Ode I, Irmos: Let us chant unto the Lord, Who led His people through the Red Sea, for He alone hath gloriously been glorified.
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
The sound of man’s tongue is unable to recount the most glorious sufferings of the protomartyr, for it falleth short of fitting praise.
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
The all-prideful superstition of the tyrant hath been set at nought, for in Christ women have piously prevailed like men against him.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Instructed in the Gospel by thine ineffable words, O most blessed Paul, the virgin betrothed herself to Christ.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
The Virgin gave birth unto Thee, O Christ, the life-bearing Cluster of grapes, Who pourest forth the sweetness of universal salvation.
Ode III, Irmos: Thou art the confirmation of those who have recourse to Thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of the benighted; and my spirit doth hymn Thee.
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
O thy love which passeth understanding, O most honoured one, whereby, having united thyself in the Spirit, thou didst bind thyself to Paul in Christ!
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
The intention of the tyrant was unable to wound thee who wast wounded with the desire of the Spirit, O delight of mortals.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having rejected all fleshly attachments, thou wast not softened by the conversations of thy mother, O most laudable athlete.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Thou wast the correction of our first mother Eve, O Theotokos, having given birth unto the Author of life for the world.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Kontakion, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “As first-fruits…”: In the beauty of thy virginity thou didst shine forth, and thou wast adorned with the crown of martyrdom; as one all-glorious, O virgin, thou didst entrust thyself to the Apostle Paul, and didst transform the flame of the fire into dew; and by thy supplication, O thou who wast the first among women to suffer, thou didst quell the raging of the bull.
Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Transforming thy womanhood into manliness through the virtues and the love of Christ, by both thou becamest a dwelling place of God; for, having diminished the gloom of the passions by fasting, by martyrdom thou wast shown to be the boast of suffering. Wherefore, thou shinest forth with twofold radiance upon the world like a beacon, illumining all with rays of the Spirit, O most lauded protomartyr. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who with love honour thy holy memory. (Twice)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: All we, the generations of men, bless thee as the Virgin who, alone among women, gavest birth without seed to God in the flesh; for the fire of the Godhead made its abode within thee, and thou gavest suck unto the Creator and Lord as a babe. Wherefore, as is meet, we, the race of angels and men, glorify thy most holy birthgiving; and together we cry out to thee: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions to those who hymn thy glory as is meet.
Stavrotheotokion (replaces the Theotokion of Wednesdays and Fridays): The Ewe-Lamb, beholding the Lamb, Shepherd and Deliverer upon the Cross, exclaimed, weeping, and, bitterly lamenting, cried out: “The world rejoiceth, receiving deliverance through Thee; but my womb is in pain, beholding the crucifixion which Thou endurest in the loving-kindness of Thy mercy! O longsuffering Lord, abyss and inexhaustible wellspring of mercy: have mercy, and grant remission of transgressions unto those who hymn Thy divine sufferings!”
Ode IV, Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thy dispensation; I have understood Thy works, and have glorified Thy divinity.
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
Paul, as the arranger of marriage, joined thee, O most honoured Thecla, who hadst been betrothed to Thamyris, to the heavenly Bridegroom, as one undefiled.
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
Thou wast brought to the love of piety by the words of Paul, O martyr, and didst spurn the words of Thamyris as foolishness.
Holy Great-Martyr, Thecla, pray to God for us.
By the sprinkling of the divine Blood hath the race of Adam been blessed; and Eve rejoiceth, seeing the deceitful serpent brought down by women.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Loving piety, the protomartyr cast away all the beautiful things of life: riches, family, beauty, and the pleasures of a betrothed.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
All we, the enlightened, know thee to be the Theotokos, O most pure one; for thou, O Ever-virgin, gavest birth to the Sun of righteousness.
Ode V, Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thy dispensation; I have understood Thy works, and have glorified Thy divinity.
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
With most grievous suffering thou didst struggle in the arena, O most blessed Thecla, and wast counted worthy of honours.
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
The wicked serpent hath been laid waste, for the virgin learned obedience by divine sufferings.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By divine boldness hath thy shame been overcome, for the fire at the heart of the Trinity set thee aflame.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
O Mary, unwedded Theotokos, make vain the hopes of our enemies and gladden those who hymn thee.
Ode VI, Irmos: I pour forth my prayer unto the Lord, and to Him do I declare my grief; for my soul is full of evil and my life hath drawn nigh unto hell, and like Jonah I pray: Lead me up from corruption, O God!
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
Having fortified the weakness of her nature with the might of the Cross, and repudiated youthful adornment by divine love, at night the maiden took courage and ran away, seeking the fragrant teachings of Him Who was her Desired One.
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
With love, of her own will, the right glorious protomartyr Thecla supernaturally left her bridal chambers to dwell in a dungeon with malefactors; for her desire for the Creator overcame her desire for comforts.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Drinking in the words of Paul in prison as in a divine meadow, the martyr kissed the chains of her divine teacher; and she grew and truly brought forth most comely fruit for the Master.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Choosing thee from among the beautiful valleys of the world as a rose, a most comely lily, a sweet-scented fragrance, O Maiden, the Creator made His abode within thy womb; and, having been born, He hath filled all things with a sweet savour.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone II, Spec. Mel. “Seeking the highest…”: Having wounded thy heart with the love of Christ, O good virgin, thou didst spurn a transitory betrothal as of no account; and didst brave the fire and shut the mouths of the wild beasts. And, saved from them, O Thecla, first among women to suffer, thou didst take care to seek out Paul.
Ikos: Having learned the path of truth from Paul, thou didst follow after him without wavering, O all-glorious one, and having abandoned thine own people as strangers, with manly mind and in manly guise thou didst follow a stranger. Wherefore, the Master hath shown thee forth as the first to suffer among women contenders in the world, wherein thou didst remain, O Thecla, first among women to suffer, going about the ends thereof in search of Paul.
Ode VII, Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the youths who had come forth from Judæa trod down the flame of the furnace with their faith in the Trinity, chanting: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
Like a prisoner thou wast bound to Paul with unbreakable bonds by love, O most blessed one, piously crying out with faith and chanting with him: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
Thou didst stand with Paul before the unjust tribunal, O good virgin, and moved by love of the Master, thou didst cry out in awe, rejecting what was unseemly: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
Thou gavest thy body over to the furnace for divine love, O martyr, and by the power of Him Whom thou didst desire thou didst remain unconsumed, crying out: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The storm cloud, dousing the flame with rain and hail, rightly consumed the mindless ones and saved the martyr, who chanted thy hymn: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
A rod sprung forth from the root of Jesse wast thou, O all-blessed one, putting forth the Fruit of salvation for those who with faith cry out to thy Son: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Ode VIII, Irmos: The King of heaven, Whom the hosts of angels hymn, praise and exalt ye supremely for all ages!
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
Strange was thy thought; for thou, O virgin martyr, madest thine abode in a grave as in Eden, hymning Christ forever.
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
Unable to endure that the magnificence and splendour of the beauty of thy virginity be dimmed, thou didst will to die and to live forever.
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
Having united thyself to Christ the life-creating and supernatural Bridegroom, O protomartyr, thou wast pleased that wild beasts be the preservers of thy virginity.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having shed thy garment of corruption, O beautifully clad runner of Christ, thou didst pass on to the life which ageth not, forever.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
In manner transcending nature thou gavest birth unto God the Word, the Creator and Saviour, O Virgin; wherefore, we honour thee, O pure one, forever.
Ode IX, Irmos: With unceasing glorification we magnify thee, the Mother of the Most High, who knewest not wedlock, who didst truly give birth unto God the Word in manner past understanding, and art more highly exalted than the all-pure hosts.
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
Who doth not marvel at thine invincibility, O protomartyr? For, having made subject the passions, the noetic beasts, to thy soul, thou wast not afraid of the unrestrained assaults of wild beasts, but remained incorrupt in their midst.
Holy Great-Martyr Thecla, pray to God for us.
At the command of God, the hard and impassible rock split apart for thee, O Godbearing martyr who wast sealed by the laver of regeneration as a blessed bride, and it received thee like a chamber as thou didst flee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Heal thou the wounds of my soul, O protomartyr; grant peace to the world, bestowing victories over heresies and schisms to all true Orthodox hierarchs, and bring peace to the Churches by thy prayers.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
With unceasing hymns all of us, the faithful, glorify thee, the all-glorious and most holy Theotokos, and we hymn thee as her who gave birth unto the Lord of all, unto the salvation of those who praise thee.
Troparion, Tone IV: Taught by the words of Paul, O Thecla, bride of God, and confirmed through faith by Peter, O divinely called one, thou wast shown to be the protomartyr and first sufferer among women. Thou didst enter the flame as it were a place abloom with flowers, and the wild beasts and bulls stood in awe of thee, for thou didst arm thyself with the Cross. Wherefore, O most lauded one, entreat Christ, that our souls be saved.
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