Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, fleeing to Thy calm haven I cry unto Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O greatly Merciful One!
Kontakion, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Today the Virgin…”—
The author of evil was unable to endure the power of thy words; wherefore, O Stephen, the deceiver savagely gave thee over to bonds, wounds and a violent death.
Theotokion: O Theotokos, with steadfast heart we bless thee, who alone among women art all-hymned and comely, the invincible rampart of Christians, the all-pure Mistress.
Like bread baked by fire wast thou burned, suspended pitilessly by thy feet, O Paul; and thou didst offer thyself as a sacrifice to God, and art counted worthy to dwell with the martyrs.
With faith and love we bless you, O ye thirty-eight venerable monks who contended lawfully in Ephesus, imprisoned and deprived of life by suffocation.
Thou didst mightily oppose the judge, O right glorious Peter of great renown, and, thy body lacerated with stripes, thou didst desire to die for Christ, the only Immortal One.
From a barren woman didst thou, the offshoot of a root, grow forth, O venerable father, namesake of the protomartyr; and thou wast shown to be a great instructor of monks, unafraid of the wrath of the emperor who refused to venerate the image of Christ. Wherefore, in dying thou didst receive the crown of martyrdom, O Stephen.
Ikos: He who is the father of hatred and stranger to God raised many temptations and threefold waves against thee; yet he could not bear to look upon thy godly life and the straight and undeviating tread of thy path. The vile one devised evils against thee, feigning to be thy disciple, like Judas of old; and he made haste to place thee in the hands of the iniquitous, O father, who splendidly confessed Christ and venerated His image with love. Wherefore, thou hast received the crown of martyrdom, O Stephen.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.