AT VESPERS

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

A Reading from Proverbs

On “Lord, I have cried…”, these stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “What shall we call you…” —

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same melody —

Troparion, in Tone I —

A Reading from Proverbs

Possessed of a life equal to that of the angels, by spurning pleasures thou didst show thyself to be a vessel of God; wherefore, O wise Tychon, as is meet He ordained thee for the people as a divine hierarch, and showed thee to be a pillar and ground of the Faith, O divinely inspired one, pasturing thy flock by the waters of Orthodoxy, O sacred one.

Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in the same tone —

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Full of divine understanding, thou wast shown to be a shepherd most wise, piously nurturing the reason-endowed flock on the grass of true doctrines; wherefore, we honor now thy holy festival, glorifying aloud the Lord Who hath glorified thee. O most blessed and divinely wise Tychon, pray thou that our souls be saved.

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

God, Who ever glorifieth those who glorify Him, hath glorified thee with miracles; for during thine honored and divine commemoration, O wise father, ripe grapes are seen by those who hymn the all-glorious wonder. And partaking thereof, the faithful who glorify thee as is meet receive sanctification and benefit.

But if Alleluia is to be chanted at matins instead of “God is the Lord…”, the following stichera of the Theotokos are chanted before the preceding stichera of the saint, in the same tone & melody —

Strange and awesome is the mystery of thy seedless birthgiving, O pure Virgin, surpassing in its greatness all human understanding. For the many-eyed cherubim dare not gaze upon Him, and all the ranks of the holy angels fear Him to Whom thou gavest birth in the flesh for us, yet Who hath not separated Himself from the Father’s essence. And we glorify thee Who gavest birth to Him, O Bride of God.

To whom hast thou likened thyself, O wretched soul, in nowise awakening unto repentance? And wherefore dost thou not fear the fire which awaiteth the evil? Arise, and summon her who alone is quick to help, and cry aloud: “O Mother of God, entreat thy Son and our God, that He deliver me from the snares of the deceiver!”

O Mistress, help of all, send down drops of thy mercy upon me who have fallen into the dark abyss and am ever cruelly engulfed by the threefold billows of life; grant me thy helping hand, and vouchsafe unto me the portion of the elect and the righteous, in that thou gavest birth to the Abyss of mercy, Who loveth mankind.

O all-immaculate and pure one, who gavest birth to the unbearable Fire Who burneth up sins and bedeweth the faithful: by thy supplications consume thou the tinder of my boundless offenses, and with thy dew cool thou my soul, which withereth away through the passions, that with a loud voice I, thy servant, may magnify thy mercy and power.

Stavrotheotokion —

When she beheld her Lamb stretched out on the tree of the Cross of His own will, the ewe-lamb cried out maternally, lamenting in pain: “O my soul, what is this strange thing that I see? As Thou art the Lord Who granteth life unto all, how is it that Thou diest, O Long-suffering One, bestowing resurrection upon mortals? I glorify thy great condescension, O my God!”

A desert-dweller, an angel in the flesh and a wonder-worker wast thou shown to be, O our God-bearing father Tychon. For, having acquired heavenly gifts through fasting, vigilance and prayer, thou dost heal the infirm and the souls of those who have recourse unto thee with faith. Glory to Him Who gave thee strength! Glory to Him Who hath crowned thee! Glory to Him Who worketh healings for all through thee!

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

Thou didst put all earthly things aside, and, setting thy mind on heavenly things, thou didst desire to follow after Christ alone, O our venerable father Tikhon. Wherefore, thou didst seek to live in stillness, yearning for the wilderness; and struggling therein, thou didst attain an angelic life. Therefore, as thou hast received from God the grace to heal divers ailments, O venerable one, entreat Him, that our souls find mercy. Twice

Thou didst set aside the tumults of the life of this world, O venerable, and, arming thyself with fasting and prayer, thou didst endure many temptations, laying the foundations of the virtues; and thou didst reach the heights of dispassion, and with humility didst bring the exalted state of thy mind unto God. And having received from Him the grace to heal divers ailments, O our blessed and venerable father Tikhon, pray to Him in behalf of our souls. Twice

Thou didst forsake thy homeland and all things, and, receiving the monastic habit in thine utter humility, thou didst make thy dwelling in the wilderness, wherein thou didst build a temple unto the divine Transfiguration and didst assemble a multitude of disciples, struggling in godly manner by fasting and abstinence; wherefore, God hath bestowed upon thee the gift of healing divers ailments. Unto Him do thou pray, O our venerable father Tikhon, that our souls be saved.

The city of Kluge, saved by God, is filled with divine joy and spiritual gladness on the radiant day of thy commemoration, O father Tikhon; and we, thy spiritual children, assembling with joy, celebrate with splendor, sending up divine glory unto God Who hath glorifieth thee. Unto Him do thou pray, O our venerable father, that He save our souls.

Thou hast been revealed unto us, O our venerable father Tikhon, as a great beacon enlightening the Russian land with the beams of thine excellent miracles. For, lo! thou dost impart healings in abundance unto those who approach thy healing tomb with faith and celebrate with love. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of offenses and great mercy to our souls.

O divinely blessed and venerable father Tikhon, for thy strict life thou hast been counted worthy to receive the divinely bestowed gift of gracious cures as the reward of thy labors. For, lo! those who approach thy healing tomb with faith receive healing. Wherefore, as thou hast boldness before the Lord, beseech Him to send down oneness of mind upon the Churches, health and steadfastness in the Faith to our hierarchs, and great mercy to our souls.

Glory…, in the same tone —

Come, O ye faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church, and standing round about the most precious shrine of our holy father Tikhon today, let us piously praise him, and, chanting joyfully, with love let us offer unto him the chanting of psalms, and, splendidly singing most festive hymns, let us say thus: Rejoice, most radiant beacon of the company of monastics! Rejoice, healer of the sick! Rejoice, fervent helper! Rejoice, confirmation and power of those who honor thee with faith! Rejoice, boast and defense of the city of Kluge! O Tikhon our father, entreat Christ God in behalf of our nation. Grant it victory over its enemies. And leave us not orphaned, but abide with us, thy children, and pray for us to the Lord, that He save our souls.

Who doth not call thee blessed, O all-holy Virgin? Who will not hymn thine all-pure birthgiving? For the only-begotten Son Who shone forth timelessly from the Father, came forth, ineffably incarnate, from thee, the pure one; and being God by nature, He became man for our sake, not divided into two Persons, but known in two natures without confusion. Him do thou beseech, O pure and most blessed one, that our souls find mercy!

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three readings:

The memory of the just is praised, and the blessing of the Lord is upon his head. Blessed is the man who hath found wisdom, and the mortal who knoweth prudence. For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver. And she is more valuable than precious stones: no precious thing is equal to her in value. For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth righteousness proceedeth, and she carrieth law and mercy upon her tongue. Hearken to me, O children, for I will speak solemn truths. Blessed is the man who shall keep my ways; for my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and in them is prepared favor from the Lord. Ye, O men, do I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men. I, wisdom, have built up; upon counsel, knowledge and understanding have I called. Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine. I love those that love me; those who seek me shall find grace. O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge. Hearken unto me again; for I will speak solemn truths. For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse. They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge. For I will instruct you in truth, that your hope may be in the Lord, and ye may be filled with the Spirit.

The mouth of the righteous droppeth wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish. The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse. False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable unto Him. Wherever pride entereth, there will also disgrace: but the mouth of the humble doth meditate ­wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the overthrow of the rebellious shall spoil them. Possessions shall not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. When a just man dieth, he leaveth regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy and causeth joy. Righteousness traceth out blameless paths: but ungodliness encountereth unjust dealing. The righteousness of upright men delivereth them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction. At the death of a just man his hope doth not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perisheth. A righteous man escapeth from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place. In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare for citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous. In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospereth, but at the destruction of the wicked there is exultation. At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted, but by the mouths of ungodly men it is overthrown. A man void of understanding sneereth at his fellow citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.

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. Those who 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.

At Litia, the sticheron of the temple; and these stichera of the saint, in Tone II —

Come, O flock beloved of God, O company of monastics, and with the ranks of the Christian multitude who love the feasts of the Church, the people of the city of Kluge beloved of God, let us praise the lover of Christ today, the dweller in the wilderness, the all-wise guide of monks, the boast of ascetics; and let us offer hymns of praise unto him, saying: Rejoice, thou who art full of divine zeal! Rejoice, for, struggling here in ascetic labors, thou didst manfully vanquish the enemy! Rejoice, for for this God hath given thee the grace of healings! Him do thou entreat, O our venerable father Tikhon, that He save our souls.

Thou didst enter the calm and tranquil harbor of stillness, where thou didst abide in silence with God alone; and thou didst lead an angelic life, adorning thyself well with ascetic labors, whereby thou didst gain the sight of the eternal light of Christ God. Him do thou unceasingly entreat, that from all evils He deliver us who celebrate thy most honored dormition, and that He save our souls.

Having forsaken all earthly things, thou didst furnish thy mind with wings to soar aloft unto the things of heaven; and living all the days of thy life in tears and sighing, thou didst desire to behold noetic beauty. Wherefore, thou didst pass through each of the virtues and hast attained unto the heavenly abodes, where shineth the never-waning light of Christ our God. Unto Him do thou unceasingly pray, O our venerable father Tikhon, that our souls be saved.

Glory…, in Tone V —

Rejoice and be glad in the Lord, O ye assembly of the pious, having the venerable father Tikhon as a beacon who enlightened the whole land of Russia with his all-radiant life, and whom God hath glorified with miracles: for, lo! He granteth abundant healings unto all who approach him with faith. Wherefore, standing round about his most precious shrine, let us pray to him, saying: O most blessed Tikhon our father, unceasingly entreat Christ God, that He grant to our land victory and triumph over its enemies, and peace and great mercy to our souls.

Thou art the temple and portal, the palace and throne of the King, O most honored Virgin, through whom Christ the Lord, my Deliverer, Who is the Sun of righteousness, hath revealed Himself unto those who sleep in darkness, desiring to enlighten that which He fashioned by His own hand in His image. Wherefore, O most hymned one, as thou hast acquired maternal boldness before Him, entreat Him without ceasing, that our souls be saved.