Canon of the Theotokos

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

Irmos: Let us all chant a hymn of victory unto God, Who hath wrought marvelous wonders with His upraised arm and saved Israel, for He is glorious.

Katavasia: Christ is born, give ye glory! Christ cometh from heaven, meet ye Him! Christ is on earth, be ye exalted! O all the earth, sing ye unto the Lord, and chant with gladness, ye people, for He hath been glorified!

Kontakion, in Tone II: Spec. Mel: “In supplications...”—

Glory..., Triadicon: With faith I worship the supernatural Unity of the all-unoriginate Trinity, not dividing the Godhead. For It is of a single kind, simple and indivisible. And I unite It by essence and faithfully distinguish the Persons.

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

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone I: Spec. Mel: “Joy of the ranks of heaven...”—

Theotokion: Rejoice, O wellspring of grace! Rejoice, stairway and portal to heaven! Rejoice, golden candlestick and jar, and mountain unquarried, who for the world gavest birth unto Christ, the Bestower of life.

As thou art she who alone gave birth in time unto the timeless incarnate Son, O most holy and all-pure one, heal thou all the temporal passions of my most passionate soul.

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

Katavasia: To Christ God, the Son Who was begotten of the Father without corruption before time began, and in latter times without seed became incarnate of the Virgin, let us cry aloud: O Lord Who liftest up our horn, holy art Thou!

Glory..., Triadicon: Let us all hymn in Orthodox manner, in Trinity, the one power of the unoriginate, uncreated, consubstantial, equally enthroned, tri-hypostatic, three-Sunned God, chanting unto Him.

Glory…: Another sessional hymn, in the same tone & melody—

Be glad now, O Bethsaida, for the most fragrant lilies, Peter and Andrew, have blossomed forth in thee from the vale of their mother, perfuming the whole world with the preaching of the Faith through the grace of Christ; and they have shared also in His sufferings.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: God is born an Infant unto the Virgin, and He reneweth that which, through Adam, hath become corrupt; and He breaketh down the wall of partition and the chamber of enmity with His flesh. And coming forth from His all-pure Mother, He doth annul the curse of our first mother.

The wounds of my soul and the hardness of my heart, the blindness of my thought and the distraction of my mind do thou amend by thy prayers, O all-pure one, as thou art full of pity.

Irmos: Guiding Israel with a pillar of fire and cloud, as God He divided the sea and overwhelmed the chariots of Pharaoh in the deep. Let us chant a hymn of victory, for He alone is glorious!

Katavasia: A rod from the root of Jesse and blossom therefrom, O Christ, Thou didst spring forth from the Virgin; from the mountain overshadowed and densely wooded hast Thou come, incarnate of her who knew not man, O Thou praised and immaterial God. Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Glory..., Triadicon: O ye faithful, let us hymn the Trinity in Unity: the Father, the Son, and the divine Spirit, One in Godhead, Essence and Nature, indivisible, inseparable, undivided; for He is One God in three Persons.

Rejoice and make merry, O Andrew, for, clearly, in the radiance of the Word, thou hast received Christ, the Sun of glory, the Bestower of life, to Whom cleaving with faith, thou didst preach. Him do thou unceasingly entreat in behalf of us who hymn thee with faith.

Theotokion: Though thou didst conceive God in thy womb, O Virgin, by the All-holy Spirit wast thou preserved unconsumed, for to Moses the law-giver the unburnt bush manifestly foretold thee, who, aflame, received the unbearable Fire.

O all-pure one, who gavest birth unto the Light, my Deliverer, deliver me from darkness and everlasting torment, that, saved, I may hymn thy mighty works.

Irmos: Let my heart be made steadfast in Thy will, O Christ God, Who didst establish the second heaven upon the waters and founded the earth upon the waters, O Almighty One.

Katavasia: As God of peace and Father of compassion, Thou didst send Thine Angel of Great Counsel, Who granteth us peace. Therefore, guided to the light of knowledge divine, and waking at dawn out of the night, we glorify Thee, Who lovest mankind.

Glory..., Triadicon: O ye faithful, together let us glorify God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the indivisible Trinity, the tri-hypostatic Kingship, faithfully glorifying It with unceasing theologizings.

Andrew, the beholder of God, the teacher of the mysteries of the divine dispensation of Christ, elect among the first to be disciples of the Word, beholding Peter, his brother, crying aloud, did say: “We have found the Messiah, Whom the Scriptures and the prophets foretold!”

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Every mother who beareth a child can no longer be a virgin; but thou, O Virgin Mother, having given birth unto Christ, didst so remain, nourishing our Life with milk and remaining pure.

O all-hymned one, by thy light dispel the darkness of my mind, O thou who gavest birth unto Him Who is Light, in manner surpassing comprehension; and grant me, O good one, to behold the Light which hath shone forth upon us from thee.

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

Katavasia: The sea monster thrust forth, like a babe from the womb, Jonah whom it had swallowed; and the Word, Who dwelt within the Virgin and took flesh of her, issued forth, preserving her incorrupt. He kept her who gave Him birth unharmed, for He Himself was not subject to corruption.

Glory..., Triadicon: The Father, the Son, and the right Spirit, the tri-hypostatic Essence, indivisible, let us worship, O ye faithful, crying out: Glory to God in Trinity!

Thankfully honoring thee, the city of Patras hath acquired thee as its pastor, a divine protector, and a deliverer from all manner of misfortunes, and its preserver. Unceasingly pray thou for it, that it be preserved unharmed.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

My soul, which hath been troubled by wicked thoughts and words, do thou purify with the divine grace which dwelleth within thee, O Andrew, preacher of Christ, that I may pour forth a worthy hymn to thee in purity.

Irmos: Let my heart be made steadfast in Thy will, O Christ God, Who didst establish the second heaven upon the waters and founded the earth upon the waters, O Almighty One.

Katavasia: The children raised together in piety, disdaining the ungodly command, feared not the threat of the fire, but, standing in the midst of the flame, they chanted: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Glory..., Triadicon: Let us hymn the Trinity, O ye faithful, glorifying the unoriginate Father, and the Son, and the upright Spirit, the single Essence; and let us chant threefold hymns unto It, singing: Holy, holy, holy art Thou forever! Amen.

Let us praise Andrew, the preacher of the Faith and servant of the Word, for he hath drawn men forth from the abyss, using the Cross instead of a rod; and lowering a line of power, he leadeth up souls from the deception of the enemy, and doth ever offer them to God as an acceptable gift. Let us praise him, ye faithful, among the choirs of the disciples of Christ, that he may pray with them, that Christ be merciful unto us on the day of Judgment.

Theotokion: We hymn thy great and awesome mystery, for He Who ever existeth, hiding Himself from the supramundane legions, descended upon thee like the dew upon the fleece, unto our salvation and restoration, O all-hymned one.

The Forerunner of Christ, who sprang forth from a barren woman, led Andrew, rejoicing, the most eminent and honored of his disciples, to Christ the supremely glorified, Who was born of the Virgin.

Irmos: Foreseeing in the Spirit the Incarnation of the Word, O prophet Habbakuk, thou didst proclaim, crying out: When the years draw nigh, Thou shalt be acknowledged; when the season cometh, Thou shalt be shown forth! Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Katavasia: The dew-bearing furnace showed forth the image of a supernatural wonder; for it burned not the youths whom it had received, just as the fire of the Godhead burned not the Virgin, whose womb it entered. Wherefore, chanting, let us sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Glory..., Triadicon: Unceasingly we glorify in heaven and on earth the incomprehensible Trinity, the tri-hypostatic Essence, the indivisible Glory which is hymned in one Godhead, piously worshipping the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Now & ever..., of the forefeast, in the same tone—

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Having ineffably conceived One of the Trinity in thy womb, thou didst incorruptly give birth unto Him as a Son; yet the Trinity was not at any time added to. And as thou wast pure before giving birth, thou wast kept whole, O Mother of God.

With desire and unwavering love beginning to mount the steps of the virtues, ever learning to ascend, from weakness thou didst attain unto the most lofty strength, O Andrew.

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 unto our salvation and restoration.

Katavasia: A strange and most glorious mystery do I behold: the cave is heaven; the Virgin, the throne of the cherubim; the manger, the place wherein lay Christ God, Whom naught can contain, Whom praising, we magnify.

Now and ever…: Theotokion: We flee with faith to thy loving-kindness, piously worshipping thy Son, O Virgin Theotokos. Him do thou entreat as the God and Lord of the world, that He deliver us from corruption, misfortune and every temptation.

Receive thou, O Bethlehem, the Mother of God, for the unapproachable Light cometh to be born in thee. Ye angels, marvel in heaven. Ye men, give glory on earth. Ye magi from Persia, bring ye your most glorious threefold gifts. Ye shepherds abiding in the fields, chant ye the thrice-holy hymn. Let every breath praise the Maker of all!

Theotokion: The hosts of heaven are gladdened at the sight of thee, and with them rejoice the assemblies of men; for by thy birthgiving, O Virgin Theotokos, they are united, glorifying thee as is meet.

With the rod of the Gospel didst thou fish, O all-praised Andrew, drawing men forth from the deep of falsehood, as Christ promised, Who taught thee to pursue men as though they were fish.

Irmos: Foreseeing in the Spirit the Incarnation of the Word, O Prophet Habbakuk, thou didst proclaim, crying out: When the years draw nigh, Thou shalt be acknowledged; when the season cometh, Thou shalt be shown forth! Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Now and ever…: Theotokion—

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Thou didst give birth to the Light knowing not how, O thou who bearest the lamp of the Light of the Sun; and thou wast a new tabernacle of divine light, emitting rays of divine knowledge for the whole world.

The divinely inspired Andrew, the pillar of the Faith and seat of the true dogmas of Christ, doth today summon all the ends of the earth to celebrate his yearly festival. Let us therefore make haste, all ye faithful!

Irmos: Grant us Thy peace, O Son of God, for we know none other God than Thee; we call upon Thy name, for Thou art the God of the quick and the dead.

Glory..., in Tone VIII—

Theotokion: O all-pure Virgin, the ancestors of our race are gladdened on thine account, having received through thee Eden, which they had lost through transgression, for thou art pure both before and after giving birth.

Having pursued the fish of the sea with nets, with the skill of a fisherman dost thou fish for nations, tribes and peoples with the net of the Spirit, and most manifestly dost thou plainly disclose to us through the Spirit a lofty depth, O most wondrous one.

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.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: At the good pleasure of the Father and through the Holy Spirit was the Son incarnate in thy womb, O pure one, and manifestly did He save that which before was in His image.

O thou who solemnized the mysteries of heaven, eyewitness and propounder of the ineffable knowledge of Christ, thou who received the Holy Spirit from on high, who discourseth, and sitteth among the nations and doth dispense gifts with fire: Pray thou that we be saved.

Irmos: Illumine our minds with the light of Thy commandments and with the splendor of Thy grace, O God, granting us Thy mercy, for Thy precepts are light and peace, O Good One.

Theotokion: O Theotokos, Jacob prophetically understood thee to be a ladder, for through thee the All-exalted One appeared and dwelt among men on earth, as He was well-pleased so to do. Praised and most glorious is the God of our fathers!

Dispel all the barrenness of my fruitless thoughts and show forth my soul as fertile in the virtues, O most holy Theotokos, thou helper of the faithful.

Irmos: Emulating the Prophet Jonah, I cry out: O Good One, free me from corruption! O Savior of the world, save me that cry out: Glory to Thee!

Now & ever…: Theotokion: O Christ, we glorify Thee as One of the Trinity, for, incarnate of the Virgin without change, Thou didst bear all things as a man without departing from the Father’s essence, O Jesus, even though Thou wast united unto us.

O all-immaculate one, who for us gavest birth unto the unwaning Light, deliver me from all condemnation and from the manifold temptations of the serpent, from fire and from darkness.

Irmos: The uttermost abyss hath surrounded us, and there is no one 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: Rejoice, thou throne of the glory of God! Rejoice, rampart of the faithful through which hath shone forth Christ, the Light of those who are in darkness, who bless thee and cry out: Hymn the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

All condemned do I stand by the dread tribunal, before that unquenchable fire and the stern sentence, O pure one. Haste thou to save me, thy servant, before the end, O good one.

Irmos: Emulating the Prophet Jonah, I cry out: O Good One, free me from corruption! O Savior of the world, save me that cry out: Glory to Thee!

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Having conceived, thou didst give birth unto one of the Trinity, Who, incarnate of thee, doth renew the laws of nature by thy birthgiving, O pure one. Cease not ever to beseech Him as God in our behalf, O Theotokos.

Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, O all-hymned Virgin, for with grace divine thou didst, for the sake of His Cross, make those who became corrupt by the fruit of the tree partakers of incorruption.

Irmos: The fire neither touched nor vexed Thy children that were in the furnace, O Savior; for then, as with one mouth, the three hymned and blessed Thee, saying: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Theotokion: Thou didst spring forth from the root of David, the prophet and forefather of God, O Virgin; but thou hast glorified David, for thou gavest birth unto the Lord of glory, Whom he prophesied. Hymning Him, we magnify thee as is meet.

Thou wast not summoned, but of thine own will didst thou run like a thirsting hart to the Wellspring of life, and having found Him thou didst preach Him to all; and having drunk thereof thou didst drench the parched ends of the earth with the waters of incorruption.

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

Mindful of the laws of nature, O right wondrous Andrew, thou didst take thy kinsman into partnership, crying out: “We have found the Desired One!” And to him who prepared the way by his birth in the flesh thou didst show spiritual knowledge.

Irmos: [same as that of the preceding canon]

From the depths of deception hast thou caught reason-endowed fish in the net of the Word, O apostle, and thou hast brought pure food to the table of Christ: those who have been enlightened by the grace of Him Who appeared in fleshly form.

Irmos: Him of Whom the angels and all the hosts of heaven stand in awe as their Creator and Lord, hymn, ye priests; glorify, ye children; bless, ye people, and exalt supremely for all ages!

Cephas and Andrew straightway followed Christ, Who summoned them, saying, “Come, follow Me!”, leaving their father, their boat and nets, for they were visionaries of faith.

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!

Transforming pagan temples into churches, O most honored one, thou didst sanctify therein children of baptism, whom grace hath renewed through water and the Spirit.

Irmos: God, Who preserved the bush which burnt on Sinai unconsumed and Who delivered the children in the midst of the burning flame, hymn, bless and exalt ye supremely forever!

Thou didst mystically set before the world the pearl of great price which was hid within the field of thy heart, O apostle, which the gentiles, finding, treasured faithfully.

Irmos: The radiant cloud upon whom the unoriginate Master of all descended from heaven, like the dew upon the fleece, and of whom He was incarnate, becoming man for our sake, let us all magnify as the pure Mother of God.

Taking up the Gospel in thy hands as a treasure, O much lauded one, thou didst enrich all the earth with thy divine preaching. Wherefore, it honoreth thy memory and thy sufferings.

Irmos: The bush, aflame with fire yet unconsumed, showed forth an image of thy pure birthgiving; and now we pray thee to extinguish the furnace of temptations which rageth against us, that we may unceasingly magnify thee, O Theotokos.

We honor thee as is meet, O apostle Andrew, as the first-called of all the disciples and an eyewitness and minister of the Word; for, fervently and with unwavering faith, thou didst follow the Lamb Who taketh away the sins of the world. And thereafter thou didst show thyself to share in the sufferings of Him Who willingly endured death for our sake. Wherefore, we cry to thee: Pray thou to Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who, with love, celebrate thy holy memory.

Irmos: The radiant cloud, upon whom the unoriginate Master of all descended like dew upon the fleece, and of whom He was incarnate, becoming man for our sake, let us all magnify as the pure Mother of God.

Setting at naught the audacity of the idols and yearning for the sufferings of Christ, thou didst show thyself to be an apostle, O blessed Andrew, raining down wonders from heaven, and wast a teacher of the nations, O most blessed one. Wherefore, honoring thy memory as is meet, in hymns we glorify and faithfully magnify thee, O apostle of the Lord. Pray thou to Christ God, that He grant remission of sins to those who with love celebrate thy holy memory.

Rejoice, O fiery throne of God! Rejoice, O Maiden, royal seat and lavishly appointed couch, chamber hung with gold-embroidered purple, cloak of scarlet, temple adorned, chariot of lightning, most radiant candlestick! Rejoice, twelve-walled city, gate cast of gold, radiant bridal chamber, magnificently appointed banquet hall and divinely embellished tabernacle! Rejoice, glorious Bride, radiant as the sun! Rejoice, thou who alone art the splendor of my soul!

O most holy Virgin, undefiled tabernacle, with the most pure sprinklings of thy compassions do thou cleanse me now who have been defiled with iniquities, and extend unto me a helping hand, that I may cry: Glory to thee, O pure and divinely glorious one!

Thou hast shown thyself to be the consecrated temple of God, Who, in manner past understanding, made His abode within thee. Him do thou entreat, that He cleanse us of the defilement of sin, that we may be known as temples and habitations of the Spirit.

Have mercy on me, O Theotokos, who alone gavest birth unto the Source of mercy, and by thy supplications put an end to the cruel pain of my soul and the perplexity of my heart, granting me a stream of tears and divine compunction before mine end.

Through the divine Spirit the prophet wrote, knowing thee to be the mountain overshadowed, O pure one. By thy mediation cleanse those who have been consumed by the flame of transgressions, O Virgin, who alone dost set men aright.

The divine and consuming power of the higher, all-accomplishing and radiant Spirit, Who, in godly manner, made His abode within thee in the form of a tongue of fire, O Andrew, showed thee forth as a preacher of ineffable things.

The most honored Andrew did not take up weapons of the flesh for retribution, even to lay low the strong citadels of the enemy, but, protected by Christ, having captured the nations, he brought them to obedience.

Our superessential God, Who hath assumed our nature, hath shown thee, O Andrew, to be a mountain which poureth forth noetic gladness, destroying the cruel mountains of demonic arrogance.

By thy supplications, O Andrew, do thou never cease to fill with the bountiful gifts of Christ, thy Teacher, those who lovingly celebrate thy memory in song.

Having cast aside thy nets and taken up the Cross, thou didst follow after Christ Who called thee, and, stretching out the net of the Spirit, thou dost catch men instead of fish. Glory to Him Who gave thee the Spirit!

Having received the flaming tongue of the Spirit, thou didst become a man well-pleasing unto God, O apostle, going about the beauties of heaven, recognizing the noetic comeliness therein, and revealing it to us.

Thou didst water the parched desert with thy divine words, O wise one, and didst show it forth as fertile, bearing fruit, the children of the Church, through the broadcasting of the seed. Glory to Him Who gave thee the Spirit!

Perceiving Thine ineffable goodness, O Jesus, Andrew summoned his kinsman, saying: “O Peter, my blood kinsman, we have found the Messiah, Who was proclaimed in the Law and the Prophets! Come, let us truly join ourselves unto Life!”

Open thou the eyes of my heart, O pure one, to see clearly the divine radiance and thine ineffable glory, that I may receive mercy and eternal glory.

O all-immaculate one, thou didst give birth unto One of the honored Trinity, Who is one in Hypostasis, two in will. Him do thou earnestly beseech, that we all be saved.

O all-pure one, as thou didst bear our Savior and God, keep thine unprofitable servant safe from all sorrow, sickness and affliction.

Entreat Him Whom thou didst bear in manner surpassing comprehension, O Virgin, that He save those who cry to thee with faith: Rejoice, O all-immaculate Virgin! Rejoice, O blessed one, intercessor for the world!

Thou didst receive Him for Whom thou didst long, O apostle Andrew, making thine abode with Him in the incorruptible mansions, worthily having harvested the sheaves of thy labors. Wherefore, we glorify thee with hymns.

Thou didst love the Master, and quickly didst thou run after Him, guided towards life by His footprints and unfeignedly emulating His sufferings even unto death, O most honorable Andrew.

Having drawn thee like a mighty arrow, O blessed one, the Lord loosed thee at the world, wounding the demons and healing men wounded by ungodliness.

Having yearned for the Cross, O disciple of Christ, through thy cross didst thou obtain the incorruptible kingdom, whereto thou didst draw all the initiates of God with the Cross, granting an inheritance unto us, the theologians thereof.

Thou didst truly search for Christ our Life, and having searched, thou wast first to find Him; and having found Him, thou didst mystically embrace; and having received it in the Giver Himself, thou becamest a treasury of life incorruptible.

The utterances of thy divine thunderings were poured forth in the world and travelled from one end of the earth to the other, for they have circled round like a wheel; and thy lightnings, as David saith, have appeared to the whole world.

Remember us who celebrate thy memory and venerate thy relics, O disciple of Christ. Pray thou ever earnestly in behalf of the flock whose preserver and salvation thou hast been from the beginning.

Defiled by many sins, I pray to thee who art good, the undefiled tabernacle: Cleanse me of all pollution by thy mediation!

O pure one, be thou a pilot for me who am ever tossed about upon the abyss of evils by the temptations of life, and guiding me to the haven of salvation, do thou save me.

Threefold waves of evil thoughts, assaults of the passions and the abyss of sin bestorm my wretched soul. Help me, O holy Mistress!

Christ ever wrought great things for thee. Him do thou ever beseech, that He magnify in me His great mercy, O thou who art full of grace divine.

Sailing the sea of life in the vessel of thy body, thou didst discover Christ, the Helmsman Who guideth all things, O most blessed one, and thou didst stand before Him rejoicing, O most honored Andrew.

Evil spirits are cast out at thy word, infirmities take flight, a multitude of spiritual passions are driven far away from the afflicted by the grace given thee by God, O Andrew.

Like a gentle wave, moved by a meek spirit, O blessed one, with divine streams didst thou drain the sea of wicked polytheism and didst pour forth rivers of divine knowledge for all.

He who was led away from Bethsaida doth summon us to hold festival, having set before us the solemnity of the commemoration of his struggles.

By trade a fisherman, by faith a disciple, plumbing the depths of the heart of the faithful, he doth lower the hook of the word and doth catch us.

Spreading the fire of the love of Christ within thy heart, O disciple, thou didst cry out to the gentiles: Your flame doth burn for Christ, Who hath truly appeared!

Having seasoned your minds with the salt of Christ, your wages have sweetened the heavenly dogmas of unwaning delight for us.

The divinely eloquent namesake of manliness, the eminent follower of the Church, the kinsman of Peter, let us praise, for as of old he was called, so now he calleth us: “Come ye, we have found the Desired One!”

Ikos: Of old David constrained a sinner like me to declare the precepts of God honorably. And again he teacheth and with many tears doth ­proclaim: Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts as Israel once embittered themselves! And he leadeth the rest in psalmody: Come ye, hymn the Lord, all ye lands, for we have found the Desired One!

Hallow thou the soul defiled by the passions of me who am ever thy servant, O pure one, and quickly put an end to the grievous captivity of my mind, the hardness of my heart and the assaults of the demons.

O all-immaculate one, enliven my mind which hath been slain by the passions of the flesh, and strengthen me to do that which is pleasing unto God, that I may magnify thee and ever glorify thy loving-kindness.

Cleansing me of the grievous defilement of my lowly soul, O Virgin, from the pursuit of the invisible foe do thou deliver and save me who have been slain by carnal passions, O pure Lady.

Before thee, O most holy, immaculate and pure one, do we, thy servants, ever fall down, day and night, praying with contrition of heart, that by thy supplications thou obtain for us deliverance from sins.

Truly and manifestly hath Thy promise been fulfilled, O Christ, for Thy most divine disciple, rebuking a tempest with a word, transformed it into a peaceful calm. Praised art Thou and most glorious, O God of our fathers!

Commanded to ascend the mountain of the noetic Sion, O apostle, and having passed over death to divine life, rejoicing, thou dost bestow the cup of salvation of the praised and most glorious God of our fathers, having received it thyself.

The divine Water of life showed thee forth, O blessed one, as a noetic river which drieth up rivers of deception with streams of teaching and doth water those who cry: Praised and most glorious art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Though a mortal, O apostle, thou dost supernaturally work wonders, for, undergoing suffering with love, thou didst follow after Christ Who loved thee, chanting: Praised and most glorious is God!

O apostle of Christ, the fire of the Holy Spirit, descending from on high, commanded thee to proclaim His mighty works upon the ends of the earth in new languages which thou hadst never spoken before.

The proclamation which ye trumpeted forth to the earth doth astound every mind, O initiates of the mysteries of Christ and beholders of lofty things, for as the twelve ye have enlightened the darkness of the earth.

O Master Christ, wondrous was Thy grace in Thy divinely wise disciples who, as simple and humble men, traversed the whole earth from one end thereof even unto all its ends.

Who instructed thee to speak thus, O apostle? Who enlightened thy mind to behold clearly the effulgence of the unapproachable glory which shineth forth the light of truth in our hearts?

In godly manner was the Incorporeal One incarnate of thee, O all-pure one. Him do thou entreat to slay the passions of my soul and enliven it, for of old it was slain by most wicked sins.

In giving birth unto our Savior and God, thou didst remedy the affliction of Adam, who was fashioned of dust. Him do thou beseech to heal the wounds of my soul, which is incurably afflicted.

Raise me up who lie in the depths of evil, and vanquish now the enemies who war against me. Disdain not my soul which hath been wounded with wicked passions, O pure one, but take pity and save me.

O pure one, who gavest birth unto the Physician of all, heal thou the suffering of my heart, and beseech Christ to show me forth as one who hath a share in the portion of the righteous, O Virgin.

O Andrew, apostle of Christ, thy divine memory doth shine forth radiant and gladdening rays of healing upon us who cry out: Hymn the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Possessed of human nature, thou didst transcend the laws thereof and didst pass on to the habitations of the angels, O apostle Andrew; and thou dost cry out: Hymn the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

The inspiration of the Spirit of God, which before illumined thee with fire from on high, O divinely eloquent apostle, doth show thee to be a zealous orator who crieth out to thy Christ: Hymn the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Thou didst flash forth like lightning, a radiant light unto the gentiles, dispelling the darkness of ignorance and illumining the faithful, who cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, hymn and exalt Him supremely forever!

With a fisherman’s skill thou didst draw fish from the sea, O most wise one, and now, with faith, thou dost draw men from the deception of the enemy for Christ. For deception was once an abyss which drowned the nations in the storm of impiety.

Propelled by the sail of the Spirit, with faith in Christ thou didst navigate the noetic abyss of life without being capsized, O apostle. Wherefore, rejoicing, thou hast attained unto the harbor of life for all ages.

When the noetic Sun set of His own will upon the Tree, the great Andrew, the lamp of the Church, the beacon of the Sun, seeking to end his life with Christ and to set in Him, was suspended upon the wood of a cross.

O disciple and beloved friend of Christ, and one of His apostles: When the Judge sitteth upon His throne with you, His twelve, to render judgment as He hath promised, be ye then for us a rampart of love of mankind.

We bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Lord.

Triadicon: Let us glorify the thrice-radiant Unity, the equally-enthroned Trinity, not separating It, but uniting It consubstantially as truly One Essence, united without confusion in three Persons.

Sin-loving, I remain in indifference, O pure one, yet I tremble at the impartial judgment, at which do thou preserve me uncondemned by thy holy prayers, that I may ever bless thee, mine intercessor, O Bride of God.

Having done shameful things on earth, I fear the judgment and the inexorable gaze of thy Son, O Virgin; wherefore, I cry to thee: O most compassionate Mistress, help me, and rescue me from want at that time, and save me, O pure one!

How fearful is the day of judgment, O Maiden! How dreadful is the sentence! How grievous my shame! Who can withstand the rest, O all-pure Mistress? Have mercy on my suffering soul, and grant me remission before the end, O pure one!

O all-immaculate one, who gavest birth unto the divine Light: Illumine me who am benighted by all the assaults of the wicked one and who have angered God with all manner of evils; and lead me to do good works, for thou art the cause of all good things.

As a most excellent disciple, following even unto death thy Master Who was crucified of His own will upon the Cross, thou didst ascend the heights of thy cross rejoicing, and didst pass on to the heavens, O blessed Andrew.

The gates of Eden were opened unto thee, and the ladder of heaven was set up for thee. The mansions of heaven received thee and thou didst stand, rejoicing, before Christ, the Bestower of life, O apostle, most eminent intercessor for the world.

Thou wast glorified by sufferings like unto those of thy Teacher, O blessed and most wise Andrew; for thou didst receive thine end through a cross and wast deified through communion with God. Wherefore, we beseech thee: Pray thou ever in our behalf.

Rejoice, most excellent pair, having now inherited citizenship in the heavens! Ye have transcended the desire for crowns, having conquered the power thereof, and ye illumine us with the radiance of divine gifts.

O holy one, who spread out the net of the mystic knowledge of God, and who ensnared fish therein with the beauties of heavenly thoughts: Entreat the Holy Trinity to pour forth cleansing upon us.

The nations enlightened by thee and led up from earth to the heavens by thee give thanks, for, wrested from the service of the enemy, they have become companions of the holy angels, partakers of the glory of the Lord.

O ye apostles, witnesses of ineffable things and ministers of the Word, performers of the mysteries and beholders of inscrutable things: Pray ye that we become heirs to the kingdom of Christ and partakers in His divinity.

Having received from Christ the power to bind and to loose, loose ye us all from the bonds of our many transgressions when Christ shall come and all ye twelve will be seated upon thrones to judge all the tribes of Israel.

Finding thee, the Word Who is wholly without beginning showed thee forth as the first-called of all the apostles, O most blessed and ever-memorable Andrew; and having followed in His steps, thou didst show thyself to be a guide for those who are astray, leading them to the divine and heavenly path.

Glory…: Spec. Mel: “Hearken, ye women...”—

Most gloriously let us praise the apostle Andrew, the brother of Peter, the first of all the disciples, the beholder and servant of Him Who is the Word, for he enlighteneth the nations and, crucified, met his end as a disciple of the Master.

O all-immaculate Virgin, with Andrew the first-called entreat God, to Whom thou didst give birth, in behalf of all who piously honor thee, that we receive the splendor of thy Son and a place to stand with the elect and the saints; for what thou dost wish, thou canst do.

Great Doxology. Troparia. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.