AT GREAT VESPERS

After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man…”, the first antiphon.

A Reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera: 4 in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…” —

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

Troparion, in Tone II —

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

O all-glorious wonder! the divine and honored summit of the all-praised brethren hath shone upon us today, summoning a new people to praise the all-valiant martyrs: Boris, who suffered earnestly, and Gleb, the innocent lamb slain with him for the Savior of our souls, Who was slain for our sake. Twice

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

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

O all-praised one, having first submitted the royal purple of your kingship to Christ, and acknowledged Him as true God and King of all, ye rejected the vain gods of your ancestors. Wherefore, Christ hath enriched you with gifts of miracles, and the Savior of our souls, Who is glorious in His saints, hath given you eternal crowns instead of those which pass away.

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

Blessed is the land and city wherein ye were raised, and the honored temple which received your bodies hath been adorned as with the crown of a kingdom. O right pleasing guardians, who strike terror in the hearts of our enemies and drive them far from your homeland, glorious Boris and all-wondrous Gleb, pray ye, that our souls be saved.

And 3 stichera, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “With what wreaths of praise…” —

With what wreaths of praise shall we crown those who are hymned, who, though separate in body are united in spirit, the fervent helpers of faithful people, the adornment of the Russian land and delight of the whole world, who with manly intent destroyed the might of the demons with Christ as their ally, Who granteth the world great mercy? Twice

With what beauties of praise shall we adorn those who are hymned: Boris, who with boldness hath acquired power over the passions, and Gleb, his fellow zealot, both of whom were beacons shining together, illumining all the pious with the light of virtue? For having learned the commandments of Christ, they have been gloriously glorified, entreating Him Who granteth great mercy unto all.

With what spiritual discourse shall we compose the honored feast of the all-glorious martyrs, who forsook corrupt earthly glory for the sake of Christ? For the one was pierced by a spear in his side, and the other was slaughtered like a lamb. They have been fittingly glorified by Christ, and have received the gift of healing, asking great mercy for all, as is meet.

Glory…, in Tone VI —

Come, let us praise the wonder-workers and martyrs! For, having suffered lawfully, they vanquished the adverse foe, and now stand, splendidly adorned, before Christ, rejoicing. Wherefore, with hymns let us praise their memory with gladness and love, crying out: Rejoice, O helpers of all the world, allies against the enemy! Rejoice, ye healers of the sick, expellers of demons! Rejoice, O beloved summits of piety, all-comely brethren, glorious Boris and wondrous Gleb, beloved of Christ, who entreat the Holy Trinity for us, that peace be granted to the world and our souls be saved.

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

Who doth not call thee blessed, O all-holy Virgin? Who will not hymn thine all-pure birthgiving? For the only-begotten Son Who shone forth timelessly from the Father, came forth, ineffably incarnate, from thee, the pure one; and being God by nature, He became man for our sake, not divided into two Persons, but known in two natures without confusion. Him do thou beseech, O pure and most blessed one, that our souls find mercy!

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. 3 Readings:

Thus saith the Lord: All the nations are gathered together, and princes shall be gathered out of them. Who will declare these things, or who will declare to you things from the beginning? Let them bring forth their witnesses, and be justified; and let them hear, and declare the truth. Be ye My witnesses, and I too am a witness, saith the Lord God, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know, and believe, and understand that I am He; before Me there was no other God, and after Me there shall be none. I am God; and beside Me there is no Savior. I have declared, and have saved; I have reproached, and there was no strange god among you. Ye are My witnesses, and I am the Lord God, even from the beginning; and there is none that can deliver out of My hands. I will work, and who shall turn it back? Thus saith the Lord God Who redeemeth you, the Holy One of Israel.

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery, and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for Himself. As gold in the furnace hath He tried them and received them as a burnt offering. And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign forever. They that put their trust in Him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with Him: for grace and mercy is to His saints, and He hath care for His elect.

Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. For honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. He pleased God, and was beloved of Him: so that living among sinners he was translated. Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind. He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time; for his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted He to take him away from among the wicked. This the people saw, and understood not, neither laid they up this in their minds, that His grace and mercy is with His saints, and that He hath respect unto His chosen.

At Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and these stichera of the martyrs, idiomela, in Tone IV —

Even though the new Cain, the hater of God and despiser of his brethren, deprived you of an earthly realm by murder, yet hath Christ given you a kingdom which is without end and will not pass away. Standing before Him with the angelic armies, pray that He save those who with love hymn your most honored and greatly festive memory.

The earth hath been hallowed by your most precious blood, and men have been enriched by you, receiving abundant healing, O divinely wise favorites of Christ. O glorious Boris and innocent Gleb, entreat the Lord, to Whom ye cleaved from your youth, that He save those who hymn you with faith.

Glory…, in Tone V —

With joy let us all celebrate the memory of the great martyrs today, glorifying with hymns and songs Christ the Savior, Who hath made His saints wondrous on earth with miracles and the grace of divers healings. And let us say with joy, crying out to them: Rejoice, for ye have received grace to defeat divers passions! Rejoice, for by your blood ye have come to dwell in everlasting life! Rejoice, ye speedy hearkeners to those in tribulation, who deliver your homeland from perils! O God-pleasing Boris and Gleb, entreat the Lord, that He have mercy upon our souls.

We bless thee, O Virgin Theotokos, for from thee shone forth Christ, the Sun of righteousness, Who hath great mercy.

At the Aposticha, these stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given a sign…” —

Come, ye lovers of chastity, let us honor the venerable pair who loved Christ Who hath dominion over all with a pure heart and contrite soul: the glorious passion-bearer Boris and the meek and right wondrous Gleb, who, pure in soul and body, have destroyed hordes of the demons.

Stichos: The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them, and He delivered them out of all their tribulations.

Ye sprang forth from an honored root, O glorious and right noble brethren, and, truly loving nobility, ye desired the glory untouched by corruption, yearning for life and the indestructible kingdom; and having suffered for righteousness’ sake, ye have received crowns of victory, O blessed passion-bearers and intercessors for our souls.

Stichos: Many are the tribulations of the righteous, and the Lord shall deliver them out of them all.

Fulfilling the commandments of Christ and His precepts, in word and deed, ye did not oppose the enemies who unjustly arrived to slay you; and as emulators of Stephen the first martyr ye said, praying: “Hold not this sin against them, O Jesus our God, Thou Savior of our souls, Who lovest mankind!”

Glory…, in Tone VIII —

Come, ye newly baptized assemblies of Russia, and behold how, though blameless, judgment befalleth the martyr Boris; for they pierced his side with a spear and shed his blood at the instigation of the devil. And Gleb was slaughtered like an innocent lamb by his own brother Svyatopolk. Yet they have been crowned, while he hath passed into oblivion; they are glorified, while he is tormented in Gehenna. And they entreat Christ God in behalf of our souls.

O unwedded Virgin who ineffably conceived God in the flesh, Mother of God Most High: accept the entreaties of thy servants, O most immaculate one, granting unto all cleansing of transgressions; and, accepting now our supplications, pray thou that we all be saved.

O righteous passion-bearers, chaste Boris and innocent Gleb, truly obedient to the Gospel of Christ, ye did not oppose your brother, who slew your bodies, but could not touch your souls. Wherefore, let the evil lover of power lament; but, rejoicing with the angelic choirs as ye stand before the Holy Trinity, do ye pray that the dominion of your kinsmen may be pleasing to God, and that the children of Russia may be saved.

And “Virgin Theotokos, rejoice…”, once.

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

He Who ordereth all things according to His providence granted thee the name of Christ as thou didst deserve; for thou didst have a better end in both thy name and thy works, having betrothed thyself to Christ piously and with faith. And as the daughter of the King of heaven thou dost rejoice with Him, praying for us, O martyr.

Desiring the heavenly Father, O glorious one, thou didst spurn thine ungodly father; and loving the Jerusalem on high as thy mother, thou didst reject thy mother’s overweening love; and, deified by Christ with all, thou didst afterward lay down thy life, O martyr, undaunted by tortures.

Neither the passionate attachment of thy parents, nor the pleasure of food, nor possession of riches, O glorious one, nor threats of torments, neither fire, the sword, the abyss or the wheel, nor yet the attack of wild beasts were able to separate thee from the love of the Creator, O virgin martyr Christina, thou glory and boast of the martyrs.

Glory…, in Tone II —

Thy blood didst thou offer to Christ thy Bridegroom as priceless myrrh, O martyr Christina, invincible athlete, and thou didst receive from Him as thy reward an imperishable crown, O right wondrous one. Wherefore, invoking the all-holy Spirit, by thy word thou didst raise from the dead one who died of the sting of a venomous serpent. For this cause Jesus, the Savior of our souls Who loveth mankind, hath vouchsafed thee to dwell in the mansions of heaven.

Enduring many pangs at the crucifixion of thy Son and God, O all-pure one, thou didst groan, weeping and exclaiming: “Woe is me, O my sweet Child! How it is that Thou dost suffer unjustly, desiring to deliver mortals born of Adam?” Wherefore, O all-pure Virgin, we beseech thee with faith: render Him merciful unto us.