Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV
Glory..., Now & ever... Alleluia... Thrice.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I—
The grace of the Spirit was poured forth in thy lips, O all-wise father Sophronius, and thou becamest a shepherd of the flock of Christ, teaching the reason-endowed sheep to love their neighbor as themselves, and God with all their heart and all their strength, and to be faithful to Him even unto death.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—
On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the holy hierarch, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone II—
O Theotokos, who art more holy than the bodiless hosts of heaven and more honorable than all creation. Pray thou to the Lord, with the holy hierarch Sophronius and all the saints, that we be delivered from misfortunes and manifold evils, in that thou art good.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—
Canon of supplication to the Theotokos [the Paraclysis], with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the holy hierarch, with 8 troparia, in Tone II—
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone III—
Most wisely didst thou elude the pursuit of the most evil one, and didst cast him down utterly, in that thou wast the pillar and ground of Orthodoxy. Wherefore, assembling today, we honor thy memory.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—
Having thee as our hope and intercession, O Theotokos, we fear not the assaults of the enemy, for thou dost save our souls.
Polyeleos, and this magnification—
We magnify thee, O holy hierarch Sophronius, and we honor thy holy memory; for thou dost entreat Christ God in our behalf.
Selected Psalm verses—
A Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world. [Ps. 48: 2]
B My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. [Ps. 48: 4]
A Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. [Ps. 33: 12]
B I have proclaimed the good tidings of Thy righteousness in the great congregation. [Ps. 39: 10]
A Thy truth and Thy salvation have I declared. [Ps. 39: 11]
B I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I hymn Thee. [Ps. 21: 23]
A That I may hear the voice of Thy praise, and tell of all Thy wondrous works. [Ps. 25: 7]
B O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. [Ps. 25: 8]
A I have hated the congregation of evil-doers, and with the ungodly will I not sit. [Ps. 25: 5]
B For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and I have not acted impiously toward my God. [Ps. 17: 22]
A The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak of judgment. [Ps. 36: 30]
B His righteousness abideth unto ages of ages. [Ps. 110: 3]
A Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice. [Ps. 131: 9]
B Blessed are those who dwell in Thy house; unto ages of ages shall they praise Thee. [Ps. 83: 5]
Thou didst live an angelic life on earth, O father, and standest now among the very ranks of the angels in heaven. Wherefore, blessing thee as a man of God, we joyfully celebrate thy memory, trusting that through thy supplications we will obtain from Christ God peace and great mercy.
Without seed thou didst conceive by the Holy Spirit; and, glorifying thee, we chant: Rejoice, O all-holy Virgin!
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Stichos: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to John, § 35, from the midpoint [Jn.10: 1-8]
The Lord said to the Jews who came to Him: “Verily, verily, I say unto you: “He who entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers.” This parable spake Jesus unto them; but they understood not what things they were which He spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.”
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—
A great wonder do we behold in the immolation of thy relics, O holy hierarch Sophronius our father: for the power of working miracles was not diminished in thee, neither was thy holy place made desolate; but like a ray of the sun thou illuminest the hearts of the faithful, teaching them to believe in the one Godhead, in the consubstantial Trinity.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.