Ode IX

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “When the disciples…” —

Irmos: The bush which burnt with fire yet was not consumed showed forth an image of thy pure birthgiving. And now we pray that the furnace of temptations which rageth against us may be extinguished, that we may magnify thee unceasingly, O Theotokos.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, idiomela, the composition of Germanus, in Tone I —

Theotokion: O Thy wonders which pass understanding! For thou alone, O Virgin Mother, in manner transcending nature, gavest birth to God the Word become flesh, Who wisely sustaineth and nurtureth all things by His will.

Ye have wholly acquired Christ, for ye forsook the whole world for His sake; and now ye dwell in the heavens with the choirs of the heavenly hosts, beholding the splendors of the blessed.

Exapostilarion: Spec.. Mel.: “The heaven with stars…”—

Irmos: O ye armies of the angels and multitudes of men, with unceasing hymns let us magnify the all-glorious wonder and awesome mystery, the supernatural conception and ineffable birthgiving!

Bound not by love of nature, but by faith, like David the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus cried out: “Behold now, what is so good or so joyous as for brethren to dwell together in unity?” Wherefore, the holy ones trampled upon the enemy, and, taking up the cross, they followed after Christ; and they beseech our King and God to grant great mercy to our souls. Twice

Theotokion —

O excellent twain, from on high ye impart grace and remission of transgressions unto those who with love offer you praises. Entreating Him Who alone is merciful, and hastening to Him, ye paid no heed to those things which drag men down.

In Tone II: Assembling today, let us cry out a hymn to the saints like that of the prophet: Behold now, what is so good or so joyous as for brethren to abide together, not by consequence of kinship, but by unity of faith in the Holy Spirit? For the valiant martyrs Sergius and Bacchus cast aside all corruptible things and, taking the cross upon their shoulders, followed after Christ. And possessing boldness in the heavens, they ever pray for us, that God may grant us great mercy.

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: “Great is the power of the martyrs…” —

Illumined with the splendor of the thrice-radiant Godhead, O invincible martyrs, ye rejected the deluding ungodliness of polytheism and fear of the tormenters; and ye now delight in the incorruptible delight of paradise.

Shod for the preparation of the Gospel of peace with sandals pierced with nails, with blood pouring from his feet Sergius blinded the serpent who bruiseth our heel, and hath received a martyr’s crown. Wherefore, by their prayers, O Christ God, nail Thou our flesh to the fear of Thee, and have mercy upon us.

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion —

Having finished your good race, striving to preserve the Faith of piety, O all-glorious martyrs, ye have been vouchsafed to receive the immovable kingdom, crowned with wreaths of beauty and majesty.

Glory…, in Tone III —

Theotokion: Death lieth in wait for us all, O Mistress, whereat we must give account for our deeds before thy Son; but plead for us, O merciful Mother, and move the Judge to clemency, in that thou art good.

Let us praise Sergius and Bacchus, the two radiant martyrs; for they endured a battery of wounds and cast down the pride of the most evil tyrant by the power of the Trinity.

How good and how pleasant is the brotherly mind of Thy martyrs, O Lord! For Thou didst not make them brethren by fleshly nature, but their faith and fraternal love made them wise unto the shedding of their blood. Through their supplications, O Christ God, have mercy upon us.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Thou hast been shown to be more glorious than the cherubim and more exalted than the seraphim, having given birth to God incarnate Who hath shown mortals how to tread the straight paths which lead to salvation.

A sword pierced thy heart, O all-pure one, when thou didst behold thy Son upon the Cross; and thou didst cry out: “Show me not to be childless, O my Son and my God, Who hast preserved me a virgin even after I gave birth!”

Now & ever… Theotokion, in the same tone—

At the aposticha, the stichera from the Octoechos, and Glory…, the composition of Anatolius, in Tone II —

The Church of God, beholding your struggles of old, O universal martyrs, is splendidly adorned today and doth celebrate with faith on the day of your memorial, wearing as a royal cloak the shame hung in mockery upon your godly necks, whereby ye have been vouchsafed heavenly glory and never-ending blessedness.

When the unblemished Ewe-lamb beheld her Lamb led willingly, as a man, to the slaughter, she said, weeping: “Dost Thou hasten now to leave me childless, who gave Thee birth, O Christ? What is it which Thou hast done, O Deliverer of all? Yet will I hymn and glorify Thine extreme goodness which passeth understanding and recounting, O Thou Who lovest mankind!”

Far-distant China is wondrously enriched by thy precious remains, O luminary of Hankow, and the whole world is bedewed by the grace in thee, chanting: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Glory didst thou render to the holy hierarch Innocent, by whose church thou wast honorably interred, O godly Jonah; wherefore, for his sake God retaineth thy sacred relics in Manzhouli.

Of thy many virtues do we sing in laudation, O saint of God; in thy great love for us do we find consolation for our souls; and moved by thine example, we cry: Bless the Lord all ye works of the Lord!

As the sun ariseth in the east, shedding light upon all the world, so from the East doth Jonah, the holy hierarch of Hankow, now shine the light of grace upon the whole Church of Christ. Wherefore, let us who have been scattered over the face of the earth honor him with hymns of praise.

By thy mighty protection, O pure one, preserve all of us, thy servants, unharmed by the assault of the enemy; for thee alone among women do we have as a refuge amid the misfortunes and afflictions which befall us.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…”—

O holy father Jonah, thou wast consecrated by the grace of the Holy Spirit for the reason-endowed flock of Christ; and as one who imitated thy Lord and Master, thou hast not ceased to move Him to have pity upon us, thy sinful and wretched children. Wherefore, ever make entreaty, that He deliver us from all misfortunes, and that He save our souls in His mercy. Twice

O venerable father Jonah, like the prophet whose name thou didst bear, thou wast sent by the Most High into a far and distant country, there to preach repentance to the sinful and and enlighten the benighted. This task thou didst humbly and meekly fulfill, trusting in the lovingkindness of Christ, Who by thy holy supplications saveth us from the malice of the evil one.

O blessed father Jonah, thou didst manifestly increase the talent which thy Master, Christ, entrusted to thy care; wherefore, thou hast entered into the joy of the Lord, resplendent with the effulgence of grace, shining with the radiance of the Spirit. And standing now before His throne, thou dost beseech Him earnestly in behalf of those who honor thee with love.

Glory…, in Tone VI—

O good and faithful servant, zealous laborer in the vineyard of Christ, wondrous were thine archpastoral struggles in the land of China. And having increased the talent entrusted to thee, thou wast vouchsafed a truly Christian end, and wast thus transported to the dwellings of the angels in heaven. Wherefore, having now entered into the joy of thy Lord, entreat Him, O glorious Jonah, that our souls be saved.

O Theotokos, thou art the true vine who hast budded forth for us the Fruit of life. Entreat Him with the holy hierarch Jonah and all the saints, we pray thee, O Mistress, that our souls find mercy.