AT VESPERS

Entrance. Prokeimenon. Tone 7.

Lord, I have cried **we insert 6 stichera and sing 3 prosomia of the Cross and 3 of the Saint.**

Of the Feast. Tone 5. Χαίροις ἀσκητικῶν.

Hail, life-bearing Cross, unconquerable trophy of true religion, door of Paradise, support of the faithful, rampart of the Church. Through you corruption is wiped out and destroyed, the power of death is swallowed up, and we are exalted from earth to heaven: invincible weapon, opponent of demons, glory of martyrs, true ornament of monks, harbour of salvation, bestowing on the world God’s great mercy.

Hail, Cross of the Lord! Through you humanity has been released from the curse; sign of true joy, who shatter enemies by your exaltation, O all-venerable: our help, strength of Kings, power of the just, majesty of priests. Those who are marked with you are freed from dangers; rod of power, under which we are shepherded; weapon of peace, round which Angels stand in fear; divine glory of Christ, who grants the world his great mercy.

Hail, guide of the blind, physician of the weak, resurrection of all the dead, O precious Cross, who raised us up when we had fallen into corruption. Through you corruption has been destroyed and incorruption has flowered; we mortals are made divine and the devil is utterly cast down. To-day, as we see you raised up in the hands of High Priests, we exalt him who was exalted in your midst, and we venerate you, as we plenteously draw from you his great mercy.

Of the Martyr. Tone 1. Τῶν οὐρανίων.

By enduring tortures you defeated the avenging spirit, inspired Martyr, with the all-valiant faith of the Saviour; and so, wise Saint, you turned barbarians back to the Master and Maker of all things, and they devoutly glorify him.

You appeared, most holy Martyr, as the spoils from the barbarians bringing glory to Christ, inspired champion, in dying for the Trinity; and so you received the garland of victory and you shine like a beacon in the world.

Clothed in the devout panoply of Christ the King, O champion Niketas, you were presented for war; as Gedeon the most mighty you cast down the hordes of foreigners by your valiant boldness.

**Tone 6. By Theophanes.**

We acknowledge you to a be a beacon among Martyrs, Niketas, athlete of Christ; for you abandoned the glory of earthly rank, despising your ancestral godlessness, and you destroyed their gods and victoriously shamed the barbarians by accomplishing the witness of confession for Christ; and you have become a soldier of the God of heaven, as you implore the benefactor of all to have pity and to save our souls.

**The same Tone.**

The voices of the Prophets foretold the holy Tree, through which Adam was freed from the ancient curse; while creation today raises its voice as the Cross is exalted, as it asks for God’s rich mercy. But Master, alone measureless in mercy, be our atonement and save our souls.

Our God is in heaven and earth: he has done whatever he willed.

When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a barbarous people. ****

The sea saw and fled, the Jordan was turned back. ****