At Vespers

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 of the Cross, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given a sign…”—

Troparion of the martyrs, in Tone IV—

Today Thy precious Cross hath shone forth radiantly like the sun, O Savior Christ, set up and elevated on the all-glorious place of the skull, on Thine all-holy mountain, showing forth most manifestly that it is thereby, O Omnipotent One, that Thou hast raised our nature up to the heavens, in that Thou lovest mankind.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Troparion of the feast, in Tone I—

Today, O Unapproachable One, the heavens have declared Thy glory unto men; for the image of the Cross, shining forth in radiance with unapproachable light, hath denounced the savage and cruel nature of those who slew God. Wherefore, we glorify Thy loving dispensation, O almighty Jesus, Savior of our souls.

By stretching forth his arms Moses vanquished Amalek, prefiguring the image of the Cross; and, bowing down before the tree of the Cross, we now trample the wiles and machinations of the enemy underfoot, having Christ as our champion, Who was lifted up upon it in the flesh, slew the serpent and saved man.

And 3 stichera of the greatmartyr, in the same tone & melody—

Thy calling was from on high, and not from men, O Eustathius; for Christ, Who loveth mankind, Himself appeared to thee and ensnared thee, O blessed one, in the nets of faith, washing away thy sins with thy baptism and the trials of life, and, as Master, He extendeth patience to thee and showeth thee to be a victor renowned.

Rejoicing, O Eustathius, in thy youth thou didst receive instruction in the virtues, and, bereft of thy children and thy spouse, thou didst valiantly endure captivity, suffering ignominious slavery. But thy courage in battle made thee loving and rendered thee radiant, O ever-memorable one.

Thou didst offer thyself to God as divine incense rendered most fragrant in the fire, a beautiful holocaust, a right acceptable sacrifice, a living and most perfect offering, fruitful with all thy household. Wherefore, the mansions of heaven and the armies of the saints have now received thee and thine, O right wondrous Eustathius.

Glory…, of the martyrs, the composition of Ephraim of Karyes, in Tone II—

Eustathius setteth himself before us as a second Job in life, sufferings and struggles, a model of the virtues and a tower of patience truly surpassing Job in that virtue with his spouse and children, faithful in life and unshaken amid trials, a victor amid sufferings. Him do we set forth in supplication before Christ, that He grant unto our souls enlightenment and cleansing of transgressions.

Now & ever…, of the feast, the composition of Cyprian, in the same tone—

When the hands of the Patriarch Jacob were crossed at the blessing of Joseph’s children, the sign of Thy Cross was revealed beforehand, and we, holding it as our steadfast protector, do mightily drive away the hordes of the demons and cast down the pride of Belial in that which vanquisheth the most pernicious power of the most malicious Amalek. With right honorable mind, O ye faithful, we bear it forth to Thy goodness, uplifted now for the cleansing of sins, and cry out with a loud voice: Have mercy, O Lord! O Good One Who wast incarnate of the Virgin, have pity on the wise creation of Thy hands!

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

With Thy divinely created water and Thy blood, O Word is the Church splendidly adorned like a bride, and it hymneth the glory of the Cross.

Stichos: Exalt ye the Lord our God; and worship the footstool of His feet, for it is holy.

Lifting high the spear and the Cross, the nails and the other things wherewith the life-bearing body of Christ was pierced, let us bow down before them.

Stichos: God is our King before the ages; He hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

When, lifting up his arms in the form of the Cross, Moses vanquished Amalek, he portrayed the all-pure suffering of Christ.

Glory…, of the martyr, the composition of Ephraim of Karyes, in Tone VI—

O thou who art as firm as adamant in soul, how can we praise thee as is meet? For, deprived of thy spouse, thou didst transcend nature, possessions and children, and didst utter the blessed and ever-memorable cry of Job: “The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away! As the Lord hath willed, so hath it been!” But God Whom thou didst love and Whom thou didst fervently desire, again gave thee most cherished things, O thou who didst consider beforehand concerning those who suffered with thee. And having reached the end of divers torments with them, receiving them as thy fellow supplicants, O blessed Eustathius, patient of soul, pray thou, that we be delivered from our iniquities.

Now & ever…, of the feast, in the same tone—

O Cross of Christ, hope of Christians, guide of the lost, haven of the tempest-tossed, victory amid battles, confirmation of the whole world, physician of the ill, resurrection of the dead: Have mercy upon us!

In their sufferings, O Lord, Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, they set at nought their torments, and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. Through their supplications save Thou our souls.

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victory unto Orthodox Christians over their adversaries, and by the power of Thy Cross preserve Thou Thy commonwealth.