Ode IX

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “Hearken, ye women…” —

Irmos: On the mountain did Moses behold the unconsumed bush; and in the cave did Joseph hear the ineffable birth. O Theotokos, Virgin undefiled, Mother who knewest not man: thee do we magnify!

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…” —

Theotokion: O most hymned Virgin Mistress, Mother of Christ our God, save all who set their hope on thee, who have recourse to thine aid, and in hymns piously magnify thee, who art the Theotokos.

Thou wast taken up to the heights of heaven by the virtues, O divinely wise Sergius, and in gladness of heart thou standest before the throne of the Holy Trinity. Forget not thy servants, but grant perfect health and wondrous victory over all heresies to our pious Orthodox hierarchs, that we may all magnify thee unceasingly with hymns.

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “The heaven with stars…” —

Irmos: Saved by thee, O pure Virgin, we confess thee to be in truth the Theotokos, magnifying thee with the incorporeal choirs.

As a greatly radiant star of Christ, the never-setting Sun, thou dost enlighten all with the beams of thy virtues, O divinely wise father Sergius, blessed of God, and with the radiance of miracles thou dost illumine all the ends of the earth and those who with faith cherish thy holy memory and splendidly honor in hymns the venerable uncovering of thy relics. Twice

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

More brightly than the rays of the sun, O God-bearer, doth thine all-glorious memory illumine the faithful who piously honor thee, who venerate the shrine of thy precious relics with faith and love, and praise thee in hymns, O divinely wise Sergius.

Thou hast been shown to be a beacon of great radiance, a most excellent physician of the sick, and a right prudent shepherd of monastics, a weapon of salvation for our pious Orthodox hierarchs, victory over the enemy, the adornment of all the land of Russia, a constant advocate for all who invoke thy name with faith, O Sergius, and celebrate the uncovering of thy precious relics with love.

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

O divinely blessed father Sergius, accept thou this small supplication, offered to thee by mine unworthy hand and with heartfelt love, and by thy supplications grant salvation for our souls, health for our bodies and peace for the world, that we may magnify thee all the more in hymnody.

Like a fragrant flower, incense of sweet savor, a divine phial of myrrh, thou dost emit the scent of thy sweet perfume upon all nations, and with the lightning-flashes of thy miracles thou dost illumine the Christian people, who celebrate thy sacred memory with faith, O venerable and divinely blessed Sergius.

Theotokion: Before thy mighty icon, O Mistress, the holy passion-bearers prayed: Take not thy protection away from us!

Assembling today, those of heaven rejoice with those on earth, and the companies of the faithful, together with the priests and monks, are filled with spiritual gladness and the gifts of thy miracles, O venerable Sergius, glorifying the Lord on the day of thine uncovering. Twice

Glory…, in Tone VI —

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

O all-pure Virgin, who gavest birth to the hypostatic Wisdom, the eternal Word of the Father, Christ the Physician of men: Heal thou the grievous and long-standing wounds and sores of my heart, and quell thou the uprisings of the passions of my flesh.

Having assembled today, O ye faithful Christian people, let us be filled with joy, and, forming a choir, let us spiritually celebrate the right eminent festival of the venerable father, crying out to Christ in psalms and hymns: O Master Christ, to our latterday race thou hast revealed such a bestower of miracles, the great ally of the whole Russian land! O venerable and divinely wise father Sergius, earnestly beseech Christ our God in behalf of all who honor thee with faith and love!

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “O all-praised martyrs…” —

O ye eight passion-bearers, in the expectation of the eighth day ye remained unshaken until the end of your transitory life.

No one who hath recourse to thee, O all-pure Virgin Theotokos, departeth from thee ashamed; for he asketh grace and receiveth a gift for his profitable petition.

O right praiseworthy royal scions, ye received nobility of spirit in place of a worldly nobility, and have been shown to be heirs of the kingdom on high, where ye reign now with Christ.

Stichera aposticha from the Octoechos; and Glory…, in Tone I —

God is the God of the living, saith the Lord; wherefore, forget not your children in exile, we pray, and the suffering land of Russia, that we may be delivered from our cruel enemies.

Suffering sorely in prison, ye offered up supplication; and cast into the mine-shaft, with good cheer ye chanted like Daniel in the lions’ den. Wherefore, deliver from the pit of our passions us who with faith and love keep your memory.

Before your holy relics in the earthly Jerusalem I pray: let me not perish before the end, but help me and lead me into the heavenly Sion.

The Mistress, the most immaculate ewe-lamb, when she beheld the Lamb upon the Cross, bereft of form and beauty, weeping said: “Woe is me! Whither hath Thy beauty gone, O Thou Who art most sweet? Where is Thy magnificence? Where the shining grace of Thine image, O my Son most beloved?”

Come, ye assembly of those who love the martyrs, gathered here in the Garden of Gethsemane, let us fall down before the precious relics of the passion-bearers, and in fervent supplication let us ask that they send down upon us peace and great mercy.

God, Who clothed Himself in me, issued forth from thee, and in the robe of incorruption hath clad me who was stripped naked of the divine vesture through mine evil ways, O Mistress Theotokos, thou refuge of all men, confirmation and rampart of the crowned martyrs, and joy of the angels.