AT 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…”, these stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O Lord, even though at the tribunal…”—

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same Tone & Melody—

Troparion, in Tone IV—

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

O Lord, in the world Thou didst show forth the holy hierarch as a successor to the apostles in word and deed, and a preacher of correct doctrine; wherefore, thou hast made him an instructor of hierarchs and a partaker of Thine incorrupt glory.

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

Troparion, in Tone VI—

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Holding thee as a living pillar and a proclaimer of the right teachings of the Word, O Leo, the Church of Christ ever remaineth unshaken, beholding the truth thereof, and glorifying the Lord, the Master of all, Who hath glorified thee.

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

Glory, in the same tone—

O Lord, Thou, the Word, didst show forth the holy hierarch as a sharp sword against the impious, and for Thine Orthodox Faith; and cutting down false teachings therewith, Thou didst increase pious teaching in the world, O Master.

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

Behold the groanings of my contrite heart, O Bride of God, and accept, and reject not, the lifting up of my hands, O pure and most immaculate Virgin Mary, as thou art full of love; that I may hymn and magnify thee who hast exalted our race.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Or this Stavrotheotokion, in the same Tone & Melody—

When the ewe-lamb and Virgin beheld Thee, the Lamb, led to the slaughter, she followed with tears, O Word, and cried out: “Whither dost Thou hasten, O my Child? I will go with Thee, O Thou Who art most sweet! For I cannot endure not to see Thee, O my most merciful Jesus!”

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

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 in Tone VI—

Praising the struggles of the wise ascetic, the pangs of the warrior of Christ, as is meet, O ye faithful, let us cry aloud unto the Lord: By his supplications, O Christ God, deliver us from every misfortune! Twice

O Cornelius, thou shield of Orthodoxy and guide of monks, model of humility, path of industriousness, who dispersed the darkness of ungodliness from among the people, thou wast filled with the heavenly Spirit, and like the Forerunner wast beheaded: as thou now standest before the throne of the King of glory, pray thou for us who honor thy memory.

And 3 stichera in Tone V—

Rejoice, O blessed Cornelius, great boast of the faithful, adornment of those who love Christ, glory and ornament of the Monastery of the Caves, tireless guardian of Orthodoxy, who planted churches of God as a garden for Christ, who with vigilance keep good watch over thy flock! And now, as thou standest before the throne of the King of glory, ask for us great mercy. Twice

Rejoice, O warrior of Christ, all-glorious leader of ascetics, meek instructor of monks, wellspring of loving-kindness, teacher of poverty, who led the heathen unto Christ! Having gloriously finished the earthly race, slain unjustly by the Tsar, and been crowned with the martyrs, O Cornelius, with them beseech Christ God, that He grant us great mercy.

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

O venerable father Cornelius, thou hast rightly taught us how to walk in godliness. Thou wast a lover of poverty, providing all with a model of industry; and composing hymnody to the Mother of God, thou hast revealed to us her wondrous icons. And, bowing down before them, we now say: O all-pure Virgin Theotokos, show forth upon us thy rich mercies through the supplications of thy venerable hieromartyr.

In His love for mankind, the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt among men; for He Who received flesh from the pure Virgin and came forth from her having received human nature, is the only Son of God, two in nature but not hypostasis. Therefore, proclaiming Him to be truly perfect God and perfect man, we confess Christ our God. Him do thou beseech, O Mother unwedded, 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 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.

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.

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.

At Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and this sticheron of the venerable hieromartyr, in Tone VI—

O all-praised Cornelius, all thy life didst thou offer up as care for the virtues, for with hymnody the faithful praise Christ with faith, submitting to thy teachings. Standing before the divine Spirit, pray thou that we be made steadfast in peace.

Glory…, in Tone VII—

Come, let us rejoice in the honored temple of the Mother of God, O ye people, and let us hasten to Cornelius, her favored one, who hath shone forth upon us in spiritual struggles, poverty of spirit and patience: the comforter of the poor and sorrowful, the healer of the sick who exacteth no fee, the teacher and enlightener of the heathen, the emulator of Christ the Savior. For, having entered into the Holy of holies with blood, the venerable one was crowned with the martyrs, and now entreateth the Savior in our behalf, that we be delivered from grievous circumstances and counted worthy of His kingdom on high.

Having recourse unto thy protection, O Mistress, all of us born of earth cry aloud to thee: O Theotokos, our hope, deliver us from our countless transgressions, and save thou our souls.

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

As a dwelling-place of the virtues, an apostle and martyr, who forsook the house of thy father from thy youth, thou becamest the wise abbot of the abode of the all-pure Virgin.

Stichos: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Thou didst erect houses to the Mother of God and the saints in towns and villages, O father, and dost now rejoice with them in their habitations in heaven.

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

The disposition and adornment of the house of the Mother of God founded by God in the land of Pskov and embellished by the hands of the saints, ever enjoyed the good pleasure of the all-pure one and the labors of the blessed Cornelius.

As a lamb led before the shearers openeth not its mouth, so didst thou remain silent before the wrath of the Tsar; and, confounded by thy meekness, he struck thee dead with his sword. O the wickedness of unbridled rage! O the temerity which striketh down even the defenseless servants of Christ! Yet in slaying thee for thy very virtue, the dread sovereign won for thee a place among the martyrs before the throne of God, where thou offerest fervent intercession in behalf of all who honor thy holy memory.

O Virgin Mother of the Lord, standing before God with the sanctified Cornelius, pray for us sinners, that we obtain salvation for our souls.

The Monastery of the Caves of Pskov, famous from of old for miracles of the icon of the Mother of God, hath trained many monks for God. There also the venerable Cornelius fought the good fight, glorifying the wondrous Mother of God, enlightening the heathen, and saving monks and many of the people, marvelously adorning and fortifying his habitation. And there also he bravely received the crown of martyrdom after many years as pastor. Wherefore, O ye people, let us hymn Christ God and give thanks unto His all-pure Mother, for He hath given us the glorious hieromartyr as a right blessed advocate for our souls.

Gideon foretold thy conception, and David proclaimed thy birthgiving, O Theotokos; for as the dew descended upon the fleece, so did the Word descend into thy womb, and thou, O holy ground, without seed didst put forth Christ our God, the salvation of the world, O thou who art full of grace.