After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man...”
And these stichera, in Tone III
On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “When from the Tree…”—
Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “Rejoice…”—
Troparion of the martyr, in Tone IV—
Glory..., Now and ever..., in Tone I
Having forsaken the beauties of the world, the splendor of thy birthright, wealth and comeliness, and cast aside all sensuality, and broken thy body through the wounding of the passions, rejoicing thou didst follow after Christ, O James; for through thy suffering thou hast now truly become a partaker of glory and a fellow heir of the kingdom. Twice
Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…”—
Or this troparion, in the same tone—
Reading from the Proverbs (9:1-11)
When the members of thy flesh were cut off, O right glorious James, martyr of Christ, enduring unbearable pain and wounds, and manfully trampling the savagery of the tormenters underfoot, thou didst receive a priceless crown of victory; and now adorned therewith, O blessed one, thou dost stand, with those who suffered with thee, before the throne of thy Master. Twice
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion, or stavrotheotokion.
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: she hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him who wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
Possessed of boldness before Christ, O ever-memorable martyr, thou dost fervently intercede for all who celebrate thine honored festival with faith, delivering them from misfortunes and freeing them from the passions, rescuing them from besetting evils and granting their souls salvation by thy divine supplications, that we may glorify thy splendid struggles. Twice
Glory..., Now and ever..., in Tone VI
Glory…, in Tone V—
Thou didst astonish all in thine endurance of tortures, O James; for thou didst suffer the amputation of thy fingers, hands and arms, and likewise thy feet and legs, until thou wast left with thy trunk alone; and then, as thou didst pray, thy precious head was severed. O much-suffering martyr, cease thou never to pray to Christ in our behalf, that our souls may find mercy.
The ewe-lamb, once beholding her Lamb hastening to the slaughter, followed diligently, crying out these things to Him: “Whither goest Thou, O Christ, my Child most sweet? Wherefore dost thou tread so rapid a course without wavering? O sinless Jesus most desired, greatly merciful Lord, grant that Thy handmaid may speak; O my Son most beloved, Compassionate One, spurn not in silence her who in strange manner gave birth to Thee Who bestowest great mercy upon the world, O most compassionate God!”
At the Aposticha, the stichera from the Octoechos. Glory…, of the martyr, the composition of George the Syngellus, in Tone VIII—
Assembling with faith today, O ye who love to look upon things divine, behold the strange and noetic contest of James of Persia, who hath shone upon us like the star which appeared to the magi, guiding us to true knowledge; for that valiant one, when he fell, destroyed those who fought against him, and when his members were severed, he rendered those who tortured him impotent, for he was strengthened by the providence of the Most High, crying out: “Even though ye sever my material limbs, yet do I have Christ, Who hath spiritually become all things to me!” Wherefore, foreseeing the life to come, which lieth through death before all, he hastened to pass over to it, and abiding therein, he entreateth God, the Bestower of crowns, that He grant cleansing, enlightenment and great mercy unto us who celebrate his memory.
“What is this sight that I see, which mine eyes behold, O Master? Thou Who sustainest all creation dost die, lifted up upon the Tree, granting life unto all,” weeping, the Theotokos said when she beheld the God-man suspended upon the Cross, Who had ineffably shone forth from her.
In his sufferings, O Lord, Thy martyr James received an imperishable crown from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, he cast down the tormenters and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. By his supplications save Thou our souls.
Thou hast astonished all by thy terrifying torments and the valor of thine endurance, O much suffering one, most wondrously uttering prayers of thanksgiving to the Lord as each of thy members was severed from thy body. Wherefore, receiving a crown amid thy suffering, thou hast ascended to the throne of Christ God, the King of heaven. Entreat Him, O James, that He save our souls.
At “Lord, I have cried...,” eight stichera; five in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “O most glorious wonder...”
O all-hymned Virgin, immaculate Mother of God the Word, angels’ astonishment, help of Christians, be thou unto us an unassailable wall against the assaults of enemies, visible and invisible, stretching forth unto thy Son thy hands which held God, destroying by thine almighty supplication the counsels of the impious, and revealing the sign of thy mercy unto us.
O Lady Theotokos, our hope unashamed, bowing the knee of our hearts at this time, we cry to thee in compunction: The Russian land, which of old was called thy home, do thou snatch from the hands of the devil, stretching forth unto thy Son thy hands which held God, by thy supplication consuming all the dominion of the enemy, and revealing the sign of thy mercy unto us.
O thou joy of all joys! Most sweet consolation of those who sorrow! Surety of sinners! Salvation of the faithful! Lead us to the heavenly Kingdom, compensating for our weakness with thine intercession; intercede for us before the dread judgment seat of Christ, delivering us from everlasting torment, and revealing the sign of thy mercy unto us.
O wondrous tidings! O most glorious sight! An icon of the Theotokos hid within a grove, and pouring forth a spring of living water ever flowing to life eternal! Wherefore, having found it, let us form a chorus, and, clapping our hands with gladness, let us cry: Rejoice, O most blessed one, for thou hast come unto us who are poor!
Sanctified by the wood of the Cross, the trees of the forest pay homage to the immaculate Mother of Him Who stretched forth His hands upon the Tree; for they preserved the image of thy face most pure, that when it was wondrously discovered, the Church might be robed in its comeliness, and the faithful be partakers of grace divine.
O all ye generations of the earth, bless Mary the Theotokos: Ye righteous and sinners, form one choir for her; ye virgins, hymn the ever-Virgin, the boast of virginity; ye mothers, praise the Mother of our Creator and God; ye elders, bow down before her who gave flesh to the Ancient of Days; ye babes, glorify her who holdeth the preëternal Infant in her arms; ye poor, magnify her who doth possess a wealth of mercy and grace; ye kings, exalt the Queen of heaven and earth; and kissing her precious image, let us cry out: Rejoice, O inexhaustible joy and salvation of our souls!
O Mistress, thy most precious icon hath appeared as a sign of thy good pleasure unto us, whereat, bending down as to a life-bearing spring, we draw forth the water of immortality, and freely receive divers healings; and bowing down before thee, the prototype, we cry in faith: O most holy Theotokos, save us!
O most pure Virgin: the light, joy and protection of our souls, the estrangement from sorrows and remission of sins, the fulfillment of humble requests and ever-flowing fount of grace art thou, O immaculate one. Wherefore, falling down before thee, we pray: Cease not to cry to thy Son and God for us, that being delivered by thee from misfortunes, we may obtain great mercy from Christ the Lord.
Forming a most festive choir today, come ye, let us hymn the Virgin Theotokos; and, kissing her most pure image, let us cry: O most holy Mistress, deliver thy heritage from cruel enemies, and strengthen the faithful in the doing of good, entreating thy Son and God for all.
Entrance. Prokimenon of the Day. And three Lessons:
Reading from the First Book of Moses, called Genesis (28:10-17)
And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth; and thou shalt be spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
Reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (43:27-44:4).
And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings: and I will accept you, saith the Lord God. Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord the God of Israel hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same. Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord: and I fell upon my face.
At the Litia, these stichera, in Tone I
Come, all ye peoples of our native land, let us hasten to the temple of the Lord; let us praise the all-hymned Mother of our God, and bow down before her most pure image in faith, for it hath now been given to the Russian land as a pledge of salvation. Wherefore, radiantly keeping the feast thereof, let us unceasingly cry out to the Theotokos: Rejoice, ready help of the world, thou joy and salvation of our souls!
Laying aside all earthly care, and forsaking the vanity of the world, let us lift up our eyes unto the holy hill, from whence cometh our help; for lo! the Queen of heaven, standing at the right hand of her Son and God, doth pray without ceasing. Wherefore, let us, who have been delivered from misfortune through her intercession, be glad, saying: Rejoice, our fervent helper, thou salvation of our souls!
Let us be filled today with great joy, and giving thanks with compunction let us cry in fear and trembling: Why is this granted to us, that the Mother of our God hath come to us? For lo! her healing icon abideth in our midst, and we dare to touch it, to bow down before it, to kiss it, and to offer entreaty to its prototype, as to one who is truly with us. Wherefore, marvelling at her condescension, we cry: Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace!
Come, all ye who labor and are heavy laden; come, ye who weep and mourn; come, ye who have lacked patience; come, ye poor and afflicted! Fall down before the icon of the all-pure Virgin, and receive ye, each according to his need; for lo! the all-hymned Theotokos giveth all to each abundantly. She is the healing of the infirm, the most sweet consolation of those who grieve, the forgiveness of sinners and the salvation of all who have recourse to her in faith.
When the fullness of time shall come; when the trumpet of the archangel shall sound; when the thrones of judgment shall be set, and the rivers of fire make a fearsome noise; when the dead arise and the living are caught up, and the sign of the Son of man shall appear in heaven, all the inhabitants of the earth shall weep, and all the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Then shall the Virgin Theotokos, the salvation of sinners and hope of the hopeless, appear, standing at the right hand of the Judge, stretching forth her most pure hands to her Son, mercifully bedewing her cheeks with tears, and delivering from everlasting torment those who call upon her all-hymned name. Therefore, brethren, let us now make haste, and delay not in approaching the Theotokos, that she, upon whom we place all our hope, may help us at that dreadful hour.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.