AT VESPERS

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 of St. Januarius, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Thou wast a most sacred priest and a lawful athlete, O Januarius, and thou hast entered not with another’s blood, but with thine own, into heaven itself, where Jesus is, the precursor of all; and ever looking and gazing upon Him, thou beholdest Him, Whom the angels see, O father.

Beheaded by the sword, cast into the fire, thrown to the wild beasts, imprisoned for many days, O right wondrous one, by divine power thou didst remain unshaken in mind, and didst finish thy race, suffering lawfully, O sacred wonder-worker, conversor with the incorporeal ones.

Together let us honor Desiderius and Proclus, Sosius, Faustus and Eutychius, the glorious Januarius and the wise Acutius, as wise sacred ministers, crowned martyrs, citizens of the holy city and true advocates for those who bless them.

And 3 stichera of St. Theodore, in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given a sign…”—

Standing before the unjust tribunal, O great-martyr Theodore, thou didst denounce the ungodliness of idolatry, and wast beaten unjustly, stretched out upon a heated grill, O all-blessed one, and cruelly seared; yet wast thou covered with the dew of the Spirit Who imparted steadfast strength to thee, that thou mightest destroy the savagery of the cruel foe.

Thou wast manifestly the chariot of our God, O blessed one, bearing Him in thy pure heart, and as thou wast bound to a chariot, thou didst loose from bonds those who bound thee, binding them to the love of Christ; and cast with them into the furnace, thou wast not consumed, magnifying the Lord with them, O right wondrous Theodore.

Emulating Him Who stretched forth His arms upon the Cross, thou wast crucified, O blessed Theodore, and didst remain, hanging, for three days, until thou didst commit thy soul into the hands of God and didst finish the race of thy suffering, O summit of martyrs, great tower of the Church, adornment of the faithful, conversor with the angels.

Rain down upon me the depths of thy mercy, O Mistress, and as thou art merciful, O Maiden, water my heart, which is consumed with the burning heat of the passions, and unceasingly cause drops of compunction to pour forth, I pray thee, O pure one, whereby I may be vouchsafed the consolation which they who sincerely weep shall receive.

Stavrotheotokion—

Beholding Christ, Who loveth mankind, crucified, O all-pure one, His side pierced by a spear, thou didst cry out, weeping: “What is this, O my Son? How have the ungrateful people rewarded Thee for the good things Thou didst do for them? And dost Thou hasten to leave me childless, O most Beloved? I marvel at Thy voluntary crucifixion, O Compassionate One!”