At Matins

Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone VI —

Rejoice, impassable 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!

Now & ever…: Theotokion —

At “God is the Lord…’, the troparion of the new-martyrs, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone —

Song of ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.

Glory…: Another sessional hymn —

When the Emperor Huan-tsu reigned in the land of China, Christ made His abode within you, O mighty martyrs, and invisibly bestowed upon you His own kingdom; for, bearing upon yourselves the image of Him Who wrought salvation upon the Cross, ye were vouchsafed paradise in a single hour. Wherefore, remember us before the throne of the Master.

Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Canon of Supplication to the Theotokos [the Paraclysis], with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the new-martyrs of the land of China,

Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone III —

O martyrs of Christ, ye lamps made luminous by God, enlighten your race amid the darkness of life, that having passed through the night of unbelief, they may come to love the nobility of Christ, and that, strengthened by your following after Him, they may chant to you a hymn of thanksgiving.

Glory…, Now & ever… Theotokion —

in Tone VI —

Glory…: Another sessional hymn —

Prefiguring thee of old, O all-pure one, Israel traversed the Red Sea dryshod; and now the New Israel hymneth thine unwedded state, and crieth out with the martyrs: O thou who hast illumined the human race with never-waning rays, enlighten all who seek the Lord, thy Son.

Glory…, Now & ever…: theotokion —

On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the icon, thrice.

After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII —

Christ acquired you as the first-called martyrs of the Chinese race, wherefore ye cast down the pride of the serpent and, hastening boldly to the contest, ye glorified Christ in your bodies. Him do ye now earnestly entreat, O holy ones, that He grant us great mercy.

Glory…, Now & ever…: theotokion —

At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the apostles, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…, theotokion: “We hymn thee who hast mediated the salvation of our race…”

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…” —

Ye who were born in the darkness of unbelief were shown to be full of divine radiance after death. O your love for God! Even though ye lived in the Faith for a short time, amid tortures ye remained strong for Christ. Wherefore, we chant unto you together: Rejoice, beacons of the Chinese race, leading them to God!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Canon of Supplication to the Theotokos [the Paraclysis], with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and two canons for the apostles, with 4 troparia each.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…” —

O thou who gavest birth to Christ, the Author of light: with the holy hierarchs of the Far East — Innocent, John, Nicholas, and John and Jonah the newly glorified — fervently pray to Him, that with the brilliance of the divine word He may proclaim His glory also among the Chinese people, O Virgin Theotokos.

After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Awed by the beauty of thy virginity…” —

Polyeleos, and this magnification —

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…” —

We magnify you, O holy new-martyrs of China, and we reverence your honored sufferings, which ye endured for Christ.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast appeared today…” —

Selected Psalm verses —

After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…” —

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 those who 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

Enlightened with exalted mind through the tree of the Cross, O company sanctified in tortures, led by Metrophanes ye initiated a splendid undertaking for your race. May your tearful entreaties never cease, that all who honor you with love may safely pass through this life which is full of tears.

O most pure Mother of God, unblemished ewe-lamb, who can describe thy love for all men? By thee is all creation gladdened; in thee doth the newly-glorified council of the protomartyrs of the land of China rejoice. Accepting their supplications in our behalf, bring them to thy Son, that He may save our souls.

Prokimenon, in Tone IV —

The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them.

Stichos: Many are the tribulations of the righteous; and the Lord shall deliver them out of them all.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Gospel according to Matthew, § 36

(Mt. 10: 16-22)

The Lord said to His disciples: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye who speak, but the Spirit of your Father Who speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he who endureth to the end shall be saved.”

After Psalm 50: Glory…, Through the prayers of the new-martyrs of China…; Now & ever…: Through the prayers of the Theotokos…; Have mercy on me, O God,…; and this sticheron, in Tone VI —

The land of China is sanctified today with radiant blood; the passage of time is made luminous by the splendors of the martyrs; and the Church of Christ is adorned with right brilliant stars! For enlightened by the light of Christ’s sufferings, the new-martyrs gloriously finished their contest, received crowns of eternal life, and were shown forth as radiant guides for all who thirst for righteousness.

All the multitude of the fathers of Athos hath now assembled to hymn thy glorious festival with splendor, O Maiden. For today the prince of the angels hath all-gloriously proclaimed to us the beginning of thy hymn.

Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Before, Gabriel was sent to thee from heaven, O pure one, to announce thine awesome seedless conception. And now, in the guise of a monk, he openly appeared to teach thy hymnody, and hath miraculously engraved it. Wherefore, with the desert-dwellers and cœnobites of Athos, we all cry aloud: Rejoice, O thou whom the ranks of angels hymn!

Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Polyeleos, and this magnification —

It is truly meet to magnify thee, O Theotokos, who art more honorable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim.

Selected Psalm verses —

A O God, give Thy judgment to the king [71: 1]

B And Thy righteousness to the son of the king. [71: 1]

A That he may judge Thy people with ­righteousness. [71: 2]

B And Thy poor with judgment. [71: 2]

A He shall judge the beggars among the people, and shall save the sons of the poor. [71: 4]

B Proclaim from day to day the good tidings of the salvation of our God. [cf. 95: 2]

A The Lord shall give speech with great power to those who bring good tidings. [67: 12]

B The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David, and He will not annul it. [131: 11]

A Of the fruit of thy loins will I set upon thy throne. [131: 11]

B He shall come down like rain upon a fleece. [71: 6]

A And like rain-drops that fall upon the earth. [71: 6]

B And He bowed the heavens and came down, and thick darkness was under His feet. [17: 10]

A For the Lord hath elected Sion, He hath chosen her to be a habitation for Himself. [131: 13]

B The Most High hath hallowed His tabernacle. [45: 5]

A God is in the midst of her, she shall not be shaken. [45: 6]

B He shall spare the poor man and the pauper, and the souls of the poor shall He save. [71: 13]

A All the nations shall serve Him. [71: 11]

B All the day long shall they bless Him. [71: 15]

A He shall be a support in the earth on the summits of the mountains. [71: 16]

B His name shall be blessed unto the ages. [71: 17]

A And in Him shall be blessed all the tribes of the earth. [71: 17]

B Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who alone doeth wonders. [71: 18]

A And blessed is the name of His glory forever, and unto the ages of ages. [71: 19]

B And all the earth shall be filled with His glory. So be it. So be it. [71: 19]

Glory…, Now & ever…

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. Thrice

All the multitudes of Athos are now glad, celebrating a splendid festival, having truly learned how to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and pure, most immaculate and undefiled, who art the Mother of our God. Wherefore, with Gabriel we cry out to thee: Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace!

Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same tone & melody —

Awed by the beauty of thy virginity and thine all-radiant purity, Gabriel, crying aloud, hath now shown us how to chant the wondrous and most excellent beginning to thy hymn, and, having miraculously engraved it upon a tablet of stone, he straightway vanished. Wherefore, we honor thee.

Prokimenon, in Tone IV —

I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation.

Stichos: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Gospel according to Luke, §4 [Lk. 1: 39-49, 56]

In those days, Mary arose, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zechariah, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” And Mary said: “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He Who is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name.” And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI —

Of old, Gabriel announced to her who is full of grace: Rejoice, O unwedded Maiden who knewest not wedlock! And now, appearing in a strange guise to a monk, he hath chanted a new hymn. Then, he related his tidings to thee, O pure one, and now he hath wondrously hymned thee, O Virgin, as the all-immaculate one who gave birth to the Lord.

The spiritual choir of the apostles was mystically sent into the world by God Most High, and they were unwittingly shown forth as physicians of the suffering, calling upon the Unity in three Hypostases, and wisely described the divine incarnation of the Lord Emmanuel. Twice

O Virgin, we hymn thee as the unburnt bush which Moses beheld, the mountain of God, the holy cloud, the undefiled tabernacle, the God-pleasing table, the palace of the King Most High, the most radiant and impassable gate.

Like stars do ye enlighten the ends of the earth with splendid radiance, the divine doctrines of your holy preaching, O apostles of the Lord, initiates of the mysteries of heaven. Twice

O ye faithful, let us bless the Theotokos, the fervent aid of those in need, our help and reconciliation with God, for whose sake we have been delivered from corruption.

Polyeleos, and this magnification —

We magnify you, O holy apostles Bartholemew and Barnabas, and we honor the pangs and labors whereby ye struggled in the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ.

Selected Psalm verses —

A The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands. [Ps. 18: 2]

B The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord. [Ps. 88: 6]

A In the stead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee. [Ps. 44: 17]

B The God of gods, the Lord, hath spoken, and He hath called the earth. [Ps. 49: 1]

A From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is to be praised. [Ps. 112: 3]

B Thy lightnings have shone forth throughout the world. [Ps. 96: 4]

A The heavens declared His righteousness. [Ps. 96: 6]

B And all the peoples saw His glory. [Ps. 96: 6]

A The princes of Judah are their rulers. [Ps. 67: 28]

B God is King over the nations. [Ps. 46: 9]

A God is glorified in the council of the saints. [Ps. 88: 8]

B Great and terrible is He toward all who are round about Him. [Ps. 88: 8]

A Say among the nations that the Lord is King. [Ps. 95: 10]

B Declare among the heathen His glory, and among all peoples His wonders. [Ps. 95: 3]

A Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth. [Ps. 18: 5]

B Their words unto the ends of the world. [Ps. 18: 5]

A He hath subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. [Ps. 46: 4]

B Great is our God, and great is His strength, and of His understanding there is no measure. [Ps. 146: 5]

A He will give power and strength unto His people. Blessed be God. [Ps. 67: 36]

Glory…, Now & ever…

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice

Dragging up the nations out of the depths of ignorance in godly manner with the net of the Word, thou didst draw them forth with faith; and as a wellspring of spiritual waters thou hast watered the whole world with grace. Wherefore, saved by thee, O divinely eloquent Bartholemew, we bless thee as the close friend of Christ, crying out to thee: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of offenses unto those who honor thy holy memory with love. Twice

All of us, the generations of men, bless thee as the Virgin who, alone among women, without seed gavest birth to God in the flesh; for the fire of the Godhead dwelt within thee, and thou didst nurture the Creator and Lord with milk as a babe. Wherefore, we, the generation of angels and men, glorify thine all-holy birthgiving as is meet, and together we cry out to thee: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of offenses unto those who worship thine all-holy birthgiving with faith.

Prokimenon, in Tone IV —

Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Stichos: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Reading from the Gospel According to St. John §67 [21:15-25]

At that time, Jesus showed Himself to His disciples, after He had risen from the dead, and said to Simon Peter: “Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou Me more than these?” He saith unto Him: “Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee.” He saith unto him: “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again the second time: “Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou Me?” He said unto Him: “Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee” He said unto him: “Feed My sheep.” He said unto him the third time: “Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou Me?” Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time: “Lovest thou Me?” And he said unto Him: “Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee.” Jesus said unto him: “Feed My sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” This spake He, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him: “Follow Me.” Then Peter, turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also leaned on His breast at supper, and said: “Lord, who is he who betrayeth Thee?” Peter seeing him said to Jesus: “Lord, and what shall this man do?” Jesus said unto him: “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me.” Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him: “He shall not die”; but, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” This is the disciple who testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone I —

Your proclamation of salvation hath gone forth into all the earth, O apostles, seers of God, and hath illumined the souls of the lost and brought unto Christ men enlightened by grace. Wherefore, pray ye, that He grant unto our souls peace and great mercy.