Ode IX

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel: “Thou hast visited us…”—

Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God hath appeared in the flesh, and that thy womb became more spacious than the heavens. Wherefore, the ranks of men and angels magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Now and ever...: Theotokion, or this Stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel: “As valiant among the martyrs...”—

The initiator of the sufferings of the martyrs, who hath brightly shown the straight path of torment which leadeth to the heavens, the protomartyr Stephen summoneth all in spirit to divine gladness, to partake of light and to share in sanctity.

Theotokion: O all-immaculate Mistress, Mother of God, as the merciful intercessor for all Christians, deliver thy suffering servants from misfortunes and temptations, and heal those who are afflicted with the wounds of cruel transgressions and are held fast by grievous pangs.

Now and ever…: Theotokion, or this Stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel: “Rejoice.…”—

Captivated by the love of Christ, and emulating His meekness and words, Stephen said: “Lay not this sin to the charge of my murderers, O Lord; but receive my spirit, O Good One, and account me worthy of the divine kingdom and the ineffable food, which are with Thee!”

Theotokion: O holy and all-pure Mistress, who alone hast not known wedlock, our salvation and hope: beseech thou our Deliverer, Who was born of thee, that He save the world from falsehood, misfortunes and tribulations.

Comely and angelic of mien, full of wisdom and faith, shining with rays of divine splendor, with thy mouth of godly speech thou didst theologize like a river, orating in godly manner, O divinely blessed one; and thou hast received a heavenly inheritance.

Surrounded by the choirs of the martyrs, thou wast crowned with a wreath of graces; and, standing before Christ, the Judge of the contest, pray thou in behalf of us who celebrate with splendor thy truly radiant feast, O blessed one, and deliver us from misfortunes.

The casting of stones hath woven for thee a transcendent wreath of incorruption, and the drops of thy blood have dyed for thee a robe of royal purple, O excellent Stephen, first among martyrs.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “As valiant among the martyrs…”—

Assembling mystically, O ye who love the feasts of the Church, let us celebrate today the prayerful and honored memory of the protomartyr, thereon receiving healing through his precious gifts; and let us cry aloud: O rightly hymned martyr, pray that they who celebrate thy memory be delivered from misfortunes. Twice

Like steps and stairs on the ascent to heaven were the stones which were cast at thee; and, ascending thereon, thou didst behold the Lord standing at the right hand of the Father, extending to thee the crown, whereof thou art the namesake, in His life-bearing right hand. And thou standest nigh unto Him, as one right victorious and foremost among those who have suffered.

Having illumined thy thought with spiritual grace, thou wast shown to be like an angel in mien, O Stephen, when thy body shone with inner radiance and thy spiritual splendor was manifest unto those who looked upon thee, for which cause thou didst receive a vision of Light when the heavens were most gloriously opened unto thee, O first and boast of the martyrs.

Glory…, in the same tone; and the idiomelon—

Stephen, the goodly beginning of the martyrs, full of grace and power, working signs and great wonders amongst the people, was slain, stoned by the iniquitous; yet he shone forth like an angel, and beheld the glory of Thee, Who wast crucified for our sake, standing at the right hand of power, and he was taken up into the heavens by the Spirit of grace. Wherefore, abiding with the choirs of the angels, he prayeth that our souls be saved.

As she beheld Thee, the Lamb and Shepherd, upon the Tree, she who gave birth to Thee lamented, and exclaimed to Thee maternally: “O my most desired Son, how is it that Thou hast been suspended upon the tree of the Cross, O Longsuffering One? How is it that Thy hands and feet have been pierced by nails by the iniquitous, O Word, and that Thou hast shed Thy blood, O Master?”

At the Aposticha, the stichera from the Octoechos; and Glory…, the composition of Cyprian, in Tone V—

O protomartyr, apostle and first deacon, portal of the martyrs and glory of the righteous, boast of the apostles: standing before the Sanhedrin, thou beheldest the heavens opened, and the Son of God standing at the right hand of the invisible Father. Wherefore, shining forth in countenance like an angel, with joy thou didst cry out concerning those who were stoning thee to death: “Lay not this sin to their charge!” And now ask thou cleansing of sins and great mercy for those who praise thee with love.

Desiring that all receive salvation, O my sinless Christ, Thou wast pleased to pay a great price, Thy precious blood, for our deliverance. Wherefore, beholding Thee nailed, Thy Mother, lamenting, rent her hair, saying: “O Child, all-immaculate Lamb, desiring to deliver the world by Thy precious blood, how hast Thou set where I cannot see, O never-setting Sun, Who grantest unto all enlightenment, peace and great mercy?”