AT VESPERS

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 for the venerable Bessarion, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O most glorious wonder…”—

Glory…, Now & ever…: from the Pentecostarion, or this theotokion, in the same melody—

Troparion, in Tone IV—

Thou wast the light of monastics, O wise Bessarion, and by the rays of thy virtues and the effulgence of grace thou wast like a most radiant lamp unto the desert. From the gloom of the passions and the darkness of the wicked, from all sorrow and temptation, deliver those who fervently honor thee and hymn with faith thy divine repose.

Enduring to stand amid thorns in thy divine love of ineffable struggles, thou didst show forth an effort equal to that of the martyrs. Thou dost sweeten the bitter waters of the sea and givest drink to souls in thirst, O all-wise one; and thou didst traverse the rushing torrents of the Nile, traversing its waters dryshod, O all-lauded one.

Knowing thee to be like unto the wise Elijah, we all manifestly praise thee, O Bessarion, for thou didst cause torrents of water to fall as rain from the sky by God’s favor unto thee, and by thine honored supplications thou bestowest fountains of rain and divine dew from on high upon all the faithful, as well as grace and power and invincible protection.

And 3 stichera for the venerable Hilarion, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given as sign…”—

In attaining a life undefiled, patience, meekness and love unfeigned, boundless abstinence, standing all night, divine compunction, faith, true hope and mercy, thou didst live on earth like an angel in the body, O blessed father Hilarion, intercessor for our souls.

Thou wast an earthly angel and a heavenly man, O venerable one, a well-spring of compunction, a torrent of mercy, an abyss of miracles, a surety for sinners, a truly fruitful olive-tree of God, anointing with the oil of thy works the faces of those who praise thee with faith, O wondrous Hilarion.

Thy mind shining with divine understanding, thou didst transcend the passions of the flesh, unconfused by things below, bearing the lineaments and depicting the beauty of God within thyself, and known as wholly luminous through the activity of the Spirit, O Hilarion our father, thou adornment of monastics.

Rejoice, beam of sunlike radiance, throne of the never-setting Sun, who hast shone forth the veritable Sun! Rejoice, mind shedding light upon all by divine effulgence, flash of lightning illumining the ends of the earth, true luster of gold, O all-good and most immaculate one, who hast shone upon the faithful the never-waning Light!

Or this stravrotheotokion —

Beholding Christ, Who loveth mankind, crucified, His side pierced by a spear, the all-pure one cried out, weeping: “What is this, O my Son? How have the ungrateful people rewarded Thee for the good Thou hast done them? And dost Thou hasten to leave me childless, O most Beloved? I marvel, O Compassionate One, at Thy voluntary crucifixion!”

O God of our fathers, Who ever dealest with us according to Thy gentleness, withdraw not Thy mercy from us, but by their supplications govern our life in peace.