After the Introductory Psalm, we chant: “Blessed is the man…”, the first antiphon.
A Reading from Proverbs
On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera, in Tone VI: Spec. Mel. “Having set all aside…”—
Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in the same tone—
Troparion, in Tone IV—
A Reading from Proverbs
Arrayed in the vestments of a hierarch, O thrice-blessed one, thou didst enter into the Holy of holies, fervently sending up praise to thy Master with pure lips, like an angel; and, illumined with deifying splendor, thou didst teach the faithful the theology of the Faith, O divinely radiant Gregory, as the godly shepherd of Rome, the teacher of the Church and initiate of the mysteries of the grace of God. Twice
Now & ever…: Theotokion—
A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
Ever cleaving unto the Lord, and united to the divine borning Coal in purity, O hierarch, thou didst set down the liturgy of the presanctified Gifts, hallowing the faithful therewith during the days of fasting and rescuing them from the snares of the enemy; and thou didst bring them into the fold of heaven, showing thyself to be a pillar of fire in the splendor of thy piety and the effulgence of thy divine teachings, O God-bearing father Gregory. Twice
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone—
If it be decided that a troparion should be chanted, we use the following, in Tone VIII—
Thou didst blamelessly preserve the holy anointing of the hierarch, O sacred Gregory, and by the grace of Christ didst cause the gifts thereof to increase, like talants, in love and meekness, in the ardor of faith, in compassion and prayer, and in all whereby thou wast well-pleasing to the only Lord of glory. Wherefore, thou didst piously tend the reason-endowed flock of Christ in the meadow of salvation, O divinely eloquent one.
Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this Stavrotheotokion—
Glory..., Now and ever...: Theotokion, in the same tone and melody—
Thy divine memory hath now shone forth like the sun upon the ends of the world, O most honored one, joyfully illumining all the faithful with mystic splendors; and, assembling, we honor it with sacred psalms and hymns, entreating thee to beseech Christ in behalf of those who hymn thee, O divinely glorious one.
Glory…, in Tone III—
Receiving from Christ the helm of the Church of Rome, O hierarch Gregory of great renown, thou didst pilot its ship to the haven of salvation and save it from the tempests of the enemy by the teaching of thy divinely wise words; wherefore, as thou hast boldness, earnestly ask of the Lord peace for the world and salvation for our souls.
How can we not marvel at thy giving birth to the God-man, O all-honored one? For without having accepted the temptation of a man, O all-immaculate one, without a father thou gavest birth in the flesh to a Son Who was begotten without a mother before the ages, without His undergoing change, confusion or division, and yet preserved intact the character of both essences. Wherefore, O Virgin Mother and Mistress, entreat Him, that the souls of those, who in Orthodox manner confess thee to be the Theotokos, be saved.
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.
Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. For honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. He pleased God, and was beloved of Him; so that, living among sinners, he was translated. Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of lust doth undermine the simple mind. He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time; for his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted He to take him away from among the wicked. This the people saw, and understood not, neither laid they up this in their minds: that His grace and mercy is with His saints, and that He doth visit His chosen.
At the aposticha, these stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—
Let us praise today the right glorious Gregory, the champion of the Orthodox Faith, the teacher of piety, the archpastor of the Old Rome, the adornment of hierarchs, the comforter of Christians, the helper and feeder of the poor, the healer of the ailing.
Stichos: My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
Placed by the Holy Spirit upon the exalted episcopal cathedra because of thy humility, O venerable one, thou wast a radiant lamp of the Church, illumining its magnificence with thy splendid deeds and divine teachings, and with thy hymns and prayers to the Lord in honor of His heavenly presanctified Gifts.
Stichos: Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice.
Having the fire of love for God and neighbor ever in thy heart, and ready to lay down thy soul for the flock of Christ, O diligent one, thou wast shown to be an emulator of Christ, a true peer of the most lauded apostles, O holy one, and a most worthy successor of the preëminent Peter.
Glory…, in Tone II—
Having adorned thyself with the struggles of fasting and pastorship, O father Gregory, thou didst use both for wings, like a golden dove, and in soul didst soar aloft to Christ, Whom thou desired. Through thy mediation may the Master of all grant that we may fight the good fight, O thou who art the chosen of God, and to share in everlasting life for the sake of His great mercy.
Accept the supplications of thy servants, O Theotokos, our helper and refuge; for to whom shall we flee if not to thee, O Mistress? Thou art a shelter and insuperable rampart, and by thine intercession are we preserved from misfortunes. And now, forsake us not, O most good and blessed one, for in thee, after God, do we set our hope.
Receiving divine grace from God on high, and strengthened with the power thereof, O glorious Gregory, thou didst desire to walk the path of the Gospel. Wherefore, thou hast received from Christ the reward of thy labors, O most blessed one. Him do thou entreat, that He save our souls.
The mystery hidden from before the ages and unknown even to the angels, through thee, O Theotokos, hath been revealed to those on earth: God incarnate in unconfused union, Who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake and, thereby raising up the first-formed man, hath saved our souls from death.
On “Lord, I have cried…”, these stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…”—
O venerable father Symeon, having abandoned the things of life as of no account, thou didst desire Christ alone, and Him alone didst thou acquire: thou didst cleave unto Him, serving Him alone. Wherefore, thou hast been illumined with ineffable light and, ever delighting in Him, thou hast shone forth in the virtues. O beacon for monks, lamp of beaten gold, lightning illumining men’s souls, entreat Christ God, that we be saved!
O father Symeon, thou peer of the angels, standing continually before the joyous Light, thou beholdest what the angels see, delighting in the never-waning effulgence which on Tabor once shone forth upon the three disciples. Thou hast illumined the ends of the earth like the sun with the splendor of thy corrections, warming thy children with beams of Orthodoxy, and removing the darkness of the defilement of sin. O fervent advocate, entreat Christ God, that we be saved!
O blessed father Symeon, leaning noetically against the breast of the Lord, thou didst receive the treasure of theology and wast yoked with the first among theologians, the great Apostle John, being also an emulator of the holy hierarch Gregory; for thou didst receive their title. O great father and theologian, recounter of the ineffable mysteries of God, thou radiant model of virtue, pray thou ever, that we be saved!
Glory…, in Tone III—
Come, O brethren, let us magnify the initiate of the mysteries of theology! For, lo! proclaiming ineffable things, he hath made clear for us the dogmas of the mystery of salvation. For, pouring forth springs of tears, he cleansed the eye of his soul; and gazing upon the never-setting Light, he was filled with the waters of heavenly theology, like a river overflowing with the waters of grace, gladdening the souls of the divinely wise, who cry out to him with love: Cleanse us of the mire of many sins, O venerable father, and give us that water to drink which floweth unto the life of everlasting gladness!
Beholding Him Who was born of thee hanging upon the Tree, the most immaculate one exclaimed, crying aloud: “O my sweet Child, where hath the radiant beauty gone of Thee Who hath done good to the human race?”
With the streams of thy tears thou didst irrigate the barren desert, and with sighs from the depths of thy soul thou didst render thy labors fruitful an hundredfold, and becamest a beacon for the whole world, resplendent with miracles. O Symeon our father, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.
On “Lord, I have cried...,” these stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “O most glorious wonder...”—
O divinely wise father Theophanes, called the namesake of the theophany of Christ, thou didst follow in His life-bearing steps, and didst forsake all the beauties of life, directing thy gaze towards Him Whom thou didst desire, O thou of great renown, being deified by beauty and divine inclinations towards Him and excellent perfections.
O divinely wise father Theophanes, abiding in affliction of flesh, thou didst steadfastly endure bitter exiles, taking no pity on thy body, for the sake of the precious icons, O all-praised one, banished by the wrath of Leo; and mocking him thou didst make foolish his counsels and his vain thoughts and his pernicious mind.
Truly the Bestower of good things hath richly granted to thee rewards for thy pangs: to expel demons and to heal afflictions, imparting power, O most blessed one, and vouchsafing thee ineffable joys where the angelic ranks join chorus, gazing continually upon the countenance of the Almighty.
Rejoice, chariot of divine light, most radiant star, and tabernacle of sanctity! The Light hath shone forth upon us from thine all-pure womb, illumining the ends of the earth and sanctifying them with His grace! Rejoice, thou beginning of salvation, O all-pure one! Rejoice, report and saying awesome to those who trust in thee!
Stavrotheotokion—
“What is this sight which mine eyes behold, O Master? Thou Who sustainest all creation, being lifted up upon the Tree, dost die, granting life to all!” the Theotokos said, weeping, when she beheld uplifted on the Cross the God and man Who ineffably had shone forth from her.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.