At Great Vespers

After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man…”, the first antiphon.

Having acquired boldness in prayer, with a heart open to all, full of compassion, even after thy death thou dost not cease to offer it up. And growing eternally richer in love, thou dost ever pour forth healings and consolation, O John, joyful and speedy helper. O thou who didst heal through the laying on of thy hand, knowing the needs of those who asked before a word was uttered, intercede now invisibly for us who hymn thee as one who liveth in Christ, awaiting thy help and assistance.

Glory..., in Tone VIII —

After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man...,” the first antiphon.

Now & ever..., Dogmatic Theotokion, in Tone VIII —

Troparion, in Tone IV —

Glory..., in Tone I —

At “Lord, I have cried...:” 8 stichera, in Tone VI, Spec. Mel: “Having set all aside...” —

Now & ever..., Theotokion, in the same tone —

Or this Troparion, in Tone IV —

Glory..., in Tone VIII —

Having set aside all the things of this world, with one voice let us praise the wondrous beacon of the land of Russia and of the whole world, the good shepherd, the priest John, who hath given us a splendid model of life in Christ, who on earth was aflame with the spirit of prayer, and who received from the Lord a twofold gift of healing. Through his prayers may Christ strengthen us in piety and show us to be steadfast children of the Church, for the salvation of our souls. Twice

Now & ever..., Theotokion, in the same tone —

If there be a vigil, this troparion, Twice, and “Virgin Theotokos, rejoice...,” once.

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

With all thy heart and mind, O blessed John, thou didst love the life in Christ. Thinking and doing all things to please God, thy labors bore fruit abundantly through the grace of the priesthood, and at the Lord’s Supper, as if in heaven, with enraptured spirit thou didst stand at the altar of the Lord from day to day with tears of compunction. And now, standing before the Holy Trinity in the highest, offer up prayers, that He grant peace to the world and save our souls.

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

Troparion, in Tone I —

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

By the path of spiritual vigilance, reverence, contemplation of the mysteries of God, amendment of soul, and rest in God, thou didst attain unto the heavenly bridal chamber. By acts of mercy and thy miracles the Church is adorned, by the purity of thy life impiety is put to shame, and by the words of thy writings the Faith is confirmed. Wherefore, we entreat thee, O most honored John: Be thou our guide amid all our circumstances, that guided and guarded by thee, we may be vouchsafed the kingdom of heaven.

Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Troparion of the martyr, in Tone IV —

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Travailing with all thy heart over the darkness of the nations, thou didst at first think to go to the lands of the East. But, beholding Kronstadt, which was far nearer, perishing, thou didst submit to the call from on high, which came once during sleep through a vision of a temple, O righteous John. “I know,” thou didst say, “the loftiness of the priesthood, yet I hope in God; for I know that He is my strength.” O, the divine power of love, which doth draw us to Christ and strengthen us! Twice

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Making room for all in thy pastoral heart, and constrained by the wounds inflicted upon the poor by poverty, thou didst call all people by thy words and by thy writings, to build a house of industry, wherein the poor might find refuge. O teacher of good deeds worked through faith! O nurturer of the souls and bodies of the poor! O John, joy of those who before were in despair! Thy care for such here on earth was a likeness of thine intercession now in heaven.

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

Thou didst believe in righteousness with thy whole heart, O priest of God, and with thy lips thou didst speak unto salvation: The Lord is my being; the Lord is my deliverance from everlasting death; the Lord is my eternal life; the Lord is my purification, my deliverance and sanctification; the Lord is my strength in weakness, my freedom when I am straightened, my light amid darkness, my peace amid confusion! Glory to Thee, O my Savior, almighty power! Glory to Thee, O Savior, omnipresent power! Glory to Thee, most kind-hearted Compassion! Glory to Thee, Power ever open to my prayers! Glory to Thee, brightest Eye which ever regardest me and beholdest all my hidden things! Wherefore, O holy John, following after thee we also cry out to the Lord: Glory to Thee, O our God, wondrous in Thy saints whose teachings show forth Thy wonder! Glory to Thee!

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!

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. And three Readings:

Reading from the Prophecy of Joel (2:12-27).

Thus saith the Lord: Turn to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with lamentation: and rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for He is merciful and compassionate, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy, and repenteth of evils. Who knoweth if he will return, and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat-offering and a drink-offering to the Lord your God? Sound the trumpet in Sion, sanctify a fast, proclaim a solemn service: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the infants at the breast; let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Between the porch and the altar let the priests that minister to the Lord weep and say: Spare Thy people, O Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them, lest they should say among the heathen: Where is their God? But the Lord was jealous of His land, and spared His people. And the Lord answered and said to His people: Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied with them: and I will no longer make you a reproach among the gentiles. And I will chase away from you the northern adversary, and will drive him into the dry land, and I will sink his face in the former sea, and his back parts in the latter sea, and his ill savor shall come up, and his stink shall come up, because he hath wrought great things. Be of good courage, O land; rejoice and be glad: for the Lord hath done great things. Be of good courage, ye beasts of the plain, for the plains of the wilderness have budded, for the trees have borne their fruit, the fig tree and the vine have yielded their strength. Rejoice then and be glad, ye children of Sion, in the Lord your God: for He hath given you food fully, and He will rain on you the early and the latter rain, as before. And the floors shall be filled with corn, and the presses shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will recompense you for the years which the locust, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, and the cankerworm have eaten, even My great army, which I sent against you. And ye shall eat abundantly, and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of the Lord your God for the things which He hath wrought wonderfully with you: and My people shall not be ashamed forever. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and that there is none else beside Me: and My people shall no more be ashamed forever.

Reading from the Prophecy of Joel (2:27-32).

Thus saith the Lord: Ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and that there is none else beside Me: and My people shall no more be ashamed forever. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. And on My servants and on My handmaids in those days will I pour out of My Spirit. And I will show wonders in heaven and upon the earth: blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Reading from the First Epistle General of John (4:20-5:5).

Beloved, if a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him who begat, loveth him also that is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

At the Litia, these stichera, in Tone II —

“O Jesus, Son of God, my strength! O Light of my mind, Thou peace and joy of my heart: Glory to Thee! Glory to Thee Who dost deliver me from mine invisible enemies!” didst thou cry aloud, O John. Thus do thou also teach us to hymn the Lord with all our heart, O righteous John, servant of Christ.

Incarnate, Christ called thieves and harlots to repentance; and thou, O merciful pastor, fulfilling the commandment of the Chief Shepherd, ate with publicans and conversed with sinners, calling all to repentance and teaching all to pray: O God, be merciful to me, a sinner! O merciful God, glory to Thee!

“Ye are the image of God; wherefore preserve ye this great image, the image of God’s beauty, the image of His boundless love, that ye may be children of our Father Who is in heaven, that ye may be holy as your Father is holy.” Thus, O divinely wise pastor, didst thou instruct thy flock, and thus didst thou thyself live in holy manner.

“When we pray, we pray through the Holy Spirit; wherefore, all the prayers of the Church are the breathing of the Holy Spirit, and all we Christians are His offspring. Come, therefore, and abide in us, O Holy Spirit! Have mercy on us and renew us all, that we may be the one Body of Christ.” Such was thine unceasing prayer, O most wondrous John our father, and God hearkened unto thee and anointed thee with the oil of eternal joy.

We see thee as the resplendent dawn of the unwaning Light, O Virgin; for He Who dispelled the darkness of sin came forth from thee, reviving our hearts with the fervor of the Spirit. We beseech thee: Cease not to pray earnestly to Him on behalf of us that confess thee to be the true Theotokos.

At the Aposticha: the Typicon indicates: Aposticha of the holy and righteous John, Glory..., of St. Ignatius, Now & ever..., of the Forefeast. However complete stichera for the Forefeast are given as well, as below.

Stichera of St. John, in Tone VI —

O most blessed father John, being an emulator of all the saints, thou didst acquire the holy faith of the patriarchs, the zeal of the prophets and the apostles, the sanctity and godly-mindedness of the holy hierarchs, the boldness of the confessors, the freely-given aid of the unmercenary healers, the unceasing prayer of the venerable. Wherefore, we celebrate thy holy memory with splendor.

Stichos: He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor, his righteousness abideth unto ages of ages.

O divinely wise father John, having begun with the fear of God, in understanding thou didst reach the heights of wisdom. And being crucified with Christ by love, having become His very own, thou didst later drive out the fear by love; for fear hath torment, as the Apostle of love hath taught us. Wherefore, O father, thou didst adorn the minds of the faithful and didst teach thy flock to love God. O John, entreat Christ our God, that He grant us also this grace and great mercy.

Stichos: His heart is ready to hope in the Lord.

The Lord is the strength of my heart, the Lord is the light of my mind, the Lord is my rest and my joy, my faith, hope and love; He is my food and drink, my vesture and protection. Teach us also, O holy father, to understand these words and to place our salvation in the Lord. Grant us of thy goodness, as Elijah granted to Elisha, that all our hope and steadfastness may be in the Lord.

It was not our fathers that told us, nor our elders that informed us, but we ourselves have seen the miracles that have taken place through thee; we ourselves have experienced the grace that doth pour forth from thee. Our loved ones were healed, those who were dying rose from bed in good health, our every petition was granted through thy prayer. Wherefore, we honor thee as a favorite of God and an intercessor before the Lord.

Thou hast been exalted above all creatures, O Virgin Theotokos, for He that dwelleth in the highest chose thee to be His habitation, that He might raise up our fallen nature. Wherefore, we fall down before thee, as the Mother of our Savior. Thou art our hope, thou art our confidence. Reject us not that seek thine aid.

With the apostles thy sound hath gone forth into all the earth; with the confessors thou didst endure sufferings for Christ; thou didst resemble the holy hierarchs in thy preaching of the Word; and with the venerable hast thou shone forth in the grace of God. Therefore, the Lord hath exalted the depths of thy humility above the heavens, and hath given us thy name as a source of most wondrous miracles. Wherefore, O wonderworker, who livest in Christ forever, take pity in thy love upon people in misfortunes; and hearken unto thy children, who with faith call upon thee, O righteous John, our beloved pastor.

O wonderworker, who livest in Christ forever, take pity in thy love upon people in misfortunes; hearken unto thy children who with faith call upon thee, expecting compassionate aid from thee, O John of Kronstadt, our beloved pastor.

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “O wondrous marvel…” —

With the words of hymnody, O ye faithful, let us all praise the paragon who shone forth in asceticism, the scion of the wilderness, the lamp of men’s hearts, crying: Rejoice, O all-blessed one, thou great glory who hast shone forth in our days!

In the midst of two ways of life didst thou wisely set thy balance in God-pleasing manner, O father, for thou didst forsake corruptible things; and with thy mind on Christ Who abideth forever, O blessed John, thou didst set Him as the rule of thy soul.

Thou rejoicest, seeing the goal of thy labors, which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard; and having the beauties of paradise as the splendid reward of thy struggles, thy tomb poureth forth grace and thy body remaineth untouched by corruption.

And 3 stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…” —

Those things which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, and which have not entered into the heart of men, which have been prepared by God for those who love Him, didst thou desire, O divinely inspired John. Thou didst hate the confusion of the world and didst hasten to God alone, ever delighting in His grace. Him do thou earnestly beseech, that our souls be saved.

Adorned with the splendor of understanding, with the commandments of God thou didst illumine thy soul. Thou didst spurn corrupt things which pass quickly away, and, forsaking all earthly things, didst desire to dwell in the wilderness. Thou didst keep the commandments of Christ, O venerable John. Him do thou entreat, that He save our souls.

With love thou didst desire the Master, observing His precepts from earliest childhood, and thou wast raised more on piety than on milk. Thou didst adorn thy body with chastity and purity, and, ever desiring to be in the house of God, didst find Christ. Him do thou beseech, O all-blessed one, that He save our souls.

Glory…, in Tone VIII —

The Spirit of God hath been poured forth, as the holy Joel prophesied; and, moved thereby, and having received His activity, the venerable John manifestly revealeth the mysteries of God to us, the faithful. Wherefore, he hath illumined us with the light of God and with grace.

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!

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. 3 Readings:

The righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the Most High. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall He cover them, and with His arm shall He protect them. He shall take to Him His jealousy for complete armor, and make the creature His weapon for the revenge of His enemies. He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment for an invincible shield. His severe wrath shall He sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with Him against the unwise. Then shall the right-aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them. Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. Hear, therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. For power is given you by the Lord, and sovereignty from the Most High.

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery, and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for Himself. As gold in the furnace hath He tried them and received them as a burnt offering. And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. Those who put their trust in Him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with Him: for grace and mercy is to His saints, and He hath care for His elect.

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 concupiscence 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 hath respect unto His chosen.

N.B.: There are no Litia stichera provided for this service.

At the aposticha, these stichera, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “O most praised martyrs…” —

Thou wast a beholder in mind of the noetic hosts, as a doer of the words of God, laying them up in thy heart, wherein thou didst establish thine ascents as they were a ladder. O John our venerable father, pray that peace and great mercy be granted to the world.

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

O venerable John, from childhood thou didst found thy life upon Christ our God; and, strengthened by Him, thou didst subject the passions of the flesh to thy mind, making that which is baser submit to that which is higher. Wherefore, pray thou, that our souls be saved.

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

O divinely wise John our father, thou wast shown to be a great beacon, enlightening the whole world with the effulgence of miracles and divine works. Wherefore, after thy repose thou hast received the Light which waneth not. Pray, therefore, that our souls be saved.

Glory…, in Tone VIII —

O ye chosen flock of Christ, ye councils of the faithful, ye newly consecrated people, come, let us all hasten to the honored memorial of our venerable father John, Who shone forth in heart and hath come to us. For, lo! his sacred body lieth before us, a precious confirmation of our Faith, a true adornment of the venerable. Let the assemblies of the heretics who believe not in the resurrection be put to shame! For, behold, even after death he preserveth his countenance: he enableth the lame to walk and the blind to see, and empowereth the paralyzed; and he strengtheneth our pious Orthodox hierarchs against all heresies; and, standing in spirit before the throne of the Master, he prayeth that our souls be saved.

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, receiving now our supplications, pray thou that we all be saved.

Thine angelic life hath been the foundation of repentance, the medicine of compunction, a model of consolation and spiritual perfection, O venerable father John, who abode in prayers, fasting and tears. Entreat Christ God in behalf of our souls.

When Gabriel announced to thee, Rejoice! O Virgin, the Master of all became incarnate within thee, the holy tabernacle, at His cry, as the righteous David said. Thou wast shown to be more spacious than the heavens, having borne thy Creator. Glory to Him Who made His abode within thee! Glory to Him Who came forth from thee! Glory to Him Who hath set us free by thy birthgiving!

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 for the prophet, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…” —

The Spirit of God hath been poured forth upon us, the faithful, as, moved by Him, the honored Joel said in prophecy; And he discloseth the revelation of divine mysteries and doth prophesy. And we who have received His activity are illumined with divine radiance and with the grace of God.

Full of divine eloquence, the wondrous Joel doth issue forth from Thy house like a wellspring watering men’s souls, O Master, and hath let fall upon us the sweetness which delighteth our thoughts, in that he hath been exalted by the Spirit and elevated by virtue to divine heights.

With thy boldness as a prophet and thy noetic closeness to God, O Joel, by which thou seest heavenly visions, move Him to pity for us who with faith celebrate thy memory, O glorious one, asking remission of transgressions, a share in divine delights and great mercy.

And 3 stichera of the martyr, in Tone VI: Spec. Mel.: “Having set aside…” —

Beholding the sufferings of the right victorious martyrs, full of divine boldness thou didst enter the arena, O Varus, and didst preach Christ, Who became a man for our sake; and thou wast not afraid of death or the torments that lay before thee. Wherefore, wounded and mercilessly dismembered, thou didst rejoice with perfect understanding, O wise one, looking toward the glory which abideth for those who love God.

Seeing thy flesh and blood falling away, O athlete, thou didst most valiantly endure, as though another were suffering in thy stead. Bound to a tree, thou didst endure the laceration of the iniquitous most patiently; and thou didst commit thy spirit into the hands of God, astonishing those who beheld thee with thy steadfast opposition. Wherefore, we honor thee, O wise Varus, whose courage was so great, and who cast down the tyrant with thy pangs.

The wondrous Cleopatra, having embalmed thee with spices, interred thee in the earth, and raised up to thee a holy church, celebrating thy feast, O wondrous Varus, and entreating thee with faith. Her children thou didst enroll in the noetic army, didst adorn with glory and number among the choirs of the saints, whose portion do thou vouchsafe also unto us who piously celebrate thy festival, O right wondrous martyr.

Rejoice, O root bedewed! Rejoice, O staff of Aaron who budded forth the never-fading and ever-living Flower, O pure Maiden, thou right fruitful garden who shone forth from the root of Jesse the Tree of life, and dost nurture mortals with noetic bread! Rejoice, O most precious robe of purple, Bride of God, the King of heaven, most radiant crown, adornment of hierarchs! Rejoice, thou who alone art most pure!

Stavrotheotokion, in the same melody —

When the unblemished Ewe-lamb, the immaculate Mistress, beheld of old her Lamb upon the tree of the Cross, she exclaimed maternally and, marvelling, cried out: “O my Child most sweet, what is this new and all-glorious sight? How is it that the thankless assembly hath betrayed Thee to the judgment of Pilate and condemneth to death the Life of all? Yet do I hymn Thine ineffable condescension, O Word!”

In his suffering, O Lord, Thy martyr Varus received an imperishable crown from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, he set at nought the tormenters, and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. By his supplications save Thou our souls.