At Great Vespers

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

As thy prayer to the Lord is untiring and thine entreaty abiding, O all-pure one, quell thou the assaults and still the waves of my wretched soul; calm my heart, which is in suffering, I beseech thee, O Maiden, and impart grace to my mind, that I may worthily glorify thee.

A Reading from Proverbs

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera: 4 in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “Rejoice…”—

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

At the blessing of the loaves, the troparion of the saint, in Tone VIII—

A Reading from Proverbs

Rejoice, O great and all-honorable hierarch, all-blessed Alexis, adorner of the Church, precious ornament of the holy hierarchs, who helpest Orthodox Christians by thy supplications, O great confirmation of the land of Russia, our honored teacher, help of the helpless, joyous consolation of the grieving, fervent advocate for all who sorrow, who drivest away the darkness of ignorance! Thou hast hastened to Christ at the calm havens, and, standing among the choir of the incorporeal ones, dost delight in the beauteous comeliness of the Master, and hast moved the hearts of the pious to hymnody. Pray thou to Christ, that He grant peace and great mercy unto our souls.

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

Troparion, in Tone IV—

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Rejoice, O beacon of the whole metropolitan see of Russia! For thou hast blossomed forth splendidly in virtue, like a fruitful olive-tree in the house of God, and, producing divers fruits, thou dost distribute them in abundance among thy flock, and amid the pastures of the Spirit thou givest drink to them with the downpouring of thy prayers and freely pourest forth healings upon those who with faith have recourse to the shrine of thy relics, O holy hierarch Alexis. Thou hast prepared thyself as a bright lamp, and, making thine abode in the mansions of heaven, hast received crowns as the reward of thy labors; for thou gavest no sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids, until thou didst sleep the common sleep of all. O venerable hierarch, pray to Christ, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy.

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

Rejoice and be glad, O all-sacred Alexis, gracious preacher, steadfast intellect, grapes of the vine of life sprung forth in holiness, exuding wine which gladdeneth the hearts of the faithful with mellifluous teachings, O head of hallowed anointing, our honored teacher! Come thou and visit us, who are oppressed by sinful passions; cast down the audacity of the heathen; drive away the adversary; calm civil strife, and ease all pain and illness, praying to Christ, that He grant peace and great mercy to our souls.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Rejoice, O all-glorious city of Moscow! Adorn thyself and be glad, possessing such an inexhaustible wellspring of grace, the all-blessed and wondrous great hierarch Alexis, who was adorned with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and from his youth, through fasting and prayer, and because of his virtuous life, became the vessel of the Holy Spirit, anointed with the oil of the priesthood, and received the gift of healing from Christ God, the King of all, and even after his repose restored to health the boy whose mother brought him, barely alive, to his precious shrine. And he now poureth forth healing in abundance upon those who approach him with faith, and prayeth to Christ, that He grant peace and great mercy unto our souls.

And 4 stichera in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “With what wreaths of praise…”—

With what beauties of song shall we hymn the holy hierarch, the gentle mouth of Christ, the splendid proclaimer of His Gospel, the guardian of the Church, the helper of the Russian land, the champion of all Orthodox Christians? By his supplications may Christ, Who hath great mercy, cast down the pride of the enemy. Twice

With what vigilant lips shall we praise the holy hierarch Alexis, the wonder-worker, the adorner of the Church of Christ, who loved the preëminent Peter and became the heir of Paul, who emulated the ways of the Baptist, the co-ruler of Russia, who emitteth rays of miracles in abundance and freely granteth healing unto all who approach him with faith and celebrate his memorial with splendor, the great helper and teacher of the Russian land, the wondrous and miraculous Alexis, the ally of all Orthodox Christians? For his sake Christ, Who hath great mercy, hath cast down our enemies.

With what eloquent words shall we hymn Alexis, the holy hierarch wondrous in miracles, who dwelleth with the incorporeal beings, who was sanctified from earliest infancy, the immovable pillar of the Church, the joy of the land of Russia, the model of righteousness, the helper of the oppressed, the physician of the sick who exacteth no fee? For his sake Christ, Who hath great mercy, hath bestowed unity upon the Churches.

Glory…:, in Tone VI—

Assembling, O ye who love the feasts of the Church, with songs of praise let us hymn the adornment of hierarchs and ornament of the fathers, the wellspring of miracles, the great helper of the Russian land, saying: Rejoice, O Alexis, thou steadfast intelligence imbued with the grace of truth! For, having become a receptacle of the all-holy Spirit, thou hast received the gift of miracles. And now, standing before the throne of Christ with the first hierarchs, pray thou for thy servants.

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 memory of the just is praised, and the blessing of the Lord is upon his head. Blessed is the man who hath found wisdom, and the mortal who knoweth prudence. For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver. And she is more valuable than precious stones: no precious thing is equal to her in value. For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth righteousness proceedeth, and she carrieth law and mercy upon her tongue. Hearken to me, O children, for I will speak solemn truths. Blessed is the man who shall keep my ways; for my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and in them is prepared favor from the Lord. Ye, O men, do I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men. I, wisdom, have built up; upon counsel, knowledge and understanding have I called. Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine. I love those that love me; they that seek me shall find grace. O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge. Hearken unto me again; for I will speak solemn truths. For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse. They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge. For I will instruct you in truth, that your hope may be in the Lord, and ye may be filled with the Spirit.

The mouth of the righteous droppeth wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish. The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse. False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable unto Him. Wherever pride entereth, there will also disgrace: but the mouth of the humble doth meditate wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the overthrow of the rebellious shall spoil them. Possessions shall not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. When a just man dieth, he leaveth regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy and causeth joy. Righteousness traceth out blameless paths: but ungodliness encountereth unjust dealing. The righteousness of upright men delivereth them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction. At the death of a just man his hope doth not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perisheth. A righteous man escapeth from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place. In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare for citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous. In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospereth, but at the destruction of the wicked there is exultation. At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted, but by the mouths of ungodly men it is overthrown. A man void of understanding sneereth at his fellow citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.

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 lust 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 doth visit His chosen.

At the Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and these stichera of the saint, idiomela, in Tone VIII—

O venerable father, holy hierarch Alexis, though other lands and cities fall silent, yet all who have been enlightened by thee, and we with them, hearing of and seeing the multitude of thy miracles, cry aloud in hymns of praise and say: Through the grace of the all-holy Spirit thou becamest an emulator of the apostles of Christ and illuminest the whole world; wherefore, accounts of thy wonders reached the tsar like a ray of light, shining upon those afar off as though they were near. By thy supplications free us from tribulations and the cruel ones who assail us.

Who can recount the labors of thy boldness, O venerable father? And who is not amazed, hearing of thy boundless humility, patience and love for thy children? For thou wast in nowise at a loss when thou didst hear the demand of the iniquitous ruler, who said: “Send unto me the one who imparteth health to the sick and sight to the blind, who enableth the lame to walk, and expelleth demons! Yea, send him unto me, that he may pray to his God and heal my queen, driving out the demon and bringing light to her eyes.” O the demand which transcended human understanding! O the wonder! Who will not be amazed, O brethren? Who will not praise this mighty warrior? For not only did he not hesitate, but encouraging those with him, he said: “Wait a little while, and be not sorrowful, but set your hope on God and His all-pure Mother, and ye shall behold the glory of God!”

O Alexis, holy hierarch of Christ, thou good disciple of Christ the good Teacher, thou didst emulate Christ the good Shepherd, laying down thy life for the sheep, didst transform the rage of the ruler, which was like the lion’s roar, into the meekness of a lamb, didst heal his queen and change the sorrow of thy flock into joy, didst bring about peace for the Church and gladden the great prince. Wherefore, we beseech thee: Pray for us to Christ, the Master Who loveth mankind, that He save our souls.

Glory…, in Tone VI—

When thou didst return from the khan, bearing peace for the Church, O father, the hierarchs and assemblies of the clergy and people greeted thee with joy and in thanksgiving called thee their liberator. Bearing gifts, with joy they paid homage to thee as one victorious; and the Great Prince Demetrius cried out to thee, weeping: “O master, what shall we render unto thee for thy labor, whereby thou hast brought us peace?” Wherefore, O holy hierarch Alexis, pray thou earnestly to Christ our God, that thy city be preserved from siege.

The Archangel Gabriel was sent from heaven to announce the conception to the Virgin; and, arriving in Nazareth, he thought to himself, marvelling at the miracle: “How can He Who in the highest is unapproachable be born of the Virgin? How can He who hath heaven for His throne and the earth for His footstool be contained in the Virgin’s womb? How can He, upon Whom the six-winged seraphim and many-eyed cherubim dare not gaze, will to become incarnate of her by His word alone? Yet this is the true Word of God. Why, therefore, do I stand here and not say unto the Virgin: ‘Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace! The Lord is with thee! Rejoice, O pure Virgin! Rejoice, O unwedded bride! Rejoice, O mother of Life! Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb!’?”

At the aposticha, these stichera, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “O house of Ephratha…”—

O Alexis, thou hast shown thyself to be the habitation of the Holy Spirit and dwelling-place of grace. And, assembling now for thy memorial, we hymn thee.

Stichos: The saints shall boast in glory, and they shall rejoice upon their beds.

Thou art the boast of hierarchs, the adornment of priests, a model for monks; and we cry aloud to thee, O holy hierarch Alexis: Rejoice, thou confirmation of the Church!

Stichos: Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice.

Accept now, O father, the hymnody of thy children who celebrate with faith, and grant unto those who love thee those petitions which are for their profit.

Glory…, idiomelon, in Tone VI—

O good servant, faithful husbandman of the vineyard of Christ, thou didst endure the heat of the day, didst increase the talant given thee, and didst not resent those who came after thee. Wherefore, the gates of heaven have been opened unto thee. Enter into the joy of thy Lord, and pray for us, O holy Alexis.

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 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!

Hastening to thy precious shrine, O holy hierarch Alexis, divinely wise wonder-worker, assembling with love, we celebrate with splendor the memory of thee who art equally enthroned with the apostles, the all-good physician, the right pleasing servant; and we rejoice with songs and hymns, glorifying Christ Who hath given thee such grace to heal and hath bestowed upon thy city a great bulwark. Twice

And, “Virgin Theotokos, rejoice!…”, once.

At “Lord, I have cried…”, these stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—

Wisely, O most wise one, didst thou teach the incorporeal Word Who with the Father is equally unoriginate and Who united Himself hypostatically to the flesh; Whose activity is twofold, through both the natures whereof He is comprised and in which He is seen: One, indivisible in essence, and comprehended as existing in both.

Having studied the law of the Lord, O blessed and holy hierarch Meletius, thou didst show thyself to be a tree standing by the waters of asceticism, as it is written, and bringing forth the fruits of the virtues through the grace of Him Who sanctified thy holy soul and made of thee a receptacle of all spiritual effulgence.

As say the Scriptures, thy cheeks were adorned like turtle-doves, O most wise one Meletius, loving abstinence and forgoing food, desiring the noetic sustenance which Christ bestowed upon thee when thou didst undertake thy manifold labors, displaying the ardent zeal which thou didst show when suffering misfortunes for the sake of the Faith.

Stavrotheotokion, in the same tone & melody—

When the ewe-lamb, who gave birth to Thee, saw Thee, the Lamb and Shepherd, upon the Tree, she lamented and cried out to Thee maternally: “O my Son most desired! How is it that Thou art suspended upon the Tree of the Cross, O Long-suffering One? How have Thy hands and feet been pierced with nails by the iniquitous, O Word? And how hast Thou shed Thy blood, O Master?”

The truth of things revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, a model of meekness and a teacher of abstinence. Wherefore, thou hast acquired exalted things through humility and riches through poverty. O father Meletius, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.