Let us bless our father, the holy hierarch Peter, whom the Lord set upon a lampstand, that as an adornment of the Church he might illumine Montenegro and all the surrounding parts of Serbia with the rays of his miracles. And crying out to him, let us say: Pray thou to the Lord, that He grant us peace and great mercy!

¶9

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

¶10

Troparion, in Tone III —

¶11

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

¶12

Of old the prophet said: The righteous man is like a palm-tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon is he multiplied; and he shall be like a tree which is planted by streams of waters. And thou, O blessed father Peter, didst blossom forth in God-pleasing virtues. Wherefore, calling thee blessed, we pray to thee: With thy supplications overshadow this city, thy flock in Montenegro, and all Orthodox Christians!

¶13

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

¶14

Or this troparion, in Tone V —

¶15

Having you, O holy hierarchs — newly-revealed Peter, wonderworker of Cetinje, Basil of Ostrog, Stephen of Pipero and Arsenius of Kosierevo, who sanctify our land with your holy relics — standing before the throne of God Almighty, we earnestly entreat you as favorites of God: Preserve your native land and all the Christian people of Serbia!

¶16

Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in the same tone —

¶17

When the malicious Moslems attacked thy flock, O holy hierarch Peter, strengthened by faith thou didst rout them; and setting Montenegro in goodly order, thou didst give thy realm a firm foundation, which the life-creating Trinity strengthened, preserving its faithful people. By thy supplications ever defend them, for their good and their salvation.

¶18

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

¶19

Ever seeking whom to devour, the enemy of the human race incited civil strife and vengeance among thy people, O most sacred father Peter; and, moved to hatred of one another by slanders and violent acts, thy people prepared a great bloodbath, which would have destroyed many of thy children. Then, O valiant pastor, fulfilling the teaching of Christ, Who said: Blessed are the peace-makers, thou didst pacify thy nation with wise admonitions, tearful entreaties and prayers to God. Wherefore, calling thee blessed, we beseech thee: Entreat Christ God, that He preserve the Serbian people from the snares of the enemy, establishing among them concord and love, and driving out all malice and pernicious discord.

¶20

Glory…, Now & ever…: The resurrectional theotokion.

¶21

Let us all praise the holy bishop Peter, the glory of hierarchs, the splendid adornment of the Church of Serbia, the all-wondrous defense of his homeland: for he undertook many labors to defend his flock from enemies visible and invisible, to confirm Orthodoxy, and to illumine his land with the light of the Truth. Wherefore, pondering his angelic life, we cry out to him: Forget not thy native land and the Serbian people, but pray thou with Saints Basil, Stephen, Arsenius, and the other favorites of God, that He save thy servants, who glorify thy most honored repose.

¶22

O blessed father Peter, a tempest arose, which threatened thy flock — the French, who desired to conquer thy land; yet by the mercy of the Most High, they were unable to conquer it, and returned empty to their own lands. But, rendering praise to God, thou didst continue to live in thy monastery in the midst of thy children, teaching thy people, and setting in goodly order the realm entrusted thee by God, which do thou preserve by thy supplications, we beseech thee.

¶23

Taking the easy yoke of Christ upon thy shoulders, O wonderworker Peter, thou didst bear it with humility of mind, adorning thy soul with fasting, prayer, innocence and the other virtues. Thou didst defend thy realm with great zeal; and bringing peace to thy people, didst confirm its freedom with laws and enlightenment. Wherefore, thy children, magnifying thee, cry out: O most blessed father, pray to Christ God, Who hath glorified thee in the sight of the angels in heaven and of men on earth, that He save our souls!

¶24

Glory…, in the same tone —

¶25

When after thy many labors and struggles, O holy hierarch Peter, thou didst sense the imminent departure of thy soul, then, loving thy people, thou didst fervently pray for them; and they wept bitterly, crying out: O our great and good master, leave us not orphans, but by thy supplications preserve us from all evil! And we, kissing thine incorrupt relics, beseech thee: O favorite of God, zealous pastor, adornment of hierarchs! Make us pleasing to the all-holy Trinity, Whom thou didst glorify on earth by thy holiness and wisdom, and before Whom thou dost now ever stand, praying for us and for the salvation of the whole Serbian nation, which doth bless thee as the loving master of thy people.

¶26

In His love for mankind, the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt among men; for He Who received flesh from the pure Virgin and came forth from her having received human nature, is the only Son of God, two in nature but not hypostasis. Therefore, proclaiming Him to be truly perfect God and perfect man, we confess Christ our God. Him do thou beseech, O Mother unwedded, that our souls find mercy!

¶27

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three Readings:

¶28

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.

¶29

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.

¶30

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.

¶31

At Litia, the sticheron of the temple; and these stichera of the holy hierarch, in Tone V —

¶32

O ye people, come unto Peter, who with his incorrupt relics sanctifieth the capital city of Cetinje; and cry out to him thus: Rejoice, O lamp of Montenegro, which illumineth the whole land, pouring forth streams of grace and imparting healing unto all!

¶33

Overshadowing thee, O sacred hierarch Peter, the grace of the Holy Spirit ordained thee to be a soul-saving leader for thy people; and teaching all, as an emulator of the loving-kindness of the Savior, thou didst feed the orphans and widows. And in fasting and great asceticism, thou didst prepare thyself for the heavenly kingdom, which thou didst find as is meet, and where thou dost unceasingly entreat the Lord to save and enlighten our souls.

¶34

Glory…, in Tone VI —

¶35

What shall we offer thee, O all-blessed hierarch Peter? For thou pourest forth grace in abundance and dost rout those who wage war upon us. And magnifying thee, we cry out to thee: Preserve us from all evils, and by thy supplications obtain peace for the world and great mercy for our souls.

¶36

Christ the Lord, my Creator and Deliverer, Who came forth from thy womb, O all-pure one, and robed Himself in me, hath freed Adam from the curse. Wherefore, like the angel do we unceasingly cry out to thee, O most pure one, who art truly the Mother of God and Virgin: Rejoice! Rejoice, O Mistress, thou intercession, protection and salvation for our souls!

¶37

Stichera aposticha, in Tone I —

¶38

We celebrate thine honored memorial, O God-bearing hierarch Peter, for unto thee hath Christ God given great grace to illumine the faithful, to heal infirmities and expel demons, in that thou didst truly emulate the apostles. Wherefore, falling down before the shrine of thy relics, we say with compunction: O holy hierarch Peter, pray to God, that He have mercy upon our souls!

¶39

Stichos: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

¶40

Loving Christ from thy childhood, O father Peter, thou didst mortify carnal-mindedness within thyself, striving to make what is baser subject to that which is higher, and to enslave the flesh to the spirit. Wherefore, thou wast shown to be a pure vessel consecrated to God, receiving within thee the myrrh of the Holy Spirit, and wast made a wellspring of miracles. For this cause pray thou for us, that our souls find mercy.

¶41

Stichos: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; in His commandments shall he greatly delight.

¶42

Glorifying His favored one, the Lord commanded that the relics of the holy hierarch Peter, which had lain incorrupt in the grave for four years, be exhumed; and gazing upon them now, we bless our father. By his supplications, O God, have mercy on us!

¶43

Glory…, in Tone VIII —

¶44

O holy hierarch Peter our father, thou didst reveal the power of the Holy Faith, which preacheth immortality. And seeing thy precious relics to be as full of life as we are, we cry out to thee in supplication: O converser with the angels and instructor of men, guide us also to the glory of God by the path of struggles, and by thine entreaties obtain for us a share in the kingdom of heaven.

¶45

O unwedded Virgin who ineffably conceived God in the flesh, Mother of God Most High: Accept the entreaties of thy servants, O most immaculate one, granting unto all cleansing of transgressions; and, accepting now our supplications, pray thou that we all be saved.

¶46

Come, O ye Orthodox, and let us solemnly rejoice today, that we may behold the most honored and praiseworthy virtues, labors and struggles of the all-radiant beacon of the land of Montenegro: Peter great among hierarchs, the right laudable pastor and teacher. For the Lord hath made him wondrous among His saints, and hath shown him to us as incorrupt even after four years in the grave. By his supplications, O Christ our God, save Thou our souls. Twice

¶47

And “Virgin Theotokos, rejoice!…”, once.

¶48

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “What shall we call you…” —

¶49

What now shall we call thee, O apostle? Heaven, for thou hast proclaimed the glory of God; radiance, for thou dost illumine the world with light; cloud which droppeth divine water as rain; most divine cup of wisdom, which poureth forth upon us the wine which gladdeneth men’s hearts. Pray thou that our souls be saved. Twice

¶50

What now shall I call thee, O thou who art pleasing unto God? Golden ark of the law, which Christ hath fashioned; river which floweth forth unto us out of paradise; lamp shining forth a noetic light; beacon illumining the whole Church; living Bread of the divine table; cup of spiritual drink. Pray thou that our souls be saved. Twice

¶51

What now shall we call thee, O thou who didst behold God? Most active servant of the mysteries of Christ; wise chief artisan who doth engrave the tablets of grace; one who hath set down a newer law surpassing that of Sion, which was preached by thee. Pray thou that our souls be saved.

¶52

What now shall we call thee, O glorious one? Strong treasury of heavenly gifts; renowned physician of bodies and souls; fellow laborer of Paul, and his companion, who settest forth the acts of the apostles. Many are the names, O Luke, which virtue hath devised for thee. Pray thou that our souls be saved.

¶53

What now shall I proclaim thee, O divinely eloquent one? Disciple, in that thou hast announced to us the glad tidings of Christ; physician, in that thou healest the passions of the soul; luminary who hast shone forth the noetic light upon us; foundation and ground of the Faith: for thou hast written for us the most precious Gospel. Pray thou that our souls be saved.

¶54

What now shall I call thee, O wondrous one? True beholder of the wisdom of doctrine; recorder of the acts and teachings of the apostles; unshakable pillar of piety; impregnable bulwark of the Church. Many are thy names, O Luke, and greater yet thy gifts. Pray thou that our souls be saved.

¶55

Glory…: the composition of Anatolius, in Tone VI —

¶56

O apostle of Christ and recorder of divine dogmas, foundation of the Church: with divine proclamations thou hast truly healed the hearts of men in the gloom of ignorance, which had entered into the abyss of despair; and thou hast saved them from the raging of threefold waves, as a follower and disciple of Paul, the chosen vessel. Wherefore, we entreat thee: Beseech our Savior and God in behalf of those who ever celebrate thine honored memory with faith.

¶57

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.

¶58

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three readings:

¶59

A Reading from the First General Epistle of John (1:1-7)

¶60

hat which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you: that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.

¶61

A Reading from the General Epistle of James (1:1-12)

¶62

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, Who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he who wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man who endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to those who love Him.

¶63

A Reading from the General Epistle of Jude

¶64

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the Faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who believed not. And the angels who kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said: “The Lord rebuke thee.” But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying: “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be those who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto Him Who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

¶65

On the aposticha, these stichera, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “Rejoice, boast of fasters…: —

¶66

Grace was poured forth in a tongue of fire upon thy lips, O Apostle Luke, and thou wast shown to be a tongue of fire, emitting words of light like flaming arrows against those who desire darkness, writing and teaching the precious Gospel with preaching worthy of the Light; and thou wast shown to be a living fragrance unto those who truly desire life, as said Paul, whom thou didst have as thy teacher, but the smell of death for those who loved not life. Yet grant unto us peace, life, light and great mercy.

¶67

Stichos: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands.

¶68

Through thy words, as thou didst say, have we come to recognize the confirmation of the words which thou didst utter in godly manner, O initiate of the mysteries, for thou didst begin to write for us concerning matters which thou didst know, and as those who originally witnessed them transmitted them to thee, whose peer thou wast as a servant of the incarnation of the Word, Whom thou didst behold in Emmaus after His resurrection, and Whose bread thou didst eat with Cleopas with burning heart. Fill thou the souls of us who honor thee with His divine warmth.

¶69

Stichos: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

¶70

Rejoice, thou who alone, rejoicing, hast recorded for us the archangel’s greeting to the pure one: Rejoice!, and the Baptist calling her, from his mother’s womb, the bearer of the Lord, and his conception and the incarnation of the Word, His temptations and miracles, words and sufferings, His Cross, death and arising, and His resurrected body, which thou didst behold; and the descent of the Spirit, the account of the acts, especially those of Paul, whose companion thou wast, as well as a physician and initiate of the mysteries and a luminary of the Church, which do thou preserve forever.

¶71

Glory…, in Tone VI —

¶72

O most wise fisherman, holy disciple, husbandman of the Savior and preacher of His sufferings: Transcending creation with faith and drawing the nations forth from deception and leading them to the good fragrance, thou didst attain the heavens. Wherefore, standing before the Judge of all, pray thou that He deliver us from our iniquities, and that we be freed from torment on the day of judgment.

¶73

¶74

O holy apostle and evangelist Luke, entreat the merciful God, that He grant to our souls remission of transgressions.

¶75

The holy apostle, the all-hymned Luke, who is acknowledged by the Church of Christ as the recorder of the acts of the apostles and the splendid author of the Gospel of Christ, let us praise with sacred hymns, as a physician who healeth the infirmities of man and the ailments of nature, who cleanseth spiritual wounds and prayeth unceasingly for our souls.

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