AT VESPERS

On “Lord, I have cried…”, these stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given a sign…”—

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Having received the effulgence of the knowledge of God, thou didst illumine thy heart, O all-wise father, didst expel the gloom of the mind’s deception, and didst confess Christ, the Lord of all Who assumed our flesh. Hence, O most lauded Chrysanthus, strengthened by the power of the Spirit, thou wast shown to be stronger than thy tortures.

Thou didst reckon the deceits of the enemy and the burning of pleasures to be like a spider’s web. And standing in thy gloomy dungeon thou wast illumined with divine effulgence and wast filled with noetic fragrance while surrounded by the fœtid stench; and as a most excellent escort thou didst bring to Christ as an undefiled bride the woman who sought to defile thee.

Wounded by the most sweet love of the Creator, thou didst utterly spurn all ungodliness; and having betrothed thyself to Christ by the many torments of thy body, thou didst make within thyself a divine bridal chamber, Daria of great renown, thou divine receptacle of the Spirit, adornment of athletes and ornament of virgins.

O most immaculate Virgin Mother, transform the infirmity and impotence of my soul into might and power, that with fear and love I may keep and observe the precepts of Christ, that I may avoid the unbearable fire, and, ever rejoicing, may inherit through thee the legacy of heaven and life unsurpassed.

Or this stavrotheotokion—

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