AT VESPERS

And these other stichera, in Tone IV—

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 of the apostle, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “O most praised martyrs…”—

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “O martyrs of the Lord…”—

Glory..., in Tone VIII—

Manifestly illumined by the rays of the Spirit, O divinely revealed Timothy, thou wast shown to be a most radiant beacon, passing over all the earth and enlightening it with grace. Pray thou now, that our souls be granted peace and great mercy.

Now and ever....: Dogmatic Theotokion of the tone.

O divinely wise Timothy, thou didst drink of the torrent of sweetness and, emulating Christ, with godly wisdom hast given drink to those who fervently desire the understanding of God. To Him hast thou now joyously departed, contemplating the all-radiant glory and infinitely powerful peace of the Trinity.

A Reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah

Placing thyself in submission to Paul, conversing with the Spirit through writing, thou becamest wholly radiant in light, a generous husbandman, and an earnest favorite of the Lord, living in chastity and piety, O divinely wise Timothy; and thou hast been vouchsafed crowns of victory as a lawful athlete.

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

And 3 stichera of the venerable martyr, in the same tone & melody—

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

O most blessed Anastasius, thou boast of the martyrs, who achieved splendid victories over falsehood, thou bearest in thy name a standard of fame, being borne aloft everywhere as a steadfast victor. And now raise thou up from sinful falls those who honor thy memory with faith.

Glory..., Now and ever...: Theotokion, in the same tone—

O martyr Anastasius, achieving a splendid victory over falsehood, thou didst receive a twofold crown for thine ascetic struggle and thy steadfast contest, and thine opposition, even unto death. And Christ the Master hath given thee the gift of working miracles, as is meet.

The ends of the world now hymn thy wonders, O wonder-worker Anastasius; for Christ hath adorned thee, rewarding with miracles thee who endured tortures for His sake; and since thy death thou hast been counted worthy of immortal glory and blessedness.

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

Chosen by God before to be the disciple of the wise Paul, thou didst learn things divine; and having lived in goodness and preserved the Faith unadulterated even unto the shedding of thy blood, thou wast shown to be a faithful hierarch, O apostle Timothy. Therefore, thou didst denounce the idolaters and, wounded by staves and stones, hast received the crown of martyrdom. Wherefore, O most blessed one, pray thou for us who celebrate thy most honored memory with faith.

The unblemished heifer, beholding her Calf nailed of His own will on the Tree, cried out, lamenting piteously: “Woe is me, O most beloved Child! How hath the thankless assembly of the Jews rewarded thee, desiring to leave me childless bereft of Thee, O most Beloved?”

After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man...”, the full kathisma.

On “Lord, I have cried...”, 4 stichera for the resurrection, and 6 for the new martyrs, in Tone I—

With fervent supplication, O brethren, let us now begin to chant hymns to the new favorites of God; for, cleansed through fearsome torments, they have been shown to be branches of the true vine of Christ, abundantly watered with the sweetness of grace, set forth before us in the fragrance of their holiness. And edified by their struggle, with compunction let us also offer unto God the fruit of repentance.

O ye mountains of Kiev which were blessed by the cross of the apostle Andrew, praise ye the beginning of the dread baptism wherewith the land of Russia hath been baptized anew. For where grace shone forth upon the Russian people through water and the Spirit, unto the opening of the kingdom of God, there was it fitting for this renewal to begin, through the blood of the first slain among the Russian hierarchs, the namesake of the enlightener of the Russian land. For this new Vladimir, led forth from his vineyard through the gates of the sacred Lavra of the Caves, was vouchsafed the crown of Stephen, forgiving and blessing those who slew him, as a meek intercessor for our souls.

Lamentation, and mournful song, and woe: lo! the scroll of Ezekiel which filled thy soul to repletion, O holy Tikhon our Patriarch! May thy voice be heard even now, saying: “O brethren, archpastors and pastors, summon thy children to the defense of the Orthodox Church!” And may those who destroy the churches of God hearken to thy fiery discourse: “If ye but call yourselves Christians, we anathematize you by the authority given us by God!” O dread and everlasting excommunication! Behold an anathema lifted by no one! Behold the boldness of the Patriarch!

O our holy Tsar and passion-bearer Nicholas, O new and saintly Tsaritsa Alexandra, O child Alexis, heir to heavenly things, and royal maidens Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia: ye who were abandoned by the ungrateful, O holy band of seven, who through many humiliations found ascent to heaven, leading with you four fellow sufferers: pray with them to our all-good God, that He vouchsafe the exceeding sinful people of Russia forgiveness, bring peace to the world, and save our souls.

Meek, yet steadfast, wast thou, O elect of the city of Peter, hieromartyr Benjamin, who wast condemned by new Copronymuses and betrayed by false pastors to an authority opposed to God. For then God revealed thee as a fearless teacher. Behold, here is thy testament proclaimed from imprisonment: “For the sake of the Church, let us not spare ourselves, and let us not betray the holy Church for our own sake!” And at the lawless tribunal thy discourse was amazing to all: “Ye offer me now death or life; but signing myself with the sign of the holy Cross, I say: Glory to Thee for all things, O Lord God!”

O victims for God who were buried alive, cast down into a well-like pit! First of all the passion-bearer Elizabeth, the merciful princess who strove for the things of heaven, finding the pearl of Orthodoxy in her new homeland, who in accordance with the Gospel forgave the slayer of her husband, and who pleased God with prayer and benevolence, yet was not spared by the godless! Pray also for us, ye holy princes! Pray for all, ye venerable passion-bearers Elizabeth and faithful Barbara! Hearken unto us, ye who were buried in the Garden of Gethsemane. Give ear to us, ye whose place of burial is unknown! Hear us, ye holy seven, received together into the mansions of heaven, and pray to God in our behalf!

Your steadfast courage is the glory of the Church of Russia, O new passion-bearers and confessors, for ye are the disciples of Philip and Hermogenes, and the servants of the much-suffering Patriarch Tikhon, who gave you your name. Persecuted and slain, ye remained in tribulations with patience. And who can reckon the number of your torments and bitter deaths? Yet ye showed yourselves to be preachers to those with you in bondage, enlighteners of those who before were unbelievers, performers of the holy Mysteries. Great is your love for Christ, great is your faith! In all things ye have shown yourselves to be servants of God!

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. 3 Readings:

[Isa 43:9-13]

Thus saith the Lord: All the nations are gathered together, and princes shall be gathered out of them: who will declare these things? or who will declare to you things from the beginning? Let them bring forth their witnesses, and be justified; and let them hear, and declare the truth. Be ye My witnesses, and I too am a witness, saith the Lord God, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know, and believe, and understand that I am He; before Me there was no other God, and after Me there shall be none. I am God; and beside Me there is no Savior. I have declared, and have saved; I have reproached, and there was no strange god among you: ye are my witnesses, and I am the Lord God, even from the beginning; and there is none that can deliver out of My hands: I will work, and who shall turn it back? Thus saith the Lord God that redeemeth you, the Holy One of Israel.

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery, and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. And having been a little chastened, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for Himself. As gold in the furnace hath He tried them and received them as a burnt offering. And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign forever. Those who put their trust in Him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with Him: for grace and mercy is to His saints, and He hath care for His elect.

[Wis 4:7-15]

Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. For honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. But wisdom is the grey hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. He pleased God, and was beloved of Him: so that living among sinners he was translated. Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind. He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: for his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted He to take him away from among the wicked. This the people saw, and understood naught, neither laid they up this in their minds, that His grace and mercy is with His servants, and that He hath respect unto His chosen.

At the Litia, this sticheron, in Tone VIII—

May the joyous angels of God summon us all, and let us be glad; for, rejoicing over a single sinner who repenteth, they dance for joy over the multitude of new saints, the martyrs and confessors of the Church of Russia, who shone forth in their sufferings. Behold, the Tsar and those of his household, the Patriarch, holy hierarchs, priests and monks, and a multitude of people of every calling, tested by bondage and privations, by cruel and multifarious torments, and by death, which brought them to everlasting life. And for the sake of this their struggle, grace hath been given them to pray for us, for they are a royal priesthood, the hope for the renewal of our generation, the proclaimers of the mercy of Christ our Savior, Who hath called them to His own wondrous light.

O fervent helper, ready joy of the sorrowful, thou art the comforter of those who call upon thee in their hour of tribulation, O all-holy Mistress Theotokos. Look upon the ruined temples of thy Son, look upon the mockery to which His humble servants have been subjected by the godless. Hearken to the groans of thy servants, and do thou thyself, with the holy passion-bearers, help and have mercy upon us.