Songs of Ascent, the first antiphon of Tone IV.
Glory..., Now & ever..., Theotokion, in the same tone, Spec. Melody —
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone IV —
Thou didst despise neither stranger nor sojourner, O father John, but wast kind and merciful and compassionate unto all: a father for orphans and a defender for widows, vesture for the naked and food for the hungry. Remember us also, thy poor children, and deny us not thy gracious love.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —
On “God is the Lord…’, the troparion of the venerable one, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion.
Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.
Glory..., Now & ever..., Theotokion —
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone V —
Joseph marvelled, beholding that which transcendeth nature, and pondering thy seedless conception he dwelt in thought upon the dew which fell upon the fleece, the bush unconsumed by the fire, and the rod of Aaron which put forth branches. And thy guardian and betrothed cried out to the priests: “The Virgin giveth birth, and even after birthgiving remaineth virgin!”
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —
Canon of Supplication to the Theotokos [the Paraclysis], with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the venerable one, with 8 troparia.
Glory..., Now & ever..., Theotokion, in the same tone —
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII —
Strengthened by divine power, thou didst overcome the temptations of the invisible foe and hast passed on to the unwaning light. Heal thou the sufferings of our souls and direct us by thy counsel, for thou hast been given by God to all as a physician and comforter, O John, our father.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —
One canon from the Octoechos, with 6 troparia; and two for the saints, with 8 troparia.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Go thou quickly before…” —
O Theotokos, bride who knewest not wedlock, who hast transformed the grief of Eve into joy, we the faithful hymn and bow down before thee, for thou hast delivered us from the ancient curse. Pray now for us unceasingly, O all-hymned one, that we may be saved.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “The Word Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning…” —
Selected Psalm verses —
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…” —
A Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord. [111: 1]
B In His commandments shall he greatly delight. [111: 1]
A His seed shall be mighty upon the earth. [111: 2]
B And his righteousness abideth unto ages of ages. [111: 3]
A In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be. [111: 6]
B The righteous man shall flourish like a palm tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied. [91: 13]
A The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him. [63: 11]
B Lo, my lips I shall not restrain, O Lord. [39: 10]
A Thou hast understood My righteousness and My truth.
B And my tongue shall treat of Thy righteousness, and of Thy praise all the day long. [Ps. 34: 28]
A A light hath dawned forth for the righteous man, and gladness for the upright of heart. [Ps. 96: 11]
B The generation of the upright shall be blessed. [Ps. 111: 2]
A With glory and honor hast Thou crowned him. [Ps. 8: 6]
B For Thou shalt bless the righteous, O Lord. [Ps. 5: 13]
A As with a shield of Thy good pleasure hast Thou crowned us. [Ps. 5: 13]
B Whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us. [Lk. 1: 78]
A To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. [Lk 1: 79]
B To guide our feet into the way of peace. [Lk. 1: 79]
Glory…, Now & Ever…
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Thrice
A fiery minister of the Word of God and a vessel of faith wast thou, O divinely inspired John; wherefore, the Lord appointed thee a new Abraham, a father of many. Pray thou therefore, O holy father, that we all may be children of God and that our souls may be saved.
O Virgin, we call thee the portal of heaven, the tabernacle, the all-holy mountain, the luminous cloud, the ladder of heaven, the paradise of the Word, the deliverance of Eve and the great treasure of all the universe; for in thee hath salvation and the remission of the ancient transgression been wrought in the world. Wherefore, we cry out to thee: Beseech thy Son and God, that He grant remission of transgressions to those who piously worship thine all-holy birthgiving.
Prokimenon, in Tone IV —
Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice.
Stichos: Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness.
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
The Gospel according to Matthew, § 43 [Matt. 11:27-30] .
The Lord said to His disciples: “All things are delivered unto Me of my Father; and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him. Come unto Me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI —
O earthly angel, friend of men, instrument of the Spirit Comforter, bearer of the love of Christ, griever over all the world and mouth of all the faithful, consolation of the grieving and sorrowful, help of the persecuted, physician of our souls and bodies, father and intercessor, holy and righteous John: come thou and stand with us, that with thee we may offer up praise and thanksgiving unto God the Savior, performing this great solemnity.
Canon of the all-holy Theotokos (the Paraclysis), with 6 troparia, and that of the saint, with 8 troparia, the acrostic whereof is: “My life is in Christ, to Whom I chant for all ages,” in Tone IV —
With abstinence thou didst cause the carnal passions to wither away, O father, and through the giving of alms thou didst receive great spiritual grace. Wherefore, thou wast well-pleasing to God, and even after thy death wast shown to be a worthy vessel of miracles, cleansing us from the passions. O venerable John, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who with love honor thy holy memory. Twice
By thy divine birthgiving, O pure one , thou hast restored the dead nature of mortals which had become corrupt in the passions, and thou hast raised all up from death to the life of incorruption. Wherefore, as is meet, we all bless thee as thou didst foretell, O all-glorious Virgin.
With hymns let us honor the ascetic of the Lord as one who struck down the assaults of the passions with steadfast abstinence, with patience truly put to shame the adverse foe and set his arrogance at nought, and now prayeth that our souls find mercy. Twice
Awesome is the miracle of thy conceiving, and the ineffable image of birthgiving known in thee, O pure Ever-virgin, filleth my mind with awe and amazeth my thoughts. Thy glory hath spread over all, O Theotokos, unto the salvation of our souls.
Polyeleos, and this magnification —
We bless thee, O venerable father John, and we honor thy holy memory, O instructor of monks and converser with the angels.
Selected Psalm verses —
A With patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive unto me, and He hearkened unto my supplication. [Ps. 39: 2]
B He set my feet upon a rock, and He ordered my steps aright. [Ps. 39: 3]
A Lo, I have fled afar off and have dwelt in the wilderness. [Ps. 54: 8]
B I am become like a pelican of the wilderness. [Ps. 101: 7]
A I have watched, and am like a sparrow that sitteth alone upon the housetop. [Ps. 101: 8]
B My knees are grown weak through fasting. [Ps. 108: 24]
A And my flesh is changed for want of oil. [Ps. 108: 24]
B With tears will I water my couch. [Ps. 6: 4]
A For many dogs have encircled me, the congregation of evil doers hath surrounded me. [Ps. 21: 17]
B They have bent their bow, a bitter thing. [Ps. 63: 4]
A That they may shoot in secret at the blameless man. [Ps. 63: 4]
B I beheld the Lord ever before me, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. [Ps. 15: 8]
A All the nations compassed me round about, and by the name of the Lord I warded them off. [Ps. 117: 10]
B Blessed be the Lord Who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth. [Ps. 123: 6]
A Let all Thy works, O Lord, give praise to Thee. [Ps. 144: 10]
B And let the righteous ones bless Thee. [Ps. 144: 10]
A Know also that the Lord hath made wondrous His righteous one. [Ps. 4: 4]
B He hath labored forever, and shall live to the end. [Ps. 48: 9-10]
A The Lord preserveth the souls of His saints. [Ps. 96: 10]
B The saints shall boast in glory and shall rejoice upon their beds. [Ps. 149: 5]
A Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. [Ps. 115: 6]
B Chant unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. [Ps. 29: 5]
Glory…, Now & ever…
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice
Receiving pastoral ability, O pillar and foundation of monastics, thou didst tend thy flock with understanding; for, having desired the divine teachings of Christ, thou didst find illumination therein, O venerable one. Wherefore, thou didst inspire all to zeal for the angelic life, that they might glorify God with oneness of mind. O God-bearing John, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who honor thy holy memory with love. Twice
O all-pure Virgin Mother of God, heal thou the grievous passions of my soul, I pray, and grant me forgiveness of the transgressions which I have committed, defiling my soul and body, wretch that I am. Woe is me! What shall I do at that hour when the angel will separate my soul from my passion-plagued body? Then be thou my helper and most fervent intercessor; for thee do I, thy servant, have as my hope.
Prokimenon, in Tone IV —
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Stichos: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to Matthew, §43
[Mt. 11: 27-30]
The Lord said to His disciples: “All things are delivered unto Me of my Father; and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him. Come unto Me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI —
O venerable father John, the sound of thy corrections hath gone forth into all the earth; wherefore, thou hast found the reward of thy labors in the heavens, hast destroyed hordes of the demons, and attained unto the ranks of the angels, whose life thou didst blamelessly emulate. As thou hast boldness before Christ God, ask peace for our souls.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.