Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.
Canon of the feast, with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the martyrs, with 8 troparia.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn of the martyrs, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast appeared today…”—
Like great stars do ye ever illumine the honored firmament of the Church and shed light upon the faithful, O divine martyrs, ye warriors of Christ.
At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the feast, twice; Glory…, that of the martyrs; Now & ever…, that of the feast, once.
Canon of the feast, with 6 troparia, including its irmos; and canons for the saints, with 4 troparia each.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the feast, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…”—
Joshua, son of Nun, bringing the people and the ark of the covenant through the River Jordan, was an image of the future benefaction of God; for by his mystical crossing he spiritually representeth both the image of our transformation and a true depiction of regeneration. Christ appeared in the Jordan to sanctify the waters.
At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the feast, thrice.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn of the martyrs, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Having been lifted up…”—
Having passed through torments with manly resolve, O wondrous passion-bearers, ye also passed through the depths of the river and attained unto the broad expanse of salvation, receiving the kingdom of heaven as your inheritance, wherein do ye make divine supplication for us, O right victorious martyrs
Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the feast, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the shepherds’ pipes…”—
Christ is baptized, enlightening the world, and from on high the Father beareth witness, saying: “This is My Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Heed ye Him! This is He Who illumineth the universe with His loving-kindness, Who is baptized and saveth the human race, in that He is God!”
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn of the martyrs, in Tone VIII—
Polyeleos, and this magnification—
Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the feast, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…”—
We magnify you, O holy martyrs, and we reverence your honored sufferings, which ye endured for Christ.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph was amazed…”—
Selected Psalm verses—
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the shepherds‘ pipes…”—
A Our God is refuge and strength. [Ps. 45: 2]
B A helper in afflictions which mightily befall us. [Ps. 45: 2]
A Therefore shall we not fear when the earth be shaken. [Ps. 45: 3]
B O God, who shall be likened unto Thee? Be Thou not silent, neither be still, O God. [Ps. 82: 2]
A For behold, Thine enemies have made a noise, and those who hate Thee have lifted up their heads. [Ps. 82: 3]
B Against Thy people have they taken wicked counsel, and have conspired against Thy saints. [Ps. 82: 4]
A They have made the dead bodies of Thy servants to be food for the birds of heaven. [Ps. 78: 2]
B The flesh of Thy saints for the beasts of the earth. [Ps. 78: 2]
A They have poured out their blood like water. [Ps. 78: 3]
B For Thy sake we are slain all the day long. [Ps. 43: 23]
A We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. [Ps. 43: 23]
B Thou hast made us a byword among the nations. [Ps. 43: 15]
A And I became a man scourged all the day long. [Ps. 72: 14]
B By fire hast Thou tried us even as silver is tried by fire. [Ps. 65: 11]
A We went through fire and water, and Thou didst bring us out into refreshment. [Ps. 65: 12]
B Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous. [Ps. 31: 11]
A For the Lord is in the generation of the righteous. [Ps. 13: 5]
B And their inheritance shall be for ever. [Ps. 36: 18]
A The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them. [Ps. 33: 18]
B A light hath dawned forth for the righteous man, and gladness for the upright of heart. [Ps. 96: 11]
A In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be. [Ps. 111: 6]
B In the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wondrous; He hath wrought all His desires in them. [Ps. 15: 3]
A Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel. [Ps. 67: 36]
B The righteous man shall flourish like a palm tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied. [Ps. 91: 13]
A The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him. [Ps. 63: 11]
B And all the upright in heart shall be praised. [Ps. 63: 11]
Glory…, Now & ever… Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Thrice
Bound and imprisoned by the enemy, ye remained invincible, preserved by faith; and when ye were released from your bodies, O holy ones, ye were manifestly clothed in divine desire. Wherefore, ye have shone forth like beacons in the world, illumining the faithful with the grace of the Spirit. O passion-bearing martyrs, entreat Christ God, that He grant forgiveness of offenses unto those who with love honor your holy memory.
Come, O ye faithful, let us behold where Christ was baptized, that we may follow Him to the River Jordan, to the voice of one crying in the wilderness, and there may see the Creator of Adam touched by the hand of His servant, in His ineffable loving-kindness; and may cry aloud to Him: Thou hast come and revealed Thyself, to sanctify the waters in the Jordan!
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them.
Stichos: Many are the tribulations of the righteous, and the Lord shall deliver them out of them all.
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to Matthew, §36 [10:16-22]
The Lord said to His disciples: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye who speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he who endureth to the end shall be saved.”
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone II—
Come, O ye who love the feasts of the Church, let us rejoice in the Lord at the memorial of the passion-bearers! Come, let us manifestly chant, praising the athletes of Christ who rejected false reasonings and malicious falsehood and fearlessly professed the Orthodox Faith of Christ in the midst of the tribunal! Wherefore, O most blessed and long-suffering ones, pray ye unceasingly in behalf of our souls.
Joshua, son of Nun, bringing the people and the ark of the covenant through the River Jordan, was an image of the future benefaction of God; for by his mystical crossing he spiritually representeth both the image of our transformation and a true depiction of regeneration. Christ appeared in the Jordan to sanctify the waters.
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
Christ is baptized, enlightening the world, and from on high the Father beareth witness, saying: “This is My Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Heed ye Him! This is He Who illumineth the universe with His loving-kindness, Who is baptized and saveth the human race, in that He is God!”
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.