AT VESPERS

On “Lord, I have cried…”, these stichera, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Joy of the ranks of heaven…”—

Troparion, in Tone IV—

Having extinguished the fire of ungodliness with the drops of thy blood, O great martyr, thou hast richly given drink to the Church of Christ and illumined the hearts of the faithful who piously honor thy sacred and precious memory.

Like an impregnable tower thou wast in nowise shaken by the assaults of the enemy, whose hearts thou didst pierce as with arrows, O Hermias, casting down all their wiles like an insuperable rampart with the pain of thy valiant struggles.

Raising up with the word of God those who had stumbled into the abyss of unbelief, thou didst endure the great threefold billows of torments, O all-praised passion-bearer Hermias, until thou didst joyously enter with them into the harbor of heaven.

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—

Plagued by falls into helplessness, O pure one, yet having thee alone as our intercessor, O Virgin, we cry aloud in thanksgiving: Cleanse us, O all-holy Bride of God, for thou art the refuge of the world and the help of our race!

With the staff of thine intercession, O pure Theotokos, do thou quickly drive away the bestial passions from my wretched soul, strengthening my life with peace; and number me among the holy flock of thy chosen sheep.

Drowning in the abyss of offenses, O Theotokos, I have fled to the calm haven of thine all-pure supplication, and I cry unto thee: Save me, extending thy mighty right hand unto thy servant, O all-immaculate one!

Glory…, Now & ever…—

Having fallen headlong because of my corrupt character, I lie prostrate, yet I flee from the adverse storm to thy tranquility, O Virgin: deliver me from multifarious temptations, that I may unceasingly hymn thy grace, O Ever-virgin Mother of God.

Stavrotheotokion—

When the immaculate Virgin beheld the Lamb uplifted upon the Cross, she cried aloud, weeping: “O my sweet Child, what is this new and all-glorious sight? How is it that Thou Who holdest all things in the palm of Thy hand art nailed in the flesh to the Tree?”

In his suffering, O Lord, Thy martyr Hermias received an imperishable crown from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, He set at nought the tormenters and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. By his supplications save Thou our souls.