After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man…”, the first antiphon.
Entrance. Prokimenon. Three Readings:
On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera, in Tone VI: Automelon —
Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “Having set aside…”—
Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
Having placed all their hope in the heavens, the saints laid up for themselves a treasure which cannot be stolen away; they freely received, and freely give healing to the infirm. Following the Gospel, they acquired neither silver nor gold, but bestowed benefactions upon both men and beasts, that, obedient to Christ, they might pray with boldness in behalf of our souls. Twice
Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in the tone of the week.
Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
In the same melody: The two holy ones who shared a single character and a single soul, the like-minded companions, disdained corruptible things on earth and showed themselves to be inhabitants of heaven, like unto the angels, though dwelling in the flesh: wherefore, they grant healings to all who suffer, bestowing benefactions upon those in need, without exacting any fee. Let us honor them as is meet with an annual festival, for they pray to Christ with boldness in behalf of our souls. Twice
Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone—
The divinely wise Cosmas and Damian, the two ever-memorable ones, having made themselves wholly the abode of the Trinity, pour forth like torrents the waters of healing from the life-bestowing wellspring; and their relics cure suffering by their touch; and their very names drive infirmities away from all men who have recourse to the saving havens in Christ; and they pray with boldness in behalf of our souls.
Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone—
Having spurned the tyranny of suffering and, in Christ, trampled down every plot of the evil serpent, O holy unmercenary ones, Cosmas and Damian, ye were shown to be as radiant as beacons, ever illumining the whole world with divine signs, driving away darkness and infirmities by grace, and showing yourselves to be the saviors of all who with steadfast faith celebrate your glorious memory, O all-wise ones.
Glory…, the composition of Anatolius, in Tone VI—
Boundless is the grace of the saints, which they have received from Christ. Wherefore, their relics continually work miracles by the power of God, and their names, when invoked with faith, heal incurable sicknesses. Through them, O Lord, free us also from the passions of soul and body, in that Thou lovest mankind.
The undefiled ewe-lamb, the immaculate Mistress, when of old she beheld her Lamb upon the tree of the Cross, exclaimed maternally and, marvelling, cried aloud: “O my Child most sweet, what is this new and all-glorious sight? How hath the thankless assembly betrayed Thee to the judgment of Pilate and condemneth to death the Life of all? Yet do I hymn Thine ineffable condescension, O Word.”
On “Lord, I have cried…”, 4 stichera for the resurrection; and 6 stichera of the unmercenaries, in Tone IV—
Come, ye faithful, and with hymns let us honor all the holy unmercenary physicians, crying out to them with love: Rejoice, O unmercenary physicians of the infirm! Rejoice, ye who have acquired the inexhaustible grace of healings! Rejoice, O ye who pray fervently for the salvation of our souls!
Together let us now hymn all the valiant unmercenaries, who bear a common title, our divine guardians, who with the zeal of faith and love for God gave themselves over steadfastly to the common good of all, for whom they suffered much for Christ, and who pray with boldness for the salvation of our souls.
Let us glorify the honored boast of the Church, the glorious unmercenaries, the invincible champions, the faithful helpers of those who with faith flee to them amid all tribulations, the ever-flowing rivers which pour forth streams of healings, anticipating in all things the needs of all, and praying for the salvation of our souls.
As ye have the boldness before our most merciful Savior to have mercy on all and save them from misfortunes, deliver from sufferings and disease, and from all grievous temptations, those who hymn you with faith and love, O all ye divinely blessed unmercenaries, and pray ye also for the salvation of our souls.
Having kept well the commandments of the Lord, and utterly cut off from yourselves the sickness of avarice, ye freely heal infirmities, O all-glorious Cosmas and Damian. Wherefore, we bless you as is meet, O most honored wonderworkers, who pray for the salvation of our souls.
O unmercenary healer Panteleimon, the most merciful God, seeing thee rich in mercy and compassion, gave thee rich grace to heal all the infirm. Wherefore, treat thou the diseases of the souls and bodies of those who call upon thee with faith, and pray for the salvation of our souls.
Glory…, in Tone III—
Today we praise the blessed choir of the holy unmercenary physicians: the Apostle and Evangelist Luke, the excellent healer of the infirm; Antipas, Charalampius and Blaise, the most honored hieromartyrs; Spyridon and Modestus, the all-splendid luminaries of the Church; the three pairs of divinely wise saints Cosmas and Damian, who shared the same names and the same ways; Cyrus and the glorious John; the divine Panteleimon and Hermolaus; Diomedes and Sampson; together with Mocius, Photius and Anicetas, Artemius, Thalalæus and Tryphon.
Reading From The Book Of The Prophet Isaiah
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no savior. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am He; and there is none that can deliver out of My hand: I will work, and who shall let it? Thus saith the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery, and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for Himself. As gold in the furnace hath He tried them, and received them as a burnt offering. And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. They that put their trust in Him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with Him: for grace and mercy is to His saints, and He hath care for His elect.
Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. For honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. He pleased God, and was loved of Him: so that living among sinners he was translated. Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind. He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: for his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted He to take him away from among the wicked. This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, that His grace and mercy is with His saints, and that He hath respect unto His chosen.
At the Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and these stichera of the unmercenaries—
In Tone I: In gladness of spirit, O brethren, let us celebrate today, as is meet, the holy and radiant memorial of all the most honorable unmercenary physicians, for they are our common intercessors, helpers and saviors, and they deliver from sickness and tribulations those who have recourse unto them with faith.
In Tone II: O holy unmercenary physicians, the human mind is unable to comprehend the inexhaustible wealth of your compassion and goodness, and even the most eloquent of tongues cannot describe the multitude of your miracles. Wherefore, we cry to you with gladness: Rejoice, O ever-flowing rivers of gifts!
In Tone IV: Having received from Christ God on high the gift of miracles, ye heal all sufferings without exacting any fee: for the grace of the Spirit was revealed within you, which imparteth the power of healings. Wherefore, deliver us who hymn you from grievous sickness and all oppression, we beseech you, O divinely wise unmercenary physicians.
Glory…, in Tone VIII—
Who doth not marvel, who doth not glorify, who doth not hymn with faith the miracles of the wise and all-glorious unmercenary physicians? For even after their holy repose they grant cures in abundance unto all who have recourse unto them, and their precious and holy relics pour forth the grace of healings. O the honored ones! O the wisdom and glory of the grace imparted to them by God! Wherefore, in hymns we cry out to God our Benefactor, Who hath shown them to be the healing of our souls and bodies.
O unwedded Virgin who ineffably conceived God in the flesh, Mother of God Most High: Accept the entreaties of thy servants, O most immaculate one, granting unto all cleansing of transgressions; and, accepting now our supplications, pray thou that we all be saved.
On the Aposticha, the stichera of the resurrection, in the tone of the week.
Glory…, in Tone VI—
Today the radiant and luminous memorial of all the unmercenaries of Christ hath shone forth, brilliantly enlightening the whole world with rays of miracles. Come, therefore, and let us celebrate with faith! Come, let us all hasten with fervor to the relics of the saints, that from them we may receive speedy healing in abundance! For without fee they impart gifts of healing through the activity of the Holy Spirit unto all.
Christ the Lord, my Creator and Deliverer, Who came forth from thy womb, O all-pure one, and robed Himself in me, hath freed Adam from the curse. Wherefore, like the angel do we unceasingly cry out to thee, O most pure one, who art truly the Mother of God and Virgin: Rejoice! Rejoice, O Mistress, thou intercession, protection and salvation for our souls!
After the Blessing of the Loaves, “Virgin Theotokos, rejoice!…”, twice, and the troparion of the unmercenaries, in Tone VIII—
O holy unmercenary physicians and wonderworkers, visit our infirmities. Freely have ye received; freely give unto us. Once
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.