Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV
Canon from the Pentecostarion, with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the hieromartyr, with 8 troparia, in Tone VIII—
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV—
Submitting to mockery and mistreatment at the hands of the rebels, and enduring torture by fire, thou didst drain the cup of sufferings, contending for righteousness and for loyalty to the rightful authorities, and, cast from the ramparts of the city and staining the ground with thy blood, thou wast shown to be a hieromartyr. Wherefore, we cry aloud: Save us by thy supplications, O holy hierarch of Christ!
On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion from the Pentecostarion, twice; Glory…, that of the hieromartyr; Now & ever…, that from the Pentecostarion, once.
Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV
Canon from the Pentecostarion, with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the saints, with 6 troparia, in Tone III—
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone VI—
Glory…, Now & ever…, from the Pentecostarion.
At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion from the Pentecostarion, twice; Glory…, that of the saints; Now & ever…: that from the Pentecostarion.
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone I—
O holy hierarch Joseph, thou showest thyself to be a helper amid tribulations and pangs for the pious who have recourse unto thee. And now we entreat thee: By thy supplications preserve us from all dangers.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone III—
Glory…, Now & ever…, from the Pentecostarion.
Glory…, Now & ever…: sessional hymn from the Pentecostarion.
Polyeleos, and this magnification—
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone V—
We magnify thee, O holy hieromartyr Joseph, and we reverence thine honorable sufferings, which thou didst endure for Christ.
Glory…, Now & ever…: sessional hymn from the Pentecostarion.
Selected Psalm verses—
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV—
A Our God is refuge and strength. [Ps. 45: 2]
Glory…, Now & ever…: sessional hymn from the Pentecostarion.
B A helper in afflictions which mightily befall us. [Ps. 45: 2]
A Therefore shall we not fear when the earth be shaken. [Ps. 45: 3]
B O God, who shall be likened unto Thee? Be Thou not silent, neither be still, O God. [Ps. 82: 2]
A For behold, Thine enemies have made a noise, and they that hate Thee have lifted up their heads. [Ps. 82: 3]
B Against Thy people have they taken wicked counsel, and have conspired against Thy saints. [Ps. 82: 4]
A They have made the dead bodies of Thy servants to be food for the birds of heaven. [Ps. 78: 2]
B The flesh of Thy saints for the beasts of the earth. [Ps. 78: 2]
A They have poured out their blood like water. [Ps. 78: 3]
B For Thy sake we are slain all the day long. [Ps. 43: 23]
A We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. [Ps. 43: 23]
B Thou hast made us a byword among the nations. [Ps. 43: 15]
A And I became a man scourged all the day long. [Ps. 72: 14]
B By fire hast Thou tried us even as silver is tried by fire. [Ps. 65: 11]
A We went through fire and water, and Thou didst bring us out into refreshment. [Ps. 65: 12]
B Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous. [Ps. 31: 11]
A For the Lord is in the generation of the righteous. [Ps. 13: 5]
B And their inheritance shall be for ever. [Ps. 36: 18]
A The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them. [Ps. 33: 18]
B A light hath dawned forth for the righteous man, and gladness for the upright of heart. [Ps. 96: 11]
A In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be. [Ps. 111: 6]
B In the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wondrous; He hath wrought all His desires in them. [Ps. 15: 3]
A Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel. [Ps. 67: 36]
B The righteous man shall flourish like a palm tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied. [Ps. 91: 13]
A The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him. [Ps. 63: 11]
B And all the upright in heart shall be praised. [Ps. 63: 11]
Glory…, Now & ever… Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Thrice
Thou wast a good warrior of Christ and a preacher of salvation, O holy hierarch Joseph, when thou didst urge the rebels to submit to God and the lawful authorities, and didst instruct the people to be faithful to their duty. Wherefore, we pray: By thy supplications make our hearts steadfast in oneness of mind and love for our native land.
Glory…, Now & ever…, from the Pentecostarion.
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
Stichos: The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak of judgment.
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to John, § 36 [Jn. 10: 9-16]
The Lord said to the Jews that came to Him: “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd.”
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—
Thou hast been shown to be the radiant star of the Church of Astrakhan and the glory and boast of its hierarchs, O Joseph, thou diligent advocate slain by the iniquitous, who loved the Lord and thy people utterly, and laid down thy life for thy friends. Thy portion is now with the saints; wherefore, we cry aloud: O holy hierarch Joseph who wast slain, pray thou in behalf of our souls!
Standing now in unapproachable light before the life-creating Trinity, Whom the angelic hosts unceasingly glorify, and Whom ye proclaimed aloud among the nations, pray ye earnestly, O Cyril and Methodius, that He deliver from eternal damnation and grant remission of debts to those who honor your memory with love. Twice
Let the generations of the Slavs rejoice today, celebrating the sacred memory of the divinely wise teachers with splendor; for through them did the divine liturgy and all the services of the Church begin to be celebrated for us in our native tongue, and thereby an inexhaustible well of water pouring forth unto eternal life hath been given us, drinking from which we never cease to magnify you, O Cyril and Methodius. Rejoicing in the glory of the saints, pray ye earnestly, that our souls be saved. Twice
Polyeleos, and this magnification—
We magnify you, O holy Methodius and Cyril, ye peers of the apostles, who illumined all the Slavic lands with your teachings and led them to Christ.
Selected Psalm verses—
A The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands. [Ps. 18: 2]
B The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord. [Ps. 88: 6]
A In the stead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee. [Ps. 44: 17]
B The God of gods, the Lord, hath spoken, and He hath called the earth. [Ps. 49: 1]
A From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is to be praised. [Ps. 112: 3]
B Thy lightnings have shone forth throughout the world. [Ps. 96: 4]
A The heavens declared His righteousness. [Ps. 96: 6]
B And all the peoples saw His glory. [Ps. 96: 6]
A The princes of Judah are their rulers. [Ps. 67: 28]
B God is King over the nations. [Ps. 46: 9]
A God is glorified in the council of the saints. [Ps. 88: 8]
B Great and terrible is He toward all who are round about Him. [Ps. 88: 8]
A Say among the nations that the Lord is King. [Ps. 95: 10]
B Declare among the heathen His glory, and among all peoples His wonders. [Ps. 95: 3]
A Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth. [Ps. 18: 5]
B Their words unto the ends of the world. [Ps. 18: 5]
A He hath subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. [Ps. 46: 4]
B Great is our God, and great is His strength, and of His understanding there is no measure. [Ps. 146: 5]
A He will give power and strength unto His people. Blessed be God. [Ps. 67: 36]
Glory…, Now & ever…
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice
Come ye, and with praises let us honor aloud our enlighteners, for with the manna of their divinely wise teaching they fed the Slavic peoples who were perishing out of hunger for the word of God, and illumined them, as with the rays of the sun, by translating the Gospel of the son of thunder into their native tongue. And, having received effulgence therefrom, we cry out in thanksgiving: Rejoice, O ever-glorious Cyril and Methodius! Twice
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice.
Stichos: Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world.
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to John, § 35
from the midpoint [Jn. 10: 1-9]
The Lord said to the Jews that came to Him: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that 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. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and go in and out, and find pasture.
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—
Come, ye who love the feasts of the Church, and with songs of praise let us hymn the peers of the apostles, the adornment of hierarchs, the enlighteners and fervent helpers of the Slavic peoples, saying: Rejoice, O Cyril, golden clarion of theology, who didst explain the mystery of the Holy Trinity by comparing God to the sun, and thereby closed the blasphemous mouths of the Moslems! And rejoice with him, O Methodius, who struggled with him in oneness of mind, aiding him with prayers and signs! And now, O most blessed fathers, never cease to pray to Christ God for us who magnify you with faith and love.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.