Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.
Three canons: one of the Earthquake, with 6 troparia, including its irmos; and 2 of the greatmartyr, with four troparia each.
Glory..., Now & ever…: Theotokion —
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “Thou hast appeared today...” —
Today we piously celebrate the feast of the passion-bearer Demetrius, for he entreateth Christ unceasingly to grant peace and mercy unto all. Twice
At “God is the Lord...,” the troparion of the Earthquake, twice; Glory..., that of Demetrius; Now & ever..., that of the earthquake.
Glory..., Now & ever…: Theotokion —
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “Go thou quickly before...” —
O ye faithful, let us bless the Theotokos, the fervent help of those amid misfortunes, our helper and deliverance before God, for by her have we been delivered from corruption.
Glory..., Now & ever…: Theotokion —
After the Polyeleos, this Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “Of the Wisdom...” —
Thy memorial hath illuminated the Church of God, O glorious martyr Demetrius, and hath brought all together to praise thee fittingly with hymns as a true warrior and destroyer of the enemy, O divinely wise one. Wherefore, by thy supplication deliver us from temptations. Twice
We hymn thee, O Bride of God, Mother of Christ God, glorifying thine incomprehensible birthgiving, whereby we have been delivered from the deception of the devil and from all misfortunes, O Mistress Theotokos; and we cry out with faith: Have mercy on thy flock, O thou who alone art all-hymned!
The Polyeleos and Magnification —
We magnify thee, O holy passion-bearer Demetrius, and we honor thine honored sufferings, which thou didst endure for Christ.
Selected Psalm verses —
A Our God is refuge and strength. [Ps. 45: 2]
B A helper in afflictions which mightily befall us. [Ps. 45: 2]
A Therefore shall we not fear when the earth be shaken. [Ps. 45: 3]
B O God, who shall be likened unto Thee? Be Thou not silent, neither be still, O God. [Ps. 82: 2]
A For behold, Thine enemies have made a noise, and those who hate Thee have lifted up their heads. [Ps. 82: 3]
B Against Thy people have they taken wicked counsel, and have conspired against Thy saints. [Ps. 82: 4]
A They have made the dead bodies of Thy servants to be food for the birds of heaven. [Ps. 78: 2]
B The flesh of Thy saints for the beasts of the earth. [Ps. 78: 2]
A They have poured out their blood like water. [Ps. 78: 3]
B For Thy sake we are slain all the day long. [Ps. 43: 23]
A We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. [Ps. 43: 23]
B Thou hast made us a byword among the nations. [Ps. 43: 15]
A And I became a man scourged all the day long. [Ps. 72: 14]
B By fire hast Thou tried us even as silver is tried by fire. [Ps. 65: 11]
A We went through fire and water, and Thou didst bring us out into refreshment. [Ps 65: 12]
B Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous. [Ps. 31: 11]
A For the Lord is in the generation of the righteous. [Ps. 13: 5]
B And their inheritance shall be for ever. [Ps. 36: 18]
A The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them. [Ps. 33: 18]
B A light hath dawned forth for the righteous man, and gladness for the upright of heart. [Ps. 96: 11]
A In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be. [Ps. 111: 6]
B In the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wondrous; He hath wrought all His desires in them. [Ps. 15: 3]
A Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel. [Ps. 67: 36]
B The righteous man shall flourish like a palm tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied. [Ps. 91: 13]
A The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him. [Ps. 63: 11]
B And all the upright in heart shall be praised. [Ps. 63: 11]
Glory…, Now & ever… Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Thrice
As with rays of light and the radiance of miracles thou dost illumine and enlighten all the ends of the earth like a most luminous star. And like another paradise thou dost make fragrant and dost gladden souls, and dost cause infirmities to cease. Wherefore, we hymn thee as is meet, O most blessed one, and with love we cherish thy precious memory. O passion-bearer Demetrius, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of offenses unto those who honor thy holy memory with love. Twice
All of us, the generations of mankind, bless thee as the Virgin who, alone among women, hast given birth without seed to God in the flesh; for the fire of the Godhead made His abode within thee, and thou gavest suck unto thy Creator and Lord as a babe. Wherefore, we, the generation of angels and men, glorify thine all-holy birthgiving as is meet, and together we cry out to thee: Entreat Christ God to grant remission of offenses unto those who down before thine all-holy birthgiving with faith.
Prokimenon, in Tone IV —
Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.
Stichos: In the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wondrous; He hath wrought all His desires in them.
Let every breath praise the Lord!
Gospel According to St. Matthew § 36 (10:16-22).
The Lord said to His disciples: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father Who speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he who endureth to the end shall be saved.”
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI —
Today the universal festival of the passion-bearer doth call us together. Come, then, O ye who love the feasts of the Church, and let us radiantly celebrate his commemoration, saying: Rejoice, thou who didst rend the garment of ungodliness with faith and didst robe thyself in manliness of spirit! Rejoice, thou who didst wreck the schemes of the alien one with the might given thee by the One God! Rejoice, thou who in thy pierced limbs didst spiritually emulate the suffering of Christ for us! Him do thou entreat, O Demetrius, adornment of athletes, that we be delivered from enemies, visible and invisible, and that our souls be saved!
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.