Ode 6. Irmos.

Kontakion. Tone 4.

‘A final abyss of sins has surrounded me; but Lord, as you did Jonas, bring my life up from corruption’.

Rain down on us release from sins, O Lord, who drown the faults of the earthborn in the streams of the Jordan through your great mercy.

O Christ, who are an ocean of righteousness, you now draw near to drown the dragon in the river Jordan and to wash away Adam’s transgression.

‘How will a river’s streams contain you, O Christ, who are truly a stream of incorruption?’ cried the Forerunner, glorifying your great compassion.

‘I will pour out my entreaty to the Lord and to him I will declare my afflictions; for my soul has been filled with evils and my life has drawn near to Hades; and like Jonas I beg, \`O God, bring me up from corruption’’.

Today you have appeared.

Today the Lord has come to the streams of Jordan, and cries aloud to John, ‘Do not be afraid to baptise me; for I have come to save Adam the First-formed’.

I am not requiring you, O Baptist, to go beyond the limits; I do not say to you, ‘Say to me what you said to the lawless, what you urged on the sinners. Only baptize me in silence, and await what comes by Baptism. For through this you will acquire a dignity that has not been given to the Angels; for I will make you greater than all the Prophets. Not one of them saw me clearly, but only in types and shadows and dreams; while you see me standing by you of set purpose, for I have come to save Adam the First-formed’. ****

Another, of the Saint.

Tone 4. Seeking the things on high.

Having filled your mouth with the wisdom of God, you made clear to us the knowledge of the Trinity and cast down the godlessness of tyrants with the sling of your words, Silvester. And so entreat the Lord on our behalf.

Enriched with the throne of the Prince of the Apostles, you were revealed as a most wondrous Minister of God, making lovely, establishing and magnifying the Church by divine doctrines. Like a star blazing with light you give light by the light of virtues and teach us to reverence the Trinity as one undivided Godhead; and you drove out the heresies of the ill-intentioned, all-wise Silvester. And so entreat the Lord on our behalf.

On the 2nd of the same month, Commemoration of our Father among the Saints Silvester, Pope of Rome.

Magus Zambres he shames, a dead ox lives,

Silvester, Pope of Rome, though dead yet lives.

And on the month’s second day Pope Silvester breathed out his last breath.

On the same day, Commemoration of the holy Bishop and Martyr, Theagenes.

Theagenes, be cast into the deep;

Though drowned therein, you swim out to the stars.

On the same day Saints Theopemptos and Theodoti, the mother of the holy Unmercenaries, died in peace.

To loose Theopemptos from bonds of flesh,

Spirits of fire, sent by God , drew near.

By sickness Theodoti passed from life,

Who bore to life healers of sicknesses.

On the same day, the Venerable Mark the Deaf died in peace.

No words of earthly utterance did Mark hear,

Before he left earth bringing ears from earth.

On the same day Commemoration of the holy Martyr Basil of Ankyra.

The roar, the gaping maw, the bite of beasts

Saint Basil’s meekness did not quail before.

On the same day Saint Sergios died by the sword.

It is not possible to say, or knowledge bear

With what joy Sergios had his head cut off.

On the same day Saint Theopistos was stoned to death.

A multitude of faithless basely urged

Slew you with stones, faithful Theopistos.

On the same day Commemoration of our Venerable Father Kosmas, Archbishop of Constantinople, the Wonderworker, of the revered Monastery of Chora.

At their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us.