The canon of the holy apostles, in Tone II:

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “With the disciples…” —

Irmos: Come, ye people, let us chant a hymn to Christ God, Who divided the sea and guided the people whom He had led forth from the bondage of Egypt, for He hath been glorified.

Kontakion, in Tone VI —

Having pleased the all-good God in purity with prayer and fasting, O martyr, grant that we may cry out in God-pleasing manner: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…” —

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone VI: Spec. Mel.: “Having set all aside…” —

Theotokion: In the excess of His love for men, the incorporeal Word became incarnate of thee in godly manner, O all-pure Virgin. Him do thou entreat, O Mistress, that He grant us everlasting blessedness.

Thy splendid feast doth joyfully summon us to a spiritual banquet, O holy John; and thereat thou honorest with gifts all of us who have recourse to thee, fulfilling our requests which are profitable.

Glory…: Another exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “The heaven with stars…” —

Irmos: I shall exalt Thee, O God my Savior, for Thou hast risen from the dead, trampling down death.

Beholding the sufferings of the right victorious martyrs, full of divine boldness thou didst not fear the tyrannical and ungodly emperor, but, approaching them with zeal, thou didst strengthen them for their contest. With them entreat the Lord, O athlete John, that our souls be saved.

Theotokion: O Virgin Mary, divinely joyous palace of the preëternal Word, in thy loving-kindness make our hearts ever glad in God, even in the midst of tribulations.

Having fought the good fight on earth, O most blessed John, protecting the martyrs of Christ from the evil tyrant, thou hast received heavenly life from Christ God; wherefore, grant us help amid misfortunes.

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!

Beholding the flesh and flowing blood of the many saints who were suffering at the hands of the iniquitous Emperor Julian for Christ our God, thou didst help them, O blessed one, in their chains and afflictions, consoling them with goodly discourse, that they not lose their goodly hope, but await their future reward and the joy of heavenly crowns.

Theotokion: O Theotokos, Mother of Jesus the Lord, entreat Him with all the saints, that He deliver us from all misfortunes and sorrows, that all who do evil to thy servants may be put to shame; and vouchsafe that we may ever praise thee and thy Son.

Having spurned the tyranny of the iniquitous emperor as a true soldier, O divinely wise one, and distributed thy wealth to the poor for Christ’s sake, thou didst receive the gift of miracles from God; and reproving wicked men, thou givest aid to the pious.

Irmos: O Thou Who by Thy Word established the whole world, that it not be shaken, establish also our mind in the fear of Thee, O Master and Lord.

By thy patience, O John most praised, thou didst obtain thy reward, committing thy soul into the hands of the Master of all; and thou hast been enriched by Him with gifts of miracles. Wherefore, beseech Christ God in behalf of those who honor with love thy holy memory.

Theotokion: O most blessed Mistress who gavest birth unto Christ Who establisheth all things: Strengthen us ever, that we may remain in His providence.

O Jesus our Savior, grant us the disposition to thank Thee for all things, and to praise John, Thy favored one.

Irmos: Thou didst come forth from the Virgin, neither a mediator nor an angel, but Thyself incarnate, O Lord, and hast saved me, the whole man; wherefore, I cry to thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

A pious woman was counted worthy to behold thee. And, appearing to her, O martyr, thou didst command that thy precious relics be glorified. And, receiving them with joy, she set them forth in the church with sweet fragrances. O athlete, entreat Christ God, that He grant great mercy unto those who hymn thee.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

O glorious athlete John, with divinely wise mind thou didst do battle for God, the Creator of all; wherefore, thou hast conquered all our enemies.

Irmos: I have considered Thy dispensation, O Almighty One, and with fear have I glorified Thee, O Savior.

Glory…, in Tone V —

Theotokion: Doubt of my salvation assaileth me, O all-pure one, because of the evils which beset me; wherefore, quickly deliver me from them, granting me a goodly knowledge, for to thee alone have I fled, O Mother of God.

O all-praised warrior, who hast been counted worthy to behold the incarnate God, we beseech thee: By thine entreaties deliver us from all misfortunes.

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.

Let us hasten with faith and with love give voice to festive hymns, and let us join chorus, rejoicing, on this festival of the all-praised John, the warrior of Christ. Let kings and princes come together, let choirs of hierarchs hymn the feast of the athlete with song, and let the armies of the angels be glad, looking on. For we know him to be our intercessor amid tribulations, the true joy of the despondent, the enricher of the poor, the comforter of all who find themselves in grief, who doth fervently anticipate the needs of all in every place. To him do we now say: O John, warrior of Christ, by thy supplications save those who with faith have recourse to thy sacred temple.

Theotokion: Thou wast counted worthy to be the Queen and Mother of the almighty King. Vouchsafe that we may glorify His merciful dispensation toward us.

Having acquired a sure faith with the martyrs, and become a soldier of Christ Jesus, O courageous one, thou wast enriched with the virtues. Wherefore, ever grant goodly enlightenment unto those who celebrate thine honored memory.

Irmos: O Thou Who broughtedst the ends of the earth into light out of the darkness of ignorance, enlighten me with the dawn of Thy love for mankind, O Lord.

Let us trumpet forth the clarion call of hymns; for the Virgin Mother and Queen, bowing down from on high, crowneth those who hymn her with blessings. Let kings and princes come together, and let them clap their hands in hymns to the Queen who gave birth to the King Whose good pleasure it was, in His love for mankind, to loose those who before were held fast by death. Ye pastors and teachers, assembling, let us praise the all-pure Mother of the good Shepherd: the lampstand of golden luster, the Light-bearing cloud more spacious than the heavens, the animate ark, the fiery throne of the Master, the golden jar containing Manna, the impassable gate of the Word, the refuge of all Christians; and let us praise her thus: O palace of the Word, vouchsafe unto us lowly ones the kingdom of heaven, for there is nought which is not possible for thy mediation.

Theotokion: Glorifying thy loving-kindness toward us, O Mistress, we entreat thee: Free us from all tribulations, O Mary, and help us to rise early unto God, that we may be counted worthy of everlasting blessedness.

Thou showest thyself to be the invisible persecutor of those who work evil wickedly, O martyr of Christ, and dost expose thefts which are done in secret. For thou hast received from God the power to do for everyone all things which conduce to salvation.

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: O all-pure Virgin who gavest birth to God in our flesh, extending thy mercy unto all, entreat Him, that we may be illumined with heavenly light.

Possessed of a heart like an immovable pillar, O most honored John, thou didst show love for the martyrs of Christ, undaunted by the cruelty of the emperor. Wherefore, help us, that we be rendered steadfast in the love of the Lord.

Irmos: With Jonah we cry out to Thee, O Lord, praying with a voice of praise: Lead up our life from corruption!

Theotokion: O Theotokos who gavest birth for us to Christ the Physician, heal thou the sufferings of our souls and bodies, and put to shame the evil machinations of the enemy by thy loving-kindness.

Falling down before Thee, our God and Creator, in every evil circumstance, we pray: Through the entreaties of Thy martyr establish us in Thy will and in love.

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: O all-pure Virgin, who hast saved the world from pernicious corruption, deliver us from every evil circumstance.

With steadfast mind thou didst rely on the uprightness of the knowledge of God, O divinely blessed John; wherefore, make our souls steadfast, that we may set our hope in the Lord in all things. For, having spurned the lust of thy flesh, the lust of thine eyes and the pride of life, O martyr, thou wast established in the love of Jesus. Help us also to attain this.

Irmos: All Thy works are true and Thy paths straight, O God of our fathers!

Theotokion: An all-glorious mystery hath been accomplished in thee, O Mother of God; for without seed thou didst conceive thy Son Who hast abolished the burden of our sins. Wherefore, placing our hope in thee and looking to thy help, we cry out with fervor: Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mistress!

Ever pleasing the King of heaven and Creator of the ages, thou didst spurn the malicious and vile counsels of the iniquitous tyrant Julian, O glorious one, refusing to offer sacrifice unto inanimate idols; and thus thou didst commit thy soul into the hands of the Lord God. Him do thou beseech, O holy John, that He grant remission of sins unto us who honor thy holy memory. Twice

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: O most immaculate Virgin who gavest birth to Christ, the way and the truth, direct us to the life on high, to the God of our fathers.

All creation — the assembly of the angels and the human race — rejoiceth in thee, O thou who art full of grace, thou sanctified temple and noetic garden of paradise, boast of virgins, through whom God, Who was our God from before time began, was incarnate and became a babe; for He made thy womb a throne, and thine innermost parts more spacious than the heavens. In thee doth all creation rejoice, O thou who art full of grace. Glory to thee!

Irmos: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of glory and Vanquisher of death, do ye exalt supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: O Mary, Bride of God, we flee unto thee and, falling down before thee, pray: Look upon our sorrow and the affliction wrought upon us by our enemies, O Mistress, and render peaceful the life of us all, in that thou gavest birth to the Lord, Whom we bless forever.

Thou didst emulate Christ God, Who of His own will was crucified on the Tree, O most honored one, crucifying thyself with Him by all manner of abstinence, prayer, almsgiving and many benefactions.

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: O almighty Queen, maternally entreat God the King, that we may exalt Him supremely in every place, and hymn thee for all ages.

Lo! even to thy death thou didst humble thyself, O martyr John; for thy holy relics were hidden at a place where strangers were buried. Wherefore, the Lord hath glorified thee throughout all the world.

Irmos: The incorporeal servant stood before her who is full of grace, saying: The Lord is with thee, whom we magnify!

Theotokion: We never cease to hymn thee, O Virgin, our helper, protection, speedy aid and intercessor unashamed. Preserve thy servants from all affliction, and ever free us from the machinations of the evil one.

Having command of the corruptible army of the Emperor Julian the apostate, thou wast dispatched to put Christian martyrs to death; yet, preserving them, O blessed one, thou didst keep them in the Faith, that they might chant: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Theotokion: O Mary full of grace, regard all thy servants with mercy, that in joy we may magnify thee without ceasing.

Great is Thy dispensation in all the world, O Lord, to Whom we ardently commit ourselves, praying to Thee with the saints.

Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Having finished the good fight in suffering, O martyr, help us with goodly understanding to glorify the Lord in fear.

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

Casting aside all fear of tyrants, thou didst render brotherly assistance to the people of God in time of persecution, O John. Drive from us the fear of dangers.

Experiencing the divine mysteries in understanding, O John, thou didst proclaim the nativity of God, saying in the presence of all: “I know none other God than the Creator of all!”

“Love the Lord Who loveth you!” thou didst say to the suffering martyrs, O passion-bearer; and, made steadfast in His love, thou wast enriched with miracles, healing many sicknesses.

For the sake of Christ’s glory thou didst consider the glory of this world to be as nought, O divinely wise warrior; wherefore, having completed thy contest and been vouchsafed divine glory, pray that we also may receive it.

O Master Who lovest mankind, enlighten us on the day when Thine athlete is commemorated in prayer, that with reverence we may rise early unto Thee.

Thou wast enlightened with God-given miracles, O martyr John; wherefore, rescue those who glorify thee from evil men, from loss and pain.

Valiantly conquering all the soul-destroying enemies with the luminous dawn, draw us out of the darkness of grievous passions into the light of joy.

Strengthened by the power of God, O John, thou glory of the martyrs, thou didst pay no heed to the threats of the impious; and, gazing joyously now upon God, deliver us from evils.

With supplications, fasting and all manner of abstinence in chastity, O most honored one, thou didst please God. Looking down from on high, free us from tribulations.

Thou grantest the petitions of those who honor thee with faith, O blessed one, denouncing evil men, and praying to God for the penitent.

We will not cease to beseech Thee, the most compassionate Lord, moving Thy faithful warrior to pray with us: Rescuing us from sin, make us to dwell in heavenly life.

Thou dost praise God in the highest, O holy John, having served Him faithfully here on earth; wherefore, that hast drawn nigh also unto us who praise thee, for our salvation.

Having endured sufferings for Christ’s sake, O most lauded one, thou hast received most joyful blessedness; wherefore, accept thou our entreaties, and lead us into joy.

With hymns let us right worthily praise John the warrior, the pious soldier of Christ, who vanquished the enemy, spiritual and corporeal, with divine wisdom; for, working wonders, he bestoweth abundant healings upon suffering people, and entreateth the Lord God to save the Orthodox from all misfortunes.

Ikos: Who can recount thy struggles and sufferings for thy faith in the Lord Jesus? With what praises can we crown thee for thy courageous stand in the law of the Lord and true piety? For, armed with chastity and all manner of good works, thou didst trample underfoot all the wiles of the soul-destroying foe; and hating wealth, glory and harmful lust, thou didst love poverty and the affliction for Christ’s sake, helping the suffering amid their tribulations. Wherefore, having made thine abode in the tabernacles of heaven, thou hast been enriched with gifts of all-glorious miracles. Therefore, O blessed one, watch over those who have recourse unto thee, rendering them aid, and saving the Orthodox from all misfortunes.

Defying the ungodly command of the iniquitous tyrant, O passion-bearer John, thou wast shown to be a pious warrior of the almighty King; and, bedewed with grace, thou didst chant with the people of God: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

The sweet, great and joyful festival which the chaste John, the most valiant of martyrs, hath organized, hath now illumined the people of the Lord; for he poureth forth healings upon those who pray to the Lord with faith and cry out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

As thou hast boldness before the Master of all, O holy John, in that thou art His dear favorite, intercede before Him for us in the midst of our perils, and help us to find deliverance from sins, that with godly mind we may chant: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

O John, physician who exacteth no fee, by thy supplications heal the infirmities and sufferings of the souls and bodies of those who cry out to the Lord: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Thou didst undertake every virtuous work, and didst offer thyself to the Creator of all as a sacrifice, crying out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Seeking the highest, thou didst hate falsehood on earth, O blessed of God. Wherefore, united spiritually in love with the martyrs of Christ, thou didst boldly preach Jesus, the God-man, of Whom thou criest out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Providing in abundance what was needed, O John of pious mind, thou wast a nurturer of the poor; and watching over us who now have recourse unto thee, fulfill our requests, that we may cry out with joy: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Beholding thy zeal and thy perfect faith, O John, God Who seeth all things glorified thee with everlasting glory. Him do thou expediently entreat, that He take pity upon us who chant with pious mind: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

O King of heaven, Who gavest victory over the power of the enemy to thy holy martyr, grant that we also may glorify thee for all ages, delivered from want.

Joyfully, O blessed one, thou hast gazed upon the King and Lord in the highest. Pray thou, that we may exalt Him supremely for all ages with a pure heart.

O warrior who reignest with Christ, vanquish all barbarians and destroy the counsels wickedly devised against us, that we may exalt the Lord for all ages.

Thou didst show thyself to be a good ally of the people of God, O all-glorious one, protecting the persecuted, and even now thou dost aid the faithful with miracles; wherefore, we magnify Christ God at the memorial of thy benefactions.

Thy wonders are proclaimed throughout all the world, O all-blessed John; wherefore, assembling today, we send up glory to Christ Who hath glorified thee.

Hearken today unto us who praise thee and ask thy help, O martyr of Christ, and cease not to guide us toward those things which are profitable, showing thyself to be a most fervent intercessor and mediator before our God.

Thou hast shown thyself to be an excellent physician of the hearts of man, helping all the pious with miracles, O John; wherefore, hymning thee, we magnify Christ.

O Lord of hosts, be Thou with us, strengthening our civil authorities, our hierarchs and all Thy people, and saving them by the supplications of Thy saint, that we may piously magnify Thee and the Theotokos without ceasing.

Pray thou to God in Trinity, O holy John, that He count worthy ever to magnify Him as Creator of all those who believe on His name with godly understanding.

Interceding, O favorite of the Lord, free from grief those who celebrate thy memory, and give us joy to drink, that we may magnify the Lord and the Mother of God.

O holy crowned one, standing before the throne of Christ with the angels, and filled with light therefrom, mediate peace for the world by thy supplications, O athlete, and salvation for us who piously celebrate thy memory and have recourse to thee amid tribulations, O John who art most rich.

By knowing thyself, thou didst come to know God, the all-creating Cause, in Whom thou didst believe; and, having confessed Him, thou dost illumine the world with miracles, O divinely blessed John.

Desiring to recall the perishing world out of corruption, O Theotokos, the Lord made His abode within thy womb, as thou didst know. Wherefore, having obtained salvation, we all cry out to thee: O most hymned Virgin who gavest birth to the Joy of the whole world, fill us with joy, ever preserving us from the evils committed by the enemy.

Great Doxology. Troparia. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.