Canon of the holy Apostle Peter, in Tone IV—

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

Irmos: There is none like unto Thee, O all-glorious Lord; for with Thy mighty hand Thou didst deliver the people whom Thou hadst acquired, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Kontakion, in Tone II—

With divinely inspired songs let us hymn today the preëminent of the apostles as the first called of Christ.

Theotokion: We hymn thee, the holy mountain, the most exalted chariot, the Mother of God and true Virgin.

Great Doxology. Troparion. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.

Irmos: That which had been hewn down cut through the undivided, and the sun saw land which it had not seen before; the water engulfed the cruel enemy, and Israel traversed the impassable, and chanted the hymn: Let us sing to the Lord, for gloriously is He glorified!

Having foreknown thee, O most blessed Peter, the Preëternal One ordained thee from of old as the leader of His Church, the first-enthroned.

Theotokion: O Mistress, pure Mother of almighty God, who sprang forth from royal stock and gavest birth in the flesh, in manner transcending nature, to God Who alone reigneth over all: Save me from misfortunes, who chant unto thy Son: For gloriously hast Thou been glorified!

Irmos: Neither in wisdom, nor in power, nor yet in riches do we boast, but in Thee, O Christ, the hypostatic Wisdom of the Father; for none is holy save Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Neither flesh nor blood, but the Father inspired thee to theologize Christ as the true Son of God Most High, O apostle.

Theotokion: O thou who knewest not wedlock, who gavest birth unto God in the flesh: Render me steadfast and unshaken by the assaults of the passions, for we have none other helper than thee, O pure one.

Irmos: Thou art the confirmation of those who have recourse to Thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of the benighted; and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

in Tone VIII—

Theotokion: Thee have we all of us Christians acquired as our rampart and refuge, and glorify thee without ceasing, O thou who knewest not wedlock.

Irmos: This is our God, Who became incarnate of the Virgin and hath deified our nature! And, hymning Him, we cry aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

When Christ called things into being out of non-existence, O most blessed Paul, He chose thee from thy mother’s womb to carry before the nations His divine name, which is above every name; for gloriously hath He been glorified.

Theotokion: O most hymned Lady Theotokos, having cleansed away mine evil thoughts by thy supplications, show me forth as fruitful, O Mother of the God of all.

Irmos: Thou didst mount Thy steeds, Thine apostles, O Lord, and didst take their bridles in Thy hands; and Thy chariot hath become salvation for those who chant with faith: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Declaring to thee the imminent outpouring of piety and the cleansing away of falsehood, O Paul, Christ, Who showed Himself to be as bright as lightning on the mountain, dimmed thy bodily eyes while enlightening the eyes of thy soul with the understanding of the Trinity: for gloriously hath He been glorified.

Theotokion: The Lord hath cast down the mighty from their thrones, as the Virgin Mother said, and with divine good things hath filled the hungry, who cry aloud with faith: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Irmos: O Lord Who acquired us, the chosen people, by Thy Blood, grant us Thy peace, preserving Thy flock in oneness of mind.

Performing circumcision on the eighth day, as a zealot of the traditions of thy fathers, O Paul, and showing thyself to be a law-bound pharisee, a Jew by birth, of the tribe of Benjamin, thou didst come to consider all such things as but dung, and didst acquire Christ: for gloriously hath He been glorified.

Theotokion: God became incarnate, O pure one, hypostatically united to the flesh He received from thee, yet remaining immutable, incorporeal in His divine nature.

Irmos: Enlighten us with Thy commandments, O Lord, and with Thine upraised arm grant us Thy peace, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

The sweet mouth of Christ God showed thee to be blessed and a sure treasure of the kingdom; wherefore, we hymn thee, O Apostle Peter.

Theotokion: Ever beseech thy Son and our God, O pure Mary who knewest not wedlock, that He send forth His mercy upon us, the faithful.

Irmos: Jonah, who was three days in the sea monster, prefigured Thee, the Immortal One, O Christ, for Thou didst die of Thine own will and wast three days in the heart of the earth.

On the rock of thy theology hath Jesus the Master established the Church unshakably, and therein we glorify thee, O Apostle Peter.

Theotokion: Thou gavest birth for us to the incarnate Word of God Who transcendeth all nature; wherefore, with lips and soul we profess thee to be the Theotokos.

Irmos: I pour forth my prayer unto the Lord, and to Him do I declare my grief; for my soul is full of evil and my life hath drawn nigh unto hell, and like Jonah I pray: Lead me up from corruption, O God!

How greater than the angels was Peter in the body! For Christ God said that at His radiant coming he would be a judge and would be equally enthroned.

Theotokion: The Lord looked down upon thee, restoring my nature, in that He is mighty; and doing mighty works, O most immaculate one, through thee my God hath saved me from corruption, in that He is full of loving-kindness.

Irmos: O unoriginate Word, only-begotten Son, Who existed in the beginning with the Father and the Spirit: blessed and supremely exalted art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Thou hast been set as a precious foundation stone for the souls of the faithful, a corner-stone of the Savior and Lord.

Theotokion: We all bless thee as the Mother of the God of all, who conceived in the flesh of thy womb the preëternal Word Who shone forth from God the Father.

Irmos: On the plain of Dura the tyrant once built a furnace to torment the God-bearers; and therein the three youths chanted hymns unto the one God, and sang, all three together, saying: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

O most blessed Paul, pray thou that on thy foundations the splendors of most laudable virtues may be set firmly.

Theotokion: Like rain upon the fleece did Christ God descend upon thee, O Virgin, and He issued forth from thee in the flesh, uniting those things that before were separate, and granting peace on earth and in heaven. O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Irmos: O Christ Who bearest all things by Thine unapproachable power, Thou didst bedew Thy venerable children who cried out amid the flame: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Ever perfectly bearing the mortality of Jesus on thy body, O Paul, thou wast vouchsafed true life.

Theotokion: O most holy Virgin who gavest birth to God the Word in the flesh, driving the darkness away from my soul by thy supplications, illumine me who cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Irmos: The Lord Who was glorified on the holy mountain, and by the fire in the bush revealed to Moses the mystery of the Ever-virgin, hymn ye and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Hypacoï, in Tone VIII—

Theotokion: Rejoice, O fiery throne of the Lord! Rejoice, O Virgin, unwedded Bride! Rejoice, cloud who shone forth the Sun of righteousness, Whom we exalt supremely for all ages!

Irmos: Thee, the all-glorious Bride and most holy Theotokos, who gavest birth to the Creator of all things, visible and invisible, do we magnify with hymns.

What dungeon held thee not prisoner? What Church had thee not as an orator? Damascus extolleth thee, O Paul, for it knew thee blinded by the light; and Rome, which received thy blood, boasteth in thee; but Tarsus rejoiceth yet more and loveth thee, honoring thine infancy. O Peter, rock of the Faith, and Paul, boast of the whole world, coming together from Rome make us steadfast.

Theotokion: The Fruit of thy womb caused the heavenly chorister, who announced “Rejoice!” with a loud voice unto thee who gavest birth to joy, to hymn thy name.

Irmos: Thou didst transcend the laws of nature, conceiving the Creator and Lord, and didst become a portal of salvation for the world. Wherefore, we magnify thee unceasingly, O Theotokos.

As He promised, Christ made thee a divine fisher of men for His Church, entrusting its helm to thee first.

Theotokion: O all-holy Mother of God, thou wast the boast of the apostles of Christ, the glory of the martyrs and the foundation of the prophets; wherefore, we all magnify thee as is meet.

Entreated by thee, O Peter, may Jesus, the Bestower of life, Who gaveth thee the authority to bind and to loose, be merciful unto me.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Pray thou earnestly, O Peter, that the kingdom of Christ be opened unto those who honor thy divine memory with unwavering faith.

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

Once Saul crouched like a lion, wrathfully destroying the Church of Christ; but he was seized by the divine voice of the Lamb of God, Whom he had persecuted, and Who entrusted His flock to him as shepherd.

He who would enlighten the whole world was struck blind; but Ananias was sent to him, imparting unto him enlightenment of soul and body through divine revelation, and showing him to be a chosen vessel.

As is meet, Damascus is given drink by Paul; for from him, as from the garden of paradise, a great well-spring of divine waters once issued forth and irrigated the whole earth abundantly with knowledge divine.

He Who through love received boldness before God hath fittingly become wondrous, though he was an ignorant fisherman, and he now worketh all-glorious wonders through grace.

Thy godly apostle, O Christ, having acquired neither gold nor silver for Thy sake, but rather virtue, hath been enriched by the power of miracles.

By thine effective word the feet and joints of the lame were set aright, for all-glorious things were accomplished by the divine Spirit.

Thou didst choose true praise, O Apostle Paul, ever bearing the Cross of Christ the King as a trophy.

For thee to live is Christ, and to die is an excellent acquisition; for through love thou wast crucified with Him Who was crucified for our sake, O all-glorious Paul.

Thou truly rejoicest in the Lord, O honorable Paul, having departed from the body and passed over to Christ God, the Bestower of life.

As of old with Thy right hand Thou didst save Peter who walked on foot upon the waters, O Christ, so do Thou save me, who am drowning amid the storm of cruel perils, in that Thou art full of loving-kindness.

Thou didst forsake things which were not essential, O Peter, and didst attain unto those things which are essential; and as a certain merchant thou didst manifestly search for Christ: the Pearl beyond price.

O Peter, thou didst slay those who mindlessly strove to tempt the all-holy Spirit, Whom before thou hadst theologized, openly confessing Him as God, O most blessed one.

Spurning all the beautiful things of the world, thou wast wounded by the love of the Master and by desire for the common salvation of man, wishing to bear witness unto Him, O blessed Paul. Pray thou now in behalf of the whole world.

As an excellent emulator of the Master, clothed in Him, O Paul, thou wast truly all things to all men, that thou mightest acquire and save all the people; and pursuing the ends of the world for Christ, thou didst truly save them.

As is meet Christ hath given thee life in the heavens, O Apostle Paul; for thou didst not desire a city which abideth here, O blessed one, but wast a faithful minister and celebrant of His mysteries.

The steadfast and divinely eloquent preachers, the foremost of Thine apostles, O Lord, hast Thou received into the delight of Thy good things and into rest; for Thou hast accepted their pangs and death as greater than any wholeburnt offering, O Thou Who alone knowest the hearts of men.

Ikos: Fill my tongue with light, O my Savior, and having expanded my mouth and filled it, have pity on my heart, that I may speak, follow, and teach that which I first do: for Thou didst say that he who doeth and teacheth is great. For if I speak only, and do not act, I am accounted as sounding brass. Wherefore, grant that I may speak fitting things and do that which is profitable, O Thou Who alone knowest the hearts of men.

Chastised by the divine providence of Christ, thou wast permitted to emulate the Merciful One, O Peter, that thy distress over denying Him before His suffering might be assuaged.

Having risen from the dead, Christ appeared to thee, the first-called and exceeding beloved, as the right glorious one who was first to preside over the apostles.

The Master, healing thy threefold denial before His suffering, O Peter, confirmed His love by a threefold divinely uttered question.

Thou didst call the all-seeing God the Word as witness to thy love for Christ, O Peter; wherefore, He entrusted the beloved flock to thee.

He who in latter times was called and surpassed all others in zeal became the seal and crown of Thine apostles, O Christ. With him the people of the Church chant unto thee: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Even though Paul the prisoner first persecuted Thy Church, O Christ, yet did he later replace his former ferocity with zeal for Thee; and he hath gathered together the nations, who chant: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Having from Jerusalem preached the Gospel unto all, thou didst take it round about the whole world, O Paul, and, teaching even unto the far ends of Illyricum, thou didst cry: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Caught up in awe, thou didst attain unto the third heaven, O thou who art all-rich; and hearing ineffable words, thou didst cry aloud: Glory to the transcendent Father and the Son, and to the equally-enthroned effulgence of the Spirit of God Who trieth the depths!

“They shall stretch forth thine arms and bind thee to a cross,” the Master foretold, commanding thee to follow Him; and thou criest aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Working wonders, by the word of grace thou didst heal Æneus who was grievously paralyzed, and didst raise up Tabitha from the dead; and they cried: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

O Christ Who announced unto Peter that the nations were cleansed, by spiritual radiance purify my thoughts, for I cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Paul was bound to thee by Thy love and underwent a goodly change; for the glorious one lived not for himself, O Compassionate One, but had Thee living within him forever.

Thou didst betroth the Church unto Christ, presenting it to Him as a bride; for thou wast shown to be its wedding-escort, O God-bearing Paul. Wherefore, it glorifieth thee for all ages.

Thou didst fight the good fight, and finishing thy race lawfully, thou didst preserve the treasure of the Faith. Wherefore, thou hast been vouchsafed crowns of righteousness, O Paul.

Thine excellent grace is rightly glorified, for thy very shadow dispelleth the sufferings of the sick, O Peter; wherefore, we magnify thee.

Blessed is Peter, who with ineffable divine power cast down Simon Magus, who through sorcery had soared aloft into the air.

By thy supplications grant remission of offenses, enlightenment of heart and gladness of spirit unto those who hymn thy memory, O apostle.

O Peter, all thy words, relics and dust are full of glory, sanctity and miracles for those who with faith bow down with love before thy divine chains.

We bow down before thy chains, which thou didst bear for Christ like a malefactor, O Paul, and we kiss the wounds which thou didst bear on thy glorious and victorious body.

Now thou hast departed unto Him Whom thou didst unceasingly desire, O apostle; and dwelling with him as a servant, with unceasing entreaties draw thou thy servants to thyself.

No longer is Christ visible to thee in shadows or in a reflection, but thou dost gaze upon Him face to face, and He perfectly revealeth to thee the understanding of the Godhead.

Let us all hymn the foremost among the apostles, the godly Peter and Paul, the universal luminaries, the preachers of the Faith, the divinely sounded clarions, the speakers of dogmas, the pillars of the Church and destroyers of falsehood. Twice

O divinely joyous Maiden, Mother of God and Virgin, great and all-glorious is the mystery of thy birthgiving, did the prophets proclaim, the apostles teach and the martyrs confess; the angels hymn it, and men bow down before it.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Called from on high…”—

When the Savior questioned the twelve disciples and apostles, asking: “Whom do men say that I am?”, Peter, the foremost of the apostles, receiving grace from heaven, answered, theologizing, crying out clearly: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Wherefore, he is fittingly blessed as one who received revelation from on high, rightly receiving the authority to loose and to bind.

When Christ, the Word of God Who revealed Himself through the Father, asked “Whom do ye suppose that I am?”, then, speaking unto all with divine eloquence, thou didst straightway cry out: “Thou art the Son of the living God!” Wherefore, thou didst receive as thy reward the Savior’s words: “Blessed art thou, Simon, son of Jonah!” For God doth glorify those who glorify Him and calleth them to rich delight; and He set thee as the rock unashamed, the foundation and ground of the Church.

Called from on high, and not by men, when earthly darkness covered thy bodily eyes, putting an end to thine ungodly plans, a heavenly light illumined thy noetic eyes, disclosing the beauty of piety. Wherefore, thou didst recognize Christ our God Who brought forth light out of darkness. Him do thou beseech, that He save and enlighten our souls.

As a preacher of Christ bearing the boast of the Cross, more than others thou didst discern the most ardent divine love which bindeth to the Desired One those who gaze upon it. Wherefore, thou didst call thyself a prisoner of Christ, who desired the burden of perils as something sweeter than any food, and who lived for thy Master. Him do thou beseech, that He save and enlighten our souls.

Glory…, the composition of Cosmas the Monk, in Tone VI—

The most honored feast of the apostles hath arrived for the Church of Christ, bringing salvation unto us all. Wherefore, mystically plaiting hymns for them, let us say: Rejoice, O lamps unto those who are in darkness, shedding forth rays of the noetic Sun! Rejoice, O Peter and Paul, ye unshakable foundations of the divine doctrines, friends of Christ, precious vessels! Come ye into our midst, vouchsafing immaterial gifts unto those who praise your feast with hymns.

O Theotokos, thou art the true vine who hast budded forth for us the Fruit of life. With the holy apostles entreat Him, we pray thee, O Mistress, that He have mercy upon our souls.