinely inspired one, and wast revealed to be greater than the tumults of this life, higher than the passions, and a strange wanderer throughout all the earth.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Like a clear mirror thou wast enriched with divine radiance; like a sacred vessel thou hast adorned the temple, O Gregory, illumining the heavenly Church of the firstborn.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

O Mary, pure palace of the King, having cleansed me who have become the impure den of thieves by thy supplications, show me to be a holy temple for Him Who was born from thee.

Canon of the Holy Hierarch, Irmos: The deepest abyss hath surrounded us, * and there is none to deliver us, * yea we have been counted as sheep for the slaughter; * save Thy people O our God, * for thou art the strength and restoration of the weak.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

With the noetic staff of thy teachings didst thou thou drive the proponents of heresy from the flock of Christ like marauding wild beasts, O blessed Proclus, leading thy flock into the fold of Orthodoxy.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

Like another ark, through thine exhortations, O Proclus, thou didst present the body of the all-blessed Chrysostom to the Church of Christ, gladdening the choirs of the Orthodox by its arrival.

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

Ascending the great cathedra, O venerable one, with magnificent instructions didst thou adorn it in a most godly manner. Wherefore, assembling, we praise thee, O greatly wise and glorious hierarch Proclus.

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

Thou hast been revealed to surpass the cherubim, O Virgin full of the grace of God; for He Who is borne upon their shoulders, O pure one, was borne also in thine arms. Wherefore, we all ever glorify thee, O 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 Gregory, Tone III: The Church knoweth thee to be a sun radiant with the beauties of the virtues, * illumining all with rays of healings, O favourite of Christ. * Wherefore, we celebrate thine honoured memory * and honour thy struggles, ** O all-blessed and most wise father Gregory.

Ode VII, Canon of the Venerable Gregory, Irmos: Once in Babylon the fire stood in awe * of God’s condescension; * for which sake the youths in the furnace, * dancing with joyous steps as in a meadow, chanted: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

With the outpourings of thy tears didst thou quench the fire, O Gregory, pouring forth the water of dispassion and the pure beverage of healings upon those who chant: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Borne up by the perfection of honourable love as in a chariot of fire, didst thou mount to the summit, upon which thou didst acquire thy life, O divinely wise one, crying aloud: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

With thy standing in all-night vigils thou didst still the threefold billows of the passions, and having fallen into the sleep of the righteous, thou hast passed over into the never-waning light, crying aloud: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

O pure virgin, thou who hast given birth to Light, enliven me who am perishing and dying through sin; save me and rescue me from Gehenna, who chant: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Canon of the Holy Hierarch, Irmos: We the faithful perceive thee, O Theotokos, * to be a noetic furnace; * for as He, the supremely exalted One, * saved the three children, * so hath He wholly refashioned fallen humanity, in thy womb, * O Thou praised and supremely glorified God of our fathers.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

Having purified body, mind and soul by removing the passions, O wise hierarch Proclus, from thence thou didst declare the dogmas of God Who was born and received a body, soul and mind from the Virgin, without undergoing change, that He might save us.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

Having acquired boldness before Christ, O holy one, pray thou that those who with hymnody praise thy glorious memory on earth, hymning the praised and supremely glorious God, may be delivered from all manner of dangers.

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

Having kindled a noetic fire in thy thoughts, thou didst utterly consume the vile heresy of the abominable Nestorius; wherefore, we beseech thee: having burned up the fuel of our pleasures by thy supplications to God, O glorious one, do thou cleanse us.

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

O pure one, like the throne of the cherubim thou didst bear in thine embrace God Who became wrapped in the flesh, and Who beareth up all things by the word of His power. To Him do we chant in gladness: O all-hymned and supremely glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Ode VIII, Canon of the Venerable One, Irmos: In his wrath the Chaldean Tyrant made the furnace blaze, * with heat fanned sevenfold for the servants of God; * but when he perceived that they had been saved by a greater power * he cried aloud to the Creator and Redeemer; * ‘ye children bless, ye priests praise, * ye people, supremely exalt Him throughout all ages’.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Patiently sending up thy supplications to God, thou didst receive that for which thou didst ask with faith, O all-blessed one; for when thou didst sleep at night, an angel appeared to thee, who gave thee a fiery sword which cutteth down the passions of thy heart, cleanseth thee with immaterial fire and illumining thee with ineffable glory.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Like the most radiant sun hast thou shone noetically with the brilliant light of the virtues, O Gregory, illumining all the earth with the effulgence of thy miracles and enlightening those who piously chant: Ye children bless; ye priests chant; ye people supremely exalt Christ throughout the ages!

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Hearing the hymnody of the angels while still in thy mortal body, from which the senses of thy soul were manifestly delighted, O Gregory, thou wast shown to be godly and radiant of visage, crying out to the Master: Ye children bless; ye priests chant; ye people supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

O all-pure one who hast given birth to the Judge and Lord, Him do thou entreat as thy Son, at the hour of judgment, condemnation and fire, of darkness devoid of light and the gnashing of teeth, to deliver those who piously chant with faith: Ye priests chant; ye people supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!

Canon of the Holy Hierarch, Irmos: In the furnace as in a fiery smelter * the Israelite children shone more brightly than gold * with the beauty of godliness, * as they exclaimed: Bless the Lord all ye works of the Lord, * hymn and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

Having cleansed the carnal passions like gold through purity in the glowing crucible, O all-glorious one, thou didst shine forth upon all, chanting: All ye works, hymn the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

Adorned by the sound of the instrument of thine honourable tongue, the Church of God: hymned the descent of the Saviour to earth, manifestly singing for all to hear and crying: Thee do we supremely exalt, O Christ, throughout all ages!

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

Thou hast truly been shown to be a divine harp whose music soundeth for all who with faith accept the saving incarnation of God for us, O blessed father Proclus, who chantest with faith: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!

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

God the Master, preserving the tokens of thy virginity intact, O Virgin, passed through thee in a manner past understanding, that He might save those who cry: Hymn the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!

Ode IX, Canon of the Venerable One, Irmos: Every ear is awestruck at hearing of God’s ineffable condescension, * for the Most High voluntarily descended and assumed flesh, * becoming man in the Virgin’s womb; * wherefore we the faithful magnify the most pure Theotokos.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

With the sweat of thy fasting didst thou quench the burning ember of sin, O wise one, and manifestly receive graced from heaven in the guise of fire which burneth not, but rather bedewed and showed thee to be one mighty in strength over the passions.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Thou didst blossom like a rose, like a fragrant lily, amid the vales of fasting, O father Gregory. Wherefore, thou pourest forth fragrant myrrh, and thy bones abundantly perfume our life; for thy cheeks have been shown to be full, like a cup, of sweet fragrance.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

Today, the council of fasters and the venerable, the patriarchs and prophets, rejoice with us on thy memorial, O blessed one, and the apostles and martyrs celebrate with us. With them be thou mindful of those who honour thee with faith, O right wondrous one.

Venerable father, Gregory, pray to God for us.

The shrine wherein thy precious and much suffering body lieth, poureth forth the grace of miracles upon us, O father Gregory, sanctifying the souls and bodies of us who have been enriched by thee and have thee as an intercessor and fervent helper.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

We, the faithful, with the cry of Gabriel joyfully cry aloud to thee: Rejoice, O garden of paradise who put forth the Tree of Life! Rejoice, thou lifting of the curse, crown of martyrs, boast of the venerable and confirmation of the pious.

Canon of the Holy Hierarch, Irmos: The Bush, which burnt without being consumed, * prefigured thy pure birth-giving, O Theotokos. * Wherefore we now entreat Thee: * quench the raging furnace of temptations that beset us, * that we may unceasingly magnify Thee.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

Holy father, passing by images and shadows, and truly understanding Christ, having been reborn in the baptismal font, thou wast anointed a most sacred priest. Wherefore, thou didst proclaim as Theotokos her who gave Him birth.

Holy father, Proclus, pray to God for us.

Thou didst embrace the sacred character and dogmas of Chrysostom, O blessed one, and with his sacred zeal for the Faith, thou didst raise up from the noetic depths thy dogmas, which dry up the torrents of heresies with grace.

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

By thy sacred prayers bring an end to the turmoil which riseth up against us, and dispel the darkness of the passions and the afflictions of all mankind, in that thou hast boldness before our Master and God.

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

O thy wonders which pass understanding! For thou alone hast given birth supra-naturally to the Word of God, Who became flesh and wisely sustaineth, nurtureth, and preserveth all things by His divine will.

Troparion of the saints, in Tone IV: O God of our fathers, * ever deal with us according to Thy meekness. * Take not Thy mercy from us, * but by the prayers of these saints ** direct our life in peace.

19 November / 2 December

The Holy Prophet Obadiah [or Abdia] is the fourth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, and he lived during the ninth century B.C. He was from the village of Betharam, near Sichem, and he served as steward of the impious Israelite King Ahab. In those days the whole of Israel had turned away from the true God and had begun to offer sacrifice to Baal, but Obadiah faithfully served the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in secret.

When Ahab’s wife, the impious and dissolute Jezebel, hunted down all the prophets of the Lord (because of her quarrel with the Prophet Elias), Obadiah gave them shelter and food (3/1 Kgs 18:3 ff). Ahab’s successor King Okhoziah [Ahaziah] sent three detachments of soldiers to arrest the holy Prophet Elias (July 20). One of these detachments was headed by The Holy Prophet Obadiah. Through the prayer of the Prophet Elias, two of the detachments were consumed by heavenly fire, but Obadiah and his detachment were spared by the Lord 4/2 Kgs 1).

From that moment Obadiah resigned from military service and became a follower of the Prophet Elias. Afterward, he himself received the gift of prophecy. The God-inspired work of The Prophet Obadiah is the fourth of the Books of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Bible, and contains predictions about the future salvation of the Gentiles (Ch. 15) and that the Savior would come forth from Sion (Ch. 17). The holy Prophet Obadiah, whose name means servant (or worshipper) of the Lord, was buried in Samaria.

In iconography, the Prophet Obadiah is depicted as a grey-haired old man with a rounded beard. His scroll reads: “In that day, saith the Lord, I shall destroy the wise men out of Idumea.”(Obadiah1:8).

The Holy Martyr Barlaam lived in Antioch of Syria. During Diocletian’s persecution against Christians, the aged Saint Barlaam was arrested and brought to trial, where he confessed himself a Christian.

The judge, wanting to compel the saint to renounce Christ, ordered that Saint Barlaam be brought to the pagan altar. His right hand was placed over it, and a red-hot censer burning with incense was put into his hand. The torturer thought that a physically weak old man could not endure the pain and would drop it on the altar. In this way he would involuntarily be offering sacrifice to the idol. However, the saint held on to the censer until his hand fell off. After this, the holy Martyr Barlaam surrendered his soul to the Lord.

Source: The Orthodox Church in America

Canon of the prophet, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn the glory of the clairvoyant Obadiah,” the composition of Theophanes, Tone V.

Ode 1, Irmos: Unto God the Saviour * Who made His people pass dryshod through the sea, * but drowned Pharaoh with all his host, * unto Him alone let us sing: * For He hath been glorified.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Standing now as a prophet before God the Saviour, entreat Him with boldness, that He enlighten with rays of light those who with faith call thee blessed, O divinely inspired one.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

He who manifestly foreknoweth all things, beholding the untroubled and radiant purity of thy heart, O blessed one, appointed thee a God-pleasing prophet.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Truly beholding visions revealed to thee by God, thou didst proclaim the impiety and cruel perniciousness of thy brethren and their just destruction, O blessed one.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Saved by thy seedless birthgiving, O pure Theotokos, we beseech thee: from the temptations of the world do thou deliver us, who together offer a hymn of victory unto thee.

Canon of the martyr, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn thy pangs of endurance, O Barlaam,”  the composition of Theophanes, in Tone IV.

Ode 1, Irmos: I hymn Thee, O Lord my God, * for Thou hast led Thy people out of the bondage of Egypt, * and hast drowned in the waters * the chariots and the might of Pharaoh.

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

Rendered luminous by the splendours of thy contest, O Barlaam, do thou preserve us by thy supplications, for with faith we honour thy sacred memory.

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

With hymnody let the wondrous Barlaam be honoured, who, with fame, quenched the fire of impiety by the divinely inspired fire of his reverence for God.

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

Having contended for piety, O crown-bearer Barlaam, thou hast now been honoured at the right hand of the Almighty with a crown of glory, as is meet.

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

The Master gave thee strength against divers wounds, O all-blessed martyr; wherefore, thou didst vanquish the savagery of the godless.

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

The ladder leading to heaven, which Jacob, thine ancestor, foresaw of old, hast thou truly been revealed to be, whereby the Word hath descended to us, O Virgin.

Ode III, canon of the prophet, Irmos: By the power of Thy Cross, O Christ, * do Thou make steadfast mine understanding, * that I may hymn and glorify ** Thy saving Ascension.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Like the waters of a mystic river didst thou appear, issuing forth from the abyss of the gifts of the Spirit, O herald of God.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Thou wast put forth by the will and providence of God to proclaim things to come, O right glorious one.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Illumined by the divine and heavenly light, O all-blessed one, thou didst proclaim the future salvation of the Gentiles.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

The Word made His abode within thee, O Virgin Mother, and by thy mediation He doth save those who know thee to be the Theotokos, O all-immaculate one.

Canon of the Martyr, 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, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

The whole bond of thy body and the cohesion of thy members were broken; yet the strength of thy soul was preserved intact.

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

Mightily showing forth the endurance of youth, O all-blessed one, thou didst right mightily endure the assaults of those who lacerated thy sides.

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

Who can rightly praise the mighty, powerful and tranquil understanding of thy thought, as is meet, O all-blessed one?

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

In the hypostatic Life which appeared unto us through thy womb, O most pure Bride of God, hath the corruption of death been brought to an end.

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

Sessional Hymn of the prophet, Tone I, Spec. Mel. “Thy tomb, O Saviour …”: The great Obadiah, having acquired a mind luminous with divine splendour, spoke through the Holy Spirit, proclaiming things to come. Honouring him today with pious mind, we celebrate his sacred memory which enlightened men’s hearts.

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

Sessional Hymn of the martyr, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Having been lifted up …”: Let the glorious Barlaam, who quenched the flame of impiety and set the hearts of the faithful afire with the dew of the knowledge of God, now be faithfully honoured with divine hymns; for he put to shame the deception of idolatry and, having taken the crown of victory, asketh remission of sins for all.

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

Theotokion, Tone IV: He that sitteth upon the throne of the cherubim * and abideth in the bosom of the Father * sat in thy womb as upon a throne, O Lady; * for, being truly God incarnate, * He reigneth over all nations, * and with understanding we now chant to Him. * Him do thou also entreat, ** that thy servants be saved.

Stavrotheotokion (replaces the theotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays): She who in the latter days * gave birth in the flesh unto Thee O Christ, * Who wast begotten of the unoriginate Father, * upon seeing Thee hanging upon the Cross, cried aloud: * “Woe is me, O Jesus, most beloved Christ! * How is it that Thou Who art glorified as God by the angels * dost now consent to be crucified by iniquitous men O my Son? ** I hymn Thee, O Thou Long-suffering One!”

ODE IV, Canon of the Prophet, Irmos: I have heard report of the mighty deed * of Thy Cross, O Lord, * how Paradise was opened thereby, and I cried: * Glory to Thy power, O Lord.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Having cleansed thy soul of the passions beforehand, receiving the grace of prophecy through the Holy Spirit, thou didst cry out: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

The prophet Obadiah, illumined by the brilliance of the lightning of the Bestower of light, hath enlightened us to cry to Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Thou wast revealed to be like a wedding attendant of the Church, the Bride of Christ, O all-blessed one, proclaiming that the Saviour would come forth from Sion, to Whom we cry aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

In a divine manner thou hast given birth, O pure one, unto the co-unoriginate and everlasting Word of the Father, to Whom we cry: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Canon of the Martyr, Irmos: Proclaiming the advent of Thine appearance on earth, O Christ God, * the prophet cried aloud with gladness: * Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

Spurning the foolish speech of the rhetors and accepting the true teaching of the apostles, O glorious one, thou wast a true witness.

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

Thou didst withstand the fire and torments even unto death for Christ, O patient-hearted one, chanting aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

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

Constrained by the most powerful fervour, O all-blessed one, thou didst trample deception underfoot with godly wisdom, chanting: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

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

The Incorporeal One, incarnate of the Virgin, hath come to us on earth; wherefore, with faith we cry aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

ODE V, Canon to the Prophet, Irmos: Waking at dawn, * we cry unto Thee, O Lord: * Save us, for Thou art our God; * we know none other besides Thee.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Rising early unto the Lord, O all-praised one, thou didst receive the gift of the Most Holy Spirit from heaven.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Having acquired the godly life of Him Who helped thee, thou wast deemed worthy to behold Him Who is understood to be invisible.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Light shone upon thee, in that thou art a prophet, O all-blessed one, and gladness was given thee as a bride.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

The supremely divine One, Who created all things by His will, was formed from thee after our kind, O most pure one.

Canon of the Martyr, Irmos: O Thou Who hast caused the light to shine, * who hast made bright the dawn and revealed the day; * glory be to Thee, glory be to Thee, * O Jesus Thou Son of God.

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

Christ hath shown us a witness to His own sufferings, who crieth out: Glory to Thee! Glory to Thee, O Jesus, Thou Son of God! For thy great endurance is a reward given, and a wreath of victory woven for thee who criest: Glory to Thee!

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

Christ hath shown us a witness to His own sufferings, who crieth out: Glory to Thee! Glory to Thee, O Jesus, Thou Son of God! For thy great endurance is a reward given, and a wreath of victory woven for thee who criest: Glory to Thee!

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

Glory to Thee, O Jesus, Thou Son of God! With the darts of thy words thou didst penetrate the hearts of the foe, crying: Glory to Thee! Glory to Thee, O Jesus, Thou Son of God!

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

Understanding thee to be a holy mountain and the tabernacle of the Most High, O Virgin, we cry aloud: Glory to thee, O Theotokos, our hope!

ODE VI, Canon of the Prophet, Irmos: The abyss hath encompassed me, * the sea monster hath become my grave; * but I cried unto Thee, * the Lover of mankind, * and Thy right hand saved me, O Lord.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

By the power of the divine Spirit thou didst behold things to come, receiving images of divine revelations as in a mirror through the splendour of thy soul.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

By thy supplications entreat the Lord, O all-blessed prophet, asking that He grant forgiveness of sins unto those who with faith keep thy memory.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Take pity on Thy servants and grant them forgiveness of transgressions, O Lover of mankind, for Thy prophet who proclaimed Thee beforehand to the world doth entreat Thee.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

He Who beareth up all things by His word and divine power was borne in thine embrace, O thou who knewest not wedlock. Him do thou now beseech, that our souls be saved.

Canon of the Martyr, Irmos: Prefiguring Thy three-day burial * Prophet Jonah praying in the belly of the sea-monster cried aloud: * Deliver me from corruption * O Jesus Thou King of hosts.

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

Let the faces of the demons be smitten with the martyr’s burned right hand; let the hearts of the faithful leap up, and let the choirs of the incorporeal ones be radiantly glad!

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

The conquests and victories of thy good struggles and the athletic contests of those who watched are adorned, O chosen and radiant triumph of the firstborn.

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

Arise now, ye good artists! Adorn ye the image of the martyr with your goodly skills, manifestly depicting therein the Judge of the contest.

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

Delivered by thy birthgiving from the ancient curse and the bitter condemnation of death, our first mother rejoiceth in thee, O all-praised Mother of 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 of the martyr, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Thou hast appeared …”: Thou wast shown to be most amazing * in the fortitude whereby thou didst endure immolation, * offering thyself in sacrifice unto Christ as incense of sweet savour. * Having received a crown of honour, O Barlaam, ** do thou ever pray for us, O spiritual athlete.

ODE VII, Canon of the Prophet, Irmos: The children were saved * in the burning furnace, * chanting: Blessed art Thou * O God of our fathers.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Truly supra-natural is the glory of Thy prophets, O blessed God of our fathers!

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Having been deemed worthy to dwell with God, thou dost chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Thou revealest Thy divine grace in Thy prophets, O blessed God of our fathers.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Delivered by thy birth-giving, O most pure Virgin, we chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Canon of the Martyr, Irmos: O God of our fathers, put us not to shame, * but grant that with boldness we may sing to Thee: * ‘O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou’.

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

As an invincible martyr hast thou been deemed worthy to cry aloud to Christ with the choirs of the martyrs: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

With radiant lamps thou didst enter into the divine bridal chamber, O great martyr, crying out to Christ: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

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

Having acquired a right hand stronger than fire, as an intercessor at the right hand of thy Master thou criest out: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

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

Delivered by thy most pure birth-giving, we, the faithful, hymn thee, crying out unceasingly: Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, O most pure one!

Ode VIII, Canon of the Prophet, Irmos: Unto God the Son, Who was begotten of the Father before the ages * and was incarnate of a Virgin Mother in these last times, * give praise, O ye priests, ** and supremely exalt Him, O ye people, throughout all ages.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Enlightened by God, the prophets proclaim beforehand knowledge of things to come, crying aloud with divine wisdom: Ye priests hymn; ye people supremely exalt God throughout all ages!

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Enlightened by God, the prophets proclaim beforehand knowledge of things to come, crying aloud with divine wisdom: Ye priests hymn; ye people supremely exalt God throughout all ages!

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Illumined with divine beams of light, thou didst enlighten those who were in darkness like a ray in the deep, O herald of God, crying: Ye priests hymn; ye people supremely exalt God throughout all ages!

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Thou hast revealed Thyself as of one nature with us, O Thou Who art consubstantial with Thy Father in the divine Essence, having become incarnate of the Mother, who kneweth not man. Wherefore, we hymn Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee throughout all ages.

Canon of the Martyr, Irmos: O all ye works of God and all creation, * bless ye the Lord, * ye venerable and humble of spirit * chant ye and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

Thou didst destroy all the armour of the enemy, O right glorious Barlaam, utterly consuming the deception of idolatry, crying aloud: Thee do we supremely exalt, O Christ, throughout all ages!

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

Adorned with magnificence, thou didst stand before Christ, O ever-memorable spiritual athlete, arrayed in fine linen empurpled with thy martyr’s blood and hymning the Master throughout all ages.

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

Enkindled with the fire of piety, thou didst utterly consume all the illusions of the demons as if they were thorns, crying aloud: Thee do we exalt supremely, O Christ, throughout all ages!

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

Those who with faith call thee blessed, O all-immaculate one, are blessed by the Lord; for thou hast given birth unto the Master Who blesseth creation, Whom we supremely exalt, O pure one, throughout all ages.

Ode IX, Canon of the Prophet, Irmos: O thou who art God’s Mother transcending mind and word, * who ineffably in time hast given birth unto the Timeless One, * thee do we the faithful * with one accord magnify.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Adorned with divine discourse and activity, and having taken wing in the Spirit, O wondrous prophet, thou wast deemed worthy to behold things to come.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

O glorious one, who dwellest where the choirs of the prophets and the splendours of the saints are, entreat the Lord to save those who praise thee with faith.

Holy prophet, Obadiah, pray to God for us.

Cleaving wholly unto God with fervour, thou didst converse in a pure manner through divine revelations, wherein thou dost now delight, O all-blessed one.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

We hymn thee, the candle-stand of the Light and the tablet of grace, O pure one, and we magnify thee, who received the incarnate Word.

Canon of the Martyr, Irmos: A cornerstone not cut by hand O Virgin, * was cut from thee the unhewn mountain: * even Christ, Who hath joined together the disparate natures; * therefore rejoicing we magnify thee, * O Theotokos.

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

The law of praise is overturned by the magnificence of thy struggles. Christ, the only Master, knoweth to glorify thee with divine radiance. Him do thou earnestly entreat on behalf of those who hymn thee.

Holy martyr, Barlaam, pray to God for us.

Having brought thy whole self to the Lord as a living sacrifice, thou wast revealed to be a fellow heir and sharer in His kingdom; and, rejoicing, thou now reignest with Him, O ever-memorable one.

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

The godly martyr, having arrayed himself against sword, fire and torments, shedding his blood for the love of Thee, even unto death, O Saviour, doth delight, receiving immortality from Thee, O Lover of mankind.

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

Rejoicing, I set thee forth as the helper of the world, the Virgin Mother of God, the intercessor and salvation of all my life; for having given birth unto God, thou art able to save those who hymn thee.

Troparion of the martyr, in Tone IV: In his sufferings, Thy martyr Barlaam 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.

18 November / 1 December 

The Martyrs Platon of Ancyra, Romanus the Deacon of Caesarea, & Varulas the Youth of Caesarea

The Holy Martyr Platon, brother of the holy Martyr Antiochus the Physician (July 16), was born at the city of Ancyra in Galatia. While still a youth he left home and went through the cities, preaching the Word of God to pagans, amazing his audience with the persuasiveness and beauty of his speech, and his profound knowledge of Greek learning.

Because of his preaching he was arrested and brought for trial to the temple of Zeus before the governor Agrippinus. At first, the judge attempted to persuade the saint to turn away from Christ by flattery. He assured the youth that he might be on a par of intellect with the greatest of the philosophers Plato, if only he worshipped also the pagan gods. To this Saint Platon answered, that the wisdom of the philosopher, although great, was but ephemeral and limited, whereas the true, eternal and unbounded wisdom comprised the Gospel teachings. Then the judge promised to give him his beautiful niece for his wife if he would deny Christ. He also threatened him with torture and death if he refused. Saint Platon replied that he chose a temporal death for the sake of eternal life. The patience of the governor was exhausted, and he gave orders to mercilessly beat the martyr, and then send him off to prison.

When they led Saint Platon off to prison, he turned to the people gathered about the temple, and he called on them not to forsake the Christian Faith. Seven days later they again led the Martyr Platon for trial before Agrippinus in the temple of Zeus, where they had the implements of torture already prepared: boiling cauldrons, red-hot iron and sharp hooks. The judge offered the martyr a choice: either to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, or to feel the effects of these implements of torture on his body. Again the saint steadfastly refused to worship idols, and after his tortures they threw him in prison for eighteen more days without bread or water. But seeing that this did not shake the martyr, they offered him his life and freedom if he would only say, “Great is the god Apollo.” The martyr refused to deny Christ or to sacrifice to the idols. Therefore, Agrippinus ordered the holy Martyr Platon to be beheaded.

Information concerning Saint Romanus is found in Books 3 and 12 of the CHURCH HISTORY of Eusebius. Saint Romanus was born in Palestine, and served as a deacon in Caesarea. At the time of the persecution against Christians, he was living in Antioch. Through his preaching, he encouraged the faithful to stand firm in their confession of Christ when the Eparch Asclypiades wanted to raze the church to its foundations. Saint Romanus told the people that they must fight to prevent the destruction of the house of God, assuring them that even if they died in their efforts they would sing a hymn of victory in heaven.

At that time there a festival was being celebrated in honor of the idols, and Saint Romanus went to the pagan temple to upbraid the Eparch and the unbelievers for their impiety. As Asclypiades was about to enter the temple, Saint Romanus fearlessly proclaimed that the idols were not gods, and that only Jesus Christ was truly God.

Asclypiades ordered the saint to be beaten, and even tried to persuade him to deny Christ. When this failed, the Eparch ordered that Saint Romanus be tortured. He was suspended and beaten, and his sides were scraped with metal blades. Bravely enduring these torments, Saint Romanus confessed Christ, and chastised Asclypiades for his obstinate refusal to see the truth.

Then Saint Romanus was condemned to death by fire. As soon as the fire was lit, however, a rain fell and put it out. Then the Eparch ordered the saint’s tongue to be cut out, because he still confessed Christ and reviled the idolaters. Even after his tongue was cut out, the saint continued to speak as before.

Finally, Saint Romanus was nailed to a keg, and he was strangled in his prison cell. Having completed his contest for Christ, he was found worthy of the heavenly Kingdom, where he continuously glorifies the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit throughout all ages.

Saint Varulas was a child in the crowd of people who witnessed the torture of Saint Romanus. Christ’s holy martyr told the Eparch Asclypiades that the young child was wiser than he was, because he knew the true God, while the Eparch did not.

Asclypiades asked the boy what gods he worshiped, and he replied that he worshiped Christ. “Your gods are demons,” the child stated, “and they have not created anything.”

With these and other words, the young child put the idolaters to shame. Seeing that he could not convince Saint Varulas to worship the false gods, he had the boy tortured. His mother stood by, encouraging him to remain faithful to the Savior Christ.” Do not be afraid of death, my son,” she told him. You shall not die, but shall live forever. When you are beheaded, you will behold Christ’s glory, and you will dwell with Him in unspeakable joy.”

After the child was executed, his mother took his body and buried it, rejoicing because he had shed his blood for Christ.

Source: The Orthodox Church in America

Canon of the martyr Platon, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn the expanse of thy praises, O Platon”, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone VIII.

Ode I, Irmos: The wonderworking staff of Moses, * striking and dividing the sea in the figure of a cross, * once drowned Pharaoh the pursuing charioteer, * while it saved the fleeing people of Israel * as they fled on foot, * chanting a hymn unto God.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Traversing the most pure expanse of the eternal kingdom, O glorious one, from all tribulation and the dangers of imprisonment save those who hymn thee, leading to the path to heaven those who walk without turning back.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Protected by the armour of piety, and having shown thyself to be an unshakable pillar, O Platon, thou didst endure all the savagery of wounds and accepted the pangs of imprisonment, exalted by divine grace.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Showing forth the mettle of youth, in thy suffering thou didst cast off mortal and corruptible coarseness, O all-wise one, and, arrayed in the garment of incorruption, thou standest, rejoicing, before the Master.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

In a manner surpassing understanding thou hast given birth to the incarnate and Only-Begotten Word, Who is co-unoriginate and everlasting with the Father, O blessed and most pure Theotokos. Wherefore, reasoning correctly, we proclaim and honourably glorify thee.

Canon of the martyr Romanus, the acrostic whereof is: “With spiritual athletes’ wreaths I crown thee, O Romanus”, in Tone IV.

Another Irmos: Through the deep of the Red Sea, * marched dry shod Israel of old, * and by Moses’ outstretched hands, * raised in the form of a cross, * the power of Amalek was routed in the wilderness.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

Shining brightly with the never-waning radiance of the Trinity, and enlightened with the choirs of spiritual athletes, O Romanus, send down enlightenment upon me, and drive away the darkness of the passions by thy supplications, which are acceptable to God.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

Unmoved by the raging waves of the sea of idolatry, in that thou wast set firmly upon Christ the rock, thou didst destroy the threefold billows of most seditious ungodliness with the calm of the divine Spirit.

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

The Church of Christ, which aboundeth in every good thing, O Romanus, didst thou preserve untouched by the wolves, like a right-glorious and right-fruitful meadow, making it steadfast by thy teaching.

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

Truly, human nature hath found mercy through thee, O all-immaculate one; for the Creator, having become incarnate from thee in a manner past all telling and understanding, was led to death for us, delivering us from Hades.

Ode III, Irmos: O Christ fortify me on the rock of Thy commandments, * Thou who in the beginning didst establish the heavens with understanding * and didst establish the earth upon the waters, * for there is none holy save Thee, O only Lover of mankind.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Manifestly aflame with the zeal of piety, and enlightened by the divine fire of the Faith, O all-blessed one, with endurance thou didst enter into the cruel flame like a spark of incorruption.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Having supra-naturally vanquished the servants of the demons, and borne with patience the pain of mighty tortures, O blessed and divinely wise Platon, thou wast shown to be a dweller with the angels and a crown-bearer.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Having struggled for Christ on earth, O all-blessed one, receiving from Him heavenly gifts and crowns which abide forever, thou dwellest in the pure land of paradise.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

O Mother of God, thou art the portal of the Light, adorned with the rays of the light of the Spirit; for through thee descended unto us the Word Who illumineth with divine light all who hymn thee.

Another Irmos: Thy Church, O Christ, rejoiceth in Thee crying aloud: * Thou, O Lord, art my strength, * my refuge and foundation.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

Having slain the spiritual beast with the sling of thy words, O Romanus, thou didst preserve the flock of Christ uncorrupted by the evil of idolatry.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

Rendered mighty by the armour of the Cross, thou didst turn back the assaults of the enemy and denounced their impotence, O wise and right blessed Romanus.

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

When thy cheek was lacerated for Christ, O glorious, blessed and ever-memorable Romanus, thou didst cast down the enemy, breaking their jaws.

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

Clothed in the flesh He received from thee, He Who alone is God by nature, the Word of the Father, Who is one in essence with the Spirit, hath deified mortals, O Mother of God.

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

Sessional Hymn of the martyr Plato, in Tone VIII – Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom …”: Exalted in the breadth of thy struggles, O wise martyr, thou didst destroy the snares of the enemy, discomfiting them, O all-glorious one; and having run well the divine course, thou didst reach the expanse of heaven, rejoicing. Wherefore, the Church, resplendent today in an abundance of piety, doth celebrate thy memorial, O blessed one, and crieth out to thee: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who with love honour thy holy memory.

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

Sessional Hymn of the martyr Romanus, in Tone IV – Spec. Mel. “Having been lifted up …”: Having trampled underfoot the wicked one by fasting, thou wast glorified by suffering, O martyr of Christ, having endured manfully with a perfected mind. Wherefore, thou hast been numbered among the choirs of martyrs and reached the everlasting kingdom. Joining chorus therein, be thou mindful of us who celebrate thy holy memory with faith.

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

Stavrotheotokion: She who in the latter days * gave birth in the flesh unto Thee O Christ, * Who wast begotten of the unoriginate Father, * upon seeing Thee hanging upon the Cross, cried aloud: * “Woe is me, O Jesus, most beloved Christ! * How is it that Thou Who art glorified as God by the angels * dost now consent to be crucified by iniquitous men O my Son? ** I hymn Thee, O Thou Long-suffering One!”

Ode IV, Irmos: Thou, O Lord, art my strength and Thou art my power, * Thou art my God and Thou art my joy, * Thou Who, while never leaving the bosom of Thy Father, * hast visited our poverty. * Therefore, with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee, * ‘Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind!’

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Wholly transformed by the love of thy Creator, thou didst not feel the pain of thy body, having shed the skin-garments of thy flesh from passions and mortality, and clothed thyself in the robe of chastity and salvation.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Thou wast revealed to be a true priest of God, offering thyself unto Christ the Redeemer Who was slain for all, as an unblemished lamb and a perfect sacrifice, O martyr; for, having set thy soul afire with love for the Master, thou didst pay no heed to thy burning flesh.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Emulating the three youths who were in Babylon, thou didst not fear the all-devouring fire, but mightily and youthfully endured the unbearable flame thereof. Wherefore, the Bestower of dew hath rightly taken thee with them into the chamber of glory.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

In that thou art the royal root, thou hast given birth for us unto the Word of God Who reigneth over all, Who became flesh, yet remained unchanged. Wherefore, O all-holy Virgin, with truth and authority we glorify thee, the Theotokos.

Another Irmos: Beholding Thee, the Sun of righteousness, * lifted up upon the Cross, * the Church now standeth arrayed and doth worthily cry aloud: * Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

With ineffable beauty thou didst ascend the tree, mounting it like a stairway, O blessed one, and attained unto the everlasting choir, O right glorious martyr Romanus.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

Having shed thy mortal garments amid thy tortures, O blessed one, thou didst array thyself splendidly in a garment of light, O all-glorious martyr Romanus.

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

Made wise by the inspiration of the Comforter, the tongue of the boy proclaimed Thee to be the Lord of glory, the Creator of all and God Who art able to save, O Lover of mankind.

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

Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, O Virgin, whereby all peoples of the world have been delivered from the curse of death; and blessed by thee, we hymn thee as the mediatress of Life.

Ode V, Irmos: O Light never-waning, * why hast Thou turned Thy face from me * and why hath the alien darkness surrounded me, * wretched though I be? * But do Thou guide my steps I implore Thee * and turn me back towards the light of Thy commandments.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Thou gavest neither slumber to thine eyelids, nor sleep to thine eyes, O martyr, until, beheaded by the sword, thou didst sleep the sleep of the blessed like those who love God, O blessed one.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Suffering, thou didst struggle as in another’s body, O all-blessed one; thou didst suffer, viewing thy pangs as though another was experiencing them. For, set afire with divine zeal, thou didst not fear the future torments, O glorious one.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Thou hast discovered riches which cannot be taken away, and unfading glory, joining chorus with the angels in the mansions of heaven, partaking of incorruptible immortality, O most eminent one.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

By thy supplications grant remission of sins to thy servants, delivering them from temptations, misfortunes and sorrows, and from enslavement to blasphemous heretics, O all-praised Virgin Theotokos.

Another Irmos: Thou, O Lord, who camest into the world, * art my light, * a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance * those who sing Thy praises in faith.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

With the martyric streams of thy blood thou didst engulf the sea of ungodliness; and thou hast poured forth rivers of healing, O Romanus.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

O Romanus, thou didst offer to the Master as a choice gift, an unblemished sacrifice, the slain boy Varulus who proclaimed theological things.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

Thou didst wound the foolishness of the enemy with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, as he inflicted wounds upon thy body, O all-glorious Romanus.

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

In that thou hast given birth unto Joy, O Virgin Mary who knewest not wedlock, thou hast destroyed the curse and restored mankind through thy birthgiving.

Ode VI, Irmos: Cleanse me, O Saviour, * for many are mine iniquities; * lead me up from the abyss of evils I pray Thee, * for unto Thee have I cried, * and Thou hast hearkened unto me, * O God of my salvation.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Transcending sufferings and tortures, thou didst endure the cutting away of thy flesh, O glorious one; for thou didst have Christ as thy Helper, Assistant and Companion.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Ever gazing upon the majesty of the Creator with spiritual understanding, and contemplating ineffable beauty, thou didst spurn the baseness of visible things.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

As an animate ark thou didst hold the Bestower of life, as a holy temple thou didst receive the Holy One Who had become a man, for the good of mankind, O all-blessed one.

Another Irmos: The church crieth out unto Thee O Lord, * ‘I will sacrifice unto Thee with a voice of praise * having been cleansed of the blood of the demons’ * by the blood that for mercy’s sake flowed from Thy side.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

Having with ease shed mortality and corruption and arrayed thyself in the beauty of life incorruptible, O Romanus, thou hast been adorned with never-diminishing spiritual splendours.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

Thy tongue was severed and poured forth torrents of blood like teachings, O passion-bearer, and thou didst thereby inherit the imperishable blessedness which is ever-abiding.

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

Thirsting for a stream of wisdom, by the counsel of his mother thou didst pour drink into the mouth of the boy who uttered theology, and who entered into the endless life by means of the sword.

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

Be thou a ready refuge for me, O most pure Mother of God, delivering me from violence, taking from me the shame of the passions and guiding me to the godly path.

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 martyr Platon, in Tone III – Spec. Mel. “Today the Virgin …”: Thy holy memory doth gladden the whole world, * summoning all the faithful to thine all honourable temple, * where, assembled now with joy, we chant in hymns amid splendour. * Wherefore, O Platon, we cry out to thee: ** Deliver thy city from the invasion of the heathen, O holy one.

Ikos: Having abandoned all pagan superstition, the divinely wise Platon came to love the soul-saving teachings of the disciples of Christ. Wherefore, he appeared honourable to all, like an anchor of the Faith in his native land, and manifestly bore the title “Of Ancyra.” For, nurtured well, it found him to be an excellent protection against the enemy and a fervent helper in battle, crying aloud: Deliver thy city from the invasion of the heathen, O holy one!

Ode VII, Irmos: Once in Babylon the fire stood in awe * of God’s condescension; * for which sake the youths in the furnace, * dancing with joyous steps as in a meadow, chanted: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

He Who set down the law hath crowned with a wreath of victory thee who suffered lawfully and trampled underfoot thine enemies, and who cried aloud, saying: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Thou didst pass over, rejoicing, to Him Whom from of old thou didst desire, emulating His most pure sufferings, which were the cause of the salvation of mankind; and thou didst chant: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

All the hosts of heaven, and the people looking on, marvelled at thy patient endurance of suffering; for thy severed tongue supra-naturally cried aloud: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Delivered from the bonds of death and the curse of the first-formed Adam by the divine Offspring of thy virginity, O most pure one, mindful that thou art the Theotokos, we cry aloud: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!

Another Irmos: In the Persian furnace the youths and descendants of Abraham, * burning with a love of piety * rather than by a flame of fire, * cried aloud saying: * Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

By being strangled, thou didst choke the serpent, O passion-bearer, and didst truly find life, O most glorious Romanus, ever crying aloud: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

Illumined with rays of never-waning light, O Romanus, thou didst quench the lofty flame, adorned with the gift of prophecy and numbered among the choirs of the martyrs, crying aloud: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

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

A fragrant rose of tender growth, watered with his mother’s teachings and the blood of martyrdom, hath been incorruptibly offered to Christ as from a garden of many flowers.

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

O all-hymned one who hast alone given birth to God without seed, lead us forth who have fallen into the abyss of sin, but who hymn thee, saying: Blessed art Thou among women, O all-immaculate Lady.

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; * ‘ye children bless, ye priests praise, * ye people, supremely exalt Him throughout all ages’.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Thou didst struggle in radiant feats, O all-praised one, and Christ bestowed upon thee the most splendid, blessed and ever-enduring fame, causing thee to dwell in the mansions of heaven, wherefore thou dost fervently chant: Ye priests hymn; ye people, supremely exalt Christ throughout the ages!

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

As a most faithful supplicant, as a most fervent intercessor for us, we now set thee before the King of all, the Author of creation. Pray thou for us, interceding in thy martyr’s boldness on behalf of those who praise thee and chant with faith: Ye people, supremely exalt Christ throughout the ages!

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Because of thine active faith thou wast deemed worthy to receive a kingship which cannot be taken away; for God, Who lieth not, promised to give it thee, and for Him thou didst commit thy body to fire and torture, crying aloud: Ye priests hymn; ye people, supremely exalt Christ throughout the ages!

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

In a manner most divine thou didst give birth to the Word of God, Who is co-unoriginate and of equal honour with the Father, Who brought all things forth out of non-existence by the counsel of the Father, and assumed flesh for the sake of mankind. Wherefore, acknowledging thee, in an Orthodox fashion, to be the Theotokos, we supremely exalt Christ throughout the ages.

Another Irmos: Having spread his hands, Daniel closed the lions jaws * in their den; * while the zealously pious youths, * girded with virtue, * quenched the power of the fire and cried aloud: * Bless ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

Thou wast obedient to the words of Christ, O glorious one, laying down thy life for thy flock, being strangled in thy zeal for it, tortured, lacerated and wounded; and thou didst cry aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

Thou wast obedient to the words of Christ, O glorious one, laying down thy life for thy flock, being strangled in thy zeal for it, tortured, lacerated and wounded; and thou didst cry aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

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

Truly thy mouth and tongue were full of joy and gladness, continually blessing God; for, cut out and dripping with blood, O Romanus, it setteth forth for us the law of faith, crying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

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

Having given birth to the Word of the Father through the divine Spirit, thou didst remain a virgin, O Birthgiver of God, who knewest not a man, transcending the laws of nature in thy birthgiving. Wherefore, rejoicing, we chant: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Ode IX, Irmos: Every ear is awestruck at hearing of God’s ineffable condescension, * for the Most High voluntarily descended and assumed flesh, * becoming man in the Virgin’s womb; * wherefore we the faithful magnify the most pure Theotokos.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

O ye who love the martyrs, come, let us hymn the martyr, crowned by God, who extended the piety of his birth; for, as an offshoot of the branch of life, he bringeth forth fruit which poureth forth the wine of compunction for us.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

Precious in the sight of the Lord was the death of the martyr, for he hath become the mediator of the true life which is everlasting and imperishable, giving abundant recompense, incorruption and immortal glory.

Holy martyr, Platon, pray to God for us.

All thy life didst thou consecrate to God almighty, O martyr, and, rejoicing, thou didst offer thyself as a well-pleasing and living sacrifice. Wherefore, thou hast manifestly been deemed worthy of the sweetness which passeth understanding. Pray thou that those who hymn thee be delivered from temptations.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Save me, O Mother of God who hast given birth to Christ my Saviour, Who is both God and man, in two natures, but not in two hypostases, the Only-Begotten of the Father and of thee, the first-born of all creation. Wherefore, all of us ever magnify thee.

Another Irmos: A cornerstone not cut by hand O Virgin, * was cut from thee the unhewn mountain: * even Christ, Who hath joined together the disparate natures; * therefore rejoicing we magnify thee, * O Theotokos.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

All thy trust didst thou place in the Master, O glorious martyr Romanus, enduring many and varied wounds; wherefore thou hast received ineffable glory and divine delight.

Holy martyr, Romanus, pray to God for us.

All thy trust didst thou place in the Master, O glorious martyr Romanus, enduring many and varied wounds; wherefore thou hast received ineffable glory and divine delight.

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

Behold, instead of pain a torrent of sweetness hath been granted thee, O martyr Romanus, bearing a crown and wearing a robe dyed red in thine own blood. Like a fragrant and never-fading rose thou wast slain as a child for Christ’s sake.

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

O Virgin, thou hast delivered mortals from the primal curse of our ancestors, and opened unto us the life of Eden by thy birthgiving, which transcendeth nature. Wherefore, in gladness we magnify thee, O Theotokos.

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

16/29 NOVEMBER

The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew was also named Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27); he was one of the Twelve Apostles (Mark 3:18; Luke 6:45; Acts 1:13), and was brother of the Apostle James Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). He was a publican, or tax-collector for Rome, in a time when the Jews were under the rule of the Roman Empire. He lived in the Galilean city of Capernaum. When Matthew heard the voice of Jesus Christ: “Come, follow Me” (Mt. 9:9), left everything and followed the Savior.

Christ and His disciples did not refuse Matthew’s invitation and they visited his house, where they shared table with the publican’s friends and acquaintances. Like the host, they were also publicans and known sinners. This event disturbed the pharisees and scribes a great deal.Publicans who collected taxes from their countrymen did this with great profit for themselves. Usually greedy and cruel people, the Jews considered them pernicious betrayers of their country and religion. The word “publican” for the Jews had the connotation of “public sinner” and “idol-worshipper.”

To even speak with a tax-collector was considered a sin, and to associate with one was defilement. But the Jewish teachers were not able to comprehend that the Lord had “come to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mt. 9:13).

Matthew, acknowledging his sinfulness, repaid fourfold anyone he had cheated, and he distributed his remaining possessions to the poor, and he followed after Christ with the other apostles.

St Matthew was attentive to the instructions of the Divine Teacher, he beheld His innumerable miracles, he went together with the Twelve Apostles preaching to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt. 10:6). He was a witness to the suffering, death, and Resurrection of the Savior, and of His glorious Ascension into Heaven.

Having received the grace of the Holy Spirit, which descended upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, St Matthew preached in Palestine for several years. At the request of the Jewish converts at Jerusalem, the holy Apostle Matthew wrote his Gospel describing the earthly life of the Savior, before leaving to preach the Gospel in faraway lands.In the order of the books of the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew comes first.

Palestine is said to be the place where the Gospel was written. St Matthew wrote in Aramaic, and then it was translated into Greek. The Aramaic text has not survived, but many of the linguistic and cultural-historical peculiarities of the Greek translation give indications of it.

The Apostle Matthew preached among people who were awaiting the Messiah. His Gospel manifests itself as a vivid proof that Jesus Christ is the Messiah foretold by the prophets, and that there would not be another (Mt. 11:3).

The preaching and deeds of the Savior are presented by the evangelist in three divisions, constituting three aspects of the service of the Messiah: as Prophet and Law-Giver (Ch. 5-7), Lord over the world both visible and invisible (Ch. 8-25), and finally as High Priest offered as Sacrifice for the sins of all mankind (Ch. 26-27).

The theological content of the Gospel, besides the Christological themes, includes also the teaching about the Kingdom of God and about the Church, which the Lord sets forth in parables about the inner preparation for entering into the Kingdom (Ch. 5-7), about the worthiness of servers of the Church in the world (Ch. 10-11), about the signs of the Kingdom and its growth in the souls of mankind (Ch. 13), about the humility and simplicity of the inheritors of the Kingdom (Mt. 18:1-35; 19 13-30; 20:1-16; 25-27; 23:1-28), and about the eschatological revelations of the Kingdom in the Second Coming of Christ within the daily spiritual life of the Church (Ch. 24-25).

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Church are closely interconnected in the spiritual experience of Christianity: the Church is the historical embodiment of the Kingdom of Heaven in the world, and the Kingdom of Heaven is the Church of Christ in its eschatological perfection (Mt. 16:18-19; 28:18-20).

The holy Apostle brought the Gospel of Christ to Syria, Media, Persia, Parthia, and finishing his preaching in Ethiopia with a martyr’s death. This land was inhabited by tribes of cannibals with primitive customs and beliefs. The holy Apostle Matthew converted some of the idol-worshippers to faith in Christ. He founded the Church and built a temple in the city of Mirmena, establishing there his companion Platon as bishop.

When the holy apostle was fervently entreating God for the conversion of the Ethiopians the Lord Himself appeared to him in the form of a youth. He gave him a staff, and commanded him to plant it at the doors of the church. The Lord said that a tree would grow from this staff and it would bear fruit, and from its roots would flow a stream of water. When the Ethiopians washed themselves in the water and ate the fruit, they lost their wild ways and became gentle and good.

When the holy apostle carried the staff towards the church, he was met by the wife and son of the ruler of the land, Fulvian, who were afflicted by unclean spirits. In the Name of Christ the holy apostle healed them. This miracle converted a number of the pagans to the Lord. But the ruler did not want his subjects to become Christians and cease worshiping the pagan gods. He accused the apostle of sorcery and gave orders to execute him.

They put St Matthew head downwards, piled up brushwood and ignited it. When the fire flared up, everyone then saw that the fire did not harm St Matthew. Then Fulvian gave orders to add more wood to the fire, and frenzied with boldness, he commanded to set up twelve idols around the fire. But the flames melted the idols and flared up toward Fulvian. The frightened Ethiopian turned to the saint with an entreaty for mercy, and by the prayer of the martyr the flame went out. The body of the holy apostle remained unharmed, and he departed to the Lord.

The ruler Fulvian deeply repented of his deed, but still he had doubts. By his command, they put the body of St Matthew into an iron coffin and threw it into the sea. In doing this Fulvian said that if the God of Matthew would preserve the body of the apostle in the water as He preserved him in the fire, then this would be proper reason to worship this One True God.

That night the Apostle Matthew appeared to Bishop Platon in a dream, and commanded him to go with clergy to the shore of the sea and to find his body there. The righteous Fulvian and his retinue went with the bishop to the shore of the sea. The coffin carried by the waves was taken to the church built by the apostle. Then Fulvian begged forgiveness of the holy Apostle Matthew, after which Bishop Platon baptized him, giving him the name Matthew in obedience to a command of God.

Soon St Fulvian-Matthew abdicated his rule and became a presbyter. Upon the death of Bishop Platon, the Apostle Matthew appeared to him and exhorted him to head the Ethiopian Church. Having become a bishop, St Fulvian-Matthew toiled at preaching the Word of God, continuing the work of his heavenly patron.

The Orthodox Church in America

11/28/2016

The Canon

The composition of Theophanes, in Tone IV.

Ode I, Irmos: I shall open my mouth, * and be filled with the Spirit, * and utter discourse to the Queen and Mother; * and be seen radiantly keeping festival, * joyfully praising her wonders.

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

O all-glorious Matthew, servant of Christ, richly bestow upon me the grace which abideth within thee, that I may cry aloud, splendidly proclaiming, and, rejoicing hymn thy wonders.

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

Thou didst utterly abandon the tumult of earthly things; for, having hearkened to the voice of the incarnate Word, thou wast revealed to be a steward and God-pleasing herald of His grace.

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

As an eye-witness and servant of the radiant Word of the pre-eternal Father, O apostle, thou didst go forth, proclaiming the glad tidings of His coming unto all the nations.

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

Thou didst announce the glad tidings of the destruction of death, the abolishment of corruption and the manifestation of life, O wise one; for, having conceived the Unapproachable One in her womb, the Virgin hath restored the world.

Ode III, Irmos: O Theotokos, thou living and plentiful fount, * establish in spiritual fellowship those who sing hymns to thee, * and in thy divine glory * grant them crowns of glory.

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

O Word of God, thou hast shown forth Thine apostles as beacons of life which drive away the gloom of ungodliness, illumining the whole world with Thy divine glory, O Master.

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

Having armed the most valiant Matthew with Thine armour, O Saviour, thou hast made him mightier than the tormenters and revealed him to be the destroyer of the deception of idolatry, O Master and Lover of mankind.

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

The sound of thy fiery tongue consumed the temples of the demons, O divinely inspired Matthew, thou instrument of the Comforter, through whom Christ, the hypostatic Life of all, hath been proclaimed.

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

The trumpet of theology which soundeth forth mightily hath illumined the divinely wise Matthew to proclaim to the peoples, the Effulgence of the Trinity and the incarnation of the Word from thee, O most pure one, in a manner transcending understanding.

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

Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom …”: Truly the sound of thy wise words hath gone forth to all the ends of the earth, O all-praised apostle of the Lord, for thou, manifestly preaching to all the vision of God, didst draw the nations from ignorance unto understanding. Wherefore, having dispelled the darkness of idolatry, thou hast shone forth the light of knowledge upon those who sit in darkness, O all-praised Matthew. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who honour thy holy memory with love.

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

Tone VIII & same melody: O apostle of the Lord, we all praise thee as the lamp and disciple of the Light, an eyewitness of the divine Word; for, spreading thy nets of grace, by thy command thou didst ensnare reason-endowed souls like fish. Wherefore, having entrapped the nations through the power of the Spirit, they are now manifestly guided by faith, O all-praised initiate of the mysteries of heaven. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who honour thy holy memory with love.

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

Theotokion in Tone VIII: In that thou art the most immaculate Bride of the Creator, the Mother of the Redeemer who knewest not wedlock, the receptacle of the Comforter, O all-hymned one, haste thou to deliver me, who am the vile abode of iniquity and in mind am the plaything of the demons, from their wickedness, and make of me a radiant dwelling place of the virtues, O luminous and incorrupt one. Drive from me the cloud of the passions and grant that I may partake of the never-waning light of the Most High, through thy supplications.

Ode IV, Irmos: Perceiving the profound counsel of God, * that the incarnation of Thee the Most High, * will be from a Virgin, * the Prophet Habbakuk cried aloud: * Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

Taught by Thy hypostatic Word, O God, the God-seeing disciple destroyed worldly wisdom, crying aloud unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

What manner of praise can we offer unto thee who wast blessed by Christ, O divinely eloquent one? For no man is able to describe in words, the grace which hath blossomed forth in thee, O right wondrous one.

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

Looking upon thine undefiled and pure mind as a lamp placed on a lofty stand, shining upon those in darkness, O divinely manifest one, the Most High hath set thee before all.

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

O blessed and all-praised Maiden, thou hast elevated slain human nature, in that, in a manner surpassing nature, thou hast given birth to the might of the Most High, as Matthew hath taught.

Ode V, Irmos: All creation stands in awe of thy divine glory; * for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, * didst contain within thy womb the God of all, * and gave birth to the timeless Son, * bestowing peace, upon all who hymn thee.

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

Receiving the grace of the All-Holy Spirit, thou wast shown to be a divine habitation, having taught the light of divine knowledge in a godly manner, wherefore, thou wast entrusted with the task of committing to writing the dogmas of Christ, as a chosen eye-witness of God.

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

Thy tongue was the pen of the Paraclete, Who grants speedy deliverance unto those who acknowledge His dominion and breathes heavenly understanding into the souls of the wise, O most honoured Matthew.

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

Christ sent thee unto the world shining with miracles and the grace of healing, trampling upon the might of the demons and enlightening the souls of all the faithful who hymn thee, the preacher of the world.

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

O Virgin, thou hast given birth to the pre-eternal son Who clothed Himself in human nature and saved it from corruption in His absolute goodness, as the divinely eloquent one said in his teaching; thou didst remain a Virgin.

Ode VI, 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, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

By Thine omnipotent might, O Maker of all, the divinely eloquent and most excellent Matthew was transformed from a publican into an evangelist, in that he followed Thee.

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

By the spiritually nourishing words of thy glad tidings, O all-blessed Matthew, a multitude of the gentiles have been lifted up and directed to the lofty summit of the virtues.

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

With the divinely woven nets of the disciple Matthew the assemblies of the faithful are ever drawn up, guided to the knowledge of Thee, O our Benefactor.

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

O all-immaculate one, the most excellent Matthew announceth glad tidings, describing thee as the Virgin who gaveth birth without seed and corruption unto Him Who fashioned all things.

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 …”: Casting off the yoke of the office of a publican, * thou didst shoulder the yoke of righteousness * and wast shown to be a most excellent merchant, * bringing in the wisdom from on high as riches. * Wherefore, thou didst preach the Word of truth * uplifting the souls of the despondent, ** describing the hour of judgment.

Ikos: The tyranny of the enemy oppresseth me constantly and seizeth all the seed of my soul, O Matthew, friend of Christ; yet, providing me with the seed of thy prayers, render me fruitful to serve thee, and show me to be the least of those who hymn thee and a recounter of thy many and great corrections, for without hesitation, forsaking all things for the love of Christ, thou didst ardently follow after Him Who called thee, being the first evangelist in the world, describing the hour of judgment.

Ode VII, Irmos: Refusing to worship created things * in place of the Creator, * the divinely wise youths bravely trampled down the threatening fire * and rejoicing they sang aloud: * O supremely hymned Lord and God of our Fathers, Blessed art Thou.

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

Thou wast a divine image of the primal effulgence, as a disciple set afire by His splendours; and, chanting to Him, thou didst say: Blessed and supremely praised art Thou, O Lord God of our Fathers!

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

As servant of the Word, O all-blessed one, thou hast made thine abode in the divine mansions where Christ abideth, as the one supremely divine Lord and God of all the fathers promised thee.

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

Infirmities are banished and a multitude of demons are forced to flee by the gifts of the divine Spirit which are in thee, wherein thou didst chant: Blessed and supremely praised art Thou, O Lord God of our Fathers!

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

With thy divine words, O apostle, thou didst describe the all-hymned Virgin who hath given birth to the Creator. To Him do we all chant: Blessed and supremely praised art Thou, O Lord God of our Fathers!

Ode VIII, Irmos: The Offspring of the Theotokos * saved the holy children in the furnace. * He who was then prefigured hath now been born on earth, * and He gathereth all creation to hymn thee: * all ye works praise ye the Lord * and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

Deified by the mighty forces within Thee and by Thine ordination and nature, O Master, the most sacred Matthew prevailed upon the whole world to chant to Thee: Hymn the Lord, O ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

The Word sent the theologian forth like lightning to the whole world, driving away the darkness and enlightening the nations with the dogmas of theology. Wherefore, he chanted: Hymn the Lord, O ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

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

With pure discourse and mind God conversed with thee; for having rid thyself of mire, thou didst draw nigh and associate with Him, O glorious one. Wherefore, thou dost chant: Hymn the Lord, O ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

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

The Word willed to become incarnate for the good of mankind; for the Lord passed through the portal of virginity and showed her forth as the Theotokos. Wherefore, we cry aloud: Hymn the Lord, O ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Ode IX, Irmos: Let every mortal born on earth, * radiant with light, in spirit leap for joy; * and let the host of the angelic powers * celebrate and honour the holy feast of the Mother of God, * and let them cry aloud: * Rejoice! O Theotokos, thou pure Ever-Virgin.

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

Thou didst receive the divine diadem of noetic beauty, O apostle, and wast adorned with the most magnificent crown of the kingdom by the right hand of the Almighty, O wise one. And thou dost shine, standing with the angels before the throne of Christ the Master, O all-blessed one.

Holy, glorious, all-praised Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew, pray to God for us.

Thou didst receive the tree of life as is meet, O preacher of the living God, having spread the glad tidings of life, the visitation of God to the world; for thou didst not permit thy mind to become corrupt through the tree of knowledge, remaining an unshaken and immovable foundation of the Church, O all-blessed one.

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

In a godly manner thou didst adorn the Church, the Bride of Christ, with thy Gospel as with a diadem, O divinely blessed one, and now it splendidly celebrateth thy divine memory, pray thou, O Apostle Matthew, that it be delivered from every evil circumstance and cruel misfortune.

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

Without leaving the bosom of the unoriginate Father, the unoriginate Word became incarnate from thee, O pure and all-praised one, wholly clothing Himself in human nature and accepting its traits, as Matthew writeth, proclaiming the glad tidings.

Troparion, Tone III: O holy apostle and evangelist Matthew, * entreat the Merciful God * that He grant remission of sins ** unto our souls.

Another troparion, same tone: Zealously following Christ the Master, * Who in His goodness appeared to mankind on the earth, and called thee from thy tax-booth, * thou wast shown to be a chosen apostle * and a trumpet-voiced proclaimer of the Gospel to the whole world. * Wherefore, we honor thy precious memory, O divinely eloquent Matthew. * Entreat the merciful God, ** that He granteth remission of sins unto our souls.

15/28 NOVEMBER

The Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gury, Samon and Aviv: during the persecution against Christians under the emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (305-311).

Dear brothers and sisters, at 16:00 tomorrow, we will chant a moleben to the Holy Great-Martyr Demetrios, whose feast is today, and the Holy Martyr Nestor – his friend and fellow soldier – whose feast is tomorrow.

The combined canons for the Holy Martyrs and posted below.

Canon I to the Great-Martyr Demetrios, the acrostic whereof is: “I give utterance concerning the right victorious Demetrios!” the composition of Theophanes, in Tone IV

Ode I, Irmos: Having traversed the depths of the Red Sea with dry-shod feet, Israel of old vanquished the might of Amalek in the wilderness by Moses’ arms stretched out in the form of the Cross.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Crowned with a divine wreath of martyrdom, thou makest merry in the presence of God, shining with splendours therefrom and filled with radiance, O right wondrous great-martyr .

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

The Master hath received thee who art a witness to the truth, who struggled with endurance even to the shedding of thy blood, and steadfastly showed forth opposition to the tyrants, O blessed one.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

The author of evil didst thou lay low, O Demetrios, slaying him with the spear of thy martyrdom, strengthened therefor with divine grace and power which passeth understanding, O blessed one.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

He Who, as God, was before time begotten without mother hath come among us, receiving flesh and uniting Himself thereto through thee without father, O all-hymned Theotokos, which transcendeth comprehension and recounting.

Canon II to the Great-Martyr, the acrostic whereof is: “I honour the grace of the myrrh of Demetrios,” the composition of George of Skilitsa, in Tone VIII –

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

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

O Demetrios, thou freely flowing wellspring of fragrant and precious myrrh, who washest my heart clean of the filth of the passions: Having shown me to be the fragrance of Christ through the exercise of the virtues, fill my mind with grace, that I may hymn thy divine graces.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Rivers of living water flow from the midst of the faithful, saith the word of God. Wherefore, the ever-flowing springs of thy myrrh are poured forth, whose streams gladden the city of God, which doth glorify thy martyric boldness.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Of old, the staff of Moses, striking the rock in the desert land, released gushing streams of water; and, pierced by a spear, thy body, O Demetrios, hath revealed a wellspring of myrrh, refreshing the new Israel.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

O Demetrios, who hast received a recompense for the wounds of thy martyrdom such as eyes have not seen, nor ear heard, thou now pourest forth a sea of myrrh, the rewards of purity, upon the ends of the earth, washing away the passions of our souls.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

made His abode in thy womb; and having anointed with His divinity that which He took from thee, He issued forth One comprising both, and hath been called the Myrrh which was poured forth, for Christ is both God and man.

Canon to the Holy Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica

Irmos: He Who is mighty in battle cast the chariots of Pharaoh and his power into the sea. Let us chant a new hymn, for He hath been glorified!

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

By thy blood wast thou vouchsafed to mount the fiery chariot, rejoicing, and with joy didst thou ascend to the heights of heaven, where Jesus, the ageless Light, doth dwell.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

Having arrayed thyself in the breastplate of faith, O Nestor, and wielding the Cross in thy hands as it were a spear, thou didst mightily hew down legions of the enemy.

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

Strengthened with the fervour of Christ’s love, thou didst stride forth into the midst of the arena and didst set at naught the wiles of Lyæus and didst win the trophy of victory.

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

In thy womb didst thou conceive Him Who is with the Father is equally without beginning, and in manner transcending nature thou didst give birth unto Him in the flesh, O thou who hast not known man, remaining truly a pure Virgin. Wherefore, we all honour thee.

Canon I of the Great-Martyr

Ode III, Irmos: Thy Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, crying aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my consolation!

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Thou didst account the tyrant’s command but naught, for thou didst honour the word of God above all, O passion-bearer.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

A splendid lamp-stand in the midst of the tabernacle of martyrdom wast thou, shining with divine light, O Demetrios, martyr and athlete.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Having acquired thee as a sacred and wondrous fountain of healings and an inviolable treasure, thy city hath been enriched with all gladness.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O all-pure one, restoring the corrupted image of mortals, He Who loveth mankind clothed Himself therein with flesh taken from thee, though remaining as He was before.

Canon II to the Great-Martyr

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.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Begotten from on high by God, thou wast an heir of divine blessings, being called His son, a co-heir with Christ; and thou dost reign with Him, for thy myrrh is a token thereof, O Demetrios.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Planted by flowing waters like the tree whereof David spake, O glorious one, thou didst put forth the great fruit of martyrdom, and art now shown to be a wellspring of myrrh, which floweth unto the ends of the earth.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Drawing forth the grace of Christ, from Whose side flowed forth blood and water, pierced for His sake, thou didst shed thy blood, and thou now pourest forth fragrant myrrh like water upon our hearts, O Demetrios.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O all-pure one, thy sacred and spiritual vessels are full of fragrance and the myrrh of the divine Spirit Who descended upon thee. For, having given birth unto God, thou hast rescued the faithful from the stench of the passions.

Canon to the Holy Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica

Irmos: O Lord Who dost establish the thunder and formest the wind: make me steadfast, that I may hymn Thee in truth and do Thy will; for none is as holy as Thee, O our God.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

Strengthened with the power of Him Who shattered the gates and portals of hades with might, with zeal didst thou enter into the arena and didst shatter the wiles of the enemy with might.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

With thy feet thou didst trample down the ancient author of deception, for as a youth thou didst bend thy neck to be beheaded by the sword, O Nestor, boast of martyrs. Wherefore, we praise thee.

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

Setting at naught the pride of the most iniquitous, O martyr, thou didst sacrifice a sacrifice unto God, shedding thy sacred blood as an offering. Wherefore, He hath rewarded thee with rich gifts.

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

O Theotokos, Jesus, Whom thou didst bear in thy womb, having supernaturally transformed the ugliness of the race of Adam which resulted from eating, hath granted us our primal beauty.

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

Kontakion of St Nestor, Tone II, Spec. Mel. “Seeking the highest…”: Having fought the good fight, thou hast now inherited immortal glory, for thou didst become an excellent warrior of the Master through the supplications of the martyr Demetrios. Wherefore, cease not to pray for us all, O wise Nestor.

Ikos: From childhood didst thou tread the path of the Lord, O thrice-blessed one, and didst piously desire His testimonies; and, having zealously taken the Cross upon thy shoulders, O divinely wise Nestor, thou didst destroy the wicked delusion of the madness of idolatry, breaking and destroying the snares and nets of Lyæus. Wherefore, we flee to thy protection with faith, crying aloud: O thou who art most rich, entreat Christ God in behalf of us all!

Sessional hymn for the Great-Martyr , Tone IV, Spec. Mel: “Joseph was amazed…” – With psalms do we cry out to the valiant athlete, the mighty warrior of Christ, Who reigneth over all: Rejoice, adornment and comeliness of martyrs! Rejoice, radiant star of the Church! Rejoice, rampart and refuge of those who have recourse to thee! O glorious great-martyr Demetrios, from every wound and affliction of the alien save all who hymn thee. 

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 for St Nestor, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Having been lifted up…”: Thou wast undaunted by the tyranny of the enemy, nor wast thou afraid of the wounding of thy body, but didst hasten fearlessly to the conflict, O wise one, banishing the invincible divine weapon of the Cross. Wherefore, having slain the deceiver straightway, thou wast thyself slain, O Nestor, and, standing before Christ, thou hast been vouchsafed life.

Canon I to the Great-Martyr

Ode IV, Irmos: Beholding Thee lifted up upon the Cross, O Sun of righteousness, the Church stood rooted in place, crying out as is meet: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Beholding thee, the vanquisher of the delusion of ungodliness, the most exalted Word of God hath crowned thee with glory, O Demetrios, who chantest: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Having won a victory over delusion, thou didst receive a victor’s crown of righteousness, O Demetrios, crying out to Thy Creator: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Steered by God’s life-bearing hand, thou didst reach the most calm harbours, where, rejoicing, O Demetrios, thou dost now cry out: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

As the most sacred of all created beings, thou alone wast vouchsafed to become the Mother of God; for, in giving birth unto Him, thou hast illumined the world with the grace of knowledge divine.

Canon II to the Great-Martyr

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!

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Having washed away all the defilement of thy birth in the laver of regeneration, thou didst show thyself to be one who preserved his purity even unto the end. Wherefore, Christ hath transformed thy natural goodness into myrrh, just as He changed water into wine.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Just as the nature of fire is bestowed upon all, preserving its whole power, so is thy myrrh drawn forth by all, yet remaineth undiminished, O athlete. Wherefore, bowing down in worship, we piously hymn God, Who hath given thee grace.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Who can render Thee audible praises, O Christ, Thou Word of God, beholding the graces which Thou hast bestowed upon Thine athletes? For, lo! the myrrh of the martyr Demetrios floweth like a fountain, and his fragrance wafteth forth, and he dispelleth the gloom of wickedness.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

A fountain springing up from the earth gave thee to drink before watering all the face thereof; and having been hidden beneath the earth, thou hast been shown to be a wellspring of fragrant myrrh, O martyr Demetrios; for a multitude of spears opened thy veins, and thou dost now water the ends of the earth.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O Theotokos, we know thee to be the Bride and Mother of God, for the Word of God, finding thee to be a fragrant rose blossoming amid the lowly valley of humanity, desired thy beauty and, having issued forth from thee, He hath perfumed the faithful.

Canon to the Holy Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica

Irmos: I heard report of Thee, O God, and I was afraid; I understood Thy works, O Lord, and I was filled with awe, for the earth is full of Thy praise.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

Made radian by the splendid teachings of Demetrios, thou didst escape the gloom of pagan vainglory and wast illumined with the light of martyrdom.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

Thou didst stir up the salty sea of unbelief with the sweetness of thy good faith, O martyr, and didst drown an army of the ungodly in the depths of thy blood.

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

Thou wast shown to be a tree reared up for life, nourishing the fullness of the faithful with the bounty of thy struggles, O Nestor of Christ, thou boast of martyrs.

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

Be thou unto me for the cleansing of sins and extend thou a helping hand unto me who am in distress, O most holy Mistress, sure aid of Christians.

Canon I to the Great-Martyr

Ode V, Irmos: Thou hast come, O my Lord, as a light into the world: a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance those who hymn Thee with faith.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Receiving the fire of divine love in thy heart, thou didst quench the fire of the ungodly madness of idolatry, O glorious Demetrios.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Thou hast shown thyself to be one who delivereth us from misfortunes, O Demetrios, protecting by thy supplications those who praise thee with faith and love.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

They who earnestly have recourse unto thy temple in faith, O Demetrios, are speedily delivered from infirmities and soul-destroying passions.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Word of God, Who is one in essence with the Father, O Mother of God, hath, in manner past comprehension and recounting, become thy Son, of one essence with thee.

Canon II to the Great-Martyr

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.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Thou wast a cistern collecting the mercy of Him Who descended from the heavens, as it were rain or dew; and thou didst gush forth with mystical gifts, and now thou dost put forth a wellspring of myrrh from thy tomb, O Demetrios.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Following the practice of athletes, thou didst strip thyself bare, but of all earthly love, O martyr; and thou didst anoint thyself with the oil of grace, and, having vanquished the prince of darkness, thou didst receive as reward the exuding of fragrant myrrh, O Demetrios.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Thou wast shown to be a rose blooming in the midst of the Master’s meadow, O Demetrios, dyed with the blood of thy torment and with the piercings of thy wounds, with thy pangs of suffering and the burning of the furnace; and now thou dost pour forth ever-flowing myrrh.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Lo! the martyr’s temple is again seen to be a divine ark wherein is a lamp, his tomb, which holdeth myrrh and oil, and around which we exult in spirit; and, joining chorus, we praise the great Demetrios.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Wounded with zeal for the love of Christ, like a new Elijah thou dost denounce the emperor and dost give thyself over to death. Yet thou livest and hast shown thy tomb to be a wellspring of myrrh, like unto the inexhaustible cruse of oil.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Of old thine ancestor, chanting, described thy mystery and all the glory within the daughter of the King, glorifying thee as her who is blessed among men. Rejoice, thou restoration of the whole world.

Canon to the Holy Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica

Irmos: Send Thou a radiant dawn upon us, in that Thou art good; and guide us to the fear of Thee, O Master.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

Having watered thy thoughts with words of divine understanding, O glorious Nestor, thou didst produce the harvest of martyrdom.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

With the healing of thy words, O Demetrios, martyr for Christ, Nestor put an end to the great iniquity of ungodliness.

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

Locked in combat with a visible foe, thou didst invisibly acquire the help of God, O glorious Nestor.

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

Rejoice, thou who without seed gavest birth unto our God! Rejoice, thou who alone art the all-pure Mother of God! Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded!

Canon I to the Great-Martyr

Ode VI, Irmos: I will sacrifice to Thee with a voice of praise, O Lord, the Church crieth unto Thee, cleansed of the blood of demons by the blood which, for mercy’s sake, flowed from Thy side.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Assembling together, we chant thy glorious and luminous memorial which is full of wonders and of the gifts of the honoured and holy Spirit, O most blessed one.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

By thy supplications loose the bonds of mine offences, for, as an invincible martyr, thou hast boldness before the Master; and be thou my refuge and protection, O Demetrios.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Finding thee, O pure one, to be a most pure lily, a lily of the valley, growing among the thorns, the Bridegroom, the Word, made His abode in thy womb, O Mother of God.

Canon II to the Great-Martyr

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.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Thou didst flourish spiritually, like a fruitful olive-tree, and wast violently pressed by the hands of soldiers. But now thou dost comfort the faithful, O Demetrios, pouring forth myrrh from thy divine tomb.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Like a bee, thou didst show thyself to be a cultivator of all the virtues wrought by God, O blessed one, preserving thine immaculate soul like a honeycomb; and now thou pourest forth myrrh, delighting our souls.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Thou didst love Christ with all thy soul and didst follow Him to the myrrh of sweet fragrance; and thou didst partake thereof through a higher union. And now thou pourest forth never-ending streams of myrrh, O Demetrios.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

The droplets of the blood of thy sufferings, falling upon the ground, have made it a wellspring of fragrant myrrh. And now thou dost continually pour it out for those who draw it forth, O Demetrios.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Drenched with the outpouring of thy blood, O wise one, like another, new, wellspring, like a river, thou dost richly put forth thy myrrh for the healing of those who ask it and who earnestly approach, O blessed one.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Beholding the golden and ever-burning lamp of the Light, we who have darkened our souls with a multitude of sins draw nigh, for she giveth us illumination and driveth away all darkness.

Canon to the Holy Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica

Irmos: The tempest of evil thoughts, having overtaken me, doth drag me down into the abyss of my countless sins; but, going before me, O good Helmsman, govern me and save me, as Thou didst the Prophet Jonah.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

Having stamped thy heart with a seal, thou didst courageously wound the heart of Lyæus with the spear of thy valour, O passion-bearer; and, rejoicing, thou wast slain for Christ, the Life of all.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

Like a bridegroom didst thou issue forth from the chamber of thy flesh, O wise one; and manifestly arrayed in garments woven of thy sacred blood, O martyr, thou hast taken thy place before Christ the Master.

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

Having set thy feet upon the rock of piety, Christ, the Rock of life, guided thy steps to Himself, O Nestor, and put thine enemies to shame.

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

O Virgin Mary, who gavest birth unto God Who taketh away the sin of the world, thou hast broken the chains of my transgression, for on thee have I set my hope of salvation.

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 Great-Martyr, Tone II: He Who gave thee invincible strength, O Demetrios, hath dyed the Church in the streams of thy blood, and hath preserved thy city unharmed, for thou art its confirmation.

Ikos: Assembling in faith, let us all hymn the great Demetrios as a warrior and martyr of Christ, crying out together in hymns and songs unto the Master and Creator of the universe: Deliver us from earthquake and want, O Thou Who lovest mankind, at the supplications of the Theotokos and of all Thy holy martyrs, for on Thee do we all set our trust, that we may be delivered from misfortunes and tribulations. For Thou art our confirmation.

Canon I to the Great-Martyr

Ode VII, Irmos: The children of Abraham in the Persian furnace, afire with love of piety more than with the flame, cried out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

All-adorned with divine glory and grace, O martyr and passion-bearer, thou dost shine forth brilliantly and dost illumine those who cry out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Arrayed in thy blood as in a purple cloak, and holding the Cross instead of a sceptre, O glorious one, thou now reignest with Christ, O martyr Demetrios, crying out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O all-glorious and radiant Mother of God: Protect all who honour thee as the Theotokos, for blessed art thou among women, O all-immaculate Mistress.

Canon II to the Great-Martyr

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!

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

In prophecy Isaiah commandeth the thirsty to draw forth water, O Demetrios. And if he had seen thy tomb, he would certainly have cried: Come ye to the wellspring of myrrh and draw forth salvation!

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Thou wast born of earth and hast made thine abode in the land of the meek, where the water of sweetness is found; and having drunk thy fill thereof, thou now pourest forth an ever-flowing wellspring of myrrh, O Demetrios.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Thou dost grow like the branch of a vine, remaining joined to God, without being cut off. And filled with the ineffable sap thereof, thou now pourest forth myrrh in streams upon all, O Demetrios.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

O, thy new struggles! O, the strange sufferings of thy martyrdom! For, accepting the drops of sweat which thou didst pour forth for Him, Christ hath shown thee to be a wellspring of myrrh, O blessed one.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Exuding the flow of thy myrrh, O Demetrios, thou hast spread out a great abyss of miracles and dost drown therein the infirmities of our bodies and souls, stilling every tempest of temptation.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

With thy milk didst thou nourish thy God, Who was born of thee incarnate, that He might lighten the affliction in hades of Adam, who ate of the tree of knowledge and transgressed God’s commandment.

Canon to the Holy Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica

Irmos: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers, Who spake on the mountain with Moses and revealed an image of the Virgin in the bush.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, Who hast illumined the hearts of the faithful with the splendour of the passion-bearer’s struggles.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

Having quenched the flame of ungodliness with the dew of thy blood, O divine martyr Nestor, thou dost chant: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

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

Offering a living sacrifice as an odour of sweet fragrance to the Lord, O martyr Nestor, thou didst cry out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

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

Thou hast been shown to be more holy than the cherubim, O most holy Mistress who gavest birth unto the Word of God Who doth sanctify us.

Canon I to the Great-Martyr

Ode VIII, Irmos: Stretching forth his hands, Daniel shut the lions’ mouths in the pit; and the young lovers of piety, girded about with virtue, quenched the power of the fire, crying out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Arrayed for battle with the indelible power of Christ, O glorious one, thou didst blot out all the wrath of the enemy, and as a victor thou didst cry out, O martyr Demetrios: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Having shown the steadfastness of the martyrs, thou didst inherit the high station of the martyrs, O martyr, having been washed in the holy laver which is not defiled by further attacks of sin; and, pierced by a spear, thou didst cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

The multitude of thy miracles and the gifts that Christ gave thee, which surpass comprehension, are evident to all, O glorious one, and the grace of healings, which transcendeth recounting, clearly proclaimeth thy grace unto us who cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Let us hymn the pure Theotokos, who, alone among all generations, is a Virgin Mother; for she is the mediatress of our salvation, in that she gave birth unto the Word, the Deliverer of the world, to Whom we cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Canon II to the Great-Martyr

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!

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

May God reveal thee to those in this world, O Demetrios, as one who hath kept the lamp of thy soul alight, ever filled with the oil of good works. Doors, as of a chamber, have been opened unto thee, and He showeth thee to be an ever-flowing wellspring of divine myrrh, imparting grace thereto as reward for thy purity.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Not of blood, nor of the lust of the flesh, O Demetrios, wast thou born, as the Gospel saith, but of God; for thou dost worship the incarnate God, and zealously exhausting thyself for His sake, thou didst receive wondrous grace from on High, and dost pour forth divine myrrh, perfuming men’s souls.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Thou art shown to be an animate ladder firmly anchored to the ground by pillars of flesh, but reaching to the heavens; for thou wast enriched by God, Who was established within thee, O martyr. And having been shown to be a pillar anointed with the oil of the struggles of martyrdom, thou now pourest forth a wellspring of divine myrrh upon those who approach with faith.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Chanting prophetically, O Demetrios, David described thee as the river of God full of waters; for, lo! the outpouring of thy myrrh is inexhaustible. Wherefore, the watery multitude of rivers lift up their voices and clap their hands to the glory of God, Who hath glorified thee by all of these.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Thou alone art the thrice-holy Lord, O Almighty God, concerning Whom the athlete Demetrios theologised while locked in prison, having slain the noetic serpent with a material lash and cast down the audacity of Lyæus through the godly Nestor; and he was pierced by a spear, and now myrrh floweth forth from his tomb.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

In place of Adam, the Lord; in place of Eve, thee, O all-pure one; instead of the lying serpent, Gabriel; instead of the tree, the Cross; instead of Eden, the garden of the tomb; Rejoice! instead of grief; the spear instead of the fiery sword, and the purple robe instead of the fig leaves! Therefore, we hymn thee, O Maiden, as the cause of these things.

Canon to the Holy Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica

Irmos: O earth and all that is therein, O ye seas and every shower and dew, ye heavens of heavens, light and darkness, frost and burning heat, ye children of men and priests: bless ye the Lord, praise and exalt Him supremely forever!

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

The earth received thy precious blood which was shed for Christ; the heavens received thy soul which was adorned like a bride; and the choirs of martyrs and the souls of all the righteous greeted thee with joy, O martyr.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

Oh, thy God-loving soul which reckoned a temporal death to be but naught and chose to live in the Lord! Oh, thy divine courage which prevailed over the cowardice of the foe! For thou hast reproved those who do not confess Christ!

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

Having fought the good fight, thou didst truly finish thy course, O wise martyr, and didst keep the faith. And now a crown of righteousness doth lie before thee, which Christ shall give thee forever.

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

I fear not the pursuit of the enemy, for I have thy help; I fear not evil men, but flee to thee, O Theotokos. For in thee do I boast, and in thee do I cross the wall of sin, saved by thy prayers.

Canon I to the Great-Martyr

Ode IX, Irmos: Christ, the Chief Cornerstone uncut by human hands, Who united the two disparate natures, was cut from thee, the unquarried mountain, O Virgin. Wherefore, in gladness we magnify thee, O Theotokos.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Loose the bonds of the transgressions of those who hymn thee, O passion-bearer; bring an end to the assaults of the passions; cause the tumult of heresies to cease, and still the tempest of temptations by thy supplications.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

O crowned martyr Demetrios, guide thy most sacred flock along the straight paths to the kingdom of heaven, to the pasture of salvation, to the eternal fold.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

O martyr Demetrios, entreat the Lord, the Bestower of life and King of hosts, those who that hymn thee may obtain crowns of glory and the kingdom of heaven.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Trusting in thee, O Virgin, all of us, the faithful, honour thee as the root, the wellspring and source of incorruption; for thou hast poured forth upon us the hypostatic Immortality.

Canon II to the GreatMartyr

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.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Thou didst receive a soul like unto an alabaster box filled with the divine myrrh of virtue, and Christ bowed His head toward thee, O martyr; for thy life was calmed by the brilliance of the purity of thy life. Wherefore, thou wast blessed and filled with the grace to pour forth myrrh upon the ends of the earth.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Behold the splendid types of ineffable rewards which await thee! Behold the wellspring of ever-flowing myrrh, O athlete! Wherefore, standing before God with the boldness of a martyr, beg thou victory for Orthodox Christians over their adversaries.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

With the sign of the Cross of the Victor thou didst vanquish the savagery of Lyæus, setting over him as victorious thy fellow contender Nestor. And now, do thou subject every barbaric nation to holy Orthodoxy, O Demetrios.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

Us who have recourse with fervent love from the depths of our hearts to the shrine of thy relics, which poureth forth rivers of myrrh, O martyr of Christ, do thou deliver from soul-destroying deeds and from the fœtid wave of the passions by thy supplications, and transform them into sweet fragrances before the Lord.

Holy Great-Martyr, Demetrios, pray to God for us.

We celebrate a day of spiritual joy, O Demetrios, beholding the outpouring of thy myrrh, which floweth unceasingly. Driving away the gloom of the passions as one filled with divine light, grant that we may walk nobly, as in daylight, that we may behold the unapproachable light of God.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou, O all-pure one, art a golden dove bearing the Word of God like an olive sprig, anointing thy flesh with the oil of divinity. And the athlete, having taken Him into his heart, as into a coffer, doth pour forth myrrh from his tomb and anoint the faces of the faithful.

Canon to the Holy Martyr Nestor of Thessalonica

Irmos: For He Who is mighty hath magnified me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him, throughout all generations.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

In sacred manner hast thou arrayed thyself in a purple cloak dyed in thy blood; and, holding the Cross in thy right hand as a sceptre, thou dost reign with Christ, O blessed Nestor.

Holy Martyr, Nestor, pray to God for us.

Thou art shown to be a ripe cluster on the noetic Vine; and, squeezed out by the winepress of martyrdom, thou hast poured forth the wine of compunction upon us who ever praise thee.

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

Joining chorus with the angels in the presence of Jesus and delighting in His glory, O Nestor, be thou ever mindful of those who with faith keep thine honoured memory.

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

Thou wast revealed as the abode of the Light which hath truly driven away the gloom of the ancient ignorance, O pure one, ark of holiness and golden candlestick, O thou who art more spacious than the heavens.

Troparion of the Great-Martyr, Tone III: The whole world hath found thee to be a great champion amid misfortunes, who conquered the pagans, O passion-bearer. Therefore, as thou didst cast down the pride of Lyæus and didst appoint the bold Nestor for the struggle, thus, O Demetrios, beseech Christ God to grant us great mercy.

Troparion to St Nestor, Tone IV: In his sufferings, O Lord, thy martyr Nestor received an imperishable crown from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, he set at naught his tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. By his supplications save Thou our souls.

Kontakion 1: We praise thy life and miracles unceasingly with song, O all-praised Father Gabriel, for thou hast shown forth as a great luminary of Iberia, and now in heartfelt supplication we earnestly cry to thee, for thou art our all-powerful protector and mediator before the Lord, look down upon us, holy father, and protect us who are in sorrow and temptations, and with thy fatherly boldness defend us from sickness and misfortune, propitiate for us the all-powerful God that He keep us from wandering along sinful paths, and deliver from evil those who praise and chant to thee: Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 

Ikos 1: As the Lord revealed the prophets to Israel as denouncers of evil and advocates before God, Christ blessed thee for great works, having beheld thine boundless heart. Thou wast revealed to us as a Fool-for-Christ, teacher, intercessor, and a rebuker of this iniquitous age and its generation. Wherefore from youth wast thou devoted to the service of God for the sake of our salvation, delivering us from sinful passions and danger. Even after thy holy death thou persistently fulfillest thy vow, warmly caring for those who come to thee, and as an eagle gives shelter beneath its wings thou dost help those in sadness and sorrow and those tormented by evil spirits, and generously thou bestowest healings on those who cry to thee: 

Rejoice, thou who didst from youth love meekness and humility. 
Rejoice, vigilant guardian of the purity of body and soul. 
Rejoice, chosen vessel of holiness. 
Rejoice, thou who from youth wast a great bearer of the mysteries of the Almighty. 
Rejoice, double-edged sword of God destroying the danger of unbelief. 
Rejoice, champion of truth and strengthener of those weak in faith. 
Rejoice, all-wondrous preacher of love. 
Rejoice, counsellor of repentant sinners. 
Rejoice, true servant of Christ the Saviour in the struggle against the enemies of God. 
Rejoice, radiant pillar of the last times. 
Rejoice, great archimandrite and elder, spiritual father of Ιberia. 
Rejoice, messenger from above who atoned for thy people. 
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 

Kontakion 2: The enemies of the true faith who seized power in our land persecuted the Church of Christ and its flock, and only chosen people were able to endure such a trial, those who were unshakable confessors of the faith. But thou, although a son of unbelievers, wast a God-chosen vessel filled with the Holy Spirit, and in the time of persecution didst thou receive with gladness of the fragrant fountain of eternal life, at all times magnifying the Giver of Light and Creator of the world: Alleluia! 

Ikos 2: From youth, blessed father, thou wast an image of humility and godly-mindedness, far from all childlike nonchalance; having heard in thine early youth the name of Christ, thou didst come to the Church of Saint Barbara and beheld the Saviour on the Cross, and with tears didst thou cry to Him as though He were alive: “Why wast Thou crucified?” And having heard the reply of a watchman, thou didst firmly decide to learn about Christ. Thus, on a divine impulse didst thou purchase a Holy Gospel and from that time to the end of thy days thou didst study the Word of God. Implore Him, merciful father, to sprinkle on us the dew of His grace, that our hearts may burn with the inextinguishable fire of the Holy Gospel as we thus praise thee in song: 

Rejoice, thou who like Samuel the prophet wast dedicated to God from thy mother’s womb. 
Rejoice, radiant spiritual light that shone as a ray of knowledge upon those in the darkness of godlessness. 
Rejoice, thou who wast near to God and didst distance thy mind from worldly cares. 
Rejoice, chosen one who from thy youth wast illumined by God’s grace. 
Rejoice, thou who with a sincere soul and pure mind wast ever moved by thy thirst for the Word of God. 
Rejoice, thou whose soul wast a dominion marked for Christ the King. 
Rejoice, thou who from youth wast distinguished by thy yearning for God and quickening by the Holy Scriptures. 
Rejoice, thou who as a child didst bear spiritual armour upon thy shoulders. 
Rejoice, thou who didst exchange childlike playfulness for the building of churches. 
Rejoice, thou who didst hate the joys that defile the soul. 
Rejoice, thou who didst crucify thine heart and desires of the flesh. 
Rejoice, for thou hast revealed the strength and wisdom of the Gospel as truth, and by thy life knowledge of holiness. 
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 
   
Kontakion 3: Having beheld the unquenchable fire of thy love for the Lord, the insidious beast and enemy of holiness furiously assaulted thee, struck thy head with his unclean fist, and cried out indignantly: “Raise not thine eyes to the sky any longer!” But as a youth, boldly arming thyself with the Cross of the Lord and His strength, thou didst firmly stand up to the onslaught of the enemy. Having been directed in a heavenly vision to the Church of Saint George, which had been destroyed by thy forebears, with reverent prayer didst thou miraculously lift the stones of the church with thine own hands and lay them aside, in a feat beyond human comprehension, and with joy and love thou gavest thanks to the Lord, praising Him in song: Alleluia! 
   
Ikos 3: Ashamed of thy zeal, thy mother casted the Holy Gospel to an unseemly place, but thou didst recover it like an honourable treasure that was made clean by thy tears, departed thy house in tears and hurried to a monastery as a youth of twelve years; thou didst greatly desire the monastic life, but didst not receive the blessing to embark upon it. Thou spent thy days and nights amidst the stones in the churchyards, magnifying God, giving no thought to the cold and hunger thou didst endure. And now, our father, entreat the Lord God that He grant us wisdom of the heart so that we may distinguish good from evil, travel the paths of our lives righteously, and that blessed inspiration be granted to us who praise and sing to thee: 

Rejoice, fiery confessor who wast persecuted for the faith. 
Rejoice, reprover of those raging with unbelief. 
Rejoice, strong defender of those passionately seeking the faith. 
Rejoice, thou who didst abhor empty desires and accept reproach with gratitude. 
Rejoice, thou who didst spend nights in prayer and subjected thyself to rest upon a hard bed. 
Rejoice, thou who didst defeat youthful nonchalance by fasting and hard work. 
Rejoice, thou who dost protect us from legions of invisible demons. 
Rejoice, imitator of Abraham’s hospitality. 
Rejoice, thou who savest from hunger and art merciful to the poor. 
Rejoice, thou who teachest sinners the sweetness of abstinence. 
Rejoice, hope of the poor and afflicted. 
Rejoice, thou who drivest away sinful thoughts. 
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 
   
Kontakion 4: Thou didst always seek seclusion in a small cell, struggling in diligent prayer and reading the Holy Gospel. Thou didst keep thine eyes fixed upon heaven, filling thy soul with the life-giving dew of the grace of the Holy Spirit, and remaining zealous in thy life of struggle didst thou acquire virtues abundantly; in thy humility thou didst reach the depths of the knowledge of God, and having beheld a radiant cross in the sky, thou didst accept the heavenly vision as a sign of thine own Golgotha cross, magnifying the Creator and Life-Giver Christ God: Alleluia! 

Ikos 4: By God’s providence, father, thou camest to the holy mountain, Mtatsminda, to the Church of Saint David Gareja, learned to read the Psalter and established thyself in Christian teaching; sparing no effort, thou didst labor tirelessly serving the holy temple, and, by God’s providence, as a seedling near a brook, thou didst bear good fruit in due season. Thus protect us, blessed one, from sins and temptations of the world, that we may always live according to God’s will, acquiring heavenly blessings, lest we perish in feeblemindedness. For this we reverently cry to thee: 

Rejoice, thou who didst unceasingly behold the Lord with noetic vision. 
Rejoice, thou who wast clothed in humility as if by light. 
Rejoice, thou who knewest what was hidden from the learned and wise. 
Rejoice, for thou toughened thyself by zealous fasting and relentless works, and wast filled with ceaseless prayer. 
Rejoice, thou who didst scorch emerging sins with sorrow, lamentations and tears. 
Rejoice, unshakeable strength and helper of the fainthearted and weak. 
Rejoice, thou who strengthenest the souls of the faithful and frightenest the evil forces. 
Rejoice, extoller of Christ’s magnificence and defeater of the licentious enemies of God. 
Rejoice, scorner of vainglory and worldly power that cometh from the evil one. 
Rejoice, thou who didst encourage Christian souls who suffered long under the ungodly. 
Rejoice, strengthener of the weak and feeble. 
Rejoice, teacher of those seeking the Truth on the Lord’s path. 
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 
   
Kontakion 5: With the increase of ungodliness and persecution of the faithful, many turned away from the monastic life, and out of fear of death settled in distant villages to begin worldly lives, but thou didst firmly choose for thyself the narrow path that leads to everlasting joy, and thus didst thou steadfastly guard the Sioni temple, faithfully serving in the altar. God’s temples were being destroyed by the ungodly, but thou didst build a church in thy house, and without rest didst thou seek icons and crosses; finding them profanely discarded in unseemly places, thou didst magnificently decorate them and place them in thy temple, where we now joyously venerate them, warmly chanting to God: Alleluia! 
   
Ikos 5:  With furious vengeance for thy fervour, the insidious beast heaped much tribulation upon thee to put out thy flame of zeal for the Lord. Like Job the Long-Suffering, the Lord permitted sorrows to befall thee so that, like Job, thy faith would be put to test, but thou wast not afraid of the demons’ schemes, and thou didst restore three ravaged churches such that they exceeded their original beauty. The Lord didst bless this good work, and by His grace sand filled buckets were lifted by angels for thee, who wast standing aloft; and now, father, pray to Christ God that He drive away from us all evil and that we be strengthened in our sorrows and put on the path of repentance, for with gladness and love we cry out to thee: 

Rejoice, thou who didst reject the temptations of the world like a hermit while in the midst of a great city. 
Rejoice, thou who didst burden thyself with the weaknesses of others. 
Rejoice, thou who by zealous prayer didst drive away all despair that cometh from the evil one. 
Rejoice, thou who wast inspired by the Holy Spirit and didst destroy the multitude of invisible enemies. 
Rejoice, thou who wast fortified by the Holy Scripture and didst become perfect in wisdom. 
Rejoice, cohort of angels and corrector of evil brethren. 
Rejoice, thou who callest all to watchfulness and sobriety. 
Rejoice, thou who didst love the miraculous Gatekeeper of Iveron, the chief protectress of Georgia. 
Rejoice, thou who didst adorn thy church with sacred icons saved by thee. 
Rejoice, thou who settest ablaze a fiery love for God in our hearts. 
Rejoice, sweet intercessor before God for the Georgian people. 
Rejoice, offeror of our love at the Lord’s banquet in heaven. 
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 
   
Kontakion 6: Having seen thy zeal for God, Bishop Gabriel of Kutaisi appointed thee as a novice to Motsameta Monastery, for from youth thou didst come to know Christ and desired His grace above all, and sought the monastic life to leave aside worldly cares, magnifying the Lord at all times, to save thy soul. And by God’s providence thou didst receive the blessing to be clothed in a monk’s cassock, and according to thy wish wast thou named in honour of Gabriel of Athos, and now together ye behold the glory of God our Saviour; pray to Him, O ye saints, that according to your example we may walk the path of this fleeting life blamelessly, always praising God the Trinity in one essence: Alleluia! 
   
Ikos 6: Having been ordained a priest by God’s goodwill, thou didst direct thy mind to God while serving the Liturgy and at the hour of prayer, never ceasing to call upon Him. But fearing the authorities, thy family plotted thy return to the world and intended to force thee into marriage, but thou didst pretend to be insane and by this didst thou destroy their schemes, for thou irrevocably dedicated thyself to the only Most High God, and thus thou wast victorious over thy family’s temptations and they no longer dared to go against thy will. Thus, we place our hope in thee, that by thy prayers our hearts may be ablaze with divine zeal, that we may please the Lord; wherefore we praise thee in song: 

Rejoice, zealot of true monastic works known only to God. 
Rejoice, thou who didst strengthen thy soul with harsh vows. 
Rejoice, thou who didst manifest the strength of God through thine infirmities. 
Rejoice, thou who didst tirelessly acquire heavenly gifts and study God’s precepts. 
Rejoice, thou who didst see hidden kindness and gifts in others. 
Rejoice, thou whose words didst disperse the darkness of sin like lightning. 
Rejoice, thou who didst overcome the eloquence of rhetoricians by true theology. 
Rejoice, thou who wast a preacher of the holy Orthodox Faith equal to the apostles. 
Rejoice, teacher of spiritual strength and humility. 
Rejoice, thou who didst entreat the cruel and heartless by thy meekness. 
Rejoice, thou who with the Word of God preparest salvation for the faithful. 
Rejoice, quick hearer of those who are afflicted with sorrow and danger. 
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 
   
Kontakion 7: Thou didst not renounce God despite calamities, tribulations, persecution and the devil’s intimidation, Father Gabriel, for from youth God called thee to serve as a priest, and zealously keeping God’s commandments and joyfully preaching the Gospel, thou didst always reveal sins, direct, warn and graciously console thy flock, and preaching like the Apostle Paul, thou didst gather many souls and turn them to Christ, visiting them on holy days in the holy monasteries and churches of the Iberian land, and teaching all to chant to God: Alleluia! 

Ikos 7: Though scorned and insulted by the ungodly, thou didst keep thy resolve at all times, Father Gabriel. Thus, once at the Black Sea thou didst pray to God with tears for help in thy sufferings, but suddenly didst find thyself in the depths of the sea, because the shore collapsed beneath thee. The icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker wast in thy hands, and Saint Nicholas appeared to people standing nearby showing them the place of thy trouble; they hurried to thy rescue, and pulling thee ashore, they cried out in astonishment: “A magnificent elder called us to thine aid,” and together ye glorified God for this miracle. And now beseech the Lord to protect thy flock, enlighten our minds, and hasten to the aid of us who thus praise and magnify thee: 

Rejoice, friend of Christ and tireless labourer of His vineyard. 
Rejoice, thou who didst acquire heavenly grace by confession of the Orthodox Faith. 
Rejoice, shining light of divine worship. 
Rejoice, thou who didst conceal thy wisdom and holiness with great humility. 
Rejoice, thou who didst bear the yoke of a cross adorned with sorrows for the salvation of thy people. 
Rejoice, leader of the faithful and advocate of priests. 
Rejoice, power and strength of the sceptre of kings. 
Rejoice, powerful vanguard and helper of monks. 
Rejoice, invincible warrior of Christ and great protector of the Georgian Church and people. 
Rejoice, thou who wast likened to the fathers of old according to thy piety and courage. 
Rejoice, thou by whose prayers all right-believing people shall trample upon the devil’s schemes, be united by love for Christ, and together serve Him in the struggle against the Antichrist and enemies of the Holy Church. 
Rejoice, image of righteousness and courage, and the praise and glory of Georgia. 
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 
   
Kontakion 8:  Thou wast sent to the Betania Monastery to the venerable and God-bearing wonderworking fathers George and John, and having strengthened thyself by their prayers, thou didst proceed to serve God as a zealous monk, and in the fight with evil thou wast tempered more than steel; by the Lord wast thou granted the gift of seeing into the heart, thus attracting a storm of fury from the enemy forces, who in vain tried to turn thee away from the monastery since they could not overcome the power of thy prayer and hope in the Lord, nor tarnish thy purity; thou wast loved exceedingly by thy spiritual fathers for thy virtues and together with them we give thanks to God:Alleluia! 
   
Ikos 8: Venerable John was first to stand before God; when George rushed to his grave and cried out to him, “Christ is risen!” he heard a voice gladly replying: “Truly He is risen!” Soon George’s strength left him and thou, O blessed one, didst administer to him the Holy Mysteries of Christ, and He in turn blessed thee for the last time and peacefully passed on, entrusting his pure soul to God. The authorities persecuting the Church rejoiced greatly at the death of the holy elders and hastened to end the monastery’s divine services, commissioning a guard for the monastery, thus converting it from a house of God to a museum. But thou didst return to Sioni, and again gathered thy flock at services. Likewise, support and teach us to place our hope in the wisdom and providence of God, that He lead along the path of righteousness those who sing to thee: 

Rejoice, thou who wast likened to the ascetics of old. 
Rejoice, great advocate and preacher of the Orthodox faith. 
Rejoice, good shepherd of lambs of the chosen herd, for whom thou didst shine as a beacon in the darkness. 
Rejoice, sure hope of sheep that have fallen away. 
Rejoice, thou who returnest to the path of truth those who denied God and the faith. 
Rejoice, God-bearing father who didst multiply the fruits of the Lord’s harvest by thy works. 
Rejoice, faithful imitator of the Lord Who by His blood saved us from the curse of the law. 
Rejoice, thou who hewest asunder the guileful powers of darkness by thy prayers. 
Rejoice, thou who deliverest the Orthodox from the temptations of the adversary. 
Rejoice, indestructible fortress, victor over godless authorities and conqueror of worldly passions. 
Rejoice, bulwark and praise of the faithful and servants of God. 
Rejoice, adornment of reverent priests and intercessor of meek servants. 
Rejoice, thou who drivest away despondency and healest those condemned to death. 
Rejoice, shelter and protection of travellers and calm harbour for the suffering. 
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 
    
Kontakion 9: Seeing the increase of ungodliness taking hold of thy nation, good pastor, thou didst appear to a small flock, for faithlessness and abominable sin ensnared many, but thirsting for their return to piety, thou didst boldly call all to repentance, ceaselessly crying with sorrow: “O miserable ones sitting in darkness, ye are bound by your fear and silence, how could ye not see the light of Christ and His Glory? Receive your sight, and beholding Christ our God, repent, turn away from your evil paths and ceaselessly glorify God”: Alleluia!  
   
Ikos 9:  A storm of disquiet struck thee as a result of the ungodly iconoclasts, for they satanically desecrated the holy icons of the Master Lord Jesus Christ, His all-pure Mother and the saints of God, and persecuted those who venerated them. But thou, not fearing death, didst burn the image of the idol God-hater and servant of Satan as if it were a whole-burnt offering to God, and for this audacious deed the authorities possessed unrivalled hatred for thee, and so thou didst expect an inevitable death for Christ, boldly preaching: “Such grandeur is not befitting a human corpse, it is only meet for Christ our Saviour and God, who wast resurrected from the dead!” Pray to Him now, all-praised father, for the salvation of our souls and to keep us from pernicious heresies, and bestow thy zeal for the Lord on those who thus praise thee: 

Rejoice, shepherd of a small flock, who helped the unlearned understand the Word of God. 
Rejoice, thou who didst ceaselessly admonish sinners on God’s path. 
Rejoice, bold accuser of hateful rulers and dishonest judges. 
Rejoice, chastiser of evildoers and guide of heretics to the path of Truth. 
Rejoice, thou who didst reprove those who turned away from the hand of God and the worldly-hearted. 
Rejoice, reproach of the rising pride of this age. 
Rejoice, destruction of the iconoclasts’ sedition. 
Rejoice, protector against Satan’s schemes and foreign invasion. 
Rejoice, calmer of unbridled people and abolisher of the trickery of superstition. 
Rejoice, thou who awakenest thy people from spiritual sleep by reproof. 
Rejoice, thou who healest prideful souls and scatterest the darkness of our minds. 
Rejoice, thou who dost bless faithful spouses and reproach adulterers. 
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 
   
Kontakion 10: Ungodly blasphemers of Christ and servants of the atheistic authorities who hated thee sought to drive thee from the path of truth by submitting thee to temptations, and locked thee in prison, but courageously didst thou denounce their craftiness and thou didst instruct and strengthen those imprisoned for the sake of their faith in Christ, and together with them thou didst glorify God. The pride of those who tried to ruin thee in their rage was soon abated, for they could do nothing to thee because the Lord miraculously protected thee from death by thy confinement to a medical ward, amongst the lowly of this world, the rejected, unpredictable and insane, where thou didst endure innumerable tortures. But this satanic cruelty shook not thine unbreakable faith, O holy father, and amidst the tortures, like the three youths in the Babylonian furnace, thou didst continue to glorify and magnify God: Alleluia! 

Ikos 10: Granted freedom by the patriarch’s intercession, thou didst straightway hasten to the Church of Saint Barbara seeking the Lord’s consolation, and in exhaustion thou didst fall asleep and heard a wondrous voice say thrice: “Gabriel, I cry for thee!” and upon wakening didst thou hurry to a crucifix and behold a miracle: Jesus weeping tears; kneeling in tears, thou didst offer praise and prayers to the Lord. Having received such consolation, thou didst return to serve at Sioni, and nourished a multitude of people, preaching repentance and administering to them the Holy Mysteries. But even there the enemy drove thee away from serving the Lord, according to the will of the ungodly authorities, and thou didst become poor and shelterless for many years, enduring unbearable heat and deadly cold, remaining amongst the tombs, taking up the cross of foolishness-for-Christ, preaching the Kingdom of Heaven and delighting the heavens by thy ceaseless prayer. People saw the beauty of thy soul, served thee with love, and desired to meet thee, a zealous servant of God and defeater of passions. Thus we marvel at thy Godly resolve and we cry to thee: 

Rejoice, thou who scorchest like fire the thorns of passions with few words. 
Rejoice, fierce reproacher of clergy that have fallen into temptations of the world. 
Rejoice, reprover of those who have fallen away from God. 
Rejoice, thou who wast humiliated and insulted by priests. 
Rejoice, knower of inner thoughts, who protectest the people from temptations and offences. 
Rejoice, thou who, deified by grace, richly bestowest treasures of the Spirit. 
Rejoice, thou who didst acquire heavenly gifts by honesty and goodness of soul and abidest in heaven. 
Rejoice, thou who didst understand the language of the birds of the sky and beasts of the earth. 
Rejoice, thou who didst open the closed church gates by the sign of the cross. 
Rejoice, successor of the immortal podvig of thy spiritual fathers and brothers-in-Christ John and George of Betania, with whom thou wast bound by an oath in the struggle for truth. 
Rejoice, thou who revealest the ungodly enemies of Christ and the chosen land of Iberia. 
Rejoice, thou who like Saint Spyridon of Trimythous didst glorify the miraculous power of the Holy Consubstantial Trinity by changing bread into wheat, fire and water. 
Rejoice, thou who by wise counsel didst edify many priests and form true monks. 
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 
   
Kontakion 11: Thou wast a chosen light among the holy fathers, O wondrous elder, for words of heavenly wisdom and the vision of the Holy Spirit were granted thee, and thou didst help others by thy gift of healing, seeing into peoples’ hearts, the gift of healing the soul, and the exalted gift of love. But as God marked thee with especial humility and wondrous modesty, thou didst deign to live according to the teaching of Saint Paul the Apostle that “The wisdom of the world is madness in the eyes of God,” and thou didst appear to others as a Fool-for-Christ, pretending to be a good-for-nothing and drunkard, calling thyself a dog of the Saviour, but in thine heart singing to God: Alleluia! 
   
Ikos 11: Like Saint Andrew the Blessed, thou didst acquire thy good name by meekness and humility, and according to the multitude of thy virtues thou didst become a Fool-for-Christ, O our brave elder, and bore the double burden of life as a hermit and Fool-for-Christ, unfathomable to the world, often feigning drunkenness, whereby thou didst conceal thy holiness and spiritual gifts. And though, O wise monk, thou didst appear as a fool to the world, now thou art numbered among the saints of the Church, and having great boldness before the Lord, pray to Him to again reveal to us worthy fathers and wise leaders, lest Iberia, the Mother of God’s possession, be corrupted, and that we do what is right before God; wherefore with tenderness we thus call upon and praise thee: 

Rejoice, thou who revealest heavenly mysteries, for thou didst shine with divine light in the wicked times of persecution of the truth and denigration of piety, and hast enlightened thy people by thy holiness. 
Rejoice, our astute father full of prayer and spiritual wisdom, for the mind of man cannot attain to the unreachable heights that were revealed to thee. 
Rejoice, thou who wast engulfed with divine fire, who didst reproach clergy that were wolves in sheep’s clothing, as did the prophet Elias to the priests of Baal. 
Rejoice, thou who like Moses didst bear thy cross for forty years, for thou kept within thyself the word of God, an indestructible pillar, revealing not the strength of man but of God. 
Rejoice, thou who like David the Prophet didst receive God’s mercy, and as if with a sling, didst defeat the godless by preaching the Gospel of Christ. 
Rejoice, thou who like John the Baptist didst tirelessly take sinners from the devil and by repentance returned them to God. 
Rejoice, thou who like St. John the Theologian, the apostle of love, wast granted together with the gift of love the mysteries of God and power over unclean spirits. 
Rejoice, thou who didst rejoice in tribulations and teach us to strengthen ourselves in sufferings by patience and faith. 
Rejoice, thou who like the first martyrs wast always persecuted and in sorrows, always weeping only for thine own sins. 
Rejoice, thou who wast in sorrow concerning thy soul as over one dead, weeping and crying out like the good thief: “Remember me, O Saviour, in thy kingdom!” 
Rejoice, heavenly man who didst avoid worldly greatness, for thus from this time forth and forevermore people flock to thee to praise thy wondrous deeds. 
Rejoice, thou who didst entreat the most pure Mother of God for the increase of the Georgian people, and saw a vision of countless infants killed in their mothers’ wombs, and being horrified, beheld the most pure Queen with angels and heard her mournful voice say: “Why art thou asking me to multiply thy people while infants are being killed in their mothers’ wombs?” 
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 

Kontakion 12:  In thy humility and meekness, thou didst patiently wait many years for the blessing to again serve in church, and seeing thy modesty and burning desire to serve God, Patriarch Ephraim invited thee again to the altar, clothed thee in priests’ garments, and administered to thee the Mysteries of Christ, and inspired by God he sent thee to the holy Samtavro Monastery in Mtskheta, where thou didst settle in a small cell, O resident of the heavenly New Jerusalem, near the bush of Saint Nino the Enlightener of Iberia, where thou didst again devote thyself to offering the bloodless sacrifice and preaching the Kingdom, enlightening the nuns and thy flock, and teaching them about visible and invisible enemies. By ceaseless prayer didst thou protect the monastery from trouble, and thou didst adorn the tower of Saint King Mirian with crosses and icons found by thee, day and night glorifying the one God in Trinity: Alleluia! 

Ikos 12: Thou didst see the future as though present, O wondrous father, and by power from on high didst thou work many miracles out of love for us, strengthening faith and revealing the power of God made perfect in weakness; being gravely ill, our blessed elder, thou didst endure insufferable pains, and until the end of thy days didst thou bear the cross of grievous bodily suffering. When the time of thy death wast revealed to thee by the Holy Spirit, O holy father, thou didst pray before the icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker for the Georgian nation and quietly departed this world, filled with thy good works, and thou didst join the great ranks of holy fathers, and according to thy will, like a monk of old wast thou buried wrapped in a mat. Thy holy relics became an inexhaustible source of miracles for the people of God and a fount of healing from illness and disease, like a treasury of grace of the Holy Spirit and sign of the forgiveness of our many sins and deliverance from sicknesses of body and soul. Therefore, we hasten with great joy to the Samtavro Monastery, thy resting place, where every person that cometh to thee with faith, being anointed with oil from thy lamp, as a blessing from thee, receives the healing of soul and body, and we thus ceaselessly glorify thee: 

Rejoice, thou who by patience didst acquire graceful peace, and as an elder often stood against evil at the risk of thine own life, always praying to Christ God for the salvation of our souls. 
Rejoice, thou who hast remained close to us even after thy death as an angelic helper in this difficult age. 
Rejoice, thou who wast crowned with thorns, and after death shineth upon us like a hot ray of sun, ceaselessly calling us to Christ. 
Rejoice, for thy resting place near a blackberry bush is a wondrous tower and strength, and for those who visit it a fragrant treasury and source of true grace for the glory of God. 
Rejoice, for by God’s providence thy mother followed thee on the path of confession and monastic struggles, and wast buried in the holy monastery near thy relics. 
Rejoice, thou who art a refuge for those in misfortunes, whose tomb emanates divine fire scorching the wiles of the godless and shining like a warm jubilant light protecting us from sinful darkness. 
Rejoice, for not only believers, but also the lazy and those of little faith hasten to venerate the vessel of thine incorrupt blood, and pray to thee for mercy; and thou hearest their prayers, fulfilling their good wishes and giving joy abundantly to those in sorrows. 
Rejoice, for hierarchs beheld the miracles flowing from thy tomb and the multitude of miracles occurring by thy mercy, and they glorified thee as a great monk, confessor and Fool-for-Christ, numbering thee among the saints. 
Rejoice, for many priests saw healings occur from venerating thy tomb, and now together with their flock glorify thee as a great saint, offering prayers and praise to thee. 
Rejoice, thou who didst work miracles for the people of God abundantly, and whose icons and images stream myrrh by the grace of the Holy Spirit. 
Rejoice, for now the royal city of Mtskheta is full of joy and the Samtavro Monastery rejoices at the presence of thy holy relics, and the Georgian people tirelessly gather there praising thy holiness, healings and prophecies. 
Rejoice, calm harbour of salvation for those perishing and the hope of the hopeless, for thou hast been revealed as a great intercessor for those suffering in misfortune; thou givest divine strength abundantly to all who come to thee, and soarest watchfully above thy homeland and people. 
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 

Kontakion 13: O most glorious and most wonderful shepherd and pleaser of Christ, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ, our Father Gabriel! Our Lord Jesus Christ blessed thee to do great works, unfathomable to the mind of man, and He granted thee rich mercy in this temporal life and upon thy death He granted thee the gift of boldly interceding for the souls of sinners. And now accept our small prayer that we offer thee with love, and as thou art a fervent intercessor, implore Christ God to deliver us from sin and wickedness, from trouble and tribulations, and that He make us heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom, so that together with thee we may cry out to God: Alleluia! 

(This Kontakion is recited thrice, whereupon Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1 are repeated) 

Ikos 1: As the Lord revealed the prophets to Israel as denouncers of evil and advocates before God, Christ blessed thee for great works, having beheld thine boundless heart. Thou wast revealed to us as a Fool-for-Christ, teacher, intercessor, and a rebuker of this iniquitous age and its generation. Wherefore from youth wast thou devoted to the service of God for the sake of our salvation, delivering us from sinful passions and danger. Even after thy holy death thou persistently fulfillest thy vow, warmly caring for those who come to thee, and as an eagle gives shelter beneath its wings thou dost help those in sadness and sorrow and those tormented by evil spirits, and generously thou bestowest healings on those who cry to thee: 

Rejoice, thou who didst from youth love meekness and humility. 
Rejoice, vigilant guardian of the purity of body and soul. 
Rejoice, chosen vessel of holiness. 
Rejoice, thou who from youth wast a great bearer of the mysteries of the Almighty. 
Rejoice, double-edged sword of God destroying the danger of unbelief. 
Rejoice, champion of truth and strengthener of those weak in faith. 
Rejoice, all-wondrous preacher of love. 
Rejoice, counsellor of repentant sinners. 
Rejoice, true servant of Christ the Saviour in the struggle against the enemies of God. 
Rejoice, radiant pillar of the last times. 
Rejoice, great archimandrite and elder, spiritual father of Ιberia. 
Rejoice, messenger from above who atoned for thy people. 
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ! 

Kontakion 1: We praise thy life and miracles unceasingly with song, O all-praised Father Gabriel, for thou hast shown forth as a great luminary of Iberia, and now in heartfelt supplication we earnestly cry to thee, for thou art our all-powerful protector and mediator before the Lord, look down upon us, holy father, and protect us who are in sorrow and temptations, and with thy fatherly boldness defend us from sickness and misfortune, propitiate for us the all-powerful God that He keep us from wandering along sinful paths, and deliver from evil those who praise and chant to thee: Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!