AT VESPERS

**At** Lord, I have cried **we sing Prosomia.**

Glory. Both now.

**Theotokion.**

Tone 4. As noblest of Martyrs.

Or Cross-Theotokion.

Obedient to God the blessed Youths despised the lawless command, and being chained undid the chains of error, and rejecting worldly honour received the honour which made them all-glorious and brought them the enjoyment of the kingdom on high.

Bravely you stripped yourselves for the starting-blocks of the contest, O Saints; you were hidden in a cave, where you implored the Lord with ceaseless entreaties to grant you strength and power; but the Lover of mankind, by the judgements which he knows, commands you, by divine might, to sleep in peace.

A mystery of mysteries is set forth by the Saints; for as when they died they were not aware, so now when awakened they were clearly amazed; for this happened to confirm the resurrection of the dead, that those who deny it may, when they know, be fenced in by faith and glorify the Martyrs.

All-holy Bride of God, ransom my wretched soul from condemnation and dread faults, deliver it from death by your prayers and grant that, purified before the end by streams of tears and by repentance, I too on the day of trial may find the justification which the ranks of Saints have found.

When she saw you, the Lamb and Shepherd, upon the Tree, the ewe-lamb who bore you lamented, and as a mother cried aloud, ‘My Son, so deeply loved, how have you been fixed to the tree of the Cross, O long-suffering? How have you been nailed through hands and feet by lawless men, and how poured out your blood, O Master?’

Apolytikion. Tone 4.

Your Martyrs, O Lord, by their struggle obtained crowns of incorruption from you, our God; for with your might they destroyed tyrants and shattered the feeble insolence of the demons: at their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.