At Great Vespers

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

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera: 3 stichera idiomela, in Tone III—

Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in the same tone—

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Leap up, ye waters of Valaam! Join chorus, ye islands of Alaska! Sing, ye people of the new world! Let heaven and earth rejoice; for the converser with the angels is glorified, and the Orthodox Faith is proclaimed to the ends of the earth. Let us cry aloud to Christ God: Through the supplications of our father Herman, save Thou our souls, O Lord!

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

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Come ye all, and in hymns let us proclaim the victory of honorable abstinence; for, having broken asunder the serpent, the author of evil, the meek Herman tasteth triumph in the choir of the angels. Wherefore, O brethren, let us praise him who adorneth the company of fasters, and, joining chorus, let us cry out with splendor: Rejoice, O venerable Herman, thou angelic boast of monks!

Glory..., in Tone I —

O venerable Herman, ascetic of wild Alaska and dweller in the mansions of heaven, with what praises shall we honor thee, with what names shall we magnify thee? What is our glorification compared to the glory of heaven? Rejoice, O our compatriot, who sharest in heavenly glory! Fill thou with joy the hearts of us who fall down before thee in humility!

Now and ever..., Theotokion; or this Stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel: “O all-praised martyrs...”—

And 5 stichera, in Tone VI: Spec. Mel.: “Having set aside…”—

Having now assembled, let us glorify the wondrous one, who, even while among mortals, attained heavenly things, who by his deeds and words carried the light of Christ unto the ends of the world for the unenlightened people who were crushed beneath the darkness of idolatry. By his supplications may Christ save our souls.

Rejoice, O Valaam, thou dwelling-place of God, for thou didst nurture the wondrous ascetic of Christ, who, like a lamp upon a lampstand, shone forth among the islands of Alaska, a new and unknown land, and brought an unbelieving people to the Orthodox Faith. With them let us glorify God, Who is wondrous in His saints!

Having but one desire, to bring the unbelieving people to the one God, thou becamest all things to all men: teaching them the sacred Scriptures and how to live in accordance therewith; training them in handicrafts; acting as intercessor for them before the authorities, teaching them in every way, as though they were children, that thou mightest lead the people to God. Forsake us not also, who hymn thee!

Following the words of the apostle, to give place to the wrath of God, thou didst withdraw to Spruce Island, turning away from the hard-heartedness of the lovers of this world; and, finding there a new Valaam, preferring life there with the birds and wild beasts, and conversing with God and the angels, illumined by visions from on high, thou now dwellest in the highest. Pray thou in behalf of our souls!

“What is above all, if not the Lord our Creator, the Adorner of majesty, the Bestower of life, the Sustainer and Nurturer of all things? Ought we not to love Him as the One most worthy of love, and place our own happiness in Him?” Thus didst thou teach, O venerable one; wherefore, teach us also to love God with all our heart.

Glory…: Idiomelon, in the same tone—

Have the fleeting years or the bosom of the earth been able to conceal thy glory, which is in the heavens, O venerable Herman? Wherefore, glorifying thee now, we, the children of thy people, fall down before thee, having thee as a mediator before the Lord. Him do thou entreat, that He grant salvation to the suffering land of Russia, prosperity to this land, and great mercy to our souls.

Who doth not call thee blessed, O all-holy Virgin? Who will not hymn thine all-pure birthgiving? For the only-begotten Son Who shone forth timelessly from the Father, came forth, ineffably incarnate, from thee, the pure one; and being God by nature, He became man for our sake, not divided into two Persons, but known in two natures without confusion. Him do thou beseech, O pure and most blessed one, that our souls find mercy!

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three readings:

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.

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.

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.

At Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and this sticheron of the venerable one, in Tone VIII—

O ascetic of New Valaam, thy brethren were dear to thee, and with them thou didst live in the Valaam of thy homeland. Yet thou didst desire a hundred times more thine incorporeal friends, who caught thy soul up to the vision of God, and with whom thou now makest thine abode. Rejoice, O father, for us who glorify thy memory, invisibly guiding us to goodly repentance! O Herman, favorite of God, thou scion of the Russian land, offspring of the waters of Ladoga, blessing of the Church for Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, goodly hope of America, gracious witness to Orthodoxy: Ask for us great mercy and the peace of God which passeth all understanding.

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

When the time of departure drew nigh for the venerable one, and the candles were lighted and the Acts of the Apostles were read by his bier, the holy Herman shone forth wondrously, saying: “Glory to Thee, O Lord!” And, mystically receiving from the Savior seven more days of life, he awaited the day which was foretold. Then, when the candles were again lighted and the Acts were being read, he reposed in the sweet savor of his asceticism, having lived a most fruitful and venerable life. And he liveth eternally, ever entreating the Lord of glory in our behalf.

O Virgin Theotokos and Mistress, as thou didst heal the venerable Herman, ever heeding his supplications have mercy on us who hymn thee.

At “Lord, I have cried...,” six stichera, in Tone V: Spec. Mel: “Rejoice, O life-bearing Cross...”—

Rejoice, thou standard of hierarchs, unshaken confirmation of the Church, glory of the Orthodox, wellspring of miracles, inexhaustible stream of love, most radiant beacon, organ of the Spirit, intellect divine, meek and guileless, adorned with true simplicity, heavenly man and earthly angel, laborer in the vineyard, true friend of Christ! Entreat Him to grant great mercy to those who honor thee! Twice

O Spyridon, glory of the fathers, thou wast truly shown to be meek and an heir to the land of the meek. With the sinews of thy wise and simple words thou didst strangle Arius, the most wicked and demented foe, by divine grace. And, having clarified the divine dogma for all, and extolled by the Spirit that which leadeth to salvation, and enlightened all the Orthodox most manifestly, thou didst indicate to all the faithful to glorify the One Word as truly consubstantial with the all-unoriginate Father, Who granteth the world great mercy. Twice

Having slain the carnal passions, thou didst raise the dead by the grace of God, and didst transform a serpent into gold, and didst restrain the raging of the river by thy prayer, O father. Appearing to the afflicted emperor by night, thou didst heal him by drawing nigh unto his heart the Lord glorifying thee most gloriously. Wherefore, we honor thy memory with a mighty voice and venerate the divine and sacred shrine of thy relics, whence floweth forth a divine stream of healings and great mercy. Twice

O venerable father Spyridon, blessed and wise, out of love for God thou didst question the dead woman as though she were alive, and didst transform a serpent into gold for him who was beset by poverty, and didst restrain the flow of the river, taking pity on the people, and didst stand before the emperor as physician through the providence of God; and, as His disciple, thou didst raise up the dead, and among many fathers didst elucidate the Faith. Wherefore, enabled to do all things by Christ, Who strengtheneth thee, entreat Him now that our souls be saved!

The Virgin, beholding Thine unjust sacrifice, weeping, cried out to Thee, O Christ: “O my Child most sweet, how is it that Thou diest unjustly? How is it that Thou, Who suspended all the earth upon the waters, art Thyself suspended upon a Tree? O most merciful Benefactor, I pray Thee, leave me not alone, who am Thy Mother and handmaid!”