Canon of the Apostle

Exapostilarion from the Octoechos; Glory…: that of the martyrs: Spec. Mel.: “Hearken, ye women…” —

Irmos: Establish us in thee, O Lord Who hast slain sin by the Tree, and plant the fear of Thee in the hearts of us who hymn Thee.

Kontakion of the apostle, in Tone IV —

Sessional hymn of the apostle, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Go thou quickly before…” —

On the Praises, 4 stichera, idiomela, the composition of Germanus —

Theotokion: The only Pure One, the one Lord, recognized thee alone as the most pure of all creation, O all-immaculate one, and became incarnate of thy pure blood.

As a righteous man thou didst desire God, the one Master and King, and didst do His divine will with unwavering heart.

Irmos: O Lord, Fashioner of the vault of heaven and Creator of the Church: establish me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, confirmation of the faithful, Who alone lovest mankind.

Kontakion of the martyrs, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast been shown…” —

Glory…: Sessional hymn of the martyrs, in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…” —

In Tone I: The valiant athlete and preacher of the Faith, with his divinely wise mother, do we praise as is meet; for, having suffered steadfastly, they manfully cast down the enemy, the author of evil, by the power of the Cross. Wherefore, they have received crowns from God, the Judge of the contest, and entreat Him unceasingly with boldness, that He save those who with faith celebrate their sacred contest. Twice

Theotokion: The transcendent Word Who brought all things into being without leaving the bosom of the Father made His abode within thy womb, O all-pure and all-immaculate one, and became flesh immutable, and hath deified man.

Suffering valiantly, O most sacred and all-lauded Aquila, thou didst cast down all the might of the evil one by the might of the worshipful and divine Spirit.

Irmos: I have heard report of Thy dispensation, O Lord, and have glorified Thee Who alone lovest mankind.

In Tone II: O martyr Cyricus, who from thine infancy wast full of grace, possessing a mature understanding. In the victory of thy struggles pray thou to Christ God with thy mother, that He grant peace to the world, in that thou art a great confessor of the Trinity.

Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Contemplating the glory of the Lord with thy pure mind, O blessed one, thou didst partake wholly thereof, leaving behind transitory things for those things which are abiding.

Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thy dispensation; I have understood Thy works, and have glorified Thy divinity.

Thou wast shown to be a child among martyrs, yet didst show thyself to be mature in understanding. Since thou didst accept the Word Who is without beginning, thou wast not afraid of the fire of the iniquitous. With thy mother, entreat the Creator, that He save our souls, in that He is the Savior.

Theotokion: O Mistress Theotokos, we call thee the noetic palace and exalted throne of the King.

Having broken the sling of the devil with the pangs of your suffering, O glorious martyrs, ye have been vouchsafed the mansions of heaven, splendid repose and everlasting glory.

Irmos: O Lord, Bestower of light and Creator of the ages: guide us in the light of Thy commandments, for we know none other God than Thee.

Glory…, the composition of Byzantius, in the same tone —

Theotokion: In thy birthgiving, O all-pure one, the laws of nature were supernaturally altered; for in manner past understanding and recounting thou gavest birth to the Creator.

Like a comely fledgling thou didst emulate the chaste dove, thy mother, O glorious Cyricus, opposing the false one who approached deceitfully and sought to seize thee, who art invincible.

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

Come, O ye faithful, and, having assembled, let us with praises crown the two most holy martyrs, who upheld the worship of the Trinity; for with their own feet they trampled down the deception of idolatry and the designs of the tyrants. Praising them, O ye faithful, let us cry out, saying: Rejoice, O most honorable Julitta who, putting aside thy womanly weakness, didst struggle manfully! Rejoice, O most blessed Cyricus who, though but three years of age, didst cast down the most artful enemy! Rejoice, ye boast and glory of us who with faith celebrate your sacred suffering! Therewith do we pray: Ever entreat the Lord of all, that He grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls!

Theotokion: Thou wast the Mother and handmaid of Christ Who became incarnate for our sake; Him do thou ever earnestly entreat, that He save us who call thee the pure Theotokos.

The prideful serpent which set its mouth against heaven and boasted that it would destroy the earth did an innocent babe utterly cast down and destroy with the weapon of the Cross.

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!

She who knew not wedlock, beholding Thee nailed to the Tree of the Cross, O Jesus, said, weeping: “O sweet Child, wherefore hast Thou abandoned me who alone gave Thee birth, O unapproachable Light of the all-unoriginate Father? Haste Thou, and glorify Thyself, that they who glorify Thy divine sufferings may receive divine glory!”

Theotokion: In His loving-kindness, God, the Word of God, receiving noetic and animate flesh of thee, O all-pure one, became man and hath deified me who have been cast out because of my crimes. Him do thou beseech, that He save us all.

Having acquired thee like a great sun, O glorious Aquila, apostle of the Lord, the Church enlighteneth with the splendors of thy teaching those who faithfully honor thee.

Irmos: I pour forth my prayer unto the Lord, and to Him do I declare my grief; for my soul is full of evil and my life hath drawn nigh unto hell, and like Jonah I pray: Lead me up from corruption, O God!

Theotokion: O most immaculate sovereign Lady, who gavest birth to God, the Bestower of good things: From multifarious perils do thou save those who ever hymn thee.

Illumining thy soul with the words of Paul, thou didst shine like the sun with the light of divine knowledge, O blessed Aquila; and thou didst plait for thyself a martyr’s wreath in accordance with the law. Wherefore, thou pourest forth rivers of healings upon those who with faith celebrate thy memory, O blessed one.

Irmos: When the golden image was worshipped on the plain of Dura, Thy three youths spurned the ungodly command, and, cast into the midst of the fire, bedewed, they sang: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Theotokion: With the root-cutting scythe of thy prayer, O Maiden, cut down the wicked thoughts of my soul, and show it to be fruitful, I pray; for thou gavest birth unto the God and Savior of all.

Having suffered with thy mother and completed the course of piety, O glorious athlete Cyricus, thou wast shown to be a preacher of Christ in accordance with thy name; and, having trampled down all the power of the enemy, thou hast become for us the courage of faith, and with thy mother hast received a crown from heaven. O glorious one, entreat Christ, that the souls of all who keep your memory may be saved.

Irmos: In the furnace the Hebrew children boldly trod the flame underfoot and transformed the fire into dew, crying out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

Theotokion: In the beginning death came to Adam through the food of corruption, O most immaculate one; but, having given birth unto our Life, O Virgin, thou didst bring Adam back to life. Wherefore, hymning thee as the cause of good things, we cry aloud: Blessed art thou who gavest birth to God in the flesh!

Tempest-tossed by the threefold waves of the passions, I, who am devoid of conscience, call fervently upon thee, O pure one: Leave me not, a wretch, to perish utterly, O thou who gavest birth to the Abyss of loving-kindness, for I have none other hope than thee. Let not me, who have set my hope on thee, be a cause of joy and mockery for the enemy; for what thou desirest, thou canst do, in that thou art the Mother of the God of all.

Irmos: God, Who descended into the fiery furnace for the Hebrew children and transformed the flame into dew, hymn ye as Lord, O ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: Following thy words, all of us, the generations of men, call thee blessed, O Maiden, who art shown to be the Mother of the blessed God Who hath made blessed those who believe on Him.

Stavrotheotokion —

Irmos: Becoming vanquishers of the tyrant and the flame by Thy grace, taking exceeding care to keep Thy commandments, the children cried out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Theotokion: O pure and all-immaculate one, having conceived in thy womb God, the Cause of all, Who transcendeth every other cause, and having given birth unto Him Who became like unto us for our sake, entreat Him in behalf of those who hymn thee.

Seeing the Lamb Who was born of her without seed pierced by a spear on the Cross, the Virgin and ewe-lamb, wounded with darts of grief, exclaimed, crying out in pain: “What is this new mystery? How is it that Thou diest, Who alone art the Lord of life? Wherefore, do Thou arise, resurrecting man’s fallen forefather!”

Irmos: O ye faithful, with hymns let us magnify in oneness of mind the Word of God, Who from God came in His ineffable wisdom to renew Adam who had grievously fallen into corruption, and Who became ineffably incarnate of the holy Virgin for our sake.

Theotokion: The Word incarnate of thine all-pure blood, O pure Maiden, hath by divine knowledge deified those who had plunged into the irrational carnal passions. Him do we exalt supremely for all ages.

They that slept the sleep of wicked impiety didst thou raise up to the light of piety, O Aquila.

Irmos: Every ear trembleth to hear of the ineffable condescension of God, for the Most High willingly came down even to the flesh, becoming man through the Virgin’s womb. Wherefore we, the faithful, magnify the all-pure Theotokos.

Theotokion: The prophet foresaw thee as a radiant lamp bearing the Light Who shone forth from Light, O all-immaculate Virgin Mother, richly enlightening those who of old were benighted with the rays of His ineffable divinity.

Arming thyself with divine humility, thou didst cast down the prideful audacity of the enemy, O Aquila.

Theotokion: O portal of the Light, illumine my soul, which hath been blinded by the passions and benighted and vexed by evil thoughts; and rescue me from temptations, tribulations and sorrows, that I may glorify thee, the hope and confirmation of the faithful.

Blessedly didst thou suffer for Christ, shedding thy blood, as a priest and witness to His sufferings.

Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Though a child in body, yet didst thou with mature mind lay low the wickedness of the author and creator of evil, O martyr.

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “When from the Tree…” —

Like a fruitful vine, O martyr Julitta, thou didst put forth a cluster of grapes, the truly valiant Cyricus, who exudeth the sweetness of martyrdom.

As thou wast tenderly gazing, like a ewe-lamb, at thy martyred lamb, O right wondrous Julitta, thou wast cruelly put to the sword.

Ever pouring forth the sweet discourse of piety, O all-wise and all-praised Aquila, as an initiate of the mysteries of Christ thou didst sweeten the souls of those who waxed gross on bitter deception.

Thy praises did the divinely eloquent Luke truly record, for thou wast a disciple of the sacred Paul and a divine guide, manifestly leading all to divine things.

Finding the honored preaching of the sacred Paul like a brilliant star shedding rays of splendor, thou didst receive from him words of brilliance and becamest light.

When thy body was mangled and broken, O divinely wise one, thou didst shed the grossness of corruption; and thou wast clothed in another garment: the flesh in which the only-begotten Son of the Virgin clothed himself, deifying man.

Steadfastly courageous, thou wast stripped of thy body, O most glorious martyr, vanquishing carnal shame; and thou didst clothe in everlasting shame the enemy who of old stripped Eve naked, O Julitta.

When thy head was severed, thou didst crush the head of the serpent, O all-praised martyr; and, deprived of thy wealth, thou hast inherited the riches of heaven, receiving the immutable kingdom with all the martyrs.

Grace poured forth from thy lips, O blessed and sacred one. Wherefore, the Lord of all hath blessed thee forever, O divinely inspired Aquila.

Thine entreaty, O blessed God-bearer Aquila, is become deliverance from divers diseases and cleansing for sinful souls.

The journeys which thou didst make, directed toward the ways of God, were shown to be instruction and a path to salvation for the lost.

Having sailed through the perilous waters of immeasurable tortures, O all-praised ones, ye manifestly reached the calm haven, having drowned the invisible Pharaoh in the streams of your blood.

The city of Iconium, which gave rise to thee, leapeth up, and Tarsus adorneth itself in thine honored memory, O Julitta; for with thy son thou didst accomplish thy martyrdom therein, and hast been vouchsafed crowns of victory.

Thou didst spurn the tortuous torments and wast shown to be a most comely dove, who with thy fledgling didst take wing and soared above all the snares of the serpent; and most wisely didst thou come to rest in the mansions of heaven, O most laudable one.

Holding Cyricus in her embrace, Julitta, the martyr of Christ, cried out, exulting manfully in the contest: “Christ is the boast of the martyrs!”

Ikos: With the light of Thy commandments illumine my mind, O Christ, that I may hymn the saints and recount their struggles. What tongue is able to relate the sufferings which they endured? Wherefore, I fall down before Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind, praying: Grant remission to my wretched soul! Give me time to repent; for it is for this Thou didst of Thine own will take flesh, that Thou mightest lead all up to life. His athletes, accepting this, chant continually: Christ is the boast of the martyrs!

Weaving a robe of incorruption for thyself with the divine Spirit, thou becamest wholly beautiful, O Aquila. And thou didst strip the enemy naked and clothe in splendid raiment and the light of salvation those who had been stripped naked by him.

As a godly priest of the mysteries, O divinely wise and right wondrous one, with the bread of thy words thou didst feed the people afflicted and held fast in noetic starvation, and didst make them partakers of the heavenly banquet.

They who have recourse to thy holy temple receive health; they find release from their sufferings and cleansing from their infirmities, hymning thee with love and crying out, O all-praised one: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

The iniquitous one shattered thy body with staves, O divinely wise Julitta, yet in nowise shook the firmness of thine intention; for thou didst wield the Cross of Christ as a staff of power.

With the flow of the outpourings of their blood, the athletes of Christ quenched the fire of ungodliness, crying out fervently: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

Bearing in thine arms him to whom thou hadst given birth, O martyr, thou didst appear at the tribunal and didst complete a good and twofold contest, crying: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

O Aquila, who art divinely deified, and as a disciple dwellest joyfully in the heavens with the disciples and servants of God and the eye-witnesses to the Word, be thou mindful of those who hymn thee with faith and love.

The streams of thy sweat pour forth rivers of divine miracles upon us all, O blessed one, and ever dry up the streams of the wicked passions, and drown the hordes of the deceiver.

Drawing nigh unto God with immaterial mind, thou becomest all light, ever deified by thine approach, having been released from the flesh; and thou seest what the angels see, O glorious Aquila, sacred martyr of Christ.

The luminous stars which inerrantly stud the firmament of the Church, enlightening the earth with wonders, are piously honored today by all who hymn Christ forever.

Bearing thine honored son like a new scion sprung forth from a root planted by God, O divinely wise one, thou hast caused gardens of impiety to wither up, crying out to Him and saying: Thee, O Christ, do we exalt supremely forever!

Like a most comely heifer, O Julitta, thou bearest the glorious Cyricus like a young calf, as a living sacrifice to the Lamb Who shone forth from the Virgin and was slaughtered in His extreme loving-kindness.

Assembling, O Aquila, together we bless thee with sacred hymns, who wast the consecrated and precious vessel of the Word, a most wise preacher, a beacon for the world, and art the confirmation of our faith.

Knowing thee to be a disciple of Paul, an inerrant luminary of the world, a sacred martyr, a destroyer of the idols and an instructor in the knowledge of God, O divinely wise Aquila, we bless thee with pious thought.

Enlightening the world like the sun, thy most holy memory illumineth the souls of those who piously hymn thee. Thereon, O blessed one, pray that God grant cleansing of sins, peace profound and great mercy unto all.

The shrine of the glorious athletes, overflowing with the grace of the divine Spirit, offereth healing. Come, draw forth and sanctify your souls, and be cleansed, O ye who love the martyrs, magnifying the Bestower of good things.

Like roses did ye spring forth in the valleys of the martyrs, O most blessed ones, like the sweet-smelling lily, like divine plants of paradise, truly exuding myrrh as an adornment; and ye have gladdened the souls of the faithful with mystic fragrance.

Ye were adorned with the wounds of martyrdom, O right victorious martyrs, and, manifestly emulating the angels, ye stand before God, splendidly invested with the wreath of victory, asking cleansing from sins for those who honor you.

The martyr, like a ewe-lamb, bearing her son like a lamb, passed unharmed in the midst of wolves, and hath made her abode in the fold of heaven. By their prayers, O Lord, ever save us who honor their sacred memory.

Rejoice, adorn thyself and dance, keeping splendid festival, O city of Iconium! For from thee have two all-wise luminaries shone forth: the glorious Julitta and the divinely wise Cyricus. For, having struggled lawfully, they have received the wreath of victory.

We hymn thee, the Mother and Virgin, O most immaculate one; for in thy womb thou didst bear the God of all; and professing His unity to be immutable as to hypostasis, we who are saved because of thee, confess thee to be the Theotokos and Mistress.