Ode IX

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “With the disciples…”—

Irmos: The bush which burnt with fire yet was not consumed showed forth an image of thy pure birthgiving. And now we pray that the furnace of temptations which rageth against us may be extinguished, that we may magnify thee unceasingly, O Theotokos.

Glory..., Now and ever..., Theotokion—

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…”—

Theotokion: Thine honored servant Gregory was the tongue of theology for the mouth of thy dread Offspring, the Deity Who appeared through thee in manner transcending nature, O Mistress. And accepting now his entreaties, save us all.

Standing before the throne of the unoriginate and three-Sunned Godhead, and filled to sufficiency through spiritual activity with the grace which thou didst hymn, as a fellow laborer be thou mindful of thy friends, who now commemorate thee.

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel: “By the Spirit in the sanctuary...”—

Irmos: It is not possible for men to behold God, upon Whom the ranks of angels dare not gaze; but through thee, O most pure one, hath the Word appeared incarnate unto men; and magnifying Him with the armies of heaven, we call thee blessed.

Glory..., in Tone III—

O sacred father Gregory, having loved God from childhood, thou didst hate all passionate attachment to the material world and peace which abideth not. And, valiantly taking up thy cross, thou didst follow after thy Master; and, cleansing thy mind and soul with weeping and tears, thou becamest wholly divine.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Thou didst find the reward for thine efforts, O father — the unoriginate kingship of God which thou didst piously preach on earth; and thou didst receive the three-stranded wreath of divine confession, priesthood and inner stillness.

Now and ever..., Theotokion—

O sacred father Gregory, having purified thy heart well with vision and spiritual activity, thou becamest an abode of the Spirit; and, having received His effulgence, thou wast truly shown forth as light to those who approached thee. Lo! thou becamest a child of the Light through grace, O glorious one, that thou mightest not be separated from the divine Essence itself.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Thou hast been shown to be the boast of monastics, a godly theologian and a renowned standard for the priesthood; wherefore, divine grace bestoweth miracles upon thee, confirming thy words.

O divinely wise father Gregory, thou didst dig out the most evil seed and root, with the axe of the Spirit didst cut down the vile Barlaam, the betrayer of the Faith, and the vain-minded Acindynus, his fellow initiate; and, expelling the heretics from the fullness of the Church of God, thou didst reckon them among the blasphemous Jews, for they were zealous for the mindlessness thereof.

Theotokion: O Virgin Mother, thou didst give birth unto the incarnate Word, Who before was incorporeal. Wherefore, we all piously glorify thee as the Theotokos, ascribing to thee that most true of titles, O pure one, for thou dost remain the root of the salvation of the faithful.

Having truly left behind the law of praises and the struggle of discourses, both while living on earth and after departing the body, O all-glorious one, yet do thou most especially accept this meager hymnody, and by thy supplications grant the petitions of those who desire thee.

O divinely wise father Gregory, thou didst cleanse thy soul, eluding the unclean devil by thine intelligence; and, truly glorious in thy majesty, thou didst commit thy spirit unto Christ our God.

Rejoice, boast of the fathers, mouth of theologians, abode of inner stillness, house of wisdom, might of teachers, abyss of discourse! Rejoice, instrument of activity, summit of vision, healer of the passions and sicknesses of men! Rejoice, habitation of the Holy Spirit, both when thou wast alive and now since thy death, O father!

Glory…, in Tone I—

Rejoice, mediatress of joy! Rejoice, annulment of the curse! Rejoice, resurrection of Adam! Rejoice, fall of the demons! Rejoice, abolition of the shame of women! Rejoice, emptying of hell, corruption of death and sanctification of human nature! Rejoice, O Virgin, rejoice, O Mistress! Rejoice, O Mother of God!

O Gregory, valiant struggler for the Orthodox Faith, who contended like a mighty warrior of Christ God and pleased thy Commander, thou hast now fought the good fight within the Church, preserving it on an immovable foundation by thy teachings.

Great Doxology. Troparion. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.

Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos! Rejoice, boast of all the world! Rejoice, O all-pure and blessed Mother of God!

Great Doxology. Troparion and Theotokion. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.

Having now been vouchsafed ineffable glory and the unwaning light, where the gladness is unutterable, where the joy is unending among the congregations of the firstborn, where the habitations of the righteous are, O Philip most wise, pray thou for all Christians.

Invested with the comeliness of noetic splendor, adorned with a crown of the kingdom and with radiant brilliance, enlightened with outpourings of supernatural light, O divinely wise Philip, thou dost stand, rejoicing, before the throne of the Master, O blessed one.

With all the honored apostles, the prophets and passion-bearers, the venerable, the hierarchs and the righteous, and with the Theotokos, O Philip, ask that remission of many sins and the cleansing of transgressions be given to those who faithfully celebrate thy radiant and divine memory.

Turning the course of thy beautiful feet, O Philip, thou didst mount the path to heaven, ­rejoicing; and, standing before the Trinity, thou dost behold the Son and the divine Spirit in the Father. Wherefore, we celebrate thy most sacred and divine memory with faith. Twice

I call to mind the dreadful hour of testing, for the multitude of mine evil deeds doth terrify and frighten me. Yet take pity on me in thy fervent prayer, O all-pure one, and grant me salvation. For whatsoever thou desirest, thou canst do, in that thou gavest birth unto God, O blessed Mary.

At the Praises, 4 stichera, 3 in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “O most glorious wonder...”—

O most glorious wonder! The apostle that once cast his nets for fish hath become a fisher of men, ordained by God. He fished for the nations with the net of his discourse and brought up the world with the rod of the Cross. O what a draught the divine worker hath brought to God, he whose memory we now celebrate.

O most glorious wonder! Sent by God like a lamb amongst wolves, the apostle Philip fearlessly strode forth and, through faith, showed forth wild beasts as lambs, divinely transforming the world. O, his works of faith! O, his most excellent powers! By his prayers, O Christ, save Thou our souls, in that Thou alone art compassionate.

O most glorious wonder! The apostle Philip hath, through the outpouring of wisdom, become a wellspring which gusheth forth life upon those who are in the world. Therefrom do streams of dogmas proceed and we drink of the torrents of the wonders thereof. O, how many awesome miracles the divine worker hath wrought, whose memory we glorify with faith!

And one in Tone II—

Thou wast revealed as a heavenly chalice of wisdom, for thou wast shown to be a beauteous habitation of the Spirit, and didst recount the truth of the virtues, fishing for mortals with the noetic rod of the wisdom of God. Wherefore, we beseech thee, O apostle Philip: Pray thou in behalf of our souls.

Having exchanged the catching of fish for the fishing of men, with the net of thy mysteries thou hast drawn in those who are in the depths of deception, O apostle Philip. Thou didst pursue the whole world and didst bring it to Christ, thy Teacher. Wherefore, we entreat thee: Beseech Him unceasingly, that He save the souls of us who faithfully keep thy most honorable memory.

O Theotokos, intercessor for all who pray to thee: in thee do we boast, in thee do we make bold, in thee is all our hope. Beseech Him Who was born of thee in behalf of thine unprofitable servants.