Ode IX

Exapostilarion—

Irmos: Thy birthgiving, O Ever-virgin, which was revealed to the law-giver on the mountain in the fire and the bush, for the salvation of us, the faithful, do we magnify with unceasing hymnody.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “When from the Tree…”—

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

In a dark cave on the holy mountain did ye establish your abode, O all-blessed fathers; and ye made of it a divine garden of paradise, and adorned it with virtues and miracles, as with right fertile trees, from which those who approach with faith receive the fruits of healing and magnify you with praises.

With single-minded soul and hearts reasoning as one did ye agree, O all-blessed fathers, and, rejecting all passionate attachments to the world, and taking up your cross, in obedience to the words of the Lord, by voluntary poverty ye followed after Christ God, Who impoverished Himself for our sake. By Him have ye now been enriched in heaven with treasures of incorruption, which do ye send down also upon us, that we may be enriched, and through your mediation may receive great mercy from the Master of all. Twice

Spyridon, the lily of innocence, and Nicodemus the namesake of victory, the two bakers of bread for the Eucharist, who made pure loaves as a gift for God, also made of themselves a sacrifice of sweet savor; and with them we number also Anatolius, glorifying them all.

Rejoice, O choir of divinely assembled fathers, for, living the angelic life with oneness of soul in this world, ye established your abode in a dark cave, and having attached yourselves to God through many labors, ye received adoption from him. Falling down before you, we pray: as ye stand before the Merciful One, mercifully regard us, and by your mediation move Christ, Who loveth mankind, to mercy, that we may find the forgiveness of sins and may receive mercy on the day of judgment.

O Alypius of angelic wisdom, and Gregory of Byzantium, ye most skillful iconographers, with the pigments of your good deeds correct our untutored work, that, standing in splendor before Christ, we may magnify you with glory.

A day hath dawned more radiantly than the sun: the most festive memorial of the God-bearing fathers; and it illumineth the assembly of those who love the feasts of the Church with rays of the grace of multifarious miracles. Wherefore, O most blessed ones, we hasten to you with faith and fall down before your relics, entreating your speedy visitation amid our needs. Disdain not our plea, but as ye have boldness before the Master, ask for us great mercy.

Pimen, the fragrant blossom of ascetics, and Ephraim the priest, are goodly olive-trees; and the faithful, having been anointed by the gift of their grace, give thanks and continually magnify with glorifications the Creator of all.

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

Onuphrius, the lover of silence, and Isaiah, the turtle-dove who loveth the wilderness, with the blessed Sylvester, are a three-stranded sling against the demons, who are driven away by them; for, having utterly set at nought the assaults of the passions, they have received the gift to help others. Wherefore, they are magnified by all.

With love do we bring you gifts of hymnody and great honors, O our all-blessed fathers of the Caves, saying: Rejoice, adornment of the Russian land! Rejoice, mighty warriors of the heavenly King! Rejoice, radiant stars of the noetic firmament! Rejoice, citizens of Sion on high! Rejoice, flowers of paradise laden with perfume! Rejoice, our allies amid tribulations, mediators of salvation! As ye have boldness before the Master, earnestly pray in behalf of our souls.

Four princes of Russia are hymned—Vladimir the equal of the apostles, with the divinely wise Boris and Gleb, and with them also Nicholas Svyatosha—on whom, as on a noetic chariot, God rested. Wherefore, they are magnified by all.

O Mistress, accept the entreaties of thy servants, and deliver us from all want and grief.

Glory…: Glory to the radiant martyr Barbara, to Euphrosynia of Polotsk, the splendor of virgins, and to Juliana, who bestoweth healing, the oil of grace, upon the infirm! O Holy Trinity, for the sake of these three virgins save all who magnify Thee with worship.

Now & ever…: Rejoice, O all-holy Virgin, thou glory of the saints! Rejoice, O ark for those who desire to find salvation amid this most tempestuous life! Rejoice, O rock giving drink to those who thirst for everlasting good things! This salutation do we all offer thee, magnifying thee with hymns.

With songs we hymn the hierarchs of the Russian land: Michael, the first of them, with Hilarion, Peter, Alexis and Jonah, Photius and Cyprian, Ephraim, Nicholas and Nicetas, the hieromartyr Macarius, Leontius and Symeon; and we appoint the whole company of pastors to make supplication. For their sake, O Christ, save Thou our souls.

O true Mother of the unblemished and most high Lamb, I am a sheep of thy holy fold, yet have wandered away through vain works into vile iniquities. Guide me, I pray, and save my soul from the noetic wolves.

Great Doxology. Troparion. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.