First Canon, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn the divinely-crowned company of martyrs,” the composition of John the Monk, in Tone II:
Ode, Irmos: Come, O ye people, * let us sing a song to Christ our God, * Who divided the sea, * and made a way for the nation * which He had brought up out of the bondage of Egypt; * for He hath been glorified.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
With hymns inspired by God I praise the divinely-crowned regiment of the martyrs of Christ, radiantly celebrating the annual commemoration of the forty, for He hath been glorified!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Rejecting every title on earth, the forty desired the title of Christian, wherefore they now dwell in the Highest.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Living in Christ and despising the flesh and the world, ye put off the old man and this transitory vesture, and clothed yourselves in the garment of incorruption.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Who is able fittingly to recount thy conceiving which surpasseth telling? For thou, O most pure one, hast given birth in the flesh to God, the Savior of us all, Who hath revealed Himself unto us.
Second Canon, The acrostic whereof is: “I hymn the divinely-crowned regiment of martyrs,” the composition of Theophanes, in the same tone:
Ode I, Irmos: Come, O ye people, * let us sing a song to Christ our God, * Who divided the sea, * and made a way for the nation * which He had brought up out of the bondage of Egypt; * for He hath been glorified.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
By your supplication, O ye forty martyrs, render God well-disposed towards us who call upon you with the pure love of our hearts.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Enlightened in the heavens with the rays of the splendor of the three-fold Sun, O ye forty martyrs, protect us who hymn you on earth, frozen over by the winter of temptations.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O forty martyrs, invincible and unshaken rampart of piety and the Church: do ye now pacify that which doth grievously trouble the Christian calling.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Virgin Theotokos, Mother who hath not known a man, thou hast given birth unto the Creator and Lord Who is supra-naturally over all and Who, for our sake, took upon Himself our flesh.
Ode III, Irmos: O Lord, who didst slay sin upon the tree, * firmly establish us in Thee, * and in the hearts of us who hymn Thee * plant the fear of Thee.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Disdaining the army and life, the comeliness of their bodies and wealth, the glorious forty martyrs inherited Christ instead of all of these things.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
When the forty martyrs were beaten mercilessly with stones at the command of the tormentors, through the Spirit of God the stones were hurled back against those who commanded that they be beaten.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
The serpent of him who invented blasphemy spake through the lips of the tormentors, but his God-opposing mouth hath been broken by the rocks hurled against the martyrs.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Without seed didst thou conceive God in thy womb, giving birth to Him who was ineffably incarnate; upon Whom the hosts of Heaven dare not gaze, O pure Ever-virgin.
Another Irmos: O Lord, who didst slay sin upon the tree, * firmly establish us in Thee, * and in the hearts of us who hymn Thee * plant the fear of Thee.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
O ye martyred company and united chorus of crowned martyrs: standing before the Master, ever save us who sing your praises.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Battered by the lake of the passions and by the waves of grievous temptations, we flee to you, Christ’s forty warriors.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Warmed in the bosom of Abraham and adorned with glorious apparel, pray ye that Christ grant forgiveness unto those who are bound by the winter of evil circumstances.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Virgin Bride of God: be thou the confirmation, refuge and protection of those who have recourse unto thee in faith and confess thee to be the Mother of God.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII: Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom …”: Having served Christ in martyrdom as warriors, and having cast down the enemy through suffering, in your deeds ye fulfilled the words of the Prophet: ye went manfully through fire and water, finding refreshment, and life incorruptible. Wherefore, adorned with heavenly crowns, ye rejoice with the choirs of the bodiless ones, O blessed and all-praised passion-bearers. Entreat Christ God, that He grant forgiveness of sins unto those who honor your holy memory with love. (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 in Tone VIII: From the snares of enemies visible and invisible, * we have been overcome by the storms of our innumerable sins, * and fleeing unto the safe harbor of thy goodness O pure one, * we have thee as our rampart and sure protection. * Wherefore we thy servants beseech thee * to ceaselessly make fervent supplication, O most pure one, * unto Him who seedlessly became incarnate from thee, * that those who worthily hymn thee ** may be granted the remission of their sins.
Ode IV, Irmos: I have heard report of Thy dispensation, O Lord, * and have glorified Thee * Who alone art the Lover of mankind.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
“O ye most iniquitous ones, ye have been made to vainly offer such a poor bargain!” said the sufferers.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Sharpened swords and wild beasts, fire and the cross did the tormentors offer to the saints of Christ.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
“The fire of Gehenna is frightful to us, but we are not afraid of any of our fellow servants here present,” said the athletes.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
“Let our arms be cut off, let our feet be burned,” the holy ones cried out, “for we shall receive them back incorruptible.”
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
We beseech thee, O most pure one who didst conceive God without seed: ever pray for thy servants.
Another, Irmos: I have heard report of Thy dispensation, O Lord, * and have glorified Thee * Who alone art the Lover of mankind.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
O martyrs, through God ye have become our illumination, for ye have clothed yourselves in undimmed splendor.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
O divinely elect and crowned assembly of martyrs, pray that those who hymn you be delivered from misfortunes.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
O holy ones, having been deemed worthy to behold the unwaning light of Christ, ye shine forth upon those who sit in darkness.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Shining with the noetic radiance of Christ, O ye glorious ones, guide us to the divine illumination.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Hymning Him Who was incarnate from thy womb, O pure one, we glorify thee as the Mother of God.
Ode V, Irmos: O Lord, Bestower of light and Creator of the ages: * guide us in the light of Thy commandments, * for we know none other God than Thee.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Through the most mindless savagery of the tormentors, the spiritual athletes, condemned to spend the night in the open air in the cold, chanted a hymn of thanksgiving unto God.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Rejoicing, the forty martyrs endured the painful ice, standing in the lake, yet were strengthened with the hope of divine crowns.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
The serpent which before had made its nest in the waters, and now driven out, became an object of scorn for the forty martyrs of Christ, for he was deprived of his deadly strength.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
To thee who hast given birth to Christ, the Creator of all, do we cry aloud: Rejoice, O pure one! Rejoice, thou who hast shone forth the Light upon us! Rejoice, thou who didst contain the infinite God.
Another Irmos: O Lord, Bestower of light and Creator of the ages: * guide us in the light of Thy commandments, * for we know none other God than Thee.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
From the raging of the heretics do ye now deliver the honorable Church of Christ, O forty martyrs; for, having been born within Her, ye have passed on to great dignity and glory.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Appearing to us, the forty divinely splendid martyrs of Christ like fiery beacons light the salvific way of piety for the faithful.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Passing over from earth to the shelter of Heaven, where ye stand before Christ, the Judge of the contest, O martyrs, deem me worthy to acquire divine joy.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Maiden Sovereign Lady, thou didst truly bear God as thy divine Offspring, as a mystery inscrutable and incomprehensible to all, passing all understanding.
Ode VI, Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, * I appeal to the unfathomable abyss of Thy compassion: * Raise me up from corruption, O God.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
With joy the author of enmity snatched him that fell away from the forty as did the wretched Judas from the twelve apostles, and mankind from Eden.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Being shameless, the devil rageth in vain, for as of old by the thief and Matthias, so now by one in the office of guardsman, the tyrant hath also been rent asunder.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Vain-minded and worthy of lamentation is he who missed both lives, for thawed by the fire, he departed into the unquenchable flames.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O Virgin, thou hast given birth without knowing a man, and remainest forever a virgin, revealing the images of thy Son and God, the true Deity.
Another Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, * I appeal to the unfathomable abyss of Thy compassion: * Raise me up from corruption, O God.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
O mighty ones, ye have been revealed to be watchful and vigilant preservers of the human race, offering up supplications, and set forth as helpers of the grieving.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Shining forth in the Church of Christ in your unexcelled beauties, O all-praised ones, deliver those who honor you with love from all temptations.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Of old ye became destroyers of the deception of the demonized persecutors, O most eminent ones; and now be our ready help and rampart.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
On thee have I placed my hope of salvation, O Ever-virgin Mother; and Thee have I appointed as the steadfast and unshakable intercessor of my life.
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 VI: Having fully left the army of the world, * ye cleaved unto the Master in the heavens, * O forty passion-bearers of the Lord; * for, having passed through fire and water, * O blessed ones, * ye received glory from the heavens as is meet ** and a multitude of crowns.
Ikos: Unworthy as I am, I fall down before Christ Almighty, our Creator and God, Who sitteth upon an unapproachable throne, Who stretched out the heavens as it were a curtain, Who established the earth, Who gathered the waters in the bodies thereof, Who created all things out of nothing, Who granteth breath and life unto all, Who receiveth hymnody from the archangels, is worshipped by the angels and is glorified by all; and offering up entreaty, I beg the grace of eloquence, that even I may piously hymn the saints whom He Himself showed forth as victors, granting them glory from the heavens and a multitude of crowns.
Ode VII, Irmos: When the golden image was worshipped on the plain of Dura, * Thy three children spurned the impious command, * and, cast into the midst of the flame, * they were bedewed, and sang: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
The guard set over the forty martyrs was struck with awe, beholding their crowns; and, rejecting that which bound him to life, taking wing with the love of Thy manifest glory, with the martyrs he sang: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Hastening to the soul-destroying bath, he that loved his life died; but he that loved Christ, being a most exemplary apprehender of those things which he beheld, sang with the martyrs as in a bath of incorruption: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
When the noetic fire flared up in the minds of the forty, the most subtle madness of the impious was consumed, as it were melting wax. And to Thee, O Christ, they sang: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
The power of Thy Cross, as exceeding splendid and magnificent, O Christ, doth weave crowns for the forty martyrs with opposites; for, having passed through fire and water, they cry out in incorruption: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
On Mount Sinai Moses foresaw thee, O pure one, as a burning bush which, without being consumed, bore the unbearable radiance of the ineffable Being, Who as One of the holy Hypostases, hath united Himself to the coarseness of our flesh.
Another Irmos: When the golden image was worshipped on the plain of Dura, * Thy three children spurned the impious command, * and, cast into the midst of the flame, * they were bedewed, and sang: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Your annual commemoration hath radiantly dawned, O ye who are most rich, shining far, radiant with the splendor of the Fast. And celebrating it with faith, we chant with you: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
To all ye have been revealed to be as ones loosened from the passions and beacons shining from afar, the cleansing of the world, the destruction of deception, clear-voiced proclaimers of the truth and expellers of falsehood, chanting: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Ye have been revealed to us as noetic beacons shining forth, O martyrs; for ye save the tempest-tossed and guide those who sail and are battered by the storm of life, chanting unto Christ: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Beautiful to God and desirable to the angels is the divinely assembled and most splendid regiment of the forty martyrs inspired by God, the godly and awesome company which crieth out, saying: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
A beacon of light, a luminous cloud and a hallowed place hast thou been revealed to be, O thou who knewest not wedlock, for thou didst ineffably receive the Word, the Holy One of those who are holy. And chanting unto Him, we cry aloud: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Ode VIII, Irmos: God Who descended into the fiery furnace * with the Hebrew children, * and transformed the flame into dew, * do ye works hymn, * and supremely exalt as Lord throughout all ages.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Savagely inciting every creature against the athletes, the enemy hath been put to shame by them all, for the forty martyrs unceasingly hymn and supremely exalt the Lord throughout all ages.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Cruelly were the members of your bodies crushed for Christ, and ye were offered unto God as a divine holocaust; with the angels ye ever hold chorus, O martyrs, hymning Christ throughout all ages.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
With steadfast intent the Christ-loving mother took upon her shoulder him to whom she had given birth; and she offered him up as the fruit of piety, a martyr among martyrs, emulating the sacred action of Abraham.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
“Make thy journey running straight to everlasting life, O my son,” the Christ- loving mother cried out to her Christ-loving child, “for I could not bear to see thee appear in second place before Christ, the Judge of the contest!”
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The Son Who is not parted from the bosom of the Father, yet made His abode in thy maternal womb, O pure Virgin Bride of God, do we hymn and supremely exalt throughout all ages!
Another Irmos: God Who descended into the fiery furnace * with the Hebrew children, * and transformed the flame into dew, * do ye works hymn, * and supremely exalt as Lord throughout all ages.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Ye steadfastly gave yourselves over to a painful death in the midst of winter, O valiant ones; and now, having passed on to the true life which is hidden in Christ, ye ask for salvation and forgiveness for us.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Having passed over from earth to the heavens, O crowned spiritual athletes, ye chorus of victorious martyrs of the Church, ask for us salvation and deliverance from misfortunes, passions and evil circumstances.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Rending asunder the bonds of death, the Savior hath given victory over death to His martyrs, for, warmed by the cold, the forty sang, asking for salvation for all the faithful.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Through prayer the divine choir of passion-bearers manifestly drive the assaults of dangers, the attack of the passions and the temptations of the demons away from those who hymn Christ throughout the ages.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Mortals given over to the dust of mortality and to corruption hast thou alone raised up, O pure Lady, Virgin Birthgiver of God, having given birth to Christ our God, the Author of life.
Ode IX, Irmos: God the Word, God of God, * Who by ineffable wisdom came to create Adam anew * after his grievous fall to corruption through eating * and Who took flesh beyond all telling from the Holy Virgin for our sake, * Him we faithful with one accord magnify in song.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Stripped naked and beaten with stones for the sake of Christ, ye endured the wintry air, icy water and crushing of your limbs; and having been consumed by fire, O ye forty martyrs, ye shine forth in the rushing river like beacons.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Having acquired the Cross as a staff of divine power, the forty spiritual athletes cried out to Christ: O Master, almighty Conqueror, crown us by Thine own hand, that we all may unceasingly magnify Thee with hymns!
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
The pain of the ice and boundless cruelty of the cold did ye endure, O forty martyrs; but paradise is sweet, for the bosom of the Patriarch Abraham doth warm you in the eternal mansions.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Manifest as conquerors by your sufferings, and having received crowns from the divine right hand of the Master, O forty martyrs, pray ye now that peace be granted to the world and victory and salvation to us.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The multitudes of angels entreat thy Son, O Virgin Bride and Mother. Accept thou our supplication, O thou who alone art the hope of the faithful; grant peace to the world, and victory and salvation unto us who love thee.
Another, Irmos: God the Word, God of God, * Who by ineffable wisdom came to create Adam anew * after his grievous fall to corruption through eating * and Who took flesh beyond all telling from the Holy Virgin for our sake, * Him we faithful with one accord magnify in song.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Supra-natural illumination and ineffable joy and glory have ye been deemed worthy to receive; and now, O soldiers of Christ, ye forty martyrs, from temptations, misfor- tunes and the wickedness of the enemy deliver those who honor you with love.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Having received power and might from the heavens, O ye that are most spiritually rich, fellow prisoners of Christ, in that ye have become dispellers of falsehood, drive away all the ephemeral gloom of idolatry and enlighten the world, O ye forty martyrs.
Holy forty martyrs of Sebaste, pray to God for us.
Adorned with the comeliness of an honorable martyrdom, and sharing in divine life, O forty martyrs, warriors of Christ, ye truly rejoice, united to the most radiant and pure Light.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Standing now before Christ with the boldness of piety, and illumined with the light of the Godhead, O glorious forty martyrs, earnestly beseech Him, that those who praise you be illumined with the thrice-luminous radiance.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Virgin, portal of divine Light, with the immaterial rays of thy light illumine the manifest twilight of my soul, and grant that I who magnify thee faithfully and lovingly with hymns, O pure one, be delivered from everlasting fire.
Troparion, Tone I: By the pangs which Thy saints, suffered for Thee, * hearken unto us, O Lord, * and heal all our diseases, ** we beseech Thee, O Lover of mankind.