Ode III

Irmos: O Thou Who alone hast known the weakness of human nature, having in Thy mercy formed Thyself therein: Gird me about with power from on high, that I may chant to Thee: Holy is the living temple of Thine ineffable glory, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Kontakion of the new martyrs, in Tone II—

Glory..., another Sessional hymn, in Tone I—

Sessional hymn of the apostle, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Go Thou quickly before…”—

What gift of discourse shall we offer unto you, O faithful witnesses of the Word, valiant passion-bearers and pastors, who were reckoned like lambs for the slaughter?

Theotokion: From thee, O pure one, did the never-fading Bloom spring forth, Who perfumeth all humanity with the divine myrrh of His nature, Who with the Father is equally without beginning, yet came under time through thee, O most immaculate Virgin.

Troparia of the Apostle

Irmos: Creation, beholding Thee, Who suspended the whole earth without support upon the waters, Thyself suspended upon Golgotha, was seized with great awe, crying out: None is holy save Thee, O Lord!

Now and ever..., of the coming forefeast, in the same tone—

Glory…: Sessional hymn of the martyr, in the same tone & melody—

It was fitting for thee, O Vladimir, first hierarch of the Church of Russia, namesake of the holy enlightener of Rus’, to initiate the glorious contest of struggle and sufferings. Since thou dost lead the host of passion-bearers crowned by God, let the first crown of praise be bestowed upon thee.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Grace was poured forth abundantly in thy lips, O most blessed one, and thou didst give rise to rivers of dogmas, which water the Church of Christ and produce much fertile fruit, O divinely wise Apostle Timothy, thou preacher of Christ.

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII—

Amid the valorous array we behold thee, O sacred one, first hierarch of the city of Saint Peter, holy hierarch Benjamin, beloved of thy flock as thy namesake, the patriarch of old, was beloved of Jacob.

Theotokion: O most merciful Mother, all-pure Virgin, who suffered with thy Son and Savior: we know thee to be a solicitous comforter both of those of thy servants who have remained in the Russian land and those who are in the dispersion.

In accordance with the prophecy, O most blessed one, thy feet were made beautiful; for thou didst proclaim the peace, which passeth all understanding, of the Savior and Lord of all, Who hath destroyed the ancient enmity of men, O most wise one.

Thou art shown to be first in the rank of the newly martyred priests, O presbyter John, who first stood before the throne of God in America. For the Lord crowned thee with a martyr’s crown as the denouncer of the cruel godless ones in Tsarskoe Selo, as He did another John, the namesake of rapture, who was wondrous in courage and word before the tormenters. With them, O all ye newly martyred priests, grant us aid.

Having mortified thy fleshly members, O blessed Timothy, thou didst make that which is baser subject to thy discourse, giving dominion to that which is more sublime; and, restraining the passions, thou didst illumine thy soul, instructed by the teachings of Paul.

O ye new passion-bearers of Russia, who have with your confession finished the course of this earth, receiving boldness through your sufferings: Beseech Christ Who strengthened you, that we also, whenever the hour of trial find us, may receive the gift of courage from God. For ye are a model for us who venerate your struggle; for neither tribulation, prison, nor death could separate you from the love of God.

Troparia of the Martyr

Ikos: When the days of trial by fire began of the Church of Russia, and the Lord was not pleased to accept wholeburnt offerings and oblations from us, many hierarchs and priests did not confer with flesh and blood, but, understanding the will of the Lord, offered themselves up as an unblemished sacrifice. And following the eternal High Priest and Mediator of the new covenant, they entered into the holy of holies with their own blood, that the sins of the people might be washed clean. Glorious are your names, O valiant passion-bearers, for ye are a model for us who venerate your struggle; for neither tribulation, prison, nor death could separate you from the love of God.

Having first trodden the narrow path by asceticism, thou didst attain unto the glory of martyrdom, finding delight through thy pangs because of thy torments, O glorious martyr Anastasius, and receiving heavenly beauty.

Prone to the weaknesses of the flesh like us, in spirit ye attained the measure of the ancient fathers, O undaunted sacred confessors of Russia, who were banished to the ruined Monastery of Solovki and to other places of imprisonment. And while your sufferings abounded, likewise did consolation from the Lord mystically abound; and ye are now comforted manifestly by Him, having attained unto the unsetting day of the kingdom of Christ, wherein, we beseech you, cease not to pray for the salvation of our souls.

The pain of thy suffering hath gone forth into all the world, O invincible martyr; for, contending against sin even to the shedding of thy blood, thou wast victorious, and hast been adorned with a crown of victory.

The priest Alexis, of peasant stock like the elderly prophetess Anna, accepted death of his own will in the stead of a young pastor who was his fellow prisoner. And the priest Peter, whose name signifieth scepter, was shot in the mouth by one whom he exhorted. Glory to Him Who gave to so many priests strength against the godless! Glory to Him Who hath also led deacons to be martyrs. Glory to Him Who giveth to them a twofold grace to pray for us!

Adorned with divine gifts, O glorious apostle, thou didst adorn the radiant metropolis of Ephesus; for thou wast shown to be a preacher, and with the divine Paul didst proclaim unto all the word of salvation. Wherefore, we celebrate thy memory with faith.

The new martyrs and confessors of our generation rejoice, meeting their Lord and Master, Whom once the holy elder Symeon met, saying to Him: “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart, O Master!” Vouchsafe unto us also, O Lord, that at the hour of our passing from this transitory life, we may be forgiven and may depart in peace, through the supplications of our all-holy Mistress the Theotokos, of Thy favored ones who are now being hymned, and of all Thy saints.

Thou wast shown to be all-honorable in the glory of perfection, having enlightened thy mind as with divine effulgence and acknowledged the power of the Cross in godly manner; and thou becamest venerable through fasting and a martyr by the shedding of thy blood, O blessed Anastasius. Wherefore, Christ poureth forth the gift of miracles through thee.

O most immaculate Virgin who gavest birth to the transcendent God: with the incorporeal ones do thou unceasingly entreat Him, that before the end He grant remission of transgressions and correction of life to us who hymn thee with faith and love as is meet, O thou who alone art most hymned.

Stavrotheotokion—

When she beheld Thee suspended upon the Cross, O Word of God, Thine all-pure Mother exclaimed, lamenting maternally: “What is this new and awesome wonder, O my Son? How is it that Thou, the Life of all, dost taste of death, desiring to bring life to mortals, in that Thou art compassionate?”