Canon of the Venerable Thomas, in Tone II

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 of the venerable Acacius, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “Seeking the highest…” —

Sessional hymn of the venerable Thomas, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast appeared today…” —

Theotokion: O Maiden, thou alone gavest birth unto the God of all Who is infinite, yet in His goodness confined Himself within thy womb. Him do thou entreat, that He save those who hymn thee.

Having received the enlightenment of divine grace within thy soul, O glorious one, thou didst depart from the darkness of the passions as from another Egypt, and didst receive heavenly life.

Irmos: Having traversed the depths of the Red Sea with dryshod feet, Israel of old vanquished the might of Amalek in the wilderness by Moses’ arms stretched out in the form of the Cross.

Kontakion of the venerable Thomas, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Having been lifted up…” —

Glory…: sessional hymn of the venerable Acacius, in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: “Go thou quickly before…” —

Theotokion: God the Lord, Who became incarnate for our sake and was born of thee, is our creating might and hymn, as Isaiah proclaimed in prophecy.

Being splendid in life, O father, thou didst win countless victories over aliens; and having lived venerably as a monk, thou didst vanquish hordes of the demons.

Irmos: Establish us in thee, O Lord Who hast slain sin by the Tree, and plant the fear of Thee in the hearts of us who hymn Thee.

Theotokion: O Virgin, we truly name thee the golden censer, the jar of manna, the divine mountain, and the beautiful palace of God.

Wrestling with the enemy through asceticism, O venerable one, with the aid of the divine Spirit thou didst bring him low and didst receive from heaven the wreath of victory.

Irmos: Thy Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, crying aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my consolation!

Theotokion: For our sake, O all-pure one, hath the Fashioner of all taken physical form, receiving animate flesh from thee, O all-holy Bride of God.

Canon of the Venerable Acacius, the acrostic whereof is: “With songs do I hymn Acacius, excellent in obedience”, in Tone IV

Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, of Thy glorious dispensation, and I have glorified Thine unapproachable power, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Now & ever…: theotokion —

Having invested thyself with an innocent character, thou didst acquire the right noble beauty of the virtues, emulating, even unto death, the voluntary obedience of Christ, O most blessed one.

Irmos: Beholding Thee lifted up upon the Cross, O Sun of righteousness, the Church stood rooted in place, crying out as is meet: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Theotokion: O Mistress who knewest not wedlock, who conceived God without seed, deliver us from all temptations and grief.

With thine absence of evil thou didst put the author of evil to shame, O father, and by thine endurance of temptations thou didst bring his prideful and vaunted malice down to the ground, O most blessed one.

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.

Theotokion: O all-pure one, thou art more pure than the heavens and the noetic hosts, having given birth to their Creator.

Having mastered patient abstinence beforehand and severed the roots of the passions, O most blessed one, covered with divine grace thou didst later adorn thyself with the raiment of dispassion.

Irmos: Thou hast come, O my Lord, as a light into the world: a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance those who hymn Thee with faith.

Theotokion: In that thou art compassionate, heal my heart, which hath been wounded by the assaults of the enemy, O pure one who ineffably gavest birth to Him Who was nailed to the Cross in the flesh.

Having strengthened the state of thy soul with steadfast patience and endured the struggle of martyrdom all the days of thy life with valiant mind, O most blessed one, thou wast shown to be one who earned a crown.

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: The intelligence of neither angels nor men can speak of thy birthgiving; for it surpasseth every attainment of understanding.

Moved by thy supplications, God delivered thee from bonds by the prophet’s hand, and thou didst elect to tread the way toward the onerous task of asceticism.

Irmos: I will sacrifice to Thee with a voice of praise, O Lord, the Church crieth unto Thee, cleansed of the blood of demons by the blood which, for mercy’s sake, flowed from Thy side.

Theotokion: He Who created all things by His will, as He so desired, made His abode within the womb of her who knew not wedlock, for, in that He is compassionate, He wished to honor with incorruption those who were afflicted with corruption.

Having forsaken the bitter tumult of life, thou didst approach the haven of abstinence and divine tranquility, O father Thomas, full of the grace of the Spirit.

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: Truly do we glorify thee, the Theotokos, with faith, as the one who conceived God and, without knowing wedlock, gavest birth to Him Who took form from thee who wast received by the holy temple.

He Who once used a pillar to guide Israel in traversing the desert, O most blessed one, guided thee with the pillar of fire, perceiving the nobility of thy soul.

Irmos: The children of Abraham in the Persian furnace, afire with love of piety more than with the flame, cried out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Theotokion: O pure Virgin, blessed one who knewest not wedlock, setting aright of the fallen, deliverance of the sinful: Save me, the prodigal! Save me who cry out to thy Son: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Entrusting thyself wholly to thy Creator and God, O venerable one, thou didst endure abasement at the hands of a tyrant.

Irmos: God, Who descended into the fiery furnace for the Hebrew children and transformed the flame into dew, hymn ye as Lord, O ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: O Virgin who gavest birth to the true Life for those who have been held fast by the law, thou hast raised up those who cry out: Blessed art thou among women, O all-immaculate Mistress!

Thou didst lawfully show forth the endurance of suffering on earth, O ascetic; wherefore, heavenly gladness hath been given thee.

Irmos: Stretching forth his hands, Daniel shut the lions’ mouths in the pit; and the young lovers of piety, girded about with virtue, quenched the power of the fire, crying out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Theotokion: In that thou gavest birth to the Wellspring of life, O Virgin Theotokos, give my soul to drink of the water of life, for it wasteth away through the flame of sin; that I may glorify thee for all ages.

True humility, long-suffering, patience, abstinence and obedience didst thou strictly observe, O all-blessed one.

Irmos: O ye faithful, with hymns let us magnify in oneness of mind the Word of God, Who from God came in His ineffable wisdom to renew Adam who had grievously fallen into corruption, and Who became ineffably incarnate of the holy Virgin for our sake.

Theotokion: He Who before was incorporeal is become incarnate, and the Creator taketh form through thee, O most immaculate one; for the Unapproachable One, having descended into thine all-pure womb, is wrapped in a fleshly appearance, as He desired. Wherefore, we all call thee blessed, O Mary, Bride of God.

Forsaking the world, thou didst follow Christ from childhood, O all-wise and venerable Acacius, and, emulating His voluntary humility, thou didst cast down the prideful tyrant. Pray thou unceasingly in behalf of us all.

Irmos: Christ, the Chief Cornerstone uncut by human hands, Who united the two disparate natures, was cut from thee, the unquarried mountain, O Virgin. Wherefore, in gladness we magnify thee, O Theotokos.

Theotokion: The shining radiance of all thy miracles dispelleth the gloom of passions and sorrows and putteth forth the noetic light of gladness for those who magnify thee as the Mother of God, O pure and divinely blessed one.

Having shown thyself to be right pleasing by divine actions and a pure life, O venerable one, thou hast been vouchsafed the inheritance of the incorporeal ones. Pray thou that we may be saved.

Theotokion: With praises of confirmation all of us, the faithful, honor thee as her who is truly the root of incorruption, O Virgin; for thou gavest birth for us to the hypostatic Immortality.

By the splendor of faith and active light wast thou truly shown to be like an angel on the earth, O most wise Acacius. Thou didst manfully show forth the strength of thy mind and didst crush the uprisings of the passions by fasting. Wherefore, even after thy demise thou wast shown to be as one alive, O invincible one.

By thy divine birthgiving, O pure one, thou didst restore the mortal essence of man, which had become corrupt in the passions; and thou hast raised up all from death to a life of incorruption. Wherefore, we all bless thee as is meet, O all-glorious Virgin, as thou didst foretell.

Stavrotheotokion —

When Thine all-pure Mother beheld Thee suspended upon the Cross, O Word of God, she exclaimed, maternally lamenting: “What new and strange wonder is this, O my Son? How is it that Thou tastest of death, Who art the Life of all, desiring to bring life to the dead, in that Thou art compassionate?”

With the divine fire of asceticism thou didst consume the thorns of sin, and thou hast shone forth with the splendor of miracles, O father.

Having cleansed the eyes of thy soul of the mire of the passions, O father, thou didst open the eyes of the blind.

Thou didst withdraw from the tumult of the world, O God-bearer, and hast received heavenly tranquility.

Having mortified carnal-mindedness, O father Acacius, thou didst enliven thy soul and hast received a crown of righteousness, crying: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Undertaking lengthy struggles, O father, thou didst show forth patient opposition all the days of thy life. Wherefore, after death thou didst cry out as one alive: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

With steadfast mind thou didst endure oppression for Christ, O blessed Acacius, mindful of how He was suspended upon the Cross for the salvation of our race.

O venerable father, thou didst have Elijah the Tishbite piously directing thee to the deserts, for he appeared to thee at night and taught thee divine mysteries.

Thou madest thine abode upon Mount Maleum as upon another Carmel, O wise and blessed one, delighting in divine visions and all-gloriously receiving the grace to work wonders.

Preferring the narrow path to that which is wide, O father, thou didst joyfully attain unto the broad expanse of paradise; and in gladness thou didst partake freely of the tree of life.

Manfully wounded with stripes and beatings all the days of thy life, enduring them mightily thou didst attain repose in holiness, O holy one.

Having finished the good race, O innocent Acacius, as one free of labors and pangs thou hast received rest.

Thy mind, nourished with pure thought, O God-bearing Acacius, hastened right fittingly to the Cause of all things.

Thou madest thine abode in a waterless desert, O venerable one, and with the rain of thy prayers thou didst entreat the Master to pour forth water most rich.

Like the righteous Abraham of old thou didst journey to a far land, didst draw nigh to God, and dwelt in the land of the meek.

Thou wast a true monk, O father Thomas, and after thy burial with spiritual power thou pourest forth gifts of healing upon those in need.

Thou didst fall into blessed sleep, O blessed father, and even after death didst show thyself to be obedient to those who called upon thee; for he who hath obedience never dieth.

Having finished the good struggles, O divinely wise namesake of goodness, thou wast truly vouchsafed incorrupt immortality, where, rejoicing, thou hast received crowns of victory.

The divine, goodly and God-pleasing asceticism of thy life maketh many steadfast with the fear of God and the desire for the good things to come, O blessed Acacius.

Truly thou didst show forth a great victory! Wherefore, aflame with divine life, thou didst vanquish the corrupt king and all beautiful things, making thine abode on Mount Maleum, from whence thou didst ascend to the King of kings in the heavens. O Thomas, pray thou unceasingly for us all.

With the dew of abstinence thou didst quench the fire of the passions, O father, and shining forth like the sun in the radiance of thy virtues, O blessed one, thou dost illumine the hearts of all who cry out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

By the power of Christ giving sight to the blind, the ability to walk to the lame, deliverance to the sorrowful and healing to the sick, O father Thomas, thou didst cry out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

O blessed father who art most rich, thou didst finish thy life in stillness, illumined with poverty, adorned with asceticism, and chanting to the Master with compunction of heart: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

O venerable one who went to the Master with all thy desire, enduring vexation, indignity and wounding, thou didst cry out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Thy wounded mind, pondering the suffering and crucifixion of the Master and learning death, chanted: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Lying dead and unbreathing in the grave, according to the law of the dead, to him who spake to thee thou didst exclaim in manner transcending nature, “I am not dead!”; and thou criest out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Having reined in the rampant passions of the soul with the bridle of abstinence, thou didst show thyself to be like unto the immaterial angels, crying out: Hymn the Lord, O ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Following the sacred life of Elijah the Tishbite, O all-blessed one, thou didst ascend a mountain to converse with God, cleansing thy mind with fasting, and chanting: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

As one meek and innocent, thou livest in the land of the meek, O divinely wise one, chanting with all the venerable and elect: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Through mighty asceticism and active vision, O venerable father, thou didst join thyself to God, sundering the bonds of the body and laying waste to the flesh; and thou didst cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Reckoned and numbered with the martyrs of Christ, O venerable one, unceasingly hymning Him Who loveth mankind, thou prayest for us who praise thee and cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Having suffered on earth, O venerable one, thou hast found heavenly rest with the saints, sharing in their gladness and joy, and crying out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Having become poor in spirit, thou hast received the kingdom of heaven with all the elect, O father Thomas, filled with ineffable glory, receiving the reward for your pangs. Wherefore, with faith and love we call thee blessed.

The shrine of thy relics poureth forth rivers of healing for those who approach it with faith, drowning the passions of men’s souls and relieving their bodily pains, O blessed Thomas, who dost ever pray with faith for those who call thee blessed.

Joining the splendid choirs of the venerable, O father Thomas, illumined noetically with never-waning radiance, illumine those who with faith keep thy divine memory, and vouchsafe that, through thy supplications, they may receive salvation.

Adorned with the beauty of innocence and shining with the comeliness of the virtues, O father, thou didst mercifully join thyself to the Benefactor of all; wherefore, we all call thee blessed.

Obedient to the law of the Master, thou didst bow thy neck under the monastic struggle, O most blessed father, and, emerging victorious, thou didst attain perfect guilelessness.

Thou hast been vouchsafed to send up hymnody to God with the incorporeal ones, having preserved their manner of life and purity; and by patiently doing thy tasks thou hast received the glory of the martyrs.

Accept from us this hymnody, O God-bearer, offered to thee from our heart, and through thine entreaties grant us remission of offenses and salvation, O most honored one.