Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I —
Following the call of thy Lord, thou didst spurn all the beautiful things in this world, O Germanus our father; and making thine abode on a desert island with the blessed Sabbatius, thou becamest his fellow faster and companion. Glorified with him, pray thou for those who venerate thine honored memory.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —
At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the saint, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…: the resurrectional theotokion, in the same tone.
Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV —
O all-holy Virgin, hope of Christians, with the heavenly hosts unceasingly entreat God, to Whom thou gavest birth in manner which passeth understanding and recounting, that He grant remission of sins unto us all, and correction of life unto those who ever honor thee with faith and love.
Glory…. Now & ever…: Theotokion —
Canon of Supplication to the Theotokos [the Paraclysis], with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the venerable one, with 8 troparia, in Tone VIII —
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone III —
Thou didst love the industrious godly life, O Germanus our father, and, living with our venerable father Zosimas in the wilderness of Solovki, thou didst share his labors and the Holy Mysteries with him. And with him also thou art glorified as an instructor of monks. Pray for us, thy children, who gloriously celebrate thy memory.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —
At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the martyr, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…, the theotokion in the tone of the martyr’s troparion.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…” —
O Mistress, we flee beneath thy protection. Disdain us not who are in need of thine aid and help, but in that thou art the Mother of the merciful God, deliver from misfortunes thy servants who ever set their hope on thee.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —
Canon of Supplication to the Theotokos [the Paraclysis], with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and two canons of the martyr, with 8 troparia.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…” —
Polyeleos, and magnification —
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…” —
We bless thee, O venerable father Germanus, and we honor thy holy memory, O instructor of monks and converser with the angels.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —
Selected Psalm verses —
A With patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive unto me, and He hearkened unto my supplication. [Ps. 39: 2]
B He set my feet upon a rock, and He ordered my steps aright. [Ps. 39: 3]
A Lo, I have fled afar off and have dwelt in the wilderness. [Ps. 54: 8]
B I am become like a pelican of the wilderness. [Ps. 101: 7]
A I have watched, and am like a sparrow that sitteth alone upon the housetop. [Ps. 101: 8]
B My knees are grown weak through fasting. [Ps. 108: 24]
A And my flesh is changed for want of oil. [Ps. 108: 24]
B With tears will I water my couch. [Ps. 6: 4]
A For many dogs have encircled me, the congregation of evil doers hath surrounded me. [Ps. 21: 17]
B They have bent their bow, a bitter thing. [Ps. 63: 4]
A That they may shoot in secret at the blameless man. [Ps. 63: 4]
B I beheld the Lord ever before me, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. [Ps. 15: 8]
A All the nations compassed me round about, and by the name of the Lord I warded them off. [Ps. 117: 10]
B Blessed be the Lord Who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth. [Ps. 123: 6]
A Let all Thy works, O Lord, give praise to Thee. [Ps. 144: 10]
B And let the righteous ones bless Thee. [Ps. 144: 10]
A Know also that the Lord hath made wondrous His righteous one. [Ps. 4: 4]
B He hath labored forever, and shall live to the end. [Ps. 48: 9-10]
A The Lord preserveth the souls of His saints. [Ps. 96: 10]
B The saints shall boast in glory and shall rejoice upon their beds. [Ps. 149: 5]
A Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. [Ps. 115: 6]
B Chant unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. [Ps. 29: 5]
Glory…, Now & ever…
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice
How shall we bless thee, O venerable Germanus? For from childhood thou didst choose the monastic life, and, forsaking thy homeland, thou didst withdraw to the environs of the frigid northern sea, where, having found Sabbatius, the lover of the wilderness, thou didst begin to lead the hermit’s life with him on the solitary island of Solovki, and with Zosimas, the chosen of God, thou didst found a monastic habitation thereon. Wherefore, we ever magnify thy memory.
Like a vine which hath not been cultivated, O Virgin, thou gavest rise to the most comely Cluster, Who poureth out upon us the wine of salvation which gladdeneth our souls; wherefore, blessing thee as the cause of good things, with the angel we ever cry out to thee: Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace!
Prokimenon, in Tone IV —
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Stichos: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to Matthew, § 43
(Mt. 11: 27-30)
The Lord said to His disciples: “All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him. Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI —
When thou didst hear the voice of the Gospel calling thee to the kingdom of heaven, thou didst earnestly follow it; and accounting all the beautiful things of this world as but dung, thou didst desire the beauty of Christ alone, and by the example of thy virtuous life thou didst bring a multitude of monks to labor for Him, and wast for them an instructor and guide to salvation. Wherefore, praising thy struggles and labors in hymns, we beseech thee, O Germanus our father, that thou direct to the calm haven of salvation us, who are cruelly beset by many sins, asking peace and great mercy for us.
Having beheld the sufferings of the honored martyrs, and kissed their fetters, thou didst ascend the heights of witness, O all-wondrous one; and setting all thy desire on Christ, thou becamest a merciful helper for all, assisting the suffering and nurturing the hungry, until thou didst commit thy soul into the hands of the Lord, O much-suffering John. Twice
O all-holy Virgin, hope of Christians, with the heavenly hosts and the passion-bearer John unceasingly entreat God, to Whom thou gavest birth in manner past understanding and recounting, that He grant remission of sins and correction of life unto all of us who ever glorify thee with faith and love.
Pleasing the immortal King of the ages, thou didst not sacrifice to graven images, but didst spurn all the wicked counsels of the iniquitous emperor, O glorious one. Wherefore, thou didst offer thyself as a sacrifice unto the Word Who was sacrificed; for which cause thou pourest forth streams of miracles upon those who suffer amid trials, O merciful intercessor who prayest to God, O great John, soldier of the King, Christ our God. Him do thou beseech, that He grant remission of sins unto those who honor thy holy memory with love. Twice
O cloud of the noetic Sun, golden lampstand of the divine Light, unblemished, pure, all-immaculate Mistress: With the splendor of dispassion enlighten, I pray thee, my soul, which hath been benighted by the blindness of the passions; cleanse my polluted heart with torrents of compunction, and wash away the impurity of my deeds with tears of penitence, that I may cry out to thee with love: O Ever-virgin Theotokos, entreat Christ God, that He grant me remission of sins, for thee do I, thy servant, have as my hope.
Polyeleos, and this magnification —
We magnify thee, O holy passion-bearer John, and we reverence thine honored sufferings, which thou didst endure for Christ.
Selected Psalm verses —
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 they that 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
We cry out to thee, O John, as to a valiant athlete and mighty soldier of Christ, the King of all: Rejoice, adornment and splendor of martyrs! Rejoice, radiant star of the Church and rampart and haven for those who have recourse unto thee, O glorious great-martyr John the warrior! By thy supplications save those who hymn thee from all harm by the alien, and deliver them from cruel afflictions. Twice
We, thy sinful servants, falling down cry out to thee with compunction, as to the Queen surpassing the hosts of heaven, the Mother of Christ our God, the mighty helper of our race: O Mary Theotokos, Virgin and Mistress, guide us to the will of the Lord, the King of heaven, all the days of our lives, and preserve us from all trials and afflictions of body and soul, entrusting us not to the aid of men; and have mercy on us, O all-hymned one.
Prokimenon, in Tone IV —
The righteous man shall flourish like a palm-tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied.
Stichos: They that are planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of our God they shall blossom forth.
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to John, §51 [Jn 15:9-16]
The Lord said to His disciples: “As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.”
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI —
Today, the universal festival of the passion-bearer calleth us together. Come, ye who love God, let us with splendor celebrate his memory, saying: Rejoice, O great-martyr John, invincible warrior of the King of heaven, for thou didst manfully spurn the mindless command of the iniquitous Emperor Julian the idolater! Rejoice, O blessed one, helper of the athletes of Christ, for thou didst make them steadfast in the Orthodox Faith during persecution by the iniquitous, and with love didst suffer with them! Wherefore, Christ hath enriched thee with gifts of miracles. Entreat, then, the all-good God, that He save our souls.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.