Canon I of the venerable one, in Tone IV —

Exapostilarion —

Irmos: I will open my mouth, and with the Spirit will it be filled; and I shall utter discourse unto the Queen and Mother, and shall appear, keeping splendid festival; and, rejoicing, I will hymn her wonders.

Katavasia: I will open my mouth…

Kontakion, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “To thee, the champion leader…” —

By intense asceticism, labors and standing in prayer for nights on end, thou didst make thy soul the ruler over the bodily passions, O father Anthony; wherefore, rejoicing with the saints, we hymn Christ, Who hath bestowed upon thee such a victory over the passions.

Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…” —

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “When from the Tree…” —

Theotokion: Stretching forth unto me thy saving hand, O Mistress, from the depths of mine evils raise up my soul, which is being grievously engulfed in the abyss of the passions by the tempest of wicked circumstances.

Today the most honorable day of thy repose hath dawned, O father Anthony, richly gladdening thy children, O most honored one. Wherefore, commemorating thy way of life, which was angelic and like unto that of the ancients, we hymn thee, celebrating with splendor, O father.

Irmos: Overwhelming power once laid low the whole army of Pharaoh in the deep, and the incarnate Word hath destroyed pernicious sin. All-glorious is the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified.

When thou didst find the cave of Archbishop Hilarion, in prayer and ascetic labors thou didst dwell therein with all industry, O venerable one, until thou didst make another cave for thyself; and therein thou wast vouchsafed heavenly knowledge.

Desiring to behold the ineffable joy of the saints and the gladness of the righteous who have pleased God, thou didst disdain every joy in the world, and didst spend thy days in fasting and tears, until thou didst mortify the passions of the body. Wherefore, thou hast been vouchsafed the joy of the righteous. Pray thou with them, that our souls be saved. Twice

Theotokion: O Mistress, break asunder the bonds of my transgressions, beseeching thy Son and God; and cast down the sin which despoileth me, O Ever-virgin, that, saved by thee, O all-immaculate one, I may ever hymn thee.

Caught up from dark places, O venerable one, thou didst all-gloriously pass over to the splendors of heaven, and there thou wast crowned with the saints as a victor over the passions, O father.

Irmos: O Theotokos, thou living and abundant fountain: in thy divine glory establish those who hymn thee and spiritually form themselves into a choir; and vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.

Accept thou today hymns of laudation in thy memory, O Anthony, and with thy supplications go before God. Deliver us from having to stand on His left hand, and pray that we may receive the portion of the elect, that as is meet we may all bless thee as a fervent advocate.

Theotokion: Have mercy, have mercy, O only Mother of God, and take pity upon my wretched soul, which is being drowned by the demons and the wicked passions; and before my departure deign thou to purify it.

Even from an early age, O venerable Anthony, thou didst acquire great love for God; wherefore, thou didst utterly mortify the uprisings and passions of the flesh. And having all-gloriously furnished thyself with purity, as with wings, thou didst soar aloft to the heavens.

Irmos: Establishing me upon the rock of faith, Thou hast enlarged my mouth against mine enemies, for my spirit doth exult when I chant: There is none holy as our God, and none righteous save Thee, O Lord!

Like a star thou didst shine forth in a dark place, O all-wise and venerable one, and didst put the dark faces of the demons to shame; wherefore, having ascended to the heavens, thou standest with boldness before the throne of Christ, where do thou remember those who celebrate thy memory, O venerable one, that we may find mercy on the day of judgment.

Theotokion: Stretching forth the hand of thy compassion, O Theotokos, rescue me from all condemnation, for I flee unto thee, fall down before thee and call upon thine aid.

Emulating the Master’s love of wandering, O venerable one, it was thy pleasure also to wander, O Anthony; wherefore, the all-seeing Eye, beholding thy good intention, hath enriched thee with the gift of miracles, as one who is all-glorious.

Irmos: Perceiving the inscrutable counsel of God — the Incarnation of Thee, the Most High, from the Virgin — the Prophet Habbakuk cried aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Glory…, in Tone VIII —

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Thy spiritual superior, seeing thee adorned with serenity of soul, love for God, and goodly habits and character, O venerable one, prophetically proclaimed unto all that all-glorious things would later be wrought by thee, O Anthony.

Irmos: I hymn Thee, O Lord, for I heard report of Thee, and I was afraid; for Thou comest to me, seeking me who have strayed. Wherefore, I glorify Thy great condescension toward me, O greatly Merciful One.

Having forsaken thy homeland, O venerable father Anthony, and accepted voluntary wandering for the sake of the Lord, for Christ’s sake thou didst bear the labors of a long journey, hunger and thirst, burning heat and cold; wherefore, thou hearest: “O good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord!” Pray thou, O father, that we also may hear His voice, that we may ever bless thy memory with love.

Theotokion: The King of all, the Root which sprang forth from thy royal womb, desiring thee and making thee more exalted than the cherubim and seraphim, made His abode within thee.

Thy great and sacred Lavra, which received its beginning through thee, doth all-gloriously proclaim thee and crieth out louder than a clarion; and the house of the Mother of God boasteth greatly saying, if not in words: I have been established through thee, O Lord!

Irmos: All things are filled with awe at thy divine glory; for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, didst contain within thy womb Him Who is God over all, and gavest birth to the timeless Son, granting peace unto all who hymn thee.

O Mistress, accept the supplications of thy servants, and deliver us from all want and grief.

Theotokion: I have stripped myself bare of all good things and lie in wickedness. O Bride of God, array me in all the ancient virtues which have fallen away, and adorn me now with my former traits; yea, deliver me from what hath since come.

Thou didst love the Lord alone, O venerable Anthony, and taking His Cross upon thy shoulder, thou didst live as a sojourner, providing an example for thy disciples in fasting, the keeping of vigils and prayer; wherefore, thou hast been glorified by Christ.

Irmos: Thou art a Mediator between God and man, O Christ God; for by Thee, O Master, are we led up out of the night of ignorance to Thy Father, the Source of light.

Theotokion: O all-pure one, thou art my hope, salvation and boast; wherefore, I flee to thy protection: disdain me not, who am now swallowed up by many sins and pangs and sorrows, but anticipating my needs, save me.

Having spurned carnal desire, O venerable one, thou didst hate pridefulness; and, enriched by humility and poverty, thou didst attain unto the most exalted abodes of the saints.

Irmos: Celebrating this divine and most honored festival of the Mother of God, come, ye divinely wise, let us clap our hands and glorify God Who was born of her.

Theotokion: O pure Mistress, in that the never-waning Light shone forth from thy womb, illumine my darkened soul, and drive all the gloom from my heart.

Looking forward to the rewards which are to come, O father, thou didst forsake the transitory things of earth as though they did not exist; wherefore, thou hast received twofold rewards, O venerable one, for which cause thou dost hymn thy Master unceasingly with the angels.

Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy loving-kindness: Lead me up from corruption, O God!

Theotokion: Grant me thine aid, and deliver me from misfortunes and tribulations, and from my transgressions, O thou who gavest birth unto the eternal Deliverance of all.

Pray thou unceasingly for the flock which thou didst acquire with great efforts and labors, O father, that it be delivered from every evil circumstance, from tribulations and sorrows, that we may all hymn thee as a solicitous father.

Irmos: The divinely wise youths worshipped not a creation rather than the Creator, but, manfully trampling the threat of the fire underfoot, they rejoice, chanting: Blessed art Thou, the all-hymned God of our fathers!

Theotokion: Vouchsafe that I may behold the beauties of thy glory when I must needs be parted from my flesh, O Mistress, for thou art my confirmation, that I may hence receive deliverance.

Thou standest in gladness with the ranks of the saints before God, delighting there in joy and jubilation. Vouchsafe that we also may receive joy there, that we may magnify thee in gladness, O father Anthony.

Irmos: The command of the iniquitous tyrant, opposed to God, raised up a lofty flame; but Christ, Who is blessed and all-glorious, spread a spiritual dew upon the pious youths.

Theotokion: By thy divine supplications set at nought the perils and counsels of men, O pure one, and deliver thy servants from sickening transgressions, that we may bless thee as the Ever-virgin.

Beholding great asceticism in thee, thy spiritual superior marvelled, and he pondered the things which thou wouldst later accomplish, O Anthony; for he perceived thy great and godly life, which was in nowise shaken by the assaults of the enemy. Wherefore, as the father and guardian of thy life, he bore witness, crying out to the fathers of the Holy Mountain: “This man who is seen to be the least of those in our midst will later become a great luminary in Russia!” Twice

Irmos: The birthgiving of the Theotokos saved the pious children in the furnace — then in figure, but now in deed — and it moveth all the world to chant to Thee: Hymn ye the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: The furnace prefigured thy nativity, O all-immaculate one; for it did not consume the children, just as the unbearable Fire did not harm thy womb. Wherefore, we entreat thee: Deliver thy servants from eternal fire.

Joseph marvelled, beholding that which transcended nature, and when he pondered in mind thy seedless conception he thought of the rain on the fleece, the bush which burned without being consumed, and the rod of Aaron which budded forth; and bearing witness, thy betrothed and guardian cried out to the priests: “The Virgin giveth birth, yet remaineth a virgin even after birthgiving!”

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the fiery furnace divided its activity at the command of God, consuming the Chaldæans, but bedewing the faithful, who chant: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Theotokion: Regard now my supplication with pity, and grant me joy instead of grief, that I may hymn thee, O Mistress, chanting unto thy Son: Hymn the Lord, O ye works, and exalt Him supremely forever!

In the place whereon thy precious and sacred body lieth, O venerable father Anthony, the faithful receive manifold healings, crying out to Christ with all their soul: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Irmos: Let every mortal leap for joy, enlightened by the Spirit; and let the nature of the incorporeal intelligences keep festival, honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry aloud: Rejoice, O most blessed Theotokos, pure Ever-virgin!

Theotokion: Who will not marvel at the great mystery of thy birthgiving, O Theotokos? What earthly tongue or incorporeal intelligence is able to describe it? For thou, O Theotokos, hast given birth unto the Creator, in manner transcending nature and comprehension.

The length of the onerous path did not daunt thee, O venerable one, nor did the threat of brigands along the journey thither; wherefore, having arrived at the Holy Mountain, thou didst chant with the fathers there: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Irmos: God the Lord, the Son of the unoriginate Father, hath revealed Himself to us incarnate of the Virgin, to enlighten those in darkness and to gather the dispersed. Wherefore, we magnify the all-hymned Theotokos.

Theotokion: Thou didst all-gloriously perform miracles by the uplifting of thy hands unto God, O venerable Anthony; for by thine entreaties thou didst call down fire from the sky to purify the site of the temple of the all-pure one, whom we all magnify with thee.

The all-good God, seeing thy firm and goodly intention, made thee glorious among the fathers there in the holy places, and He vouchsafed thee to cry out with them: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Theotokion: O Virgin, Mother of the Light, drive away the cloud from my soul, and grant that with purity of sight I may behold the saving Beauty which shone forth ineffably from thine all-pure womb as a light for the nations, O all-hymned Mistress.

By the providence of God thou wast sent back to thy homeland, O blessed one, that there thou mightest guide many to the path of salvation, that they may chant unto the Creator: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Strengthened by the hope of good things to come, O Anthony, thou didst restrain the onslaught of the flesh, O father, and wast a pitiless foe of thy flesh; wherefore, thou didst obtain aid from on high.

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

Thou wast a model and instructor of monastics, O father; wherefore, thou didst forbid the mighty to plunder, and didst urge them rather to have pity on the weak. For this cause thou wast glorified, O Anthony, and wast shown to be a great teacher.

Thou didst acquire a manner of life higher than that of man, O Anthony, for thou didst live angelically upon the earth. Wherefore, thou wast vouchsafed to receive honor equal to that of the angels, and with them dost hymn thy Master.

Thy divinely bestowed grace amazed every human ear, O father Anthony, and taught those who considered themselves great on earth to despise all things as small and poor in worth, and to follow in thy footsteps; wherefore, pray thou, O venerable one, that we be saved.

Strange was thy manner of life and the humility which thou didst acquire, O venerable Anthony, for neither the light which is in the world, nor the radiance of the sun, didst thou account thyself worthy to behold; but thou didst enclose thyself alone in a dark place.

Thou wast the temple and dwelling-place of the all-holy Spirit, O father Anthony, adorned with divers virtues; and inheriting the exalted heights through humility, thou didst receive the riches of heaven through poverty, O venerable one.

From all transgressions, griefs and perils save those who keep thy sacred memory, O father Anthony; and standing before the King of all, grant us thy divine aid.

Through eternal love for God thou didst transcend the flesh and the world, O father Anthony; wherefore, thou wast shown to be a habitation worthy of the all-holy Spirit, as Christ Himself hath said: Having come with the Father and the Spirit, there will I make My dwelling-place.

The Holy Mountain, having given rise unto thee like an all-sweet vine, O father, is all-gloriously adorned by thee; and, rejoicing, it glorifieth Christ Who gave thee to it.

For thee night seemed like day, and day like unto night, O Anthony; for, as the prophet hath said, thou gavest no sleep to thine eyes, neither slumber to thine eyelids, nor rest unto thy body, until thou didst present it pure unto God, together with thy soul.

Thy blessed soul, having been freed from the tyranny of the flesh and the cruel tyrant Pharaoh, passed over to the promised land of paradise, departing this world; and it abideth, rejoicing, with the saints.

Thy sacred body, which now lieth in the cave, poureth forth manifold healings upon those who have recourse unto it with faith; wherefore, we beseech thee: By thine entreaties grant health of soul unto those who glorify thee.

Assembling for thine all-honored memorial, which hath shone forth more radiantly than the sun, O Anthony, we glorify thy repose and the labors which thou didst endure in this life, asking Christ that through thee we may receive remission of sins.

Having cleaved unto God, Whom from thy youth thou didst love above all , O venerable one, with love thou didst follow Him with all thy soul; and holding the corrupt world to be as naught, thou didst make a cave in the ground, and, having struggled well therein against the snares of the invisible foe, thou didst shine forth like the radiant sun upon all the ends of the earth. Wherefore, in gladness thou didst pass over to the mansions of heaven. Standing now with the angels before the throne of the Master, be thou mindful of us who honor thy memory, that we may cry out to thee: Rejoice, O Anthony our father!

Ikos: Thou didst desire to enjoy the eternally undimmed light of the Holy Trinity. Wherefore, having enclosed thyself, thou didst remain there alone for forty years, not issuing forth until thou didst offer unto God thy body and soul in a state of purity. Hence, even after thy repose thou hast received from the Lord, as though thou wert alive, gifts of miracles, to heal the divers ailments of those who suffer grievously, and to drive demons away from those who approach thee. For this cause we beseech thee: Pray thou, O father, that thy homeland, thy city and people be preserved unharmed, that we may cry out to thee: Rejoice, O Anthony our father!

At the command of thy spiritual leader, O blessed Anthony, thou wast sent back to thy native land; wherefore, those things which thy spiritual father said unto thee thou didst fulfill as though commanded by God. And when thou didst arrive there, O father, thou didst lead the souls of many unto the Lord.

When thou didst attain unto the most sacred place, O venerable Anthony, thou didst astonish many by thy manner of life; for having received a way of life which is higher than man, thou didst cause many to spurn worldly things.

O venerable Anthony, thou didst acquire the blessed Theodosius as a great industrious companion and emulator of thy life, who followed thine angelic way of life. Abiding with him in the highest, be thou mindful of us.

We have recognized thee as a new Moses, a victor over the passions, O father: for when Moses vanquished Amalek of old, he led forth the people; and thou, O father, hast led forth a multitude of monastics to the promised land of paradise.

Thou didst forsake thy city and homeland, O father, yet, borne witness by God’s providence, thou didst gloriously return to thy native land, where thou didst receive grace from the Lord, O father.

O venerable Anthony, thou didst emulate the humility of Christ thy Master; wherefore, thou didst love the hard life of humility, cutting thyself off from passionate earthly attachments. For this cause thou wast vouchsafed the honor of the saints, and with them thou hymnest the Lord forever.

Pray thou, O blessed Anthony, that all who celebrate thine all-glorious repose be delivered from divers perils, that we may all glorify thee and exalt the Lord supremely forever.

Direct thy merciful eye for us to the Master, O venerable Anthony, showing thyself to be a solicitous father, and be thou not parted from us in spirit, as thou didst promise when thou wast with us, that with thee we may all chant unto Christ: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

O venerable one, grant abundant healing unto those who approach thy temple with faith, and consolation unto those in sorrow, that with thee we may all cry out to Christ: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

From on high mercifully watch over those who offer thee this hymnody of thanksgiving, O father, and entreat Christ the Deliverer, that He save all who cry out to Him: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

The multitude of those saved by thee, who followed thy way of life, O father Anthony, have been offered unto the Almighty as a gift; wherefore, pray thou that all be saved who cry out with thee unto Christ: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

In every way thou didst strive to emulate the life of Anthony who shone forth of old; for he dwelt alone in the desert, while thou didst enclose thyself alone in a cave, O father, and didst abide there many years without issuing forth.

Thou wast the founder and leader of the monastic life in the caves, O father, and there thou didst struggle like one of the incorporeal beings; wherefore, Christ hath enriched thee with the gift of miracles, O venerable one.

Emulating the goodness of the Master, accept thou the lifting up of my hands, O venerable one, overlooking our transgressions; for thou didst wound thy soul with the love of Christ and His all-pure divine Mother, whom do thou beseech, that she save our souls.

Emulating the way of life of

the Great, who was vouchsafed the vision of the angel, O father, thou didst dwell in the cave like an angel. Wherefore, thou wast accounted worthy to receive angelic honor, O Anthony. Twice

Following the path from the Holy Mountain, O father, thou didst reach Kiev, where it was the pleasure of the Mistress Mother of God that a temple be erected; and there, with the blessed Theodosius, thou didst construct an all-honorable temple to the glory of the Mother of God. Wherefore, we all glorify thee with him.

Thou didst mortify the sweet passions of life, O Anthony; and having recognized that glory is ­fleeting, thou didst quickly turn away from it, preferring to walk the narrow path which leadeth to the broad expanse of paradise. Wherefore, pray thou, O Anthony, that those who honor thee be saved. Twice

We who are saved by thee confess thee to be the true Theotokos, O Mistress, for thou gavest birth unto God, Who hath destroyed death by the Cross, and hath drawn to Himself the councils of the venerable, with whom we praise thee, O Virgin.

Great Doxology. Troparion. Litanies. First Hour.