Having first transformed thy love and made thyself steadfast by the higher activity of the mind, thou didst depart from the crookedness of the vanity of pleasures, O blessed one, and, becoming a stranger, didst walk aright by the hard ascent of the virtues.

¶8

Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in the same tone—

¶9

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

¶10

Hastening to the divine haven, thou didst calmly pass through the tumult of the waves of life, and didst steer the ship of thy soul through the bitterness of pleasures without foundering, O most honored one, laden with mystic freight.

¶11

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone—

¶12

Becoming a stranger in godly emulation of Him Who for our sake came down from on high to raise up the fallen, thou didst abide, O wise one, unknown among thy kin; and thou ever prayest to God, O Xenia, in behalf of the pious.

¶13

All-glorious art thou among generations of generations, O Virgin Mother and Maiden, Mary the Theotokos, who gavest birth in the flesh to the Son of the unoriginate Father, Who is truly equally eternal with the Spirit. Him do thou beseech, that we be saved.

¶14

Stavrotheotokion—

¶15

When she beheld the Lamb lifted up upon the Cross, the immaculate Virgin cried out, weeping: “O my Child most sweet, what is this new and all-glorious sight? How is it that Thou Who holdest all things in Thy hand hast been nailed to the Tree in the flesh?”

¶16

In thee, O mother, that which was created according to the image of God was manifestly saved; for, taking up thy cross, thou didst follow after Christ; and, praying, thou didst learn to disdain the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for thy soul as a thing immortal. Wherefore, with the angels thy spirit doth rejoice, O venerable Xenia.

¶17

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera: 3 in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…”—

¶18

O blessed Xenia, loving the heavenly homeland, thou didst truly abide on earth as a stranger, passing through it as though it were a foreign land. And now, abiding in the house of the heavenly Father, and delighting in the hospitality of the Master within the mansions on high, forget not those who with faith celebrate thy memory, and deliver us from multifarious tribulations, remembering us before the throne of the Lord of glory.

¶19

O glorious Xenia, like a wise virgin thou didst go forth to meet Christ, the Bridegroom, at the midnight of thy life, bearing a lamp alight with the flame of love divine, and though called a fool by the world, thou art full of transcendent wisdom. Wherefore, unto us who celebrate thy memory with faith give thou of the oil of wisdom which thou hast acquired in abundance, pouring forth drops thereof onto our wounds.

¶20

O Xenia of manly intelligence, who can declare the strength of thy soul? For, going forth to do battle with the prince of darkness and this world, thou didst call thyself Andrew, for naught affrighted or daunted thee: “Enduring hunger, cold and nakedness, I can do all things in Christ, Who strengtheneth me!” thou didst cry with the apostle. Wherefore, Christ, the Judge of the contest, hath crowned thee.

¶21

And 5 stichera, in Tone II—

¶22

Thou didst emulate Andrew, the fool for Christ’s sake, choosing voluntary poverty; and thou didst disdain all the good things of this world, O blessed one, acquiring good things which transcend the world; and thou dost freely distribute gifts to those in need of them, and who ask thine aid.

¶23

Thou wast a companion of the prophets, O Xenia, for, through the Spirit, thou didst perceive things to come; and thou showest thyself to dwell with the venerable, having emulated their strict manner of life; and thou lovest the unmercenary physicians, freely imparting healing to the infirm to this day.

¶24

What shall we call thee, O blessed Xenia? What hymns shall we offer thee? For fleeing worldly honors in this earthly life, thou hast inherited heavenly glory. Wherefore, glorified now by all, disdain not also our earnest praises.

¶25

Warmed by the fervor of the Holy Spirit, and invested with His grace as with divinely woven raiment, with manly wisdom thou didst endure nakedness and cold; and, satisfying thy spiritual hunger with the word of God, thou didst shun food for thy body, ascending in spirit from power to power. Wherefore, thou hast inherited the blessedness of the righteous.

¶26

Finding thyself an honored widow in thy youth, thou didst emulate the daughter of Phanuel, frequenting the temple of God, and serving God day and night with fasting and prayer. Wherefore, thou hast been vouchsafed to behold Christ the Savior, not borne in the arms of Symeon, but in everlasting glory sitting in heaven on a most exalted throne.

¶27

Glory…, in Tone III—

¶28

Behold, the blessed Xenia doth now assemble us to celebrate her feast, crying out with the voice of the Church: “O my children and friends, wherefore love ye vanity and seek after falsehood? Why do ye trouble yourselves in vain? Behold me, who have considered all things as but dung, and have obtained freedom from all vainglory. Wherefore, follow after me, as I followed Christ, and set not your hearts on riches which are fleeting, that when the time cometh ye may dwell with me in the mansions of joy without end!”

¶29

How can we not marvel at thy giving birth to the God-man, O all-honored one. For without having accepted the temptation of a man, O all-immaculate one, without a father thou gavest birth in the flesh to a Son Who was begotten without a mother before the ages, without His undergoing change, confusion or division, and yet preserved intact the character of both essences. Wherefore, O Virgin Mother and Mistress, entreat Him, that the souls of those who in Orthodox manner confess thee to be the Theotokos may be saved.

¶30

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. 3 Readings:

¶31

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 chastised, 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 for ever. 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.

¶32

The righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the Most High. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall He cover them, and with His arm shall He protect them. He shall take to Him His jealousy for complete armor, and make the creature His weapon for the revenge of His enemies. He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment for an invincible shield. His severe wrath shall He sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with Him against the unwise. Then shall the right-aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them. Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. Hear, therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. For power is given you by the Lord, and sovereignty from the Most High.

¶33

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 gray 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 not, neither laid they up this in their minds: that His grace and mercy is with His saints, and that He hath respect unto His chosen.

¶34

At Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and this sticheron of the saint, in Tone VIII—

¶35

O blessed wanderer who considered all vanities as but dung, that thou mightest obtain Christ, the pearl: We behold thee walking the streets of Saint Petersburg, sanctifying them with thy pain-wracked feet, unafraid of the dark, and hiding thyself at night outside the city. Then, bending the knees of thy soul and body, O what ardent entreaties thou didst utter unto God! Moreover, thou didst joyfully seek out reproaches, behaving as a fool for Christ’s sake amid afflictions, and being mystically vouchsafed the gift of clairvoyance. O holy Xenia, wonder-working benefactor of the people, be thou ever our advocate!

¶36

Glory…, in Tone IV—

¶37

Thy life, O Xenia, was in accordance with thy name; for thou wast as a stranger to this world, as an alien to this age, but as a friend to the Holy Church. Thou didst sojourn on earth like a temporary guest, but abidest in heaven as an eternal resident. And there thou livest as one chosen by God, while we on earth bless thee as our intercessor.

¶38

O Theotokos, surety of sinners! Forsake us who are perishing, but cover us with the garment of thine aid, that, grasping the hem of thy robe, we may be drawn forth from the abyss of falls, glorifying thy loving-kindness.

Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.