At Great Vespers

After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man…,” the first antiphon.

Now and ever..., of the feast, the composition of Anatolius, in Tone VI—

At “Lord, I have cried…,” 8 stichera: 4 of the feast, in Tone IV—

Reading from the Proverbs

Before Thy crucifixion, O Lord, the mountain emulated the heavens and the cloud spread itself out like a tabernacle when Thou wast transfigured and borne witness to by the Father. There were Peter, James and John, for they were to be with Thee also at the time of Thy betrayal, that, beholding Thy wonders, they might not be afraid of Thy sufferings, which do Thou vouchsafe that we may venerate in peace, for the sake of Thy great mercy.

Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Taking the disciples up upon the lofty mountain before Thy crucifixion, O Lord, Thou wast transfigured before them, illumining them with effulgence of power, desiring both in Thy love for mankind and in Thine authority to show them the splendor of the resurrection, which do thou vouchsafe unto us in peace, in that Thou art merciful and lovest mankind.

Now and ever…, of the feast, in Tone V—

The mountain which before was dark and gloomy is now honorable and holy, for thereon did Thy feet stand, O Lord; for in the latter days Thou didst make manifest the hidden, preëternal mystery, Thine awesome transfiguration, to Peter, John and James. But they, unable to endure the radiance of Thy countenance and the brightness of Thy raiment, fell prostrate on the ground and covered themselves. And, seized with terror, they marvelled, beholding Moses and Elijah conversing with Thee as they stood with Thee; and the voice of the Father bore witness, saying: “This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased: Him do ye obey! He Will grant the world great mercy!”

Transfigured on the high mountain, the Savior, having with Him His preëminent disciples, shone forth most wondrously, showing them forth as illumined by the loftiness of the virtues and as ones vouchsafed divine glory. Moses and Elijah, who spake with Christ, showed that He hath authority over the living and the dead, and that He is the God Who of old spake through the law and the prophets. Of Him was the voice of the Father heard saying from the cloud of light: “Him do ye obey, Who through the Cross made hell captive and granteth life everlasting to the dead!”

And 4 stichera of the holy hierarch, in Tone VIII—

Come, all ye people of Russia, and with godly hymns let us praise Tikhon, the holy hierarch and wonderworker, the divinely radiant beacon of the Church of Christ shining in the darkness of this age, the instructor in Orthodox dogmas, the denouncer of superstitious teachings, the eloquent preacher of repentance, the true teacher of the commandments of Christ, who kept and taught them. And falling down before the shrine of his holy and much-healing relics, let us cry out to him with compunction: Illumine us with the light of thy knowledge divine, O our father; raise us up from the sleep of sin with the fear of punishment and the judgment of God; set our feet firmly on the path of Christ’s commandments, and pray thou that our souls be saved!

O divinely wise and God-bearing Tikhon, chosen vessel of grace, pure dwelling place of the Trinity, honored abode of the virtues: following Christ from thy youth, well didst thou finish thy course and didst keep the Faith to the end. Wherefore, thou hast received a crown of righteousness from Christ God, Whom do thou entreat unceasingly that our souls be saved.

Most excellent pastor, pillar and adornment of the Church, radiant boast of Orthodoxy: well didst thou shepherd the flock of Christ which the Holy Spirit appointed thee to tend, ordaining priests and instructing the people. Thou wast a defender of the oppressed, a refuge for orphans and widows, and didst provide for the poor. And now, standing before the Chief Shepherd, entreat Him that our souls be saved.

O Tikhon, our compassionate father, our ready helper, fervent intercessor before God in our behalf: by thy supplications aid thou Orthodox Christians; defend the Orthodox Church from assaults of superstition and unbelief; protect our homeland from enemies, visible and invisible; calm the whole world from the turmoil of human passions; take from us all malice, enmity and calumny; within our hearts root thou peace, love and oneness of mind, that we may be well pleasing unto the Lord and Master of our life, that our souls may be saved forever.

Glory…, in the same tone—

Come, ye faithful, let us glorify Tikhon, the blessed and holy hierarch; for, dwelling with the angelic choirs in heaven, with the prophets, holy hierarchs and martyrs doth he join chorus, and he rejoiceth with the venerable and the righteous, contemplating Christ God not in a glass darkly, but face to face; and on earth his precious body is adorned with incorruption, pouring forth streams of healing upon those who approach with faith and love. Wherefore, we beseech thee, O holy hierarch: be thou a fervent intercessor for us at the throne of God, for thou hast great boldness before Him.

Foreshadowing Thy resurrection, O Christ our God, Thou didst take three of Thy disciples—Peter, James and John—and didst ascend Tabor. And as Thou wast transfigured, O Savior, Mount Tabor was clothed with light. Thy disciples cast themselves upon the ground, O Word, unable to endure the sight of Thine invisible countenance. Angels ministered to thee in fear and trembling; the heavens were afraid and the earth quaked, beholding the glory of the Lord upon the earth.

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three readings:

(a concatenation of verses).

The memory of the just is praised, and the blessing of the Lord is upon his head. Blessed is the man who hath found wisdom, and the mortal who knoweth prudence. For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver. She is more valuable than precious stones: no precious thing is equal to her in value. For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace: out of her mouth righteousness proceedeth, and she carrieth law and mercy upon her tongue. Hearken to me, O children, for I will speak solemn truths. Blessed is the man who shall keep my ways; for my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and in them is prepared favor from the Lord. Ye, O men, do I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men. I, wisdom, have built up; upon counsel, knowledge and understanding have I called. Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine and strength is mine. I love those that love me; they that seek me shall find grace. O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge. Hearken unto me again; for I will speak solemn truths. For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse. They are all evident to all that understand, and right to those that find knowledge. For I will instruct you in truth, that your hope may be in the Lord, and ye may be filled with the Spirit.

Reading from the Proverbs (10:31-11:12).

The mouth of the righteous droppeth wisdom; but the tongue of the unjust shall perish. The lips of just me drop grace; but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse. False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable unto Him. Wherever pride entereth, there will also disgrace: but the mouth of the humble will meditate wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the overthrow of the rebellious shall spoil them. Possessions shall not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness shall deliver from death. When a just man dieth, he leaveth regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy and causeth joy. Righteousness traceth out blameless paths: but ungodliness encountereth just dealing. The righteousness of upright men delivereth them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction. At the death of a just man, his hope doth not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perisheth. A righteous man escapeth from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place. In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare for citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous. In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospereth, but at the destruction of the wicked there is exultation. At the blessing of the upright city shall be exalted, but by the mouths of ungodly men it is overthrown. A man void of understanding sneereth at his fellow citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.

Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet will he be in rest. For honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. He pleased God, and was beloved of Him: so that living among sinners, he was translated. Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of lust doth undermine the simple mind. He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: for his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted He to take him away from among the wicked. This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, that His grace and mercy is with His saints, and that He doth visit His chosen.

At the Litia, these stichera, in Tone II—

Let us praise the most blessed Tikhon, the adornment of holy hierarchs and glory of the fathers, the great adornment of the faithful, the new wonderworker who abundantly poureth forth streams of miracles, healeth the infirm, and inexhaustibly bestoweth divine gifts; and let us cry out: O most blessed Tikhon, vessel filled with grace and fount of mercy, pray to the Lord for us, that He have mercy on our souls!

O divinely wise father Tikhon, thou wast a good and faithful servant of the Lord, who didst not hide in the ground the talent given thee by Him, but, teaching and laboring, didst increase it. Wherefore, being faithful in a very little, thou wast placed over many by the heavenly Master of the house, Whom do thou entreat in behalf of those who honor thy memory with faith.

O most blessed Tikhon, thou wast a faithful keeper of the words of the Gospel, which say not to lay up for oneself treasure upon earth; but thou didst lay up for thyself voluntary poverty as a treasure in heaven, and didst abundantly provide for the poor. Wherefore, do thou now ask of the Lord for us great and rich mercy.

Glory…, in the same tone—

Today is the Monastery of Zadonsk adorned, the flock of Voronezh rejoiceth, and the whole Orthodox Church doth celebrate, keeping thy memory, O holy hierarch Tikhon. For, in thy wonders and the incorruption of thy relics, we all have a great sign of the grace of the Holy Spirit in the Orthodox Church, a reproof of heresies and schisms, and the shaming of impiety.

Moses the God-beholder and Elijah of the fiery chariot, who traversed the heavens without being consumed, beholding Thee, O Christ, in the cloud at Thy transfiguration, bore witness to Thee as the Creator and Fulfiller of the law and the prophets. With them vouchsafe Thine enlightenment also unto us, O Master, that we may hymn Thee forever.