Canon of the greatmartyr, in Tone IV —

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “Hearken, ye women…” —

Irmos: I will open my mouth, and with the Spirit will it be filled; and I shall utter discourse unto the Queen and Mother, and shall appear, keeping splendid festival; and, rejoicing, I will hymn her wonders.

Katavasia: I will open my mouth…

Kontakion, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Today the Virgin…” —

O father Stephen, thou didst attain vigilant prayer and standing all night, the earnest uplifting of thy hands and wellsprings of tears.

The choir of the seven brethren with their two parents were an unblemished sacrifice to Thee Who wast wondrously slain for their sake, O Christ Master, and brought themselves to Thee like lambs.

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…” —

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

Theotokion: O most immaculate Virgin who gavest birth to Christ and didst bear Him wholly in thine arms, dispel the darkness of my soul and enlighten me, that I may hymn thee, O thou who art truly well named.

Illumined from on high with divine light, dispel the darkness of mine ignorance, and through thy supplications grant me the grace to hymn the multitudes of thy wonders, O martyr Parasceva.

Irmos: Let us chant unto the Lord, Who led His people through the Red Sea, for He alone hath gloriously been glorified.

Kontakion of the venerable one, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Having been lifted up…” —

Glory…: Another sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Go thou quickly before…” —

Virginity and most wondrous martyrdom didst thou offer unto Christ incorruptibly, O most honored virgin Parasceva. Thou didst cast down the arrogance of ungodly falsehood by the power of the Cross and with manly intelligence. Wherefore, the whole Church of Christ doth celebrate thy holy memory.

Theotokion: Having found a paradise of blessedness through thee which passeth understanding, O Theotokos, we, the race of Adam, praise thee as is meet.

Like the dawn thou hast truly shone forth more radiantly than the sun, in that thou art the confirmation of the Church, O martyr Parasceva, and with the rays of thy struggles and thy miracles thou hast illumined the ends of the world.

Irmos: The bow of the mighty is become weak, and the strengthless have girded themselves with power; wherefore, my heart is established in the Lord.

Kontakion of the martyrs, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Having been lifted up…” —

Sessional hymn of the martyrs, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…” —

O wise virgin, blessed Parasceva, the choirs of the angels were manifestly amazed at thy suffering, thine opposition, and thine invincibility, how with manly combat thou didst break the invisible foe, and didst richly receive from the hand of the Bestower of life a crown of victory.

Theotokion: Piously are the words of Isaiah fulfilled; for the Virgin gave birth in the flesh to Christ, the Bestower of life, the Savior of our souls.

Loving Christ, the immortal Bridegroom, thou didst show thyself to share in His sufferings through faith, and hast received the everlasting kingdom and an imperishable crown, O glorious martyr Parasceva.

Irmos: Thou art the confirmation of those who have recourse to Thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of the benighted; and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

Glory…: Sessional hymn of the venerable one, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “The Word Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning…” —

Burning with fire, thou didst quench the material flame with fiery wisdom, and, keeping the lamp of thy soul alight, thou didst enter with Christ, thy Bridegroom, into the heavenly bridal-chamber; and, having slain the passions with the sparks of miracles, thou hast vanquished the demonic hordes as a martyr.

Theotokion: Grant us aid through thy supplications, O all-pure one, fending off evil circumstances by thy counsels.

Another canon of the martyr, in Tone VIII —

Irmos: Seated in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, Jesus most divine hath come on a light cloud, and with His incorrupt arm hath saved those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ!

And 3 in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Joy of the ranks of heaven…” —

Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Let us chant unto the Lord Who hath glorified the memory of the martyr and leadeth earthly choirs unto praise today.

Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thy dispensation; I have understood Thy works, and have glorified Thy divinity.

Thou hast made thine abode in the courts of heaven, O martyr Parasceva, and hast been admitted to its choirs both because of the blood of thy sufferings and thy visions, O most lauded one.

Theotokion: As the prophet said of old, O most immaculate one, the Lord descended into thy womb like dew upon the fleece, and thou gavest birth to Him in two natures. To Him do we cry out: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Spurning riches, thou didst also disdain glory, O honored martyr Parasceva, and didst give thyself over to suffering.

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.

Thou didst put the tyrant to shame, paying no heed to his tortures; and wast not frightened by the roaring of wild beasts, for thou didst have Christ as thy helper, O most lauded one.

Theotokion: As Thou art sinless, grant us cleansing of our offenses; and as Thou art good, bestow peace upon Thy people, through the supplications of her who gave Thee birth.

The Master desired thy beauty, O martyr, and caused thee to dwell in the bridal-chamber of heaven.

Irmos: Waking at dawn, we cry to Thee: Save us, O Lord! For Thou art our God, and we know none other than Thee.

Rejoicing, thou didst run, hastening to receive the end of thy martyrdom, O all-praised Parasceva, most lauded virgin; and as thou hast wedded thyself to Christ, be thou mindful of those who ever honor thee.

Theotokion: O Mother of God who ineffably gavest birth to God the Word, thou hast healed the evil of my soul; wherefore, all generations call thee blessed.

Mercilessly beaten with staves, her sinews and bones broken, the ever-memorable martyr Parasceva rejoiced, crying: “Naught will separate me from Thy love, O Christ!”

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.

Glory…, in Tone VI —

Theotokion: Still thou the ever-raging tempest of the passions, O thou who gavest birth to Christ, the Helmsman and Lord.

The mouths and boastful tongues of the ungodly who uttered iniquity against the Righteous One were stopped when the martyr Parasceva cried out, preaching the Savior.

Irmos: Grant me a robe of light, O Thou Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment, O most merciful Christ our God.

Let the martyr of Christ be honored with hymns, for all laudation becometh her. For, weaving her own wreath of praises, as one unbowed and steadfast she set at nought the great evil of the tyrants. Wherefore, suffering pain, she cried aloud: “Be Thou mine aid, O Lord, and forsake me not!”

Theotokion: Heal thou the passions of my soul, O most immaculate one who gavest birth to the Wellspring of dispassion, and dispel the torment which continually vexeth my heart.

With the sprinkling of thy blood thou didst extinguish the fire of ungodliness, O much suffering martyr Parasceva, and hast enlightened the understanding of the faithful.

Irmos: O all-hymned Lord God of our fathers, Who saved the children of Abraham in the fire, slaying the Chaldæans whom justice rightly overtook: blessed art Thou!

We have come to know God Who was incarnate of Thee, O Virgin Theotokos. Him do thou entreat for the salvation of our souls.

Theotokion: The Word of God hath shown thee to mortals as a heavenly ladder, for by thee hath He descended to us.

“Thou art my confirmation, O Lord,” said the martyr, “Thou art my help; and to Thee have I fled, O King of the world!”

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the youths who had come forth from Judæa trod down the flame of the furnace with their faith in the Trinity, chanting: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Great Doxology. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.

Theotokion: Blessed is the Fruit of thy blessed womb, O blessed one, Whom the hosts of heaven bless and the assemblies of men praise, Who hath delivered from the ancient curse us who chant: O all-hymned God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Thou didst appear at the tribunal, possessed of a manly-wise soul, and didst vanquish the enemy as a coward, O most lauded one.

Irmos: The birthgiving of the Theotokos saved the pious children in the furnace—then in figure, but now in deed—and it moveth all the world to chant to Thee: Hymn ye the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: Incarnate of the Virgin’s womb, Thou didst manifest Thyself for our salvation; wherefore, acknowledging Thy Mother to be the Theotokos, we cry out in thanksgiving: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Heal thou the eyes of my soul by thy supplications, O most lauded martyr, and set my mind aright.

Irmos: The King of heaven, Whom the hosts of angels hymn, praise and exalt ye supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: The women hastened after thee, O most pure Bride of God who alone knewest not wedlock, acknowledging the sweet-smelling Myrrh, Christ God, the only-begotten Son Who shone forth from thy womb; and they reign with thee, hymning Him forever.

Drying up the torrents of ungodliness with the streams of thy blood, O most lauded Parasceva, martyr of Christ, thou dost water the reason-endowed furrows with the rain of grace and therein dost cause the grain of faith to spring up. And for this, O glorious one, thou hast appeared after death, pouring forth life for thy martyrdom’s sake, O most lauded passion-bearer. Entreat Christ God, that He grant great mercy to our souls.

Irmos: Let every mortal leap for joy, enlightened by the Spirit; and let the nature of the incorporeal intelligences keep festival, honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry aloud: Rejoice, O most blessed Theotokos, pure Ever-virgin!

Theotokion: Extinguish the sparks of the assault of those who oppose us, O Virgin, that we may hymn the Lord and exalt Him supremely forever.

Having adorned the purity of thy soul with fasting, thou dost illumine the faithful with the rays of thy suffering, O much suffering martyr Parasceva. Wherefore, celebrating thy holy and radiant day with faith, we piously cry out: As thou hast boldness before the Lord, entreat Him, that we be saved!

Irmos: Saved by thee, O pure Virgin, we confess thee to be in truth the Theotokos, magnifying thee with the incorporeal choirs.

Theotokion: In manner past even the most sublime understanding thou hast been shown to be a habitation of Wisdom, O most immaculate Maiden, and an animate throne and portal. Wherefore, the virgins, loving thee as their Queen, followed in thy train, O divine Maiden.

By thy divine birthgiving, O pure one, thou didst renew the mortal essence of those born of earth, 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, O exceedingly glorious Virgin, as thou didst foretell.

Irmos: I will open my mouth, and with the Spirit will it be filled; and I shall utter discourse unto the Queen and Mother, and shall appear, keeping splendid festival; and, rejoicing, I will hymn her wonders.

Theotokion: With hymns we sing to thee, O thou who art full of the grace of God, and unceasingly we offer thee the cry “Rejoice!”, for thou hast poured forth gladness upon us all.

Stavrotheotokion —

Irmos: Let us chant unto the Lord, Who led His people through the Red Sea, for He alone hath gloriously been glorified.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

When she beheld thee suspended upon the Cross, O Word of God, Thine all-pure Mother exclaimed, lamenting maternally: “What is this new and strange wonder, O my Son? How is it that Thou, the Life of all, dost taste of death, desiring to bring life to mortals, in that Thou art compassionate?”

Irmos: Neither in wisdom, nor in power, nor yet in riches do we boast, but in Thee, O Christ, the hypostatic Wisdom of the Father; for none is holy save Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

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

Wounded with the love of Christ, with thy might thou didst slay the hordes of the tyrants and pourest forth the grace of life everlasting; and thou hast received reward for thy sufferings, O Parasceva, adornment of the martyrs of Christ.

Irmos: Plant Thou the fear of Thee in the hearts of Thy servants, O Lord, and be Thou the confirmation of us who call upon Thee in truth.

Theotokion: In that thou didst receive the fullness of the whole Godhead, O most immaculate one, thou hast been shown to be the mediatress of joy for us; wherefore, with the angels we all cry out to thee: Rejoice, O divinely joyous one.

Surpassing all in the love of Christ thy Bridegroom, and hating carnal love, thou didst mightily endure painful sufferings, O martyr Parasceva, crying out: “Cut me not off from Thy desire, O Christ, that I may finish the contest of martyrdom!”

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!

Theotokion: O all-pure Theotokos, joy of all, O undefiled one who contained God within thy womb, pray thou, that we who hymn thee may be delivered from our enemies.

Rejecting all the vanity of the world, thou didst cleave to God alone, enduring the pangs of suffering, O martyr Parasceva, manly minded bride of God.

Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thy dispensation; I have understood Thy works, and have glorified Thy divinity.

Theotokion: Having acquired thee as a most pure habitation, the Wisdom of God became incarnate of thy pure blood and showed thee forth as incorrupt even after birthgiving.

Hearing the commandment of the Gospel, O Lord, the martyr Parasceva glorified Thy divinity.

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.

Theotokion: Without seed thou didst conceive the Savior and Lord Who delivereth from corruption us who truly hymn thee, O Bride of God.

Thou didst in nowise offer sacrifices to the vile demons, but didst give thyself over to the Lord as a living sacrifice.

Irmos: Enlighten us with Thy commandments, O Lord, and with Thine upraised arm grant us Thy peace, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Standing mightily before the tribunal, the martyr cried out: “When I have been crucified with Christ my Bridegroom, I shall reign with Him!”

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: He Who created all things by His will desired to take form through thee in manner past recounting, O thou who knewest not wedlock, saving those who cry out with faith: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

The never-waning Light dwelt within thy soul, that thou mightest shine forth with virtue, illumining those who glorify thee without ceasing.

Irmos: Thou didst cause Jonah to sojourn alone within the sea monster, O Lord. Save me, who am caught in the nets of the enemy, as thou didst save him from corruption.

Theotokion: O pure Virgin, entreat God to Whom thou gavest birth, that He grant thy servants forgiveness of offenses and deliverance from the adversary.

Thou didst dry up the stream of impious ungodliness, O martyr Parasceva, and with the torrents of thy blood unjustly shed thou didst quench the fire of falsehood.

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 most immaculate one, thou gavest birth for us to the timeless Light, the Effulgence of the Father, Who in the richness of His goodness came under time.

Possessed of a brilliant mind, thou wast vouchsafed the gift of prophecy and to all didst manifestly foretell things to come, O much suffering Parasceva.

Irmos: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers, Who bedewed the children in the furnace and preserved her who gave Thee birth a Virgin after birthgiving!

Theotokion: Ever beseech thy Son and our God, O pure Mary who knewest not wedlock, that He send down mercy upon us, the faithful.

Waking at dawn, the martyr Parasceva cried aloud: “Naught will separate me from the love of Christ!”

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: Surrounded on all sides by fire, yet in nowise consumed, the bush prefigured the great mystery of thy birthgiving which passeth understanding, O most hymned Virgin.

In his resolve to weaken the godly martyr, the wicked one was himself shown to be a laughing-stock.

Irmos: When the musical instruments sounded and innumerable were those who worshipped the image in Dura, the three youths, refusing to obey the tyrant’s command, hymned and glorified the Lord for all ages.

Theotokion: In manner past understanding thou didst render the Lord, Who became incarnate in thy womb, merciful to thy servants through thy supplications, O pure one, that we may be delivered from dread torment.

Grant me enlightenment, O most praised one, and illumine my much-troubled mind by thy supplications.

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: He Who clotheth the sky with clouds hath shown thee to be heaven on earth, O all-pure one, for through thee He clothed Himself wholly in man and doth deify me in His boundless loving-kindness.

Having shone forth from Rome like the radiant sun, O holy martyr, thou drivest away from men the darkness of the demons by thine entreaties, O much-suffering Parasceva.

Irmos: O ye people, with glory let us honor the pure Theotokos, who received the fire of the Godhead in her womb without being consumed, and let us magnify her with hymns.

Theotokion: It was fitting that thou pass over to Him Who became incarnate of thee without seed, O pure and undefiled Mary, having shone forth more brightly than the sun; for thou didst bear God Almighty in thine arms, O blessed one.

By touching the shrine of thy relics those who approach it receive healing; lepers and those with an issue of blood are cleansed, and the demonic hordes flee the invocation of thy holy name.

Theotokion: At the Father’s good pleasure thou didst receive the Son in thy womb when thou wast overshadowed by the divine Spirit, O all-pure one; and having given birth, thou didst remain all-pure as thou wast before. To Him do thou pray unceasingly, O Virgin, that all be delivered from corruption and tribulation.

Thou didst rise at dawn unto Christ, the never-setting Sun, and with His splendors thou didst illumine thy soul and heart, O divinely wise and honored Parasceva; and, rejoicing, thou didst pass over to the light of the Trinity.

Theotokion: Knowing thee fully to be the Virgin Mother of God in manner past recounting, we hymn thee most piously, chanting with faith: Hymn the Lord and exalt Him supremely forever!

Parasceva cried out: “Cover me with a robe from heaven, O greatly Merciful One Who dost clothe the heavens with clouds!”

Theotokion: O Theotokos who art more spacious than the heavens, holier than the cherubim and more honorable than all creation: Entreat God, to Whom thou gavest birth, in behalf of us who honor thee.

As the Lord hearkened unto Daniel in the lions’ den, so did He grant healing to thee as thou didst pray in prison.

Theotokion: O ye faithful, in hymns let us all magnify the Virgin Theotokos Who ineffably bore God the Savior in her womb.

Thou didst cast down the pride of the tyrant, and, remaining unharmed, didst thyself withstand torture.

Bearing to Christ, the immortal Bridegroom, as a dowry thine all-holy and undefiled torment, thou didst gladden the choir of the angels and didst foil the wiles of the demons. Wherefore, we cherish thee with honor and faith, O much suffering martyr Parasceva.

Ikos: Who can describe the powers of the Lord? Who can recount thy sufferings and virtues, O martyr? What tongue can hymn thee as is meet? Even so, unworthy though I am, I shall attempt to hymn, praise and glorify the Master, the Bestower of life, Who granted strength in the arena to thee who confessed Him to be the true God, that thou mightest not fear the tyrants. Wherefore, we honor thee with faith and love, O much suffering martyr Parasceva.

O martyr Parasceva, thou turtle-dove with wings of gold, protected by the weapon of the Cross thou didst drive away the Saracens who advanced upon thy city at night, saving from slaughter the faithful who chant: O all-hymned God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Having endured multifarious pangs for the sake of Christ, O martyr Parasceva, thou didst obtain from Him rest devoid of pain; and, rejoicing, thou criest out: O all-hymned God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

How invincible was thine understanding, O honored Parasceva! For thou wast undaunted by the tortures of the choir of leading tormenters, and, contending against them, thou didst repose as a servant of the mystery of divine glory, chanting: O all-hymned God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

The wonders of the divine martyr have been shown to be past understanding, for in her virginal youth she vanquished the tyrant, crying: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Standing in the midst of the tribunal, thou didst shut the mouths of the foolish which are hateful to God, and didst confess God, crying: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Unmindful of thy womanly weakness, and manfully strengthening thyself with patience, amid thy suffering thou didst cry out: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Illumined with the divine splendors of the noetic Sun, O most lauded martyr Parasceva, thou didst pass through the night of ungodliness, chanting with single-mindedness of soul: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely forever!

Like a ewe-lamb, like an unblemished heifer, like a divine turtle-dove, as a voluntary immolation thou didst bring thyself to thy Creator, O martyr Parasceva, and didst offer thyself as a blameless sacrifice, chanting melodiously: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely forever!

By thy martyrdom thou didst put on the splendid robe dyed in thy blood, O valiant martyr Parasceva, truly shedding the corrupt man with his sins; and, rejoicing, thou didst chant: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely forever!

Christ God the King did the virgin martyr Parasceva confess, chanting: Praise and supremely exalt Him forever!

For love of the divine Trinity thou didst quench the fire of ungodliness, crying: Exalt Christ supremely forever!

By thy struggles toward God thou didst cast down the prince of darkness, crying: Exalt Christ supremely forever!

Having made thine abode in the heavenly bridal-chamber, O most honored virgin Parasceva, consciously delighting in invisible beauties, and receiving ineffable effulgence, enlighten those who hymn and magnify thee.

Thou didst receive a crown for thy head, O valiant minded Parasceva, having finished the race and kept the Faith intact; and the ranks of the righteous have joyfully received thee. Wherefore, we now call thee blessed.

To those in need thou givest drops of healing as from a wellspring, O martyr Parasceva who art most rich, cutting off the torrents of infirmities, driving off the burning heat of the passions, and watering the hearts of the pious, that they might produce godly works.

Thou wast truly worthy of thy name, O Parasceva, emulating the sufferings of Christ and joining chorus with the armies of heaven.

Thou didst reach the end of thy torment through thy manifold sufferings and pangs, glorifying Christ with the angels in the heavens, O most honored one.

As thou hast boldness before the Savior and Master, O glorious martyr Parasceva, pray for those who hymn thy memory.

Like a most comely rose didst thou spring forth from a thorny root, O virgin Parasceva, empurpled with the blood of thy sacred suffering as with dew. From misfortunes save us now who celebrate thy divine memory with love.

O all-pure Theotokos Mary, the divinely wise virgins who surround thee as a Queen by birth have been brought before thy Son, the King of all, as becometh brides. Him do thou entreat in our behalf, O Virgin Maiden and Mother.

Tempest-tossed on the abyss of sin, O Thou Who lovest mankind, I lift up the eyes of my heart to the only abyss of Thy compassion: Direct and save me through the supplications of the athletes.

The never-waning Sun showed you to be stars in the firmament of His Church, illumining the fullness thereof with the radiance of your struggles, O all-praised martyrs.

Terence and Nitas, Sarbilus, Theodulus and Hierax, Neonilla and the wondrous Bele, Eunice and Photus became champions of the Faith, the foundation of the Church.

With divine light dispel thou all the darkness of my despondency, O father Stephen, granting me the divine grace to hymn thy memory.

Thou didst have a taste for the virtues alone, O Stephen, for thou didst utterly reject the evil of the world, cleaving unto God from childhood.

Bringing thyself wholly to Christ the Savior as a splendid sacrifice through abstinence, O glorious one, in God-pleasing manner thou becamest a partaker of life immortal.

Uniting himself to Neonilla, like the sun to the most radiant moon, the glorious Terence begat a choir of seven martyrs of Christ like stars.

The breaking of thy limbs crushed the bones of falsehood like dust, O athlete Terence, and won for thee ineffable glory.

Having furnished thyself with wings of gold, O Eunice, thou didst elude the wiles of the iniquitous pursuers and hast come to dwell within the noetic bridal-chamber.

From thy childhood the desert purified thee through the forethought of God, O Stephen, who avoided the carnal passions which defile men’s souls in this life.

The ascetics whose life was heavenly, receiving thee, O blessed one, made thee steadfast in divine wisdom through the fear of the Lord.

Submitting to the patristic teachings of wisdom, O father, thou didst set the fear of God as the foundation of thy heavenly life.

Thou didst plant a garden of the virtues and irrigate it with the torrents of thy tears, O most glorious one. Having received the tree of life, O Stephen, save thy flock from corruption by thy supplications and deliver from evil circumstances those who fervently honor thee; for through faith and love, O wise one, we have acquired thee as an intercessor most great.

As radiant stars shine with the sun, the sacred children of Terence manifestly shine with him and illumine creation, shining with valor in their courageous struggles; and they dispel the night of polytheism. With gladness and faith let us bless them as favorites of God, and cry aloud: O most lauded athletes, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who honor thy holy memory with love.

Having adorned thy life with abstinence and mortified the passions, thou didst trample the assaults of the enemy underfoot, O father Stephen; and, offering thyself to God, thou wast shown to be a worker of wonders, joining chorus with the angels in everlasting glory. With them do thou unceasingly pray that we find mercy.

O pure Ever-virgin, thou fervent and invincible intercessor, sure and unashamed hope, protection and refuge of those who have recourse to thee: With the angels entreat thy Son and God, that He grant to the world peace, salvation and great mercy.

Stavrotheotokion —

Beholding Thee hanging of Thine own will upon the Cross between the thieves, O Christ, Thy Mother said maternally, her womb rent asunder: “O my sinless Son, how is it that Thou art nailed unjustly to the Cross like a malefactor, desiring to bring life to the human race, in that Thou art compassionate?”

Steered by the hand of the Almighty, ye traversed the deep of torments without foundering, until ye reached the calm haven of the kingdom on high, O martyrs.

O most lauded martyrs, with the weaponry of faith ye brought low the prideful tyrant who vaunted himself in the might of his ungodliness; and ye chanted: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Thou didst make all the wisdom of thy flesh subject to the divine laws of the Spirit, O wise Stephen, and by thy discourse hast driven off the irrational assaults of the passions.

O Stephen, with waves of wrath thou didst assail the enemy, setting thy desire upon God alone, Whom thou didst love.

Thou didst behold the radiant light of dispassion, O venerable Stephen, and, guided by grace, didst cast off the gloomy darkness of the passions.

Pondering in thy mind the things that are to come, thou didst spurn the senselessness of transitory things. Wherefore, through thy pangs thou hast inherited all that is everlasting.

Having acquired Thee as their strength, O Lord, the martyrs manfully overcame maiming, wounds, the fire and death.

O sacred children! O God-pleasing immolations! O company who have set at naught the subtle wiles of the enemy who wageth war against us!

Thou didst crown thy head with immortal victories, O goodly virgin Eunice, vanquishing the serpent who vanquished Eve.

Thou art shown to be like a luminary shining forth from the heavens upon those who hymn thee, driving away the darkness of evil deeds and disclosing the radiance of divine activity.

Thou hast been truly been shown to be a radiant beacon of the desert, O Stephen, enlightening those held fast in the darkness of evils.

Mercilessly commanding that the martyrs be stretched out and bound to wheels for multifarious tortures, the tyrant was put to shame, seeing them to be invincible.

Cast to the wild beasts for them to devour, O saints, by your unceasing supplications ye made them more tame than lambs, and were in nowise harmed by them.

Let Sarbelus, Neonilla, Photus and Theodulus, Bele, Hierax and Eunice, the godly Nitus and Terence be piously praised as valiant martyrs.

Thou wast seen feeding a doe with thine own hands, O Stephen; for, having shaken off the passions of the soul, thou didst come to have dominion over wild beasts as Adam had of old in Eden.

Preparing thine inward parts as a habitation for Christ in the chamber of thy soul, O Stephen, and restraining thy tongue, thou didst utterly mortify the carnal pleasures.

Thou wast crowned with the victor’s crowns of asceticism, O Stephen; for thou didst vanquish hordes of the demons and set at nought the assaults of the passions, O blessed one.

Today the honored memorial of the martyrs, Terence the all-wise and his company, hath arrived, bringing gladness to all; wherefore, let us receive healing, for they have received from the Holy Spirit the grace to heal the infirmities and pain of our souls.

Cast into the furnace of torments, O martyrs, by your patience ye obtained dew from heaven, crying out in thanksgiving: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Having the wisdom of their souls made fast to the rock of the immutable Faith of Christ, by their supplication the martyrs called forth an earthquake, setting at nought the savagery of the ungodly.

Suspended aloft, your sides grievously maimed, most cruelly given vinegar to drink and burned with fire, O blessed and glorious ones, ye consumed all falsehood like tinder.

The grace of the incorrupt Trinity, truly finding thee to be a chosen vessel, as it desired, O Stephen, rested in thee, enriched thee with gifts and hath shown thee to be a physician healing the passions of the soul.

O initiate of the mysteries of the all-radiant Godhead, seer partaking of the ineffable glory of God: Grant enlightenment to us who celebrate thy memory with faith, O all-blessed Stephen, favorite of Christ.

Tracing the sign of the Cross in the dry earth with thy staff, like Moses, O Stephen, thou didst cause water to pour forth for thy thirsty disciple, chanting to Christ Almighty: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

The godly martyrs, receiving divine coolness from heaven, braved the fire, illumined with the light of the divine Spirit, and showed the boiling of the cauldrons to be of no effect. Let us praise them as is meet, O ye faithful.

A multitude of angels appeared, manifestly strengthening you in the arena, O most lauded martyrs, and taking away your pain; and with them ye cry aloud the hymn of the youths: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Having the eye of thy heart directed vigilantly toward God, O Sarbelus, thou didst endure the plucking out of thine eyes, denouncing the tyrant who was held fast in the darkness of ungodliness. Wherefore, we all bless thee as a child of the Day.

Thou didst submit to the Lord in the constancy of thy blameless life, O blessed one, and, strengthened thereby, thou didst subdue the enemy and trample them under thy feet, wielding thy pangs like weapons against them.

Possessing a consistent life, simple and upright habits, an innocent demeanor and a God-loving mind, thou didst show forth the word of truth; wherefore, hymning thee, we exalt Christ supremely forever.

Thou didst love God with all thy soul, O father, and didst turn away from tumult; and going about the trackless deserts, thou didst please Him Whom thou didst love alone, for Whose sake thou didst account all things as but dung.

Ye have been shown to be a garden of paradise having in your midst the tree of life, a wellspring pouring forth drops of healing, and a river truly full of the divine waters of the Spirit, O saints.

O martyrs, ye have been shown to be pillars of the Church of Christ, most tranquil havens for those who are tempest-tossed on the abyss of evils, nurturers of the world and companions of the angels.

Ye dwell with joy in the mansions of heaven, gazing together upon inconceivable beauties and enjoying true deification, O crowned ones of great renown.

Thou didst tread the narrow path than which nought in the world is more needful; wherefore, thou hast entered into Eden, the spacious place of rest.

Thou hast been shown to be fortunate, O blessed Stephen, for as is meet thou hast been crowned in the heavens with a wreath of glory, hymning Him Who crowned thee.

Thy wondrous life hath shone forth, as fragrant as a rose in a garden, radiantly illumining those who honor thee like a beacon in the air, O most blessed one.