Canon of the feast

Exapostilarion of the apostle: Spec. Mel.: “By the Spirit in the holy place…”—

Irmos: The bow of the mighty is become weak, and the strengthless have girded themselves with power; wherefore, my heart is established in the Lord.

Kontakion of the feast, in Tone VII—

Sessional hymn of the apostle, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…”—

On the Praises, 6 stichera: 3 of the feast, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “O house of Ephratha…”—

Theotokion: Possessed of thine aid, O pure one, I fear not the assaults of wicked enemies; for having thee as an intercessor, I vanquish the hordes thereof.

Having put on all of Adam and transformed the nature which of old had become dark, Thou didst illumine it with the transformation of Thine appearance and didst render it divine, O Christ.

Glory…, Now & ever…: exapostilarion of the feast—

Irmos: Thou art the confirmation of those who have recourse to Thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of the benighted; and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

Kontakion of the apostle, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast appeared today…”—

On Mount Tabor the glory of the Trinity was manifestly made known when Thou wast transfigured, O mine all-good Savior.

Theotokion: O vessel of virginity and habitation of the infinite Being, illumine my soul, which hath been darkened by many passions.

Christ, Who of old guided Israel in the wilderness by the pillar of fire and the cloud, hath ineffably shone forth in light today on Mount Tabor.

Irmos: I have heard of Thy glorious dispensation, O Christ God, how Thou wast born of the Virgin, that Thou mightest save from deception those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

At the transfiguration a cloud of light was manifestly stretched forth, filling with amazement the foremost of the divine ­disciples.

Theotokion: By thine all-pure birthgiving, O Virgin Bride of God, Adam shed the ugly garments of ancient mortality and clothed himself in a holy robe of truth which was in nowise polluted by the passions.

Strengthened by the hand of the Author of life, O wise one, thou wast able to snatch away the spoils of the mighty one and enslave him by grace.

Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thy dispensation; I have understood Thy works, and have glorified Thy divinity.

Elijah and Moses stood before Thee, O Word, at Thy transfiguration, and the Father bore witness, speaking from heaven.

Theotokion: O Virgin, we, the faithful, call thee the noetic sanctuary, the untouchable mercy-seat, the golden lampstand, the spiritual table bearing the Bread of life.

Loving the Teacher and serving Him industriously, O right wondrous one, thou savest men from deception.

Irmos: O Christ, Who separated the primal light from light, that Thy works may hymn Thee, the Creator, in light: direct Thou our paths in Thy light.

And 3 stichera of the apostle, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—

Theotokion: Behold the Virgin of whom the great Isaiah said in the Spirit, that she would conceive in her womb and give birth unto the God to Whom we chant: O Lord God, blessed art Thou!

The all-accomplishing Spirit chose thee, O divinely eloquent one, to fill the twelfth place in the holy choir of the disciples.

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

With the rod of grace thou didst draw men forth from the abyss of vainglory, O right wondrous Matthias, obedient to the behest of the Teacher Who illumined thine understanding in all things and showed thee to be an apostle and an honored divine herald of His unapproachable divinity, O most blessed one.

Theotokion: In manner transcending nature didst thou conceive; in manner past recounting thou gavest birth to the Creator of human nature, Who, though inseparable from the Father, became man, O pure Mistress. Him doth all creation hymn, chanting: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

On the mountain wast Thou transfigured, and Thy disciples beheld Thy glory as far they could bear it, O Christ God; that when they would see Thee crucified, they would comprehend that Thy suffering was voluntary, and proclaim to the world that Thou art of a truth the Effulgence of the Father.

Irmos: When I was troubled, I cried unto the Lord, and the God of my salvation hearkened unto me.

The effulgence of the Spirit descended upon thee in a fiery vision, O blessed one, and made thee a divine vessel which quickly driveth away the gloom of ungodliness; and thou dost illumine the world with the radiance of thy most wise words, O initiate of the mysteries, adornment of the apostles, blessed witness of Christ.

Theotokion: Thou, alone among women, hast brought an end to the curse of the first-created, O Bride of God, having given birth in the flesh to the Infinite One Who became circumscribed; and thou hast restored the bounds of nature, O undefiled one, and by thine all-glorious mediation hast united those things which of old were sundered.

Ikos: Arise, ye slothful thoughts of my soul, which have ever been dragged down to the earth! Be ye upborne and rise up to the summit of divine ascent! Let us make haste to Peter and the sons of Zebedee, and with them let us go to Mount Tabor, that with them we may see the glory of our God, and may hear the voice which they heard from on high; for they preached the Effulgence of the Father.

Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the abyss of evils, I pray, for to Thee have I cried, and Thou hast hearkened to me, O God of my salvation.

Illumining those who sit in darkness with the lightning-flashes of thy preaching, O glorious one, thou didst show them forth as children, through faith, of God the Master, Whose sufferings and death thou didst emulate, and of Whose glory thou art heir, in that thou art wise and divinely eloquent, and a disciple of the Truth.

With the lightning-flashes of thy divine words thou didst consume the deception of the wicked one and didst enlighten the faithful to hymn the coming in the flesh of Him Who hath dominion over all things; and thou didst emulate His divine sufferings. Wherefore, assembling, we celebrate in gladness thy holy memory and cry out to thee together: O Apostle Matthias, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of offenses unto those who honor thy holy memory with love. Twice

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the children of Abraham trampled upon the flame of the furnace, crying aloud in hymns: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Glory…, in Tone II—

Glory…, Now & ever…, of the feast, in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: “That which was commanded…”—

Irmos: In the furnace the Hebrew children boldly trod the flame underfoot and transformed the fire into dew, crying out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

Forsaking earthly things, thou didst follow after Christ, marked by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; and thou wast sent by Him unto the nations who were perishing, to convert men to the light of divine knowledge, O Apostle Matthias, and, having finished the struggles of thy divine sufferings and divers torments, thou didst commit thy soul to Christ. Him do thou entreat, O most blessed one, that He grant us great mercy.

The lightning hidden beneath the flesh of Thy nature and divine majesty, O Christ our Benefactor, didst thou show forth upon the holy mountain, shining upon the disciples who were with Thee. And when they perceived Thine unbearable glory, they cried out: “Holy art Thou, for, though Thou art unapproachable, Thou art visible to the world in the flesh, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind!”

Irmos: The children in Babylon, consumed by zeal divine, manfully trampled the tyrant and the flame underfoot; and, cast into the midst of the fire, bedewed they chanted: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Now & ever…, of the feast, in the same tone—

Forming the law in writing on Sinai, O Christ God, Thou wast manifest, borne in the cloud, the fire, the darkness and the whirlwind. Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Irmos: Madly did the Chaldæan tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but, beholding them saved by a higher Power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

On Mount Tabor Moses and Elijah beheld God, Who had become incarnate of the Virgin Maiden, for the deliverance of men.

That Thou mayest confirm Thy glorious dispensation, O Christ God, in that Thou hast existed from before the beginning of time, Thou didst shine forth ineffably on Tabor, likewise appointing Thine ascent in a cloud.

Irmos: Thy birthgiving was shown to be incorrupt: God came forth from thy womb, appeared on earth as a mortal, and dwelt with men. Wherefore, we all magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Great Doxology. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.

Those who conversed with Thee as servants stood before Thee, O Master Christ; and Thou didst converse with them in the vapor of fire and darkness, and the moist whistling wind. Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Irmos: Every ear trembleth to hear of the ineffable condescension of God, for the Most High willingly came down even to the flesh, becoming man through the Virgin’s womb. Wherefore we, the faithful, magnify the all-pure Theotokos.

Moses, Who of old foresaw Thee in the fire and the bush, and Elijah, who was taken up in the chariot of fire, arriving on Tabor proclaimed Thy glory, for the sake of Thy Cross, O Christ.

Proclaiming the one Essence of the Godhead, the one Monarchy and Dominion, O all-blessed one, thou didst pursue the flock of the nations.

The Lord brought thee to the sea of life, O all-wise one, like a horse roiling the bitter waters of polytheism.

With divine discourse thou didst renew stony hearts, O glorious one, sowing piety and a knowledge of the Truth.

The mountains inclined themselves before Thy face; for Thou wast well pleased to accept, in Thine earthly form, the light and heavenly rays which the sun came and laid at Thy feet.

Moses and Elijah cried to the disciples who were being instructed on holy Mount Tabor: “Behold, Christ the Savior is the God Whom we proclaimed of old!”

The immutable Nature, having mingled itself with human nature, shone forth ineffably, abundantly disclosing to the apostles the light of the immaterial Godhead.

When the disciples beheld Thee, the ever-existent Effulgence, shining in the glory of the Father, O Christ, they cried out to Thee: “Direct Thou our paths in Thy light!”

The true Vine put thee forth as a most fruitful branch producing the grapes which exude the wine of salvation; and drinking thereof, O blessed one, we who are held fast by ignorance have cast off the drunkenness of deception.

Thou wast shown to fulfill the choir of the twelve disciples from which the betrayer had cast himself, finding bitter strangulation, having lifted his heel against Christ, O wondrous Matthias, proclaimer of the mysteries.

Thou wast cast into the world as divine salt, O blessed and all-praised Apostle Matthias, cleansing away the corruption of falsehood with sweet doctrines, driving away sickness, and healing wounds of body and soul.

Shining forth the light which is far brighter than the sun, the Savior illumined us on Tabor.

Having ascended Mount Tabor, O Christ, Thou wast transfigured; and having cast falsehood utterly into darkness, Thou hast illumined us.

Recognizing Thee as God on Tabor, O Christ, the glorious apostles, marvelling, bowed down their knees.

Thou becamest a god by adoption, deified by divine union, receiving pristine rays of light from God, and thou hast illumined the faith and cleansed the earth of the darkness of idolatry. Twice

Lo! every prophecy of the sacred prophets is contained in thee, the disciple; for thou wast an eye-witness, emulator and apostle of Him Whom thou didst proclaim of old, O Matthias, servant of God.

Thy luminous sound which hath gone forth like the sun into all the earth doth enlighten the Church of the nations with grace, O wondrous Apostle Matthias.

Ikos: Grant me a stream of discourse, O Lord Who created the nature of water; strengthen my heart, O Compassionate One Who established the earth by Thy word; and enlighten my thoughts, O Thou Who clothest Thyself in light as with a garment, that I may say and chant fitting things worthily, to honor Thine Apostle Matthias, O greatly Merciful One.

Illumined by the light of unapproachable glory on Mount Tabor, the apostles cried out to Christ: “O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!”

Enraptured by the effulgence of the divine voice, the dew-bearing cloud and the radiance, O Christ, the apostles chanted: “O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!”

When he beheld Thee in unapproachable light on Mount Tabor, O Christ, Peter cried out: “O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!”

Present with thee, the Author of life, when Thou didst cause the light of Thy countenance to shine forth, the sons of Zebedee cried out: “O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!”

With the flood of thy divine wisdom thou didst dry up the torrent of falsehood, O glorious one, and with a torrent of sustenance thou hast given drink to those who cry with faith: Blessed art Thou, O God!

By the power of God Almighty thou didst set at nought the wiles of the enemy before the face of thine advance, O apostle, and the mountains and hills of ungodliness were broken down.

Christ, Who upholdeth all things by His hand, hath with His all-pure feet ascended Mount Tabor, whereon His face shone with radiance brighter than the beams of the sun, and showed forth those highest among the law and grace, who chanted: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

He Who ineffably manifested Himself on Mount Tabor with unapproachable glory, the intangible and never-waning Light, the Effulgence of the Father, illumining creation hath deified men who sing: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Moses and Elijah, standing on Mount Tabor as befitteth priests, manifestly beholding the Hypostasis of the divine character—Christ Who shone forth in the Father’s glory—chanted: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

The face of Moses once was filled with glory in its appearance because of the manifestation of God; and Christ is arrayed in light and glory as in a robe, for, being light itself, He illumineth those who chant: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

The disciples, beholding Christ surrounded by the luminous cloud on Tabor, fell to the ground, their minds enlightened, and hymned Him with the Father and the Spirit, chanting: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

As the mouth of God thou didst snatch from the throat of the slayer of men those whom he had cruelly slaughtered and made food for his malice, O wise one, and with the laver of regeneration thou didst bring them to the Lord, chanting unceasingly: Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

As the weapon of the word of God, O glorious one, thou didst utterly grind down the sword of falsehood and the weapon of evil, and by the power of God thou didst cast down the sacrifices, pillars and temples of the idolaters, but hast made into temples of the Trinity those who cry: Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Thou didst show thyself to be the heaven of the Word, declaring the ineffably divine glory of the Only-begotten, O most wise Matthias, thou lightning-flash of grace, seeker of the lost, lampstand of the divine Light, initiate of ineffable mysteries, whom we hymn together with gladness.

Suddenly illumined with a new outpouring of light, the disciples, stricken with awe, looked one at another; and, astonished, they bowed down to the earth and worshipped Thee, the Master of all.

A voice of divine sound was sent forth from out of the cloud, announcing the wonder; for the Father of lights cried to the apostles: “This is My beloved Son! Heed ye Him!”

Having seen new and all-glorious things and heard the voice of the Father on Tabor, the servants of the Word cried out: “This is our Savior, the image of the Prototype!”

O immutable Image of Him Who Is, O Immovable One, unalterable Seal, Son, Word, Wisdom, Arm, Right Hand of the Most High, Power: Thee do we hymn with the Father and the Spirit.

The Savior called thee His friend who served His commandments, O blessed apostle, the heir to His kingdom, who will be enthroned with Him on that awesome day which is to come, O all-wise Matthias, thou fulfillment of the twelve disciples.

Having traversed the sea of life with the sail of the Cross, O blessed one, thou didst reach the harbor of peace and thine uttermost desire; and, rejoicing now, thou standest with the choir of the apostles, entreating Him Who loveth mankind in our behalf.

Thy tongue hath been shown to be a truly radiant lamp, a shining beacon of the Spirit, which consumeth foreign doctrines, burneth up alien fire, O wise one, and shineth forth light upon those who sleep in the darkness of ­ignorance.

Directing the course of thy beautiful feet on high, O Apostle Matthias, thou didst mount, rejoicing, to the path to heaven; and, standing before the Trinity, thou beholdest the Son in the Father and the divine Spirit. Wherefore, with faith we celebrate thine all-sacred and divine memory. Twice

O Word, Thou immutable Light of the light of the unbegotten Father: today on Mount Tabor we have seen in Thy manifest light the light of the Father and the light of the Spirit Who guideth all creation with light.