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Radonitsa Reader’s Memorial Service for the Departed

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Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy upon us. Amen.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life (Thrice).

Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Him flee from before His face.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life (Thrice).

As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish, as wax melteth before the fire.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

So let sinners perish at the presence of God, and let the righteous be glad.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

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

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

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

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)

Prayer: Remember, O Lord our God, Thy servants, N., who have reposed in the Faith and hope of life eternal, and in that Thou art good and the Lover of mankind, Who remittest sins and blottest out iniquities, do Thou loose, remit and pardon all their sins, voluntary and involuntary. Deliver them from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna, and grant unto them the communion and delight of Thine eternal good things prepared for them that love Thee. For though they have sinned, yet have they not forsaken Thee, and they undoubtedly believed in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; and even until their last breath did they confess Thee in Orthodox fashion: God glorified in Trinity, Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Wherefore, be Thou merciful unto them and reckon their faith in Thee, rather than their deeds, and in that Thou art compassionate, grant them rest with Thy saints; for there is no man that liveth and doth not sin. But Thou alone art wholly without sin, and Thy truth is forever; and Thou alone art the God of mercies, and compassion, and love for mankind, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Paschal Canon

Ode 1, Eirmos: It is the Day of Resurrection! Let us be radiant, O ye people! Pascha! The Lord’s Pascha! For Christ our God hath brought us from death to life, and from earth unto heaven, as we sing triumphal hymn!

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

Let us purify our senses and we shall behold Christ, radiant with the inaccessible light of the Resurrection, and we shall hear Him saying clearly, “Rejoice!” As we sing the triumphal hymn!

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

Let the heavens rejoice in a worthy manner, let the earth be glad, and the whole world, visible and the invisible, keep the Feast. For Christ our eternal joy hath arisen!

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

Thou hast broken through the barrier of death, by giving birth to Christ, the eternal Life, Who today hath shone forth from the tomb, O Virgin all-blameless, and Who hath enlightened the world.

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

Having beheld thy resurrected Son and God, rejoice thou with the apostles, O Pure One graced of God, and be the first to rejoice, as thou hast received the Cause of joy for all, O Mother of God all-blameless.

Katavasia: It is the Day of Resurrection…

Ode 3, Eirmos: Come, let us drink a new drink, not miraculously drawn from a barren rock, but the fountain of Incorruption springing from the tomb of Christ in Whom we are established.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

Now all things are filled with light: heaven and earth, and the nethermost regions. So let all creation celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, whereby it is established.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

Yesterday, I was buried with Thee, O Christ, and today I arise with Thine arising. Yesterday I was crucified with Thee. Glorify me, O Saviour, with Thee in Thy Kingdom.

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

Into incorruptible life have I entered today, through the goodness of Him Who was born of thee, O Pure One, and Who makest all the ends of the earth radiant with joy.

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

Having beheld God, Whom thou hast borne in the flesh, risen from the dead, as He said, O Pure One, dance, and Him as God, O most Pure One, do thou magnify.

Katavasia: Come, let us drink…

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life (Thrice).

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

Prayer: Remember, O Lord our God, Thy servants, N., who have reposed in the Faith and hope of life eternal, and in that Thou art good and the Lover of mankind, Who remittest sins and blottest out iniquities, do Thou loose, remit and pardon all their sins, voluntary and involuntary. Deliver them from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna, and grant unto them the communion and delight of Thine eternal good things prepared for them that love Thee. For though they have sinned, yet have they not forsaken Thee, and they undoubtedly believed in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; and even until their last breath did they confess Thee in Orthodox fashion: God glorified in Trinity, Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Wherefore, be Thou merciful unto them and reckon their faith in Thee, rather than their deeds, and in that Thou art compassionate, grant them rest with Thy saints; for there is no man that liveth and doth not sin. But Thou alone art wholly without sin, and Thy truth is forever; and Thou alone art the God of mercies, and compassion, and love for mankind, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Hypakoe, Tone 4: When at dawn, the women with Mary came and found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, they heard from the angel: Why seek ye among the dead, as if He were a mortal man, Him Who lives in everlasting light? Behold the grave-clothes. Run and tell the world that the Lord is risen, and hath slain death. For He is the Son of God Who saveth mankind.

Ode 4, Eirmos: May the divinely speaking Abbacum now stand watch with us, and show forth a shining Angel saying resoundingly: Today salvation hath come to the world; for Christ is risen as Almighty.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

Christ revealed Himself as of the male sex when He opened the Virgin’s womb, and as a mortal is He called the Lamb. Thus, without blemish also, is our Pascha, for He tasted not corruption, and, since He is truly God, He was proclaimed perfect.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

Christ, our blessed Crown, like a yearling Lamb, of His own good will sacrificed Himself for all, a Pascha of purification, and as the glorious Sun of Righteousness, He has shone upon us again from the grave.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

David, the forefather of our divine Lord, leapt and danced before the symbolic Ark of the Covenant. Let us also, the holy people of God, beholding the fulfilment of the symbols, be divinely glad; for Christ hath risen as Almighty.

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

He Who created Adam thy forefather, O Pure One, took form from thee, and the habitation of the dead hath He demolished today through His death, and shone upon all things with the divine radiance of the Resurrection.

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

Beholding Christ Whom thou hast borne, shining forth splendidly from the dead, O Pure One, who art good and spotless among women, and comely, today rejoicing with the apostles in the salvation of all, Him do thou glorify.

Katavasia: May divinely speaking Abbacum…

Ode 5, Eirmos: Let us arise in the deep dawn and, instead of myrrh, offer a hymn to the Lord, and we shall behold Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, Who causest life to dawn for all.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

When they who were held by the chains of hell beheld Thy boundless compassion, O Christ, they hastened to the light with joyful feet, exalting the eternal Pascha.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

Bearing lights, let us meet Christ, Who cometh forth from the tomb like a bridegroom. And with the ranks of joyfully celebrating Angels, let us celebrate the redeeming Pascha of God.

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

Enlightened by the divine rays and the life-bearing Resurrection of thy Son, O most pure Mother of God, the gathering of the pious is filled with joy.

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

Thou didst not open the gates of virginity in the incarnation, nor the seal upon the tomb didst Thou destroy, O King of creation; from whence seeing Thee risen, Thy Mother rejoiceth.

Katavasia: Let us arise…

Ode 6, Eirmos: Thou didst descend into the nethermost regions of earth, O Christ, and didst shatter the eternal bars which held the prisoners captive; and like Jonah from the sea-monster, after three days Thou didst rise from the grave.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

Having kept the seals intact, Thou didst rise from the grave, O Christ, Who didst not violate the Virgin’s womb by Thy birth, and Thou hast opened to us the gates of Paradise.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

O my Saviour, while as God Thou didst voluntarily offer Thyself to the Father as an unslain and living sacrifice, Thou didst raise up with Thyself the whole race of Adam, when Thou didst rise from the grave.

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

He that of old was held by death and corruption is raised up by Him Who was incarnate of thy most pure womb, O Theotokos Virgin, unto incorruption and everlasting life.

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

He Who went down into the nethermost part of the earth, and came into thy womb, O Pure One, and dwelt, and past understanding wast incarnate, hath also raised up Adam with Himself when He rose from the tomb.

Katavasia: Thou didst descend…

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life (Thrice).

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

Prayer: Remember, O Lord our God, Thy servants, N., who have reposed in the Faith and hope of life eternal, and in that Thou art good and the Lover of mankind, Who remittest sins and blottest out iniquities, do Thou loose, remit and pardon all their sins, voluntary and involuntary. Deliver them from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna, and grant unto them the communion and delight of Thine eternal good things prepared for them that love Thee. For though they have sinned, yet have they not forsaken Thee, and they undoubtedly believed in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; and even until their last breath did they confess Thee in Orthodox fashion: God glorified in Trinity, Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Wherefore, be Thou merciful unto them and reckon their faith in Thee, rather than their deeds, and in that Thou art compassionate, grant them rest with Thy saints; for there is no man that liveth and doth not sin. But Thou alone art wholly without sin, and Thy truth is forever; and Thou alone art the God of mercies, and compassion, and love for mankind, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Kontakion for the departed, Tone 8: With the Saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Thy servants, where there is neither pain, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting.

Kontakion of the resurrection, Tone 8: Though Thou did descend into the grave, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of hell, and didst rise again as a conqueror, O Christ our Lord, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, rejoice! And giving peace to Thine Apostles, and offering Resurrection to the fallen.

Eikos: The myrrh-bearing maidens anticipated the dawn and sought, as those who seek the day, their Sun, Who was before the sun and Who had once sat in the grave. And they cried to each other: Friends, come, let us anoint with spices His life-giving and buried body – the Flesh Who raised up fallen Adam, and Who now lies in the tomb. Let us go, let us hasten, and like the Magi, let us worship; and let us bring myrrh as a gift to Him, Who is wrapped, not now in swaddling clothes, but in a shroud. And let us weep and cry: Arise, O Lord, Who dost offer Resurrection to the fallen.

Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless One. We worship Thy Cross, O Christ, and Thy Holy Resurrection we praise and glorify; for Thou art our God, and we know no other than Thee; we call upon Thy name. O come all ye faithful, let us worship Christ’s holy Resurrection. For behold, through the Cross joy hath come to all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, let us praise His Resurrection. For by enduring the Cross for us He destroyed death by death.

Jesus, having risen from the grave as He foretold, hath given us eternal life and great mercy.

Ode 7, Eirmos: He Who delivered the children from the furnace, and became man and suffered as a mortal, through His suffering, He clothes mortality with the grace of incorruption. He is the only blessed and most glorious God of our fathers.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

The godly-wise women came to Thee with myrrh. But Him Whom they sought with tears as dead, they joyfully adored as the living God. And they told Thy disciples, O Christ, the glad-tidings of the mystical Pascha.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

We celebrate the death of death, the destruction of hell, the beginning of eternal life. And leaping for joy, we celebrate the Cause, the only blessed and most glorious God of our fathers.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

For a truly holy and a supreme feast is this saving night radiant with Light, the harbinger of the bright day of Resurrection, on which the Eternal Light shone bodily from the grave upon all.

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

Thy Son, having put death to death, O all-spotless One, today hath granted unto all mortals the life that abideth unto the ages of ages, the only blessed and most glorious God of our fathers.

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

He Who reigneth over all creation, became man, dwelling in thy God-graced womb, and having endured crucifixion and death, is risen in a God-befitting manner, raising us up with Himself, for He is almighty.

Katavasia: He Who delivered…

Ode 8, Eirmos: This is the chosen and Holy Day, the first of Sabbaths, the Sovereign and Queen, the Feast of Feasts, and Triumph of Triumphs, on which let us bless Christ forever.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

O come, let us partake of the fruit of the new vine of divine joy on the auspicious Day of the Resurrection and Kingdom of Christ, praising Him as God forever.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

Cast thine eyes about thee, O Zion, and behold! For lo! Thy children have assembled unto thee from the West and from the North and from the South and from the East, as divinely radiant luminaries, Blessing Christ unto the ages.

Refrain: O Most Holy Trinity, our God, glory to Thee.

O Father, Almighty, the Word, and the Spirit, one Nature in three Persons united, transcending essence supremely Divine! In Thee we have been baptized, and Thou wilt bless us throughout all ages.

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

Through thee the Lord came into the world, O Virgin Theotokos, and the womb of hades did He tear open, granting unto us mortals resurrection; wherefore, we bless Him unto the ages.

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

Laying low all the dominion of death by His resurrection, thy Son, O Virgin, as the mighty God, hath raised us up with Himself and deified us; wherefore, we sing His praise unto the ages.

Katavasia: This is the chosen…

Ode 9, Eirmos: Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord hath risen upon thee. Dance now for joy and be glad, O Sion! And thou, pure Mother of God, rejoice in the rising of Him Whom thou didst bear.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

O divine, O dear, O sweetest Voice! For Thou, O Christ, hast faithfully promised to be with us to the end of the world. And holding fast this promise as an anchor of hope, we the faithful rejoice.

Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead.

O great and holiest Pascha, Christ! O Wisdom, Word and Power of God! Grant that we may more perfectly partake of Thee in the unending Day of Thy Kingdom.

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

With one voice, O Virgin, the faithful do bless thee: Rejoice, O Portal of the Lord; rejoice, O living City; rejoice, thou through whom, for our sake, the Light hath shone, Who, born of thee, is the resurrection of the dead.

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

Be glad and rejoice, O Portal of the Divine Light; for Jesus, set into the grave, hath dawned forth shining more brightly than the sun, and hath illumined all the faithful, O Sovereign Lady who rejoiceth in God.

Katavasia: Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord hath risen upon thee. Dance now for joy and be glad, O Sion! And thou, pure Mother of God, rejoice in the rising of Him Whom thou didst bear.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the graves bestowing life (Thrice).

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

Prayer: Remember, O Lord our God, Thy servants, N., who have reposed in the Faith and hope of life eternal, and in that Thou art good and the Lover of mankind, Who remittest sins and blottest out iniquities, do Thou loose, remit and pardon all their sins, voluntary and involuntary. Deliver them from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna, and grant unto them the communion and delight of Thine eternal good things prepared for them that love Thee. For though they have sinned, yet have they not forsaken Thee, and they undoubtedly believed in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; and even until their last breath did they confess Thee in Orthodox fashion: God glorified in Trinity, Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Wherefore, be Thou merciful unto them and reckon their faith in Thee, rather than their deeds, and in that Thou art compassionate, grant them rest with Thy saints; for there is no man that liveth and doth not sin. But Thou alone art wholly without sin, and Thy truth is forever; and Thou alone art the God of mercies, and compassion, and love for mankind, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Troparia, Tone 4: With the spirits of the righteous give rest, O Saviour, to the souls of Thy departed servants and keep them in the blessed life with Thee, O Lover of man.

In the place of Thy rest, O Lord, where all Thy saints repose give rest also to the souls of Thy servants, for Thou alone art the Lover of men.

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

Thou art the God Who descended to hell and loosed the chains of the captives. Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants.

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

O only pure and immaculate Virgin, who without seed didst bear God, pray to Him that their souls may be saved.

Lord, have mercy. (Forty times)

Prayer: Remember, O Lord our God, Thy servants, N., who have reposed in the Faith and hope of life eternal, and in that Thou art good and the Lover of mankind, Who remittest sins and blottest out iniquities, do Thou loose, remit and pardon all their sins, voluntary and involuntary. Deliver them from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna, and grant unto them the communion and delight of Thine eternal good things prepared for them that love Thee. For though they have sinned, yet have they not forsaken Thee, and they undoubtedly believed in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; and even until their last breath did they confess Thee in Orthodox fashion: God glorified in Trinity, Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Wherefore, be Thou merciful unto them and reckon their faith in Thee, rather than their deeds, and in that Thou art compassionate, grant them rest with Thy saints; for there is no man that liveth and doth not sin. But Thou alone art wholly without sin, and Thy truth is forever; and Thou alone art the God of mercies, and compassion, and love for mankind, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without defilement gavest birth to God the Word, the true Theotokos, thee do we magnify.

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

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) Lord, bless.

Christ our True God, Who art risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the graves bestowing life, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and all Thy saints, grant the souls of Thy departed servants, N to dwell in the abode of all Thy saints, and number them among the righteous, and have mercy on us, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind. Amen.

Give rest eternal, O Lord, in blessed repose, to the souls of Thy departed servants, our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters N., and make their memory eternal.

MEMORY ETERNAL. (Thrice)

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the graves bestowing life (Thrice).

And has bestowed on us life eternal, we worship His resurrection on the third day.

This Week in the Parish

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Dear brothers and sisters – Christ is Risen! Христос воскресе! Hristos a înviat! Χριστός ἀνέστη!

After a prayerful Holy Week in Nazareth House, Pascha night brought a very well attended and beautiful celebration of the resurrection in St John’s, Canton.

At the beginning of the Midnight Office of Holy Saturday, we were somewhat puzzled by such unexpectedly low numbers in St John’s, but during the singing of the canon, the continual rising and falling of the door-latch announced the arrival of groups of friends, families and carloads of worshippers: Greeks, Russians, Ukrainians, Serbs, Bulgarians, Romanians, and locals – and others came and went during the long services, joining our procession around the church before the proclamation of the resurrection after the third circling of St John’s.

In the stillness of the mild spring night, no candles were blown out and nothing detracted from the prayerful chanting of the faithful:

“Воскресе́ние Твое́, Христе́ Спа́се, А́нгели пою́т на Небесе́х, и нас на земли́ сподо́би чи́стым се́рдцем Тебе́ сла́вити.” 

“Thy Resurrection, O Christ Saviour, the angels hymn in the heavens; vouchsafe also us on earth with to glorify Thee in purity of heart.”

Every year we greatly look forward to the singing of the Paschal Canon, with the repeated censing and changing vestment colours, and the constantly repeated “Christ is Risen!”

This year was no different, as the choir alternated singing in Slavonic and English, mirroring the alternating language of our deacons, and the sight of so many joyful faces lit by the flames of their candles was a wonderful sight as I censed the church with the necessary vigour and haste needed of Pascha night, after the servers removed one phelonion and replaced it with one of a different colour: red, gold, blue, green… finally returning to white.

After a busy week of confessions, we knew that there would be many communicants, including visitors, and it was wonderful that so many of the faithful partook of the Holy Mysteries. Some of those who communed had also partaken of the mystery of Holy Unction.

Eggs and Paschal baskets were blessed at the end of Liturgy, before the distribution of eggs at the kissing of the Cross.

As always, the services of Pascha passed in such a seemingly short time, and I was very glad that our Wessex parishioners and students stayed to share a meal with some of the core members of the parish – though it would have been nice to have far more doing so!

Next Saturday will see a group of us head to Mathern and Tintern, on a local pilgrimage to honour St Tewdrig, after a morning service in Nazareth House. I had hoped to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, but a lack of singers may preclude this. However, we shall still have a service at 11:00, before heading east.

Anyone wishing to join us is asked to email our Pilgrimage Coordinator, Tracy: t_sbrain@yahoo.co.uk

Before then, I shall hear confession in Nazareth House, on Thursday, and would appreciate an email from those confessing by Wednesday midday.

Please make sure that Paschal prayers and hymns resound throughout the week.

Finally, profound thanks to those who have worked so hard for Holy Week and Pascha.

Our choir and servers have been wonderful, and having Hierodeacon Avaraamy has made an immense difference to our celebrations.

Thanks to matushka Alla for the floral decorations, and for all who brought flowers, and supplied food for the clergy throughout the week, as well as dyed eggs for Pascha night and wonderful food with which to celebrate the resurrection.

Thanks also to the brothers of the parish for spending so many hours setting up and putting away. This added hours to the week’s services, and was quite a challenge, especially after three-and-a-half-hour services.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

The Mystery of Holy Unction Tonight

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Travelling to Cardiff, now, it is with great anticipation that I look forward to serving the Mystery of Holy Unction with Father Luke this evening, and it is precisely because it is a Holy Mystery that we approach it with compunction and repentance.

In all of the Holy Mysteries, we draw near to Christ in repentance as He, like the father of the prodigal, journeys toward us in a reciprocal movement of love, and just as the deacon calls us to approach the chalice with the fear of God and faith in the Liturgy, so do we equally approach the Mystery of the Oil, knowing that through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, our Great High Priest, Christ Himself acts as the Divine Physician in this Holy Mystery.

It is He who anoints us through the hands of his bishops and priest. It is He and not men Who confers the healing power of Grace upon both soul and body and Who forgives sins. This vicarious action of the priests, on behalf of our High Priest is made clear in the prayer that will be pronounced before anointing, as the faithful kneel beneath the Gospel:

“O Holy King, deeply- compassionate and greatly-merciful Lord Jesus Christ, Son and Word of the Living God, Who desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he should turn back and live: I lay not my sinful hand upon the head of them that come to Thee in sins and ask of Thee, through us, for remission of sins, but through Thy hand, mighty and powerful, which is in this, Thy Holy Gospel which my fellow ministers hold upon the head of Thy servants, and I pray with them and entreat Thy merciful love for mankind which remembereth not evil, O God, our Saviour, Who by Thy prophet Nathan didst grant remission of his iniquities unto the repentant David, and didst accept the prayer of repentance of Manasses. And do Thou Thyself, in Thy customary love for mankind, accept Thy servants, who repent of their sins, overlooking their transgressions. For Thou art our God, Who hast given command to forgive even seventy time seven times them that have fallen into sins. For as is Thy majesty, so also is Thy mercy, and unto Thee is due all glory, honour and worship, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, amen.”

As a sign of this repentance, we prayerfully approach the anointing with the oil of God’s mercy having made a recent confession, desiring repentance and amendment of life, and we seek to commune of the Holy Mystery of the Saviour’s Body and Blood, in Holy Communion, as soon as possible.

There can be nothing casual about this Holy Mystery, and no-one can simply approach as their ‘right’. As such, those who are under a penance, those who have excluded themselves from the worship of the Church, and anyone who is excommunicated or live a life incompatible with the teaching of the Church may not partake of this Holy Mystery, just as they may not commune until they have corrected what is amiss in their lives.

Holy Unction and the healing it confers, can only make sense in lives that are actively dedicated to God and open to Grace through prayerful and conscious regular participation in the mysteries and divine medicine of repentance and Holy Communion, which the Saviour has bequeathed as the abiding signs of His love and mercy:His sacramentalindwelling in His Church and the lives of His children.

Sadly, in many parishes, parishioners do not understand the difference between Holy Unction and the other anointing that take place during vigils and other services. This is NOT the same, but one of the seven Holy Mysteries of the Church, so only Orthodox Christians (and not catechumens) may partake of anointing.

And… as this is a Holy Mystery, it is a priestly action, on behalf of the Great High Priest, within the liturgical life of the Church. The oil is the vehicle of God’s Grace, and therefore the Holy Church and the clergy have custody of it, as with all of the the Holy Mysteries. Therefore, despite some local customs, oil is not taken by the faithful after the service, so please do not make this request. Just as we no longer take Holy Communion to our houses (despite ancient Tradition), we neither do so with the Oil of Unction in ROCOR.

Some parishioners have already confessed, and are blessed to receive the Mystery of Holy Unction, some will confess in the mid-afternoon, and other during the ‘open’ two hours before the beginning of the service. Once again, we ask all those confessing to mindful of others and to limit confession at this time to five minutes, as there may be a considerable number of penitents – particularly in in the last forty-five minutes before Holy Unction. We should also remind parent, that Unction is only for those who are confessing before the Holy Mysteries, so children below the age of seven years do not partake. Those who have already partaken of this mystery during the Great Fast, do not approach anointing again.

There will be open time for confession from 17:00 to 19:00, though I have asked some people to come at specific times, and Holy Unction will commence at 19:00 with an explanation of the Holy Mystery before it commences.

If needed there will be additional confessions and anointing after the service.

May God bless you all.

Hieromonk Mark

The Festal Canon of the Raising of Lazarus

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The feast of the Annunciation, which we celebrated today marked the end of Great Lent, but before we begin the Holy and Great Week of the Lord’s Passion with Palm Sunday, tomorrow brings the joy of Lazarus Saturday.

With the Liturgy in Cheltenham tomorrow, a day which belongs to neither Lent nor Holy Week, we celebrate the raising of St Lazarus the Four Days Dead: a signpost to the Saviour’s own Resurrection.

The wonder of the raising of Lazarus sets the tone of excitement for the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem, going to His voluntary passion on the colt of a ass.

This day of rejoicing, points to the coming joy beyond the dark days of the Lord’s passion, the Cross and Golgotha, to the Harrowing of Hell, in which the Victor and Vanquisher of death will not command Lazarus, but the souls of the Old Testament saints to come forth.

Though Lazarus was still destined to fall asleep in the Lord, and his rising was a mere foretaste of the resurrection of the dead, it beckons us in our celebrations to the joy of the Paschal dawn in which Christ comes forth from the tomb as Victor for all eternity.

Turning to St Lazarus, we ask his prayers before the throne of the Risen and Victorious Saviour, for strength and endurance in the holy days ahead.

Holy Father, Lazarus the Four Days Dead, pray to God for us!

Ode I, Irmos: Let us sing to the Lord, Who led His people through the Red Sea: for He alone is gloriously glorified.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

With Thy divine command Thou hast raised dead Lazarus, in Thy love for mankind; for Thou art the Fashioner and Guardian of Life.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O immortal Lord, with Thy word Thou hast raised Lazarus, four days dead, and by Thy power Thou hast destroyed the dark kingdom of hell.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast given to all, O Master, a proof of Thy transcendent Godhead, raising Lazarus from the dead on the fourth day.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Today Bethany proclaims beforehand the Resurrection of Christ the giver of Life, and it rejoices at the rising of Lazarus.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

In the beginning Thou hast brought all creation out of nothing, and Thou knowest the secrets of our hearts; and now as Master Thou dost foretell to Thy disciples the falling asleep of Lazarus.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O Christ, Thou hast become man, taking human nature from the Virgin, and as man Thou hast asked where Lazarus was buried, although as God Thou wast not ignorant of this.

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

O Word, giving us an assurance of Thine own Resurrection, Thou hast raised Thy friend as if from sleep, though he had lain four days in the tomb and already stank.

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

The host of angels and of mortal men praise thee, O Virgin Mother, without ceasing.  For thou hast carried their creator as a babe in thine arms.

Ode III, Irmos: Thou art the support of those who flee unto Thee, O Lord, Thou art the light of those in darkness, and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Displaying Thy two energies, O Saviour, Thou hast made manifest Thy two natures: for Thou art both God and man.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Though Thou art the Abyss of knowledge, Thou dost ask where they have laid the body of Lazarus.  For it was Thy purpose, O Giver of Life, to raise him from the dead.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Going from one place to another, Thou hast as mortal man, appeared circumscribed; but, as God uncircumscribed, Thou fillest all things.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

At Thy divine word, Thou hast raised Lazarus, O Christ, I pray Thee, raise me also, dead through my many sins.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O Lord who workest miracles, standing in Bethany by the tomb of Lazarus, Thou hast shed tears for him in accordance with the law of nature, confirming the full reality of the flesh which Thou hast taken, O Jesus my God.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Straightway Thou hast made the sorrow of Mary and Martha to cease, O Saviour, showing Thy sovereign authority.  For, as Thou hast said, Thou art in truth the Resurrection and the Life and the Lord of all.

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

O Lord, from the ranks of the dead and the darkness of hell thou hast snatched Thy friend Lazarus, bound in his grave-clothes; and by Thine all-powerful word Thou hast broken open the gates of the kingdom of death.

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

Taking up Thy dwelling in a Virgin, O Lord, Thou hast appeared to men incarnate, enabling them to see Thee with their eyes; Thou hast made her in very truth the Theotokos and the help of the faithful, O Thou who alone lovest mankind.

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

Sessional hymn, Tone 4:  The sisters of Lazarus stood beside Christ and, lamenting with bitter tears, they said to Him: “O Lord, Lazarus is dead.” And though as God He knew the place of burial, yet He asked them, “Where have ye laid him?”  Coming to the tomb, He called Lazarus that was four days dead; and he arose and worshipped the Lord who had raised him.

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

Sessional hymn, Tone 8: Foreknowing all things as Creator, Thou hast warned the disciples at Bethany saying: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep today.” And, though Thou was not ignorant, Thou hast asked: “Where have ye laid him?” Weeping as a man, Thou hast prayed to the Father; Thou hast called Thy friend Lazarus from hell, O Lord, and raised him when he had been four days dead. Therefore, we cry to Thee: Accept, O Christ our God, the praise we dare to offer, and count us all worthy of Thy glory.

Ode IV, Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, of the mystery of Thy dispensation, and I considered Thy works, and I have glorified Thy Godhead.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast prayed to the Father, not because Thou art in need of any help, but to fulfill the mystery of Thine incarnation; and so, almighty Lord, Thou hast raised up a corpse that was four days dead.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Coeternal with the Father, the Word that was revealed from the beginning as God, now offers prayers as man, though it is He that receives the prayers of all.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O Saviour, Thy voice destroyed all the power of death, and the foundations of hell were shaken by Thy divine might.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Let us sing the praises of the Virgin, for she remained a virgin after bearing child, and she gave birth to Christ our God, who has delivered the world from error.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

As Shepherd, O Saviour and Creator, Thou hast snatched from the fierce and all-devouring wolf a man that had been four days dead; and through him, in Thy power as Lord, Thou hast revealed beforehand the universal glory of Thy Resurrection on the third day.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Beholding Thee, O Christ the Life, the companions of Martha cried aloud: “If Thou hadst been here, O Lord, the Light and Life of all, Lazarus would not have died.”  But since Thou art the Life of the dead, in Thy love for mankind Thou hast turned their sorrow into joy.

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

The depths are afraid at Thy presence, O Lord, the source of life; all the waters are Thy servants.  The gatekeepers tremble before Thee, O Christ, and the bars of hell are broken by Thy power, as Lazarus rises from the dead at Thy command, almighty Saviour who lovest mankind.

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

Unwedded Virgin, thou art the glory of the faithful; thou art the advocate and refuge of Christians, their rampart and haven, for, Undefiled, thou dost offer intercession to thy Son, saving from danger those who in faith and love acknowledge thee as the pure Theotokos.

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.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

In Thy love for mankind, coming to the tomb of Lazarus Thou hast called him and granted him life, for Thou art the immortal life of all mortal men; and so Thou hast as God clearly foretold the future Resurrection.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

His feet bound in the grave-clothes, Lazarus walked out from the tomb.  O wonder of wonders!  Christ who gave him strength is greater than the power of death which held him back.  All things obey Christ’s word, serving Him as God and Master.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast raised Lazarus on the fourth day, though his corpse already stank.  Raise me up, O Christ, for I am dead in sin and lie in the pit and the dark shadow of death; deliver and save me in Thy compassion.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast prayed and given glory to the Father, for Thy power is not opposed to His.  To confirm the faith of the multitude that stood round Thee, Thou hast thanked Thy Father, O longsuffering Lord, and then raised Lazarus by Thy command.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O voice of God!  O divine power and might!  With that voice, O Saviour, Thou hast shattered the gates of hell and all-devouring death.  Deliver me from my passions, as once Thou hast delivered Thy friend Lazarus that was four days dead.

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

At the prayers of Lazarus, of Martha and Mary, O loving Lord, make us worthy to behold Thy Cross and Passion, and the joyful Queen of Days, the feast of Thy Resurrection.

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

Since, all-pure Virgin, thou hast a mother’s boldness before thy Son, do not forget us and our needs, we pray, for we are thy kinsfolk: thee alone we Christians bring as intercessor, to win the gracious mercy of the Master.

Ode VI, Irmos: O Lord, who hast made Jonah dwell within the whale, deliver me from corruption, as Thou hast delivered him; for I am caught in the snares of the enemy.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Love led Thee, Master, to Lazarus at Bethany; and as God Thou hast raised him, though his corpse already stank, and hast delivered him from the bonds of hell.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Martha despaired when she saw Lazarus already four days dead.  But Christ, as God, raised him from decay and brought him back to life by His word.

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

As true God Thou hast known of the falling asleep of Lazarus and hast announced it beforehand to Thy disciples, giving them a proof, O Master, of the infinite power of Thy divinity.

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

Thou who art by nature uncircumscribed wast circumscribed in the flesh; coming to Bethany, O Master, as man Thou dost weep over Lazarus, and by Thy power as God Thou dost raise him on the fourth day from the dead.

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

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

Kontakion, Tone 2:  Christ, the Joy of all, the Truth, the Light, the Life, the Resurrection of the world, hath, of His goodness, appeared to those on earth, and become the archetype of the Resurrection, granting divine forgiveness unto all.

Ikos: The Creator of the world foretold to His disciples what would come to pass, proving to them that He knows all things as the Maker of all.  “Brethren and companions, our friend has fallen asleep”,  He said.  “Let us go, then, and see a strange burial, and behold the tears of Mary and the tomb of Lazarus.  For I shall work a miracle there, as the prelude to My Crucifixion, granting divine forgiveness unto all.”

Ode VII, Irmos: In the furnace the Hebrew children boldly trod the flame underfoot and transformed the fire into dew, crying out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Weeping as man in Thy compassion, Thou hast as God raised Lazarus from the tomb; and, delivered from hell, he cried aloud: “Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!”

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

At the Master’s word Lazarus came out bound in grave clothes, escaping from the chaos and darkness of hell, and he cried aloud: “Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!”

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Shedding tears over Thy friend, O merciful Lord, Thou hast made the tears of Martha cease, and by Thy voluntary Passion Thou hast wiped away all tears from the face of Thy people.  O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.

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

Master of Life and Saviour, Thou hast called the dead man as if he were asleep.  With Thy word thou hast burst asunder the belly of hell and raised up Lazarus as he sang: “O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.”

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

O Master, Thou hast raised a dead man bound in grave clothes, a corpse that already stank.  I am held fast in the bonds of sin; raise me up and I shall sing: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.

Ode VIII, Irmos: When the instruments of music sounded, countless multitudes worshipped the image in Dura; but the three Children, refusing to bow down, praised and glorified the Lord forever.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

As Shepherd, Thou hast gone to seek Thy sheep; rescuing the dead man from the fierce and destructive wolf, in Thy power Thou hast brought him from corruption to new life, and he cried out to Thee: “Praise the Lord and exalt Him above all forever.”

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

As mortal man Thou hast asked where Lazarus was buried; as Maker, Thou hast raised him from the dead by Thy royal command.  Hell was afraid of him when he cried out to Thee: “Praise the Lord and exalt Him above all forever.”

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

As a mortal, Thou dost search for Lazarus; as God, Thou dost raise him by Thy word, though he was four days dead.  Therefore we sing Thy praises forever.

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

Fulfilling a debt of gratitude for her brother, Mary brought Thee, O Lord, sweet-smelling spices; and she sings Thy praises forever.

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

As man Thou dost pray to the Father, as God Thou dost raise Lazarus.  Therefore, O Christ, we sing Thy praises for ever.

Ode IX, Irmos:  O ye people, with glory let us honour the pure Theotokos, who conceived within her womb the divine fire and yet was not consumed, and let us magnify her with hymns.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Seeing a four-day corpse walking, the people were struck with wonder at the miracle and cried out to the Deliverer: “We magnify Thee in hymns, O God.”

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast established men’s faith in Thy glorious Resurrection, O my Saviour, before it came to pass, by freeing Lazarus from hell when he was four days dead; and I magnify Thee in hymns.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Honouring Thy Father, O Christ, and showing that Thou art not opposed to Him, after praying Thou hast by Thine own authority raised Lazarus that was four days dead.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O my Christ, Thou hast raised from the tomb Lazarus that was four days dead, and so Thou makest him a truthful witness to Thy Resurrection on the third day.

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

Thou dost walk and weep and speak, my Saviour, showing the action of Thy human nature; and, revealing Thy divine nature, Thou dost raise Lazarus.

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

In ways surpassing speech, my Master and Saviour, Thou hast brought about my salvation by the free will exercised in each of Thy two natures.

Troparion, Tone 1: In confirming the common Resurrection, O Christ God, Thou didst raise up Lazarus from the dead before Thy Passion. Wherefore, we also, like the children bearing the symbols of victory, cry to Thee the Vanquisher of death: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Greetings on the Feast of the Annunciation

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“Behold, our restoration hath now been revealed to us! God uniteth Himself to men in manner past recounting! Falsehood is dispelled by the voice of the archangel! For the Virgin receiveth joy, an earthly woman hath become heaven! The world is released from the primal curse! Let creation rejoice and chant aloud: O Lord, our Creator and Deliverer, glory be to Thee!”

Dear brothers and sisters – s prazdnikom!

Greetings as we celebrate the joyful feast of the Annunciation.

How wonderful it is that it is in this springtime of unfurling leaves, spring flowers and blossom ready to burst open the gardens hedgerows, that we celebrate the yearly feast of the Annunciation – that great Springtime in the Divine economy of salvation, in which the long winter of man’s exile and estrangement from God was undone by the Divine condescension and Mary’s ‘fiat’: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to Thy word.”

The great hymnographer, St John of Damascus wrote,

“Today, from the cold winter, the warm and flowery spring has shown forth, and the golden sun of rejoicing and happiness has dawned for us.

Today, God-planted Eden is re-opened, and God-fashioned Adam, due to His goodness and love for man, enters again to dwell within.”

This incarnational journey from the spiritual winter of exile to the springtime of salvation echoes the beautiful prophetic words from the Song of Solomon,

“The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”

As we anticipate the yearly celebration of Christ’s victorious rising from the dead, let us rejoice in the Annunciation, in which our Triune God addresses these prophetic words of Solomon, “Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me…” not only to the Mother of God, but to every soul, created, cherished and loved by Him, as the Divine Bridegroom reaches out to humanity through His coming and dwelling among us – and even as we look forward to Pascha/Easter, we are struck that this word “Arise” calls us not only from spiritual slumber to attention and vigilance, but to be sharers and participators in the joy of the resurrection.

So, let us embrace this spiritual-springtime and the promise contained within it, to bask in that golden sun of rejoicing.

We look beyond the dawn memorialised by this day to its culmination of in the glory of the resurrection of the Saviour, the Risen Sun of Righteousness, remembered in this feast as that tiny physical Presence within the womb of the Mother of God, yet the One Who not only re-opened paradise, but went to search for Adam and Eve in the very depths of Hades. Setting them free by His victory on the Tree of the Cross and His third-day resurrection, He was able to say to each of them – to the Forerunner, and to every righteous soul of the Old Covenant – “Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”

Let us look to Christ the Bridegroom with longing, who in His great love came in the Annunciation and Incarnation to seek us in our own dwelling-place as the Word who “became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

May God bless you and may this great feast be filled with rejoicing, and guide and hasten us towards the Lord’s glorious resurrection.

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

The Feast of the Annunciation

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Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Feast!

We are publishing the festal canon – a poetic dialogue between the Mother of God and the Archangel –  in simple form (without the Lenten canons from the Triodion) so that it may be prayed wherever parishioners find themselves on this wondeful feast.

May God bless you all.

Ode I, Irmos: I shall open my mouth, and the Spirit will inspire it, and I shall utter the words of my song to the Queen and Mother: I shall be seen radiantly keeping feast  and joyfully praising her wonders.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Let thy forefather David sing to thee, O Lady, striking upon the harp of the Spirit: “Hearken, O Daughter, to the glad voice of the Angel, for he discloses to thee joy past telling.”

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Angel: In gladness I cry to thee: incline thine ear and give heed unto me, as I tell of God’s conception without seed. For thou, O Most pure, hast found grace before the Lord such as no other woman ever found.

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

The Theotokos: O angel, help me to understand the meaning of thy words. How shall what thou sayest come to pass? Tell me clearly, how shall I conceive, who am a virgin maid? And how shall I become the Mother of my Maker?

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

The Angel:  Thou dost think, so it seems, that I utter words deceitfully; and I rejoice to see thy prudence. But take courage, O Lady: for when God wills, strange wonders are easily accomplished.

Ode III, Irmos: O Mother of God, thou living and plentiful fount, give strength to those united in spiritual fellowship, who sing hymns of praise to thee: and in thy divine glory vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Theotokos: There is no more a prince from Judah’s line, but the time is at hand in which Christ, the hope of the Gentiles, shall appear. But do thou make plain to me how I being a virgin, shall bear him?

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Angel: O Virgin, thou dost seek to know from me the manner of thy conceiving, but this is beyond all interpretation. The Holy Spirit shall overshadow thee in His creative power and shall make this come to pass.

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

The Theotokos: My mother Eve, accepting the suggestion of the serpent, was banished from divine delight: and therefore I fear thy strange salutation, for I take heed lest I slip.

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

The Angel: I am sent as the envoy of God to disclose to thee the divine will. Why art thou, O undefiled, afraid of me, who rather am afraid of thee? Why, O Lady, dost thou stand in awe of me, who stand in reverent awe of thee?

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) 

Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the shepherds’ pipes …”: The Word of God is now come down upon earth. The Angel stood before the Virgin and cried aloud: “Rejoice, blessed Lady, who alone among women hast preserved the seal of thy virginity,  while yet receiving in thy womb the pre-eternal Word and Lord, that He as God may save mankind from error.”

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

Another Sessional Hymn, same tone: Spec. Mel. “That which was commanded …”: Gabriel, the supreme commander, was sent from heaven by God;  and he quickly presented himself before the animate city, manifestly saying to her:  “Thou shalt receive the Creator in thy womb, O Virgin, and shalt immutably give birth to him in the flesh! Wherefore, I am sent to announce to thee  thy strange birthgiving, O pure one, and stand here, crying aloud to thee: Rejoice, O bride unwedded!”

Ode IV, 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.

The Theotokos: I have learnt from the Prophet, who foretold in times of old the coming of Emmanuel, that a certain holy Virgin should bear a child. But I long to know how the nature of mortal men shall undergo union with the Godhead.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Angel: The bush that burnt with fire and yet remained unconsumed, disclosed the secret mystery that shall come to pass in thee, O pure Maiden, full of grace. For after childbirth thou shalt remain ever-Virgin.

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

The Theotokos: O Gabriel, herald of the truth, shining with the radiance of Almighty God, tell me truly: how shall I, my purity remaining untouched, bear in the flesh the Word that has no body.

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

The Angel: I stand before thee in fear, as a servant before his mistress, and in awe I am afraid to look at thee now, O Maid. In His good pleasure shall the Word of God descend upon Thee, as dew upon the fleece.

Ode V, Irmos: The whole world was amazed at thy divine glory: for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock,  hast held in thy womb the God of all and hast given birth to an eternal Son, who rewards with salvation all who sing thy praises.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Theotokos: I cannot understand the meaning of thy words. For there have often been miracles, wonders worked by the might of God, symbols and figures contained in the law. But never has a virgin borne child without knowing a man.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Angel: Thou art amazed, O all-blameless Virgin; and amazing indeed is the wonder that comes to pass in thee: for thou alone shalt receive in thy womb the King of all who is to take flesh. It is thou who art prefigured by the utterances and dark sayings of the prophets and by the symbols of the law.

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

The Theotokos: How can He whom nothing can contain, upon whom none can gaze, dwell in the womb of a virgin who He Himself has formed? And how shall I conceive God the Word, who with the Father and the Spirit has no beginning?

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

The Angel: He who promised to thy forefather David that of the fruit of his body He would set upon the throne of his kingdom, He it is that has chosen thee, the only excellency of Jacob, as His spiritual dwelling place.

Ode VI, Irmos: Prefiguring Thy three-day burial, the prophet Jonah cried out in the belly of the whale:  ‘Deliver me from corruption, O Jesus, King and Lord of hosts.’

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Theotokos: Receiving thy glad tidings, O Gabriel, I am filled with divine joy. For thou dost speak to me of joy, a joy without end.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Angel: Divine joy is given to thee, O Mother of God. All creation cries unto thee: “Rejoice, O Bride of God.” For thou alone, O pure Virgin, wast foreordained to be the Mother of the Son of God.

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

The Theotokos: May the condemnation of Eve be now brought to naught through me; and through me may her debt be repaid this day. Through me may the ancient due be rendered up in full.

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

The Angel: God promised to our forefather Abraham that in his seed the Gentiles would be blest, O pure Lady; and through thee today the promise receives its fulfilment.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

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

Kontakion, in Tone VIII: To Thee, the Champion Leader, we Thy servants dedicate / a feast of victory and of thanksgiving / as ones rescued out of sufferings, O Theotokos: / but as Thou art one with might which is invincible, / from all dangers that can be do Thou deliver us, / that we may cry to Thee: // Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!

Ikos: An archangel was sent from Heaven to say to the Theotokos: Rejoice! And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form, he was amazed and with his bodiless voice he stood crying to Her such things as these:

Rejoice, Thou through whom joy will shine forth:
Rejoice, Thou through whom the curse will cease!
Rejoice, recall of fallen Adam:
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve!Rejoice, height inaccessible to human thoughts:
Rejoice, depth undiscernible even for the eyes of angels!
Rejoice, for Thou art the throne of the King:
Rejoice, for Thou bearest Him Who beareth all!
Rejoice, star that causest the Sun to appear:
Rejoice, womb of the Divine Incarnation!
Rejoice, Thou through whom creation is renewed:
Rejoice, Thou through whom we worship the Creator!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!

Ode VII, Irmos: The holy children bravely trampled upon the threatening fire, / refusing to worship created things in place of the Creator, / and they sang in joy: // ‘Blessed art Thou and praised above all, O Lord God of our Fathers.’

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Theotokos:  Thou dost bring me good tidings of divine joy, that the immaterial Light, in His abundant compassion, will be united to a material body; and now thou criest out to me: “O All-pure, blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Angel: Rejoice, O Lady, rejoice, O most pure Virgin; rejoice, thou vessel wherein God is contained, rejoice, thou candlestick of the Light, the restoration of Adam and the deliverance of Eve, holy Mountain, shining Sanctuary, and Bridal Chamber of immortality.

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

The Theotokos: The descent of the Holy Spirit has purified my soul and sanctified my body: it has made of me a Temple that contains God, a Tabernacle divinely adorned, a living Sanctuary, and the pure Mother of Life.

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

The Angel: I see thee as a Lamp with many lights and as a Bridal Chamber made by God. As an Ark of gold, O spotless Maiden, receive now the Giver of the Law, who through thee has been pleased to deliver the corrupt nature of mankind.

Ode VIII, Irmos: Hearken, O pure Virgin Maid: / Let Gabriel tell thee the counsel of the Most High that is ancient and true. / Make ready to receive God: / for through thee the Incomprehensible comes to dwell with mortal men. / Therefore I cry rejoicing: // O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The  “All mortal thought is overwhelmed,” answered the Virgin, “as it ponders the strange wonders of which thou tellest me. I am filled with joy at thy words, yet am afraid: I fear lest thou deceive me, as Eve was deceived, and lead me far from God. Yet lo, thou criest out: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.”

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The Angel: “See thy difficulty is resolved”, said Gabriel to this. “Thou hast well said that this matter is hard to grasp. Obey, then, the words of thine own lips: doubt not as though it were deceitful, but believe in this thing as very truth. For I cry rejoicing: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.”

The Theotokos: “Childbirth comes from mutual love: such is the law that God has given to men”, said again she who is without reproach. “I know not at all the pleasure of marriage: how then dost thou say that I shall bear child? I fear lest thou speak in guile. Yet lo, thou criest out: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.”

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

The Angel: “O holy Virgin,” replied the Angel, “thou speakest to me of the customary manner whereby mortal men are born. But I tell thee of the birth of the true God. Beyond words and understanding, in ways that He alone knows, He shall take flesh of thee. Therefore, I cry rejoicing: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.”

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

The Theotokos: “Thou showest thyself to me as a herald of the truth,” the Virgin said, “for thou hast come as a harbinger of common joy. I have therefore cleansed soul and body. Be it unto me according to thy word, that God may dwell in me, to Whom I cry out with thee: “Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!”

Ode IX.

Refrain: Proclaim, O earth, good tidings of great joy; / ye heavens, praise the glory of God.

Irmos:  Let no profane hand touch the living Ark of God, / but let the lips of the faithful, chanting unceasingly / the words of the angel to the Theotokos, with joy cry out: // Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Refrain: Proclaim, O earth, good tidings of great joy; / ye heavens, praise the glory of God.

Having conceived God in ways past understanding, O Maiden, thou hast escaped from the ordinances of nature. For though by nature mortal, thou wast not subject to the established laws of motherhood. Therefore, as is meet, dost thou hear the salutation: “Rejoice, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.”

Refrain: Proclaim, O earth, good tidings of great joy; / ye heavens, praise the glory of God.

How dost thou give milk, O pure Virgin? This the tongue of mortal man cannot make plain. For thou showest forth a thing unknown to nature, that utterly surpasses the usual laws of birth. Therefore, as is meet, dost Thou hear the salutation: “Rejoice, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.

Refrain: Proclaim, O earth, good tidings of great joy; / ye heavens, praise the glory of God.

The Holy Scriptures speak of thee mystically, O Mother of the Most High. For Jacob saw in days of old the ladder that prefigured thee, and said: “This is the stair on which God shall tread.” Therefore, as is meet, dost thou hear the salutation: “Rejoice, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.”

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

The bush and the fire showed a strange marvel to Moses, the initiate in sacred things. Seeking its fulfilment in the course of time, he said: “I shall observe it brought to pass in the pure Virgin. To her as Theotokos shall the salutation come: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.”

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

Daniel called thee a spiritual mountain; Isaiah, the Mother of God; Gideon saw thee as a fleece and David called thee sanctuary; another called thee gate. And Gabriel in his turn cries out to thee: “Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee.”

Troparion, Tone IV: Today is the fountainhead of our salvation / and the manifestation of the mystery which was from eternity. / The Son of God becometh the Virgin’s Son, / and Gabriel proclaimeth the good tidings of grace; / wherefore, we also cry to the Theotokos with him: / Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, // the Lord is with thee.

Happy Name Day, James!

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It is with great joy that we greet our young parishioner, James, as he celebrates his first name day on this feast of St James the Faster.

James is one of our devoted parishioners who travels all the way from Wiltshire for Liturgy, having been baptised in Chippenham last autumn, and one of the group of young brothers who have made such a positive impact on our parish.

Dear James – May God grant you many, blessed years!

 

Saint James the Faster lived a life of asceticism near the Phoenician city of Porphyrion in the sixth century. For fifteen years, he lived in a cave devoting himself to monastic deeds, and he received the gift of wonderworking from the Lord. Under his influence many of the local inhabitants were converted to the Christian Faith.

News of the ascetic spread everywhere, and so went to another place so that he would not fall into temptation. He found a new cave, and lived there for thirty years. The devil set terrible snares for the ascetic. James healed a young girl from demonic possession, but then fell into sin with her. In order to conceal his sin, he killed the girl and threw her into a river.

Distraught over this sin, he repented for what he had done. For a long time he hid himself away in the wilderness, bereft of shelter and peace, tormented by the pricks of conscience, and he was on the point of forsaking the monastic life and returning to the world. But the immeasurable mercy of God, against which the sins of this world cannot prevail, and which desires salvation for all mankind, would not permit the ruin of this monk who had toiled so many years for the Lord. 

The Lord thwarted the devil’s intent to destroy the ascetic, and returned him through repentance to the path of salvation. Wandering about the wilderness, James saw a monastery, and entering it, he confessed his sin before the igumen and the brethren. The igumen urged him to remain with them, fearing that he would ultimately fall into despair. But James went off and again he wandered the wilderness for a long time.

Finally the All-Beneficent Providence of God brought him to a certain desert-dweller filled with grace and wisdom. Lifting the burden from him, the desert-dweller suggested that James remain with him. But James would not remain with the Elder, though encouraged and given hope by him, and he secluded himself in a cave and there for ten years offered repentance to God, weeping and wailing, and asking forgiveness for the sin he committed. The Lord heard the prayers of the penitent monk and granted him His mercy. James reacquired his gift of wonderworking. He remained in the cave until the time of his death. He was also buried there.

The Orthodox Church in America

3/2/2017

 

 

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant Hapus! Happy St David’s Day!

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Dear brothers and sisters, Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant Hapus!

Greetings and congratulations as we celebrate the feast of St David, with the blessing of the sun shining, blue sky, plum blossom and the first leaves unfurling in the hedgerows – in Carmarthenshire, at least.

Our holy father, St David was born into the fading legacy of ‘Romanitas’ in Celtic Britain, as the memory and culture of Rome faded and grew ever dimmer with the incursion of  Germanic invaders and the passing of time, and his life and ministry connected Wales to both of the ancient patriarchates of Rome and Jerusalem, a wonderful link to both East and West.

The Jerusalem connection was reflected in the pilgrimage of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Damian I, together with the First-Hierarch of our Russian Church Abroad, to St David’s in 1925.

I am always in awe of this visit on the part of our First-Hierarch, Metropolitan Anthony, as a sign of our Church’s devotion to the ancient saints of the west.

Let us turn to St David to pray for Metropolitan Anthony’s successor, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine and for the suffering and persecuted Ukrainian Church.

St David’s memory is one of continuity through the life of our nation, even though protestantism airbrushed and renovated our great patron saint, transforming him into an image of its own making and desire – a comfortable and charismatic image, that does not particularly challenge or prompt serious spiritual questions.

For us Orthodox Christians, who have preserved the patterns of ancient monasticism whose hierarchs are still first and foremost men of prayer and intense spiritual life; who still uphold the ascetic traditions of ancient Christianity; who take prayer and fasting seriously, and who are not worried by long hours of liturgical-prayer – the spiritual world of St David is not far from us and our experience of the Christian life.

But, do we live up to his testament – “Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do”?

We know the things he did, simply from the fact that he was a monk and bishop: being humble, loving and merciful; seeking to serve and protect others; immersing himself in prayer and interceding for the world; fiercely opposing doctrinal falsehood; embracing the discipline of fasting and struggling to overcome the bodily weaknesses that damage us spiritually – in short, spiritual warfare.

The list may sound daunting, but when we break it down to individual actions, decisions and scenarios, all is rather more straightforward for us in imitating him…

Do I choose or even try to be generous, loving, and merciful?

Do I try to live a simple, godly, prayerful and devout life – praying, fasting, serving Christ by serving others and putting them before me?

Do I try to ‘police’ my thoughts, actions and words in the struggle for purity and the restoration of God’s image in me?

Do I seek reconciliation and forgiveness, labouring for peace in my family, street, community or workplace?

Do I try to imitate the Saviour in thought, word and deed?

Do I show humility and obedience by embracing the Traditions and teachings of the Church, even though I may find some of the things difficult and challenging – or do I pick and choose, doing it my own, self-determined way?

We may be doctrinally steadfast and unshakeable, but are we doing the little things? This constant challenge and questioning is a key to the road-map to the Kingdom of Heaven, embracing and joyfully reflecting the way of the saints, which is none other than a reflection of Our Saviour, the  ‘Way, the Truth and the Life’.

For St David, Christianity is not simply believed, but a life of doing and action, realised and proved in details and little things, and it is in doing the seemingly little things that we remain steadfast in our Faith and are then able to do the big things.

Real Christianity is not an impressionistic picture painted in approximate, broad and wide brush strokes, but one in which Faith is realised in the small details of living the Gospel in our daily lives, in our families and communities.  

Be joyful! Be steadfast! Live the Gospel by doing these little things!

May God bless you all, and have mercy upon us, through the prayers of St David and all of the saints of Wales.

In Christ – Fr Mark.

Festal Celebrations in Llanelli

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It was a joy for us to celebrate the feast of the Meeting of the Lord in Llanelli today, and though there was only a handful of us, the Liturgy was full of joyful chanting and fervent prayers, bringing together parishioners from Llanelli, Swansea, Cardiff and Gwlad yr Haf  beyond the Bridge (Somerset for the uninitiated).

Our thanks go to Father Luke for celebrating, to Rhydian-Nicholas for serving and to Ruth-Silouana for sharing the kliros with me. It was lovely to sing together, with the support of the faithful – particularly in the spirited Athonite Kyrie eleisons of the Fervent Litany!

Following the service, we enjoyed a shared lunch and were introduced to vegan Pastizio, which went down very well. Despina may well be getting orders and requests during Great Lent!

As we look to more long-term planning, I envisage weekday Liturgies will ordinarily be celebrated in the chapel in Llanelli, unless we have guaranteed singers for the kliros in Cardiff.

Health problems have made it impossible for me to plan weekday Cardiff Liturgies more than a week or two in advance, as things have been unpredictable – but, Llanelli Liturgies can always be managed given the short distance door to door – and having just paced it, I can tell you that the journey is fifty-five steps!


The Chapel of St David and St Nicholas has greatly evolved over the last quarter of a century, starting as a very small oratory/chasovnia in a summer-house, used for reader-services, consequently growing upwards, sideways and lengthways over the decades, through the labours of Father Luke, his sons and son-in-law, members of his family, and the faithful from Llanelli and Swansea.

Recently, the chapel has been blessed with the addition of new icons painted by our Cardiff parishioner, Mikhail Bulashov, who sealed them with their final varnish last week.

Liturgy is celebrated there on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, vespers or compline (depending on the season) on Wednesdays each week as well as weekday services for feasts and during fasts.

In its garden setting, the chapel is an oasis of peace and quiet, and in the spring and summer is surrounded by scented flowers, bees and birdsong, with the feline doyen of the house following the faithful and pleading for attention.

Many of our Cardiff faithful love the chapel and make occasional journeys for services, and I hope that the establishment of weekday festal Liturgies will beckon more parishioners to drive westwards for our festal celebrations.

Canons for the Translation of the Relics of St John Chrysostom

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Ode I, Canon of the Theotokos, the acrostic whereof is: “Rejoice, O abode of joy, release from grief,” the composition of John, in Tone VIII:

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

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice deliverance from the ancient curse and wellspring of blessings! Rejoice, Mother of Life, destruction of Hades, slaying of death! Rejoice, release from sorrow, spacious dwelling-place of joy! Rejoice O all-praised Theotokos!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice all-immaculate one, thou noetic and animate chariot of the Word! Rejoice, chariot of many names, who art called chariot by the myriads of angels! Rejoice, thou who art incontestably more exalted than the cherubim and surpassest the seraphim!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice Bride of God, who art more sacred than the noetic hosts and higher than all created nature! Rejoice, thou palace of God! Rejoice, fiery throne! Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, who art so called by the myriads of angels!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice undefiled one, who put forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse! Rejoice, offshoot of the rod of Aaron, which, prefiguring thee mystically and profoundly of old, yielded almonds, as thou didst blossom forth Christ.

Canon of the Saint, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn thee, the divine harp all of gold,” the composition of Joseph, in Tone VI:

Irmos: The Red Sea was parted by a blow from the staff of Moses, * and the deep with its Waves became dry, * becoming a path to the unarmed people of Israel, * but to the fully armed ones it became a grave. * A hymn of Praise well-pleasing to God was sung: * gloriously hath Christ our God been glorified.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Ever standing with all the elect before the throne of God, full of unwaning radiance, O venerable one, pray thou that peace and great mercy be granted to us who with faith honor thee and celebrate thy divine return.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The earth danceth and heaven rejoiceth in godly fashion with all mankind, on thy hol feast, whereon thy sacred body was returned to thy flock, O glorious Chrysostom, precious habitation of the Spirit.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The greatly crafty one could not bear the divine brilliance of thy mind, O blessed one, and raised up temptations against thee, as he had against Job of old; even so, he became greatly darkened, for, lo! after thy banishment, O most luminous one, thou didst return to thy flock.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

With thy most golden words hast thou gilded the thoughts of the faithful, Chrysostom; and being banished from thy flock out of hatred, at the behest of God thou hast been returned to them after thy burial, O radiantly praised, all-blessed Chrysostom.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Having given birth unto the most holy God, thou wast shown to be more holy than the Cherubim. Him do thou entreat as the Creator of all, that He sanctify all who bless thee with holy voices, O pure one, thou boast of the fathers and help of mankind.

Another Canon of the Saint, the acrostic whereof is: “I chant a third hymn to him of the golden tongue,” in Tone III:

Irmos: He who of old gathered the waters * into one by His divine decree, * divided the sea for the people of Israel. * For He is our God and supremely glorious, * to Him alone let us sing, for He hath been glorified.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

O God-proclaiming mouth, instrument of golden sound, with the splendor of thy words and thine entreaties enlighten my mind, that I may hymn the memory of thy return, O John, thou namesake of divine grace.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Having set beneath the earth, following the laws of nature, like a brilliant star, like the sun which enlighteneth men, like a luminary of piety, O venerable one, thou hast shone forth again upon us, thy children, emitting abundant rays of miracles.

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

Thou didst fill the whole world with teachings by thy tongue of golden eloquence; and thou hast illumined all with the golden members of healings, causing the darkness of sufferings to vanish by thy return, O venerable one.

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

Uttering divine things, thou didst speak of the Word, One Hypostasis, even though He issued forth from the most pure one in two natures, assuming flesh. Her do we bless unceasingly and glorify with faith, O divine Chrysostom.

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

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O Lady; most mighty weapon of the faithful! Rejoice, mighty intercession! Rejoice, O help! Rejoice, aid of sinners! Rejoice, rampart for those who call upon thee! Rejoice, thou joy of the world!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, mighty confirmation of man’s salvation! Rejoice, restoration of Adam and Eve, through whom they have regained the ancient inheritance! Rejoice, thou who hast opened paradise again!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, bush unburnt! Rejoice, chariot of the Light! Rejoice, cloud of the Sun! Rejoice, most glorious throne of the King, proclaimed in every place! Rejoice, animate city of Christ the Living God!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O pure Sovereign Lady, Mother who hast not known wedlock! Rejoice, meadow unploughed and un-harrowed, which produced the Husbandman of all! Rejoice, land which shone forth the Truth!

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: O Lord Thou art the God and Creator of all, * becoming poor, Thou hast united Thyself * without passion to a creature, * and offered Thyself as a Passover * for those for whom Thou wast soon to die; * crying: ‘Eat My Body, * and ye shall be firmly established in the faith.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou wast a pure habitation of God fathoming the depths of dogma, O blessed Chrysostom, overwhelming the hearts of the faithful. Wherefore, we celebrate today thine honored return.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou wast a golden instrument sounding forth things ineffable for us, O blessed Chrysostom. Wherefore, we hymn thee with faith at the return of thy relics, O earthly angel of God and heavenly man.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Words of life didst thou utter for us; even though thou wast unjustly envied and driven into a distant exile, and subjected to many tribulations. Yet at the behest of the Creator, thou hast been returned to thy flock after thy repose.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Who can describe the height and depth of thine ineffable birthgiving, O Maiden? For, in a manner surpassing description and comprehension, thou hast given birth unto God, Who hath delivered mankind from corruption. Wherefore, all we, the faithful, rightly bless thee.

Canon II of the Saint, Irmos: O Most High, Ruler of all, * who out of nothing hath established all things, * fashioned by Thy Word, * perfected by the Spirit, * confirm me in Thy love.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The blinded empress hid thee, the most radiant lamp, in caves of banishment; but Christ, having returned thee, hath placed thee upon a most lofty lampstand.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou hast returned, O John Chrysostom, letting flow streams of miracles, pouring forth rivers of healing upon those who with faith honor the memory of thy return.

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

The golden Nile hath returned, flooding forth in discourse and wonders. Let us all make haste and with faith abundantly draw therefrom, that we may be satisfied in all things.

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

Earthly nature is unable to hymn thee, whom the angels hymn as the one who hath given birth unto God in the flesh; yet we, thy servants, with faith, boldly hymn and glorify thee.

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

Sessional Hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the wisdom …”: Having come to know the wisdom which is from on high and the grace of words issuing from God, thou didst shine forth upon all like gold in the crucible, and preaching the Holy Trinity in Unity, thou didst shoot down the delusion of avarice with the arrows of thy words. Wherefore, having denounced the empress with zeal, and having put to shame the alien philosophy of Arius, O John Chrysostom, entreat Christ God, to grant forgiveness of sins to those who celebrate thy holy memory with love. (Twice)

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

Theotokion in Tone VIII: Having conceived One of the Trinity in a manner transcending nature, O Virgin, and wondrously given birth to Him in a manner surpassing description and comprehension, thou didst cause human nature, which of old had been driven forth, to share in the divine Nature. Wherefore, O all-immaculate one, all we who have been saved by thy birthgiving, assembling, duly call thee blessed, following thy words, and entreating Christ God, that He grant forgiveness of sins unto those who with faith glorify His Mother.

Ode IV, Canon of the Theotokos, 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.

O thou orient of the effulgence of the Father, and sun of Him Who shone forth from the Father before the morning star: Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, light and animate cloud! Rejoice, O Mother! Rejoice, O blessed one! Rejoice, most glorious and immaculate one!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou, O Sovereign Lady, art the golden censer of the unbearable and immaterial Ember, by Whom the document of Adam’s disobedience, hath been rent asunder, and set afire. Wherefore, I cry to thee: Rejoice, thou through whom joy, the sweetness and acquisition of paradise, hath been granted unto all!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou art the glory, honor and boast of mankind, and the crown and diadem of the angels. Wherefore, heaven and earth, the single Church, cries aloud to thee a multimodal hymn: Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady of the world! Rejoice, thou help of all mankind!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O honored couch which Solomon described of old, surrounded by the mighty sixty: Rejoice, O Virgin, golden ark of noetic sanctity! Rejoice, O divine tongs! Rejoice, fire-bearing bush! Rejoice, O gate, ladder and bridge!

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: The prophet, foreseeing thine ineffable mystery, O Christ, * declared: Thou hast set forth the mighty grace of baptism, * unto all who receive it with faith, * for deliverance from our sins!

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Having acquired a mouth and tongue of fiery inspiration, thou didst manifestly expand the understanding of Scripture, and dying in an unjust exile O venerable father, thy blessed body hath today been bestowed upon us as a gift.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Let Chrysostom now be magnified, the expounder of things ineffable; for, lo! after his temporal death, at the good behest of God, he entereth the Imperial City again, sacredly honored with divine hymns.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Possessing a mind illumined with the radiance of the all-holy Spirit, thou dost enlighten the earth with divine teachings, dispelling the darkness of impiety, O sacred father Chrysostom, converser with the holy angels.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou wast shown to be blessed for righteousness’ sake, O venerable one, having been driven from thy flock by wicked envy; yet, returning now, thou art honored by all with sacred hymns, O wise Chrysostom, holy hierarch of the Lord.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Through thee, O Virgin, salvation hath come and appeared to the world, even Christ, our Redemption Who hath shown forth from thee. Wherefore, we hymn thee as is meet, O pure one, thou boast of the sacred and sanctified habitations of the faithful.

Canon II of the Saint, Irmos: Thou hast shown us steadfast in love, O Lord, * for Thou gavest Thine only-begotten Son over to death for our sake. * Wherefore with thanksgiving we cry unto Thee, * ‘Glory to Thy power, O Lord!’

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

O ye who love discourse, come, and let us honor with sacred words the great adorner of words, who hath now joyfully returned and who with wisdom of words denounced the babblers of vain and ignorant words.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

O Chrysostom, enriching us with a wealth of teachings, thou didst tightly restrain the way of greed, alone, denouncing clearly by the abundance of divine grace, her who was laden with wealth.

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

The bow of the cruel and tyrannical mighty hath been broken; for having lived angelically in the weakness of the flesh, thou hast prevailed, O most sacred Chrysostom, having as petitioners those who before were persecutors.

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

The noetic ranks praise thee with hymnody, O Maiden, for they are unable to look upon Him Whom thou didst bear from thy pure womb, and without change assumed flesh, O all-pure Bride of God.

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

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Grant that without grief I may pass the noetic princes, the aerial hordes of tormentors, at the hour of my departure, O Sovereign Lady, that I may joyfully cry to thee: Rejoice! rejoice, O unashamed hope of all!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O most immaculate one! Rejoice, O most pure one, in that thou didst conceive our Joy! Rejoice, purple bloom of purity, sweetly scented! Rejoice, scarlet rose of virginity, dyed red, and sweet-smelling fragrance of God!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O mystic phial which poureth forth myrrh of sweet savor! Rejoice, divine wellspring gushing forth living water! Rejoice, thou who didst bring forth the fruit of the grapes of life, O Sovereign Lady, thou vine uncultivated!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O impassable Gate through which Christ the Lord passed! Rejoice, thou who by thy birthgiving hast opened the portals of paradise! Rejoice, thou on whose account the heavens rejoice and earth doth dance, thou who hast united things above with things below.

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: Bound with the bond of love, * the apostles, having offered themselves to Christ, the Master of all, * had their comely feet cleansed by Him, * proclaiming peace unto all.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou hast been shown to be a lamp shining upon all who are in the night of life, casting light upon and illumining our thoughts with the beams of thy divine words, O father Chrysostom. Wherefore, we hymn thee as is meet.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou didst distribute a wealth of discourse, enriching starved minds, O venerable one of golden speech; and, exiled unjustly, by righteous judgment thou hast been returned again to thy flock, which rejoiceth in thy great accomplishments.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Like a bountiful branch thou didst produce the wine of compunction; and, for denouncing the empress who confiscated the widow’s vineyard, thou wast banished, O father Chrysostom. Wherefore, we honor thy return.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Him Whom the armies of the incorporeal angels cannot see, O Lady, Who lay in thine embrace as an Infant, and Who abased Himself by assuming flesh, didst thou bear, that, so impoverishing Himself, He might enrich the world.

Canon II of the Saint Irmos: I rise at dawn unto Thee, * the Creator of all, * surpassing all worldly understanding; * for Thy commandments are light, * wherein do Thou guide me.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou hast been shown to be like the springtime, mystically perfuming the multitudes of the faithful, with the flowers of grace, dispelling the winter of evil in thy return, O father.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Streaming forth divine things, the wellspring of divine gifts hath returned. Come divinely jubilant, ye who thirst, and draw forth the water of life with faith!

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

The Church of Christ crieth out to thee who hast returned: “Woe is me! For thou, my beauty, hath hid thyself, Yet, O desired one, thou hast returned to me in due time.”

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

O all-immaculate one, render merciful to me Him Who came forth from thy womb, the incarnate Word, Whom Simeon, holding in his arms in the temple, magnified as the Creator.

Ode VI, Canon of the Theotokos, 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.

Rejoice, O Lady, animate vessel, the scarlet that dyed a purple robe for the King of all by thy most pure blood and hast covered the nakedness of Adam! Rejoice, O all-praised one!   

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Tangible bread by nature strengtheneth men’s hearts, O Maiden; and thy holy and hymned name maketh steadfast Christian souls. Hence, every tongue doth joyfully cry out to thee: Rejoice!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, golden candlestick! Rejoice, ark which held God! Rejoice, tabernacle! Rejoice, holy mountain! Rejoice, animate city of the living God! Rejoice, palace of Christ! Rejoice, divine and most splendid temple!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O most immaculate and pure one, excellent flower of nature! Rejoice, civic benevolence of the human race! Rejoice, God-given grace, who hath brought honor upon disgraced human nature by thy birthgiving!

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: The uttermost depths of sin have encompassed me; * and its stormy waves I can endure no more, * wherefore like Jonah I cry out to Thee, O Master: * Lead me up from corruption.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

O all-blessed Chrysostom, thy tongue hath poured forth upon the Church streams of gold and enricheth starving hearts, which glorify thee in sacred manner.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

O all-blessed one, precious hath thy death been in the sight of our God, wherein thy city is glorified by the second return to thy throne, O father Chrysostom.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Blessed is the tomb which holdeth thy precious body, in that it enricheth with miracles those who have recourse thereto with faith, O Chrysostom, all-blessed hierarch.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Having given birth unto the Most High, O most holy Bride of God, thou dost exalt unto the heavens our nature which lieth below. Wherefore, we glorify thee as is meet.

Canon II of the Saint, Irmos: The uttermost depths of sin have surrounded me, * and my spirit perisheth. * but do Thou, O Master, stretch forth Thy lofty arm * and like Peter save me, * O my Helmsman.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The foolish empress cut thee off from the Church of Christ, denouncing thee in a rage; but straightway she found herself cut off, and even after death was reproved by thee, through a miraculous excommunication.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou wast shown to be an instrument of the Spirit accomplishing all things, melodiously sounding forth; but the tyrant empress became deaf, and like an adder passed it by, receiving a most dreadful death as recompense.

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

Though he died a mortal death, Chrysostom clearly taught the rulers to not torment him; for, at first refusing to submit to their commands, he later returned at their request.

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

Contemplating Thee, Who alone art born of a Virgin, even as Thou didst receive flesh and become dual in nature, John Chrysostom utterly rejected both division and commingling, O Jesus, Who art God and man.

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

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

Kontakion of the saint, in Tone I: The honored Church was mystically gladdened by the return of thy precious relics; * having hidden them like most precious gold, * and now by thy supplication she bountifully imparteth the grace of healings ** unto those who hymn thee, O John Chrysostom.

Ikos: The lamp of my deeds hath been diminished, O John Chrysostom, and I fear to encounter thy sacred relics; but do thou thyself guide me, and direct my steps, granting me time for repentance, O all-holy one, in so far as thou art a divine preacher of repentance. Do thou still the tempest of my many passions and, rescuing me from the snares of Belial, save me in the end, that I may worthily hymn thy glorious return, as before I also boldly glorified thy repose, O John Chrysostom.

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

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, Virgin and Mother who hast given birth to the Son, who hast not known wedlock, who alone knewest not a man and alone art incorrupt!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O Bride of God, thou animate Zion of Christ, the King of kings, of which most glorious things have been spoken! Rejoice, ladder whereby we ascend to heaven from earth, and from corruption to life.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

A divinely planted meadow, a fragrant garden cultivated by God, hast thou been shown to be, O Virgin, who hast blossomed forth the Flower of immortality. Wherefore, together we cry out to thee: Rejoice! rejoice, bestower of joy! Rejoice, wellspring of sweetness!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O most honored Lady, deliver me from the disgrace of the passions, that I may cry out joyfully to thee: Rejoice, wellspring of holiness! Rejoice, treasury of all purity! Rejoice, divine receptacle! Rejoice, habitation of Christ!

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: In Babylon the Children feared not the fiery furnace; * but cast into the midst of the flames * they were bedewed and sang: * ‘O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou.’

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Radiant with miracles, adorned with golden theology, thou wast given over to cruel banishment; but returning therefrom, thou hast been glorified by all.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

With the scythe of thy divine teachings thou cuttest wickedness off at the root planting divine knowledge in men’s souls, O holy hierarch Chrysostom. Wherefore, we glorify the return of thy relics.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Returning, O venerable Chrysostom, thou hast brought peace to the alienated and hast been placed in the church of the most wise apostles, with whose honored authority thou wast enriched, O all-praised one.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O all-pure one, thou hast given birth to Jesus Christ, One of the transcendent Trinity. Him do Thou entreat, O all-immaculate Lady, that in His ineffable tender compassion He may forgive my manifold transgressions.

Canon II of the Saint, Irmos: As of old Thou didst bedew * the three pious children in the Chaldean flames, * so also with the radiant fire of Thy divinity * illumine us who cry to Thee, * ‘Blessed art Thou, the God of our fathers!’

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The most audacious woman had thee depart the Imperial City, O most wise one, for denouncing her eviction of the widow; and by her rejection of thy most wise teaching, she hath been left bereft of the grace of God .

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Yet thou didst return sweetly, like the sun which had been covered by clouds, O luminary of exceeding magnificence, unto all who have been enlightened by the mystic splendor of thy luminous golden teachings, O John Chrysostom.

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

I stretch forth my hands unto thee, O Chrysostom, to embrace thee, the escort of the Bride who returnest in splendor, loved exceedingly, in that thou didst tarry for many years.

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

Thou comest to the temple like mystical tongs, bearing the mystical Ember, O most pure one, by Whom Simeon, receiving Him in his arms, was enlightened to prophesy with exceeding clarity concerning the signs of His passion.

Ode VIII, Canon of the Theotokos, Irmos: O ye Children, equal in number to the Trinity, * bless ye God the Father and creator; * sing ye the praises of the Word who descended and changed the fire into dew; * and exalt ye above all for ever * the most Holy Spirit, who giveth life unto all.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, O branch which grew out of the root of Jesse! Rejoice, thou who, without being watered, blossomed forth Christ, the beautiful Flower! Rejoice, fertile mountain! Rejoice, mountain overshadowed! Rejoice, mountain of God in Whom the Word Who existeth before all time was pleased to dwell!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

With the iron staff of thy mighty aid do thou fend off the passions which beset me like dogs lying in wait, like roaring wild beasts, surrounding my lowly soul, O Virgin, that I may cry to thee: Rejoice!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou hast been adorned, O thou who art beautiful among women, who hast given birth unto Christ, Who is more comely in beauty than all the sons of mankind. Wherefore, rejoicing, we cry out to thee: Rejoice! rejoice, O pure and joyous Theotokos!  Rejoice, thou who art more glorious than all creation!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O Birthgiver of God, whom Daniel beheld beforehand as a mountain unquarried: Rejoice, thou from whom the Cornerstone was cut! Rejoice, Ember-bearing tongs pleasing unto God! Rejoice, thou who art more holy than the immaterial angels! Rejoice, thou who art more honorable than creation!

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: Suffering affliction for the sake of the laws of their fathers, * the blessed Children in Babylon * scorned the foolish decree of the King. * Standing together in the midst of the flames, they remained unharmed, * and sang a song fitting for almighty God: * ‘O ye works of the Lord, praise ye the Lord * and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.’

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Possessing the authority to loose and to bind, O venerable one, thou hast loosed all the transgressions of those who celebrate thy divine return with splendor. Entreat thou, that they also be deemed worthy of the kingdom of heaven, chanting with a contrite heart: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

In exile, O divinely wise father, thou didst endure pangs, receiving a blessed and glorious end, O Chrysostom, and by the will of God, returning again to thy divine see, thou art honored by those who chant: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The false serpent, unable to bear the darts of thy words, O venerable one, asked to test thee, as he did to the valiant Job; but vanquished by thine endurance for Christ’s sake, he hath been shown to be a source of ridicule for thee, who chantest with faith: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Most Holy Trinity our God, glory to Thee.

O beginningless Father, co-beginningless Son and divine Spirit, indivisible Trinity, one Essence, one Power, one Authority: fill with all good things, those who hymn Thee, delivering them from torment, that they may unceasingly chant: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The human mind is incapable of understanding the mystery of thine ineffable birthgiving, which is beyond comprehension and all telling, O Maiden; for God appeared as a mortal through thee, saving those who had fallen into corruption, and raising them up to their pristine dignity they chant: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely throughout all ages!

Canon II of the Saint, Irmos: United together in the unbearable fire, * yet not harmed by the flame, * the children, champions of godliness, sang a divine hymn: * O all ye works of the Lord, * bless ye the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

With the milk of thy piety thou dost nurture the Church which nurtured thee, O venerable father, giving her seven loaves of the bread of divine grace and pouring forth thy sweetness as a drink of healing, O all-blessed Chrysostom, thou dost nourish us.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The proclamation of thy dogmas went forth into all the earth, O father, yet the mindless empress commanded that thou be driven from thy place; but she was deceived: for as from one of immense height, the rays of thy words have shone forth everywhere.

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

Let the assembly of the faithful be enlightened today, greeting the most excellent of teachers with gladness; for he hath come and is present in body, distributing abundant grace unto all, which we, rejoicing, do richly enjoy.

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

“I behold Thee in Thy mother’s arms, and I know Thee to be unapproachable Divinity by nature. How, therefore, O Word, art Thou Who holds all creation in the palm of Thy hand, held in arms?” thus said Simeon, glorifying Thine ineffable power, O Thou Who art God and man.

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

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Behold, all generations by the divine Spirit, call thee ever-blessed, as thou didst foretell, O Birthgiver of God; and they cry out to thee, as to the one who gaveth birth unto Joy: Rejoice! rejoice, O treasury of life! Rejoice, O wellspring which pourest forth spiritual honey!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O pure Sovereign Lady, thou didst correct the stumbling of our forefather Adam, and didst turn the grief of Eve, our foremother, into joy. Wherefore, we cry to thee, as to the cause of joy: Rejoice! rejoice, O joy of the faithful! Rejoice, gladness of Christians!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Meet it is to cry to thee: Rejoice! for in thee did the ever-existent Joy make His abode in essence, O Virgin Maiden Birthgiver of God. Rejoice, O paradise of sweetness! Rejoice, wellspring of immortality flowing with streams of gold! Rejoice, thou who pourest forth true drink!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The desire for thee doth pierce my heart with the arrow of sweetness, O all-praised one, compelling me to ever call out to thee: Rejoice! and again to cry: Rejoice, peaceful haven! Rejoice, O sweetest impassable sea, who didst drown the noetic Pharaoh!

Canon I of the Saint, Irmos: Every tongue is at a loss to praise thee as is due: * even a spirit from the world above is filled with dizziness, * when it seeketh to sing thy praises, O Theotokos. * But since thou art good, accept our faith: * Thou knowest well our love inspired by God, * for thou art the Protector of Christians and we magnify thee.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou wast a rule of the priesthood, O divinely eloquent one, arrayed with righteousness as with divine vesture, having enriched the Church and spiritually laid bare the meaning of the Scriptures with thy words. Wherefore, we celebrate thy return, O father.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Thou wast shown to be as beautiful as a nightingale, O father, announcing the divine spring of repentance to those who are enslaved to the winter of sin. Though thou wast banished through the treachery of the deceiver, O wise one, thou dost hasten again, rejoicing, to the flock which desireth thee, O blessed Chrysostom.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The hearts of all are jubilant today, beholding thee, the pure Bridegroom, O venerable one, given by grace to the Church, thy Bride; and with unceasing voices they hymn and praise and bless the Bestower of good things, as is meet.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The lamp which was set upon the lampstand of Comana hath come! The adornment of the Church of God hath arrived! Hymn ye the Lord! Sing with gladness! And greeting him spiritually, let us all cry aloud: By thy supplications, save us, O father!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

With the most radiant brilliance of Him Who was ineffably born of thee, O Maiden, illumine my soul which hath been darkened by all manner of transgressions, desiring not to do that which is good, O holy and all-pure Theotokos; that I may unceasingly declare thy mighty works.

Canon II of the Saint, Irmos: New is the wonder and befitting of God: * for the Lord clearly passes through the closed gate of the Virgin: * naked at His going in and God bearing flesh at His coming out, * while the gate remaineth closed. * As ineffably the Theotokos and Mother of our God we magnify her.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

The army of angels, the council of the prophets and the divine choir of apostles and martyrs radiantly rejoice with us, sharing in the feast, O all-blessed one, esteeming the grace of thy hymns; for within thee is depicted the life of all.

Holy Father, John Chrysostom, pray to God for us.

Lo! the light of the world hath shone forth, the divine and most exalted lamp hath appeared therein, the sweetening abyss of the gifts of God. Come, brethren, let us partake of the light, that we may warm ourselves, and that we all may draw forth therefrom, magnifying Chrysostom with hymns from our heart.

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

Like a hymn offered to thee by a pair of mites, from mine unworthy and wretched soul, bereft of all that is good, and which I proffer out of zeal for the riches of God; Emulating the divine goodness, do thou accept it and render in return divinely – bestowed grace.

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

“Approaching, I tremble,” said Simeon, “yet am I strengthened, holding in mine arms thine Offspring, O Virgin, Who causeth all the earth to tremble at His mere gaze from on high; and I am already removed from the quaking flesh. Rejoicing, I bear the declaration of those things which are to be, fulfilled already in me, and I shall announce the glad tidings of deliverance to those who are in Hades”.