Thy face shattered, thy neck wounded, thy bones broken by staves, thy feet and head burned, cruelly stabbed with goads, thine ears and lips cut away, forced to drink vinegar, cast to the wild beasts and beheaded with the sword, thou didst rejoice, O martyr Tarachus.

¶8

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “O most lauded martyrs…” —

¶9

Glory…: Troparion of the hierarch, in Tone VIII —

¶10

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

¶11

Beaten, stabbed with goads, thy sinews severed, thine eyes put out, cast as food to the wild beasts, exposed to the fire and beheaded by the sword, thou didst endure, O blessed one, adornment of the martyrs and confirmation of the Church, O glorious athlete Probus, peer of the angels.

¶12

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or stavrotheotokion.

¶13

After the blessing of the loaves, this troparion of the holy hierarch, in Tone IV —

¶14

Burned with fire, beaten with leather scourges, raked with claws, thy sinews severed, thy theologizing tongue cut out, thy teeth savagely uprooted, O Andronicus, having wrestled with wild beasts and met thine end under the sword, thou didst finish thy contest and receive thy crown.

¶15

And 3 stichera of the hierarch, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…” —

¶16

As one who sustaineth us with wisdom, and nurtureth us with purity, a treasury of understanding, a most renowned theologian, a divine disciple, an enlightener of the faithful, do we praise thee, O blessed hierarch Cosmas, entreating the Master through thee, that we all be delivered from corruption, misfortunes and all harm.

¶17

Thou didst live thy life in abstinence, keeping vigils and fasting, in chastity and humility, O glorious one, and wast in all ways enriched by the knowledge of transitory things below and by heavenly splendors, O blessed one; and thou hast manifestly thundered forth the incomprehensible, awesome and great mystery of the King of all.

¶18

Thou wast humble-minded and meek, serene and goodly of speech, kind and guileless, chaste and righteous, most simple and wholesome, O venerable Cosmas. And as a hierarch revealed by God in sanctity, thou didst tend thy flock on the verdure which groweth by the waters of salvation, O divinely wise one. Wherefore, we now call thee blessed.

¶19

Glory…, the composition of Anatolius, in Tone IV —

¶20

Enlisting in Christ’s army, ye forsook all the beautiful things of earth and, taking your cross upon your shoulders, didst follow Him through most elaborate tortures and did not deny Him before the rulers and many tormenters. The angels crowned your heads with wreaths of victory, O ye who are valiant of soul, and ye have entered into the great bridal-chamber with splendor. O Probus, glory of the martyrs, Tarachus, destroyer of the demons, and Andronicus, victory of the faithful: as ye have boldness before the Savior of all, pray ye for our souls.

¶21

When she beheld Thee, the Lamb and Shepherd, upon the Cross, the ewe-lamb who gave Thee birth lamented and exclaimed to Thee, maternally: “O my Son most desired! How is it that Thou art suspended upon the tree of the Cross, O Long-suffering One? How have Thy hands and feet been pierced with nails by the iniquitous, O Word? How hast Thou shed Thy blood, O Master?”

¶22

At the aposticha, the stichera from the Octoechos; and Glory…, the composition of Andrew of Jerusalem, in Tone I —

¶23

Probus, Tarachus and the wise Andronicus, the threefold company, equal in number to the Trinity, appearing like radiant stars from the East, summon creation to a sacred festival; for they gave their flesh to the wild beasts and, having stained the ground with their blood, they join chorus with the angels in the heavens, bearing crowns, and entreating God Who loveth mankind in our behalf, that He grant us remission of transgressions and great mercy.

¶24

Beholding Thine unjust slaughter, the Virgin, weeping, cried out to Thee, O Christ: O my Child most sweet! How is it that Thou diest unjustly? How is it that Thou hangest upon the Tree Who hast suspended the whole earth upon the waters? O most merciful Benefactor, Leave me not alone who am thy Mother, I pray Thee!”

¶25

The hosts of heaven marvelled at the corrections of the holy martyrs, how in their mortal bodies they invisibly vanquished the incorporeal foe, contending well with the power of the Cross. And they pray to Christ, that our souls find mercy.

¶26

O instructor of Orthodoxy, teacher of piety and purity, beacon of all the world, divinely inspired adornment of hierarchs: O all-wise Cosmas, by thy doctrines thou hast enlightened all. O harp of the Spirit, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.

¶27

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera of the holy hierarch, in Tone I —

¶28

Come, ye assemblies of Christians and ye multitudes of the faithful, and let us glorify the holy hierarch, who hath shone forth from antiquity; and with fervor let us cry aloud: Rejoice, O blessed Martin, thou sacred adornment of the Church of Christ! Thrice

¶29

O wise pastor of the city of Tours, intercessor for the lands of the West, and mighty bulwark of the kingdom of Christ: By thy supplications, as with shield and buttress, protect thy people who call upon thee with faith. Thrice

¶30

Behold, Christ meeteth Martin in the guise of a beggar, testing his charity; and Martin cutteth his own robe in twain, clothing the Beggar’s nakedness, cutting off love of self, arraying himself in the robe of brotherly love, and rejoicing in spirit. Twice

¶31

Glory…, in Tone VI —

¶32

Even before receiving the baptismal robe, O blessed one, thou didst clothe Christ in thy robe; wherefore, receiving grace in token of gratitude, thou didst work great and wondrous miracles, healing the sick, restoring the dead to life, kissing lepers and cleansing them, taking pity on men and beasts, and having the angels serving with thee. Pray thou for our souls, O all-marvelous worker of wonders!

¶33

Now & ever…: Dogmaticon, in the same tone —

¶34

Who doth not call thee blessed, O all-holy Virgin? Who will not hymn thine all-pure birthgiving? For the only-begotten Son Who shone forth timelessly from the Father, came forth, ineffably incarnate, from thee, the pure one; and being God by nature, He became man for our sake, not divided into two Persons, but known in two natures without confusion. Him do thou beseech, O pure and most blessed one, that our souls find mercy!

¶35

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three Readings:

¶36

The memory of the just is praised, and the blessing of the Lord is upon his head. Blessed is the man who hath found wisdom, and the mortal who knoweth prudence. For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver. And she is more valuable than precious stones: no precious thing is equal to her in value. For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth righteousness proceedeth, and she carrieth law and mercy upon her tongue. Hearken to me, O children, for I will speak solemn truths. Blessed is the man who shall keep my ways; for my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and in them is prepared favor from the Lord. Ye, O men, do I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men. I, wisdom, have built up; upon counsel, knowledge and understanding have I called. Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine. I love those that love me; those who seek me shall find grace. O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge. Hearken unto me again; for I will speak solemn truths. For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse. They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge. For I will instruct you in truth, that your hope may be in the Lord, and ye may be filled with the Spirit.

¶37

The mouth of the righteous droppeth wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish. The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse. False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable unto Him. Wherever pride entereth, there will also disgrace: but the mouth of the humble doth meditate wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the overthrow of the rebellious shall spoil them. Possessions shall not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. When a just man dieth, he leaveth regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy and causeth joy. Righteousness traceth out blameless paths: but ungodliness encountereth unjust dealing. The righteousness of upright men delivereth them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction. At the death of a just man his hope doth not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perisheth. A righteous man escapeth from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place. In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare for citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous. In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospereth, but at the destruction of the wicked there is exultation. At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted, but by the mouths of ungodly men it is overthrown. A man void of understanding sneereth at his fellow citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.

¶38

Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. For honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. He pleased God, and was beloved of Him; so that, living among sinners, he was translated. Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of lust doth undermine the simple mind. He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time; for his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted He to take him away from among the wicked. This the people saw, and understood not, neither laid they up this in their minds: that His grace and mercy is with His saints, and that He doth visit His chosen.

¶39

At Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and these stichera of the holy hierarch —

¶40

In Tone II: Come, ye faithful, and today let us praise Martin, the adornment of pastors, the faithful servant of Christ, the all-glorious wonder-worker, the unashamed advocate for the whole world.

¶41

“Wherefore dost thou lie upon the ground, in that thou art weak and infirm?” the brethren asked the blessed Martin, seeking to persuade him to lie upon a bed. And he answered them, saying: “Leave me be now, for I desire to recline at the banquet of Christ, in His kingdom.”

¶42

In Tone VII: Of old, the wicked disciple betrayed the Savior by a kiss and sold his own soul to the devil; but with a kiss did Martin honor Christ in the guise of a leper and purchase life everlasting, healing the incurable ailment by divine love. Wherefore, come, let us venerate his struggles and, glorifying his honored memory, let us cry aloud: O merciful and holy hierarch, remember thy flock before the throne of Him Who is without beginning!

¶43

In Tone VIII: Tell us, O Martin, how thou didst manfully endure the cold, how thou didst receive reproach for the cloak thou hadst cut in twain! Wherefore, thou dost rejoice, saying: “I am warmed by the warmth of the Spirit; I am clothed with brotherly love as with a robe; and I consider reproach for the sake of Christ to be an honor! Wherefore, I rejoice in Him!”

¶44

Desiring to delude the blessed Martin, the most wicked enemy of the human race assumed the guise of Christ and sought to deceive the holy one into worshipping him; yet, recognizing this as a falsehood, and protecting himself with humility of mind, he refused to believe the false one, and cried aloud: “Where are the wounds of the nails in my Lord? Where are the glorious marks of the suffering of the Redeemer? Thou shalt not deceive me, for I know thee, who art a liar from of old! Depart from me!”

¶45

Emulating the great Elijah and the glorious Elisha, O Martin most bold, most fervent servant of Christ, thou didst raise up the dead and cause their souls to return solely by thy mighty prayer to the Master of life and death. Pray thou for us also, O holy hierarch.

¶46

Glory…, in Tone VIII —

¶47

Seeing thee to be a humble man, lacking in form and beauty, vainglorious people held thee in disdain, O blessed one; but, emulating Christ, thou didst endure their reproach, sweetly rejoicing therein. Yet thy struggles could not be hidden, for thy virtue shone forth more brightly than the sun; wherefore, they who before despised thee glorified thee. Then didst thou cry out, O wise one: “O Christ, King of all, protect my humble-minded soul, that I may not stumble utterly!”

¶48

Now & ever…, in the same tone —

¶49

O Mistress, accept the supplications of thy servants, and deliver us from all want and grief.

¶50

At the aposticha, these stichera, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “O house of Ephratha…” —

¶51

The day of thy beauteous memorial hath dawned today, O most sacred one. And we rejoice in godliness, magnifying thee.

¶52

Stichos: My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

¶53

O blessed Martin, was it not to a pauper by the wayside that thou gavest thy robe? How is it that thou beholdest Christ the Master clothed therein?

¶54

Stichos: The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom and his tongue shall speak of judgment.

¶55

Lo! the invincible Martin cometh to the battle, heeding the call of an earthly king, showing true courage, and praying that peace be granted to the world.

¶56

Glory…, in Tone III —

¶57

Children and youths now hasten together, joyously lighting torches, and weaving hymns of praise into a wreath for the right glorious Martin, glorifying his sacred memory and splendid festival, and asking his help on the day of wrath.

¶58

Now & ever…, in the same tone —

¶59

We sinners dare to hymn the Virgin Theotokos, who is more honorable and splendid than the ranks of the incorporeal ones, who is glorified by all creation, who truly shineth forth near God, and lovingly helpeth the whole world.

¶60

The truth of things revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, a model of meekness and a teacher of abstinence. Wherefore, thou hast acquired exalted things through humility and riches through poverty. O father Martin, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved. Twice

¶61

And “Virgin Theotokos, rejoice…”, once.

Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.