AT VESPERS

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

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…”—

Troparion, in Tone IV—

As the last successor of the Theologian thou didst follow in his steps, hastening from the East and appearing in the West, illumining all with the lightning flashes of divine preaching; and, departing thither from the world, O most wise one, thou didst shine forth unto God, crowned with the splendor of grace. Twice

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “O most lauded martyrs…”—

In sacred manner were thy relics given unto thy city, O most wise God-bearer, and they were all the more splendidly hallowed by thy suffering, illumining with grace in their return unto us, becoming the occasion of our solemnities, filling with divinely inspired gladness and delighting with sweet fragrance those who honor thee with piety. Twice

Before, thou didst shine forth from the East upon the lands of the West, more brightly than the morning-star; and now, in the return of thy divine relics, thou hast spread forth beams of light upon the earth out of the evening sky, and dost entreat Christ to deliver from corruption and misfortunes those who with faith celebrate thy most honored memory. Twice

Glory…, the composition of Anatolius, in Tone VIII—

O God-bearing Ignatius, soaring aloft to Christ Whom thou didst desire, thou hast received the reward of the sacred ministry of the Gospel of Christ, which thou didst complete in the shedding of thy blood. Wherefore, as the wheat of the immortal Husbandman, thou wast ground by the teeth of the wild beasts and hast been shown to be sweet bread for Him. Pray for us, O blessed athlete.

“What is this sight which I see, which mine eyes behold, O Master? Thou Who sustainest all creation dost die, lifted up upon the Tree, granting life unto all!” the Theotokos said, weeping, when she beheld the God and man Who had shone forth from her ineffably suspended upon the Cross.

Aposticha stichera from the Octoechos; and Glory…, the composition of the Studite, in Tone I—

O thy steadfast and adamantine soul, O right blessed Ignatius! For, with unwavering desire for Him Who loveth thee, thou didst say: “There is not within me the fire of the love of material things; rather there is in me living water which speaketh in me, saying within me: Come to the Father!” Wherefore, afire with the divine Spirit, thou didst permit the wild beasts to separate thee quickly from the world and send thee to Christ Whom thou didst desire. Him do thou entreat, that He save our souls.

Standing at the foot of the Cross of thy Son and God, and looking upon His long-suffering, O pure Mother, weeping, thou didst say: “Woe is me, O my Child most sweet! How is it that Thou sufferest these things unjustly, O Word of God, that Thou mayest save mankind?”

As thou didst share in the ways of the apostles and didst occupy their throne, thou didst find thine activity to be a passage to divine vision, O divinely inspired one. Wherefore, ordering the word of truth, thou didst suffer for the Faith even to the shedding of thy blood, O hieromartyr Ignatius. Entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.