Canon of the Martyr Plato

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

Irmos: O Christ, Who in the beginning established the heavens in wisdom and founded the earth upon the waters, make me steadfast upon the rock of Thy commandments; for none is holy as Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Kontakion of the martyr Plato, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Today the Virgin…”—

Sessional hymn of the martyr Plato, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…”—

Manifestly aflame with the zeal of piety, and enlightened by the divine fire of the Faith, O most blessed one, with endurance thou didst enter into the cruel flame like a spark of incorruption.

Theotokion: O Mother of God, thou art the portal of the Light, adorned with the rays of the light of the Spirit; for through thee descended unto us the Word Who illumineth with divine light all who hymn thee.

Irmos: Thy Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, crying aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my consolation!

Glory…: Sessional hymn of the martyr Romanus, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Having been lifted up…”—

Having supernaturally vanquished the servants of the demons, and borne with patience the pain of mighty tortures, O blessed and divinely wise Plato, thou wast shown to be a dweller with the angels and a crown-bearer.

Theotokion: Clothed in the flesh He received from thee, He Who alone is God by nature, the Word of the Father, Who is one in essence with the Spirit, hath deified mortals, O Mother of God.

Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power; Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, hast visited our lowliness. Wherefore, with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Having struggled for Christ on earth, O most blessed one, receiving from Him heavenly gifts and crowns which abide forever, thou dwellest in the pure land of paradise.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Irmos: Beholding Thee lifted up upon the Cross, O Sun of righteousness, the Church stood rooted in place, crying out as is meet: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Having slain the spiritual beast with the sling of thy words, O Romanus, thou didst preserve the flock of Christ uncorrupted by the evil of idolatry.

Theotokion: In that thou art the royal root, thou gavest birth for us unto the Word of God Who reigneth over all, Who became flesh, yet remained unchanged. Wherefore, O most holy Virgin, with truth and authority we glorify thee, the Theotokos.

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

Rendered mighty by the armor of the Cross, thou didst repel the assaults of the enemy and didst denounce their impotence, O wise and right blessed Romanus.

Theotokion: Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, O Virgin, whereby all peoples of the world have been delivered from the curse of death; and blessed by thee, we hymn thee as the mediatress of Life.

Irmos: Thou hast come, O my Lord, as a light into the world: a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance those who hymn Thee with faith.

When thy cheek was lacerated for Christ, O glorious, blessed and ever-memorable Romanus, thou didst cast down the enemy, breaking their jaws.

Theotokion: By thy supplications grant remission of sins to thy servants, delivering them from temptations, misfortunes and sorrows, and from enslavement to blasphemous heretics, O most lauded Virgin Theotokos.

Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the abyss of evils, I pray, for to Thee have I cried, and Thou hast hearkened to me, O God of my salvation.

Exalted in the breadth of thy struggles, O wise martyr, thou didst destroy the snares of the enemy, discomfiting them, O most glorious one; and having run well the divine course, thou didst reach the expanse of heaven, rejoicing. Wherefore, resplendent today in the expanse of piety, the Church doth celebrate thy memorial, O blessed one, and crieth out to thee: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who with love honor thy holy memory.

Theotokion: In that thou gavest birth unto Joy, O Virgin Mary who knewest not wedlock, thou hast annulled the curse and restored men through thy birthgiving.

Irmos: I will sacrifice to Thee with a voice of praise, O Lord, the Church crieth unto Thee, cleansed of the blood of demons by the blood which, for mercy’s sake, flowed from Thy side.

Having trampled the wicked one underfoot by fasting, thou wast glorified by suffering, O martyr of Christ, having endured manfully with perfect resolve. Wherefore, thou hast been numbered among the choirs of martyrs and hast reached the everlasting kingdom. Joining chorus therein, be thou mindful of us who celebrate thy holy memory with faith.

Theotokion: As an animate ark thou didst hold the Bestower of life, as a holy temple thou didst receive the Holy One Who had become man, for the good of men, O most blessed one.

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the fire stood in awe of the condescension of God; wherefore, the youths, dancing with joyous step in the furnace, as in a meadow, chanted: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

After God it is to thy divine protection that I, the lowly, flee, O Theotokos; and falling down, I pray: O all-pure one, have mercy, for my sins have risen over my head, and I fear torment and tremble, O Mistress. Offer entreaty to thy Son, O pure one, that He deliver me therefrom.

Theotokion: Be thou a ready refuge for me, O all-pure Mother of God, delivering me from violence, taking from me the shame of the passions and guiding me to the godly path.

Irmos: The children of Abraham in the Persian furnace, afire with love of piety more than with the flame, cried out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Stavrotheotokion—

Theotokion: Delivered from the bonds of death and the curse of first-created Adam by the divine Offspring of thy virginity, O all-pure one, mindful that thou art the Theotokos, we cry out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Irmos: Madly did the Chaldæan tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but, beholding them saved by a higher Power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

She who in latter times gave birth in the flesh unto Thee, Who wast begotten of the unoriginate Father, O Christ, beholding Thee hanging upon the Cross, cried out: “O Jesus, my most beloved Son, how is it that Thou, Who art glorified as God by the angels, art now crucified by iniquitous men? I hymn Thee, O Long-suffering One!”

Theotokion: O most hymned one who alone gavest birth to God without seed, lead us forth who have fallen into the abyss of sin, but hymn thee, saying: Blessed art Thou among women, O most immaculate Mistress.

Irmos: Stretching forth his hands, Daniel shut the lions’ mouths in the pit; and the young lovers of piety, girded about with virtue, quenched the power of the fire, crying out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Wholly transformed by the love of thy Creator, thou didst not feel the pain of thy body, having shed the skin garments of thy flesh of the passions and mortality and clad thyself in the robe of chastity and salvation.

Theotokion: In manner divine thou didst give birth to the Word of God, Who is equally without beginning and of equal honor with the Father, Who brought all things forth out of non-existence by the counsel of the Father, and became flesh for the sake of us men. Wherefore, acknowledging thee, in Orthodox fashion, to be the Theotokos, we exalt Christ supremely forever.

Irmos: Every ear trembleth to hear of the ineffable condescension of God, for the Most High willingly came down even to the flesh, becoming man through the Virgin’s womb. Wherefore we, the faithful, magnify the all-pure Theotokos.

Thou didst show thyself to be a priest of God, offering thyself unto Christ the Deliverer Who was slain for all, as an unblemished lamb and a perfect sacrifice, O martyr; for, having set thy soul afire with love for the Master, thou didst pay no heed to thy burning flesh.

Theotokion: Having given birth to the Word of the Father through the divine Spirit, thou didst remain a virgin, O Theotokos who knewest not man, transcending the laws of nature in thy birthgiving. Wherefore, rejoicing, we chant: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Irmos: Christ, the Chief Cornerstone uncut by human hands, Who united the two disparate natures, was cut from thee, the unquarried mountain, O Virgin. Wherefore, in gladness we magnify thee, O Theotokos.

Emulating the three youths who were in Babylon, thou didst not fear the all-devouring fire, but didst mightily and youthfully endure the unbearable flame thereof. Wherefore, the Bestower of dew hath rightly taken thee with them into the chamber of glory.

Theotokion: Save me, O Mother of God who gavest birth to Christ my Savior, Who is both God and man, in two natures, but not in two hypostases, the Only-begotten of the Father and of thee, the first-born of all creation. Wherefore, all of us magnify thee forever.

With ineffable beauty thou didst ascend the tree, mounting it like a stairway, O blessed one, and didst attain unto the everlasting choir, O right glorious martyr Romanus.

Theotokion: O Virgin, thou hast delivered mortals from the primal curse of our ancestors, and hast opened the life of Eden unto us through thy birthgiving, which transcendeth nature. Wherefore, in gladness we magnify thee, O Theotokos.

Having shed thy mortal garments amid thy tortures, O blessed one, thou didst array thyself splendidly in a garment of light, O most glorious martyr Romanus.

Made wise by the inspiration of the Comforter, the tongue of the boy proclaimed Thee to be the Lord of glory, the Creator of all and God Who is able to save, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Thou gavest neither slumber to thine eyelids, nor sleep to thine eyes, O martyr, until, beheaded by the sword, thou didst sleep the sleep of the blessed like those who love God, O blessed one.

Suffering, thou didst struggle as in another’s body, O most blessed one; thou didst suffer, viewing thy pangs as though another was experiencing them. For, set afire with divine zeal, thou didst not fear the future torments, O glorious one.

Thou hast discovered riches which cannot be taken away, and unfading glory, joining chorus with the angels in the mansions of heaven, partaking of incorruptible immortality, O most eminent one.

With the martyric streams of thy blood thou didst flood the sea of ungodliness; and thou hast poured forth rivers of healing, O Romanus.

O Romanus, thou didst offer to the Master as a choice gift, an unblemished sacrifice, the slain boy Varulus who uttered theology.

Thou didst wound the foolishness of the enemy with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, as he inflicted wounds upon thy body, O most glorious Romanus.

Transcending sufferings and tortures, thou didst endure the cutting away of thy flesh, O glorious one; for thou didst have Christ as thy Helper, Assistant and Companion.

Ever gazing upon the majesty of the Creator with spiritual understanding, and contemplating ineffable beauty, thou didst spurn the baseness of visible things.

Having shed mortality and corruption with a shrug and arrayed thyself in the beauty of life incorruptible, O Romanus, thou wast adorned with never-diminishing spiritual splendors.

Thy severed tongue pouring forth torrents of blood like teachings, O passion-bearer, thou didst thereby inherit the imperishable blessedness which abideth forever.

Thirsting for a stream of wisdom, by the counsel of his mother thou didst pour drink into the mouth of the boy who uttered theology, and who entered into the endless life by the sword.

Thy holy memory doth gladden the whole world, summoning all the faithful to thine all-honorable temple, where, assembled now with joy, we chant in hymns amid splendor. Wherefore, O Plato, we cry out to thee: Deliver thy city from the invasion of the heathen, O holy one.

Ikos: Having abandoned all pagan superstition, the divinely wise Plato came to love the soul-saving teachings of the disciples of Christ. Wherefore, he appeared honorable to all, like an anchor of the Faith in his native land, and manifestly bore the title “of Ancyra.” For, nurtured well, it ever findeth him to be an excellent protection against the enemy and a fervent helper in battle, crying out: Deliver thy city from the invasion of the heathen, O holy one!

He Who set down the law hath crowned with a wreath of victory thee who suffered lawfully and trampled thine enemies underfoot, and who cried aloud, saying: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Thou didst pass over, rejoicing, to Him Whom thou didst desire from of old, emulating His all-pure sufferings, which were the cause of men’s salvation; and thou didst chant: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

All the hosts of heaven, and the people then looking on, marvelled at thy patient endurance of suffering; for thy severed tongue supernaturally cried out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Having choked the serpent with thy strangulation, O passion-bearer, thou didst truly find life, O all-glorious Romanus, ever crying aloud: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Illumined with rays of never-waning light, O Romanus, thou didst quench the lofty flame, adorned with the gift of prophecy and numbered among the choirs of the martyrs, crying aloud: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

A fragrant rose of tender growth, watered with his mother’s teachings and the blood of martyrdom, is incorruptibly offered to Christ as from a garden of many flowers.

Thou didst struggle in radiant feats, O most lauded one, and Christ bestowed upon thee much goodly fame of great splendor which endureth eternally, causing thee to dwell in the mansions of heaven who dost fervently chant: Ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Christ supremely forever!

As a most faithful supplicant, as a most fervent intercessor for us, we now set thee before the King of all, the Author of creation. Pray thou for us, interceding in thy martyr’s boldness in behalf of those who praise thee and chant with faith: Ye people, exalt Christ supremely forever!

Because of thine active faith thou wast vouchsafed to receive a kingship which cannot be taken away; for God, Who lieth not, promised to give it thee, and for Him thou didst commit thy body to fire and torture, crying aloud: Praise Him, ye priests! Supremely exalt Christ, ye people, forever!

Thou wast obedient to the words of Christ, O glorious one, laying down thy life for thy flock, being strangled in thy zeal for it, tortured, lacerated and wounded; and thou didst cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Truly thy mouth and tongue were full of joy and gladness, continually blessing God; for, cut out and dripping with blood, O Romanus, it setteth forth for us the law of faith, crying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

O ye who love the martyrs, come, let us hymn the martyr, crowned by God, who extended the piety of his birth; for, as an offshoot of the branch of life, he bringeth forth fruit which exudeth the wine of compunction for us.

Precious in the sight of the Lord was the death of the martyr, for he is become the mediator of the true life which is everlasting and imperishable, and giveth rich recompense, the lot of incorruption and immortal glory.

All thy life thou didst consecrate to God Almighty, O martyr, and, rejoicing, thou didst offer thyself as a well-pleasing and living sacrifice. Wherefore, thou hast manifestly been vouchsafed sweetness which passeth understanding. Pray thou that those who hymn thee be delivered from temptations.

All thy trust didst thou place in the Master, O glorious martyr Romanus, enduring multifarious wounds; and thou hast received ineffable glory and divine delight.

Behold, instead of pain a torrent of sweetness hath been given thee, O martyr Romanus, who bearest a crown and wearest a robe dyed red in thy blood. Like a fragrant and never-fading rose thou wast slain as a child for Christ’s sake.

In thy ways thou didst tread the hard and divine path and didst ascend to the expanse of the kingdom of heaven, O Plato, glory of martyrs, shining with the light of the incorruptible Trinity. Wherefore, partaking of endless glory, be thou mindful of those who honor thee.

O Virgin Theotokos, I produce thy protection as a truly invincible help and wall of defense, and thee as a mediator before God, that I may be delivered from everlasting torment, O Mistress, and through thee find a share in the kingdom, in life incorruptible.