AT VESPERS

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 for Saint Joseph, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “When from the Tree…”—

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Thou didst take thy cross upon thy shoulder, and crucify thyself to the world, and didst follow in the steps of God the Word Who created all things out of nothingness, as He said, and didst shake off the love of the world and every passionate attachment. Wherefore, shining forth in the virtues, O father, through divine works thou didst receive an eternal inheritance.

Thou wast shown to be a mystic clarion rousing all to spiritual hymnody, and a harp sounded by God, praising the regiments of God, glorifying all the saints and proclaiming their victories. For thou didst draw forth an abyss of words from the springs of salvation, giving drink to the house of God.

Crucified with love, thou wast shown to be a treasury of the virtues, and, chanting sacred hymns, thou didst seek out all who were well-pleasing to God in their lives, emulating with faith their divine corrections; and sharing therein in godly manner, thou wast shown to be a partaker of sweetness.

And 3 stichera of Saint George, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Joy of the ranks of heaven…”—

As a beauteous vessel of dispassion containing the radiance of life, O all-blessed father George, by abstinence thou didst enslave the passions to thy thought; and thou wast a destroyer of the demons and a healer of sufferings, O right wondrous one.

Let George now be praised, who was the pure phial of the divine Spirit, the well-spring of miracles, the pillar of monastics, the meek emulator of the meek Christ, the earthly angel and heavenly man.

Steering the ship of thy soul toward the calm harbor, thou didst escape the turmoil of life as from the waves of the sea, and didst soar aloft to God, away from the earth, and wast shown to be like an angel while yet in the flesh.

In that thou art the help of helpless men, the hope of all the hopeless, and a release from cruel circumstances, O Theotokos, be thou my helper, O all-pure one, delivering me from sins and tribulations, in that thou art merciful.

Stavrotheotokion—

Standing before the Cross of thy Son and God, and witnessing His long-suffering, O pure Mother, weeping, thou didst say: “Woe is me, O my most sweet Child! How is it that Thou endurest these things unjustly inflicted upon Thee, O Word of God, that Thou mayest save mankind?”