Canon of the Venerable Gregory, the composition of Joseph, in Tone VIII—

Exapostilarion of Saint Gregory: Spec. Mel.: “While the disciples watched…”—

Irmos: The staff of Moses, once working a wonder, striking the sea in the form of the Cross and dividing it, drowned the mounted tyrant Pharaoh, and saved Israel who fled on foot, chanting a hymn unto God.

Kontakion of the venerable Gregory, in Tone III—

Sessional hymn of Saint Gregory, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Go thou quickly before…”—

Theotokion: O all-pure and blessed one, thou heavenly ladder stretching from earth to the heavens, whereby God the Word hath come down to mortal men—O ineffable wonder and incomprehensible vision—save those who have recourse unto thee.

By thy supplications, O blessed Gregory, enliven my lowly soul, which hath been slain by the passions; for thou hast now received life which ageth not, having mortified thy members on earth with the struggles of asceticism, O venerable one.

Irmos: Thy victorious right arm hath in godly manner been glorified in strength; for as almighty, O Immortal One, it smote the adversary, fashioning anew the path of the deep for the Israelites.

Kontakion of the holy hierarch Proclus, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast appeared…”—

Glory…: Sessional hymn of Saint Proclus, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Of the divine Faith…”—

Theotokion: With divinely inspired discourses thou didst explain the awesome incarnation of the Word of God from the Virgin, proclaiming her to be the Theotokos, following the most wise dogmas of the apostles.

Abstaining from the pleasures of the body with purity of mind, O father, from childhood thou wast an instrument of the Spirit, splendidly receiving His powers and being recognized as godly of visage.

Irmos: O Theotokos, thou living and abundant fountain: in thy divine glory establish those who hymn thee and spiritually form themselves into a choir; and vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.

Kontakion of the Forefeast, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast appeared…”—

Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the Forefeast, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “When the stone had been sealed…”—

Theotokion: Rejoice, O thou who alone gavest birth to the Lord of all! Rejoice, thou who hast mediated life for men! Rejoice, thou mountain overshadowed and unquarried, confirmation of the faithful! Rejoice, O most immaculate one!

With divine desire thou didst cause the desires of the flesh to wither away, O blessed one, and thou didst espouse to thyself purity as a bride, from whom thou didst beget all the virtues as children for thyself, and who made thee a child of God, O ever memorable one.

Irmos: O Lord, Fashioner of the vault of heaven and Creator of the Church: establish me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, confirmation of the faithful, Who alone lovest mankind.

Theotokion: The only-begotten Son who is ineffably understood to be with the Father on high, was the only-begotten born of thee below in manner past cause and understanding, O all-pure one; and He deifieth man, O all-pure Mistress Theotokos. Wherefore, we call thee blessed.

The peer of the noetic archangels in activity and true discourse, O God-receiver, thou standest with them before the throne of the worshipful Trinity, O Proclus, Whom do thou beseech, that we be saved.

Irmos: O Thou Who alone hast known the weakness of human nature, having in Thy mercy formed Thyself therein: Thou dost gird me about with power from on high, that I may chant to Thee: Holy is the living temple of Thine ineffable glory, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Theotokion: O blessed and most immaculate Mother of God, heal thou the wounds of my soul, still the pleasures of the flesh, illumine my darkened heart, bring peace to my mind and deliver me from all the harm and assaults of the enemy.

Manifestly following in the footsteps of Chrysostom, O most blessed and ever-memorable one, thou didst receive his divine priestly vestments as a paternal inheritance, O right glorious father.

Irmos: Perceiving the inscrutable counsel of God—the Incarnation of Thee, the Most High, from the Virgin—the Prophet Habbakuk cried aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Theotokion: Having in manner past understanding received the divine burning Coal in thy womb, O most immaculate one, thou wast truly not consumed; for the bush of old prefigured thy birthgiving, for our salvation and restoration.

In that Isaiah of old cried out in the Spirit that God would come to earth, Nestorius, who blasphemously slandered the incarnation, was deposed in council by thee, O thrice blessed one.

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!

Theotokion: O Ever-virgin Mother, intercessor for the world, pilot me and guide me to the right path, and direct my thoughts along the straight paths of righteousness, setting aright the steps of my soul.

The virgin maidens who undertake to bear candles with splendor prefigure what is to come; for from her will the enlightenment of knowledge come, which looseth the darkness of deception.

Irmos: Habbakuk, gazing with the eyes of foresight upon thee, the mountain over­shadowed by the grace of God, prophesied that the Holy One of Israel would come forth from thee, for our salvation and restoration.

Theotokion: God took upon Himself neither confusion nor admixture in the womb of the Virgin, issuing forth in the flesh; but what He had been, that He remained: revealed immutably as God and man in His activities.

Anna of old, filled with divinely wise zeal, fulfilleth her vow and escorteth to the sanctuary thee, her most sacred offspring, who art to give birth unto God, O most immaculate one.

Irmos: All things are filled with awe at thy divine glory; for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, didst contain within thy womb Him Who is God over all, and gavest birth to the timeless Son, granting peace unto all who hymn thee.

Theotokion: O Mary, pure palace of the King, having cleansed me by thy supplications, who have become the foul den of thieves, show me to be a holy temple for Him Who was born of thee.

The sun spread forth its rays, beholding the radiant cloud stretched down at the behest of God within the Holy of holies, from whence remission will rain forth upon the stony passions.

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.

Theotokion: Thou hast been shown to surpass the cherubim, O Virgin full of the grace of God; for He Who is borne upon their shoulders, O pure one, was borne also in thine arms. Wherefore, we all ever glorify thee, O Theotokos.

Having made His abode within thee in His loving-kindness, O most immaculate and pure one, God deifieth me who was seduced aforetime by the deception of the serpent and corruption; and He giveth me again the food of incorruption.

Irmos: O Christ Who hast enlightened the ends of the world with the radiance of Thy coming and hast illumined them with Thy Cross: with the light of Thy divine knowledge enlighten the hearts of those who hymn Thee in Orthodox manner.

Theotokion: O pure virgin who gavest birth to Light, enliven me who am perishing and dying through sin; save me and rescue me from Gehenna, who chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Having ascended the mountain of the virtues, O venerable father, thou didst enter into the darkness of vision and, comprehending, thou didst contain, as far as thou wast able, Him Who is unapproachable in essence, O father, being filled with enlightenment.

Irmos: Celebrating this divine and most honored festival of the Mother of God, come, ye divinely wise, let us clap our hands and glorify God Who was born of her.

Theotokion: O pure one, like the throne of the cherubim thou bearest in thine embrace God Who is wrapped in the flesh, Who upbeareth all things by the word of His power. To Him do we chant in gladness: O all-hymned and all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

With heavenly light He Who was born in a cave for the deliverance of mortal men illumined thee like Paul, O most blessed one, who of old wast dwelling in a cave, showing thee to be luminous, O father Gregory.

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.

Theotokion: O most pure one who gavest birth to the Judge and Lord, Him do thou entreat as thy Son, at the hour of judgment, condemnation and fire, of darkness devoid of light and the gnashing of teeth, that He deliver those who piously chant with faith: Ye priests, chant; ye people, exalt Him supremely forever!

The heavenly portal, the most pure Mother of Christ, furnished thee with wings, O father, who wast beset by the assaults of the demons, and through the grace of the Spirit she enabled thee to soar above them with strength.

Irmos: The uttermost abyss hath surrounded us, and there is none to deliver us. We are accounted as lambs for the slaughter. Save Thy people, O our God, for Thou art the strength and correction of the weak!

Theotokion: God the Master, preserving the tokens of thy virginity intact, O Virgin, passed through thee in manner past understanding, that He might save those who cry: Hymn the Lord and exalt Him supremely forever!

Receiving light from Light in godly manner, O most blessed one, thou becamest a light for the Church. Wherefore, the divine Light shone upon thee noetically, as is written, and, illumined thereby, thou dost enlighten those who hymn thy memory.

Irmos: The divinely wise youths worshipped not a creation rather than the Creator, but, manfully trampling the threat of the fire underfoot, they rejoice, chanting: Blessed art Thou, the all-hymned God of our fathers!

Theotokion: We, the faithful, with joy give utterance to the cry of Gabriel for thee: Rejoice, O garden of paradise who put forth the Tree of life! Rejoice, thou lifting of the curse, crown of martyrs, boast of the venerable and confirmation of the pious!

Sounding forth the thunder of thy dogmas, thou hast cast down all the audacities and armies of heresy like the walls of Jericho, and thou hast won the trophy of victory, manifestly proclaiming the incarnation of God from the Virgin.

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!

Theotokion: O thy wonders which pass understanding! For thou alone gavest birth supernaturally to the Word of God, Who became flesh and wisely sustaineth, nurtureth and preserveth all things by His divine will.

Setting thy mouth to the wellspring of wisdom, O Proclus who art pleasing to God, thou didst draw forth the divine waters of spiritual wisdom, drowning the turbid rivers, the ungodly beliefs of Nestorius, O most blessed one.

Irmos: O Theotokos, we, the faithful, perceive thee to be a noetic furnace; for, as the supremely Exalted One saved the three youths, in thy womb the praised and most glorious God of our fathers wholly renewed the world.

The Church knoweth thee to be a sun radiant with the beauties of the virtues, illumining all with rays of healings, O favorite of Christ. Wherefore, we celebrate thine honored memory and honor thy struggles, O most blessed and all-wise father Gregory.

Irmos: Hearken, O pure Virgin Maiden! Let Gabriel give utterance unto the true and ancient counsel of the Most High: “Make ready to receive God, for through thee hath the Infinite One come to dwell with men!” Wherefore, rejoicing, I cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Today the most honored of all cities doth truly celebrate as is meet on the feast of thine honored repose, O wise Proclus, father of 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!

Illumined with divine splendor, thou hast driven away the darkness of the soul-destroying passions, O all-wise Gregory; and caught up to the most pure heights of dispassion, thou hast all-gloriously shone forth rays of healings, having made thine abode in the never-waning light of the kingdom of Christ.

Irmos: The children of Israel in the furnace, shining more brightly than gold in a crucible in the beauty of their piety, said: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Being a divine and sacred preacher, O most lauded teacher of the mysteries, enriching the Church with divine doctrine, thou didst proclaim the all-pure Virgin to be the Theotokos and didst put Nestorius to shame. Wherefore, we all faithfully honor thy memory, asking that we may receive great mercy.

Irmos: Let every mortal leap for joy, enlightened by the Spirit; and let the nature of the incorporeal intelligences keep festival, honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry aloud: Rejoice, O most blessed Theotokos, pure Ever-virgin!

Give praise, ye virgins! Keep the forefeast, ye mothers! Ye people, give glory! Ye priests, bless the all-pure Mother of God! For having been born before, a babe in the flesh, she hath been brought to the temple as the most holy temple of God. Wherefore, celebrating this spiritual feast, we hymn her as the intercessor for the human race.

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.

Sacred tongues proclaimed thee beforehand to be the dwelling of Him Who is infinite in nature, O pure one. Wherefore, choirs of virgins accompany thee to the Holy of holies, bearing lamps.

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.

Joachim and Anna won glory, escorting and bearing thee with gladness into the holy temple, O all-holy temple of God, pure and most immaculate Mistress.

The sentence pronounced upon our ancestors is annulled; for, lo! a branch hath sprung forth which shall bear for us the incorrupt Cluster Who shall bring the wine of gladness unto the ends of the earth.

The Word, the Creator, finding thee alone to be most immaculate, made His abode within thy womb, accomplishing our salvation through grace, O all-pure one, in His ineffable wisdom.

He Who in His goodness for our sake became a stranger by a strange descent, O Gregory, seeing thee a stranger for His sake, received thee who wast far from thy homeland and made thee a divine heir of His kingdom, adorned with the virtues.

For Christ Who for our sake became a babe and a child, O venerable one, thou didst give thyself over to a school of children, being as innocent as a babe, O divinely wise and venerable father; and with divine humility thou didst humble the malice of the enemy, O blessed Gregory.

Watered with the showers of thy tears as with divine dew, O father Gregory, thou didst cause every virtue to grow and didst bring all fruitfulness to blossom like a fruitful tree of perfect fasting planted by springs of water.

The resounding thunder of the words of thy proclamation and the teachings of thy doctrines gladden the Church of God with wisdom and dispel the audacity of heresy, O most glorious and sacred Proclus.

Having purified thine honored body by abstinence like gold by fire, O most sacred and wise one, thou didst show it to the Creator as beautiful. Wherefore, He hath bestowed the vesture of the priesthood upon thee forever.

Accustomed to divine knowledge as a sacred hierarch, thou hast generously given further enlightenment and divine radiance unto all, for the salvation of souls, O right glorious one.

Let the clouds drop down righteousness today, for in the temple of God, as in the sky, the divine cloud is spread out which letteth drop the Sweetness which taketh away all the bitterness of our souls.

Strange is thy conception, strange thy nativity, O all-pure Virgin, strange thy coming forth and thine entering of the holy place, and strange are thine all-glorious works, past recounting and understanding.

The most Holy Spirit sanctified thee wholly who abode within the temple and wast fed with heavenly food, O all-adorned Bride of the Father. Wherefore, thou becamest the Mother of the Word.

Setting all my hope on thee, O Maiden, I flee to thy compassions. Show forth my fallen soul to be untouched by the malice of the demons and unweakened by the floods of pleasures.

By thine actions thou didst show thyself to be a fertile vine of the Word, O venerable father, bearing the magnificent ripe grapes of the virtues which exude the spiritual wine of salvation which maketh glad the hearts of the faithful.

Glorious Rome, receiving thee, O father, with faith from the East as a never-waning lamp, was enlightened by thy precious gifts; for thou didst have Christ within thy soul like a light illumining those who looked upon thee, O father.

Walking the paths of life with godly vigilance as a favorite of God, as a husbandman of the commandments of Christ with the power of the Spirit, thou didst slay the serpent who lay in wait for thee to bruise thy heel.

Radiant as a beacon, O most blessed one, thou wast shown to be a champion of the Church of God, and hast made plain the nativity of the Immutable One from the divine and most holy Virgin, O glorious one.

Placing the dogmas of the glorious incarnation of God from the Virgin in thy sling, like the godly David of old thou didst fell the audacious character of Nestorius like Goliath the Philistine.

Full of the teachings of Paul, and having beheld a vision of him, O most elect one, thou wast shown to be another Elisha, mystically anointed with the priesthood as with divine unction.

Strengthened by the grace of God, the parents of the divine Virgin lovingly surrender her, like a pure dove, to be raised in the Holy of holies.

Lighting lamps, O pure one, the maidens, dancing, radiantly escort to the temple of God thee who art to receive the Light Who proceedeth from the Light.

A palace full of glory, the great proclamation of the prophets, the holy throne, is led into the Holy of holies, making herself ready for the King of all.

I hymn thy conception, O Maiden, I also hymn thine ineffable nativity; and I likewise hymn thy protection, whereby we who flee to thy serenity are delivered from all harm.

Deified by mystic visions and divine splendors, and by thy yearning for God, O most sacred one, as a divine prophet, as a favorite of God thou hast been vouchsafed the grace of God.

Thou didst perfect thy life in silence, O divinely inspired one, and wast shown to be above the tumults of life, higher than the passions, a strange wanderer of all the earth.

Like a clear mirror thou wast enriched with divine radiance; like a sacred vessel thou hast adorned the temple, O Gregory, and thou hast illumined the heavenly Church of the firstborn.

With the noetic staff of thy teachings thou didst drive the proponents of heresy from the flock of Christ like marauding wild beasts, O blessed Proclus, and thou didst lead thy flock into the fold of Orthodoxy.

Like another ark, through thine exhortations, O Proclus, thou didst present the body of the most blessed Chrysostom to the Church of Christ, and didst gladden the choirs of the Orthodox by its arrival.

Ascending the great cathedra, O venerable one, with magnificent instructions thou didst adorn it in godly manner. Wherefore, assembling, we praise thee, O greatly wise and glorious hierarch Proclus.

Today, on the right notable feast of the Theotokos hath the whole world been filled with gladness, crying: She is the tabernacle of heaven!

Ikos: The Creator, Fashioner and Master of all, Who bowed Himself down in His ineffable loving-kindness, seeing, in His unique love for mankind, that which He had fashioned with His own hands fallen, took pity and willed to raise it up a more divine building by His condescension, in that He is good by nature and merciful. Wherefore, He took Mary, the pure Virgin, as the mediatress of the mystery, and through her desired to bear our nature. She is the tabernacle of heaven.

The holy temple received thee as a radiant sun, shining forth a radiance of salvation upon the ends of the earth, O pure Virgin, who shalt contain the Son of God.

Let us all clap our hands, beholding her who knew not wedlock bearing the images of deliverance; for by the hand of an angel is she fed who shall ineffably give birth for us to the Bread of life.

All the souls of the righteous beneath the earth proclaimed thee, O golden dove, and they declare thee to be her who beareth the calm which endeth the noetic deluge and who danceth with piety in the Holy of holies.

In that thou art beautiful, thou gavest birth to the Beauteous One Who restoreth our ugliness to its pristine beauty, O most immaculate Maiden. To Him do we chant: O Lord God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

With outpourings of thy tears thou didst quench the fire, O Gregory, and didst pour forth the water of dispassion and the pure beverage of healings for those who chant: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Upborne by the perfection of honorable love as in a chariot of fire, thou didst mount to the summit, whereon thou didst acquire thy life, O divinely wise one, crying: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

With thy standing in vigils thou didst still the threefold billows of the passions, and having fallen into the sleep of the righteous, thou hast passed over into never-waning light, crying: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Having purified body, mind and soul by removing the passions, O wise hierarch Proclus, from thence thou didst declare the dogma of God Who was born and received body, soul and mind of the Virgin, without any change, that He might save us.

Having acquired boldness before Christ, O holy one, pray thou that those who praise thy glorious memory on earth with hymnody and hymn the praised and all-glorious God, may be delivered from all manner of dangers.

Having kindled a noetic fire in thy thoughts, thou didst utterly consume the vile heresy of the abominable Nestorius; wherefore, we beseech thee: Having burned up the fuel of our pleasures by thy supplications to God, O glorious one, cleanse us.

“Hearken and understand, O wise elder,” Anna saith to Zachariah through divine counsel; “Accept the pure Maiden whom we have conceived, with valiant soul; for for her sake shall deliverance come to pass. Let us lead her into the holy temple, crying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!”

“The Lord alone is blessed,” cried the priest. “Those who made declaration unto us now manifestly show us the gates of life, the divinely inhabited palace, wherein the Messiah, the King of all, shall make His abode. To Him doth all the earth cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!”

“Behold, O most wise elder,” Anna said with reverence, “receive with splendor the most comely Maiden whom God hath given me, and prophesy that she alone shall bring to a material end what was foretold. With the other prophets thou dost cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!”

“Now have I most clearly realized,” the elder said with understanding, “a tree will grow in the midst of the temple, which will truly put forth a divine Fruit Who shall lead into paradise those driven out because they ate of the food of corruption, who shall cry out with joy: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!”

The elder manifestly spake words of ineffable teaching: “O pure Virgin Maiden, thy soul shall make its habitation in this divine temple; for, fed by an angel, thou shalt give birth to the Angel of great Counsel, to Whom we chant: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!”

With joy we chant to thee with the cry of Gabriel, O pure Maiden: Rejoice, thou who alone art the cause of joy for all! Rejoice, cleansing of our souls, in that thou gavest birth to the deliverance of us who render praise in hymns to Him: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Patiently sending up thy supplications to God, thou didst receive that for which thou didst ask with faith, O most blessed one; for when thou didst sleep at night, an angel appeared to thee, who gave thee a fiery sword which cutteth down the passions of thy heart, cleanseth thee with immaterial fire and illumineth thee with ineffable glory.

Like the most radiant sun hast thou shone noetically with the brilliant light of the virtues, O Gregory, illumining all the earth with the effulgence of thy miracles and enlightening those who piously chant: Ye children, bless; ye priests, chant; ye people, exalt Christ supremely forever!

Hearing the hymnody of the angels while yet in thy mortal body, from which the senses of thy soul were manifestly delighted, O Gregory, thou wast shown to be godly and radiant of visage, crying out to the Master: Ye children, bless; ye priests, chant; ye people, exalt Him supremely forever!

Cleansed of the carnal passions like gold purified in a glowing crucible, O most glorious one, thou didst shine forth upon all, chanting: All ye works, hymn the Lord and exalt Him supremely forever!

Adorned by the sound of the instrument of thine honorable tongue, the Church of God hymned the descent of the Savior to earth, manifestly singing for all to hear and crying: Thee do we exalt supremely, O Christ, for all ages!

Thou hast truly been shown to be a divine harp whose music soundeth for all who with faith accept the saving incarnation of God for us, O blessed father Proclus, who chantest with faith: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely forever!

Behold, the holy mountain of God entereth the Holy of holies escorted with radiant lamps. From her shall be quarried the Stone which shall crush the temples and idols of the demons and shall make men themselves into temples and honorable habitations of God.

God hath sworn and shall now fulfill His vow, giving us the Ever-virgin from the tribe of Judah, whose womb shall put forth the Tree of Life which shall deliver those who fell through eating of the deadly fruit and were ruined by the deception of the serpent.

With radiant mouth Anna cried out in the temple of God: “To Thee, O Master, do I offer the Maiden Thou hast given me, from whom, in Thine ineffable loving-kindness, Thou shalt become a mortal man and shalt save the world which Thou hast created, magnifying her as Thy Mother!”

Lo! the day of salvation hath dawned for those in the night of evils! The portal of heaven, the holy habitation of God, opening the gates of the temple, entereth into the Holy of holies accompanied by lighted lamps, to be nurtured by the holy hosts.

Illumine the eyes of my soul, O pure one who gavest birth to the Light, lest the most profound darkness of sin may not overtake me and the deep of despair cover me; but do thou thyself save me and guide me to the haven of the will of God.

With the sweat of thy fasting thou didst quench the burning coal of sin, O wise one, and thou didst manifestly receive grace from heaven in the guise of fire which burneth not, but rather bedeweth and showeth thee to be mighty in strength over the passions.

Thou didst blossom like a rose, like a fragrant lily, amid the vales of fasting, O father Gregory. Wherefore, thou pourest forth fragrant myrrh, and thy bones abundantly perfume our life; for thy cheeks have been shown to be full, like a cup, of sweet fragrance.

Today, the council of fasters and the venerable, the patriarchs and prophets, rejoice with us on thy memorial, O blessed one, and the apostles and martyrs celebrate with us. With them be thou mindful of those who honor thee with faith, O right wondrous one.

The shrine wherein thy precious and much-suffering body lieth, poureth forth the grace of miracles upon us, O father Gregory, sanctifying the souls and bodies of us who have been enriched by thee and have thee as an intercessor and fervent helper.

Passing images and shadows by, and understanding Christ truly, having been reborn in the baptismal font, thou wast anointed a most sacred priest. Wherefore, thou didst proclaim as Theotokos her who gave Him birth.

Thou didst embrace the sacred character and dogmas of Chrysostom, O blessed one, and with his sacred zeal for the Faith; and thou didst raise up the abyss of thy dogmas, which drieth up the torrents of heresies with grace.

By thy sacred entreaties quell thou the turmoil which riseth up against us, and dispel the darkness of the passions and the affliction of all men, in that thou hast boldness before our Master and God.

Thou wast a holy temple, O hierarch, and through divine communion thou art now become a god and a citizen of paradise, wherein thou dost partake directly of the tree of knowledge and incorruptible glory, mindful of those who with love and faith praise thee, O wise Gregory, sacred father.

Glory…, Now & ever…, of the Forefeast: Spec. Mel.: “Hearken, ye women…”—

A day of prefestival doth the temple now observe for the all-pure entrance of Mary, the Theotokos, whom the angels hymn and men call blessed, and whom virgins accompany, bearing lamps and dancing, into the temple of the Lord.