The Canon to the Holy Protomartyr Alban

The canon, the acrostic whereof is “Save Albion by thy prayers, O godly Alban”, in Tone VIII – the work of the Monk Joseph (Isaac Lambertsen)

Ode I, Irmos: O Lord Who didst fashion an all-glorious path for the people in the sea, make Thou the journey to heaven passable for us, that we may sing a new song unto Thee.

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

Send me grace from on high to purify my sinful mind, O Christ, that with boldness and without condemnation I may hymn Thy great martyr Alban, the invincible.

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

A great and undaunted witness to Thy truth was Alban, O God; for though he had not received holy baptism, yet so great was his zeal for the Faith that he gladly shed his blood for Thee.

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

Verulamium and the parts thereof were sanctified b y thy martyrdom, O Alban; for within its walls thou didst confess the true God and wast sentenced to death; and beyond it thou wast beheaded.

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

Even after giving birth thou hast remained ever-virgin, O all-pure and most immaculate Theotokos; wherefore, thou prayest in purity for thy sinful servants.

Ode III, Irmos: The bow of the mighty is become weak, and the strengthless have girded themselves with power; wherefore, my heart hath been established in the Lord.

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

All-joyously didst thou endure scourging for the sake of Christ, when thou didst spurn the worship of graven images, defying the unjust demand of the tyrant, O holy one.

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

Like Moses, who parted the Red Sea, so didst thou divide the rushing River Ver, which impeded thy path to martyrdom, O Alban, filling the people with amazement.

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

Bowing thy head before the executioner’s sword, thou didst surrender thy pure soul into the hands of Christ Jesus, Who hath caused it to dwell in paradise.

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

In psalms, hymns and spiritual songs we lift up our voices in praise of thee, who alone among women gavest birth unto the Unapproachable One, O Virgin Theotokos.

Katavasia: Pray to God for us, O holy Protomartyr, Alban, for we fervently flee unto thee, the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls.

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

Sessional hymn, Tone III: Awed by the mighty works wrought through thee by the Almighty, O Alban, we sinners earnestly entreat thine aid: Look down from on high, O holy martyr, and deliver us from those who would destroy us, body and soul. Beseech the Master of all, that He take pity on us and save us, in that He loveth mankind. (Twice)

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. 

Theotokion*: Past understanding and beyond the mind of man is the awesome mystery of God wrought within thee, O divinely joyous Mistress; for, having conceived the Infinite One, thou gayest birth to Him, wrapped in flesh through thine all-pure blood. Him do thou ever beseech as Thy Son, O pure one, that our souls be saved.

*Replaced with the Stavrotheotokion on Wednesdays and Fridays

Stavrotheotokion: Thy pure Mother who knew not wedlock, O Christ, beholding thee hanging, dead, upon the Cross, said, weeping maternally: “How hath the iniquitous and thankless council of the Jews, who enjoyed Thy many and great gifts, rewarded Thee, O my Son? I hymn Thy divine condescension!”

Ode IV, Irmos: What criest thou, O Prophet Habbakuk? What hast thou seen which filleth thee with awe? Beholding God come forth from Thæman, I was afraid!

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

O thy steadfastness of soul, which withstood the threats of the tyrant, O martyr, and gave thee the strength to confess the one true God in the face of the idolaters!

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

Never cease to offer supplications before the all-holy Trinity, O wondrous one, that our manifold offences may be mercifully remitted and our grievous sins forgiven.

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

Before the dread throne, amid the ranks of the angels and saints, dost thou stand, mediating with Christ for the people of thy native land and all Christians.

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

Ye six-winged seraphim and many-eyed cherubim, stand in awe of the Maiden who is full of grace, for she is higher than you in honour.

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

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

Though a man of substance and property, yet through martyrdom thou didst exchange all earthly things for the pearl of great price, the holy Christian Faith, O Alban.

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

Holmhurst Hill, whereon thou didst seal thy witness, was drenched with thy blood when, beheaded by the sword, thou gayest thy pure soul into the hands of Christ, O martyr.

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

Yea, thy glory hath truly shone forth, undimmed, through all the ages, O blessed Alban; and, guided by thy light, we hasten to the mansions of heaven, where thou dwellest in splendour.

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

Pure and all-immaculate art thou, O Maiden, and replete with the grace of God; wherefore, thou standest with honour at the right hand of thy Son and our God.

Ode VI, Irmos: Mine iniquities have gone over my head, weighing down upon me like a heavy burden, and they drag me down into the depths of despondency; but before I sink, save me, O Lord!

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

Ravaged and destroyed were thy sacred relics and their shrine, O Alban, when ungodly blasphemers descended upon thy church like wolves upon a sheepfold; yet despite their predations thy grace hath never ceased to shine forth.

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

Against the vile heresy of Pelagius did the holy hierarch Germanus do battle in Britain, and therein he found thee a mighty ally; for which cause he took with him to Gaul a portion of thy precious and holy relics.

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

“Yesterday, in my ignorance of the true God, I was as one sitting in darkness and the shadow of death; but today, when I lay down my life for Him, I shall dwell in paradise, filled with His effulgent glory!” Alban cried out.

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

“Everlasting life is the portion of those who cleave unto the God of the Christians; wherefore, put away thine unbelief from thee and believe on Him, that it may go well with thee in the life to come,” the martyr exclaimed to the tyrant.

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

Retribution from God awaiteth the accursed Nestorius, O all-pure Mistress, and all who revile thee and teach others to hold thee in contempt; for thou, O all-blessed one, dost bid all generations to call thee blessed.

Katavasia: Pray to God for us, O holy Protomartyr, Alban, for we fervently flee unto thee, the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls.

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: Spec. Mel.: “Seeking the highest …”: Imbued with courage and bravery from on high, the glorious martyr Alban stood undaunted before the tyrant and boldly confessed Christ as the only God of all; and he utterly refused to offer sacrifice to false deities. Wherefore, having laid down his life for the Lord, he maketh earnest entreaty in behalf of our souls.

Ikos: Heeding well the words of the Saviour to His disciples, thou didst not fear him who could slay thy body, for he was unable to kill thy soul. For this cause, what was taught thee in the darkness by the Christian priest, whose life thou didst save, thou didst proclaim in the light; and what thine ear took in of his pure teaching, thou didst declare openly before the tribunal. Wherefore, having laid down thy life for the Lord, thou makest earnest entreaty in behalf of our souls.

Ode VII, Irmos: O Lord, make us emulators of Thy three children, opposing sin and trampling the fire of the passions underfoot, and chanting: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

Succour and aid do thou send down upon us from on high, O blessed martyr, for we know thee to be a fervent advocate for those who chant: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

On Holmhurst Hill thou didst pause, athirst; and when thou didst pray to God a spring of water gushed forth at His behest, for which thou didst cry: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

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

Gildas the pious and the venerable Bede have reverently related thy life and martyrdom, O Alban, that, giving thanks for thee, we may chant: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

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

O how manifold are thy mighty works, O Virgin Theotokos! What tongue can fittingly describe their magnitude? And who can number them? Yea, they transcend all understanding!

Ode VIII, Irmos: Becoming vanquishers of the tyrant and the flame by Thy grace, taking exceeding care to keep Thy commandments, the children cried out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

Divine grace shineth forth with radiance from thy precious relics and sacred shrine, O wondrous martyr, whereby we all are illumined who cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

Let every Christian soul give thanks unto God, Who is wondrous in His saints, for He hath given Alban to us as an earnest suppliant for all who cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

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

Yielding pacifieth great offences, saith Solomon the wise; wherefore, thou didst reject the madness of idolatry. crying out with the faithful: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

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

A stranger wast thou to the pangs of parturition, O most immaculate Mother, for, passing forth from thy womb, Christ kept thee from all pain and preserved thy virginity intact.

Ode IX, Irmos: Let the assemblies of the heretics fall silent, for they do not confess thee to be the true Theotokos; but the prophets proclaimed thee from on high to be the Mother of God and the mediatress of our race. Wherefore, we magnify thee, O Virgin.

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

Light from on high shineth forth upon us through thee, O most pious Alban, dispelling the darkness of polytheism and the gloom of heresy, that we may tread the path of righteousness without faltering and attain the heavenly Sion.

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us.

Britain rejoiceth greatly in thy memory, O invincible martyr Alban, and bendeth its knee in gratitude for the many benefactions thou hast wrought for it, setting at nought the evil machinations of the devil and his minions.

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

All Christendom is glad and danceth for joy, reverently celebrating thy memorial with prayers, hymns and godly feasts, O martyr of Christ; for, having thee as a champion and mediator, it magnifieth thee exceedingly.

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

Now and always do we proclaim thee our peerless intercessor, who pleadeth earnestly with thy Son, the Lord of hosts, that he take pity and deal mercifully with us. Wherefore, we magnify thee, O most blessed Virgin.

Troparion, Tone 3: With faith, piety and devotion let us hasten to the sacred shrine of the wondrous martyr Alban, the first in Britain to shed his blood for Christ the Lord, for Whom he willingly laid down his life; and let us pray that through his supplications our souls may find mercy and salvation.