After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man...,” the first antiphon.
Glory..., idiomelon in the same tone, the composition of Cosmas—
On “Lord, I have cried...,” 8 stichera: 4 in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “As one valiant among the martyrs...”—
Now & ever...: Dogmatic theotokion in the same tone.
Reading from Proverbs
With song let us hymn the clarion of beaten gold, the divinely inspired instrument, the unfathomable abyss of dogma, the foundation of the Church, the heavenly mind, the depth of wisdom, the cup all of gold which poureth forth rivers of most sweet teachings and giveth drink unto creation. Twice
A Reading from Proverbs
Let us honor as is meet John of golden discourse: the star which waneth not, enlightening all the world with the rays of his teachings, the preacher of repentance, the sponge all of gold which draweth up all the dankness of grievous despair, and bedeweth hearts which waste away through sin.
Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon.
In hymns let Chrysostom be magnified: the earthly angel and heavenly man, the golden-voiced lark most rich in song, the treasury of the virtues, the unbreakable stone, model for the faithful, like unto the martyrs, the equal of the holy angels, the peer of the apostles.
And 4 stichera in the same tone: Spec. Mel: “Called from on high...”—
Let us form a most sacred chorus, for the golden crown of the Church of Christ cometh today from Comana to the Imperial City, into royal glory. Radiant, he shineth from on high in his return; he leadeth the faithful into the immaterial kingdom and uniteth all to the King. Wherefore, let us cry aloud: O father of golden name, O divine and golden Chrysostom, entreat Him to save and enlighten our souls! Twice
As the radiant sky of the Church declineth toward the west, O Chrysostom, thou didst undergo imprisonment most cruel; but now, rejoicing, thou shinest forth unwaningly upon creation; adorned with stars of miracles, thou warmest it, O wise one; thou bearest Christ, Who outshineth the sun in His righteousness, Who now enlighteneth thy return. Wherefore, we cry aloud: O all-wise and most luminous golden mouth of radiant discourse, entreat Him to save and enlighten our souls!
Heaven and the angels now join chorus, and the assemblies of men make merry with creation; for he who is on earth, indicating all things of heavenly thought by the divine ladder of his honorable words, ascending on high by divinely trodden steps like a new Jacob, pointeth out the angels of God, who rejoice in his translation. Wherefore, we cry aloud: O most blessed one of golden discourse, converser with the immaterial angels, entreat God, that our souls be saved!
It was not fitting for thee, O Chrysostom, when thou didst depart from the Imperial City, to dwell in Comana, from whence the royal invitation, made by God, hath brought thee back again to the Imperial City. And the Church rejoiced on seeing thee, and confessed, saying: My glory doth magnify the Lord, Who hath given me a bridal attendant, the confirmation of the Faith and the reception of my dignities, the peace of my temples, the sublimity of humble-mindedness, the depth of mercy, the breadth of my poverty and the length of repentance. Wherefore, we beseech thee, O venerable father: Ask peace and mercy for our souls!
Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. 3 Readings:
The memory of the just is praised, and the blessing of the Lord is upon his head. Blessed is the man who hath found wisdom, and the mortal who knoweth prudence. For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver. And she is more valuable than precious stones: no precious thing is equal to her in value. For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth righteousness proceedeth, and she carrieth law and mercy upon her tongue. Hearken to me, O children, for I will speak solemn truths. Blessed is the man who shall keep my ways; for my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and in them is prepared favor from the Lord. Ye, O men, do I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men. I, wisdom, have built up; upon counsel, knowledge and understanding have I called. Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine. I love those that love me; those who seek me shall find grace. O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge. Hearken unto me again; for I will speak solemn truths. For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse. They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge. For I will instruct you in truth, that your hope may be in the Lord, and ye may be filled with the Spirit.
The mouth of the righteous droppeth wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish. The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse. False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable unto Him. Wherever pride entereth, there will also disgrace: but the mouth of the humble doth meditate wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the overthrow of the rebellious shall spoil them. Possessions shall not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. When a just man dieth, he leaveth regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy and causeth joy. Righteousness traceth out blameless paths: but ungodliness encountereth unjust dealing. The righteousness of upright men delivereth them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction. At the death of a just man his hope doth not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perisheth. A righteous man escapeth from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place. In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare for citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous. In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospereth, but at the destruction of the wicked there is exultation. At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted, but by the mouths of ungodly men it is overthrown. A man void of understanding sneereth at his fellow citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.
When the righteous is praised, the people will rejoice; for his memory is immortality, because it is known with God, and with men; for his soul pleased the Lord. Love wisdom, therefore, O men, and live; desire her, and ye shall be instructed. For the beginning of her is love and the observation of the law. Honor wisdom, that ye may reign for evermore. I will tell you, and will not hide from you the mysteries of God, for he it is who is the instructor of wisdom, the director of the wise, the master of all understanding and activity. And wisdom teacheth all understanding; for in her is a spirit understanding and holy, the brightness of the everlasting light, and the image of the goodness of God. She maketh friends of God, and prophets; she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the constellations of the stars; compared with the light, she is found preëminent. She hath delivered from pain those who please her, and guided them in right paths, given them knowledge of holy things, defended them from their enemies, and given them a mighty struggle, that they might all know that godliness is stronger than all; vice shall never prevail against wisdom, neither shall judgment pass away without convicting the evil. For they said to themselves, reasoning unrighteously: Let us oppress the righteous man, let us not spare his holiness, neither need we be ashamed of the ancient gray hairs of the aged, for our strength shall be a law unto us; let us lie in wait for the righteous, for he is displeasing to us, opposeth our doings, upbraideth us with our offending the law, and denounceth to our infamy the transgressions of our training. He professeth to have the knowledge of God, and calleth himself the child of the Lord. He is become a reproof to our thoughts, and is grievous even for us to behold; for his life is not like other men’s, his ways are of another fashion. We are accounted by him as a mockery, and he avoideth our ways as filth, and pronounceth the end of the just to be blessed. Let us see if his words be true; let us test what things happen to him. Let us examine him with mockery and torture, that we may know his meekness and prove his forbearance. Let us condemn him with a shameful death, for by his own words shall he be visited. Such things did they imagine, and were deceived; for their own wickedness blinded them. As for the mysteries of God, they knew them not; neither bethought those who Thou alone art God, who hast the power of life and death, savest in time of tribulation, and deliverest from all evil; who art compassionate and merciful, givest grace to Thy saints and opposest the prideful with Thine own arm.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.