At the Aposticha, these stichera, in Tone VI—

Thee who confessed the name of Jesus before men doth Jesus confess before His Father in heaven; and we on earth hymn thee, O right-believing Alexander, as one who prayeth for our souls.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Troparion, in Tone IV—

Stichos: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—

Troparion of the forerunner, in Tone II—

With thy heart thou didst believe in righteousness, and with thy mouth thou didst make confession before tyrants unto thy salvation; wherefore, as thou art a true confessor and heir, pray thou for the salvation of our souls.

Now & ever…: Theotokion or stavrotheotokion.

Glory…: Troparion of the holy hierarchs, in Tone IV—

Stichos: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; in His commandments shall he greatly delight.

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious ­wonder…”—

O forerunner of the Savior, thou didst reprove the king, that he not commit iniquity. But the disporting of an iniquitous woman caused Herod to cut off thy head. Wherefore, from the rising of the sun, even unto the west, thy name is praised. As thou hast boldness before the Lord, earnestly entreat Him, that our souls be saved.

As an emulator of the martyrs, thou wast not afraid to suffer, for as a valiant warrior of Jesus Christ thou wast a martyr in volition. Wherefore, with the martyrs thou hast been crowned by Jesus, the Judge of the contest.

When she saw the Lamb stretched out upon the Tree of the Cross of His own will, the ewe-lamb cried out maternally, in pain and lamentation: “O my Son, what is this strange sight? How is it that Thou Who, as Lord, givest life unto all dost die, O Long-suffering One? I glorify Thy great condescension, O my God!”

Glory…, in Tone II—

Come, all ye ranks of Russia! Praise ye the good leader of all your ranks! Ye rulers, praise ye the wise steward! Ye soldiers, praise the all-brave warrior! Ye lovers of Orthodoxy, praise the steadfast confessor, the martyr in volition! Subject yourselves to your guide, and submit yourselves; and beholding his end, emulate his faith.

O new wonder greater than all the wonders of the past! For who hath ever known a mother to give birth without having known a man, and to bear on her arm Him Who sustaineth all creation? Yet it was the will of God to be born. O all-pure one, who bore Him in thine arms as an infant and hast maternal boldness before Him: cease not to pray in behalf of those who honor thee, that He have compassion and save our souls.

Recognize thy brethren, O right-believing Prince Alexander, thou Russian Joseph who reignest not in Egypt, but in heaven; and accept their entreaties, increasing the harvests of thy people through the fertility of thy land, and protecting the cities of thy dominion by thy supplications. And together with our Orthodox hierarchs do battle against all heresies. Twice

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

Herod celebrated an unseemly birthday and an utterly shameless feast; for captivated by lust for a woman and excited by a woman’s wantonness, he had the head of the forerunner cut off; but he did not cut out the tongue of the prophet, who denounced his foolishness. Shedding innocent blood, he wished to conceal his iniquitous sin; but he could in no wise stop the voice which calleth all to repentance. And though he made merry amid murder, we lovingly celebrate the blessed slaying of John the Baptist; for he preceded Life into hades, to proclaim Christ our God, the Orient from on high, the only greatly Merciful One, unto those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death.

When she beheld Thee, the Lamb and Shepherd, on the Tree, the ewe-lamb who gave Thee birth lamented and exclaimed to Thee maternally: “O my Son most desired, how is it that Thou art suspended upon the tree of a Cross, O Long-suffering One? How is it, O Word, that Thy feet and hands have been transfixed with nails by the iniquitous, and Thou hast poured forth Thy blood, O Master?”

The memory of the righteous is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord’s witness is sufficient for thee, O forerunner. Thou wast truly shown to be more honorable than the prophets, in that thou wast counted worthy to baptize in the streams Him Whom thou didst proclaim. Wherefore, having suffered, rejoicing, for the truth, even unto those in hades thou didst proclaim God, Who had manifested Himself in the flesh, Who taketh away the sin of the world and granteth us great mercy.

O God of our fathers, deal with us ever according to Thy meekness; take not Thy mercy away from us, but through the supplications of these saints direct our life in peace.