AT VESPERS

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 for Saint Athanasius, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “On the third day…”—

Troparion, in Tone IV—

Thou didst undergo persecution and didst endure tribulation, O divinely eloquent and venerable Athanasius, until thou didst drive out the falsehood of the ungodly Arius and save thy flock from impiety, proclaiming as Orthodox dogma that the Son and the Spirit are of the same essence as the Father, O sacred and most blessed minister.

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion—

Or this troparion, in Tone III—

Thou didst illumine those in darkness with the splendors of thy preaching, and didst drive out all falsehood, steadfastly braving danger for the Faith as a true pastor, O Athanasius, as an unshakable foundation of the Church of Christ, O all-glorious one. Wherefore, assembling, we honor thee, rejoicing in hymnody.

Thou didst gradually master every virtue, O divinely inspired one, and, anointed with the holy unction of the Spirit, thou wast manifestly a most sacred minister, a true pastor and a champion of the Faith. Wherefore, the whole Church doth glorify thy memory, celebrating in sacred manner and glorifying the Savior.

And 3 stichera of Saint Cyril, in the same tone & melody—

With the staff of thy teachings thou didst drive the spiritual wolves from the Church of Christ, O Cyril; thou didst gird it round about with the ramparts of thy words, and hast presented it to Christ unshaken and intact. Him do thou beseech, that He deliver from corruption and tribulation those who celebrate thy most honored memory with faith.

Illumining thy mind with the splendors of the Spirit, thou didst become a radiant sun, shedding thy precepts upon the ends of the earth, like rays, and enlightening the fullness of the faithful, O most blessed one. And thou hast dispelled the darkness of heresies with the power of Him Who shone forth from the Virgin, O God-bearer.

With the eloquence of thy discourses the whole Church hath been adorned, O most sacred Cyril; it is piously bedecked with thy comely beauties and doth in sacred manner honor thy holy and right renowned memory, O glorious one, thou boast of the Orthodox, summit of the fathers, champion of the all-holy one at the Council.

Glory…, the composition of Germanus, in Tone VI—

Let us all hymn Athanasius, the hierarch of Christ, for he set at naught all the opinions of Arius and clearly proclaimeth throughout the world the dominion of the Holy Trinity: the one God, indivisible, in three Persons. Him doth he beseech in behalf of us who celebrate his memory with faith.

The most immaculate Theotokos, seeing our Life hanging upon the Tree, cried out, lamenting maternally: “O my Son and my God, save those who hymn Thee with love!”

Aposticha stichera from the Octoechos; and Glory…, the composition of Germanus, in Tone III—

Again doth the golden Nile, the namesake of immortality, coming upon us in his annual commemoration, put forth golden waves of immortality in goodly ascents, producing sweet fruit by his lofty divine proclamations: for he teacheth us to worship the indivisible dominion of the Trinity and, pouring forth divine doctrines, he floodeth the thoughts of the faithful and prayeth for our souls.

A sword pierced thy heart, O all-pure one, when thou didst behold thy Son upon the Cross; and thou didst cry out: “Show me not to be childless, O my Son and my God Who hast kept me a Virgin even after I gave birth!”

O God of our fathers, Who ever dealest with us according to Thy gentleness, withdraw not Thy mercy from us, but by their entreaties direct our life in peace.

Resplendent with works of Orthodoxy and reducing all heresy to ashes, ye were victors and conquerors, enriching all with piety; and, having greatly adorned the Church, ye have acquired Christ God, as is meet, Who granteth us great mercy.