At Vespers

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 of the martyrs, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—

Let us hymn the wise Theonas and Theopemptus, for, submitting to the dogmas of Christ, and having splendidly abolished all ungodly worship, they worshipped the one Lord and God in holiness, honor and goodly hope, confessing Him right boldly before the tyrants; and they were crowned from on high.

Having forsaken as fleeting those things of life which drag men downwards, delight in food and glory which fadeth like a flower, O most lauded ones, ye cleaved unto Christ, enkindled by His comely beauty, and ye offered yourselves to Him as sweet-smelling roses, and have been divinely crowned with the diadem of the incorrupt kingdom.

Having hated the world ye have been shown to transcend the world, and have joined the Church of the firstborn; and with the angels ye chant incorrupt hymnody, standing together before God. And having rejected the vile falsehood of idolatry, as martyrs ye have put to shame the mindlessness of the tyrants.

And 3 stichera of the venerable one, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Joy of the ranks of heaven…”—

Having truly desired the glory of the fathers, thou didst love incorrupt glory; wherefore, forsaking that which is sweet, thou gavest thy body over to all manner of pain. And, reigning with Christ, thou now receivest the reward for thy pangs.

He Who permitted the devil when he asked to tempt Job, desiring to try thee like gold, left thy body to the violence of the evil one; but having put the tempter to shame by the patient endurance of infirmities, thou hast been crowned with a wreath of victory.

Yearning for the comely beauty of Christ the Bridegroom, and desiring to wed thyself to Him by all manner of good works, thou didst adorn thyself with the pangs of asceticism; wherefore, thou now reignest with Him in His bridal-chamber.

Glory…, Now & ever…, of the Forefeast, in Tone VI—

Make ready, O River Jordan! For, lo! Christ God cometh to be baptized by John, that in thy waters He might crush the heads of the invisible serpents by His divinity! Rejoice, O wilderness of Jordan! Ye mountains, leap up with gladness; for our eternal Life cometh to restore Adam! O Forerunner John, thou art the voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare ye the ways of the Lord and make straight His paths!”