day 11

September 11: Our Venerable Fathers Sergius and Herman, Wonderworkers of Valaam

Glory..., in Tone III—

At “Lord, I have cried...,” four stichera, in Tone I: Spec. Mel: “Joy of the ranks of heaven...”—

Troparion, in Tone IV—

The 11th Day of the Month of September

Now and ever..., of the feast, or this Theotokion, in the same tone—

Today in their earthly habitation hath dawned the day of the radiant celebration of our most splendid luminaries Sergius and Herman, who behold the ranks of heaven, illumined by the light of the threefold Sun in the mansions of paradise.

Another Troparion, in Tone I—

Commemoration of Our Venerable Fathers

Glory..., in Tone V—

Rejoice with us, ye multitude of the faithful! Ye mountains and hills, thou sea and all that is therein join chorus with us on the radiant day of the commemoration of the wondrous ascetics who flourished like a palm tree on the mountains of Valaam!

Sergius and Herman, Wonderworkers of Valaam

Now and ever..., Theotokion, in the same tone—

Manfully trampling down the delights of the world and sinful passions, O God-bearing fathers, cleansing your souls in a close-ordered life, ye entered into the paradise of grace, and taste today of the fruits of immortality and the delights of everlasting life.

At Little Vespers

Like two luminous stars in the noetic firmament of their monastery, wondrous Sergius and Herman have shone forth with the virtues and the splendor of miracles. And the light of their glory abideth from generation even unto generation.

September 11: Venerable Mother Theodora of Alexandria

With fasting let us celebrate the festival of the fasters; let us flee sinful passions: incontinence, vainglory and pride, wrath, hatred and malice; and with fasting, humility and brotherly love let us honor the precious memory of the fathers, that we may all be accounted worthy to partake of joy in this universal celebration.

The 11th Day Of The Month Of September

O Mistress Theotokos, intercessor for Christians, who conceived without seed and gavest birth without pain unto God the Word: before thee we fall down, thee do we hymn and glorify, and to thee do we pray with tears: Look upon us with thy merciful gaze, deliver us from the yoke of the passions, and grant our souls dispassion.

Afterfeast of the Nativity of the All-holy Theotokos

At the Aposticha, these stichera, in Tone II: Spec. Mel: “O house of Ephratha...”—

Commemoration of Our Venerable Mother Theodora of Alexandria

Having made of yourselves, O holy fathers, a house, holy and precious, for the Holy Spirit, with virtuous deeds and gifts of miracles ye have been enriched.

Commemoration of the Holy Hieromartyr Autonomus

Stichos: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

(we provide also for this day the service in honor of Saints Sergius & Herman of Valaam)

Flowers of paradise have ye brought to bloom for us, O venerable ones, by the streams of your ascetic labors, rendering all of us fragrant.

Stichos: The saints shall boast in glory, and they shall rejoice upon their beds.

The Lord Who is wondrous in His saints hath given two wellsprings of wonders, Sergius and Herman, to their monastery, unto the delight of those who faithfully honor their holy memory.

The universal celebration of the ranks of angels and the venerable hath shone forth upon us in the commemoration of our venerable fathers Sergius and Herman, who disdained things earthly that they might inherit things heavenly, who trampled down that which is carnal that they might receive that which is spiritual. To them hath the Lord given the reward of the faithful servants, and He hath glorified them on earth and in the heavens.

O Virgin Theotokos, noetic jar who contained in thy womb Christ, the Bestower of manna: Him do thou earnestly entreat, that He deliver us from the bitter slavery of the passions and make us all partakers of spiritual manna in the wilderness of dispassion, that He may save us from all evils and enlighten our souls.

Ye have been shown to be truly obedient to the Gospel of Christ, O venerable ones, for the sake of the love of Christ despising the world and all that is therein as though it did not exist; and making your abode on an island of the sea, ye diligently struggled thereon against the wiles of invisible foes, wisely subjecting your flesh to your spirit through fasting, vigil and standing all night. Wherefore, from the right hand of the Almighty ye have received fitting crowns. And now, standing before the all-holy Trinity, O most blessed fathers Sergius and Herman, pray ye that the suffering Russian land be preserved and our souls be saved.

Fleeing the tumult of the world, O ye lovers of serenity and piety, from the East did ye arrive at the calm haven of Valaam, and thereon evangelically following after Christ in the virtues, ye ascended to the summit of perfection. And now, delighting in the vision of God at thy universal festival, O most blessed Sergius and Herman, entreat God, Who lovest mankind, that He save us all who piously honor you.