AT VESPERS

On “Lord, I have cried…”, these stichera, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “When from the Tree…” —

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Troparion, in Tone IV —

When the ice of ignorance descended upon all creation in hostile assault and a multitude of idols were worshipped, then, O glorious martyrs, ye melted it with zealous heart and the fervor of divine faith; and ye manifestly shed your blood with love for Him Who shed His blood on the Cross.

When, at God’s behest, ye set yourselves apart for supernatural struggles, paying no heed to your corruptible bodies, then, strengthened by the power of the Most High, ye were undaunted by the fire or the cutting sword. Wherefore, bending your necks before God, O blessed ones, ye accepted death with joy.

The valiant athlete Peon, Valerian, Chariton and Charita, the godly Justin, Euelpistus and the glorious Hierax, who dyed your vesture in your divine blood and have arrayed yourselves therein together, with the angels ye stand before Christ the King and Master of all in the heavens.

But if Alleluia be chanted at Matins instead of “God is the Lord…”, the above stichera are preceded by the following stichera of the Theotokos, in the same tone & melody —

Rejoice, O star of solar radiance! Rejoice, O all-immaculate one, cause of all good things! Rejoice, thou who didst contain the uncontainable God, and who hath budded forth the Grain of immortality! Rejoice, O divine furrow, most splendid portal! Rejoice, O Mistress, mediatress of good things, who hast abolished the curse of our first parents!

O all-pure one, joy of all who sorrow, intercessor for the oppressed, feeder of the hungry, comfort of travellers, staff of the blind, visitation of the infirm, protection and aid of those who labor, helper of orphans, thou art the Mother of God Most High. Haste thou, we pray thee, that thy servants be saved.

Thou art the protection and help of us Christians and a mighty refuge, O Mother of God Most High. Now, as ever, cease thou never to pray with thy vigilant supplication, that He save thy servants from all evil circumstances; for thee do all of us Christians have, with God, as our help and refuge.

We have truly acquired no other mighty refuge, or pillar of strength, or insuperable rampart than thee, O all-pure one. To thee do we flee, and to thee do we cry out: O Mistress, help us, lest we perish! Show forth upon us thy grace and the glory of thy might, and the magnitude of thy loving-kindness.

Stavrotheotokion —

She who knew not wedlock, beholding Thee nailed to the tree of the Cross, O Jesus, said, weeping: “O my sweet Child, wherefore hast Thou forsaken me who alone gave Thee birth, O unapproachable Light of the all-unoriginate Father? Haste Thou and glorify Thyself, that they who glorify Thy divine sufferings may receive divine glory!”

In their sufferings, O Lord, Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, they set at nought their tormenters, and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. By their supplications save Thou our souls.