Canons of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God

Canons of the Theotokos, with the acrostic “O thou who art full of grace, grant me the grace to chant the words of a most simple hymn”, in Tone VIII.

Ode I, Irmos: Having passed through the water as upon dry land, * and having escaped the malice of the Egyptians, * the Israelites cried aloud: * Unto our God and Redeemer let us sing.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O omnipotent Trinity, three-sunned Unity! Having illumined my soul, heart and mind and sanctified them with grace, I pray Thee Who art supremely good, lead me up to Thy divine love and teach me to hymn with devotion the compassion of the blessed Ever-virgin.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O good Mother of the good King, who dost readily hearken to the petitions of all and art almighty in thy benefactions, shine forth the grace of thy light upon us and fill us with grace today, O thou who art full of the grace of God, that we may begin to chant hymnody unto thee.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

For the choirs of the angels the glorification of thy present feast is the cause of joy, O Sovereign Lady, for today they are moved to praise. But what shall we, who are clay, offer unto thee? If not only our fervent hymns of thanksgiving.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

We chant unto thee the cry of the archangel: Rejoice, O pure one! And even though we are unworthy, O Lady, accept this hymnody instead of goodness, illumining us with the light of thy mercy and granting grace unto all.

Second Canon, 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 wonders.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O Christ, Bestower of light, on this notable day of the most glorious appearance of the icon of her who gaveth birth to Thee, grant that I may keep splendid festival and may ever hymn her miracles with gladness, in fear and joy.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O Virgin who hast given birth in the flesh to the light-bestowing Word of God, the Wisdom of the Father: enlighten the profound darkness of mine ignorance and provide me with the words to hymn thy wonders.

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

Today are the assemblies of the faithful enlightened and the hordes of the heretics put to shame, O Sovereign Lady, seeing thine icon traversing the air like the sun, destroying the gloom of impiety and illumining the faithful.

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

With God, O divine Bride, thou alone art our greatness and boast; for through thee are we saved from misfortunes, to thee do we flee, and we pray earnestly: O Sovereign Lady, from everlasting torment deliver thy servants who hymn thy wonders!

Ode III. Canon I, 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.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Come ye faithful, and behold a most glorious sight, looking upon the most pure Virgin, who with reverence shineth forth on high in her most pure image, illumining with grace us who reverently chant: There is none more pure than thee, O Lady!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The mind of each of the faithful is hallowed by thy grace, O Theotokos, and exalted by the wondrous coming of thine icon. Grant unto us, thy servants, who honor it with piety and glorify thee with faith, O Lady, to partake thereof.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O Bride of God, grant that we may tread the heavenly path unassailed, strengthening us to do godly works; that leaving the path of the evil one’s wiles by thy help, O Virgin, we may have a share in eternal glory.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

With the beams of Christ the true Light, the Creator of the angels, Who shone forth ineffably from thee, O Mother of God, and with thine own grace, illumine the souls and hearts of us who are in darkness. O thou who art full of grace, sanctify us, guiding us to the love of heavenly light.

Canon II, 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.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O Christ Jesus, pre-eternal King Who art full of mercy, illumine us with the appearance of the most pure image of Thee and the Ever-virgin who gaveth birth to Thee, and grant us forgiveness of sins and deliverance from misfortunes.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

When the people beheld thy most pure icon invisibly borne aloft by the angels and suspended in the air amid radiance, O Sovereign Lady, illumined with the light of thy mercy they were filled with ineffable joy.

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

O God-loving hierarchs and priests, kings and princes, and all the people, radiantly join chorus today, for a radiant beam hath shone forth on high, holding the true Light depicted in the flesh. With Him she hath come down to us, granting enlightenment to all the world.

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

Through thy most precious icon did the Creator of all work wonders of old and save the Imperial City from the incursions of aliens. So also be thou a protection and help for the land of Russia, O Sovereign Lady and Queen, saving it from all the assaults of the enemy.

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

Sessional Hymn, Tone IV: Thy most pure image, O Lady, truly more precious than the ark of old, shining more brightly than an electric cloud, emitteth rays of thy mercy revealing them to all, in every place, in abundance, and with the grace of God mercifully preserveth those who honor its most glorious coming. And fervently rejoicing therein, O Sovereign Lady, we keep festival and glorify thy maternal loving-kindness toward us.

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

The foregoing is repeated.

Ode IV. Canon I, 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!’

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Creator and Fashioner of all, Who upholdeth all things by His omnipotent power, hath today arrived most gloriously, O pure Virgin, borne on thine arm in His and thy divine and miraculous image, for the salvation and healing of all mankind.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Come, ye faithful, let us bow down before the ineffable gift of God, the icon of Christ the light and the most pure Virgin, and with love let us fall down, crying aloud: For the sake of the kind Ever-virgin who hath given birth to Thee, O Benefactor, send down grace and mercy upon us, Thy servants.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O Queen of the angels, noetic ark: God hath adorned and glorified thy most pure image with ineffable miracles and grace beyond that of the ark of the law, and hath commanded even the angels to venerate it. With them, O all-hymned one, do thou pray to Him on behalf of us who glorify His saving providence, that we also may obtain thy salvation.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O all-good and immaculate helper given by God in His grace unto all of us Christians, entreat Him, that He overlook our countless sins and deliver us from flaming retribution and the outermost darkness, and from every torment.

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

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Let all the earth and the air be glad today, and let the sea cause joy to rain down, for by the miraculous journey of the most precious image of the Mother of God the land of Russia hath been most gloriously illumined.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

As behooveth servants, the ranks of the angels minister to thee, the Queen of all, and reverently honor thy most precious icon, hymning thee, the most holy Virgin. But how can we, the lowly, hymn thee, the all-pure one, as is meet?

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

We cry out to thee the hymn of the archangel: Rejoice, O Bride of God, the Lord is with thee! Rejoice, thou joy of the angels and gladness of all mankind who truly glorify thee! Save the souls of those who hymn thee, O pure Theotokos!

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

O Birthgiver of God, bestower of joy: fill thou with ineffable joy those who with faith glorify thee and hymn thee with all their soul O Virgin, and grant them never- waning light, O Sovereign Lady who art full of grace.

Ode V. Canon I, Irmos: O God my spirit seeketh Thee early at dawn, * for the light of Thy commandments proceedeth Thy coming: * with them illumine our minds, O Master, * and guide us on the path of life.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

In thy merciful good pleasure, O thou who art full of grace, today thou hast graciously enlightened our land with thy godly appearance, and hast sent down the mystical illumination of thy light upon the world, guiding the faithful to the light of heavenly glory, O Theotokos.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

We have become darkened by our thoughts and weighed down by our sins, O Sovereign Lady, and we are at a loss how to confess thy radiant grace and mercy; but illumine us, O most holy Virgin, visit us and make us rich through thy mystical gifts of divine desires, directing us to the light of the right path.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Go thou before those who, from every direction, hasten to thy most honored icon, O Mother of God, who bow down before it with fervor and call upon thee with faith in every place; and save all from every misfortune, delivering them from cruel infirmities, and driving away evil spirits, imparting tranquility and health unto all, O Sovereign Lady.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Forsake us not, neither disdain us, O Birthgiver of God, who are cruelly vexed by grievous thoughts, vile memories and the wicked enemy; but enshroud us with thy grace, protecting us from them and helping us, O blessed of God, saving us from all their assaults.

Canon II, 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.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

In the wilderness, O Mother of God, the reverent man was deemed worthy to behold thee manifestly with the holy hierarch, and he received from thee the words of thy good pleasure, for the great confirmation and furthering of the salvation of the world, O Queen.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Wretched am I, O all-pure one, and unworthy of the grace to behold thee now; yet grant that I may behold thee in the future, and meet thy Son Who shall come in glory, and hear the divine voice crying in the kingdom of heaven.

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

We flee to thy goodness, O pure Virgin, and direct the eyes of our hearts towards thee; and bending our knees while weeping, we entreat thee; disdain not our sighing, and be thou a protection and helper for us on the day of judgment.

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

Thou art an intercessor for all Christians, O most pure Mother of God. Hearken to our supplication; look upon us, O all-hymned one, save thy city and monastery, and illumine thy flock with the radiance of the grace of thine aid.

Ode VI. Canon I, Irmos: I will pour out my prayer unto the Lord, * and to Him will I proclaim my grief; * for my soul is filled with evils, * and my life unto Hades hath drawn nigh, * and like Jonah I pray unto Thee: * Raise me up from corruption, O God.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

In the most glorious arrival of thine icon, O Queen, the expanse of air and our land hath been filled with the grace of thy miracles and divine gifts, unto the confirmation of piety and of all the faithful, O all-hymned one. Thereby are our adversaries humbled today, and those who glorify thee are made firm in might.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O city of God, holy habitation, Virgin Bride of God: from the assaults of the adversary and all the attacks of the enemy preserve thy holy dwelling, and all cities and lands where Christians dwell, who hymn thee with love and with faith honor thy most precious image.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O Mother of God, ever grant sanctification, health and salvation to the souls and bodies of us who piously venerate thy divine icon, reverently and fearfully kissing it with both mouth and heart, faithfully hymning thee with all our soul.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Having acquired thee as a mighty protection and an unassailable rampart, O Ever– virgin Theotokos, after God it is on thee that we, the faithful, set our hope; and we earnestly pray: by thy power show forth the darts of the enemy and all the wiles of the demons to be as impotent and ineffective as those of children, O our mighty helper.

Canon II, 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.

O thy most wondrous miracle, O Sovereign Lady! For disobeying thy command, a man was caught up in horror from the pinnacle of the church, but, by thy mercy, O all-merciful one, he found himself on the ground, unharmed.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

No one hath disobeyed the commands of God as have I, wretch that I am. Wherefore, falling down before thee, I pray, O Sovereign Lady; before I perish utterly, guide me to the path of truth, and save me, O pure one.

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

O Mother of God, who hast given birth unto Him Who endured crucifixion on the tree of the Cross for our sake, ever beseech Him that we who commemorate His holy suffering may do His divine will and become heirs to the eternal good things.

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

O pure Virgin Sovereign Lady, deliver us from all cruel circumstances, entreating Him Who nailed our sins to the Cross, and grant that we may worthily stand at His right hand when He shall come in His glory.

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

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

Kontakion, Tone VIII: O ye people, let us make haste to the Virgin Theotokos and Queen, * giving thanks to Christ our God; * and gazing with compunction upon her miraculous icon, * let us fall down and cry out to her: * O our Sovereign Lady Mary, do thou visit this land in the miraculous appearance of thy precious icon, * save our Orthodox hierarchs and all Christians in peace and prosperity, * showing us to be inheritors of the life of heaven. * For to thee do we cry with faith: ** Rejoice, O Virgin, thou salva- tion of the world!

Ikos: Beholding the most wondrous appearance of the Mother of God, let us ascend to the summit of the virtues and lift our mind up to heaven; for she hath come, traversing the heavens, that she may draw up to the heights those who cry aloud to her saying: Rejoice, O blessed Virgin, chosen by God from among all generations; rejoice, Queen of heaven, Mother of the Lord God, the Creator of all! Rejoice, Object of the angels’ most joyous hymnody; rejoice, sight most desired by all the world! Rejoice, immovable foundation of the Faith of piety; Rejoice, most splendid knowledge of grace; rejoice, goodwill of God towards mankind! Rejoice, thou who hast led mortals to God; rejoice, consolation of our oppressed souls! Rejoice, speedy help for all the faithful; rejoice, intercessor given by God to the Christian people, whom do thou earnestly preserve from all misfortunes and evils, that we may cry out to thee: Rejoice, O Virgin, salvation of the world!

Ode VII. Canon I, 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!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thine image, O Sovereign Lady, which even the angels revere, ever shineth with ineffable grace and power; for today thou dost illumine mortals with its gifts, guiding them to the heavens, and leading them to everlasting life, in thine ineffable goodness, O thou who art full of grace.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The mouths of orators are in nowise able to confess thy godly manifestation, the most glorious arrival of thine icon, and the abyss of thy miracles, O pure one. What then shall we, who are coarse, say? Only: have mercy and save us, O all-merciful Lady!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O renowned helper of the faithful and bestower. of all good things: accept us who fall down in faith and cry out to thee with love: Have mercy upon us, O Sovereign Lady, have mercy upon us; and today, as in the age to come, be thou our helper and aid!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O merciful Mother of God, open unto us today the portals of thy mercy, and snatch us from the jaws of the noetic wolves who would devour us and destroy us utterly. Have mercy, we pray thee, O Lady, have mercy! Turn not away from thy servants who have been put to shame!

Canon II, 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.

O the wonder! Thine only-begotten Son, the God of all, preserved thy most pure image unharmed amid the flame, O Mother of God; for it was found, shining with grace more brightly than the sun, illumining the faithful who chant with faith: Blessed art Thou, O God!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O Theotokos, the ranks of heaven rejoice with those born on earth on thy splendid festival. With the light of thy radiance, O most pure one, illumine us who celebrate it and who stand with fear before thy most pure image; and save us all.

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

O Queen, thou hast given birth in the flesh to the Word of God, the King of heaven, One of the Trinity. Beseech the Godhead, O Sovereign Lady, that victory be granted to our Orthodox hierarchs over all heresies and schisms; and to all the faithful aid, forgiveness of sins and salvation of soul.

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

In that thou hast given birth to the Benefactor of all, O pure one, with thy light- giving and divine grace cover thy servants, who hymn thee and pray to thee with unwavering faith; protect and preserve us from all the assaults of the enemy.

Ode VIII. Canon I, Irmos: O Thou who dost cover Thy chambers on high with the waters, * Thou Who hast set the sands to bound the sea * and Who upholdest all things: * the sun doth sing Thy praises, * the moon giveth Thee glory, * every creature offereth a hymn unto Thee, * as their Fashioner, throughout the ages.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The excellent ranks of heaven piously reverence thy most pure image, and its most wondrous arrival, O all-pure one, which is shown forth as most glorious under the heavens and hath moved the Orthodox people to lift up their voices in hymnody and glorify thy Son as Creator of all, throughout the ages.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Chanting most glorious hymns today, with devotion we lovingly bow down before thine image, which is revered even by the angels, O Sovereign Lady and Queen. With thy divine grace cover our Orthodox hierarchs, who glorify thee; strengthen them against heresies and schisms, and maintain their authority in peace.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O all-blessed and all-immaculate one, cause of joy! Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, our might, rampart and refuge of salvation! Save us, thy servants, who have no help than thee before God; for in thee do we trust, and thee do we hymn throughout the ages.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thee do we have, with God, as the sole preserver of our life and our mighty hope of salvation. O tenderly compassionate one, we beseech thee to mediate for us until the end, that we may be delivered from the reckoning which is to come, and may find thy Son and God merciful on the day of judgment.

Canon II, 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.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O thy most glorious wonders, O pure one! For the builders of thy holy church, who were buried beneath the stones for three days, were found alive and unharmed, preserved by thy protection; and they sent up cries of praise to thee, the Queen of all.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou gavest life instead of death to one who had died, O Theotokos. Wherefore, O Bride of God, preserve unharmed by the enemy us, who have been slain because of our many sins, and lead us up to the better life, saving our souls.

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

Today all the faithful are filled with joy and gladness because of thine icon, O Theotokos, for thou hast been revealed to be a cause of life for those in the jaws of death, an ever-flowing fountain pouring forth gifts of healing and imparting salvation unto all.

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

O all-praised one, accept the supplication of the people who have come together from all places, fittingly to hymn the glorious arrival of the most pure image of thee and the Babe Whom thou didst bear, the true God; and fulfill their petitions.

Ode IX. Canon I, Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, * and the ends of the earth were filled with amazement, * for God hath appeared in the flesh, * and thy womb was rendered more spacious than the heavens. * Wherefore, the ranks of men and of angels * magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thine icon, O Lady, traveling upright a path through the luminous air, and radiantly traversing invisible ways, moved by God, hath illumined with grace on earth the faithful who cry with faith: Truly thou art higher in honor than all others, O pure Virgin!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

In nowise are we able to fittingly adorn the accounts of thine exalted miracles with rhetoric, O pure Queen; we can only pray fervently to thee, that having entreated thy Son, the Master and King of all, Who hath given thee to us as a most glorious helper, He may deem us worthy of His heavenly kingdom.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O thou who art full of the grace of God, accept from us this song of hymnody in thanksgiving for thine ineffable tender compassion, fulfilling those of our petitions which are profitable; and lead us all up to the heights of heaven, for we cry out to thee with faith: Truly thou art higher than all, O all-immaculate Virgin!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

All of us, the generations of mortals, joyously call thee blessed, O Theotokos, for thou hast filled us all with joy by the most glorious arrival of thine icon, O most pure one. And bowing down before it today, we entreat thee with compunction: in the age to come, O Lady, forget not to grant thy servants the joy of the elect!

Canon II, 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 honor the holy feast of the Mother of God, * and let them cry aloud: * Rejoice! O all-blessed Theotokos, * thou pure Ever-Virgin.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Who doth not marvel at the appearance of thy most precious icon, O Lady; who is not amazed? For thou didst send it, as a light-bearing gift, through the air to the land of Russia, which hymneth thee with joy and magnifieth thee with faith.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O Sovereign Lady, who hast given ineffable joy to the world through the manifestation of thy most pure icon; from every grief deliver those who bow down before it with faith and kiss it with fear. O most holy one, save and have mercy upon all, and grant us the kingdom of heaven.

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

O Sovereign Lady, who hast given birth to God Who is the Lover of mankind, in thy love for us thou hast visited us in thy divine icon; and ever having recourse to it and gazing upon its magnificence, we cry out to thee with compunction: O Theotokos, ever save thine inheritance!

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

With humble lips have I offered thee this meager hymnody, O most hymned one; but though I am coarse and full of sin, and am unworthy to hymn thee as is meet, yet I trust fervently in thy compassions, in that thou hast given birth to the Savior of the whole world. Disdain this not, O Queen, but accept it and save me.

Troparion, Tone IV: Today thy most precious icon hath shone forth upon us in the air * like the most radiant sun O Lady, * illumining the world with rays of mercy; * and Russia, reverently receiving it from on high as a gift of God, * doth glorify thee O Mother of God as the Sovereign Lady of all, * joyously magnifying Christ our God Who was born of thee. * Him do thou entreat, O Lady, Queen and Theotokos, * that He preserve all cities and lands where Orthodox Christians dwell, * unharmed by all the assaults of the enemy, * saving those who with faith worship before the all-honored image of Him and thee, ** O Virgin who knewest not wedlock.

The Canon for the Feast of the Mother of God, the Life-Giving Spring

The Paschal Canon, the Work of St John of Damascus

Ode I, Irmos: It is the Day of Resurrection, * let us be radiant, O ye people; * Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha: * for from death to life, * and from earth to heaven, * Christ God hath brought us, * as we sing the song of victory.

Christ is risen from the dead.

Let us purify our senses, * and we shall behold Christ, * radiant with the unapproachable light of the Resurrection, * and we shall clearly hear Him say, Rejoice! ** as we sing the hymn of victory.

Christ is risen from the dead.

Let the heavens be glad as is meet, * and let the earth rejoice, * and let the whole world, both visible and invisible, * keep festival: * for Christ is risen, ** O gladness eternal.

To the Theotokos: by Nicephorus Callistos Xanthopolous:

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Thou dost now gush forth grace for me, O Virgin Theotokos of the Spring, thereby granting me the words, by which I may praise thy Spring, from which issueth forth life and grace unto the faithful; for thou hast caused the Hypostatic Word to flow forth.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Thy temple, O honored one, hath been shown to be a supra-natural place of healing for all, O Maiden; for clearly it hath raised up from death the faithful that flee thereto, causing an abundance of sweetness to flow forth unto all.

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

Thou alone, hast truly been the cause by which grace hath inexhaustibly descended unto us from Heaven; for thou didst cause the blind man to behold light in a manner past understanding, when thou didst call from on high unto Leo in the swampland.

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

Thou art the common honour of mankind O honored One, Rejoice O Mary, rejoice; for the Creator of all hath clearly descended upon thee like a drop of rain, showing thee to be an immortal Spring, O Bride of God.

Katavasia: It is the Day of Resurrection, * let us be radiant, O ye people; * Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha: * for from death to life, * and from earth to heaven, * Christ God hath brought us, * as we sing the song of victory.

Ode III, Irmos: Come, let us drink a new drink, * not one miraculously brought forth from a barren rock * but the Fountain of Incorruption, * springing forth from the tomb of Christ, * in Whom we are strengthened.

Christ is risen from the dead.

Now all things are filled with light; * heaven and earth, * and the nethermost parts of the earth; * let all creation, therefore, celebrate the arising of Christ ** whereby it is strengthened.

Christ is risen from the dead.

Yesterday I was buried with Thee, O Christ; * today I rise with Thine arising. * Yesterday I was crucified with Thee; * do Thou Thyself glorify me with Thee, O Savior, ** in Thy kingdom.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

I know thee to be an effulgent and holy temple of the Master of all, O Maiden, and a Spring of incorruption from whence Christ, the Water of incorruption, floweth forth, and from whence we refresh ourselves.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

God hath granted grace unto thy Spring, O Lady, and by its water it
dispelled the fearful gall-stone, granting it passage from the emperor who grievously suffered from it.

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

Abundant grace doth flow forth from thee, O Virgin Theotokos, pouring forth in floods; through thee, the lame skip with joy, a multitude of lepers are cleansed, and demons are suffocated.

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

Unto all the faithful dost thou impart healings; to kings and common people, paupers and rulers, to poor and rich alike; pouring forth water as a source of a healing of diverse maladies.

Katavasia: Come, let us drink a new drink, * not one miraculously brought forth from a barren rock * but the Fountain of Incorruption, * springing forth from the tomb of Christ, * in Whom we are strengthened.

Chirst is risen from the dead… (Thrice)

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

Kontakion, Tone VIII: Thou didst descend into the tomb, O Immortal, * Thou didst destroy the power of Hades. * In victory didst Thou arise, O Christ God, * proclaiming “Rejoice!” to the myrrh-bearing women; * granting peace to Thine apostles, ** and bestowing resurrection on the fallen.

Sessional Hymn of the Theotokos, Tone VIII: Let us all who ask of grace, * with one accord praise the living and ever- flowing divine source, * the most divine Spring, which daily poureth forth * healings unto all mankind, * by comparison a river’s flow is insignificant. * Wherefore, as is due, as we all draw nigh with love, * with faith let us now draw from the Spring inexhaustible strength, * truly immortal, * bedewing the hearts of the pious; * and with our lips let us cry aloud: ** Thou art the comforting solace of the flock of the faithful.

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

Repeat the Sessional Hymn

Ode IV, Irmos: On divine watch let the God-inspired Habakkuk stand with us, * and show forth the light-bearing angel clearly saying: * Today salvation is come to the world, * for Christ is risen * as Almighty.

Christ is risen from the dead.

As a man-child did Christ appear * when He came forth from the Virgin’s womb, * and as a mortal was He called the Lamb. * Without blemish also, is our Pascha * for He tasted no defilement; ** and as true God, perfect was He proclaimed.

Christ is risen from the dead.

Like unto a yearling lamb, * Christ, our blessed Crown, * of His own will was sacrificed for all, * a Pascha of purification; * and from the tomb the beautiful Sun of Righteousness ** shone forth again upon us.

Christ is risen from the dead.

David, the ancestor of God, * danced with leaping before the symbolical Ark; * let us also, the holy people of God, * beholding the fulfillment of the symbols, * be divinely glad; ** for Christ is risen as Almighty.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Truly, more numerous than grains of sand, and drops of rain, are the multitude of the deeds of thy Spring, which doth unceasingly and abundantly pour forth upon all the earth, quickly healing all who are grievously ill.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

From thy Spring, water was poured upon the breast of the woman stricken with cancer, O Virgin; and straightway the fatal malady ceased at the pouring, for the cancer simply knew to leave.

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

Incomprehensible and surpassing nature is that which hath been manifestly accomplished in thee, O Theotokos; for the water of thy Spring is, for those illnesses that are fatal, an antidote clearly unknown to nature.

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

The enemy doth ever slay me by the attacks of pleasures, O Lady Theotokos of the Spring; turn not away from me, but do thou hasten, O thou who art quick to help, and deliver me from his snares, that I may ever praise thee, O greatly praised one.

Katavasia: On divine watch let the God-inspired Habakkuk stand with us, * and show forth the light-bearing angel clearly saying: * Today salvation is come to the world, * for Christ is risen * as Almighty.

Ode V, Irmos: Let us awake in the deep dawn, * and instead of myrrh, offer a hymn to the Master, * and we shall see Christ, * the Sun of Righteousness, * Who causeth life to dawn for all.

Christ is risen from the dead.

Seeing Thy boundless compassion * they who were held in the bonds of hades * hastened to the light, O Christ, * with gladsome feet, ** praising the Pascha eternal.

Christ is risen from the dead.

Bearing lights, let us approach Christ, * Who cometh forth from the tomb like a bridegroom, * and with the feast-loving ranks of angels * let us celebrate ** the saving Pascha of God.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

The wondrous miracles spoken of concerning thy Spring, O Virgin Maiden, truly astonish the minds of mortal men; for in a manner surpassing nature they sanctify all the faithful.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

The fleece, the manna and Siloam, the rock that poured forth Water, Solomon’s porch, the waters of the Jordan, and the well of the Samaritan woman all depicted thy grace.

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

Drops from thy Spring, O Virgin Maiden, have raised a dead man. Truly surpassing telling and understanding is that which hath been accomplished! For all things that pertain to thee surpass the telling of mankind, O all-pure one.

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

O Maiden, thou hast healed my sufferings, as thou didst dry up the source of the woman’s issue of blood, and dispel the blistering of skin shriveled by fire, and cure tuberculosis, and the blockage of urine, and dysentery.

Katavasia: Let us awake in the deep dawn, * and instead of myrrh, offer a hymn to the Master, * and we shall see Christ, * the Sun of Righteousness, * Who causeth life to dawn for all.

Ode VI, Irmos: Thou didst descend into the nethermost parts of the earth, * and didst shatter the eternal bars that held the fettered, O Christ, * and on the third day, * like Jonah from the whale, * Thou didst arise from the tomb.

Christ is risen from the dead.

Having kept the seals intact, O Christ, * Thou didst rise from the tomb, * O Thou Who didst not break the seal of the Virgin by Thy birth, * and Thou hast opened for us ** the doors of Paradise.

Christ is risen from the dead.

O my Savior, the living and un-slain Sacrifice, * when, as God, Thou, of Thine Own will, * hadst offered up Thyself unto the Father, * Thou didst raise up with Thyself the whole race of Adam, ** when Thou didst rise from the tomb.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Rational speech hymneth thee as truly a Spring, O pure one; for in a manner surpassing reason thou hast given birth to the Depth of Wisdom, Who suspended the Waters in the sky, and the earth upon the waters.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Standing beneath the collapse of the stairs which threatened to crush the painters that were there, O all-holy Spring, thou didst hold them fast, and thou didst save the people when the roof collapsed during the earthquake.

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

Wombs once bereft of fruit because of barrenness hast thou manifestly healed by the streams of thy Spring; for as thou didst give birth unto the Master of all, while yet a virgin, thou hast also granted them children.

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

Neither word, nor mind, nor tongue is able to rightly praise thy childbirth, O pure one; even the sublimity of philosophers and the beauty of the eloquence of rhetoricians are humbled before thee.

Katavasia: Thou didst descend into the nethermost parts of the earth, * and didst shatter the eternal bars that held the fettered, O Christ, * and on the third day, * like Jonah from the whale, * Thou didst arise from the tomb.

Chirst is risen from the dead… (Thrice)

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

Kontakion, Tone VIII: From thine unfailing fount, O thou who art full of God’s grace, * do thou reward me by the flow of the never-ending streams of thy grace * which surpasseth human telling. * And since thou didst bear the Word in a manner beyond human understanding, * I beseech thee to refresh me with thy divine grace, ** that I may cry to thee: Rejoice, O thou water of salvation.

Ikos: O undefiled Theotokos, thou who ineffably hast given birth to the Word Who was begotten of the Father before the ages, do thou open my mouth, O modest one, that I may praise and acclaim, thee, crying such things as these unto thy Spring: Rejoice, Spring of unceasing joyfulness. Rejoice, Stream of ineffable beauty; Rejoice, Banishment of diverse impairments. Rejoice, Destruction of various ailments; Rejoice, Stream of clarity, curing the believing. Rejoice, water of jubilation, healing a multitude of the ailing; Rejoice, Lymph of wisdom, banishing ignorance. Rejoice, Draught for the heart, brimming with ambrosia in abundance. Rejoice, Bowl of manna streaming with life. Rejoice, Laver and Nectar, divinely-wise flowing; Rejoice, thou who hast shown us the passage from illness. Rejoice, thou who didst quench the fire of sickness; Rejoice, O thou water of salvation.

Hymn of the Resurrection, Tone VI: Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, * let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, * the only sinless One. * We worship Thy Cross, O Christ, * and Thy holy Resurrection we hymn and glorify. * For Thou art our God, * and we know none other beside Thee; * we call upon Thy name. * O come, all ye faithful, * let us worship Christ’s holy Resurrection, * for, behold, through the Cross joy hath come to all the world. * Ever blessing the Lord, * we hymn His Resurrection; * for, having endured crucifixion, ** He hath destroyed death by death. (Thrice)

Jesus having risen from the tomb, * as He foretold, * hath granted us life eternal, ** and great mercy. (Thrice)

Ode VII, Irmos: He Who delivered the Children from the furnace, * became man, suffereth as a mortal, * and through His Passion * doth clothe mortality with the beauty of incorruption, * He is the only blessed and most glorious * God of our fathers.

Christ is risen from the dead.

The godly-wise women with myrrh * followed after Thee in haste; * but Him Whom they sought with tears as dead, * they worshipped joyfully as the living God, * and they brought unto Thy disciples, O Christ, ** the good tidings of the mystical Pascha.

Christ is risen from the dead.

We celebrate the death of death, * the destruction of hades, * the beginning of another life eternal, * and leaping for joy, * we hymn the Cause, ** the only blessed and supremely glorious God of our fathers.

Christ is risen from the dead.

For truly sacred and all-festive is this saving night, * and this shining, light- bearing day, * the harbinger of the Resurrection, * whereon the Timeless Light bodily ** from the tomb upon all hath shined.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

O Ye infirm, draw forth healing for yourselves, for the all-pure one causeth true sweetness to flow from her divine Spring, truly pouring forth a torrent of delight. Wherefore, let us all in faith draw forth from these abundant streams.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

All the faithful are astonished by thy wondrous marvels, O Lady; for thy water hath made the deaf and the dumb eloquent, curing them that suffer grievously and granting them healing.

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

Thou dost lead out from the furnace of afflictions those who draw nigh unto thee, O pure one, bedewing them with water from thine awesome spring; for thou didst deliver a man from gout and disfigurement; and heal the leper, and quench malignant boils.

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

Ye young men and maidens, and all ye men, with heartfelt faith let us radiantly acclaim our Lady; for she hath healed cysts, the punctures of nails, foul sores, inflammations, and palsy.

Katavasia: He Who delivered the Children from the furnace, * became man, suffereth as a mortal, * and through His Passion * doth clothe mortality with the beauty of incorruption, * He is the only blessed and most glorious * God of our fathers.

Ode VIII, Irmos: This chosen and holy day * is the first of the Sabbaths, * the queen and lady, * the feas of feasts, * and the festival of festivals, * wherein we bless Christ throughout the ages.

Christ is risen from the dead.

Come, on this auspicious day of the Resurrection, * let us partake of the fruit of the new vine * of divine gladness of the kingdom of Christ, * praising Him as God ** throughout the ages.

Christ is risen from the dead.

Lift up thine eyes about thee, O Zion, * and see, for behold, there cometh unto thee * like God-illumined beacons, * from the west, and from the north, * and from the sea, and from the east, ** thy children, in thee blessing Christ throughout the ages.

O Most Holy Trinity, our God, glory be to Thee.

O Father Almighty, and Word, and Spirit, * one Nature united in three Hypostases, * transcendent and most divine! * Into Thee have we been baptized, ** and Thee will we bless throughout all ages.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Thy Spring doth pour forth divine and honorable Water, O Virgin, and by the invocation of divine grace, it doth greatly staunch the effluence of those with dropsy. Wherefore, we honor thee, O Spring, throughout the ages.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Let us all gladly praise the honorable and life-streaming water; for it doth staunch the sources of phlegm in respiratory maladies, making an open path that it may freely depart. O how great are thy wonders, O pure Birthgiver of God!

We bless the Father, son, and Holy Spirit, the Lord.

What mouth can rightly praise thy wondrous birth-giving, O all-hymned one? And what mind can gaze upon the well-spring of thy miracles and praise them with words? Nature hath not the strength to stand in awe at that which is thine.

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

All the might of death hath been banished straightway, O Queen and Lady; for thou art the well-spring of Christ the immortal King, our Life, the Water, the Manna, throughout the ages.

Katavasia: This chosen and holy day * is the first of the Sabbaths, * the queen and lady, * the feast of feasts, * and the festival of festivals, * wherein we bless Christ throughout the ages.

Ode IX, Irmos: Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, * for the glory of the Lord hath arisen upon thee; * dance now and be glad, O Zion, * and do thou exult, O pure Theotokos, * in the arising of Him Whom thou didst bear.

Christ is risen from the dead.

O how divine, how loving, * how sweet is Thy voice! * For Thou hast truly promised * to be with us unto the end of the age, O Christ; * having this foundation of hope, ** we the faithful rejoice.

Christ is risen from the dead.

O Christ, Thou great and most sacred Pascha! * O Wisdom, Word and power of God! * Grant us to partake of Thee more fully * in the unwaning day ** of Thy kingdom.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

The water of thy Spring doth surpass all water in essence, O pure Maiden, clearly granting deliverance from grievous illnesses, and supernaturally pouring the fullness of health upon all souls.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

We all behold thy Spring as a new Siloam, a deliverer from infirmities; for having received noetic eyes, we can all now partake of a healthy noetic life.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Ye that seek health, hasten unto the Spring; for the grace of the Virgin Maiden doth dwell therein. Leap for joy and be glad, O ye multitudes of the faithful, for in her temple, each according to his need, shall receive the recompense of his request.

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

The water of thy Spring hath been exalted above the heavens, coursing in streams throughout the abysses of the earth; it is the nourishment of the soul, the nectar of the faithful, the honey from the rock, and the distribution of manna.

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

O Virgin, thou dost gladden the faithful in a manner surpassing nature, by pouring forth grace from thine ever-flowing Spring, and thereby granting us strength against our adversaries, as well as victories, health, and peace, and the fulfillment of our prayers.

Katavasia: Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, * for the glory of the Lord hath arisen upon thee; * dance now and be glad, O Zion, * and do thou exult, O pure Theotokos, * in the arising of Him Whom thou didst bear.

Chirst is risen from the dead…

(Thrice)

Parish News – Third Week of Great Lent

Dear brothers and sisters,

Having posted service times on WhatsApp and Facebook, the news email is late this week.

Thanks to everyone for such a lovely Sunday Liturgy, following our Saturday celebration in Cheltenham, and the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy in the Cardiff Oratory.

Our Cheltenham Liturgy was blessed with a profound sense of peace and joy, and – as we will not be returning until the Saturday of Pascha – we blessed zhavoronki (sky-larks), the traditional celebratory offerings for the feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, which we will celebrate in the Cardiff Oratory this coming weekend (see below). We will be happy to bless any baked offerings in honour of the holy-martyrs on Sunday, as well as Saturday, and will have the icon of the martyrs at our Sunday Liturgy.

It was good to have a well supported kliros on Sunday, especially for the anaphora for the Liturgy of St Basil. Thanks to all of our singers.

We would be very happy to see more singers on the kliros, and also for more servers in the oltar. It has been lovely to have our younger servers over the last few weeks, and it would be very good to get back to having four or five servers on a Sunday. Perhaps our forthcoming baptisms may help on this front!

St Faith’s is proving to be a bright and cheery place to celebrate, and everyone seems very happy there. However, we know that it is a challenge for some parishioners without their own means of transport, and that public transport is somewhat unpredictable, which perhaps accounts for Sunday’s slightly reduced numbers.

At the time of writing, the rector of Gabalfa-Tremorfa is conferring with other stakeholders in St Philip’s, getting everyone on board and aware of our forthcoming presence, and we look forward to hopefully moving to Tremorfa in the next few weeks. In the meantime, we are very happy to be able to worship in St Faith’s and have the warm support of Elaine and Ruth, the clergy, and Marilyn the church warden.

Next Sunday is the mid-point of Great Lent, being the Sunday of the Adoration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, and though I know we will have a number of active parishioners away, I do hope that we will see those parishioners who have not been to Liturgy during the Fast. Pascha is fast approaching, and we need to show our readiness for the Lord’s Life-Bestowing Passion and Resurrection.

This week’s services will start with the Akathist to the Passion in Nazareth House at 18:00 in Thursday. On Friday we will celebrate the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts in the Oratory at 14:00, returning on Saturday to celebrate the feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste with the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom at 10:30.

Sunday’s Divine Liturgy of St Basil for the Sunday of the Holy Cross will be celebrated in St Faith’s, Llanishen at 11:00.

With regard to Holy Unction / Елеосвящения during Lent we would like to clarify that:

  • The rite of Soborovanie / Concelebrated Holy Unction will be celebrated in the cathedral at 14:00 on Saturday 29 March, with the parish clergy concelebrating with the bishop.
  • There will not be a bus, as very few parishioners indicated their interest in this option, making it prohibitively expensive. So, we hope that parishioners will organise car-shares to maximise the number of those able to attend.
  • Additionally, we will be celebrating the Rite of the Mystery of Holy Unction (Чин последование таинства Елеосвящения) in the parish, hopefully on the Wednesday of Holy Week. However, until we move to St Philip’s and know the availability of the building for Holy Week, we are unable to arrange or announce anything.
  • This local celebration will be with the bishop’s special blessing, as the Lenten ‘Soborovanie’ is only usually celebrated by a bishop and six concelebrating priests in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
  • The baptised and confessed faithful may receive anointing at ONE of these services, and NOT multiple times.
  • Confession is a requisite and not an option, as this is a Holy Mystery. Therefore, children whose age means they are not yet going to confession do not yet partake of this anointing.

It has been a great blessing to have the Psalter group reading the whole Psalter each day during the Fast, and I hope that this brings a greater understanding of the Psalms and their spiritual meaning for the Church, far removed from ancient Israelite society.

As several of our young people have commented, the Old Testament can be extremely challenging for us as Christians and the Church of the New Israel, but beyond the literal imagery of war and violence, the Psalms now teach us the importance of spiritual warfare, bear great moral truths, call us to prayer, admonish us to repent and call us to worship the Lord, falling down before His greatness, glory and majesty, as well as bearing prophetic images of the Saviour, His saving Passion, Resurrection and Ascension.

For those for whom this reading has been a beginning, I very much hope that the Psalter will continue to be a valuable resource in their spiritual lives after the Fast.

May we ask your prayers for the sick / unwell in our community and among the friends and families of our faithful, as well as those with more long term health issues: Liudmila, Brigid, Maria, Valery, Galina, Irina, and Marina.

As we have been informed of developments regarding the former Serbian Church property in Ely, we ask your prayers as we consider its possibilities and viability as a permanent ROCOR base in the city. We especially ask your prayers to St Nikolaj (Velimirović). It was on his feast, yesterday, that we received news via London.

Hierarch of Christ, Nikolaj, pray to God for us!

Troparion, Tone 8: O golden-tongued preacher proclaiming the risen Christ, / everlasting guide of the cross-bearing Serbian people, / resounding harp of the Holy Spirit, and dear to monastics who rejoice in thee, / pride and boast of the priesthood, teacher of repentance, master for all nations, / guide of those in the army of Christ as they pray to God, / Holy Nikolaj teacher in America and pride of the Serbian people, / with all the saints, implore the only Lover of mankind / to grant us peace and joy in his heavenly kingdom!

Asking your forgiveness, for Christ’s sake.

May God bless you.

Hieromonk Mark

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

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The foregoing hymn is repeated.

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

The Feast of the Iveron Icon

Dear brothers and sisters,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 Πορταΐτισσα = The Gate-Keeper.

The Akathist Hymn to St Spyridon the Wonderworker

Kontakion 1: O holy hierarch and wonderworker Spyridon, who hast been glorified by the Lord! Celebrating now thy most honoured memory, with tenderness we cry out to thee, as one who art able greatly to assist us with Christ Who hath glorified thee: From all misfortunes and evil deliver us, that we may cry out to thee in thanksgiving: Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Ikos 1: Adorned from thy youth with all the virtues, and emulating the angels of Christ in thy life, O holy hierarch Spyridon, thou didst truly show thyself to be His friend. And beholding thee, the heavenly man and earthly angel, we cry out to thee with tenderness:

Rejoice, mind contemplating the mysteries of the All-holy Trinity;

Rejoice, thou who hast been enriched by the all-radiant splendour of the Spirit!

Rejoice, beacon of great brilliance;

Rejoice, thou who didst enlighten thy mind with dispassion!

Rejoice, thou who didst love true simplicity and serenity from childhood;

Rejoice, adornment of chastity!

Rejoice, inexhaustible torrent of love;

Rejoice, for thou didst emulate the hospitality of Abraham!

Rejoice, for in an abundance of love thou didst open the doors of thy house to all;

Rejoice, intercessor for the poor!

Rejoice, thou before whom men offer reverence;

Rejoice, for thou art the abode of the All-holy Spirit!

Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Kontakion 2: Beholding thine incorrupt relics, from which abundant healings flow, the island of Cyprus and all Christian lands rejoice, O holy hierarch; and, honouring thee as a fountain overflowing with grace sent down upon us from on high, we cry out to the ultimate Bestower of the good things of heaven and earth: Alleluia!

Ikos 2: Possessing divine understanding, while yet a shepherd of dumb sheep thou wast chosen to be the shepherd of the reason-endowed sheep by the providence of Christ the Chief Shepherd. And, understanding thee to be a good shepherd who showest untiring care for thy flock, the faithful cried out:

Rejoice, O high priest of God Most High, who received divine grace in abundance at thy consecration;

Rejoice, most luminous lamp, burning and shedding light!

Rejoice, faithful husbandman in the garden of Christ;

Rejoice, shepherd who nurtured thy flock on the meadow of faith and piety!

Rejoice, thou who hast illumined the world with the rays of thy virtues;

Rejoice, thou who offered the divine sacrifice at the throne of Christ!

Rejoice, hierarch adorned with the understanding of Orthodoxy;

Rejoice, thou who art full of the teaching of the apostles, giving drink to the faithful with the streams of the doctrine of salvation!

Rejoice, for thou didst shed light upon the wise;

Rejoice, for thou didst make new the hearts of the simple!

Rejoice, glory of the Orthodox and unshakeable foundation of the Church;

Rejoice, adornment of the Faith, glory and boast of reverent priests!

Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Kontaktion 3: Thou wast shown to be divinely wise by the power of the Most High which overshadowed thee, O holy hierarch Spyridon; and, grasping a tile in thy hand, thou didst manifestly demonstrate to all the Trinity of Persons in the Godhead. Wherefore, the philosophers of false knowledge assembled at the Council were stricken with awe, but the faithful glorified our unfathomable God Who made thee wise unto salvation, crying out to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 3: All the Fathers of the Council, considering thee to be a simple man, unskilled in book learning, begged thee, O father Spyridon, not to enter in debate with the rhetor whom they thought to be wise. Yet, aflame with zeal for God, O holy hierarch, and believing that the preaching of Christ lieth not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in the manifestation of the Spirit and of power, thou didst most wisely reprove and admonish him, and didst guide him to the way of truth. And seeing this wonder, all cried out:

Rejoice, light of Orthodox wisdom;

Rejoice, for thou didst put to shame the disputers who were said to be wise!

Rejoice, abundant wellspring of grace;

Rejoice, unshakable tower holding fast those who are in the Faith!

Rejoice, thou who dost cast most pernicious heresy into darkness;

Rejoice, thou by whom foolishness was trampled underfoot!

Rejoice, for in thy hands the dust of the earth proclaimed the Holy Trinity;

Rejoice, for from the tile thou didst bring forth fire and water to confirm the dogma of the Holy Trinity!

Rejoice, for thou didst enlighten the people to glorify the Word Who is truly of one Essence with the all-unoriginate Father;

Rejoice, for thou didst crush the serpent’s head of the pernicious heresy of Arius!

Rejoice, for by thee was enmity slain;

Rejoice, thou who didst convert to the true Faith the unbelieving wise man who disputed with thee!

Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Kontaktion 4: Leading thy life in poverty and want, thou wast a nurturer and helper of the poor and unfortunate; thou didst transform a serpent into gold in thy love, and didst give it to one who asked thine aid. And marvelling at this miracle, we cry out to God in thanksgiving: Alleluia!

Ikos 4: It hath been heard by all and in every place, that the holy hierarch Spyridon is a habitation of the Holy Trinity; for God the Father, God the Word, and God the Holy Spirit dwelt within him. Wherefore, by word and deed thou hast preached the true incarnate God to all Christians, who cry out:

Rejoice, initiate of the mysteries of the words of God;

Rejoice, thou who hast made clear God’s blueprint for the salvation of the world!

Rejoice, for thou didst teach us not to test that which transcendeth the knowledge and wisdom of man;

Rejoice, thou who didst show forth the unfathomable power of God which worketh within thee!

Rejoice, for through thy mouth God Himself spake;

Rejoice, for all heeded thee, to their delight!

Rejoice, thou who didst drive away the gloom of idolatry;

Rejoice, for thou didst lead many to the true Faith!

Rejoice, for thou didst crush the heads of invisible serpents;

Rejoice, for through thee is the Christian Faith glorified!

Rejoice, for thou dost splendidly illumine all who call thee blessed;

Rejoice, champion of the Christian Faith and Orthodoxy!

Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Kontaktion 5: Thou wast full of the divine Spirit, O holy hierarch Spyridon, because of thy virtuous life; for thou wast meek, merciful, pure of heart, patient, not mindful of the evils done thee, and hospitable. Wherefore, the Creator hath shown thee to be most glorious in miracles; and, glorifying God Who hath glorified thee, we cry out to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 5: We see Spyridon, the great wonderworker, as an equal of the angels. For once the land was stricken with drought and suffered greatly from the lack of water; and there was famine and contagion, and a multitude of men perished. But by the supplications of the holy hierarch rain fell from heaven upon the earth, and the people, delivered from this misfortune, cried out in gratitude:

Rejoice, thou who didst emulate the great Prophet Elijah;

Rejoice, for in due season thou didst bring down rain, dispelling famine and affliction!

Rejoice, for again by thy supplications thou didst close the sky up again;

Rejoice, for thou didst punish the pitiless merchant with the deprivation of his possessions!

Rejoice, for thou didst give food in abundance unto those who asked;

Rejoice, for thou didst move God to loving compassion for the people!

Rejoice, thou who takest away the weakness of the infirm;

Rejoice, helper of men, full of the grace of God!

Rejoice, thou who grantest health to the sick;

Rejoice, thou before whom the demons tremble!

Rejoice, wellspring of countless miracles;

Rejoice, fountain gushing forth the grace of God!

Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Kontaktion 6: The veil of the Old Testament tabernacle covered the ark, the manna and the tablets of the law in the Holy of Holies. And thy temple, O holy hierarch Spyridon, hath thy shrine as its ark, thy holy relics as manna, and thy heart as tablets of divine grace, whereon we see graven the hymn: Alleluia!

Ikos 6: Once, because iniquity had increased, the Lord punished the people of Cyprus. causing their land to become barren. When a farmer known to the holy Spyridon came, begging help, the saint gave him gold. But when the misfortune had passed, and that farmer returned the gold to the saint, – O, the wonder! – the gold turned into a serpent! Glorifying God, Who is wondrous in His saints, let us cry out:

Rejoice, for thou didst emulate Moses, who miraculously transformed his staff into a snake;

Rejoice, loving pastor, who deliverest the reason-endowed sheep of thy flock from misfortunes!

Rejoice, thou who dost abundantly enrich all with every good thing;

Rejoice, thou who, like Elijah, didst feed the poor!

Rejoice, thou who movest the pitiless to mercy;

Rejoice, example of love for men living in the world to emulate!

Rejoice, consolation of both believers and the unbelieving amid tribulations;

Rejoice, tree of goodly foliage, overshadowing our city and land!

Rejoice, glory and boast of Kerkyra;

Rejoice, thou who, by the grace of God, hast dominion over wet and dry weather, heat and cold!

Rejoice, thou who didst alter the laws of earth by thy prayer;

Rejoice, thou who didst foresee things to come as though they were in the present!

Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Kontaktion 7: Thou wast shown to be a mediator for all before the Lord, O holy hierarch Spyridon. Wherefore, we flee beneath thy shelter, seeking salvation; for we all have thee as our helper amid all necessity, during famine, deadly plague and all manner of misfortunes and trials. For this cause we cry out to God with thanksgiving: Alleluia!

Ikos 7: A new and magnificent wonder did we see, O father, when, going forth to deliver the man condemned to death though innocent, thou didst find a rushing torrent barring thy path; but thou didst command it to halt in the name of God Almighty, and didst cross the river with thy companions as though it were dry land. The fame of this miracle spread far and wide, and all glorified God, crying out to thee:

Rejoice, thou who didst cross the river, as once Joshua, son of Nun, crossed Jordan;

Rejoice, thou who didst tame the rushing of the river by thy voice alone!

Rejoice, for, moved by compassion, thou didst undertake a difficult journey;

Rejoice, for thou didst expose the slander and deliver the innocent man from the bonds of imprisonment and a violent death!

Rejoice, good fellow labourer in the Godly life;

Rejoice, defender of those unjustly oppressed!

Rejoice, thou who didst alter the laws of the nature of water;

Rejoice, for thou didst admonish the judge and save the innocent from execution!

Rejoice, true correction of souls;

Rejoice, wondrous power which restrained the torrent!

Rejoice, thou who dost make sweet the hearts of those who have recourse unto thee;

Rejoice, emulator of Abraham’s love for man!

Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Kontaktion 8: A stranger and sojourner wast thou on earth, as are all men. Yet from thy mother’s womb the Omniscient One showed thee forth to be a great favourite and wonderworker, O holy hierarch Spyridon; for thou expellest demons, healest every illness and wound, and perceivest the thoughts of men. Wherefore, thou art shown to be wondrous among the saints. And sending up supplication to God, the Benefactor of all, we cry out to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 8: The whole world was seized with great awe when it heard that death giveth up the dead from the tombs at the sound of thy voice; and it cried out:

Rejoice, thou who recalled to life thine own dead daughter, to allow her to reveal the location of the treasure that the widow has entrusted to her;

Rejoice, thou who didst console the grieving widow who had given gold into thine daughter’s care!

Rejoice, thou who didst restore the dead boy to life;

Rejoice, thou who didst revive his mother, who had died suddenly in her joy!

Rejoice, for thou didst emulate Elijah, who by his supplications returned to life the son of the woman of Zarepath;

Rejoice, for thou didst also emulate Elisha, who roused a boy from death!

Rejoice, pastor who truly loved men;

Rejoice, thou who, in the name of God, didst absolve the sins of the harlot who washed thy feet with her tears!

Rejoice, thou who didst acquire the holy zeal of the pre-eminent apostle;

Rejoice, for, at thy word, the unrepentant sinful woman died in her grievous sins!

Rejoice, thou who in thine entreaties didst ask that the land yield abundant fruit;

Rejoice, firm assurance of the resurrection of men!

Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Kontaktion 9: Thou wast illumined with the radiance of the divine Spirit, O Spyridon, for thou didst possess the spirit of wisdom, since, by thy wise words, thou didst show the mindless ones to be foolish in the midst of the Fathers didst confirm the Faith. Thou didst also possess the spirit of understanding, in that thou didst enlighten the minds of the benighted, and didst likewise have the spirit of the fear of God, for thou didst continually purify thy soul with God-pleasing works. Wherefore, standing before the throne of the Most High, with the assembly of the angels thou dost chant unto Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 9: Receiving from the Lord Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, the staff of a shepherd of reason-endowed sheep, O holy Spyridon thou did not alter thy manner of life. Unacquisitive, meek, bearing all things for the sake of love, thou were not ashamed to care also for thine flock of dumb sheep. All of these things move us to glorify God and cry out to thee:

Rejoice, thou who disdained the glory of this world as vain;

Rejoice, thou who hast acquired great reward in the heavens!

Rejoice, thou who didst consider the beautiful things of this word to be as dung;

Rejoice, vessel of the good things of heaven!

Rejoice, most holy pasture of the inhabitants of Cyprus;

Rejoice, for, for thy sake, God bound with invisible bonds those who attempted to steal thy sheep!

Rejoice, thou who didst give fatherly admonition to the thieves;

Rejoice, thou who, in thy loving kindness, didst make a present of a ewe-lamb to them after they had spent a night without sleep!

Rejoice, thou who didst, by the disobedience of the goat, reprove the merchant who consciously concealed the full payment for thereof;

Rejoice, thou who didst bring to repentance the man who hid thy silver coins!

Rejoice, for thou didst cure him of the passion of love of gain by thine exhortation;

Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Kontaktion 10: O holy hierarch Spyridon, who savest the souls of the flock entrusted to thee by God, by the providence of God thou wast called to show forth thine own glory, and all the moreso the glory of the true God, even in other lands, that the name of God may be glorified everywhere by those who cry: Alleluia!

Ikos 10: The holy Spyridon, the speedy helper and aid amid every necessity and sorrow, travelled to the city of Antioch with the other pastors, where the Emperor Constantius was held fast by sickness. The holy hierarch touched his head and restored his health; and we, marvelling at this miracle, cry out to thee:

Rejoice, thou whom an angel revealed in a dream to the emperor as a healer;

Rejoice, thou who, in thine old age, didst undertake a difficult journey for the sake of the love of God!

Rejoice, thou who, following the Saviour’s commandment, didst turn thine other cheek to the servant of the emperor who struck thee;

Rejoice, pillar of humility!

Rejoice, thou who by thy supplications healed the emperor who besought thee with tears;

Rejoice, for by thine own meekness thou didst admonish the servant and change his unmerciful character!

Rejoice, for thou didst teach the emperor piety and loving kindness;

Rejoice, for, despising the treasures of earth, thou didst not accept the emperor’s gold!

Rejoice, for thou didst turn thine own disciple, Tryphillius, away from passion for earthly goods and didst make of him a vessel of the grace of God;

Rejoice, for at thine arrival in Alexandria the idols toppled!

Rejoice, thou to whom even the demons submit;

Rejoice, for thou didst convert many from idolatry!

Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker !

Kontaktion 11: Angelic chanting was audible when thou didst offer up thine evening prayers in church, O holy hierarch Spyridon, yet there was none serving with thee. And the inhabitants of the city, hearing this marvellous chanting, entered the church and, seeing no one, chanted with the heavenly hosts: Alleluia!

Ikos 11: Thou wast a radiant sun for the world and a conversor with angels on earth, depart for the mansions of heaven, where thou prayest for the world before the throne of the Master. And we who live on earth cry out to thee:

Rejoice, for, while yet alive, thou didst serve with the angels;

Rejoice, thou who didst listen to the hymnody of the archangels!

Rejoice, visible image of our transfiguration;

Rejoice, for, when there was not enough oil in church, God filled the lamps with an abundance thereof for thy sake!

Rejoice, lamp of divine radiance;

Rejoice, vessel of the grace of God, which, like oil, filleth thy soul to overflowing!

Rejoice, wellspring which can never dry up, who ever pourest forth torrents of grace upon all;

Rejoice, thou at whom even the angels are amazed!

Rejoice, thou who chastised the disobedience of the deacon in church;

Rejoice, thou who deprived of voice and speech one who was enamored of his own voice!

Rejoice, for, during the burning heat, a dew which suddenly descended from on high cooled thy sacred head;

Rejoice, thou who didst foresee the approach of thy repose in this sign!

Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Kontaktion 12: The protection and refuge of all the faithful during thy lifetime, O holy hierarch, thou hast not left us orphans since thy repose; for God, abrogating the laws of nature, hath preserved thy holy relics incorrupt for the strengthening of the Orthodox Faith and piety, and as a token of immortality. And glorifying Him, we cry out: Alleluia!

Ikos 12: We hymn thee, O holy hierarch of God, for thou has astonished the world with the miracles which flow from thy holy relics. For all who approach them and kiss them with faith receive the goodly things for which they ask. And glorifying God Who hath given thee strength, hath crowned thee with the wreath of incorruption, and worketh through thee, we cry out to thee:

Rejoice, thou who in time of famine didst appear to the ship-captains and didst command them to supply the people with food;

Rejoice, thou who gavest sight to the blind who approached thy holy relics with faith!

Rejoice, thou who healed the youth of his incurable ailment;

Rejoice, thou who didst drive the demon from a woman, making her well!

Rejoice, chosen general of Kerkyra;

Rejoice, for thou expelled the horde of muslim infidels and didst sink their ships in the deep!

Rejoice, thou whom they beheld surrounded by a crowd of angels, holding a sword in thy right hand, and who caused the enemy to tremble;

Rejoice, thou who didst prevent the governor from building a church for himself in which to have mass celebrated with unleavened bread!

Rejoice, thou who didst bring upon the Venetian governor a cruel death;

Rejoice, thou who by lightning didst cause his portrait to burn in his palace in Venice!

Rejoice, thou who hast put to shame the apostasy and false teaching of the West;

Rejoice, thou who hast confirmed for men that only the Orthodox Faith is true and leads to salvation!

Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Kontaktion 13: Accepting this our entreaty, O all-wondrous holy hierarch of Christ, father Spyridon, deliver us from all tribulations and assaults, strengthen the hierarchy of our Church against all heresies and schisms, grant us remission of our transgressions, and rescue from everlasting death all who for thy sake cry out to God: Alleluia!

The above Kontaktion is said three times, then continue with the below:

Ikos 1: Adorned from thy youth with all the virtues, and emulating the angels of Christ in thy life, O holy hierarch Spyridon, thou didst truly show thyself to be His friend. And beholding thee, the heavenly man and earthly angel, we cry out to thee with tenderness:

Rejoice, mind contemplating the mysteries of the All-holy Trinity;

Rejoice, thou who hast been enriched by the all-radiant splendour of the Spirit!

Rejoice, beacon of great brilliance;

Rejoice, thou who didst enlighten thy mind with dispassion!

Rejoice, thou who didst love true simplicity and serenity from childhood;

Rejoice, adornment of chastity!

Rejoice, inexhaustible torrent of love;

Rejoice, for thou didst emulate the hospitality of Abraham!

Rejoice, for in an abundance of love thou didst open the doors of thy house to all;

Rejoice, intercessor for the poor!

Rejoice, thou before whom men offer reverence;

Rejoice, for thou art the abode of the All-holy Spirit!

Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Kontakion 1: O holy hierarch and wonderworker Spyridon, who hast been glorified by the Lord! Celebrating now thy most honoured memory, with tenderness we cry out to thee, as one who art able greatly to assist us with Christ Who hath glorified thee: From all misfortunes and evil deliver us, that we may cry out to thee in thanksgiving: Rejoice, O Spyridon, most miraculous wonderworker!

Prayer: O all-blessed and holy hierarch Spyridon, thou great favourite of Christ and most glorious wonderworker! Standing in heaven with the choirs of angels before the throne of God, look down with merciful gaze upon the people who stand here before thee and beseech thy mighty aid. Entreat the compassion of God Who loveth mankind, that He judge us not according to our iniquities, but that He deal with us according to His mercy. Ask for us of Christ our God a peaceful and undisturbed life, health of soul and body, bounty from the earth and abundance and prosperity in all things; and that we turn not the good things given us by our compassionate God to evil, but rather to His glory and the glorification of thine aid. Deliver all who approach God with unwavering faith from all retribution and from the assaults of the demons. Be thou a comforter for the grieving, a physician for the afflicted, a helper amid temptations, a shelter for the naked, an aid to the widowed, a defender of the orphaned, a nourisher of infants, a strengthener of the aged, a guide to travellers; and beg thou for all who are in need of thy mighty help all things which conduce to salvation, that, guided and protected by thy prayers, we may attain unto everlasting rest and with thee may glorify God Who is worshiped in the Holy Trinity: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen

Parish News: 25 November

Dear brothers and sisters,

Despite fierce weather, flooded roads, viruses, colds and various ailments, yesterday saw the core of the parish gather for the celebration the feast of the Holy Great-Martyr Menas, whose icon is here before me on my travels.

We would do well to turn to him in prayer in our present trials, having received the blessing of Father Mark’s diaconal ordination on this feast (Many years to Father!), and we were originally offered use of St John’s after a week of prayers to the Wonderworker.

The canon to the saint may be found here, in English: https://russianorthodoxchurchcardiff.com/canon-st-menas

… and the akathist in Slavonic: https://azbyka.ru/molitvoslov/akafist-svjatomu-velikomucheniku-mine.html

… and in English: https://russianorthodoxchurchcardiff.com/the-akathist-to-st-menas

Holy Great-Martyr, Menas, pray to God for us and for our community!

It was good to have Hierodeacon Avraamy back with us, after the virus that kept him away for several weeks, though we missed those who were unable to be with us, due to weather and road conditions.

As we look to Nativity Fast, we should consider prayers and readings to focus us during the forty days, and I will touch upon this during this evening’s last 2024 “end-of-month visit” to the Wessex parishioners, after which I will share reflections and thoughts on our WhatsApp page.

As we fast and pray, simplifying and limiting the food we consume, we should all endeavour to devote time to spiritual reading and increase our prayers during the season, so that spiritual nourishment fortifies us and renews us.

As we approach the Fast, we need to remind ourselves that the Church calls us ALL to fast as a basic practice of the Christian life, and to do so is obedience to he Law of God, and the Calling of the Holy Spirit in the living, sacred Tradition of the Church.

We are not called to fast for a token week, then ignore the fast until the week before Christmas and then resume is. This is a disingenuous insult to Christ, Whose obedience to the Father – even to the death of the Cross – is realised in His Incarnation to redeem us and raise us up to heaven..

Our basic diet is free of meat, fish, seafood, dairy, alcohol and eggs – unless fish and wine are permitted according to the typikon, and this week’s fasting regulations are:

Thursday 28 November: Wine and oil permitted.

Friday 29 November: Food without oil.

Saturday 30  November: Fish, wine and oil permitted.

Sunday 1 December: Fish, wine and oil permitted.

On Thursday, the first day of the Fast, an Advent moleben will be chanted in the Oratory Church at 15:00 and I will be available for confessions after the service, as well as in the evening, and on Friday the akathist to the Precious and Life-Giving Cross will be chanted at the same time, with the possibility of confessing before and after prayers.

As announced in church and in previous newsletters, this year’s St Herman Calendar is dedicated to the Saints of Wales, and will cost around £10. We will be ordering soon and to avoid excess copies would ask for requests from those who wish to purchase them. This is excellent resource contains lives of saints, as well as an explanation of Orthodox fasting.

As you know, the last month has been one of funerals and memorials, and I ask you to remember the soul of Nikola, whose funeral and burial were on Friday, as well as the newly departed matushka Annemieke and Olga, and – of course – Archbishop Peter of Chicago.

Please pray for Ambrose and Piran in their search for work, with St Xenia being our trusted helper in finding employment, and for Masha and husband, Neil, as they travel to Egypt.

Asking your forgiveness for Christ’s sake.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

Rejoice, O Mother of God!

We magnify thee, O all-holy Virgin, divinely elect Maiden, and we honour thy holy image, whereby thou pourest forth healings upon all who have recourse to it.

What a momentous few days it has been, with the great blessing of the Hawaiian-Iveron myrrh-streaming icon of the Mother of God to Cardiff and Chippenham: days of much travelling and little sleep, but immeasurable joy for those involved.

The icon’s late arrival in Cardiff was due to the throngs of the faithful – four hundred people or more – who flocked to Lazarica, to pray and venerate the Icon in Bournville.

Though the lateness in Cardiff was a challenge, knowing that so many had been able to gather to honour the Mother of God in St Lazar’s was a great joy. We pray for the blessing and grace of the Mother of God to pour forth upon Father Nenad, the Serbian Orthodox parish faithful, and the constant flow of pilgrims who make their way to Lazarica to venerate the Hilandarska-Trojerucica Icon.

The Icon did not arrive in Cardiff until 19:30, and in the vastness of the Oratory Church, it was difficult to ascertain the numbers of pilgrims until the veneration, when we realised that there were several hundred faithful gathered to pray and receive the blessing of the Mother of God. We were pleased to have Father Sorin with us, and to welcome Father Youhanis, the Coptic priest from Risca.  

It was lovely to see that the Mother of God was greeted and honoured with so many flowers, and their remaining presence in the Oratory Church now is a testimony to the love of the faithful for the Theotokos.

Though the myrrh was less abundant than the following morning, people commented that it could be smelled in the street outside and the environs of the Oratory Church. I look forward to the offering of the “Rule of the Mother of God” / «Богородичное правило» in St Alban’s this afternoon, as a sort of “after-feast” for the icon’s visit.

Wednesday started with the Icon visiting our senior sister’s house, where the clergy had breakfast, before a brief visit to Chippenham, and during the course of the meal the Icon streanmed much myrrh, which soaked the cloth beneath it, so that we were able to soak it up with our prayer ropes and lots of cotton wool. The fragrance greeted us, when we finally arrived back in Cardiff and sat down for supper in the late evening.

It was a short, but welcome visit that brought the blessing of the Mother of God to Chippenham, where Father Nectarios chanted a moleben, before the faithful venerated the icon and were anointed with myrrh.

We were blessed to have a group of young people with us, and after the departure of the icon, the day was treated as a feast day with a meal and afternoon of conversation. I was pleased to hear that after we departed, the day continued in Chippenham with the chanting of the akathist.Immense thanks to those who chanted, served, cooked, cleaned brought vast amounts of flowers and submitted names for commemoration, which we will continue to commemorate the names submitted in prayers to the Mother of God this week, and to all who came to honour the Mother of God.

Our gratitude must especially be directed to the Oratorians, especially to Brother Francis Xavier, who stayed up very late, as we did not lock up and leave St Alban’s until after midnight. May the blessing of the Mother of God give him and his brethren strength.

Our hope and prayer is that the visit of the icon of the Mother of God will bring strength, help and consolation to all who came to honour the Queen of Heaven, and that whether their prayers are answered or not, their Faith is fortified and love for her increased!

O most glorious Lady, Queen of heaven and earth, Virgin Theotokos! Falling down now before thy precious icon, with compunction in our hearts we give voice to this, our meager entreaty; for we are unprofitable servants who deserve condemnation, yet hope to find mercy through thine almighty mediation before the Judge. We believe and trust, O Mistress, that thy Son, Who desireth not death of sinners, will hearken to thy mediation, and have now been informed of this by the wondrous sign of myrrh streaming from thy holy icon, from whence thou hast poured forth healings in abundance upon all who with love and faith have recourse unto thee. Wherefore, we cry out to thee with tears: Have pity on our wretchedness, forgive us our unfaithfulness, break thou the arrogance of our pride, dispel the numbness of our hardened hearts, regard the sighing of those beset by despondency, and make us chaste by the expectation of future reward. And grant, O Lady, that our Church may stand unshakably in the Truth and a goodly increase in love. Protect us from all the wiles of the demons and the vain beliefs of the heretics, and gather the scattered faithful together, that all who glorify thee in Orthodox manner on earth may also be vouchsafed to glorify with song in the heavens the most worshipful name of the Holy Trinity and thy merciful aid to us, unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Weekly News – Sunday 16 October

Dear brothers and sisters,

Despite the current pressures on us, it was good to see so many in St John’s today, including our returned Athonite pilgrims, and plenty of young people.

Many thanks to our faithful for making today work, despite the pressures upon our Sunday routine after the recent meeting between our parish officers and the representatives of St John’s.

When we first came to St John’s we were given great support by Mother Frances, especially in the light of our own support for refugees, and the goodwill and concern for the wellbeing for our community was massively appreciated. There was great stress on St John’s as a place of security and refuge where people could feel safe and welcome. Sadly, times change.

We are very sad that our relationship with St John’s now seems to simply be a hire agreement, but that is the new reality that we need to face and embrace in order to adapt our Sundays and make the most of the time we have together.

Given that we are now paying the full rental rate – with no discount for a small parish with limited funds, and with no allowance even for cleaning time after feeding people who are making up to 160 mile round journeys – we will be raising the issue of worshipping in a cold building in which we could see our own breath by the time the parish committee sat down for its post-Liturgy meeting. I and my brother priest do not usually feel the cold, but most certainly did today after having taken our vestments off, despite wearing cassocks.

Despite entering the building later and having to unfortunately end trapeza earlier, the day worked as well as could be expected, though we greatly regret the lack of thanksgiving prayers and the squeeze on social time for those coming together from such a wide area.

We had intended to add a short litia to the Mother of God and St John the Wonderworker, as a weekly petition for God’s help in our situation, but today’s changes plus a committee meeting rendered this impossible. We will, however, do so in the coming weeks, and I will post prayers for the parish in its present adversities on our WhatsApp group. Please offer prayers in your homes and actively ask for God’s help and guidance.

As you saw today, a copy of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, the Hodegetria (She Who Shows the Way) of the Church Abroad, was placed with the icon of St John the Wonderworker on the left of the solea in Liturgy, and I would ask those who are able to pray the akathists in honour of the Kursk Root icon, and to St John for the protection and well-being of our parish, and for the Lord and the Mother of God to show us the way forward in our present adversity.

Parallel English/Slavonic text of the akathist in honour of the Kursk-Root icon: http://orthodox-europe.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kursk-RU-EN-pdf.pdf

English text of the akathist to St John the Wonderworker: http://sfsobor.com/service-texts.php

Slavonic text (Russian orthography) of the akathist to St John the Wonderworker: https://azbyka.ru/molitvoslov/akafist-svjatitelju-ioannu-arhiepiskopu-shanhajskomu-i-san-francisskomu-chudotvorcu.html

We certainly had a beautiful array of flowers in church, with parishioners bringing autumn garden flowers, in addition to those from the celebration of the feast of the Uncovering of the Relics of St John the Wonderworker in Warminster, yesterday, and other vases of blooms. Thanks to all who brought colour and beauty to St John’s with their floral offerings for the glory of God.

For those who are unclear about our Warminster celebrations, which happen on the second Saturday of each month, our Liturgies are simply an outreach to Cardiff parishioners who live on the English side of the Severn, but regularly journey to Cardiff, often by the car-load, in order to enable as many people as possible to attend the Divine Liturgy. Vladika blessed this outreach just after the lockdown period, when visitors asked about serving those without a parish in Wessex, and who subsequently became regular and supportive members of our Cardiff community.

Whilst we refer to Warminster as a mission, it is essentially a local gathering of Cardiff parishioners for worship and prayer in their own locality, and who not only support one another in their Faith, but wish to share it with others who may have never encountered our Orthodox Church before, or are unable to travel great distances to be physically part of our community in Cardiff.

Activities in Warminster are financially self-supporting, incurring no cost from the Cardiff budget even though our Wessex Cardiff parishioners make a considerable contribution to it.

We look forward to our next Liturgy on Saturday 9th November, when we shall celebrate both the Great-Martyr Demetrios the Myrrh-Gusher and his companion the Martyr Nestor.

Some of our South Wales Cardiff parishioners have visited their brothers and sisters in Wessex, who would love to welcome you if you are able to make the journey to the Chapel of St Lawrence, in Warminster.

After a busy week, I hope to have a quiet day tomorrow before a a busy seven days, which will see me in Cardiff and Cheltenham, with services at 15:00 in the Oratory Church this Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I will be available for confession after each service and before Wednesday’s and Thursday’s services by request.

Next Saturday will see Father Mark the Younger and I fulfil the obedience (received from our late Metropolitan Hilarion) to serve Cheltenham, with the Hours and Divine Liturgy at 10:30 in Prestbury United Reformed Church.

As we are unable to celebrate the feast of the Protecting Veil – Pokrov –  with a Liturgy tomorrow, we will honour the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God in Cheltenham..

The last Saturday of the month, 26th October, will see our pilgrimage to St Lazar’s in Bournville, and if we are to try and arrange transport, we need to know of potential drivers and free seats in cars asap. Please let me or Mary (Tracy) know, including the number of pilgrims you could accommodate in any free seats.

Last Monday, Mary and I planned the pilgrimage list for the next year, and will be seeking permissions for services.

After Mother Melangell shared news of the repose of Mother Joanna in Cambridge, whose funeral will be celebrated tomorrow, Alexander asked for prayers for the newly departed Benjamin, formerly of the same parish, so we add their names to the newly departed we have been commemorating: Archimandrite Germogen, Milica, Nikolai, Halyna, Jovana, Lydia and Natalia. 

May the Lord grant eternal repose to the souls of His newly departed servants , the nun Joanna and Benjamin, and may their memory be eternal!

I hope that next Sunday will work even better than today, and hope that everyone will help in church, whether before or after services and trapeza. Please do not wait for someone to clean up and tidy up after you.

Please pray fervently for our parish in the week ahead, especially on tomorrow’s feast of the Protecting Veil.

Asking your forgiveness, for Christ’s sake.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

Canons for the Beheading of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John

Canon I, the composition of John the Monk, in Tone VIII

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

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Let us hymn the sacred forerunner, the prophet who appeared from the womb of a barren woman unto Him Who ineffably is borne in the Virgin’s womb.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Having transcended the boundaries of nature, thou didst preserve the laws of righteousness, denouncing an iniquitous union, undaunted by the king’s cruelty.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Nurtured by the law as with milk, thou didst oppose the vile adultery, sealing the legitimacy of lawful union like a seal of the law.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The ranks of angels and men praise thee unceasingly, O Mother unwedded; for thou didst bear the Creator in thine arms as a babe.

Canon II, the composition of Andrew of Crete, in the same tone

Irmos: Let us chant unto Christ, Who overthrew the tyranny of Pharaoh in the sea, and led Israel over to dry land, for He hath been glorified forever.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

The beauteous lamb of the wilderness, the fruit of Zachariah, and the scion which Elizabeth bore beyond hope, commandeth the faithful to celebrate his honoured memory beforehand.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

O birthday full of blood! O abominable feast! For Herod mingled drunkenness with slaying, and his table was full of vile murder.

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

O ye faithful, let us hymn the Baptist who denounced iniquitous Herod and endured decapitation, slain for his zeal for God.

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

Thou gavest birth to the infinite Word of God, Who made His abode within thee, O pure Theotokos, and ineffably became incarnate of thee in twofold nature, as thine only Son.

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

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

As mediator standing between the old and the new covenant of the Gospel preachings, thou didst denounce the iniquitous union of the tyrant, and, rejoicing, didst accept a glorious death.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Instructed beforehand by her iniquitous mother, the girl said unto Herod, who was befuddled with drunkenness: “Give me the head of John on a platter, that I may present to my mother the gift she desireth!”

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

The shameless tyrant, unable to endure the reproof of thy God-bearing tongue, O glorious prophet, gave thy precious martyr’s head to the girl as a reward for her dancing.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Having made thy bodily abode within the Virgin, O Lord, Thou didst appear unto men, in that it was fitting that they behold Thee. Her didst Thou show to be the true Theotokos and the help of the faithful, O thou Who alone lovest mankind.

Irmos: None is as holy as the Lord, and none is as righteous as our God, Whom all creation doth hymn, singing: None is righteous save Thee, O Lord!

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

“None greater than John hath arisen among those born of women!” cried Christ the Truth; for in the womb the created being recognised the One Who had created him, and proclaimed Him with his mother’s voice.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Having first pointed to the Lamb with his finger, he next denounced Herod with his tongue, and, lastly, poureth forth miracles upon us through his head, as from a created vessel.

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

Thy nativity was glorious, thy life blameless, and thy departure honourable, O Baptiser of Christ. Thy pointing to Christ was awesome, thy death was precious, and thy burial full of glory.

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

As God, O Only-begotten One, thou didst abase Thyself, that Thou mayest save those whom Thou hadst created, for whose sake Thou didst become man, incarnate of the Virgin; and transforming my whole nature, Thou hast brought it to Thy Father.

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

Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Having shone forth by the judgment of God from a barren woman, and loosed the bonds on the tongue of thy father, thou didst show forth the Sun Who illumineth thee as the morning-star, and to the people in the wilderness didst proclaim the Creator, the Lamb Who taketh away the sins of the world. Wherefore, thou didst denounce the king with zeal, O ever-memorable and most lauded John, and thine all-glorious head was cut off. Pray thou to Christ God, that He grant remission of offences unto those who with love celebrate thy holy memory. (Twice)

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

Theotokion: All of us, the generations of men, call thee blessed, who, as a Virgin, alone among women, gavest birth without seed to God in the flesh; for the fire of the Godhead made its abode within thee, and thou didst nourish the Creator and Lord with milk as a babe. Wherefore, we, the generation of angels and men, glorify thine all-holy nativity as is meet and together cry out to thee: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of offences unto those who with faith worship thine all-holy birthgiving.

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

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

He who was unable to endure the censure of boldness and the forthrightness of piety, who incurred the retribution of the law, who was depraved by vile pleasures, having bound him who is enrolled immaterially in the heavenly choirs before the end, placed him under guard.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

The wretched voluptuary, sick with spiritually harmful drunkenness and the burning of fornication, having been bound by the dancing of a girl’s feet, became the murderer of the prophet; for he conceived drunkenness, the mother of fornication, and begat grievous iniquity.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Of a truth, in thee the divine voice did not prove false; for thou art the greatest among the prophets, in that thou wast vouchsafed to prophesy from thy mother’s womb, as a fœtus not fully formed, and seeing God the Word Whom thou hadst prophesied, thou didst baptize Him in the body.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou art the boast of the faithful, O thou who knewest not wedlock; thou art the intercessor and refuge of Christians, their bulwark and haven. For thou bearest entreaties to thy Son, O most immaculate one, and savest from misfortunes those who with faith and love know thee to be the pure Theotokos.

Irmos: O Word, with divine vision the prophet perceived Thee Who wast to become incarnate of the Theotokos alone, the mountain overshadowed; and with fear he glorified Thy power.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Thou didst make clear to us the kingdom of Christ, didst show the people the paths of repentance, and didst denounce the iniquitous Herod, O wise John, thou great preacher.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Unable to bear reproof, Herod was overcome with wrath, jealousy and bitterness, O Baptist; and he marked the day of his birth by cutting off thy head, O preacher of Christ.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Be glad, O Baptist, that thy soul may make merry; for here thou didst denounce the ungodly Herod, while in hades thou didst preach to the souls, saying: “Our salvation draweth nigh!”

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

The earth marvelleth at thy life, O John; heaven proclaimeth thine unjust murder; and the Church, chanting, declareth the multitude of thy virtues.

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

Born of the immaculate Virgin Mother, O Thou Who hast put on my whole nature save for sin, Thou didst preserve her pure even after she gave birth.

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

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Inspired by the enmity of her mother, the yet more savage offspring of a savage lioness demanded as the price of her foul demonic dancing the head of the forerunner and herald, which the wild beasts themselves reverenced in the wilderness.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

O Thine ineffable and unapproachable judgments, O Thou Who lovest mankind! For the vile girl won with her dancing him who, while yet in his mother’s womb, was a receptacle of the Holy Spirit, and grew in chastity and purity.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

When he who with love and ardor preferred his intercourse with iniquity, he permitted the murder of the prophet to be added to his birthday drinking and with love of pleasure mingled a cup full of the holy blood of the prophet.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Possessing maternal boldness before thy Son, O all-pure one, disdain not thought of kinship with us, we pray, for thee alone do Christians set before the Master as a merciful cleansing.

Irmos: O Lord Who by divine knowledge brought the ends of the earth into the light out of the night of ignorance, enlighten me with the dawning of Thy love for mankind.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

The forerunner, the lamb of the wilderness and treasure of the whole world, prepareth a spiritual banquet for us today.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

O John, thou didst denounce Herod, the cruel lover of Herodias, the slave of lust and violator of the laws.

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

Herodias danceth, and John is bound and slain. O the drunkenness of Herod! O the mindlessness of his soul!

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

Rejoice, O pure one, thou divine mountain from whence the Stone was quarried without aid of men’s hands, thou mountain of curds which provided God the Word with a body!

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

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Bringing tribulation upon thyself for the commandments of the law, O blessed one, with reproofs thou didst chastise the one who was committing iniquity; for thou wast not a reed shaken by the winds of the enemy.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Thy head, dripping with the blood of thy slaughter, was offered as a prize for a lustful display, but continued to denounce Herod as one who committed incest, even after thine end.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Clad in camels’ hair while in the wilderness, thou didst live as splendidly as a king therein; and bearing royal adornment therein, thou didst gain dominion over the passions.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

May we be delivered from grievous transgressions through thy supplications, O pure Theotokos, and may we receive divine radiance from the Son of God Who was ineffably incarnate of thee, O all-pure one.

Irmos: As Thou didst deliver the prophet from the uttermost abyss, O Christ God, in that Thou lovest mankind deliver me from my sins, and direct my life, I beseech Thee.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Honouring the decapitation of thine honoured and most praised head, O forerunner of Christ, we glorify thine ever-laudable and universal memory, O all-blessed one.

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

O the vile feast! O the bitter birthday! O the drunkenness of the abominable and iniquitous Herod! For he was held fast by iniquity and, reviled, he was persuaded to slay the prophet.

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

The new Egyptian woman, dancing wantonly in the midst of the feast, asked for the head which had denounced her mother, the paramour of Herod.The Son of the Virgin is now shown to have first been the Son of the Father, Who is not understood to be different in any fashion from the visible Son; and He hath remained One, perfect in both His natures.

Kontakion, Tone V: The glorious beheading of the forerunner was part of God’s dispensation, that he might proclaim to those in hades the coming of the Saviour. Let Herodias, who demanded the iniquitous murder, therefore lament; for she loved not the law of God nor the age of life, but rather this false and transitory one.

Ikos: The birthday of Herod was shown to all to be unholy when, into the midst of those who feasted, the head of the faster was borne as though it were food. Joy was joined to grief and laughter transformed into bitter lamentation. For, bearing the head of the Baptist on a platter, the girl entered in among them all, as she said. And because of Herod’s oath lamentation fell upon all who reclined there with the king. She did not gladden them, nor even Herod himself. For he said: They sorrowed not with true grief, but with that which is feigned and transitory.

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

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Armed with lustful desire and grievous drunkenness, striking against the Baptiser of Christ, the immovable tower of abstinence and indestructible city of chastity, the iniquitous Herod was shattered.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Her mind beguiled by the suasions of her mother, she who was the pupil of the devil was neither afraid nor ashamed, nor in anywise reluctant to bear thy precious head shamelessly on a platter.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Sent forth like an angel, thou didst shine forth like a beacon; as a prophet thou didst preach Christ Who appeared as the Lamb of God; and as a martyr thou wast beheaded, proclaiming Him to the dead in hades.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Delivered from the ancient fall and condemnation by thy birthgiving, O Virgin Mother, we ever glorify thee as the manifest cause of our liberation, with thy Son Who gave Himself as deliverance for us.

Irmos: O Lord God of our fathers, Who in the beginning founded the earth and established the heavens by Thy word: blessed art Thou forever!

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Preaching the law of God, John was not afraid to teach the impious and iniquitous Herod to be chaste; for the fire of sin burned within him.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

O the head which manifestly set forth the law and cried to Herod from out of the ground: “It is not fit for thee, who committest iniquity, to wear the purple robe of kingship as a garment of tyranny!”

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

The iniquitous Herod, armed with vile weaponry, committed an iniquitous deed with an oath, drunk at the banquet he was holding for himself.

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

Though incorporeal, the Creator of all became immutably incarnate; and being not subject to time, He was known to enter time through the Virgin, remaining as He had been, and becoming what He had not been, without confusion.

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

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Going before Thy nativity and divine suffering, in the nethermost parts of the earth John, as the voice of the Word, becometh, through the sword, the prophet and herald of Thy coming there, crying: Exalt Christ supremely for all ages: ye dead as Life-bestower; ye blind, as Giver of light; ye captives, as your Deliverer!

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

He who from a barren woman preceded the Offspring of the Virgin hath now, through the cutting off of his head, become the precursor of the voluntary crucifixion of the Creator of all, crying to those in hades: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

When thy body was deprived of thy head, O forerunner, thy masterly soul was parted from thy flesh; but the divinity of Emmanuel was never separated from his flesh, and not a bone of God the Master was broken. Wherefore, we exalt Him supremely for all ages.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O all-pure Virgin, bearer of the Lord, by thy merciful entreaty cleanse thou the wounds and sores of my soul, and raise me up who am fallen. Save, O save me, the prodigal, O most immaculate one! For thou art mine intercessor and help, who alone art pure and blessed for all ages.

Irmos: The Lord Who was glorified on the holy mountain, and by the fire in the bush revealed to Moses the mystery of the Ever-virgin, hymn ye and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Him who proclaimed the coming of Christ to those in hades, exclaiming with faith: “The Lord of glory cometh, loosing men’s pangs!”, let us exalt supremely for all ages.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Herod imprisoned thee in a dungeon, O John, thou second Elijah, and, having bound thee with iron chains, slew thee, the faithful and sacred proclaimer of repentance and the kingdom.

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

O feast full of blood! O food mingled with murder! O banquet replete with vainglory! O the inhumanity and vile murder of the iniquitous Herod!

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

Wholly above and wholly below, in the bosom of the Father and with Thy Mother, wholly God and wholly man by nature, One in hypostasis yet dual in nature art Thou, O Merciful One.

Ode IX, Irmos: Every ear trembleth to hear of the ineffable condescension of God, for the Most High willingly came down even to the flesh, becoming man through the Virgin’s womb. Wherefore we, the faithful, magnify the all-pure Theotokos.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

The evil horde and the devil, its commander, were afraid of thy divinely eloquent tongue which proclaimed Christ, O prophet, and through the agency of a wanton girl prevailed upon Herod to cut off thy head; but we magnify thee as the baptiser of Christ.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

The valley of humble nature hath been exalted, and the hill of deadly pride hath been laid low; for the voice of the Light crying in the wilderness hath cried out in the dwellings of hades: “Lift up, ye gates, for the King of all shall enter!”

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Human passions tremble, and the demons flee in fear from the overshadowing of the grace given thee by God. But deliver thy flock, which ever magnifieth thee with faith, O forerunner of the Lord, from temptation by both.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Draw Thy bow, and prosper and reign, O Son of the Mother of God, subduing the Moslems who wage war against us and granting victory to our Orthodox hierarchs over all heresies, through the entreaties of her who gave birth to Thee, O Word of God.

Irmos: Thy birthgiving, O Ever-virgin, which was revealed to the law-giver on the mountain in the fire and the bush, for the salvation of us, the faithful, do we magnify with unceasing hymnody.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Again doth Jezebel exult over Elijah; again doth the Egyptian woman seek after Joseph; for the vile Herodias hath now been seen to devise the death of the prophet and baptiser of the Saviour.

Holy and Great John, Forerunner of the Lord, pray to God for us.

Beheaded by Herod, O John, thou wast sent to the souls in hades, to proclaim Him Who had come to save all of the faithful who had died, from the time of Adam on.

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

O John, honoured martyr of the Lord, lampstand of the Light, voice of the Word, herald of the Lamb of God, lamb of the wilderness: pray that those who hymn thee be saved.

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

Thou alone among women wast shown to be a virgin even after giving birth; thou alone among women wast shown forth as the Theotokos; thou alone hast loosed the pangs of Eve and caused the primal curse to wither away.

Troparion, Tone II: The memory of the righteous is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord’s witness is sufficient for thee, O forerunner. Thou wast truly shown to be more honourable than the prophets, in that thou wast counted worthy to baptise in the streams Him Whom thou didst proclaim. Wherefore, having suffered, rejoicing, for the truth, even unto those in hades thou didst proclaim God, Who had manifested Himself in the flesh, Who taketh away the sin of the world and granteth us great mercy.