AT VESPERS

On “God is the Lord…”, these stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Troparion, in Tone IV—

Emulating the hospitality of Abraham, Isaac’s love for God and the guilelessness of Jacob, thou didst emulate also the suffering of Job of Uz, the meekness of David and the innocence of Moses, having been anointed with holy chrism as Aaron was of old, O God-bearing hierarch, sacred wonder-worker.

Thy great innocence dispelled the malice of the demons with the grace of the divine Spirit, gladdening with thy suffering God, Whom thou didst desire, and thy spirit was illumined by the indwelling of prayer. Wherefore, thou hast received the grace of miracles, to heal the infirmities, O Nicetas, of those who piously have recourse unto thee.

Bound by kinship, ye kept the laws of the Holy Spirit, O ye priests, and, following the steps of the divinely wise Shepherd Who emitted rays of all-glorious healings, ye were adorned with similar aspects of healing, O all-glorious Nicetas and divinely wise Ignatius.

But if Alleluia is to be chanted at Matins instead of “God is the Lord…”, we sing first the following stichera of the Theotokos, in the same tone & melody—

Deliver my lowly soul from condemnation and grievous transgressions, O all-holy Bride of God, and free me from death by thy supplications; grant that on the day of trial I may receive that justification which the assemblies of the saints have received, and before the end show me forth as purified by repentance and the outpouring of tears.

With the showers of the all-holy Spirit bedew thou my mind, O all-pure one who gavest birth inconceivably to Christ, the Dew-drop Who by His compassions hath washed away the countless iniquities of men. Dry up the spate of my passions, and by thy supplications do thou ever vouchsafe unto me a torrent of living sustenance.

O Virgin who gavest birth to God my Savior, by thy supplications grant unto me the excellent and saving remedy of repentance, torrents of tears, and thought of the dread and awesome hour of judgment and the impartial trial, that I may escape fearsome torment and may receive grace divine.

Ten thousands of time have I promised to repent for mine offenses, yet I do not leave the cherished habit of mine evils; wherefore, I cry unto thee and fall down, praying: O Mistress, rescue me from the tyranny thereof, guiding me to that which is higher, and to those things which are nigh unto salvation.

Stavrotheotokion—

When she beheld Thee nailed to the Cross, O Lord, the ewe-lamb, Thy Mother, marvelled and cried: “What is this that I see, O my beloved Son? How hath the unbelieving and iniquitous assembly rewarded Thee, Who delighted them with Thy manifold miracles? Yet glory, O Master, to Thine ineffable condescension!”

The truth of things revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, a model of meekness and teacher of abstinence. Wherefore, thou didst attain the heights through humility and riches through poverty. O father Nicetas, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.