AT GREAT VESPERS

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

Glory..., in Tone VIII —

At “Lord, I have cried...,” 8 stichera: 2 in Tone VI: Spec. Mel: “Having set all aside...” —

Now & ever...: Theotokion, in the same tone:

Troparion, in Tone V —

A Reading from the Third Book of Kings

When Rus’, which from of old was holy, began to apostatize from its Creator and God, the long-suffering Lord sent many righteous men and prophets, of whom the last was the righteous John, the holy pastor of Kronstadt, who called sinners to repentance and proclaimed that the wrath of God would fall upon the unrepentant; but the people would not heed them. Then God committed the Russian land, which before had been pious, to great persecutions of the Faith, that He might bring sinners to their senses and exalt and glorify the faithful through the endurance, suffering and death for Christ, revealing a multitude of holy new martyrs, among whom were the great passion-bearer, the martyred Tsar Nicholas, with his Tsaritsa, children and servants, who now pray in behalf of our souls. Twice

Now & ever...: Theotokion:

A Reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah

And 2 in Tone II: Spec. Mel: “When from the Tree...” —

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion —

Glory..., in Tone VIII —

When thou, O martyred Tsar, wast imprisoned by those who contend against God, thou didst have great joy with thy Tsaritsa and children when the minister of God visited thee to perform the divine services. Such a pious Tsar and anointed one of God did a great many of the people reject, for they were not mindful of the word of God which calleth upon all to honor the ruler; and the wrath of God hath fallen upon us all. Wherefore, in repentance we cry out: O Lord, through the intercession of the great passion-bearer, the martyred Tsar, grant Thou to the suffering Russian land deliverance from those who contend against God and the restoration of the throne of our Orthodox tsars.

Glory..., in Tone VI —

We raise a hymn to thee, O martyred Tsar, much-suffering passion-bearer, for thou didst make a place for all in thy heart, as did the Apostle Paul: feeding the hungry, comforting the sorrowful, sympathizing with the suffering, grieving over the lost, showing clemency to condemned malefactors, meekly enduring slander and injustice, zealous for the Faith and for piety, holding the glory and wealth of this world to be but naught and, what is more, feeling them to be a burden, having concern for the peace of the whole world, aflame with love for all. Take us also into thy heart, O much-suffering and great passion-bearer, and entreat the merciful God, that He take pity on us, and grant us the strength to be emulators of thee.

Glory..., Now & ever...: Theotokion:

And 4 in Tone VI: Spec. Mel: “Having set all aside...” —

O divinely-crowned martyr, holy Tsaritsa Alexandra, who can recount thy truly evangelical life? Thou didst come to the Orthodox Faith from another belief, and didst embrace it wholeheartedly, coming to love prayer, the Church and the holy Mysteries, and the teaching of the holy Fathers, raising thy children in piety, and preparing them for martyrdom for Christ, meekly enduring the slander of those who had forgotten God and who did not understand thy true piety. Wherefore, we beseech thee: Entreat Christ God Whom thou didst love, that He save our souls.

Great was thy faith, O holy martyred Tsaritsa Alexandra, when thou wast imprisoned unjustly by those who contend against God; for knowing of the martyrs’ death which awaited you, thou didst speak thus: “Let us prepare ourselves to meet the heavenly Bridegroom! God filleth and illumineth my soul with indescribable joy and tranquility! My soul danceth for joy, knowing that the Bridegroom draweth nigh! My soul trembleth, for God is near! Let us ask of the Lord forgiveness of sins for ourselves and the whole world! Let us pray for those who forget to pray and for all the people!” O holy martyr, be thou a channel for the forgiveness of our sins and great mercy!

The holy martyred Tsarevich Alexis loved the power of the Cross. And this faith in the Cross helped him to bear without murmuring the cross of the suffering of an incurable affliction all throughout his brief life, and to accept with hope and patience a martyr’s death for Christ. And now in the heavens pray thou for us who with faith and love keep thy memory, that the Lord may also grant us faith, patience and love.

O holy martyrs for Christ, Tsarevnas Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia: Christ hath revealed you as angels in the land of Russia, for ye became a model of purity, love and sympathy, which ye were taught by your pious parents, possessed of great love for all, and especially for the suffering, to whom ye ministered in accordance with the commandment of Christ: I was sick and ye visited Me. And when the persecution, imprisonment and mockery began, ye showed forth the great virtues of faith, meekness, patience and the forgiveness of all, chanting your holy prayers and placing your trust in God, crying out to the Lord before the many icons which ye set up before yourselves, praying meekly for the enemies who were unjustly to vex and slay you. Your meekness and patience melted the hearts of the malefactors. Great were your virtues on earth; great also is your glory in the heavens, O holy brides of Christ. Pray ye in behalf of our souls.

O divinely elect and venerable martyred Princess Elizabeth, when the tempest of ungodliness fell upon the land of Russia, thou didst utter these things: “As in a natural storm these things take place: certain ones escape, others are struck down, and the spiritual eyes of others are opened that they might behold the mighty works of God, so also do they befall amid the wind of life.” For amid the misfortunes thy soul beheld the right hand of God: the cruel murder of thy husband led thee to the service of God and neighbor; thou didst minister unto the poor, the bereft and the crippled with humility and love. Moreover, thou didst embrace the monastic life, and refuse to flee from them who contend with God, fearlessly receiving a martyr’s death for Christ. And we, honoring thy fragrant relics, earnestly entreat thee: Pray thou for us who honor thy struggles and sufferings!

Now & ever...: the Dogmaticon in Tone VIII:

In His love for mankind, the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt among men; for He Who received flesh from the pure Virgin and came forth from her having received human nature, is the only Son of God, two in nature but not hypostasis. Therefore, proclaiming Him to be truly perfect God and perfect man, we confess Christ our God. Him do thou beseech, O Mother unwedded, that our souls find mercy!

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three Lessons:

Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon (3:1-9).

But 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 for ever. 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.

Solomon stood up in front of the altar before all the congregation of Israel; and he spread out his hands toward heaven: and he said: “O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like Thee in heaven above and on the earth beneath. If the heaven and the heaven of heavens will not suffice Thee, how much less even this house which I have built to Thy name? Yet, O Lord God of Israel, Thou shalt look upon my petition, to hear the prayer which Thy servant doth pray to Thee in Thy presence this day, that Thine eyes may be open to this house day and night, even toward the place of which Thou didst say: ‘My name shall be there, to hear the prayer which My servant prayeth at this place day and night.’ And Thou shalt hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, and of Thy people Israel, which they shall pray toward this place; and Thou shalt hear in Thy dwelling-place in heaven, and Thou shalt do and be gracious.”

[Is. 61: 10-62: 5]

Let my soul rejoice in the Lord; for He hath clothed me with the robe of salvation, and the garment of joy: He hath put a crown on me as on a bridegroom, and adorned me with ornaments as a bride. And as the earth putting forth her flowers, and as a garden its seed, so shall the Lord, even the Lord, cause righteousness to spring forth, and exultation before all nations. For Sion’s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as light, and My salvation burn as a torch. And the gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and kings thy glory: and one shall call thee by a new name, which the Lord shall name. And thou shalt be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. And thou shalt no more be called Forsaken; and thy land shall not more be called Desert: for thou shalt be called My Pleasure, and the land Inhabited: for the Lord hath taken pleasure in thee, and thy land shall be inhabited. And as a young man liveth with a virgin, so shall thy sons dwell in thee: and it shall come to pass that as a bridegroom will rejoice over a bride, so will the Lord rejoice over thee.

At the Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and this sticheron to the martyrs, in Tone III —

True glory is suffering, for thus spake the Lord: Now is the Son of man glorified, calling the passion on the Cross His glory. And of this glory of the Cross were the royal martyrs accounted worthy, who emulated the sufferings of the Savior. Wherefore, Christ hath come to love them, and hath exalted them in the heavens, that they might pray in behalf of our souls.

The counsels of God are not as the counsels of men, nor are the ways of men like the ways of God, saith the Lord, for He humbleth one and exalteth another, the Lord bringeth death and giveth life, He impoverisheth and enricheth, He raiseth up the pauper from the earth, giving him a throne of glory. The Lord prepared a throne of glory for His beloved servant, the glorious martyred Tsar Nicholas, rewarding him for his piety; and because of the path of the cross which he trod, He caused him to live in the heavens, that he might pray for his people, that we may take care for the kingdom of heaven and for the salvation 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.

At the Aposticha, these stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “O most glorious wonder...” —

Thy concern was not for the glory of an earthly kingdom, O glorious martyred Tsar Nicholas, when thou didst receive coronation to the realm and the anointing with oil; but thou didst ponder the glory of God and the heavenly kingdom, saying in prayer before the people: “O my Master and Lord, direct and instruct me in this great ministry, that Thy divine wisdom may be with me; send it down from the heavens of Thy saints, that I may come to know what is pleasing in Thine eyes and what is right according to Thy commandments; may my heart be directed by Thee to accomplish all things for Thy glory and for the spiritual benefit of the people Thou hast entrusted to me.” And this prayer was pleasing in God’s sight. And now, as a martyr, cease not to pray to God for the spiritual benefit of thy people, that He be merciful to them, granting us remission of sins, peace and great mercy.

Stichos: I have raised up one chosen out of My people.

Like an innocent lamb was the martyred Tsar Nicholas led to the slaughter, with the Tsaritsa, their children and faithful servants. Possessed of a pure soul, entrusting himself and his household to God, never murmuring, he meekly accepted death for Christ; and now, standing with the angels and with the great company of new martyrs in the heavens, he prayeth for the salvation of the land of Russia from the cruel godless ones, that all that have fallen away from God might return to Him, that the fear of God may be established in their hearts, and that the faith of Christ may once again shine forth.

Stichos: With My holy oil have I anointed Him.

These things did the holy royal martyrs profess before they were unjustly put to death for Christ’s sake, repeating the testament of the holy Fathers: The ancient martyrs, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, went to death as to a feast, furnishing their mind and heart with wings of faith; and while condemned to death, they possessed a spirit of peace which never departed from them, for peacefully they went to death, trusting that they would enter into another, spiritual life which is revealed beyond the grave. And having put these words to the test in deed, the holy royal martyrs now rejoice with Christ in the heavens, praying with boldness in behalf of our souls.

Who can recount thy labors and sufferings? O great passion-bearer, martyred Tsar Nicholas, thou didst assume the grievous burden of authority, not for the sake of glory, but as a Christian king and servant of Christ, as one concerned for the good of his people, enduring a multitude of tribulations. All of these things did the Lord permit because of the sins of the people, and that He might reveal thy piety, showing the world thy longsuffering, which was like that of the much suffering Job, that thou mightest receive a glorious martyr’s crown in the heavens, like unto that of Abel. And now joining chorus there with the angels, thou dost intercede for us before God, praying for the salvation of our souls.

“Christ the Lord, my Creator and Deliverer, Who came forth from thy womb, O all-pure one, and robed Himself in me, hath freed Adam from the curse. Wherefore, like the angel do we unceasingly cry out to thee, O most pure one, who art truly the Mother of God and Virgin: Rejoice! Rejoice, O Mistress, thou intercession, protection and salvation for our souls!

Meekly didst thou endure the loss of thine earthly kingdom, the bonds and divers sufferings inflicted upon thee by those opposed to God, and didst bear witness for Christ even unto death, O great passion-bearer, divinely crowned Tsar Nicholas; wherefore, Christ God hath crowned thee in the heavens with a martyr’s crown, together with thy queen, thy children and thy servants. Him do thou beseech, that He have mercy upon the Russian land and save our souls.

Rejoice, impassible gate of the Lord! Rejoice, rampart and protection of those who have recourse unto thee! Rejoice, haven untouched by storms, thou who knowest not wedlock, who gavest birth in the flesh to thy Creator and God! Fail not in thy supplications for those who hymn and worship thy birthgiving!

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 for the holy hierarch, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Joy of the ranks of heaven…” —

Hating the earthly authority of the body, with pure temperament and a simple heart thou didst cleave unto the Lord, O wise father, and wast shown to be a divinely inspired instrument of the Comforter, playing the psalmody of salvation for us.

Finding the Mother of the Lord to be the subject of great laudation, O Andrew, thou didst also hymn with mellifluous discourses the sacred apostles and the company of the blessed martyrs. With them be thou mindful of us who honor thee.

We know thee to be a pillar of Orthodoxy, a model of chastity, an example of meekness, and a godly hymnographer illumining the Church of Christ, O father Andrew, initiate of sacred mysteries. Wherefore, we celebrate thy festival.

And 3 for the venerable one, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…” —

Sparing not thy flesh for the sake of God’s love, through fasting and tears thou didst set thyself apart for painful ascetic endeavor and courageous battle against the hordes of the enemy who hath crippled human nature. Wherefore, thou didst undertake godly struggles, casting down the mind of the adversary, O honored and all-glorious Martha. Twice

Thou didst spurn transitory things, didst avoid the love of what is corruptible, and didst desire the heavenly portion which is everlasting, meet for the righteous and incorrupt, and never-ending life, O pure one. Wherefore, celebrating thy radiant and splendid memory with faith, O glorious Martha, we honor thee with hymns divine.

Glory…, idiomelon, in the same tone —

Relieving ailments with the grace of the Spirit, thou drivest away evil spirits, healest sufferings and enlightenest the faithful with the radiance of thy miracles, O most glorious Martha. Wherefore, we hymn thy splendid, radiant and right wondrous memory today with unceasing hymnody.

When she beheld Thee, the Lamb and Shepherd, upon the Cross, the ewe-lamb who gave Thee birth lamented and exclaimed to Thee maternally: “O my Son most desired, how is it that Thou art suspended upon the tree of the Cross, O Long-suffering One? How is it, O Word, that Thy hands and feet have been pierced with nails by the iniquitous, and Thou hast shed Thy blood, O Master?”