At Vespers

The choirs of saints in heaven join chorus today, meeting the blessed Theophania; the venerable and the fasters greet her with a holy kiss—as one that struggled honorably; the martyrs—as one that suffered innocently; the merciful—as one who emulated our merciful God; the righteous—as one who cherished the righteousness of the Lord; and we that are born on earth make haste to the temple of God, that there we may radiantly celebrate, hymning the memory of the holy empress, and through her supplications asking Christ God to grant us great mercy.

At “Lord, I have cried...,” these stichera, in Tone I—

Now & ever..., Theotokion, or this Stavrotheotokion in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious ­wonder...”—

Glory..., in Tone VIII—

Behold, a new intercessor hath now appeared to us at the throne of the Almighty, for today a holy empress is received with honor into the kingdom of heaven and is crowned with a crown of unfading glory; and we earnestly cry out to her: O blessed Theophania, partaker of eternal life and never-ending joy, in thy prayers forget not us sinners that with love honor thy holy memory.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Blessed art thou, O Theophania most wise, for loving spiritual poverty and spurning the earthly glories of kings, thou didst inherit the kingdom of heaven. Blessed art thou, for with tears didst thou water thy bed; wherefore, be thou now comforted. Blessed art thou who didst hunger for the righteousness of God, for thou hast been nourished with the Bread of Life. Blessed art thou, meek and merciful dove, for our God, the King of all, hath had mercy upon thee, lovingly opening to thee His fatherly embrace, and summoning thee to His radiant bridal chamber.

Come ye all, let us hymn the blessed Theophania, the empress of the Imperial City and handmaid of Christ, for disdaining transient glory and honor, counting all things visible and corruptible as naught, and dwelling in kingly palaces as in the desert, emulating the venerable in ascetic endeavor, she was robed in humility as in the purple; wherefore, she is glorified by all the choirs of heaven, as on earth she glorified God; for truly, O holy Theophania, thy life was in accordance with thy name. For which cause, falling down before thee, we pray: Incline to us the love of God for mankind, and reveal to us His great mercy.

Beholding Thee nailed to the Cross and accepting suffering of Thine own will, O Master Jesus, Thy Virgin Mother cried aloud: “Woe is me, O my sweet Child! How is it that Thou dost unjustly endure wounds, O Physician Who hast healed the infirmity of men and delivered all from corruption in Thy loving-kindness?”

On “Lord, I have cried…”, these stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Thy martyrs, O Lord…”—

Having become a dwelling-place and animate temple of thy Lord through the splendor of thy life and thy sojourn, O most honored one, thou didst raise up to Him Who reigneth over the whole world the inanimate temple which had fallen of old. Him do thou beseech with thy supplications, that He grant great mercy unto all.

Thou wast a vessel of the Spirit, pleasing in luster, receiving effulgence imparted to thee from the heavens; wherefore, thou didst prophesy the deliverance of all men by the Savior. Him do thou beseech with thy supplications, that He grant great mercy unto all.

Bathed in luminous radiance, vouchsafed vision, and shown to be full of the most pure enlightenment which never waneth, O blessed one, preserve those who hymn thee, entreating the one Lord, that He grant great mercy unto all.

And three stichera of the Theotokos, in the same tone and melody—

[These stichera are only chanted on weekdays during the Nativity Fast, if the pastor elect to serve the services in lenten fashion, with the chanting of “Alleluia” at Matins instead of “God is the Lord.” In such a case, at Vespers the stichera of the Theotokos are chanted first on “Lord, I have cried...,” followed by the stichera of the saint.]

Rescue me from the hands of the serpent, the slayer of men, who through deception engageth me in battle, that he might put me utterly to death, O Mistress. Crush his jaws, I pray, and destroy his wiles, that, delivered from his claws, I may magnify thy power.

I am a barren tree devoid of the fruit of salvation, O most immaculate one. Wherefore, I tremble at the thought of being cut down, lest, wretch that I am, I be cast into the unquenchable fire. For this cause, I fall down before thee: Deliver me therefrom, and show me forth as fruitful, O pure one, by thy mediation before thy Son.

My thoughts are impure, my mouth deceitful, and my deeds defiled. What then shall I do? How shall I meet the Judge? O Virgin Mistress, entreat thy Son, Creator and Lord, that He accept my spirit in repentance, in that He alone is compassionate.

Alas! Woe is me, who have angered my God, remaining in ignorance, despondency and slothfulness, as I have! O Virgin Mistress, help me who am benighted, and entreat thy Son and Creator, that He grant me forgiveness of mine offenses.

Stavrotheotokion—

Beholding her Bullock nailed to the Tree of His own will, the heifer cried out, lamenting bitterly: “Woe is me, O most beloved Child! How hath the ungrateful assembly of the Jews rewarded Thee, desiring to leave me bereft of Thee, O most Beloved?”