Canon of the Greatmartyr, in Tone II

Exapostilarion of the octoechos, and that of the greatmartyr: Spec. Mel.: “Hearken, ye women…”—

Irmos: Overwhelming power once laid low the whole army of Pharaoh in the deep, and the incarnate Word hath destroyed pernicious sin. All-glorious is the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified.

Kontakion of the venerable one, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Having been lifted up upon the Cross…”—

Sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Awed by the beauty of thy virginity…”—

On the Praises, 4 stichera of the greatmartyr—

Theotokion: Thou hast been shown to surpass all creation, visible and invisible, O pure Ever-virgin; for thou gavest birth to the Creator, in that it was His good pleasure to become incarnate in thy womb. Him do thou entreat with boldness, that He save those who hymn thee.

O all-blessed and worshipful Trinity Who givest gifts to Thy servants which are beyond comprehension, breathe Thou a ray of splendor into my darkened mind, that I may praise the ever-memorable martyr Barbara. Twice

Irmos: Same as that of the foregoing canon.

Kontakion of the greatmartyr, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Having been lifted up upon the Cross…”—

Glory…: Sessional hymn of the venerable one, in the same tone—

The composition of Anatolius, idiomelon, in Tone I—

Theotokion: The ranks of angels were astonished, O all-pure one, and the hearts of men were filled with awe at thy birthgiving. Wherefore, we honor thee, the Theotokos, with faith.

The glory of Thy martyrs hath truly passed every bound of praise, O Thou Who lovest mankind; yet, accepting the praise we offer thee with faith according to our measure, O Master, send down upon us rich rewards.

Irmos: The desert, the barren Church of the nations, blossomed like a lily at Thine advent, O Lord; and therein hath my heart been established.

Disdaining the sweetness of earthly food and the riches of thy father, and despising glory as well, thou didst love the heavenly Bridegroom, O most glorious Barbara; for, beheaded by the sword, thou didst enter unto Christ the Bridegroom with the wise virgins. Wherefore, dispelling the deadly plague, thou dost heal the faithful by the activity of the Holy Spirit and prayest unceasingly for our souls.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

A most beauteous rose sprang forth from a thorny root and hath perfumed the Church of Christ: the glorious Barbara, who dyed her vesture in the blood of her suffering. Her do we hymn as is meet.

Irmos: Same as that of the foregoing canon

The composition of Byzantius, in Tone II—

Theotokion: All of us, the faithful, know thee to be the haven of salvation and an insuperable rampart, O Mistress Theotokos; for by thy supplications thou dost deliver our souls from tribulations.

To me who desire to begin thy laudation grant me now thy mellifluous voice, O venerable one, wherewith thou didst with hymns illumine the Orthodox Church which honoreth thy memory, O father John. Twice

Irmos: Thou didst come forth from the Virgin, neither a mediator nor an angel, but Thyself incarnate, O Lord, and hast saved me, the whole man; wherefore, I cry to thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

The wicked enemy is put to shame, vanquished by a woman, as our first mother was lured into sin; for Christ, the Word of the Father who was incarnate of the Virgin without change or confusion, as He Himself knew, lifted the curse from Eve and Adam, and He crowned the martyr Barbara as is meet, granting the world cleansing and great mercy for her sake.

Theotokion: Entreat thy Son and Lord, O pure Virgin, that He grant deliverance from the assaults of the adversary to all captives and peace to those who set their hope on thee.

Perceiving the nature of things most excellently, as a wise judge keen of intellect thou didst prefer eternal things to those which do not last; for thou didst trade transitory things for those which are abiding, O John, where Christ hath now glorified thee.

Irmos: Same as that of the foregoing canon

The divinely called martyr Barbara, suffering at the tribunal, said: “Cruel are my present torments, O ye torturers, but joyful will it be to receive everlasting life! I shall never prefer earthly things to those of heaven! Wherefore, cut ye and lacerate my flesh, and give me over to the fire, that, rejoicing, I may depart unto Christ my Bridegroom!” Through her supplications, O Christ God, send down Thy mercies and save us who with faith celebrate her sufferings.

Theotokion: Thou gavest birth without knowing man, O Virgin, and remainest eternally virgin, revealing the true Godhead of thy Son and God in images.

Wounded by the love of Thee, her Bridegroom, O Master, the passion-bearer Barbara rejected all the ungodliness of her father with unrestrained vehemence.

Irmos: Thou art a Mediator between God and man, O Christ God; for by Thee, O Master, are we led up out of the night of ignorance to Thy Father, the Source of light.

Come, ye people, let us sing the festival of the athlete Barbara today; for neither sword, nor fire, nor any torment, nor the crafty snares of Belial could triumph over her. To her do we cry out with faith: Entreat Christ, O good and most glorious martyr, that He grant us great mercy.

Theotokion: O undefiled Virgin, Mother unwedded, we know thee to be more holy than the saints, in that thou alone gavest birth to the immutable God; for thou hast poured forth incorruption upon all the faithful by thy divine birthgiving.

Neither the sweet beauty and comeliness of flowers, nor riches, nor yet the sweetness of youth satisfied thee, O goodly virgin, glorious Barbara, who had become the bride of Christ.

Irmos: Same as that of the foregoing canon

Glory…, the composition of John the Monk, in Tone VI—

Theotokion: Without seed didst thou conceive Him Who is inseparable from the Father and dwelt in thy womb as God and man, and thou gavest birth to Him ineffably, O all-pure Theotokos. Wherefore, we confess thee to be the salvation of us all.

Neither the obstacle of a womanly nature nor her youthful stature impeded the martyr’s perfect struggles, O Christ; for she was fortified by Thine invisible power.

Irmos: Stuck fast am I in the abyss of sin, O Savior, and tempest-tossed on the deep of life; yet lead me up from the passions and save me, as Thou didst Jonah from the sea monster.

Treading the path of suffering, O most honored Barbara, thou didst avoid the counsel of thy father. Bearing a lamp like a wise virgin, thou didst enter into the courts of thy Lord, and as a manly-wise martyr thou hast received the grace to heal carnal passions. Deliver us all, who hymn thee, from spiritual sickness by thy prayers unto God.

Theotokion: In manner past understanding, O Virgin Theotokos, thou becamest the bridal-chamber of the incarnation of the Word, arrayed and embroidered with the glory of the virtues. Wherefore, we proclaim thee to be the Theotokos, O most immaculate one.

Thou didst distribute thy wealth, thereby giving it back to God; wherefore, the kingdom in the heavens hath been prepared for thee, and thou hast now received a vastly increased reward, O John.

Irmos: Same as that of the foregoing canon

The most pure one, when she beheld Thee hanging on the Cross, said, weeping maternally: “O my Son and my God, my Child most sweet, how is it that Thou endurest a violent death?”

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Receiving the talant of wisdom, O John, thou didst adorn the Church of Christ, ornamenting it with thy deeds; and, departing this life, thou hast increased it exceedingly.

Irmos: The command of the iniquitous tyrant, opposed to God, raised up a lofty flame; but Christ, Who is blessed and all-glorious, spread a spiritual dew upon the pious youths.

At the aposticha, stichera from the octoechos, and Glory…, of the venerable one, in Tone VIII—

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavro­theotokion—

Let us hymn John, the honored and divinely eloquent speaker and hymnographer, the instructor and teacher of the Church, the opponent of the enemy; for taking up the Cross of the Lord as a sword, he hath cut down all the falsehood of heresies, and as a fervent intercessor before God he bestoweth forgiveness of transgressions upon all.

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the fiery furnace divided its activity at the command of God, consuming the Chaldæans, but bedewing the faithful, who chant: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

We, the multitude of monks, honor thee, our instructor, O John our father; for by thy footsteps have we truly learned to walk aright. Blessed art thou who, laboring for Christ, didst denounce the power of the enemy, O converser with angels, companion of the venerable and the righteous. With them pray unto the Lord, that our souls find mercy.

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

Ikos: Together let us cry out to the instructor, teacher and priest of the Church, as an initiate of ineffable mysteries: By thy supplications to God open our mouths and vouchsafe that we may speak the words of thy doctrines; for thou didst appear in the world as one who shareth in the Trinity, shining forth in the world like another sun, illumining all with thy miracles and teachings, like Moses ever instructing in the law of the Lord. And thou wast a luminary in word and deed, praying unceasingly, that forgiveness of transgressions be given to all.

Irmos: Same as that of the foregoing canon

“I cannot bear to see Thee asleep upon the Tree, O my Child Who grantest wakefulness to all! But grant Thou divine and saving wakefulness unto those who sleep the sleep of destruction because of the fruit of disobedience which was eaten of old,” said the Virgin, weeping, whom we magnify.

In thy suffering thou didst amaze all, for thou didst endure the wounding, bonds, tortures and imprisonment inflicted upon thee by the tormenters, O all-lauded Barbara. Wherefore, Christ hath bestowed upon thee a crown in heaven, and it is to Him that thou didst flee, desiring Him earnestly. He hath imparted unto thee, O martyr, the grace to pour forth healings upon men.

Irmos: God the Lord, the Son of the unoriginate Father, hath revealed Himself to us incarnate of the Virgin, to enlighten those in darkness and to gather the dispersed. Wherefore, we magnify the all-hymned Theotokos.

Thou hast been shown to us to be a melodious and sanctified clarion, O most sacred one, sounding forth in hymnody the teachings of the Lord and Savior to the ends of the earth; and by thy words thou hast illumined the earth. O venerable John, entreat Christ God, that He grant us great mercy.

Irmos: Same as that of the foregoing canon

Thou wast the divine tabernacle of the Word, O only all-pure Mother and Virgin, who hast surpassed the angels in purity. With the divine waters of thy prayers, O pure one, cleanse me who, more than all others, am dust, defiled by carnal transgressions; and grant me great mercy.

Stavrotheotokion—

The unblemished ewe-lamb of the Word, the incorrupt Virgin Mother, beholding Him Who had sprung forth from her without pain, suspended upon the Cross, cried out, lamenting maternally: “Woe is me, O my Child! How is it that Thou sufferest willingly, desiring to deliver man from the indignity of the passions?”

O Thou Who wast born of the Virgin, Thou hast given to virgin maidens the boldness to cast down the deceiver. Wherefore, the right victorious Barbara put his arrogance to shame.

Our first mother, led astray of old by the machinations of the deceiver, was driven from the food of paradise; but Barbara, putting him to shame, hath now made her abode in the bridal-chamber of heaven.

Thou didst destroy the power of death by Thy Cross; wherefore, the maiden Barbara, sparing not her body, most valiantly endured wounding with steadfast mind.

Submitting to the command of Christ, thou didst forsake the beauty, wealth, sweetness and splendor of the world; and taking up thy cross for His sake, O wise John, thou didst follow after Him.

Impoverishing thyself for Christ Who impoverished Himself for the sake of man’s salvation, thou wast glorified with Him as He promised, and dost now reign with Him Who reigneth forever, O John.

Commanding that the bath-house be lighted by three windows, O Barbara, thou didst mystically describe baptism, which, through the light of the Trinity, is the radiant cleansing of the soul.

Aflame with zeal for God, the most lauded maiden Barbara spat upon the vile faces of the false deities, putting to shame the prince of this world.

Opening for Barbara, who was fleeing the savagery of her cruel father, the mountain straightway received her, like the ever-memorable protomartyr Thecla of old; for Christ wrought a miracle.

Made steadfast in the divine life by the fear of Christ, O father John, thou didst subject all thy carnal mind to thy spirit, cleansing thy senses.

Having carefully purified body, mind and soul of all defilement, O divinely wise one, thou didst receive the splendor of the triple Sun, Who doth enrich thee with radiant gifts.

As Thou didst promise to give divinely imparted wisdom unto those who stand before the tyrants’ tribunals for Thy sake, the martyr Barbara was filled therewith.

With divinely wise words thou didst denounce the falsehood of the ungodly, O glorious Barbara, and in enduring the deeds of the tyrants thou didst astonish the wise.

The blameless athlete gave her body over to be pitilessly afflicted with wounds and to be abraded thoroughly with rags of horse-hair, for the sake of Christ.

Illumined by the grace of the Spirit, and manifestly enriched by the knowledge of human things, thou didst generously distribute thy substance to the needy, O John.

Like the choirs of heaven didst thou adorn the Church in Orthodox manner, intoning divine choral hymns to the Trinity.

Following God Who is piously hymned in Trinity, O athlete, thou didst dim the pagan temples; and, suffering amid thy contest, O Barbara of manly mind, thou didst not fear the threats of the tyrants, ever chanting aloud: “I worship the Trinity, the One God!”

Ikos: Assembling, let us honor, as is meet, Barbara, who made herself the bride of Christ through martyrdom; for, delivered from soul-corrupting danger, destruction and earthquake through her supplications, we lead our life in peace, vouchsafed Thy mercies, O Savior, with all the saints who have pleased Thee from ages past, to walk in the light and to chant with them. And Thou hast astonished all men who confess with faith: We worship the Trinity, the One God!

The tyrant who rageth in vain to destroy the earth and annihilate the sea lieth like a plaything beneath the feet of the maiden Barbara; for Christ, having trampled Him down, hath bound him like a vile bird.

When thy whole body was wracked with unbearable wounds and empurpled with drops of thy blood, O most lauded martyr, glorious Barbara, thou didst endure scorching by torches applied to thy sides.

O the inhuman and pitiless savagery and exceeding ungodliness of the torments! For with swords they cruelly severed the breasts of the martyr as though in a butcher’s shop, but her mind was set steadfastly on Christ, the Judge of the contest.

Ikos: Same as that of the foregoing canon

Afire with zeal, with thy splendid writings thou didst strike down all the false knowledge of God-opposing heresies, O John, manifestly elucidating what had been sown of old and written carefully by the wise.

With the discourses and the dogmas which thou didst compile thou didst fervently denounce the blasphemous impiety of the abominable ­disciples of Manes, which strove to infect the Church of Christ, O John.

Christ appeared to thee in prison, O Barbara, surrounded by light unapproachable, commanding thee to be of good cheer, healing thy wounds and granting thee joy; wherefore, thou hast lovingly taken wing to thy Bridegroom.

Manifestly hath Thy prophecy been fulfilled, O Christ; for the father giveth his own child over to death, the wretched parent becoming the instigator of Thy martyr’s slaughter. Wherefore, he was destroyed by fire from heaven.

An angel of light arrayed thee like a bride in splendid vesture, O Barbara, who wast stripped naked for Christ’s sake and wast subjected to suffering; for thou didst shed thy garments, receiving divine transformation.

Thou didst openly denounce the division of Nestorius, the confusion of Severus and the monothelite foolishness, O thrice-blessed John, shining forth the radiance of Orthodoxy upon all the ends of the earth in the one true Faith.

The enemy sowed the tares of heresy abundantly in the Church of Christ, that the worship of Christ in His precious icons might be eliminated; but he did not find thee sleeping, O most blessed John, who uprootest every seed of evil.

Meeting the glorious end of thy martyrdom under the sword, O Barbara, and vouchsafed crowns of martyrdom with Juliana, thou didst hear the voice of God, which filled thee with power.

United now with Christ thy Bridegroom, shining with the glory of divine light in the mansions of heaven, O Barbara, look down upon those who hymn thee, lightening our sufferings and leading us to the living God.

Christ, fulfilling thy request, O athlete Barbara, granteth healings unto those who with faith keep thine annual memorial. For truly thy right glorious miracles have surpassed the sands of the sea in number.

Thou hast taught all the children of the Church to hymn in Orthodox fashion the worshipful Unity in Trinity, and manifestly to theologize the divine incarnation of the Word, O John, explaining those things in the sacred Scriptures which many find difficult to understand .

Having hymned the ranks of the saints—the pure Theotokos, the forerunner of Christ, the apostles, the prophets, fasters and wise teachers, the righteous and the martyrs—, O John, thou dost now abide in their mansions.

Like a most beautiful rose, dyed with the blood of thy sacred suffering, thou didst spring forth from a thorny root, O virgin martyr Barbara. Now do thou lovingly save from misfortunes those who keep thy divine memory.

Glory…, that of the venerable one—

Thou didst shine forth like a divine light upon the Church, O our father, illumining it with the splendor of thy hymns and the light of thy character, whereby thou dost reveal as adorned the dogmas of Christ, to Whom do thou never cease to pray for us, O John.

Saved by thee, we confess thee to be the true Theotokos, O Mistress; for thou didst ineffably give birth to God Who destroyed death by His Cross and drew to Himself the assemblies of the venerable, with whom we praise thee, O Virgin.