Canon of the Earthquake

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel: “O immutable Light...” —

Irmos: There is none as holy as Thee, O Lord my God, Who hast uplifted the horn of Thy faithful and established us on the rock of the confession of Thee, O Good One.

Kontakion for the Earthquake, in Tone IV —

Glory..., Now & ever: sessional hymn of the earthquake, in the same tone: Spec. Mel: “Having been lifted up...” —

Sessional hymn for the greatmartyr , in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “Joseph was amazed...” —

On the Praises, 6 stichera to the greatmartyr ; 3 in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “As one valiant among the martyrs...” —

Theotokion: O pure Theotokos, who alone art good, we beseech thee: Earnestly entreat the all-good Word, that we may all be delivered from earthquake and wrath.

The earth is wounded because of the evils which lie upon us and ever rouse Thine anger against us, O compassionate King of all. But take pity on Thy servants, O Master.

Irmos: Thy Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, crying aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my consolation!

Kontakion of the Greatmartyr , in Tone II —

The choir of passion-bearers hath appeared, possessed of every virtue, whereby the greatmartyr hath worthily inherited the enjoyment of incorruptible and blessed life. Adorned therein, O right wondrous Demetrius, honored for thine emulation of Christ, and praised for the spear which also pierced thee, pray thou yet more earnestly that He deliver us who honor thee from suffering and grievous circumstances, fervently entreating Him Who granteth the world great mercy.

Having been pierced, thou didst wound the adversary with thy spears and didst render him dead and of no effect. Deliver us from his malice, O Demetrius, rendering us ever strong against the tormenting passions by thy sacred entreaties, piercing our hearts and souls with fear of God, O holy one.

Theotokion: O all-pure one, restoring the corrupted image of mortals, He Who loveth mankind clothed Himself therein with flesh taken from thee, though remaining as He was before.

Having shaken it, Thou hast made the earth stable again, O Lord, chastising and converting our weaknesses, desiring to make us steadfast through godly fear of Thee, O Most Blessed One.

Irmos: O Lord, Fashioner of the vault of heaven and Creator of the Church: establish me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, confirmation of the faithful, Who alone lovest mankind.

Beholding thee to be a river full of spiritual waters, O holy one, we beseech thee: In thy great goodness sacredly bedew our souls, which have wasted away through offenses of the passions; and those amid defilement do thou wash clean, and deliver from manifold misfortunes and eternal torment.

Theotokion: O all-pure one, thy sacred and spiritual vessels are full of fragrance and the myrrh of the divine Spirit Who descended upon thee. For, having given birth unto God, thou hast rescued the faithful from the stench of the passions.

O brethren, let us flee sin which hath engendered bitter death, most oppressive earthquakes and unbearable plagues; and let us please God with repentance.

Irmos: Christ is my power, my God and my Lord, the honored Church doth sing, crying out in godly manner with a pure mind, keeping festival in the Lord.

As a most radiant star hast thou shone forth upon the earth in the splendor of miracles; and thou dost ever enlighten the earth, O glorious Demetrius, driving away the gloom of darkness from our souls by thy prayers. Heal thou the infirmities of those who celebrate thy memory with love, O glory and boast of the martyrs.

Theotokion: Knowing thee to be a temple of God, O Mistress, in entreaty we stretch forth hands of compunction in thy holy church. Behold our affliction, and grant us aid!

Thou didst account the tyrant’s command but naught, for thou didst honor the word of God above all, O passion-bearer.

Irmos: Beholding Thee lifted up upon the Cross, O Sun of righteousness, the Church stood rooted in place, crying out as is meet: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

And 3 in Tone V: Spec. Mel: “Rejoice...” —

Theotokion: As the most sacred of all created beings, thou alone wast vouchsafed to become the Mother of God; for, in giving birth unto Him, thou hast illumined the world with the grace of knowledge divine.

A splendid lampstand in the midst of the tabernacle of martyrdom wast thou, shining with divine light, O Demetrius, martyr and athlete.

Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power; Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, hast visited our lowliness. Wherefore, with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

O martyr of Christ, come thou to us who ask thy merciful visitation, and deliver those who are afflicted with threats of torment and the mad raging of heresy. For as captives and naked are we persecuted by them, fleeing often from place to place and seeking refuge in the caves and mountains. Therefore, spare us, O all-praised one, and grant us liberty; still the tempest and allay the displeasure which is directed against us, entreating God, Who granteth the world great mercy.

Theotokion: O Theotokos, we know thee to be the Bride and Mother of God, for the Word of God, finding thee to be a fragrant rose blossoming amid the lowly valley of humanity, desired thy beauty and, having issued forth from thee, He hath perfumed the faithful.

Having acquired thee as a sacred and wondrous fountain of healings and an inviolable treasure, thy city hath been enriched with all gladness.

Irmos: With Thy divine light illumine the souls of those who with love rise at dawn unto Thee, I pray Thee, O Good One, that they may know Thee, O Word of God, to be the true God Who calleth all forth from the darkness of sin.

O thou who didst not fear the bondage of the enemy, thou hast been given to us as a rampart, repelling the incursions of barbarians and easing infirmities. An indestructible base and unassailable foundation, a governor, a citizen and champion of thy city wast thou, O Demetrius. O all-blessed one, by thy supplications save it, which now is in grievous danger and is grievously beset, beseeching Christ, Who granteth the world great mercy.

Theotokion: Now hath the time for aid arrived, O pure one; now is deliverance needed. Pray thou to thy Son and God, that He spare us sinners and deliver us from the wrath which lieth upon us.

Begotten from on high by God, thou wast an heir of divine blessings, being called His son, a co-heir with Christ; and thou dost reign with Him, for thy myrrh is a token thereof, O Demetrius.

Irmos: Thou hast come, O my Lord, as a light into the world: a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance those who hymn Thee with faith.

Glory…: the composition of Andrew of Jerusalem, in Tone IV —

Theotokion: The Word of God, Who is one in essence with the Father, O Mother of God, hath, in manner past comprehension and recounting, become thy Son, of one essence with thee.

Planted by flowing waters like the tree whereof David spake, O glorious one, thou didst put forth the great fruit of martyrdom, and art now shown to be a wellspring of myrrh, which floweth unto the ends of the earth.

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

Let us honor him who, through spears, hath inherited the grace of the Savior’s side, which was pierced by a spear and whence the Savior poureth forth upon the waters of life and incorruption: Demetrius, most wise in teachings and crowned amid torments, who finished the course of suffering with the shedding of his blood and hath shone forth upon the whole world with miracles, who loved the Master and mercifully loved the poor, the intercession for the Thessalonians amid many and exceeding grievous misfortunes. And honoring his annual memorial, let us glorify Christ God, Who for his sake worketh healings for all.

Theotokion: Of old thine ancestor, chanting, described thy mystery and all the glory within the daughter of the King, glorifying thee as her who is blessed among men. Rejoice, thou restoration of the whole world.

Drawing forth the grace of Christ, from Whose side flowed forth blood and water, pierced for His sake, thou didst shed thy blood, and thou now pourest forth fragrant myrrh like water upon our hearts, O Demetrius.

Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, fleeing to Thy calm haven I cry unto Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O greatly Merciful One!

Deliver us from our wants, O Mother of Christ God, thou who gavest birth unto the Creator of all, that we may all cry out to thee: Rejoice, thou who alone art the intercessor for our souls!

Theotokion: O holy Bride of God, by thy maternal supplications take pity now upon thy troubled people, and quickly alter the displeasure of God in our regard, we beseech thee.

Deliver us all from the terrible trembling of the earth, O Lord, and from plagues unbearable on account of our sins. Take pity on the Orthodox people which Thou hast purchased with Thy blood, O Lord and Master, and deliver not this city unto destruction by dreadful earthquake; for we know none other God than Thee, and unto those who hymn Thee hast Thou exclaimed: I am with you, and no one is against you!

Irmos: I will sacrifice to Thee with a voice of praise, O Lord, the Church crieth unto Thee, cleansed of the blood of demons by the blood which, for mercy’s sake, flowed from Thy side.

Theotokion: Finding thee, O pure one, to be a most pure lily, a lily of the valley, growing among the thorns, the Bridegroom, the Word, made His abode in thy womb, O Mother of God.

With psalms do we cry out to the valiant athlete, the mighty warrior of Christ, Who reigneth over all: Rejoice, adornment and comeliness of martyrs! Rejoice, radiant star of the Church! Rejoice, rampart and refuge of those who have recourse to thee! O glorious greatmartyr Demetrius, from every wound and affliction of the alien save all who hymn thee. Twice

Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the abyss of evils, I pray, for to Thee have I cried, and Thou hast hearkened to me, O God of my salvation.

Theotokion: Beholding the golden and ever-burning lamp of the Light, we who have darkened our souls with a multitude of sins draw nigh, for she giveth us illumination and driveth away all darkness.

Thou hast not despised those who have sinned greatly against Thee, but, chastising them, Thou hast mercifully corrected them. Thou hast caused the earth to quake with Thy divine gaze, O long-suffering Master, in no wise harming all Thy servants, in Thy great loving-kindness. Wherefore, we sing Thy glory with thankful voices and glorify Thee in fear.

Irmos: The Angel caused the furnace to pour forth dew upon the pious youths, and the command of God, which consumed the Chaldæans, prevailed upon the tyrant to cry out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Theotokion: O pure one, look down and save all who hymn thee, for we shall be destroyed in the wrath of God and by the great and dreadful anger, for His threatening hath now come upon us because of our many sins.

Thou dost shake the earth, O Lord, desiring to make steadfast with true fear all of us who are shaken by the assaults of the lying enemy, O Master.

Irmos: The children of Abraham in the Persian furnace, afire with love of piety more than with the flame, cried out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Theotokion: O all-glorious and radiant Mother of God: Protect all who honor thee as the Theotokos, for blessed art thou among women, O all-immaculate Mistress.

Thou dost cause all things to quake at thy divine command, and Thou dost strike terror into the hearts of those who live on earth, O Master. Wherefore, calm Thou the waves of Thy righteous wrath, O Lord!

Irmos: In the furnace the Hebrew children boldly trod the flame underfoot and transformed the fire into dew, crying out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

Theotokion: With thy milk didst thou nourish thy God, Who was born of thee incarnate, that He might lighten the affliction in hades of Adam, who ate of the tree of knowledge and transgressed God’s commandment.

Those who have no fear of Thee in their minds dost Thou terrify by the shaking of the whole earth, O Thou Who alone art merciful. Yet show forth the wonder of all Thy mercies upon us, as is Thy wont.

Irmos: From the flame didst Thou pour forth dew upon the venerable ones, and didst consume the sacrifice of the righteous one with water; for Thou, O Christ, dost do all things soever Thou desirest. Thee do we exalt supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: O merciful Theotokos, who gavest birth to the merciful Savior, behold the affliction and the groaning of thy people, and haste thou to offer supplication, that He may have pity on them.

Beholding thee, the vanquisher of the delusion of ungodliness, the most exalted Word of God hath crowned thee with glory, O Demetrius, who chantest: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Irmos: Stretching forth his hands, Daniel shut the lions’ mouths in the pit; and the young lovers of piety, girded about with virtue, quenched the power of the fire, crying out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Theotokion: Let us hymn the pure Theotokos, who, alone among all generations, is a Virgin Mother; for she is the mediatress of our salvation, in that she gave birth unto the Word, the Deliverer of the world, to Whom we cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Having won a victory over delusion, thou didst receive a victor’s crown of righteousness, O Demetrius, crying out to Thy Creator: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Irmos: Madly did the Chaldæan tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but, beholding them saved by a higher Power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: In place of Adam, the Lord; in place of Eve, thee, O all-pure one; instead of the lying serpent, Gabriel; instead of the tree, the Cross; instead of Eden, the garden of the tomb; Rejoice! instead of grief; the spear instead of the fiery sword, and the purple robe instead of the fig leaves! Therefore, we hymn thee, O Maiden, as the cause of these things.

Steered by God’s life-bearing hand, thou didst reach the most calm harbors, where, rejoicing, O Demetrius, thou dost now cry out: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Irmos: It is not possible for men to behold God, upon Whom the ranks of angels dare not gaze; but through thee, O most pure one, hath the Word appeared incarnate unto men; and magnifying Him with the armies of heaven, we call thee blessed.

Theotokion: O Virgin, who in thy birthgiving received no defilement, thou hast rescued us from corruption and the most grievous earthquake and tribulation, allaying the Master’s displeasure by thy maternal persuasion, O divinely joyous one.

Having washed away all the defilement of thy birth in the laver of regeneration, thou didst show thyself to be one who preserved his purity even unto the end. Wherefore, Christ hath transformed thy natural goodness into myrrh, just as He changed water into wine.

Irmos: Christ, the Chief Cornerstone uncut by human hands, Who united the two disparate natures, was cut from thee, the unquarried mountain, O Virgin. Wherefore, in gladness we magnify thee, O Theotokos.

Theotokion: Trusting in thee, O Virgin, all of us, the faithful, honor thee as the root, the wellspring and source of incorruption; for thou hast poured forth upon us the hypostatic Immortality.

Just as the nature of fire is bestowed upon all, preserving its whole power, so is thy myrrh drawn forth by all, yet remaineth undiminished, O athlete. Wherefore, bowing down in worship, we piously hymn God, Who hath given thee grace.

Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God hath appeared in the flesh, and that thy womb became more spacious than the heavens. Wherefore, the ranks of men and angels magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Theotokion: Thou, O all-pure one, art a golden dove bearing the Word of God like an olive sprig, anointing thy flesh with the oil of divinity. And the athlete, having taken Him into his heart, as into a coffer, doth pour forth myrrh from his tomb and anoint the faces of the faithful.

Who can render Thee audible praises, O Christ, Thou Word of God, beholding the graces which Thou hast bestowed upon Thine athletes? For, lo! the myrrh of the martyr Demetrius floweth like a fountain, and his fragrance wafteth forth, and he dispelleth the gloom of wickedness.

Now & ever: Theotokion —

A fountain springing up from the earth gave thee to drink before watering all the face thereof; and having been hidden beneath the earth, thou hast been shown to be a wellspring of fragrant myrrh, O martyr Demetrius; for a multitude of spears opened thy veins, and thou dost now water the ends of the earth.

O heart, tremble now, beholding the threat that loometh over thee, and cry out: Take pity on thy people, O Lord and Master, and cause Thy righteous wrath to cease, O Compassionate One.

“O Jesus, give not this people and city, whom Thou hast purchased with Thy blood, over to destruction by troubling the earth with fearsome earthquake,” the choir of the apostles doth entreat Thee.

Having turned away and departed in spirit from Thy straight ways, we have moved Thee, Who art merciful and rememberest not offenses, to displeasure, O Master. Yet be Thou merciful and compassionate unto Thy servants.

Receiving the fire of divine love in thy heart, thou didst quench the fire of the ungodly madness of idolatry, O glorious Demetrius.

Thou hast shown thyself to be one who delivereth us from misfortunes, O Demetrius, protecting by thy supplications those who praise thee with faith and love.

They who earnestly have recourse unto thy temple in faith, O Demetrius, are speedily delivered from infirmities and soul-destroying passions.

Thou wast a cistern collecting the mercy of Him Who descended from the heavens, as it were rain or dew; and thou didst gush forth with mystical gifts, and now thou dost put forth a wellspring of myrrh from thy tomb, O Demetrius.

Following the practice of athletes, thou didst strip thyself bare, but of all earthly love, O martyr; and thou didst anoint thyself with the oil of grace, and, having vanquished the prince of darkness, thou didst receive as reward the exuding of fragrant myrrh, O Demetrius.

Thou wast shown to be a rose blooming in the midst of the Master’s meadow, O Demetrius, dyed with the blood of thy torment and with the piercings of thy wounds, with thy pangs of suffering and the burning of the furnace; and now thou dost pour forth ever-flowing myrrh.

Lo! the martyr’s temple is again seen to be a divine ark wherein is a lamp, his tomb, which holdeth myrrh and oil, and around which we exult in spirit; and, joining chorus, we praise the great Demetrius.

Wounded with zeal for the love of Christ, like a new Elijah thou dost denounce the emperor and dost give thyself over to death. Yet thou livest and hast shown thy tomb to be a wellspring of myrrh, like unto the inexhaustible cruse of oil.

Lacking the boldness to entreat Thy sublimity, O Master, we, the lowly, urge Thy chosen angels to fervent prayer. For their sake remove Thy wrath from us.

Now have we realized how greatly Thou hast desired us great sinners even with our grievous transgressions. Wherefore, we glorify Thee in thanksgiving.

Thou commandest that the foundations of the earth be moved, that we, the lowly, may not cease to be moved by the virtues to a higher state, and that we may be rendered steadfast by the fear of Thee, O Word.

Assembling together, we chant thy glorious and luminous memorial which is full of wonders and of the gifts of the honored and holy Spirit, O most blessed one.

By thy supplications loose the bonds of mine offenses, for, as an invincible martyr, thou hast boldness before the Master; and be thou my refuge and protection, O Demetrius.

Thou didst flourish spiritually, like a fruitful olive-tree, and wast violently pressed by the hands of soldiers. But now thou dost comfort the faithful, O Demetrius, pouring forth myrrh from thy divine tomb.

Like a bee, thou didst show thyself to be a cultivator of all the virtues wrought by God, O blessed one, preserving thine immaculate soul like a honeycomb; and now thou pourest forth myrrh, delighting our souls.

Thou didst love Christ with all thy soul and didst follow Him to the myrrh of sweet fragrance; and thou didst partake thereof through a higher union. And now thou pourest forth never-ending streams of myrrh, O Demetrius.

The droplets of the blood of thy sufferings, falling upon the ground, have made it a wellspring of fragrant myrrh. And now thou dost continually pour it out for those who draw it forth, O Demetrius.

Drenched with the outpouring of thy blood, O wise one, like another, new, wellspring, like a river, thou dost richly put forth thy myrrh for the healing of those who ask it and who earnestly approach, O blessed one.

He Who gave thee invincible strength, O Demetrius, hath dyed the Church in the streams of thy blood, and hath preserved thy city unharmed, for thou art its confirmation.

Ikos: Assembling in faith, let us all hymn the great Demetrius as a warrior and martyr of Christ, crying out together in hymns and songs unto the Master and Creator of the universe: Deliver us from earthquake and want, O Thou Who lovest mankind, at the supplications of the Theotokos and of all Thy holy martyrs, for on Thee do we all set our trust, that we may be delivered from misfortunes and tribulations. For Thou art our confirmation.

All-hymned art Thou, O long-suffering Lord, for Thou hast not slain Thy servants by the quaking and dreadful shaking of the earth, but hast frightened them, seeking to turn us all from evils unto life.

Let us give utterance unto groaning from the depths of our hearts, and let us pour forth tears, that we may dissuade Christ, the merciful Master, Who doth threaten us because of the increase of our sins, from destroying us all by earthquake.

Let us cry: Alas! Let us stretch forth our hands unto God Most High, and let us cease to do evil any longer, for, lo! the Savior, in His displeasure, doth shake the whole earth, desiring to make us steadfast.

All-adorned with divine glory and grace, O martyr and passion-bearer, thou dost shine forth brilliantly and dost illumine those who cry out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Arrayed in thy blood as in a purple cloak, and holding the Cross instead of a scepter, O glorious one, thou now reignest with Christ, O martyr Demetrius, crying out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

In prophecy Isaiah commandeth the thirsty to draw forth water, O Demetrius. And if he had seen thy tomb, he would certainly have cried: Come ye to the wellspring of myrrh and draw forth salvation!

Thou wast born of earth and hast made thine abode in the land of the meek, where the water of sweetness is found; and having drunk thy fill thereof, thou now pourest forth an ever-flowing wellspring of myrrh, O Demetrius.

Thou dost grow like the branch of a vine, remaining joined to God, without being cut off. And filled with the ineffable sap thereof, thou now pourest forth myrrh in streams upon all, O Demetrius.

O, thy new struggles! O, the strange sufferings of thy martyrdom! For, accepting the drops of sweat which thou didst pour forth for Him, Christ hath shown thee to be a wellspring of myrrh, O blessed one.

Exuding the flow of thy myrrh, O Demetrius, thou hast spread out a great abyss of miracles and dost drown therein the infirmities of our bodies and souls, stilling every tempest of temptation.

When this, Thy righteous wrath, descended upon us, O Thou Who lovest mankind, we were confounded and seized by boundless despair, beholding Thee, Who wast displeased with us.

O ye faithful, let us stretch forth our hands and lift up our eyes unto our only Master, Him Who is able to save us, and let us cry: O Christ, avert Thine anger quickly from us, in that Thou lovest mankind.

Thousands of angels, the company of martyrs, prophets and apostles, and the holy choir of the venerable and hierarchs entreat Thee, O Master: Spare Thy lowly people!

O Compassionate One, Who knowest our weakness and that which doth easily fall and is uncorrected within us: Let Thine anger abate; calm this turmoil, and spare the world in Thy mercy.

Arrayed for battle with the indelible power of Christ, O glorious one, thou didst blot out all the wrath of the enemy, and as a victor thou didst cry out, O martyr Demetrius: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Having shown the steadfastness of the martyrs, thou didst inherit the high station of the martyrs, O martyr, having been washed in the holy laver which is not defiled by further attacks of sin; and, pierced by a spear, thou didst cry out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

The multitude of thy miracles and the gifts that Christ gave thee, which surpass comprehension, are evident to all, O glorious one, and the grace of healings, which transcendeth recounting, clearly proclaimeth thy grace unto us who cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

May God reveal thee to those in this world, O Demetrius, as one who hath kept the lamp of thy soul alight, ever filled with the oil of good works. Doors, as of a chamber, have been opened unto thee, and He showeth thee to be an ever-flowing wellspring of divine myrrh, imparting grace thereto as reward for thy purity.

Not of blood, nor of the lust of the flesh, O Demetrius, wast thou born, as the Gospel saith, but of God; for thou dost worship the incarnate God, and zealously exhausting thyself for His sake, thou didst receive wondrous grace from on High, and dost pour forth divine myrrh, perfuming men’s souls.

Thou art shown to be an animate ladder firmly anchored to the ground by pillars of flesh, but reaching to the heavens; for thou wast enriched by God, Who was established within thee, O martyr. And having been shown to be a pillar anointed with the oil of the struggles of martyrdom, thou now pourest forth a wellspring of divine myrrh upon those who approach with faith.

Chanting prophetically, O Demetrius, David described thee as the river of God full of waters; for, lo! the outpouring of thy myrrh is inexhaustible. Wherefore, the watery multitude of rivers lift up their voices and clap their hands to the glory of God, Who hath glorified thee by all of these.

Thou alone art the thrice-holy Lord, O Almighty God, concerning Whom the athlete Demetrius theologized while locked in prison, having slain the noetic serpent with a material lash and cast down the audacity of Lyæus through the godly Nestor; and he was pierced by a spear, and now myrrh floweth forth from his tomb.

Behold, we have all sinned, but the earth, which hath not sinned, doth suffer dreadfully; for He Who loveth mankind, chastising us, doth shake it all. Let us come to our senses and take care for our salvation.

As Thou art the Lord of times and seasons, O Master, desiring to lay Thy servants low in the twinkling of an eye, Thou didst yet restrain Thyself in Thy great compassion. And we who are without excuse give Thee thanks, O Thou who alone lovest mankind.

O Christ, from earthquake, the sword, bitter bondage, pagan invasion, defeat, famine, pestilence, and every other affliction deliver Thou Thy city and every land that hymneth Thee in faith.

Groaning, the earth crieth out wordlessly: “Wherefore do ye pollute me with many evils, all ye men? For, sparing you, the Master woundeth me alone. Come, then, to your senses, and move God to mercy by repenting!”

Loose the bonds of the transgressions of those who hymn thee, O passion-bearer; bring an end to the assaults of the passions; cause the tumult of heresies to cease, and still the tempest of temptations by thy supplications.

O crowned martyr Demetrius, guide thy most sacred flock along the straight paths to the kingdom of heaven, to the pasture of salvation, to the eternal fold.

O martyr Demetrius, entreat the Lord, the Bestower of life and King of hosts, those who that hymn thee may obtain crowns of glory and the kingdom of heaven.

Thou didst receive a soul like unto an alabaster box filled with the divine myrrh of virtue, and Christ bowed His head toward thee, O martyr; for thy life was calmed by the brilliance of the purity of thy life. Wherefore, thou wast blessed and filled with the grace to pour forth myrrh upon the ends of the earth.

Behold the splendid types of ineffable rewards which await thee! Behold the wellspring of ever-flowing myrrh, O athlete! Wherefore, standing before God with the boldness of a martyr, beg thou victory for Orthodox Christians over their adversaries.

With the sign of the Cross of the Victor thou didst vanquish the savagery of Lyæus, setting over him as victorious thy fellow contender Nestor. And now, do thou subject every barbaric nation to holy Orthodoxy, O Demetrius.

Us who have recourse with fervent love from the depths of our hearts to the shrine of thy relics, which poureth forth rivers of myrrh, O martyr of Christ, do thou deliver from soul-destroying deeds and from the fœtid wave of the passions by thy supplications, and transform them into sweet fragrances before the Lord.

We celebrate a day of spiritual joy, O Demetrius, beholding the outpouring of thy myrrh, which floweth unceasingly. Driving away the gloom of the passions as one filled with divine light, grant that we may walk nobly, as in daylight, that we may behold the unapproachable light of God.

Thou didst arm Nestor with the Cross, through him destroying the audacity of Lyæus in the stadium, O Demetrius; like Christ, thy side was pierced by a spear, and with it thou hast preserved thy flock. Twice

Glory…; Now & ever...:

O Lord, Who lookest down upon the earth from heaven and makest all things to tremble: Deliver us from earthquake through the prayers of the Theotokos, whom Thou hast given to Christians as an intercessor.

Great Doxology. Troparia. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.