The canon of the holy hierarch, the acrostic whereof is “Aldhelm’s discourse is as sweet as honey”, in Tone III
Ode I, Irmos: To God, Who alone saved His people in the sea and engulfed the adversaries, let us sing, for He hath been glorified.
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
Aldhelm taught the people of the New Israel to chant: Unto Christ God let us sing, for He hath been glorified!
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
Let us hymn Aldhelm, the holy hierarch of Christ, the great High Priest, for in His saints He hath truly been glorified.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Delivering us from the noetic Pharaoh, Aldhelm rightly receiveth goodly praise from us, for he hath been glorified.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Hymn we now the most pure Mother of our God, the all-immaculate Virgin Theotokos, who hath been glorified.
Ode III, Irmos: O Thou Who didst found the earth upon its firmament and establish the heavens with might, make steadfast all of us who praise Thee with faith.
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
Earth did not confine the thoughts of the holy hierarch, who fixed his mind on the firmament and the heavens, worshiping the Author of creation.
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
Living a life well-pleasing to Christ, the venerable one ascended the virtues like a ladder, loving Him by keeping His saving commandments with faith.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Malmesbury was filled with gladness, for its walls were raised up by the holy Aldhelm, who therein taught all to praise the Lord God with faith.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Stars form a splendid diadem for thee, O Queen of all, and the heavens clothe thee in a robe of royal purple, for thou gavest birth to the King of kings.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Sessional hymn of the holy hierarch, in Tone I Spec. Mel. “Thy tomb, O Saviour…”: O blessed Aldhelm, thou wast truly a star of exceeding brilliance, illumining thy flock with gifts of miracles and the wisdom of thy sacred writings; wherefore, celebrating thy splendid memorial today, we magnify Christ in gladness of heart.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Repeat.
Ode IV, Irmos: Nay, with the rivers wast Thou wroth, O Lord? Nay, against the rivers was Thine anger, or against the sea Thine attack?
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
Divine knowledge didst thou pursue in thy life, O holy hierarch, ever pondering the ineffable mysteries of the Lord Most High.
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
In thy sacred writings thou didst extol the virtues of holy virginity, O saint of God, for thy life itself was an example thereof.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Sanctified by the mystery of the monastic tonsure, O Aldhelm, thou didst follow the statutes of the venerable Benedict to perfection.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Christ gave thee to us sinners as a great mediatress, O Mother of God, ever pouring forth rivers of loving-kindness upon us all.
Ode V, Irmos: Grant us Thy peace, O Son of God; for we know none other God than Thee, Who art glorified in the highest with the Father and the Spirit.
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
O Son of God, with the Father and the Holy Spirit grant that, through the prayers of Thy holy hierarch, we may find true peace for our souls.
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
Unto thee, O venerable Aldhelm, do we fall down, praying earnestly: Beseech the Holy Trinity without ceasing, that our souls may find peace.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Reverence and veneration do we piously offer to the blessed hierarch of Christ, who taught the people the true worship of the Holy Trinity.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Sanctified was thy pure womb by the indwelling of the Spirit, O mother of God, and it was made a fitting abode for the Word of the Father.
Ode VI, Irmos: I have been cast into the abyss of the heart of the sea of iniquities, and like Jonah I cry unto Thee: Lead me up from corruption, that I may render my supplications unto Thee, O Lord.
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
Even as we drown in the sea of our iniquities we cry out to the helper given us by God: O Aldhelm, Lead us up from corruption, that we may render supplication unto our merciful Lord!
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
In thy birth thou wast of royal kinship, O saint, but by thy pious manner of life thou didst become a true son of the heavenly King, to Whom thou dost eternally render filial worship.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Saved from the corruption of thy times by thy steadfast faith in Christ God, O Aldhelm, thou didst lead many to salvation through repentance, guiding them to the kingdom on high.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Accept from us these suppliant cries, O all-immaculate Maiden, and in thy love for us sinners bear them to the dread throne of thy Son and Lord, Who sitteth in awesome majesty.
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 holy hierarch, Tone III, Spec. Mel. “Today the Virgin…”: Desiring that which is sublime, thou didst despise all that draweth man down; and, forsaking thine own country and thy father’s house, thou didst set out to attain the knowledge of God, for which cause thou didst labour for the Lord for many years, acquiring divine wisdom. Wherefore, piously celebrating thy holy memory, we cry out to thee with love: Rejoice, O divinely wise Aldhelm our father!
Ikos: As thou didst strive to become a fit dwelling-place for the Spirit of God, He adorned thee with all manner of divine beauties, O Aldhelm, and thou wast shown to be a wondrous guide for monks, ever instructing them in the precepts of thy Master. Wherefore, celebrating thy memory, with reverence we cry out to thee: Rejoice, O heavenly adornment of the land of Wessex! Rejoice, divine ornament of holy Malmesbury! Rejoice, lover of true theology! Rejoice, boast of Kent! Rejoice, thou who wast all things to all men, that thou mightest lead some to salvation! Rejoice, bold champion of the unity of the Church of Christ! Rejoice, thou whom we exalt among the saints of God! Rejoice, thou who art glorified by Christ God among the ranks of angels! Rejoice, O divinely wise Aldhelm our father!
Ode VII, Irmos: The children quenched the flame in the furnace, and through faith received a heavenly dew. Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
Sing we now in praise of the wondrous Aldhelm, who by fasting and prayer, vigils and ascetic feats, pleased the God of our fathers.
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
Subdue the flames of the passions that cruelly burn our souls, O holy one, pouring forth upon us the cooling heavenly dew of grace divine.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Wretched are we, and consumed by the fire of sin; yet do we cry out with the holy Aldhelm: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Eden with its Tree of Life could not rival thy most pure womb, O Virgin, for therein arose the true Source of all life, grace and holiness.
Ode VIII, Irmos: Him Who is worshiped and unceasingly glorified by the holy angels, ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
Entering among the monks of Malmesbury, Aldhelm instructed them to chant aright: Ye people, exalt Christ supremely for all ages!
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
Thou didst labour manfully to teach all to love the divine services, O saint, crying out: Ye people, exalt the Lord supremely for all ages!
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
All of Wessex and Kent were hallowed by thy labours, O holy hierarch, and therein priests and people exalt the Most High for all ages.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Supremely is the Holy Trinity worshiped and continually glorified by men and angels: the unoriginate Father, with His Son and Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Help us, we beseech thee, O Lady of tender compassion, lest we perish utterly; for there is nought that is impossible for thy prayers.
Ode IX, Irmos: We ever magnify thee, the wellspring of immortality and holiness, who givest healings to the human race, for thou savest our souls.
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
Our souls magnify the Lord, the Bestower of light and life, Who in His love for mankind hath given us the holy Aldhelm as an advocate.
Hierarch of Christ, Aldhelm, pray to God for us.
Never will the memory of the saint of God fade among us, for he is a wellspring of healing for the grave infirmities of our souls and bodies.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Exult ye greatly, O ye faithful Christians, for through the blessed hierarch is the saving grace of God poured forth upon the human race.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Ye faithful, let us piously magnify the spring that gave rise to Christ, the boundless Torrent of immortality, holiness and salvation.
Troparion, Tone V: Like Samuel of old thou wast afire from thy youth with spiritual desire for wisdom divine, O venerable and God-bearing hierarch Aldhelm; for this cause thou didst tread the narrow path of life unto Christ, making Malmesbury a worthy monastic abode, a haven of stillness where thou didst struggle in ascetic labor for many years. Wherefore, as thou now beholdest the face of Christ in the heavens, entreat Him in behalf of us who honor thy holy memory with love.