AT MATINS

Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.

Canon of the feast, with 8 troparia, including its irmos; and that of the martyr, with 4 troparia.

Glory..., Now and ever..., Sessional hymn of the feast: Automelon, in Tone I—

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, automelon, in Tone I—

Let the choir of the angels marvel at the wonder! And let us mortals lift up our voices in hymnody, beholding the ineffable condescension of God; for He Who alone lovest mankind, before Whom the hosts of heaven tremble, do the arms of the elder now embrace.

At “God is the Lord...,” the troparion of the feast, twice; Glory..., that of the saint; Now and ever..., that of the feast.

Canon of the feast, with 6 troparia, including its Irmos; and that of the saint, with 8 troparia.

Glory..., Now and ever...: Sessional hymn of the feast, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the shepherds’ pipes…”—

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the shepherds’ pipes…”—

Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Glory..., Now and ever...,

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone VI—

Thou wast born on earth, O Thou Who with the Father art equally without beginning, and hast been borne into the temple, O Unapproachable One. And, rejoicing, the elder took Thee in his arms, crying: “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart, whom Thou hast visited according to Thy word, O Thou Whose good pleasure it is, as God, to save the human race!”

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

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone IV—

Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

After the Polyeleos, this Sessional hymn, in Tone VI—

As of old the ailing were cured by touching the hem of Christ’s garment, and as the handkerchiefs and aprons of Paul healed incurable diseases, so also are many of the sick now healed on touching the vestments wherewith thy relics have been clothed, O holy hierarch Theodosius. Wherefore, rejoicing and glorifying God, with love we cry out to thee: By thy supplications heal thou also our diseases of body and soul, O most blessed one!

Let the choir of the angels marvel at the wonder! And let us mortals lift up our voices in hymnody, beholding the ineffable condescension of God; for He Who alone loveth mankind, before Whom the hosts of heaven tremble, do the arms of the elder now embrace.

As a forthright witness to the truth before those who abound in heresy and trouble simple souls hath Christ shown thee forth in His Church, for thou hast vanquished the superstition of men not by words, but by the incorruption of thy relics, confirming the holy Faith with many signs and wonders, O holy hierarch Theodosius, our father, to the joy and salvation of all who honor thy holy memory and cry out to God: Glory to Him Who doth glorify His saints!

Thou wast born on earth, O Thou Who with the Father art equally without beginning, and hast been borne into the temple, O Unapproachable One. And, rejoicing, the elder took Thee in his arms, crying: “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart, whom Thou hast visited according to Thy word, O Thou Whose good pleasure it is, as God, to save the human race!”

Polyeleos, and this magnification—

We magnify thee, O holy hierarch Theodosius, and we honor thy holy memory, for thou dost entreat Christ God in our behalf!

Selected Psalm—

A Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world. [Ps. 48: 2]

B My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. [Ps. 48: 4]

A Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. [Ps. 33: 12]

B I have proclaimed the good tidings of Thy righteousness in the great congregation. [Ps. 39: 10]

A Thy truth and Thy salvation have I declared. [Ps. 39: 11]

B I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I hymn Thee. [Ps. 21: 23]

A That I may hear the voice of Thy praise, and tell of all Thy wondrous works. [Ps. 25: 7]

B O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. [Ps. 25: 8]

A I have hated the congregation of evil-doers, and with the ungodly will I not sit. [Ps. 25: 5]

B For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and I have not acted impiously toward my God. [Ps. 17: 22]

A The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak of judgment. [Ps. 36: 30]

B His righteousness abideth unto ages of ages. [Ps. 110: 3]

A Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice. [Ps. 131: 9]

B Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house; unto ages of ages shall they praise Thee. [Ps. 83: 5]

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God. Thrice .

Even after thy repose thou art truly shown to be a pastor and father, and a grace-filled guide, O Theodosius, our father; for, appearing to the afflicted in dreams, thou dost teach them to honor the Church of God and her divine precepts, to partake of the Mysteries of God for health of soul, and to offer up supplications unto the all-pure Mother of God. With her do thou ever pray for the salvation of our souls.

Thou didst become a babe for my sake, O Ancient of days, and didst partake of purification, O most pure God, that Thou mightest assure me of the flesh Thou didst receive from the Virgin. And Symeon, taught thereby, recognized Thee as God appearing in the flesh, and the elder kissed Thee, our Life, and, rejoicing, cried out: “Release me, for I have seen Thee, the Life of all!”

Prokimenon, in Tone IV—

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

Stichos: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Gospel according to John, § 36 (10:9-16).

The Lord said to the Jews who came to Him: “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good Shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—

O holy hierarch Theodosius, favorite of God and co-communicant of Christ, as is thy name, so also was thy life; for in offering the whole of thyself unto God as a gift, thou wast truly shown to be a gift of God to the Russian land. Glorious was thy life, and thy repose is with the saints. Pray thou for our souls!