Ode 6. Θύσω σοι, μετὰ φωνῆς.

Kontakion. Tone 2. Τὰ ἂνω ζητῶν..

You were enraptured by the beauties of the Creator, glorious Martyr, and having received reflections from them, you took wing, blessed saint, and despising death, departed to him.

With sober reasoning, O Martyr Nikitas, you preferred things that are never exhausted to those that flow away, and you handed over your body to the tortures with joy.

The spiritual Bridegroom, when he found you as an apple in the forest, a most pure lily, a flower of the valleys, O Mother of God, in you he took up his dwelling.

I will sacrifice to you with a voice of praise, the Church cries out to you, cleansed from the filth of demons by the blood that flowed through pity from your side.

Having cut down the might of error by your exertion, and received the garland of victory by your struggle, you rejoice glorious Nikitas, named for victory, with the Angels, as with them you intercede with Christ God unceasingly for us all.

By putting knowledge in my soul, make my mind pure, O Saviour, and me a worker of your commandments, that I may have strength to wrestle victoriously with the many different assaults of my passions and to receive the victor’s prize of incorruption at the prayers of your noble champion Nikitas, O Lover of mankind; for he has called us together in his memory, as he intercedes unceasingly for us all.

On the 15th of the same month, Contest of the holy Great Martyr Nikitas.

You burn, Nikitas, and bear off the victory ,

Or rather Fire-bearer is Victory-bearer.

And on the fifteenth day, Nikitas was cast in the furnace.

He was born in the reign of Constantine the Great and brought up in the country of the barbarians called Goths, beyond the Danube. But he did not join with the barbarians, but was of the devout just as was outstanding by race and property. He was arrested by the ruler of the nation Athenariches because of his faith in Christ, savagely tortured and he died by fire.

On the same day, commemoration of our venerable Father Philotheos, Presbyter and wonderworker.

Philotheos, who lived as God’s good friend,

Has found unending life with God’s good friends.

He was from a village called Myrmix, of the district of Opsikios, and had a name which corresponded to his father’s. For he was called Theophilis. Having married and become the father of children, he was found worthy of the priesthood. From then on he fasted and was devoted to prayer and became the author of mighty wonders. He provided bread for the destitute poor, he changed a stream of water into wine, he moved a huge stone and a year after his death, as he was being moved to a another place, he stretched out his hands, as though alive, and having grasped the shoulders of the two priests who wished to move him, he arose and having walked three paces, he was put down in the place where he lies. He also causes a wondrous and unending spring of sweet myrrh to gush out, so providing a marvellous proof of his way of life.

On the same day commemoration of St Porphyrios the Actor.

Urged to mock Baptism, you mocked at error,

You cleanse yourself, Porphyrios, and are slain.

He was ordered by Julian, during the celebration of his birthday, to insult and mock at Christians rites, and as he was about to plunge into water and be baptised he shouted: Porphyrios is baptised in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. He came up out of the water and put on white garments, and having boldly confessed himself a Christian his head was cut off.

On the same day the Finding of the relics of Saint Akakios, Bishop of Melitini.

The Finding of your relics as we honour,

Release from ills Akakios may we find.

On the same day the holy Martyr Maximos died by the sword.

Seeing Christ stretching out to you a crown

You stretch your head out Maximos to the sword.

On the same day, two holy Maidens died by the sword.

Having but one intent and one desire,

Two maidens bowed their necks before the sword.

On the same day, Finding of the relics of the holy Protomartyr Stephen.

Saint Stephen’s finding all creation shares,

He the first champion of the greatest God.

Our father among the saints Vessarion, archbishop of Larissa, died in peace.

The venerable Gerasimos, founder of the monastery of the Holy Trinity, known as Sourvia, which is near Makrynitsa of Zagora, died in peace.

The holy new martyr, John the Cretan, was martyred in New Ephesus in 1811 and died by the sword.