Canon of the Saint, in Tone I—

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “The Orient from on high hath visited us…”—

Irmos: Of old, the Master, working a wonder, saved the people of Israel, making the waves of the sea into dry land; and, born of His own will of the Virgin, He setteth before us a path whereby we may travel to heaven. Him do we glorify as equal in essence to the Father and to men.

Kontakion of the feast, in Tone IV—

Sessional hymn of the saint, in Tone II—

On the Praises, 8 stichera: 4 of the feast, the composition of Germanus the Patriarch, in Tone I—

Theotokion: The holy virgin was the vessel of thy beneficence, O all-pure Virgin Theotokos, and she enlightened the land which had fallen to thee by lot. Wherefore, we beseech thee: Take her with thee to make entreaty for those who cry out to thee: Have mercy upon thy portion!

Open Thou my lips, O Christ God, that I may praise and hymn the virgin Nina, the equal of the apostles and preacher; and enlighten my mind, that, as is meet, I may adorn with flowers of discourse her who is worthy.

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

Katavasiæ: The irmos of the first festal canon, followed by that of the second festal canon.

Kontakion of the saint, in Tone II—

Christ our Savior, the Light of Light, hath shone forth upon the world, manifesting Himself as God. Let us worship Him, O ye people!

Theotokion: Through thee, O Virgin Theotokos, were we removed from the pit of ungodliness when it pleased thee to accomplish our enlightenment by a woman. And when we emerged from the holy font, through the blessed Nina we came to know thy Son and our God.

Thou didst bring knowledge to tribes alien to thee, O all-praised Nina, and, made wise by the Holy Spirit, thou didst behold the Lord Himself in a vision. Wherefore, O divinely wise virgin, in a barren land thou didst bring the people of Iberia to Christ.

Irmos: The Lord, Who giveth might unto our kings and exalteth the horn of His anointed ones, is born of the Virgin and cometh to baptism. O ye faithful, let us cry aloud unto Him: There is none as holy as our God!

How can we who are servants honor the Master as is meet? For He hath restored us all in the waters.

Theotokion: Delivered by thee from the falsehood of idolatry, O Theotokos, and enlightened with the glad tidings of our venerable mother Nina, the people of Iberia, whose lot fell to thee, cry out to thee: Save us, O Mother of Christ God, who art our deliverance!

Like a dove who flew in from the West, by thy love thou didst turn to the Creator the hard-hearted barbarians who worshipped idols, and when they were renewed by grace, O immaculate bride of Christ, thou didst betroth them to thy Bridegroom.

Irmos: From the ancient snares have we all been set loose, and the teeth of the lions have been broken in their mouths. Let us then rejoice with great joy and open wide our mouths, weaving with words a sweet hymn to the Word, Who delighteth to bestow gifts upon us.

Baptized in the Jordan, touched by Thy servant’s hand, O our Savior, Thou didst sanctify the waters, healing the sufferings of the world. Great is the mystery of Thine epiphany! O Lord Who lovest mankind, glory be to Thee!

Theotokion: When the physician came unto me, O all-holy Theotokos, I arose from my bed of sickness, and I have been delivered by the venerable Nina from the falsehood of unclean idols. These things doth the generation of Iberia cry out, saying: I hymn thee, my hope, O Mother of God!

O Church of Christ, who of old wast barren and grievously childless, be glad today; for by water and the Spirit children have been born unto thee, who cry out with faith: There is none as holy as our God!

Irmos: Look down upon the hymns of Thy servants, O Benefactor, casting down the vaunted pride of the enemy. O Thou Who seest all things, raise up far above sin those who hymn Thee, established immovably upon the foundation of the Faith, O Good One.

The true Light hath appeared and giveth enlightenment to all. Christ is baptized with us, Who is above all in purity. He draweth sanctification into the water and becometh the cleansing of our souls, which is at once earthly and transcendeth the heavens. Salvation is accomplished through the laver, and the Spirit cometh through water. Through immersion is our ascent to God accomplished. Wondrous are Thy works, O Lord! Glory be to Thee!

Theotokion: O unashamed hope of those who trust in thee, who alone gavest birth in the flesh to Christ our God in manner transcending nature, with the blessed Nina beseech Him, that He grant to the land of Iberia confirmation and prosperity in the Faith, and to us correction of life before the end.

In the wilderness the Forerunner crieth out with a loud voice: “Prepare ye the ways of Christ and make straight the paths of our God, crying out with faith: There is none as holy as our God!”

Irmos: “He whom Thou didst call a Voice crying in the wilderness hath heard Thy voice, O Lord; for Thou didst thunder forth over many waters, bearing witness unto Thy Son. And having been wholly willed with the descending Spirit, he cried out: “Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God!”

And 4 stichera of the saint, in Tone I—

Theotokion: O Mother of God who wast manifestly foretold by the prophets, O all-immaculate Virgin Mary, by thy sojourn in Egypt with Jesus Christ, the divine Infant, thou didst break asunder the graven images of Egypt down to the foundation, and through Nina hast destroyed the idols of Kartli. Be thou blessed, O Ever-virgin!

He who once assumed the guise of a malignant serpent and planted death in the garden of creation, is now cast into darkness by Christ’s coming in the flesh; and by assailing the Master, the Dawn which hath shone forth upon us, he crusheth his own loathsome head.

Irmos: Purified by the fire of a mystical vision, the prophet praiseth the restoration of mortal men; and, filled with the inspiration of the Spirit, he lifteth up his voice to reveal the incarnation of the ineffable Word, Who hath broken the dominion of the mighty.

Rejoice with thy children at the glorious assembly of the blessed Nina, O Church of God! Rejoice and celebrate a spiritual solemnity, to hymn our preacher, the herald of the glad tidings of the kingdom of heaven, who is the equal of the apostles! Twice

Theotokion: O Mother of Christ God, the Creator of all things that exist, preserve thou the generation of Kartli, which through thee hath been vouchsafed life everlasting, through the supplications of the blessed Nina.

The Master draweth to Himself the divinely crafted nature of man, which had been overthrown by the tyranny of greed; and He restoreth mortal men, granting them a new birth, and accomplishing thereby a mighty work; for He is come to cleanse our nature.

Irmos: Hymning of old the restoration of the human race, the Prophet Habbakuk, ineffably vouchsafed to behold an image, proclaimed prophetically: A little Babe is come forth from the mountain of the Virgin, unto the restoration of men, O Word!

The holy Cross of Christ, the spiritual sign, hath been signed upon us who have received the preaching of the blessed Nina. Wherefore, let us cry aloud, saying: O life-creating Cross of the Lord, preserve us all, for in Christ have we been baptized, and we have put on Christ! Save Thou Thy people, O Christ God! Twice

Theotokion: Hearken to our entreaties, O Mother of God, and with the help of the venerable Nina drive away from us all temptations. Grant thy mercy unto us, and victory over heresies to our Orthodox hierarchs.

Mercifully mindful of us in His loving-kindness, God made thee a zealous evangelist, who, though a woman, wast adorned with manly understanding; and He hath revealed thee to us as full of the Holy Spirit, and by thy preaching of Christ hath adopted us through faith in Him.

Irmos: Jesus, the Author of life, cometh to lift the condemnation of Adam the first-created, and though as God He requireth no cleansing, He cleanseth the fallen one in the Jordan. And having slain enmity therein, He granteth peace which passeth all understanding.

Glory…, in Tone II—

The shell hath fallen away from our insensitive hearts, our deaf ears have been opened by the sound of thy preaching, and the darkness of our mind hath been dispelled by the light of the Christian doctrine proclaimed by thee, O holy Nina, equal of the apostles, valiant disciple of Christ.

Irmos: Washed clean of the poison of the dark and vile enemy by the cleansing of the Spirit, we have set out upon a new path which leadeth to joy inaccessible, which only they attain whom God hath reconciled with Himself.

Today the hosts of heaven rejoice with those on earth; today the land of Kartli, protected by the Cross, is arrayed in power, and the horn of the Church is lifted up; today the temple of the all-holy Theotokos is magnificently adorned for the memorial of the holy Nina. O ye faithful, let us hymn Christ, Who is both God and man, and let us cry aloud: Glory to God in the highest!

Those who once worshipped graven images and abode in the darkness of ungodliness have been freed from the falsehood of idolatry by thy coming, O blessed Nina. Armazi trembled when thunder rolled, and the savagery of Zaden hath been brought to an end.

Irmos: Out of the gloomy night of the works of deception, come Thou, O Christ, unto us who now keep vigil in hymnody addressed to Thee as our Benefactor, Who granteth us an easy path, travelling whereon we may attain unto glory.

Now & ever…, the composition of Anatolius, in Tone VI—

Thou hast appeared today to the whole world, and Thy light, O Lord, hath been signed upon us who hymn Thee with understanding. Thou hast come, Thou hast appeared, the Light unapproachable.

Irmos: The voice of the Word, the candlestick of the Light, the morning star of the Sun, the Forerunner, crieth out to all the people in the wilderness: Repent, and be ye cleansed beforehand! For, lo! the Christ is at hand, delivering the world from corruption!

Today Christ hath come to be baptized in the Jordan! Today John toucheth the head of the Master! The hosts of heaven were in awe, beholding this all-glorious mystery; the sea saw and fled, the Jordan, seeing it, turned back. But we, illumined, cry out: Glory to God Who hath appeared, was seen on earth and hath illumined the world!

Ikos: Upon Galilee of the nations, upon the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, as the prophet said, a great Light hath shone, even Christ. A radiant darkness hath dawned upon those who sat in darkness, shining forth from Bethlehem. The Lord born of Mary, the Sun of righteousness, shineth forth with splendor upon the whole world. Come, therefore, all ye naked children of Adam, and let us clothe ourselves in Him, that we may be warmed; for He Who covereth the naked and enlighteneth those in darkness, hath come. He hath appeared, the Light unapproachable!

Irmos: With a most blessed voice the Father made manifest His Beloved Whom He had begotten from the womb. Verily, He saith, this, the splendid Son, of the same nature as Myself, hath come forth from the human race. He is My living Word, Who by My providence is become a man.

Today Nina, our guide, the equal of the apostles and handmaid of Christ, emitteth sweet fragrance and shineth forth in our land like a never-waning sun, the herald of Christ God, the Sun of righteousness, the luminous star, the radiant beacon of the whole world, the priceless treasure of the land of Iberia.

Irmos: Engulfed in the uttermost depths of the sea, Jonah prayed: Come Thou and still the tempest! And I, beset by the dark of the tormentor, cry aloud unto Christ: O Destroyer of evils, haste Thou quickly unto my slothfulness!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Hypacoï of the feast, in Tone V—

Irmos: The dew-laden, whistling wind and the descent of the Angel of God preserved unharmed the pious youths who communed together in the fiery furnace. Wherefore, bedewed in the flame, they raised a hymn in thanksgiving: O all-hymned Lord and God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

When Thou didst illumine all things by Thine epiphany, then did the briny sea of unbelief flee, and Jordan, which floweth down, turned back, bearing us up to the heavens. Yet by the loftiness of Thy divine commandments, O Christ God, preserve Thou and save us through the prayers of the Theotokos.

Irmos: He Who cooled the lofty flame that encircled the pious youths in the furnace, hath burnt the heads of the dragons in the waters; and with the dew of the Spirit He washeth away all the unbearable gloom of sin.

“Who hath ever seen the sun cleansed, which is dazzling by nature?” the herald crieth out. “Am I then to wash with water Thee, the Effulgence of glory, the Image of the eternal Father? Am I, who am grass, to touch Thy divinity? For Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God!”

Irmos: Captivated by the love of the King of all, the youths despised the godless threats of the tyrant raging uncontrollably; and when the great fire submitted to them, they said to the Master: Blessed art Thou forever!

“When he happened upon Thee, Moses showed the divine reverence he felt, for he understood that it was Thee Who spake out of the bush; and he straightway averted his face. How, then, can I gaze directly at Thee? How can I touch Thee with my hand? For Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God!”

Irmos: The Babylonian furnace which poured forth dew showed forth a most glorious mystery: how the Jordan was to receive the immaterial Fire in its streams and embrace the Creator baptized in the flesh. Him do the peoples bless and exalt supremely for all ages.

“Wisely doing what is spiritual, and being honored with speech, yet stand I in awe before inanimate things. For if I baptize Thee, the mountain which smoked with fire, the sea which parted in twain and this Jordan which turned back will be mine accusers. For Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God!”

Irmos: Creation is seen to be fire, and those who before were in darkness to be children of the light. The prince of darkness alone groaneth. Let the inheritance of all the nations which before was accursed now fervently bless Him Who hath brought these things to pass!

O most radiant Word, Who hast been sent forth by the Father, Thou comest to repel utterly the night of evil darkness and to uproot the sins of men, and by Thy baptism to draw forth children of light from the streams of the Jordan, O Good One.

Irmos: The children of the Old Covenant who were not consumed by the fire prefigure the unburnt womb of the Maiden which, though sealed, giveth birth in manner transcending nature. And grace, working both of these as a single wonder, doth move the people to hymnody.

When he saw in very truth the Word Who had been foretold, the herald bore witness of Him to creation, and cried, plainly saying: “This is He Who was before me, yet cometh after. Though like us in form, He hath shone forth with divine power to take away our hateful sin!”

Irmos: Better would it be for us to keep silence in fear, for it is without peril; and it is difficult, O Virgin, to weave complex hymns harmoniously with love. But grant us, O Mother, the strength to fulfill our intent.

That He might bring His own back to the life-giving pastures of paradise, the Word of God layeth siege to the lairs of the dragons, and destroying their manifold snares, he assaileth him who hath bruised all mankind, and, imprisoning him, delivereth creation.

As one greater than a fearless lion, thou didst mightily preach Christ God. Thou didst pursue the Parthians with the power of miracles and didst offer Gaïana and Rhipsimia to Christ as a gift through the contest of their valiant martyrdom, and He preserved thee, to enlighten the land of Iberia through thee.

Like an eagle thou didst cast thine eyes over the land of Iberia, O all-glorious Nina, and, burning with holy zeal for God, thou didst illumine it with the light of the Gospel.

Having authority to dispel the darkness, emulating the Emperor Constantine, the equal of the apostles, thou didst enlighten the wise king, O our instructress and sensible physician. Wherefore, we bless thy name, O virgin preacher of Christ, great Nina, equal of the apostles.

When countless people went down to be baptized of John, Thou Thyself didst stand in their midst. And he announced to those present: “Who hath told you, O rebellious ones, to avoid the impending wrath? Bring forth fruits worthy of Christ; for He standeth before you, granting peace.”

Standing in their midst, the Creator and Fashioner alone trieth the hearts of all; and taking his winnowing-fan in His hand, He most wisely doth separate the harvest of the whole world, letting the chaff fall away; and He granteth eternal life to the fruitful.

Beholding him whom He had formed of dust bound by inescapable bonds in the darkness of sin, the Creator raised him up and laid him on His shoulders; and now, in the midst of abundant waters, He cleanseth him of the ancient shame of Adam’s inclination toward sin.

With piety let us eagerly hasten to the most pure wellsprings of the stream of salvation: and, gazing upon the Word Who is come forth from the incorrupt Virgin, let us drink the pure water which quencheth our holy thirst, gently healing the infirmity of the world.

The idols were toppled in the land of Iberia, and temples of the Lord were erected by thee, O our mother; and we, the children of Sion, enlightened by thee, today glorify the Godhead in three Persons, venerate the precious Cross of Christ, and honor His healing tunic.

The children of those who had been exiled in the days of the tower of Babylon because of their ungodliness, and knew not how to chant hymnody to the Lord, now issuing forth from the holy font, say: We have been clothed in Christ, having been baptized into Christ!

When Pharaoh reigned over the Egyptians, those who sat in the darkness of Egypt were not able to worship the true God; but, delivered by Nina, let us, the children of Sion, joyfully chant unto the Lord today.

Christ, Who was begotten incorruptibly of God the Father, is incarnate of the Virgin without defilement. The Forerunner teacheth that it is not possible to loose the sandals, the bond between the Word and us, of Him Who delivereth mortals from deception.

With the uttermost fire shall Christ baptize His enemies, who do not acknowledge Him as God; but He shall restore with the water of grace those who accept His divinity, delivering them from their transgressions.

The prophet, mysteriously swallowed up for the space of three nights in the belly of the sea monster, emerged again, making manifest beforehand to all our regeneration in the last times, and our deliverance from the dragon that slayeth mankind.

When the shining vaults of heaven were opened, he who knew the Scriptures beheld the Spirit, Who proceedeth from the Father and abideth in the all-pure Word, descending in ineffable manner in the form of a dove; and he commanded the multitudes to hasten to the Master.

When the light is risen from the West, desist, O North, and blow thou, O South; for the sun ariseth to dispel the darkness, and a warm breeze draweth nigh, to melt the ice. Behold, the holy Nina, the preacher of Christ, cometh!

Delivered by thee from the darkness of idolatry, O Nina equal of the apostles, all the people of Kartli hymn thee and cry out with compunction: Dispel wickedness and drive the devil and our adversaries far away from us!

The holy font, prepared by thee near the life-creating pillar and the place where the tunic of the Lord was preserved, did not slay the children, but brought them to life, anointing them with holy oil. Wherefore, we cry out to thee: Rejoice, O virgin Nina, equal of the apostles!

Come ye all, and let us hymn today the all-praised Nina, the preacher of the Word of God, the equal of the apostles, who was chosen by Christ, the wise evangelist who hath led the people of Kartli to the path of life and truth, the disciple of the Mother of God, our fervent helper and tireless guardian.

Ikos: With spiritual harps let the all-lauded Nina be praised: the wise preacher, the enlightener of Iberia, who through the chosen priests sanctified in the font of baptism the people who had fallen to her by lot, the equal of the apostles, the beloved handmaid of Christ, who received ten commandments of God like Moses the God-seer. Come ye, therefore, and with hymns let us bless today our fervent helper and tireless guardian.

As in heaven, with trembling and wonder the angelic hosts stood before Thee in the Jordan, witnessing the breadth of God’s condescension; for the God of our fathers, Who holdeth the firmament of the waters above, stood, incarnate as man, in the waters.

The cloud and the sea of old prefigured the wonder of divine baptism, for the ancient people of the law were baptized therein when they fled Egypt. The sea was an image of the water, and the cloud was an image of the Spirit, whereby we are made perfect. And we cry out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

O all ye faithful, in Him have we received perfection; and, theologizing continually with the angels we glorify the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. For, lo! the consubstantial Trinity of Hypostases is the One God. To Him do we chant: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

The fierce Assyrian flame that prefigured Thee hast Thou quenched, transforming it into dew. And now, O Christ, Thou hast clothed Thyself in water as in flame, and Thou burnest up the baneful malice concealed in its depths, which calleth men to fall with faltering step.

When the Jordan was parted of old, the people of Israel passed clean over on dry ground, prefiguring Thee, O most powerful Lord, Who now bearest up creation in the waters without touching it, leading it to a better and imperishable path.

We know that in the beginning Thou didst, in Thy mercy, bring the waters of the flood upon the earth to destroy every living substance that Thou hadst made. And now, O Christ, Who workest wonders strange and most great, Thou hast drowned sin in the waters of Thy compassion, unto the salvation of mortal men.

Thou didst spurn the chambers of the king and queen as a place of captivity and sojourning; yet by the grace of Christ thou didst lead them to Christ God out of uttermost captivity, O Nina equal of the apostles, preacher of the glad tidings of salvation.

When thou didst erect thy holy pillar and lift up thy hands, the hosts of the devil were overcome with fear and trembling, and, fleeing, they groaned bitterly; but we cry aloud: Blessed art Thou, O Christ God, forever!

When thy words rang forth, the people fell prostrate as though at the sound of royal trumpets, and dominions and rulers trembled, saying: O captive who art the liberation of captives, blessed be thine arrival!

“Put aside all fear,” the Deliverer said to the Forerunner; “Obey Me, in that I am good, and touch Me, for tangible have I become by nature. Submit to My commands and baptize Me Who am come down.” Him do the people bless and exalt supremely for all ages.

When the Baptist heard the words of the Master, he stretched forth his hand with trembling, and as he touched the head of his Creator he cried out to Him Who was being baptized: “Sanctify me, for Thou art my God, Whom the people bless and exalt supremely for all ages!”

The Trinity was revealed in the Jordan, for the Father, the all-divine Essence Himself, announced: “This One Who is baptized is My beloved Son!” And the Spirit came upon Him Who was like unto Him, Whom the people bless and exalt supremely for all ages.

Sprinkled with dew in the midst of the fire, the three godly children plainly prefigured how the transcendent Nature, which is resplendent with most radiant rays of threefold holiness, doth, through human nature, mercifully consume all pernicious falsehood with the fire of dew.

Let the whole of earthly creation be clothed in white, for this day it is raised up from its fall to heaven; and, washed and most splendidly cleansed in the flowing waters by the Word, by Whom all things are preserved, it hath escaped its former sins.

The memory of the holy Nina deserveth celebration. Come, therefore, ye who are faithful to Christ, let us glorify and thank our merciful God. Ye generations, tribes and children of Sion, hold festival with us in spiritual joy, saying: Glory to the preacher of Christ our God!

Rejoice, O land of Kartli, crowned by Nina with the crown of Christ! Shine thou and adorn thyself; for the holy Nina, the equal of the apostles, doth summon us, illumining all with the light of the Lord!

Thou hast commanded us to keep holy the Faith which thou didst teach to the newly-converted people, O equal of the apostles. Wherefore, visit thou and establish the vines which thou hast planted amid thy spiritual flock.

After Ode VIII, we do not chant the Magnificat, but sing instead the festal refrains with the irmoi and troparia of the festal canons.

For us thy memory is cherished, thy wonder-working is marvelous, thy life is holy. O chaste Nina, through thee are all things wrought for our benefit.

The shrine of thy relics, which pour forth grace, is the confirmation of the land of Iberia. Wherefore, it crieth unto thee: O blessed Nina, preserve us by thine aid!

O preacher and enlightener, look upon our compunctionate hymnody, and move thou the Lord to have mercy on us. Let not us, who love to sing thy praises, perish in our sins, but, standing before the throne of God, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.

O equal of the apostles, preacher and evangelist of Christ, who deliverest us from the assaults of the enemy, even though thou art hidden in the earth, away from our sight, yet thou abidest alive at the throne of Christ our God. Be thou therefore the helper of those who fervently honor thee. Twice

The Savior appeared, grace and truth, in the streams of the Jordan, and He illumined those sleeping in darkness and shadow, for He, the immutable Light, hath come and appeared.

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