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AT VESPERS Prosomia. Tone 4. You have given as a sign. Bridling every pleasure, you denied the body, O wise in God. By deeds of self-mastery and harshness and endurance of trials you embittered your senses. In exchange for all these you receive unending delight, perpetual pleasure and unspeakable joy. Through self-mastery and brief supplication you made the passions of the body wither, and you suffocated the crafty serpent with showers of tears, blessed and inspired Father, and you were exceedingly well-pleasing to God. Therefore Jesus, the lover of mankind and Saviour of our souls, adorned you with heavenly gifts of grace. You finished the course of your ascetic life without swerving and you kept the faith, therefore you were adorned with a crown of justice, which Christ, who apportions prizes as is right and gives awards, had prepared for you, and the reward of your toils. Beseech him to furnish us now also with these, god-bearing Father. Glory. Both now. Theotokion.All-blameless, who bore the Sun of justice, dispel the fog of the passions that afflict me, and chase far from my miserable heart the serpent who cheats my soul, and enchants me now with sensual pleasures and vanities, and guard your servant with the calm of dispassion. Or Cross-Theotokion. When she saw Christ, the lover of mankind, crucified and pierced in the side by a lance, the All-pure wept and cried out, ‘What is this, my Son? Why does an ungrateful people revenge it self on you for all the good things you did for them? And why do you hasten to leave me childless? I am amazed, O Compassionate, at your voluntary crucifixion’. AT MATINS The Canon. [Let us sing to the Lord, who led his people in the Red Sea, for he alone has been greatly glorified.] Troparia. The love of the Master drew you, and abandoning the body’s pleasures, blessed father, you found your rest in Christ. You were raised to the heights, blessed Father, and you passed through the middle wall of uncreated being, and your delight is pure. Receiving in your heart an immaterial ray, you were enlightened and you dispelled all the fog of the passions. Theotokion. Adam’s race, lifted up to the blessedness that is beyond the mind through you, Mother of God, worthily glorifies you. Ode 3. Irmos. You are the foundation. [You are the foundation, Lord, of those who have recourse to you; you are the light of those in darkness; and my spirit hymns you.] Troparia. The fire of the godhead you enfolded, venerable, god-bearing Father, and purified you were declared to be a burning coal on earth. You put on the death of the passions before the end, venerable father, and through death you departed to an unending life. By strong reasoning you subdued the flesh, venerable Father, and showed your soul to be unhumbled to the slavery of the passions. Theotokion. By your intercessions, O all-blameless, give us help, driving off the assaults of dread dangers. Irmos. You are the foundation, Lord, of those who have recourse to you; you are the light of those in darkness; and my spirit hymns you. Kathisma. Tone 4. Joseph was amazed. Devoutly longing for the poverty of Jesus you abandoned perishable wealth and this transient life, wise Father, and taking your cross on your shoulders you travelled to the end the narrow path with joy, treading on the pleasures of the body, holy one, through the mastery of every wicked passion, and you reached the wide, divine plain of Paradise. our venerable Father. Theotokion. With compunction of my soul, I bend the knee to you, good Virgin, and with supplication I cry out: Attend to me and see my misery, bowed down by sins. Having maltreated my soul and body, I expect those fearful punishments. Help me then, O Virgin, and rescue me from them, O Mother of God, for you have the power. Or Cross-Theotokion. The Virgin and Ewe-lamb, seeing on a cross the Lamb who had been born from her for our sake made away with and pierced by a lance, wounded by the arrows of grief cried out with lamentation: What is this new mystery? How can you, the Lord of our life, be dying? Therefore arise, and raise with yourself our fallen forefather. Ode 4. Irmos. I heard your report, Lord. [I heard your report, Lord, and was afraid. I understood your works and glorified your might.] Troparia. Your servant, Lord, thrust aside much-divided care, making his untroubled mind your dwelling. Your delight, blessed Saint, was in the commands of the Gospel; for taking up your cross you followed the Master rejoicing. On wings of humility you shattered the snares of the ill-intentioned; therefore, Venerable Father, you were exalted and declared a citizen of heaven. Theotokion. Grant us pardon of offences, as you are sinless; make your world peaceful, O God, at the prayers of her who gave you birth. Ode 5. Irmos. Rising at dawn. [Rising at dawn, Lord, we cry out to you, ‘Save us! For you are our God, we know no other but you’.] Troparia. Alone you turned to flight the rage of the serpent, God-bearing Father; while you turned all your desire towards your Master. Prudently you governed your body’s senses, and were declared a monument of the virtues, All-blest Father. Revered Saint, you bore the heat of the day and were found worthy of the joy of the Lord. Theotokion. Mary, Mother of God, without bridegroom, bring to naught the hopes of our foes, and make those who praise you glad. Ode 6. Irmos. Grant me a tunic. [Grant me a tunic of light, O Most Merciful, Christ our God, who wrap yourself in light as in a garment.] Troparia. The approach of the serpent did not beguile your servant, O Christ, nor did the fire of temptations affright him. Your way of life on earth, Venerable Father, was equal to that of angels; you were adorned by the right hand of the Almighty. You obtained self-mastery, uninterrupted prayer, untroubled love, and so you appeared as an unsullied mirror of God. Theotokion. The Word of God revealed you to mortals as a heavenly ladder, for through you he came down to us. Irmos. Grant me a tunic of light, O Most Merciful, Christ our God, who wrap yourself in light as in a garment. Ode 7. Irmos. The Youths from Judea. [The Three Youths from Judea, who attained to the faith of the Holy Trinity in Babylon of old, they sang out as they trampled down the furnace’s raging flames, ‘Blessed are you, O God, the God of our Fathers!’] Troparia. For putting pleasures to death and bridling anger, O all-blest, you have received the prize of the inheritance above; and you cry with joy: God of our Fathers, blessed are you. You passed unswervingly through the finest path of virtues, revered Father, and drove on towards the city of the undefiled Eden, as you sang with joy: God of our Fathers, blessed are you. Devoutly you proclaimed the glory of the Trinity, O all-blessed, and find rest to take your delight in the three-sunned light, and you cry with gladness: God of our Fathers, blessed are you. Theotokion. You were the all-blest rod from the root of Jesse, O Virgin, whose blossom was a saving fruit for those who cry out with faith to your Son: God of our Fathers, blessed are you. Ode 8. Irmos. The King of heaven. [The King of heaven, whose praise the Angels are singing, all you hosts of the Bodiless Powers, praise him and exalt him most highly to all ages.] Troparia. The One who wonderfully strengthened the Saint for ascetic struggles, praise and highly exalt to all the ages. You shared the Angels’ way of life on earth, all-blest, and now you dwell with them in heaven to the ages. The band of monks rejoices, and the company of saints and just dances, for you have fittingly received a garland of victory. Theotokion. Beyond nature you gave birth, O Virgin, to the Creator and Saviour, God the Word; therefore we praise you to all the ages. Irmos. The King of heaven, whose praise the Angels are singing, all you hosts of the Bodiless Powers, praise him and exalt him most highly to all ages. Ode 9. Irmos. We who through you. [We, who through you, O Virgin, have been saved, confess you to be most truly the one who gave birth to God. With all the choirs of the heavens you we now magnify.] Troparia. Your memory, Venerable Father, fittingly gladdens all the throngs on earth to-day; save us who honour it year by year. Intercede that those who celebrate with faith your memory, worthy of praise, venerable Father, may be delivered from the stumbling blocks of the enemy. As his servant, blessed, venerable Father, you ever stand before the throne of the Master; do not cease to intercede for your flock. Theotokion. We sing your praise with psalms, O Full of grace, and never silent we cry to you: Hail! For you became a source of gladness for all. Irmos. We, who through you, O Virgin, have been saved, confess you to be most truly the one who gave birth to God. With all the choirs of the heavens you we now magnify. At the Liturgy, for the Apostle and Gospel, see January 17th. |
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