At Vespers

Glory..., in Tone VI —

On “Lord, I have cried...,” these stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “As one valiant among the martyrs...” —

Now & ever...: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel: “On the third day...” —

Troparion, in Tone IV —

Glory..., Now & ever..., Theotokion.

Bound with chains, immured in prison, cast as food to the wild beasts, hung up and maimed, yet, receiving divine help from heaven, ye remained unshaken through the love of the Master and Savior of all, O most wise Carpus and Papylas.

Grounding thy thought through wisdom on the rock of faith, O steadfast martyr Papylas, thou didst rejoice when thou wast stoned, likening thyself to the divine leader of martyrs, the archdeacon Stephen, as a minister and servant of the mysteries of God, as one numbered among the martyrs and a converser with angels.

Treading the path of witness without wavering, your feet nailed to iron sandals, ye did steadfastly destroy the sting of the enemy and destroyer, O all-praised ones, and were crowned with victories. Wherefore, the whole Church of Christ doth celebrate your holy, splendid and right eminent memorial.

In that thou wast worthy among those who beheld God, O venerable one, thou didst behold the heavens opened, and the Lord seated upon the throne, and the cherubim and seraphim round about Him; and, enlightened by thee, O Carpus we, thy sacred flock, cry out to thee: Ask thou peace for the world and great mercy for our souls.

The all-immaculate Theotokos, beholding our Life suspended upon the Tree, cried out maternally, lamenting: “O my Son and my God, save those who hymn Thee with love!”

O Lord, in their sufferings Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee, our God; for, ­possessed of Thy might, they cast down the tormentors and set at naught the feeble audacity of the demons. By their prayers save our souls.