Under thy heavenly protection do we sinners flee, begging thee to intercede with the Lord in our behalf, for, beset by storms of temptations and the hatred and malice of our enemies, our feeble powers are exhausted, and we barely have the strength to stand fast for the Truth. But do thou help us in our struggle, O holy Maximus. Twice

¶8

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone —

¶9

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

¶10

Spurning the heresy of the Latins, thou didst flee to Mount Pochaev, the bastion of pure Orthodoxy; and with the holy hierarch Anthony as thy teacher, thou didst study the doctrines of piety and the dogmas of truth. And after thine ordination to the priesthood, thou didst return to thy native land, where thou didst nurture thy pious flock in the pastures of righteousness. Pray thou, that we all be saved.

¶11

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone —

¶12

Exult thou, O divinely preserved Lavra of Pochaev, blessed home of the Mother of God, and resting place of the venerable Job! For thy long struggle in defense of the True Faith hath produced a glorious victory, the martyrdom of the priest Maximus, whom Christ, the Judge of the contest, hath crowned with a heavenly diadem for his unwavering confession.

¶13

Glory…, Now & ever …: Theotokion—

¶14

And 4 stichera, idiomela, in Tone VI —

¶15

Now is the village of Zhdynya glad, for it witnessed the birth of the holy hieromartyr, a beacon leading his people, who were languishing in error, to the True Faith! And they cry out to God with compunction: O Lord Almighty, God Most High, through the prayers of our father Maximus, have mercy upon us and grant us Thy grace!

¶16

The city of Zhitomir is exalted, for therein the holy hieromartyr Maximus studied diligently the commandments of the Lord, the writings of the holy fathers and the precepts of the Faith, storing these up in the coffer of his heart, that with these priceless treasures he might ransom his flock from slavery to heresy and error.

¶17

Rejoice, O village of Grab, for thou didst call the holy hieromartyr Maximus to the pastoral ministry, and he blessed thee with the grace of the Holy Mysteries, that thy people might make spiritual ascents, from glory to glory, and attain unto the mansions of heaven, where the righteous dwell with the angels of God.

¶18

Every Orthodox Christian praiseth thee, O city of Gorlitsa, for within thee the holy Maximus triumphed over the wiles of the enemy and held fast to the confession of the Orthodox Faith. Wherefore, exult thou exceedingly, for thy stones have been sanctified by the blood of the martyr, who dyed his vesture therein, that, splendidly arrayed, he might join his Master at the heavenly wedding-feast.

¶19

Glory…, in Tone II —

¶20

After God and His all-holy Mother it is to thee that the Lemko people flee amid their tribulations and sorrows. For, though oppressed and afflicted by their enemies, yet have they not lost hope in the mercy of God; and placing their trust in the supplications of the holy Maximus, they pray with compunction, that the Most High may have mercy upon them and save their souls.

¶21

The shadow of the law passed away when grace arrived; for, as the bush wrapped in flame did not burn, so the Virgin gave birth and yet remained a Virgin. In place of the pillar of fire, the Sun of righteousness hath shone forth. Instead of Moses, Christ is come, the Salvation of our souls.

¶22

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. 3 Readings:

¶23

The righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the Most High. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with His right hand shall He cover them, and with His arm shall He protect them. He shall take to Him His jealousy for complete armor, and make the creature His weapon for the revenge of His enemies. He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment for an invincible shield. His severe wrath shall He sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with Him against the unwise. Then shall the right-aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them. Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. Hear, therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. For power is given you by the Lord, and sovereignty from the Most High.

¶24

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery, and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for Himself. As gold in the furnace hath He tried them and received them as a burnt offering. And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. They that put their trust in Him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with Him: for grace and mercy is to His saints, and He hath care for His elect.

¶25

Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall 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 concupiscence 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 not, neither laid they up this in their minds: that His grace and mercy is with His saints, and that He hath respect unto His chosen.

¶26

At Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and these stichera idiomela, in Tone III —

¶27

Thou didst hasten to the Lavra of Pochaev, fleeing the errors of the Latins as Lot fled Sodom; and in that tranquil monastic haven thou didst find the pearl of great price — the holy Orthodox Faith — which thou didst purchase with thy blood in martyrdom. Wherefore, O holy Maximus, the faithful honor thy holy memory with love.

¶28

Glory…, in Tone IV —

¶29

Having left the dark West of the setting sun, thou didst move toward the Sun of righteousness in the East; and having been illumined there by the never-waning radiance of light divine, which thou didst shine upon thy much-suffering people, who had languished long in the darkness of Latin domination. Entreat Christ God, that He enlighten and save our souls.

¶30

Ever-virgin, immaculate Mother of God, who without seed gavest birth to thine own Creator, add thine entreaties to the supplications of the holy Maximus, that the Lord may have mercy upon His sinful servants.

¶31

At the Aposticha, these stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given a sign…” —

¶32

Merciful and all-loving is the good Shepherd, Who left the flock and searched for thee, the lost sheep, in the mountains of Carpathia; and He brought thee back into the fold of the Orthodox Church, from whence thine ancestors were stolen away by false-shepherds and hirelings, betrayed to the ravening wolves of heresy. Beseech him, O holy hieromartyr, that He deliver us from our transgressions.

¶33

Stichos: The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied.

¶34

Eyes uplifted to the heavens, thou didst cry out, “Bless, O Lord!”, when the ungodly aimed their weapons at thee. But thou didst not fear those who killed thy body, for they were unable to kill thy soul, and it took flight to the refuge of heaven, where it resteth in the bosom of Abraham with all the saints of God, O valiant martyr Maximus.

¶35

Stichos: They that are planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of our God they shall blossom forth.

¶36

Returning to thy homeland after thy priestly ordination, thou didst lead thy people out of bondage to Latin error, as Moses led the children of Israel forth from Egyptian slavery; and they entered into the promised land of Holy Orthodoxy. Look down from heaven, O right glorious martyr, and by thy supplications unto God ask that we may receive His grace and great mercy.

¶37

Glory…, in Tone II —

¶38

Come, ye lovers of the martyrs, and let us extol the holy hieromartyr Maximus, the glory of Carpathia, the boast of the Lemko people, the adornment of the Orthodox Church, the good shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep; and with hymns and spiritual songs let us sing his praises, for, dwelling with the ranks of angels on high, he prayeth unceasingly for our souls.

¶39

In thee have we placed our trust, O Theotokos. Lest we lose hope, save us from perils, O helper of the tempest-tossed, and confound the counsels of the adversary, for thou art our salvation, O blessed one.

¶40

Moved by the providence of God to go to Mount Pochaev, there to learn the rightness of the Orthodox Faith, thou didst attain unto true teaching in the city of Zhitomir, and didst return to thine own country as a brave warrior of Christ. For Orthodoxy and thy people thou didst receive the crown of martyrdom, and thereby hast made thy native land steadfast in the Holy Faith. O hieromartyr Maximus, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved. Twice

¶41

and “Virgin Theotokos, rejoice!…”, once.

¶42

At “Lord, I have cried…”, these stichera of the saint, in Tone VIII: Spec, Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…”—

¶43

O blessed martyr Eutyches, having been taught the word of God in sacred manner by the honored disciple, the preacher of divine eloquence, thou didst learn from him every sacred doctrine, and wast shown to be a light, illumining every thought with grace through thy sacred theology. Wherefore, we honor thy holy memory.

¶44

Thou didst cast down the fortress of delusion, O thou who art most rich, by thy steadfast struggle of endurance, by thy wounds and stripes and thy glorious death. Wherefore, thou hast received immortality, making thine abode with the choirs of the martyrs and with the ranks of the angels, being well and perfectly deified in godly manner by a higher communion.

¶45

Imprisoned in a dungeon, thou didst receive the Bread of life from heaven, O glorious one; and, cast into the flame, thou didst remain unconsumed. Lacerated with wounds cruelly inflicted, thou didst tame the raging of the wild beasts by thy prayers. By the sword was thy head severed, and thou wast drawn up to the heavens, as on a divine chariot.

¶46

Save me, O all-pure Mistress, who gavest birth ineffably unto Christ the Savior. For thee have I acquired as mine only intercessor, an unassailable rampart, my protection and joy, and the divine consolation of my soul. Wherefore, deliver me from the worm which sleepeth not and from everlasting fire, O Mother of Christ God.

¶47

Stavrotheotokion—

¶48

“What is this sight which mine eyes behold, O Master? Thou Who sustainest all creation, lifted up upon the Tree, diest, granting life unto all!” the Theotokos said, lamenting, when she beheld the God and man Who shone forth ineffably from her suspended upon the Cross.

Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.