AT VESPERS

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera of the holy hierarch, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…” —

Having illumined thy mind with the effulgence of the Spirit, thou becamest a radiant sun, for, extending the beams of thy teachings to all the ends of the earth, thou dost enlighten the fullness of the faithful, O all-blessed God-bearer, driving away the darkness of heresies with the power of Him Who shone forth from the Virgin. Twice

With the goodly utterance of thy discourses, O sacred Cyril, the whole Church is adorned and piously ornamented with comely beauties, and honoreth in sacred manner thy holy and right excellent memory, O boast of the Orthodox, summit of the fathers, champion of the most holy Virgin at the council. Twice

With thy fiery teachings all the tinder of heresies is consumed, O all-wise one, the army of the impious who would not submit to the Truth is drowned in the depths of thine understanding, O sacred Cyril, and the Church of the faithful is ever adorned with thy doctrines, honoring thee with mighty voices. Twice

Glory…, in Tone VI —

O good and faithful servant, laborer in the vineyard of Christ, thou didst bear the burden of the day, and increase the talant entrusted to thee; and thou didst not envy those who came after thee. Wherefore, the portals of heaven have been opened unto thee: Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord, and pray for us, O Cyril our father.

Now & ever…: Doxasticon from the Pentecostarion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “Having set aside all…” —

Of old, when the unblemished ewe-lamb, the immaculate Mistress, beheld her Lamb uplifted upon the Cross, she exclaimed maternally and,­ ­marvelling, cried aloud: “O my Child most sweet, what is this new and all-glorious sight? How is it that the ungrateful assembly hath betrayed Thee to the judgment of Pilate and condemneth Thee, the Life of all, to death? Yet do I hymn, O Word, Thine ineffable condescension.”