day 6

February 6: St. Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, Confessor

Glory..., in Tone VIII—

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

Troparion, in Tone IV—

Also on The 6th Day of the Month of February

Now and ever..., of the feast, in Tone IV—

We praise thee, the holy hierarch of the Lord, the glory of patriarchs, the great and splendid leader of the Church of Christ, O most sacred Photius. Wherefore, by thy supplications, O father, protect us who honor thy memory.

Or this Troparion, in Tone V—

Commemoration of Our Father among the Saints, Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, Confessor,

Glory...: Idiomelon, in the same tone—

Abiding in gladness in the mansions of heaven, O father, and standing boldly before the throne of the Lord with the angels, pray thou that remission of transgressions and passions be granted unto those who on earth keep thy memory.

and Peer of the Apostles

Now and ever, of the feast, in the same tone, Spec. Mel: “O house of Ephrata...”—

When thy pure heart was richly illumined by the enlightening rays of the divine Spirit, O thrice-blessed one of godly eloquence, thou truly becamest radiant of visage, and didst disperse the wicked darkness of heresy with grace divine.

Afterfeast of the Meeting of Our Lord

Glory..., Now and ever..., Troparion of the feast, in Tone I—

Thou hast now been numbered with the angels of heaven, O thrice-blessed one; and, standing before the Holy Trinity, thou dost entreat Him in behalf of us who with faith venerate thy most precious memory and ask deliverance from evil.

At Little Vespers

Come, all ye faithful, let us piously praise the most wondrous Photius, the holy hierarch and friend of the Lord; for, full of the teaching of the apostles and having been manifest as a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit by his virtuous life, with dogma he drove the wolves away from the universal Church, and, splendidly expounding the Orthodox Faith, was shown to be a pillar and champion of piety. Wherefore, standing yet closer to Christ after his death, he prayeth unceasingly in behalf of our souls.

February 6: St. Bucolus, Bishop of Smyrna

Today the holy Mother, who is more exalted than any temple, cometh into the temple, revealing to the world the Maker of the world and Giver of the Law; and the elder Simeon, taking Him in his arms, exclaimeth, rejoicing: “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart, for I have seen Thee, the Savior of our souls!”

The 6th Day of the MONTH OF FEBRUARY

At the Aposticha, these stichera, in Tone II, Spec. Mel: “O house of Ephrata...”—

Commemoration of Our Father among the Saints, Bucolus, Bishop of Smyrna

Come now, O divine assembly of the faithful, let us earnestly praise Photius, the great primate of the Church.

(for this day we also provide the service in honor of St. Photius)

Stichos: My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

If this day fall outside the Great Fast, the service of the Afterfeast of the Meeting and of the saint. But if this day fall within the Great Fast, then only that of the saint.

From thy mother’s swaddling clothes wast thou shown forth as a sanctified vessel and a habitation of the most Holy Spirit, O our God-bearing father.

Stichos: The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak of judgment.

Thy monastery of the New Sion proclaimeth hymns to thee, O divinely wise one; which do thou ever preserve by thy supplications to the Lord.

O ever-memorable father Photius, thou divine adornment of holy hierarchs: as is thy name, so was thy life. Thy life is glorious and thy repose is with the saints; wherefore, pray thou in behalf of our souls.

The most pure one cried out: O Simeon, take thou in thine arms the Lord of glory, the salvation of the world, as a Babe!

As one like unto the apostles in thy life and a teacher of the whole world, O Photius, entreat the Master of all, that He grant peace to the whole world and great mercy to our souls.

As a radiant beacon hidden in God and a defender of Orthodoxy revealed from on high, O great Photius, blessed adornment of patriarchs, thou didst refute the innovations of prideful heresy. O light of the holy Churches, luminary of the Orient on high, preserve them from all error.

Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace, for from thee hath shone forth Christ our God, the Sun of righteousness, Who doth illumine those in darkness. Be glad, thou also, O righteous elder who receivest in thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, Who granteth us resurrection.