Ode IX

Exapostilarion —

Irmos: Foreign to mothers is virginity, and strange is childbirth to virgins; yet both were accomplished in thee, O Theotokos. Wherefore, all of us, the peoples of the world, magnify thee unceasingly.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone V —

Theotokion: O Mistress, show us to be foreign to the rule of the cruel prince of this earth, and at the hour of our demise haste thou to the aid of us, the helpless; for thy maternal prayer before the Lord is able to accomplish much, and before thee the spirits of darkness tremble. Deliver all thy people from the violence and assaults of the wicked, O most good one, that we may magnify thee with joyful ­glorification.

Thou wast foreign to vainglorious arrogance, providing an example of humility, O holy hierarch Peter, that all might flee pride and magnify Christ, the Bestower of life, in humility of spirit.

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “With the disciples…” —

Irmos: With unceasing glorification we magnify thee, the Mother of the Most High, who knewest not wedlock, who didst truly give birth unto God the Word in manner past understanding, and art more highly exalted than the all-pure hosts.

Thy most festive memorial hath dawned more brightly than the sun, O holy hierarch Peter, and thy virtuous deeds shine forth with rays of brilliance, illumining the senses of the faithful with the light of thy miracles. And joyously celebrating it we praise and bless thee with faith.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Ever preserve the people of thy nation, who are buffeted by the passions and founder amid the storm of sin, for thou hast boldness before the Lord; and pray for all who piously hymn and glorify God.

Glory…: Another exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “By the Spirit in the holy place…” —

Rejoice, O sacred leader, dwelling-place of the all-holy Spirit, chosen vessel of the grace of God! Guide us all, that we may tread the path of thy God-pleasing corrections; and mercifully incline thyself to the cries of praise wherewith we honor thy holy memory, O holy hierarch Peter: for thou art the healer of the sick and comforter of the grieving. Remember us all in thy prayers to the Lord, and ask His great mercy for us.

Theotokion: We magnify thee, O Mother of God, who bore in thine arms the unapproachable God Who is hymned in the heavens by all the hosts, and Who ever granteth salvation to us through thee.

Always alien to idleness, O blessed father Peter, strengthened by the power of the Lord thou didst ever live in prayers, labors and struggles for the good estate and salvation of the people entrusted thee by God, Whom thou didst continually magnify with cries of praise.

By thine earnest entreaty to God and thine ascetic endeavor thou didst subdue the carnal passions and the enemies of thy realm; by thy tearful struggles thou didst slay the lying serpent, O right wondrous and God-bearing Peter; and more than others it was God Whom thou pleased. And the Lord Jesus, the Savior of our souls, hath adorned thee with heavenly gifts.

Now & ever…: Theotokion —

O divinely wise and holy hierarch Peter, glory of Montenegro! Splendidly celebrating thy memory, we earnestly beseech thee: In faith, love and hope establish all thy people, for whom thou didst labor greatly, that, preserved by these virtues, they may magnify our God for thy life.

Rejoice, thou rule of faith! Rejoice, O blessed hierarch Peter, who didst love the Serbian people! For, illumining thine earthly homeland with miracles, even after thy death thou dost glorify and establish thy people in the Orthodox Faith, healing their infirmities, and praying to Christ God, that He grant great mercy to us all.

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

Thou didst shine forth light upon the world in thy birthgiving, O all-pure Mother of God; wherefore, illumine our minds with the knowledge of thy Son, and wound our hearts with love for the divine commandments, by thy supplications strengthening us in faith and good works.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone IV —

Great Doxology. Troparion. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.

God Who of old spake to our fathers in the prophets, in latter days hath spoken to us in the Son, Who by grace even to this day speaketh to us in our instructors, who by their manner of life teach us faith and hope, and after their death confirm us in the perfect love which faileth not. By their supplications, O Christ, preserve and save our souls!

In the preaching of the Gospel thou wast a proclaimer of the salvation of the world; and, breathing the inspiration of the Spirit, thou didst show thyself a sacred and greatly renowned trumpet, O most honored one of sacred eloquence.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thee, the cloud of the Light…” —

Adorned with the acts of the Savior’s apostles, moved by God thou didst record them for the faithful, ever setting them forth as a lasting and inspired model, O most glorious sacred preacher.

O ye faithful, in hymns let us honor the Apostle Luke, the disciple of Christ, the most wise recorder of the Gospel, the beautiful chosen vessel, the animate image, the boast of all the Churches; for he preached the all-glorious miracles of God, enlightening those on earth with the rays of theology for the sake of goodness.

Thou didst stand, O godly Luke, attaining thine ultimate desire; for thou didst stand forth before Christ, delighting in the divine vision bestowed by Him. Wherefore, we all call thee blessed.

Mastering the healing of souls more than the skill of healing bodies, O wise one, inspired by the wisdom of God, thou wast shown to be excellent at both. And healing souls and bodies thereby, O most blessed Luke, thou dost call men to knowledge, dost soar aloft to the desire of God, and ever leadest men into heaven; and thou prayest for all who praise thee.

O Luke, apostle of Christ, initiate of ineffable mysteries and teacher of the gentiles: with the godly Paul and the all-pure Theotokos, whose divine icon thou didst lovingly depict, pray thou, O thou who beheldest God, for us who bless thee and celebrate thy sacred repose, O most wise proclaimer of the mysteries.

With the hook of the word hast thou drawn forth like fish unto the knowledge of God those who entered into the abyss of ignorance. And thou didst offer to Christ goodly food, O all-blessed and most sacred Luke: fitting honor and an incorrupt life. Wherefore, thou wast an apostle of Christ, a wise herald and a recounter of the active workings of grace.

We praise thee, the most excellent recorder of the divine Gospel, as the disciple of grace and follower of Paul; for thou didst proclaim that the Word was incarnate, and became man, and suffered, O blessed one. Wherefore, assembling with faith, O Luke, we honor thee as is meet.

In Tone VIII, the composition of Leo the Magistrate: Come, all creation, and with hymns let us praise the true physician of souls, the ever-memorable Luke, the disciple of the Savior; for with the anointing of the font of Christ he hath healed the sickness of ungodliness, and with the rivers of divinely flowing waters which proceed from his mouth he hath irrigated animate gardens. Wherefore, his proclamation hath gone forth like prophecy into all the world, and he prayeth that our souls be saved.

Ineffable was the birthgiving of the all-immaculate Bride, for, as thou wast a most pure temple, O Theotokos, thou gavest birth unto God the Word, Who by preëternal counsel made His abode within thee. Wherefore, hymning thy birthgiving, we magnify thee as is meet, O all-immaculate one.

Glory…, in the same tone —

Assembling, O ye faithful, like David let us cry out in hymns to Luke, the mystic speaker of the Word: thy tongue hath been shown to be the pen of a scribe, adorning the visage of Christ, the Chief-scribe, that the nations may understand the knowledge of God. Therein he preached the Gospel, recording also the actions of the apostles. Wherefore, standing before God in Trinity, he prayeth for our souls.

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