Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV
Canon from the Pentecostarion, with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and two canons of the holy hierarch, with 8 troparia.
Glory..., Now & ever...Alleluia... Thrice .
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “When the stone had been sealed by the Jews…”—
Knowing thee to be a most excellent curer of the passions of the soul, O holy hierarch Stephen, we implore thee: Pray thou that the sufferings of retribution be lifted from us, that, finding thee as the cause of all good things, we may cry aloud: Glory to Him Who hath given thee wisdom! Glory to Him Who hath crowned thee! Glory to Him Who bestoweth enlightenment upon all through thee! Twice
On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion from the Pentecostarion, twice; Glory…, that of the holy hierarch; Now & ever…, that from the Pentecostarion, once.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn from the Pentecostarion.
Cleaving unto virtue from childhood, O holy hierarch Stephen, thou becamest a vessel of the Holy Spirit; and having learned wisdom from Him, thou didst teach men to cast aside their idols and to believe in Christ. Him do thou entreat, that He save all who honor thee with love. Twice
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Having been lifted up…”—
Polyeleos, and this magnification—
Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn from the Pentecostarion.
We magnify thee, O holy hierarch Stephen, and we honor thy holy memory; for thou dost entreat Christ God in our behalf.
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…”—
Selected Psalm verses—
Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn from the Pentecostarion.
A Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world. [Ps. 48: 2]
B My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. [Ps. 48: 4]
A Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. [Ps. 33: 12]
B I have proclaimed the good tidings of Thy righteousness in the great congregation. [Ps. 39: 10]
A Thy truth and Thy salvation have I declared. [Ps. 39: 11]
B I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I hymn Thee. [Ps. 21: 23]
A That I may hear the voice of Thy praise, and tell of all Thy wondrous works. [Ps. 25: 7]
B O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. [Ps. 25: 8]
A I have hated the congregation of evil-doers, and with the ungodly will I not sit. [Ps. 25: 5]
B For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and I have not acted impiously toward my God. [Ps. 17: 22]
A The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak of judgment. [Ps. 36: 30]
B His righteousness abideth unto ages of ages. [Ps. 110: 3]
A Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice. [Ps. 131: 9]
B Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house; unto ages of ages shall they praise Thee. [Ps. 83: 5]
Having been taught wisdom from on high and united thyself unto God, following the Gospel thou didst forsake the world, and having betaken thyself to faraway places, through baptism thou didst bring all to the knowledge of Christ; wherefore, thou didst cry out unto all: “Come to know God, and ye shall find grace!” O all-wise hierarch Stephen, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who with love honor thy most precious memory. Twice
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
Stichos: Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world.
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to John, § 35, from the midpoint [Jn. 10: 1-8]
The Lord said to the Jews that came to Him: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers.” This parable spake Jesus unto them; but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.”
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—
All the priests of the idols marvelled at thy wisdom and intelligent discourse, and they reviled their own vain religion as ungodly, and believed with all their soul upon Christ, Whom thou didst preach. Him do thou entreat, O all-wise Stephen, that all may be saved who celebrate thy sacred festival and honor thy most holy memory with faith.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.