At Vespers

Glory..., in Tone II—

On “Lord, I have cried...,” 6 stichera; 3 to the greatmartyr Catherine, in Tone I: Spec. Mel: “Joy of the ranks of heaven...”—

Troparion of the Great Martyr Catherine, in Tone IV—

Now and ever..., in Tone VIII—

Today the city of Alexandria most wisely adorneth itself, having thy swaddling clothes, O martyr, within thy divine temple. Wherefore, we also piously celebrate thine honored memory, O Catherine, Pray thou in behalf of those who honor thee.

Or this troparion, in the same tone—

Glory..., in Tone II—

Today let us celebrate the memory of Catherine, for by word and by deed she truly set at naught with might all the hosts of the enemy and the opposition of the rhetors. By her prayers deliver us, O God, from the godless foe.

Now and ever..., of the feast, in Tone VIII—

Rejoice, most glorious and honored martyr Catherine, for the mount of Sinai, whereon Moses beheld the bush which burned, yet was not consumed, doth now keep thy God-pleasing body which Christ transferred thither, even until the time of His second coming.

Glory..., of the Great Martyr Mercurius, in the same tone—

And 3 stichera to the greatmartyr Mercurius, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “As one valiant among the martyrs...”—

Now and ever..., of the feast, in the same tone—

O passion-bearer Mercurius, having vanquished the adversary with the help of the Spirit, as an invincible warrior thou didst cut down myriads of noetic Moors with the sword of faith, and having brought thy struggle to an end in accordance with the law, thou didst receive a crown with all the sufferers, O most blessed greatmartyr.

An angel, sent to thee from heaven at the behest of the divine Spirit, healed thy wounds. Yet, after thy healing, O right glorious one, thou didst endure to be treacherously pierced with heated goads, and wast suspended and stretched out, bound to a heavy stone, and thy blood was shed everywhere, O martyr.

Serving as a soldier for an earthly king, O Mercurius, thou wast commanded by him to sacrifice to demons, O divinely wise and blessed one. Thou didst endure torments, fiery immolation and a violent death. And thou didst ascend, crowned, unto Christ and wast joined to the flocks of the martyrs, praying in behalf of the world.

O ye who love the martyrs, let us joyfully make haste to the festival of the divinely wise martyr Catherine, and with praises let us crown her as with flowers, crying out to her: Rejoice, thou who didst denounce the insolence of the foolish rhetors as full of ignorant reasonings, and led them to the divine Faith! Rejoice, thou who gavest thy body over to subtle torments for the love of thy Creator, and wast not destroyed, in that thou wast an invincible maiden! Rejoice, thou who hast inherited mansions on high as a reward for thy pains, and dost now delight in everlasting glory, which desiring, may we who hymn thee not fall away from the hope thereof.

After thy nativity, O Mistress, Bride of God, thou didst go to the Temple of the Lord to be raised in the Holy of holies as a consecrated maiden. Then was Gabriel sent to thee, the all-immaculate one, bringing food unto thee. All of the heavenly powers marvelled, beholding the Holy Spirit abiding within thee. Wherefore, O all-pure and undefiled Mother of God, who art glorified in heaven and on earth, save thou thy race.

At the Aposticha, these stichera for the feast, in Tone I: Spec. Mel: “Joy of the ranks of heaven...”—

Come, all ye who love the feasts of the Church, and with hymns let us honor her who alone is the pure Theotokos and Virgin, for she is led into the Temple of God, therein to dwell now splendidly, the truly most holy temple of Christ, and mediatress of all joy.

Stichos: The virgins that follow after her shall be brought unto the King, those near her shall be brought unto Thee.

Throw open the doors, O prophet, and receive with faith her who is brought into the Temple of the Lord, the boast of all angels and men, their radiant joy, that she may dwell and dance within, she who is the temple and abode of God.

Stichos: They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing, they shall be brought into the Temple of the King.

Mary, the Theotokos, is brought to the Temple, receiving bread from the angel who appeared, crying to her, Rejoice! without knowing man thou shalt conceive a Son, O blessed Virgin Theotokos, Bride of God, thou goodly inheritance and restoration of mortals.

Having acquired an immaterial life, and having been brought before the godless tribunal, thou didst stand, wearing the radiance of God like flowers, arrayed in divine might, O victorious and honored Catherine, and thou didst mock the tyrant’s command and didst put an end to the audacious discourse of the rhetors, O much-suffering one.

David foretold thee, O all-pure one, foreseeing the sanctification of thine entry into the Temple. Therein do the ends of the earth, holding festival today, glorify thee, O all-hymned one. For, O Mother of the Word of life, who before giving birth wast Virgin and after giving birth remained incorrupt, today Zachariah maketh merry in the Temple, accepting thee, O Mistress; and the Holy of holies rejoiceth, receiving thee, the wellspring of our life. Wherefore, we also cry out in psalms to thee: Beseech thy Son and our God in our behalf, that He grant us great mercy.

Thy ewe-lamb Catherine crieth out to Thee with a loud voice, O Jesus: “I love Thee, O my Bridegroom, and, seeking Thee, I pass through many struggles; I am crucified and buried with Thee in Thy baptism, and suffer for Thy sake, that I might reign with Thee; I die for Thee, that I might live with Thee. As an unblemished sacrifice accept me, who sacrifice myself with love for Thee.” By her prayers save Thou our souls, in that Thou art merciful.

With thy virtues, as with the rays of the sun, thou didst enlighten the unbelieving philosophers; and, like the most radiant moon shining on those who walk at night, thou didst drive away the darkness of unbelief. Thou didst bring the empress to faith and didst denounce the tyrant, O divinely elect bride. O blessed Catherine, with desire didst thou make haste to the heavenly bridal chamber, to Christ the most comely Bridegroom, and by Him hast thou been crowned with a royal crown. Standing with the angels before Him, do thou pray for us who keep thy most honored memory.

In his sufferings, O Lord, thy martyr Mercurius received an imperishable crown from Thee, our God. For, possessed of Thy might, he cast down the tormentors and set at naught the feeble audacity of the demons. By his prayers do Thou save our souls.

Today is the prelude of God’s good will and the proclamation of the salvation of man. The Virgin hath manifestly appeared in the Temple of God and proclaimeth Christ unto all. To her let us cry aloud: Rejoice, O thou fulfillment of the Creator’s dispensation!