After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man…”, the first antiphon.
A Reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah
On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given a sign…” —
Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone —
Troparion, in Tone IV —
After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man…,” the first antiphon.
A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
Rome presenteth thee as a garden of sweet-smelling flowers, O much suffering Parasceva, perfuming the thoughts of the faithful with the fragrance of the virtues, and ever dispelling the stench of the passions with grace, O glorious one, thou beauty of the martyrs, boast of virgins and abyss of miracles.
Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone —
Troparion of the martyrs, in Tone IV —
A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
Thou hast been given to all as glory beyond price by Christ our God, having suffered in Rome; and, abiding therein, O glorious martyr, thou drivest away from men the wickedness of the demons by thine assistance. Wherefore, we all bless thee and praise thy holy sufferings today, O much suffering Parasceva.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —
Glory…: Troparion of the venerable one, in Tone VIII —
A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
Preserved by the power of Christ, O most glorious Parasceva, thou didst ignore the pain of thy body and didst enter upon thy struggles with manly resolve, paying no heed to thy womanly weakness; and, strengthened by hope, thou hast received illumination with those who came before thee.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion: in the same tone & melody —
A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
And 3 stichera in Tone VI —
Now & ever…: Theotokion, or stavrotheotokion.
A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
Assembling, we, the faithful, praise thee with love and bless thy struggles and sufferings, O martyr Parasceva. Entreat Christ thy Bridegroom, that by thy supplications He deliver us from misfortunes and perils.
Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in the same tone —
Desiring to follow after Christ, thy Bridegroom, O all-praised martyr Parasceva, thou didst zealously drain the true cup of thy blood, like a melodious swallow giving voice to a hymn unto Christ God, the Creator of all, for those who celebrate thy memory.
Now & ever…: Theotokion, in Tone VI —
Honoring the sufferings of Christ, thy parents made thee the namesake of the day on which they are commemorated; and when thou didst reach maturity, thou didst withstand sufferings, enduring wounds; and, dancing in prison as in a splendid bridal-chamber, thou didst cry out: “I shall never be separated from Thee, O Lord! Send me Thine aid, and save me in Thy great mercy!”
Glory…, in the same tone —
The Queen stood at the right hand of the Savior, as David doth sing; and thy soul, adorned as with vesture of gold, thou didst set before thy Lord as a sacrifice, and thou didst offer Him the blood of thy body like incense of sweet savor. O all-praised martyr Parasceva, pray for us to Christ God, the Master of all, that He save our souls.
Now & ever…: Dogmaticon, in the same tone —
Who doth not call thee blessed, O all-holy Virgin? Who will not hymn thine all-pure birthgiving? For the only-begotten Son Who shone forth timelessly from the Father, came forth, ineffably incarnate, from thee, the pure one; and being God by nature, He became man for our sake, not divided into two Persons, but known in two natures without confusion. Him do thou beseech, O pure and most blessed one, that our souls find mercy!
Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. 3 Readings:
Thus saith the Lord: All the nations are gathered together, and princes shall be gathered out of them. Who will declare these things, or who will declare to you things from the beginning? Let them bring forth their witnesses, and be justified; and let them hear, and declare the truth. Be ye My witnesses, and I too am a witness, saith the Lord God, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know, and believe, and understand that I am He; before Me there was no other God, and after Me there shall be none. I am God; and beside Me there is no Savior. I have declared, and have saved; I have reproached, and there was no strange god among you. Ye are My witnesses, and I am the Lord God, even from the beginning; and there is none that can deliver out of My hands. I will work, and who shall turn it back? Thus saith the Lord God Who redeemeth you, the Holy One of Israel.
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 forever. 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.
At Litia, these stichera, in Tone V —
Rejoice, O ewe-lamb of the Lord, who emulated well the honorable and blessed suffering of the Immortal One upon the Cross, Who hath made the sufferings of the world of no effect, O passion-bearer who art most rich, thou wellspring pouring forth miracles like water, giving drink to the withered hearts of the infirm with the gift of healings! Thou hast set at naught the feeble audacity of the idols, inheriting as thy dwelling-place the bridal-chamber of heaven. Pray thou to Christ, that He grant unto our souls peace and great mercy.
Where the abode is of those who rejoice, where the never-waning light is, in the house of the living God, in the midst of the wondrous tabernacles, where the choir is of those who keep festival with gladness, O pure one, thou dost stand, holding a lamp of undimmed brightness. Wherefore, delighting in the divinity of the Most High, and shining richly with His splendors, pray thou to Christ, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy.
Beholding Parasceva suffering in the flesh for the sake of the Creator and strengthened by His power, the hosts of heaven said: “Behold, even virgins have glorified the Lord on earth!” And, seized with trembling, men were astonished and, marvelling, rendered glory in hymnody, saying: “O the wonder! A virgin hath vanquished the enemy and entreateth the merciful Master for the salvation of the world, that He grant it peace and great mercy!”
Rejoicing, thou didst stand before the procurator, O valiant martyr Parasceva, openly professing the Faith, and thou didst manfully endure grievous maiming; and having put the tyrant to shame, thou didst betroth thyself to Christ. Standing before Him, pray for those who honor thee and celebrate thy memory with faith.
Rejoice, O ewe-lamb most good, who didst offer thyself to the Lamb and Shepherd as a sacrifice wholly consumed with fire, in that thou wast enkindled with the fire of love for Christ thy Bridegroom; who didst extinguish the flame of the vanity of idolatry and keep the lamp of thy soul ever burning; who by thy sufferings didst vanquish the dark hordes of the demons! Thou hast entered with Christ into the heavenly bridal-chamber. Pray thou for those who keep thy memory, that He grant us peace and great mercy.
Glory…, in Tone VI —
Vanquished by a virgin, the wicked enemy was put to shame, for Christ God, the Word of the Father Who was immutably and ineffably born of the Virgin, as He Himself knew, hath lifted the curse from Adam and Eve, making our first mother bold against sin. He hath crowned the martyr Parasceva as is meet, and for her sake granteth cleansing and great mercy to the world.
No one who hath recourse to thee, O all-pure Virgin Theotokos, departeth from thee ashamed; for he asketh grace and receiveth a gift for his profitable petition.
At the aposticha, these stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…” —
Having stained for thyself raiment of salvation using thy blood for dye, O most lauded one, and whitened it with the Spirit, thou didst commend thyself to the Lord, the immortal King, Who hath preserved thee immaculate and incorrupt for ages of ages in the mansions of heaven, as an all-comely and incorrupt virgin.
Stichos: In the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wondrous; He hath wrought all His desires in them.
Having partaken of wounds, been cast into the fire, endured the flaying of her skin, and valiantly borne boiling cauldrons, Parasceva remained invincible of mind and did not sacrifice to graven images; but, bowing her neck before God, through beheading by the sword she entered the heavens, wearing a crown.
Stichos: With patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive to me, and He hearkened unto my supplication.
Stained with the drops of thy blood, thou didst manifestly shine forth like the sun and by grace didst dispel the darkness of ungodliness, O most lauded martyr Parasceva; and thou hast illumined the faithful who honor thy valiant struggles and thy radiant and luminous and all-saving memory.
Glory…, in Tone VIII —
These things did Parasceva say to the tyrant: “O ungodly and perverse governor, wherefore dost thou rage against the Christians? I have neither deprived thee of a kingdom, nor destroyed thy city, yet thou thinkest to persuade me with foolish words. I shall pay no heed to thee or to thy mindless words; for I will not spare my flesh for my Christ, for He loveth me and shall bestow a kingdom upon me. To Him will I go to be His bride, and He will save me from the hands of mine enemies and grant me life everlasting.”
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, accepting now our supplications, pray thou that we all be saved.
O all-wise and most lauded Parasceva, martyr of Christ, having received manly might and set aside thy womanly weakness, thou didst vanquish the devil and put the tyrant to shame, crying out and saying: “Come ye, cut my body asunder with your swords and burn me with fire; for, rejoicing, I shall go to Christ my Bridegroom!” Through her supplications, O Christ God, save our souls.
The mystery hidden from before the ages and unknown even to the angels, through thee, O Theotokos, hath been revealed to those on earth: God incarnate in unconfused union, Who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake and, thereby raising up the first-formed man, hath saved our souls from death.
On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 for the martyrs, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…” —
Manfully withstanding multifarious torments, ye put down the uprisings of the enemy, confessing before the tyrants Him Who for our sake appeared in the coarseness of the flesh, Who willingly endured His all-pure sufferings and hath poured forth upon the world enlightenment and dispassion, O blessed ones.
With Terence shone forth the glorious Neonilla, the wondrous Nitas and Sarbilus, and with them Photus and Hierax: who suffered lawfully, quenched the fire of torments with the divine dew of the Spirit, and became pillars of piety, right-acceptable sacrifices and all-pure offerings.
Like a sun of surpassing brilliance thou didst join with the moon, Neonilla, and didst beget, O Terence, a choir of seven stars who were stained with the blood of martyrdom and emit splendid radiance, and who have made their abode in never-waning peace, where the team of all the athletes joineth chorus in splendor.
And 3 stichera of the venerable one, in Tone VIII: Sp. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…” —
O God-bearing father Stephen, having most splendidly strengthened thy mind with thought of God, with righteousness thou didst apply all the power of thy soul against anger with courage and against desire with chastity. And with love of wisdom thou didst fashion an all-comely chariot of the virtues, and, seated therein, thou didst ascend on high, rejoicing, O glorious one.
O God-bearing father Stephen, thou didst enlighten thy mind with theology, directing thine anger like a spear against the blasphemous heretics, O venerable father; and, desiring the food of heaven, thou hast been vouchsafed to partake thereof, O wondrous one, standing before the throne of the Almighty, the King of all.
O God-bearing father Stephen, ever satisfying thy mind with abstinence, thou didst cause it to hasten to the prime Cause, and didst spurn the tumult of the world, avoiding the turmoil thereof, truly combining purity of mind with most sublime desire, O most wise one, who art venerable and divinely wise.
Thee do I beseech, the vessel of virginity and the pure, beauteous and most honored habitation of God: Calm thou my soul, which hath been afflicted with the venom of the serpent and slain by disobedience, that I may glorify thee who hast magnified all the faithful, O divinely joyous one.
Stavrotheotokion, in the same tone & melody —
“What is this sight which mine eyes behold, O Master? Thou Who sustainest all creation art uplifted upon the Tree and diest, granting life unto all!” the Theotokos said, weeping, when she beheld the God and man Who had shone forth from her ineffably suspended upon the Cross.
In their sufferings, O Lord, Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, they set at nought the tormenters and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. Through their supplications, save Thou our souls.
O instructor of Orthodoxy, teacher of piety and purity, beacon of all the world, divinely inspired adornment of monastics: O all-wise Stephen, by thy doctrines thou hast enlightened all. O harp of the Spirit, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.
On “Lord, I have cried…,” 8 stichera: 4 in Tone I —
The day of thy commemoration is come, O all-glorious Job, and the land of Volhynia is filled with joy; for, made steadfast in Orthodoxy by thy teachings and instructed in piety by thy struggles, it trusteth in thy supplications, O venerable father, whereby do thou ask peace for the world and great mercy for our souls. Twice
The assemblies of monastics join chorus at thy glorious commemoration and are aflame with zeal for thy God-pleasing life, O favorite of Christ; and bowing down before thine incorrupt relics, with us they cry out to thee as to one alive: O father Job, who art merciful and of kindly disposition, ask of the Lord peace for the world and great mercy for our souls!
Who doth not marvel at thy long-suffering life, O venerable father? For in three monasteries have thine all-glorious deeds been proclaimed: thy fasting, tears and vigils, thy seclusion within a cave, thine harsh treatment of thyself in all things, yet also thy compassionate love for thy brethren, forgiveness of thieves, and goodly instruction of all people.
And 4 stichera in Tone II —
With what wreaths of praise shall we crown the venerable Job, the teacher and champion of the Orthodox faith, the herald of the divine Scriptures and recorder of the traditions of the Fathers, yet also the fulfiller of onerous tasks, who humbled himself in digging earth and planting trees, and was a model of obedience for all? Him doth Christ our God, Who hath great mercy, now crown with unfading glory. Twice
With what worthy thanks shall we glorify Job, the boast of Pochaev and adornment of the whole land of Russia? For by his prayers he called down the light of heaven into his cave, and even after his repose he appeareth from heaven and offereth up supplication for the people of his flock. For there doth Christ our God, Who hath great mercy, crown him with glory.
With what tears of compunction shall we render our corrupt hearts contrite, beholding the incorrupt body of Job, which even after death is preserved as though alive, yet during his lifetime remained as though dead, worn out by fasting and vigils? Let us then strive to emulate his struggles, that Christ our God, Who hath great mercy, may have mercy upon us in the life which is to come.
Glory…, in Tone III —
The venerable Job followed Thy words, O Lord, and all the beautiful things of this world did he reckon as dung. Sparing not his youth, he gave himself over to monastic obedience from childhood. Wherefore, having vanquished the wiles of the demons, he was shown to be a hard diamond of Orthodox piety, and by his struggles doth enlighten his whole land. By his supplications spare thou also our souls, and grant us the goodly resolve to repent before the end.
How can we not marvel at thy giving birth to the God-man, O all-honored one. For without having accepted the temptation of a man, O all-immaculate one, without a father thou gavest birth in the flesh to a Son Who was begotten without a mother before the ages, without His undergoing change, confusion or division, and yet preserved intact the character of both essences. Wherefore, O Virgin Mother and Mistress, entreat Him, that the souls of those who in Orthodox manner confess thee to be the Theotokos be saved.
Entrance. Prokimenon of the Day. Three Readings:
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.
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.
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.
At the Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and these stichera of the saint, in Tone VIII —
Come, all ye assemblies of the Slavs, let us glorify him who was zealous for our common salvation, the fearless denouncer of heresy, the feeder of the poor and meek reprover of sinners, who showed forth the zeal of Paul for the people and hath acquired great boldness before the Lord: for even after his repose he healeth the infirm and repelleth the audacious assaults of the barbarians; and he filleth us with thoughts of compunction, and ever prayeth for the salvation of our souls.
Glory…, in Tone II —
Thy Lavra joineth chorus today, O venerable father Job, and all the people strive to venerate thy relics; the demons tremble before thy grace, the angels rejoice at thine aid, and we unceasingly cry out: By thy supplications make steadfast the Faith of the Orthodox, set our life aright, and ask salvation for our souls.
On thee do I set mine every hope, O Mother of God. Keep me under thy protection.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.