Canon of the Feast

Exapostilarion of the martyr: Spec. Mel.: “Hearken, ye women…”—

Irmos: The sun once passed over dry land born of the deep, for the water became firm as a wall on either side when the people traversed the sea, chanting in God-pleasing manner: Let us sing unto the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified!

Kontakion of the martyr, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast appeared…”—

Glory..., Now and ever...: Sessional hymn of the feast, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marveled…”—

Sessional hymn of the martyr, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Of the divine Faith…”—

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

Theotokion: O Virgin Theotokos, thou wast a habitation fit for God, more spacious and pure than the heavens; and now the choir of virgins rejoiceth in thee.

Let the clouds pour forth rain, for Christ the Sun, Who is borne aloft upon a light cloud, is brought to the temple as a babe on the arm of the unblemished one. Wherefore, O ye faithful, let us cry aloud: Let us sing unto the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Exapostilarion of the feast—

Irmos: Come, ye people, let us chant a hymn to Christ God, Who divided the sea and guided the people whom He had led forth from the bondage of Egypt, for He hath been glorified.

Kontakion of the feast, in Tone I—

Glory..., Now and ever..., Exapostilarion of the feast—

Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the feast, in the same tone—

Holding the Master in his arms with fear and joy, Symeon asked to be released from life, hymning the Theotokos.

Theotokion: O pure Bride of God, entreat God to Whom thou gavest birth, that He deliver those who hymn thee from trials and evil circumstances, from sufferings and tribulations, O most blessed one.

Be strong, ye hands of Symeon feeble with age; and ye weary legs of the elder, move quickly and straight to meet Christ, joining chorus with the incorporeal ones, chanting: Let us sing unto the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified!

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel: “Heaven with stars...”—

Irmos: O Lord, Thou confirmation of those who trust in Thee, establish the Church which Thou hast acquired with Thy precious blood.

Kontakion, in Tone I—

Glory..., in Tone II—

Sessional hymn, in Tone IV—

Stichos: Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master, according to Thy word.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

O ye heavens stretched out in wisdom, be glad; and rejoice, O thou earth! For Christ the Artificer, having come forth from the most blessed womb of His Mother, is borne by the Virgin Mother to God the Father as a babe, He Who was before all the ages, for gloriously hath He been glorified!

Irmos: Establish us in thee, O Lord Who hast slain sin by the Tree, and plant the fear of Thee in the hearts of us who hymn Thee.

Kontakion, in Tone IV—

Now and ever..., of the feast, the composition of Germanus, in Tone VI—

Symeon cried aloud: “Now let me depart unto true life, O my Savior; for I have seen Thee, O Master, the Light of the world!”

Theotokion: Thou didst immeasurably surpass the angelic hosts in splendor, O all-pure one, having ineffably given birth to Christ, the noetic Sun, Who illumineth the thoughts of the faithful with rays of divinity.

Canon of the martyr, the acrostic whereof is: “With goodly hymns I hymn the good one”, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone II—

Irmos: Thy virtue hath covered the heavens, O Christ; for having issued forth from Thine immaculate Mother, the ark of Thy holiness, Thou hast appeared in the Temple of Thy glory as a babe borne in arms, and all things have been filled with Thy praise.

Stichos: A Light to enlighten the gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.

Theotokion: To thee who gavest birth to Christ, the Creator of all, we cry aloud: Rejoice, O pure one! Rejoice, O thou who hast shone forth the Light upon us! Rejoice, thou who hast contained the Infinite One!

Desiring the first Cause of good things, thou wast granted a name of goodly renown, of ineffable forethought, O martyr, signifying beforehand the goodness of thy character.

Irmos: I hymn Thee, O Lord, for I heard report of Thee, and I was afraid; for Thou comest to me, seeking me who have strayed. Wherefore, I glorify Thy great condescension toward me, O greatly Merciful One.

The chaste and venerable Anna, hath now confessed in prophecy Him Who sprang forth from the Virgin for the deliverance of mortals.

Theotokion: Praising thee in hymns, we cry out to thee: Rejoice, O most rich mountain of Christ God, wherein He was pleased to dwell, for the salvation of our race, O Bride of God!

Having disdained carnal-mindedness, O pure one, thou wast taken up to the all-splendid life, gazing steadily at thy most desired Bridegroom.

Irmos: In a vision Isaiah beheld God exalted upon a throne borne aloft by angels of glory, and he cried: Woe is me! for I have beheld beforehand the incarnate God, the unwaning Light, Who reigneth with peace!

Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same tone & melody—

Theotokion: Adam had to die, having violated the commandment of the Almighty; but when thou gavest birth to eternal Life, O most immaculate Virgin, thou didst deliver him from death, and he crieth to thy Son: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

As a bride of Christ thou wast adorned with divine goodness and the beauty of virginity, O glorious one, and thou art crowned with thy divine blood of honorable martyrdom as with a twofold crown.

Irmos: O Lord, Bestower of light and Creator of the ages: guide us in the light of Thy commandments, for we know none other God than Thee.

Rejoice, O thou who received the Joy of the world, Christ the Bestower of life, causing the grief of our first mother to cease, O Virgin.

Theotokion: Bearing Christ, the Myrrh poured forth upon us, within thy womb, O Theotokos, thou hast perfumed the world with a fragrance of godly scent. Wherefore, we cry out to Thee, O Virgin: Rejoice, O phial redolent with the scent of myrrh!

He that was first begotten of the Father before the ages hath appeared as the first-born Babe of the undefiled Virgin, stretching forth His hand unto Adam.

Irmos: The elder, beholding with his own eyes the salvation which was come to me from God, cried out to Thee, O Christ! Thou art my God!

At the Praises, 6 stichera: 3 of the feast, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “O house of Ephratha…”—

Theotokion: The Son Who with the Father is equally without beginning, and Who was ineffably incarnate of thy pure blood hath revealed Himself to us like the sun, O all-pure and unwedded Mother; and, driving the darkness away, He hath illumined all things.

God the Word hath appeared as a babe, setting aright the first-created man, who through deception had become childish of mind.

Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy loving-kindness: Lead me up from corruption, O God!

Holding the Master in his arms with fear and joy, Symeon asked to be released from life, hymning the Theotokos.

Theotokion: O all-holy Virgin Mother of God, our hope unashamed: save us, hearken unto us who are cruelly held fast by the passions, and grant us a helping hand by thine intercessions.

The Creator, having become a Babe without undergoing change, hath shown forth our nature, the product of the earth to which it doth return again, to be like unto divinity.

Irmos: We hymn Thee, God the Word Who bedewed the theologizing children in the fire and dwelt within the incorrupt Virgin, and piously we chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Symeon cried aloud: “Now let me depart unto true life, O my Savior; for I have seen Thee, O Master, the Light of the world!”

Theotokion: We have no boldness before thy Son and God, O all-holy Mistress; nor would we have boldness before thee, ever defiled as we are by sins, O all-immaculate and most merciful Mother, were thou not to summon us, the errant, to repentance, driving from us all despondency and indifference with the hope of salvation.

O martyr Agatha, thou bright and most beauteous glory and flower of the divine martyrs, healing the affliction of my soul, do thou adorn it.

Irmos: When the golden image was worshipped on the plain of Dura, Thy three youths spurned the ungodly command, and, cast into the midst of the fire, bedewed, they sang: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

The chaste and venerable Anna, hath now confessed in prophecy Him Who sprang forth from the Virgin for the deliverance of mortals.

Theotokion: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, saith James, the brother of the Lord; and the prayer of the holy hierarch Theodosius also availeth much, rendered effectual by thy maternal supplication, O all-holy Theotokos and Mistress; for thou art our intercession, protection and help, O gracious one.

Thou didst illumine thyself with thy native virtues, O Agatha, and, spurning transitory things and loving the kingdom of God, thou didst call thyself a martyr.

Irmos: United in the unbearable fire, yet unharmed by its flame, the pious youths chanted a divine hymn in intercession: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

And 3 stichera of the saint, in Tone VI—

Theotokion: Grant life unto my slain soul; raise it up, for it is fallen; heal it, for it is wounded. Enlighten my mind; still the waves of temptations, O Mother of God, all-holy Virgin, and save me through thine intercessions, O most pure one.

Attracted by divine desire, O Agatha, thou didst prefer Christ to all beautiful things, and didst right boldly and manfully trample the savagery of the tormenters underfoot.

Irmos: God, Who descended into the fiery furnace for the Hebrew children and transformed the flame into dew, hymn ye as Lord, O ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O our most blessed and God-bearing father Theodosius, disdaining the beauties of this world and its fleeting pleasures, thou didst love the monastic life and didst join the choir of the angels. Wherefore, in thy miracles thou dost wondrously shine forth upon the whole world as a most radiant beacon. Pray thou therefore for us who keep thy holy memory, for we are thy children and the sheep of thy rational flock. We call upon thee for aid, asking that through thee we may receive peace and great mercy.

Theotokion: Come, all ye faithful, let us fall down before the Mother of God, the fervent intercessor for our race; and in compunction of heart let us cry aloud: O Mistress, all-holy Theotokos, shelter us beneath thy gracious protection and deliver us from all evil by thine intercessions.

Let the Church be adorned today with a glorious robe of purple dyed in the pure blood of the martyr Agatha, crying out: Rejoice, O boast of Catania!

Irmos: In the shadow and the writings of the law do we behold an image, O ye faithful: every male child which openeth the womb is consecrated to God. Wherefore, we magnify the first-born Word of the unoriginate Father, the first-born Son of the Mother who knew not man.

O divinely wise and most blessed Theodosius, thou didst subject all the pride of thy flesh to thy soul. Cleansing thyself by fasting and secret struggles, thou wast shown to shine like gold tried in the crucible, becoming a dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit. Bringing good order to monastic habitations and magnificently adorning the churches of God, didst thou tend well thy rational sheep, leading them up to the heights of the virtues by thy teachings as by a ladder. Remember us who honor thine ever-sacred memory, and pray thou that our souls be saved.

Theotokion: My mind dissipated, my heart hath waxed gross and my will is grown feeble. O Mistress Theotokos, take pity upon me, a sinner; heal thou my soul, and save me, for thou art the good Mother of my good Savior, that I might continually cry out to Him: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

Adorned with the glory of the Faith, with piety, reverence and virginity, and with zeal for suffering, thou wast called a venerable intellect, with a will of thine own, who, as the bride of God, dost pray that true worship be given to God, deliverance to thy homeland, and great mercy unto us.

Irmos: O ye faithful, with hymns let us magnify in oneness of mind the Word of God, Who from God came in His ineffable wisdom to renew Adam who had grievously fallen into corruption, and Who became ineffably incarnate of the holy Virgin for our sake.

Thou didst shine upon us thy God-pleasing life, O most glorious Theodosius, instructing us with the virtue beloved of God; for in thyself didst thou manifest to all a rule of faith and a model of abstinence, and an inexhaustible treasury of love and humility. Wherefore, honoring thy holy memory, we glorify Christ Who hath crowned thee. Him do thou beseech for the salvation of our souls.

Theotokion: Disdain not the supplications of thy servants, O Mother of God. Accept our prayers, for the sake of the holy hierarch Theodosius who was pleasing unto thee, and bear them to the throne of thy Son and God, that His name may be glorified by all creation forever.

Rejoicing, the sacred Symeon embraced Thee Who wast incarnate of the Virgin, O Christ, crying out: “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart, O Master!” And Anna, the blameless and glorious prophetess, now offereth Thee confession and hymnody. And we cry out to Thee, O Bestower of Life: Glory to Thee Who hast thus been well pleased!

Irmos: Having traversed the water as though it were dry land, and escaped the evil of Egypt, the Israelite cried aloud: Let us chant unto our Deliverer and God!

What shall we offer unto Thee, O Christ our God? How shall we worthily hymn Thy compassion, which Thou dost pour forth most abundantly upon us, the unworthy? We are blessed, being children of Thine Orthodox Church, wherein, as in days of old, Thou dost even now show forth wondrous and most glorious miracles, glorifying Thy saints. And, lo! we now radiantly celebrate a new and most marvelous wonderworker, whom Thou hast been well-pleased to glorify! We glorify Thy name, O Lord our God. We bow down before the greatness of Thy goodness, and, falling prostrate, cry out to Thee: Through the prayers of the holy hierarch Theodosius, have mercy upon us!

Theotokion: To thee do I offer my sinful heart, O most merciful Mother. Before thee do I cast the weakness of my soul and my body. By thy prayers do thou help and have mercy upon me!

But if this day fall within the Great Fast:

Irmos: O Lord, Thou confirmation of those who trust in Thee, establish the Church which Thou hast acquired with Thy precious blood.

O Christ our God, Whose good pleasure it was to sit today in the arms of the elder, as in the chariot of the cherubim: in that Thou lovest mankind, deliver and save us who hymn Thee, calling us forth from the tyranny of the passions.

Without separating Himself from the divine Essence, the one Lord remained God when He became man, taking on flesh in thy womb; and even after thou gavest birth, He preserved thee, His Mother, a Virgin, immaculate as thou wast before giving birth. Entreat Him earnestly, that He grant us great mercy.

Irmos: O Lord, Fashioner of the vault of heaven and Creator of the Church: Establish me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, Confirmation of the faithful, Who alone lovest mankind.

Or this Stavrotheotokion—

Irmos: Thy virtue hath covered the heavens, O Christ; for having issued forth from Thine immaculate Mother, the ark of Thy holiness, Thou hast appeared in the Temple of Thy glory as a babe borne in arms, and all things have been filled with Thy praise.

The unblemished ewe-lamb of the Word, the undefiled 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?”

Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power; Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, hast visited our lowliness. Wherefore, with the prophet Habbakuk I cry to Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Rejoicing, the Theotokos cried out: O Symeon, initiate of ineffable mysteries, take in thine arms Christ, the Word become a babe, of Whom thou wast informed of old by the Holy Spirit, and cry out to Him: All things are filled with Thy praise!

Irmos: In a vision Isaiah beheld God exalted upon a throne borne aloft by angels of glory, and he cried: Woe is me! for I have beheld beforehand the incarnate God, the unwaning Light, Who reigneth with peace!

O Symeon, rejoicing, take up Christ, the little Child, on Whom thou hast set thy hope, the Consolation of the Israel of God, the Creator and Master of the law, Who fulfilleth the order of the law; and cry aloud unto Him: All things are filled with Thy praise!

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou thrust me from Thy countenance, O never-waning Light? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I entreat Thee!

Beholding the Word Who is without beginning, the Author of all, borne as a babe in the flesh by the Virgin as on the throne of the cherubim, Symeon marvelled and cried out to Him: All things are filled with Thy praise!

Irmos: The elder, beholding with his own eyes the salvation which was come to me from God, cried out to Thee, O Christ! Thou art my God!

The mindlessness of the lying serpent is put to shame and denounced; for virgins now trample his savagery underfoot, since Christ hath shone forth from the Virgin and illumined all.

Irmos: I pour forth my prayer unto the Lord, and to Him do I declare my grief, for my soul is full of evil and my life hath drawn nigh unto hell, and like Jonah I pray: Lead me up from corruption, O God!

Keeping thy lawful chastity undefiled, O athlete, rejoicing thou didst cast down the spirits of wickedness, armed with the grace of Christ, taking up His Cross upon thy shoulders.

Irmos: We hymn Thee, God the Word Who bedewed the theologizing children in the fire and dwelt within the incorrupt Virgin, and piously we chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Be thou mine intercessor, O most wise one, rescuing me from evils and temptations, from tempest and tribulation, and deliver me from the violence of the enemy, that, set free, I may hymn thee as my good intercessor, O thou of goodly renown.

Irmos: In the furnace the Hebrew children boldly trod upon the flame and transformed the fire into dew, crying out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

The divine elder, comprehending the glory that was manifested of old to the prophet, beholding the Word held in His Mother’s arms, cried out: “Rejoice, O pure one, for as a throne dost thou hold God, the Light unwaning, Who reigneth with peace!”

Irmos: United in the unbearable fire, yet unharmed by its flame, the pious youths chanted a divine hymn in intercession: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

The elder, bowing low and divinely touching the feet of the Mother of God who knew not wedlock, said: “O pure one, thou dost bear Fire! I fear to hold the infant God, the Light unwaning, Who reigneth with peace!”

Irmos: Him Who sitteth upon the throne of glory and is unceasingly glorified as God, O ye angels and heavens bless, hymn and exalt supremely forever!

“Isaiah was purified by the burning ember brought by the seraph,” the elder cried to the Mother of God, “and thou dost illumine me, giving me Him Whom thou dost bear in thine arms as with tongs, the Light unwaning, Who reigneth with peace.”

Irmos: In the shadow and the writings of the law do we behold an image, O ye faithful: every male child which openeth the womb is consecrated to God. Wherefore, we magnify the first-born Word of the unoriginate Father, the first-born Son of the Mother who knew not man.

Guided by the divine commandments, O glorious Agatha, thou wast symbolically loosed from the bonds of passionate carnal attachment, and shown to be a fruitful olive-tree.

Irmos: With unceasing glorification we magnify thee, the Mother of the Most High, who knewest not wedlock, who didst truly give birth unto God the Word in manner which passeth understanding and art more highly exalted than the powers most pure.

Gazing, full of love for Christ, upon most splendid radiance, thou didst spurn the pleasures which drag one downwards, desiring the beauty of Him alone.

That thou mayest be counted worthy to behold the ineffable life of the elect, O glorious one, thou didst mightily endure tortures, rejoicing, O most lauded Agatha.

In Sion wast Thou set as a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense for the disobedient, and the inviolate salvation of the faithful.

Manifestly bearing the lineaments of Him Who begot Thee before the ages, Thou hast now been clothed in the weakness of mortals in Thy loving-kindness.

Now Thou lettest depart in peace him who worshipped Thee as the Son of the Most High, the Son of the Virgin, God become a Child.

Being vain-minded, the tyrant hoped to abduct thee, the beautiful virgin; but the shameless one was repulsed, dashing himself against thy firm resolve.

Grace was poured forth in thy lips, O martyr of goodly fame; for thou didst openly and manifestly denounce the shameless one, having been enriched with discourse taught thee by God.

Possessing a venerable mind with free will, O most lauded one, thou wast shown to be a most precious stone, O honored Agatha, becoming the sure deliverance of thy native land.

O Thou Who didst hallow the Virgin’s womb by Thy birth and didst bless the hands of Symeon as was meet, by anticipation Thou hast now saved even us, O Christ God. But in the midst of battle grant peace to Thy community, and strengthen the hierarchs whom Thou hast loved, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind.

Ikos: Let us make haste to the Theotokos, desiring to behold her Son borne to Symeon. Looking upon Him from heaven, the bodiless hosts are amazed, saying: “Things wondrous, most glorious, unapproachable and ineffable do we behold: for He Who created Adam is borne as an infant; He Whom nought can contain is held in the elder’s arms; He Who is in the infinite bosom of His Father is of His own will limited by the flesh, but not in His divinity, He Who alone loveth mankind.”

“I go to announce the glad tidings unto Adam who dwelleth in hades and unto Eve,” cried Symeon, joining chorus with the prophets, singing: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

God Who doth deliver the mortal race shall go even unto hades; He shall grant remission to all, sight to the blind, and even the mute shall chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

And Symeon foretold to the Virgin: “A sword shall pierce thy heart, O incorrupt one, beholding thy Son upon the Cross, to Whom we cry out: Blessed is the God of our fathers!”

Speaking with exceeding great splendor, thou didst manifestly awe the tyrant with thy discourse of wisdom and grace; and bearing patiently, without pain, the fiery coals of torment, thou didst cry aloud: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Looking upon thy youth and the swelling of thy breasts, the evil-hearted one plotted wickedly, held fast by cruel rage; but, rejoicing, O martyr, thou didst cry out, exclaiming to thy Bridegroom: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

The disciple of Christ stood forth radiantly when thou wast under guard, healing the grievous wounds which thou hadst endured, O invincible martyr, virgin of Christ, who didst rejoice, saying: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

O people of Israel, beholding your glory, Emmanuel, the Babe born of the Virgin, join ye chorus now in the presence of the Ark of God, chanting: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Behold, cried Symeon, this One Who is both God and Babe shall be a sign of contradiction. O ye faithful, let us cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

God the Word, being Life itself and having become a Babe, shall be the downfall of the disobedient, but the restoration of those who chant with faith: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Counted worthy to live in gladness and joy everlasting, O Agatha, pray thou to the Lord, that those who honor thee may be illumined with thine ineffable glory and may enjoy life incorruptible.

With mind, heart and soul ineffably loving Christ, Who alone is full of surpassing love, thou didst soar aloft to Him, crying: “I run after Thee and shall dwell with Thee forever!”

Arrayed like the daughter of a king in supernatural garments and comely vesture, thou standest before Christ in honor, O Agatha, crying aloud: “Thee shall I exalt supremely forever, O Lord!”

The ancients were wont to offer a pair of new-born doves and two young birds, but the godly elder and the chaste prophetess Anna serve in their stead, magnifying the only-begotten Son of the Father, Who was born of the Virgin and is borne into the temple.

Thou hast imparted unto me the joy of Thy salvation, cried Symeon. Accept Thou Thy servant, for I am weary of the shadow, as a mystic and sacred preacher of the new grace, magnifying Thee in praise!

The aged Anna, chaste and venerable, prophesying in sacred manner, openly confessed the Lord in the temple, and she magnified the Theotokos, proclaiming her to all present.

Adorned with crowns of victory by the right hand of the Source of life, O divinely wise Agatha, pray thou now, that thy homeland be delivered from tempest, as of old thou didst halt the onslaught of the fire, that we may all magnify thee unceasingly with hymns.

Preserving all things by His divine providence, and rewarding now thy valor, O martyr, Christ causeth thee to dwell in the mansions of heaven, as His own most immaculate bride, and hath vouchsafed thee to rejoice with the angels and martyrs.

By thy supplications, O honored and all-glorious athlete, render Christ, the Judge of all, merciful to me, and cleanse me of the multitude of my transgressions, ever unceasingly entreating the Compassionate One, O thou beauty of the martyrs.

For the sake of Christ thou didst endure the severing of thy breasts and all other torments, O good virgin athlete; wherefore, thy Bridegroom hath caused thee to dwell in a beautiful bridal-chamber, where thou dost dance with the angels, O glorious virgin martyr Agatha.

Set by the Spirit in the sanctuary, the elder doth take the Master of the law in his arms, crying out: “Now loose Thou the bonds of my flesh in peace, as Thou didst say; for with mine eyes have I beheld the revelation of the gentiles and the salvation of Israel!” Thrice

Accept this praise offered thee by unworthy lips, and by thy fervent prayers to God grant peace unto those who honor thy holy memory, O Theodosius, our father!

From thy youth thou didst love the Lord, preserving thy purity undefiled; from childhood didst thou cleave to Him with thy pure soul, keeping thy heart in simplicity and guilelessness. Wherefore, thou wast truly a child of God, O holy Theodosius.

It is good for a man when he beareth the yoke in his youth, saith the Scriptures. Following this saying, with joy didst thou take up the yoke of the Lord from thy youth, and didst become an exemplary monk, O blessed Theodosius.

He that was first begotten of the Father before the ages hath appeared as the first-born Babe of the undefiled Virgin, stretching forth His hand unto Adam.

God the Word hath appeared as a babe, setting aright the first-created man, who through deception had become childish of mind.

The Creator, having become a Babe without undergoing change, hath shown forth our nature, the product of the earth to which it doth return again, to be like unto divinity.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, saith the Lord. Heeding this salvific word, thou didst strive to acquire poverty of spirit more than all other virtues, O venerable one, loving it as a mighty defense against every temptation and as the God-loving mother of all virtues.

Knowing that humility is born of obedience and dispassion of humility, thou didst love obedience with all thy heart, cutting down evil thoughts in all things by thy will. Wherefore, thou didst attain even unto dispassion, having prepared thy soul as a pure habitation for the all-holy Spirit.

Thou didst acquire great meekness, O divinely wise Theodosius, courageously enduring all tribulations, and lovingly covering every offense and abasement with silence. Wherefore, thou hast received an inheritance in the land of the living, where the righteous dwell forever, glorifying the Lord Jesus.

O Thou Who didst hallow the Virgin’s womb by Thy birth and didst bless the hands of Symeon as was meet, by anticipation Thou hast now saved even us, O Christ God. But in the midst of battle grant peace to Thy community, and strengthen the hierarchs whom Thou hast loved, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind.

Ikos: Let us make haste to the Theotokos, desiring to behold her Son borne to Symeon. Looking upon Him from heaven, the bodiless hosts are amazed, saying: “Things wondrous, most glorious, unapproachable and ineffable do we behold: for He Who created Adam is borne as an infant; He Whom nought can contain is held in the elder’s arms; He Who is in the infinite bosom of His Father is of His own will limited by the flesh, but not in His divinity, He Who alone loveth mankind.”

Thou wast shown to be a grace-bearing beacon, O Theodosius our father, resplendent with the serene light of humility, illumining us with thy love. Wherefore, honoring thy memory with love, we cry to thee: Pray for us, O holy hierarch of God, thou wonderworker newly revealed!

Of old, on Mount Sinai, Moses beheld the back-parts of God, and in the midst of the darkness and whirlwind he was counted worthy to hear the still small voice of God; and now Symeon hath received in his arms God Who hath become immutably incarnate for our sake. And he hastened to leave things here below for life everlasting; therefore, he cried out: “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart, O Master!”

Rejoicing, the Theotokos cried out: O Symeon, initiate of ineffable mysteries, take in thine arms Christ, the Word become a babe, of Whom thou wast informed of old by the Holy Spirit, and cry out to Him: All things are filled with Thy praise!

O Symeon, rejoicing, take up Christ, the little Child, on Whom thou hast set thy hope, the Consolation of the Israel of God, the Creator and Master of the law, Who fulfilleth the order of the law; and cry aloud unto Him: All things are filled with Thy praise!

Beholding the Word Who is without beginning, the Author of all, borne as a babe in the flesh by the Virgin as on the throne of the cherubim, Symeon marvelled and cried out to Him: All things are filled with Thy praise!

Weighed down by illness and exhausted by old age, the archpastor Lazarus first made thee his concelebrant and afterwards his successor, O holy hierarch Theodosius, and a beacon to the Church of Chernigov. By thy prayers illumine it forever!

Truly thou wast shown to be worthy of a hierarch’s honor and authority, O father Theodosius, being most wise of word, virtuous of life, learned in the divine Scriptures and exceeding content to guide the rational sheep.

Adorned with piety and renowned amongst all the people of the land of Chernigov for thy spiritual life, thou wast unanimously chosen by them for the great ministry of the Church of God, O father Theodosius. By thy prayers do thou now watch over it!

The divine elder, comprehending the glory that was manifested of old to the prophet, beholding the Word held in His Mother’s arms, cried out: “Rejoice, O pure one, for as a throne dost thou hold God, the Light unwaning, Who reigneth with peace!”

The elder, bowing low and divinely touching the feet of the Mother of God who knew not wedlock, said: “O pure one, thou dost bear Fire! I fear to hold the infant God, the Light unwaning, Who reigneth with peace!”

“Isaiah was purified by the burning ember brought by the seraph,” the elder cried to the Mother of God, “and thou dost illumine me, giving me Him Whom thou dost bear in thine arms as with tongs, the Light unwaning, Who reigneth with peace.”

The people of the city of Chernigov rejoiced, beholding thee vested in the splendor of the hierarchal rank, standing before the throne of the grace of God with their archpastor Lazarus, lifting up thy venerable hands in behalf of thy flock and giving thanks unto Christ. And their hearts were moved to compunction.

In life, love and spirit, faith and purity wast thou an example to all the flock entrusted thee by God. Wherefore, it was not only thine own sheep that cleaved unto thee with love, but even the heterodox honored thee as a man of God, O Theodosius our father.

Thou wast truly a shepherd to thy rational flock, ready to lay down thy life for thy sheep, O holy hierarch Theodosius. Wherefore, thou hast been shown to be an invincible champion of the oppressed, a fearless zealot reproving the mighty of this world with love and paternally instructing thy flock, most wisely guiding the erring to the right path.

In Sion wast Thou set as a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense for the disobedient, and the inviolate salvation of the faithful.

Manifestly bearing the lineaments of Him Who begot Thee before the ages, Thou hast now been clothed in the weakness of mortals in Thy loving-kindness.

Now Thou lettest depart in peace him who worshipped Thee as the Son of the Most High, the Son of the Virgin, God become a Child.

Being an exemplary monk from thy youth, thou didst lovingly found monastic habitations and there didst set everything in good order for the good of monastic life, ever guiding all to God with thy paternal instructions, O divinely wise Theodosius our father.

Most beautifully fashioning of thy soul a temple for the Spirit of God by thy virtues, thou didst love the splendor of the house of God; and taking most diligent care therefor, thou didst also erect newer temples to the glory of God the Creator Who hath beautifully adorned the whole world with ineffable comeliness.

With angelic joy didst thou rejoice, O holy hierarch of God, when thou didst behold thy children walking in the truth; and as a father who loveth his children thou didst pray for the salvation of all, embracing all with thy love and interceding for all, O holy hierarch Theodosius our father.

O holy hierarch Theodosius, for Christ the Chief Shepherd didst thou labor, nurturing thy rational sheep in the spiritual pasture; and from Christ God didst thou receive the gift of healing to cure the spiritual and bodily infirmities of all who with faith have recourse to thy healing relics. Wherefore, pray thou now, O holy one, that all who call upon thy name may be saved from the assaults of the enemy, and that our souls may find mercy.

Ikos: God’s gift to the land of Russia hast thou truly been shown to be, O holy Theodosius, for, having offered thyself to God from thy youth, thou didst fight the good fight until the end and didst receive great gifts, being a chosen vessel of grace. Wherefore, as in thy life, and yet moreso after thy blessed repose, thou dost lift up thy venerable hands with boldness, standing before the throne of the all-holy Trinity, praying fervently for thy flock and for the whole Russian land. Thus, having recourse unto thee with faith and love, all that sorrow receive consolation abundantly and the ailing are vouchsafed healing. With them we also cry out to thee, as to a father who loveth his children: Pray for those who call upon thy name, O holy one, that our souls be saved from the assaults of the enemy!

“I go to announce the glad tidings unto Adam who dwelleth in hades and unto Eve,” cried Symeon, joining chorus with the prophets, singing: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

God Who doth deliver the mortal race shall go even unto hades; He shall grant remission to all, sight to the blind, and even the mute shall chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

And Symeon foretold to the Virgin: “A sword shall pierce thy heart, O incorrupt one, beholding thy Son upon the Cross, to Whom we cry out: Blessed is the God of our fathers!”

Ever meditating upon the memory of death, it was thy desire to keep the Cross of the Lord continually before thine eyes, and the depiction thereof was with thee as an inseparable companion even while thou didst journey, that thou mightest ever cry out to the Lord from thy heart: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

Even after death thou dost, through the grace of God, remain with thy children as one who is alive; and after thy repose thou art shown to be a good shepherd unto them, O father Theodosius, in visions during sleep guiding those who are ignorant of the Faith, and teaching all to cry aloud: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

Thou didst command the ailing monk to go to the church of God and to pray, O father Theodosius, standing before him in a dream; and instructing him paternally, thou didst remind him of his sins, calling him to repentance; and thou didst grant him healing, that he might continually glorify the Lord, crying: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

O people of Israel, beholding your glory, Emmanuel, the Babe born of the Virgin, join ye chorus now in the presence of the Ark of God, chanting: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Behold, cried Symeon, this One Who is both God and Babe shall be a sign of contradiction. O ye faithful, let us cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

God the Word, being Life itself and having become a Babe, shall be the downfall of the disobedient, but the restoration of those who chant with faith: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Who can declare all thy wonders as is meet, O holy hierarch Theodosius? For thou dost show thyself to be a peerless physician even unto the ailing who seek thee not, and thou dost call upon all to confess the glory of God Who doth glorify His saints and is exalted supremely forever!

Thou hast shown thyself to be a helper and refuge for those who are afflicted by unclean spirits, O holy hierarch Theodosius, with the power of God driving all demonic activity away from those who with faith have recourse to thy relics, that the name of God may be glorified forever.

Thy name, O holy hierarch Theodosius, poured forth like myrrh, is wafted, like the fragrance of God’s paradise, over the face of all the land of Russia, delighting the hearts of the faithful and moving them to hymn in spiritual joy the Lord Who is exalted supremely forever.

The ancients were wont to offer a pair of new-born doves and two young birds, but the godly elder and the chaste prophetess Anna serve in their stead, magnifying the only-begotten Son of the Father, Who was born of the Virgin and is borne into the temple.

Thou hast imparted unto me the joy of Thy salvation, cried Symeon. Accept Thou Thy servant, for I am weary of the shadow, as a mystic and sacred preacher of the new grace, magnifying Thee in praise!

The aged Anna, chaste and venerable, prophesying in sacred manner, openly confessed the Lord in the temple, and she magnified the Theotokos, proclaiming her to all present.

As a most merciful healer, O holy Theodosius, thou dost not only mercifully heed the afflicted who call upon thee, but dost hearken to their continual petitions, and according to their faith dost show thyself to be a ready physician for the sick, having mercy on and comforting all, and pouring forth most abundantly thy compassion upon all.

Truly marvelous and beyond recounting are thy wonders, O Theodosius our father; for thou hast shown thyself to be the glory of the Church of Russia, a heavenly preacher of the Orthodox Faith and a steadfast witness to the Truth.

O holy one of God, favorite of Christ, inexhaustible treasury of mercy: Look thou down upon my infirmities; heal my soul which is badly tempest-tossed by the passions; heal thou my body also which is beset by weaknesses, that in thee I may glorify the grace and loving-kindness of Christ God Who is wondrous in His saints.

He that adorned heaven with stars hath revealed thee, O holy hierarch Theodosius, as a new and most radiant star adorning the heaven of the Church and driving away the darkness of the arrogance of the impious. Wherefore, enlighten thou our souls, which are darkened by sin, and guide us toward repentance by thy prayers, O venerable one.

Set by the Spirit in the sanctuary, the elder doth take the Master of the law in his arms, crying out: “Now loose Thou the bonds of my flesh in peace, as Thou didst say; for with mine eyes have I beheld the revelation of the gentiles and the salvation of Israel!” Thrice

Great Doxology. Troparia. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.