The summit of the virtues and foundation of the faithful, the glory of hierarchs and the boast of the martyrs with splendor doth summon all the faithful to his holy memorial, to chant unto him as a victor who glorified God on earth.

¶8

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

¶9

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

¶10

Moved by a vision of Christ, the Angel of Great Counsel, when thou didst behold the council of the iniquitous, O wise martyr, thou didst proceed straightway to the tribunal, taking the trophies of victory in thy hand; and thou dwellest now in the heavens, O all-sanctified one.

¶11

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

¶12

With the drops of thy blood, O martyr Blaise, thou didst weave a beautiful robe for the Church, embroidered by thy well anointed fingers and dyed with thy manifold pangs; and she is arrayed therein like a comely bride, hymning Christ the Bridegroom.

¶13

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

¶14

Glory…, in Tone IV—

¶15

As a good tutor of children and a teacher of piety, by the divine power of thy godly words thou didst lead the God-loving women to the struggle of martyrdom, thereby strengthening for Christ the weakness of their nature; and with them having finished well the course of sufferings, thou dost rejoice with splendor in the bridal chamber of heaven, adorned with a twofold crown of divine glory, and making entreaty with them, that peace and great mercy be imparted to us.

¶16

The all-pure one, beholding Christ, Who loveth mankind, crucified, His side pierced by a spear, cried out, lamenting: “What is this, O my Son? How have these thankless people rewarded Thee for the good things Thou hast done for them? Dost Thou hasten to leave me childless, O most Beloved? I marvel, O Compassionate One, at Thy voluntary crucifixion!”

¶17

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Joy of the ranks of heaven…”—

¶18

Thou didst desire the beauties of heaven and didst consider transitory glory to be corrupt. And thou didst valiantly endure the multifarious tortures of the Moslems like an incorporeal being, O blessed martyr George. And now, crowned by Christ, pray thou that our souls be saved.

¶19

Having set thy mind firmly upon the rock of the Faith, thou didst in nowise waver under the assaults of the ungodly Moslems, but, strengthened by the power of Christ, thou didst show their attacks to be impotent. O divinely wise martyr George, pray that our souls be saved.

¶20

Joining chorus in the chambers of heaven and enjoying gladness now in the glory of Christ, do thou never forget thy kinsmen, but ever entreat the King of all in our behalf, O most lauded martyr George, that we may receive everlasting blessedness, and that our souls may be saved.

¶21

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

¶22

Having vanquished the adversary as an invincible warrior, O passion-bearer George, thou didst vanquish the noetic foe with the weaponry of the Faith; and having lawfully completed thy race, thou hast received a crown from God. Him do thou entreat, that those who with faith celebrate thy most honored memory may be delivered from corruption and tribulations.

¶23

Imprisoned in a dungeon and strengthened by divine teaching, O passion-bearer George, thou didst in nowise submit to the infidels; wherefore, through fiery torture thou didst pass, rejoicing, over to Christ. Him do thou entreat, that those who with faith celebrate thy most honored memory may be delivered from corruption and tribulations.

¶24

By the power of Christ thou didst set at nought the assault of the enemy, O passion-bearer George, didst put the ungodly to shame by thy faith, and didst gladden the Orthodox by the triumph bestowed upon thee by Christ our God. Him do thou entreat, that those who with faith celebrate thy most honored memory may be delivered from corruption and tribulations.

¶25

Glory…, in Tone VI—

¶26

Having piously armed thyself with martyric courage and a good conscience, O invincible martyr George, thou didst openly preach the words of Christ in the face of the ungodly. And strengthened by divine power, thou didst show the threats of the tyrants to be impotent. Paying no heed to the fire which burneth only for a time, but placing thy trust in the gifts of God, thou didst not sin. And now, having been accounted worthy to dwell in the mansions of heaven and to stand before the Master of all, pray that we be delivered from every attack of the enemy, and that we may be vouchsafed to stand at the right hand of God in the life to come.

¶27

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!

¶28

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three readings:

¶29

Thus saith the Lord: all the nations are gathered together, and princes shall be gathered out of them. Who will declare these things, or who will declare to you things from the beginning? Let them bring forth their witnesses, and be justified; and let them hear, and declare the truth. Be ye My witnesses, and I too am a witness, saith the Lord God, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know, and believe, and understand that I am He; before Me there was no other God, and after Me there shall be none. I am God; and beside Me there is no Savior. I have declared, and have saved; I have reproached, and there was no strange god among you. Ye are My witnesses, and I am the Lord God, even from the beginning; and there is none that can deliver out of My hands. I will work, and who shall turn it back? Thus saith the Lord God Who redeemeth you, the Holy One of Israel.

¶30

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 forever. 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.

¶31

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 grey 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.

¶32

At Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and these stichera idiomela of the martyr—

¶33

In Tone I: The radiant martyr hath gladdened the heavenly hosts by his glorious suffering and hath moved us on earth to exalt the day of his repose. And glorifying thereon the struggles which he endured for Christ even unto death, let us cry out to him thus: Pray for us, O holy George, that we may receive a dwelling-place in paradise and great mercy.

¶34

In Tone II: Be glad in the Lord, O city of Sofia! Rejoice, all ye outlying lands, and with praises hymn the new athlete George, who in these latter days suffered and showed forth endurance equal to that of the ancients! Let us glorify Christ Who strengthened him and gave him victory over the adversaries, Who invested him with a splendid crown, hath imparted the fragrance of sweet savor to his relics on earth, and through his supplications giveth us great mercy.

¶35

In Tone III: In the struggle of martyrdom thou didst shine forth in goodly measure, and, strengthened by divine signs, thou didst destroy the power of the demons. Thou didst put to shame the teachers of Amirakhan, didst amaze the people of Serdica and the surrounding parts, and didst bring glory to the choir of martyrs, with whom thou dost now abide, invested with a crown of incorruption by the right hand of Christ, out of love for Whom thou didst commit thyself to the fire, O blessed one. Pray thou to God in our behalf, O greatmartyr George.

¶36

In Tone IV: By thy valiant suffering thou didst amaze the armies of the angels, who saw thee undaunted by the fire and hastening to the flame for the sake of Christ, as the three youths hastened to the Babylonian furnace. Abiding now with them, O George, be thou mindful of those who honor thee and bow down before the shrine of thy relics.

¶37

Glory…, in Tone V—

¶38

O brethren, let us hasten with love to this present festival of the glorious martyr George. Let the armies of heaven be glad, and let the clouds drop sweetness as on the day of his honorable immolation. Let the earth marvel at the all-glorious declaration of the splendid youth: “Break my body with blows and burn it with fire, but I will never deny my Christ! Sweeter is it to accept tortures, which will vouchsafe me yet greater spiritual blessings!” Who will not marvel, who will not glorify, who will not chant hymns of praise to him, saying: O martyr George, entreat God in behalf of us who honor thy memory and bow down before the shrine of thy relics, that we may be delivered from every assault of the adversary, and that our souls may be saved.

¶39

Thou art the temple and portal, the palace and throne of the King, O most honored Virgin, through whom Christ the Lord, my Deliverer, Who is the Sun of righteousness, hath revealed Himself unto those who sleep in darkness, desiring to enlighten that which He fashioned by His own hand in His image. Wherefore, O most hymned one, as thou hast acquired maternal boldness before Him, entreat Him without ceasing, that our souls be saved.

¶40

At the Aposticha, these stichera, in Tone VI: Spec. Mel.: “Having set all aside…”—

¶41

Having relied wholly upon the Master from thy youth, thou didst desire Him; and having remained untouched by any passion, by blasphemy, boastfulness, indulgence in fables and unholy concourse, thou wast shown to be a most excellent martyr, unaffected by the assaults of martyrdom through the power of Him Who was sacrificed upon the Cross. Him do thou earnestly entreat in behalf of our souls.

¶42

Stichos: The righteous man shall flourish like a palm tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied.

¶43

Though thy body was broken by blows, O most blessed passion-bearer George, thou didst preserve thy soul unchanged and thy mind intact; and, incarcerated in prison, thou didst learn therein to endure valiantly and to bear every type of torment applied to thee, for the sake of our Savior Who suffered on the Cross. Him do thou earnestly entreat in behalf of our souls.

¶44

Stichos: They that are planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of our God they shall blossom forth.

¶45

Thou didst receive everlasting gladness and all-pure delight as reward for thy suffering, O glorious martyr George; and thou didst manifestly put the hordes of the ungodly to shame by thine endurance, didst gladden the choir of the pious, and didst inspire them with boldness for the sake of Christ. Him do thou earnestly entreat in behalf of our souls.

¶46

Glory…: Idiomelon, in the same tone—

¶47

Be glad, O city of the Bulgars, thou namesake of wisdom, for within thee the right victorious martyr George the all-comely shone forth in suffering; for, having manfully trampled underfoot all the machinations of the tyrannical foe, he received a crown of victory as is meet, and preached to all the people, that they bow down in worship before the one God in Trinity. To Him do we also cry out with boldness, that He bring peace to the world and save our souls.

¶48

Christ the Lord, my Creator and Deliverer, Who came forth from thy womb, O all-pure one, and robed Himself in me, hath freed Adam from the curse. Wherefore, like the angel do we unceasingly cry out to thee, O most pure one, who art truly the Mother of God and Virgin: Rejoice! Rejoice, O Mistress, thou intercession, protection and salvation for our souls!

¶49

In much-tried patience, O blessed martyr George, thou didst endure death by fire; and after thine end thou didst receive with the choirs of the martyrs an imperishable crown from Christ. Dwelling now in the land of the meek, as is meet, unceasingly entreat Christ God in behalf of us who with faith bow down before the shrine of thy relics. Twice

¶50

And “Virgin Theotokos, rejoice…”, once.

Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.