Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV
Canon of the Theotokos, with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and two canons of the venerable one, with 8 troparia.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…”—
Both canons from the Octoechos, and that of the venerable one, with 4 troparia, the acrostic whereof is: “With fitting hymns of gladness do I sing of thee”, the composition of Joseph, in Tone V—
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—
On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the venerable one, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion: The mystery hidden from before the ages…
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Awed by the beauty of thy virginity…”—
Thou wast shown to be wholly sanctified and God-bearing, and having spurned the splendors of the world and riches, and all visible things of beauty which quickly pass away, thou didst follow Christ the Master in humility and poverty; and, assembling multitudes of monks, thou didst illumine them with the teachings of Orthodoxy. Wherefore, even after thy repose thou hast received grace which waxeth not old, and, lying in the tomb, thou remainest incorrupt. O divinely blessed Sergius, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of offenses unto those who honor thy holy memory with love. Twice
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…”—
O most hymned one, most immaculate Bride of the Creator, Mother of the Deliver, who knewest not man, receptacle of the Comforter: haste thou to deliver me—who am the vile abode of iniquity and in mind am become the plaything of the demons—from their evil wiles; and make me the splendid dwelling-place of the virtues, O radiant one untouched by corruption. Drive away the clouds of the passions and vouchsafe that, by thy supplications, I may receive a portion on high and share in the never-waning light.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—
Having thy mind fixed upon God on high, O father, thou didst forsake things on earth; and having made thy life splendidly luminous by many pangs, and shown thyself to be the habitation of every godly virtue, thou didst draw nigh unto the Lord in prayer, entreaty and fasting. Beseech Christ God, that our souls be saved. Twice
As an uncultivated vine, O Virgin, thou didst put forth the most comely Cluster Who poureth forth upon us the wine of salvation which maketh glad men’s souls and bodies. Wherefore, ever blessing thee as the cause of good things, we cry out to thee with the angels: Rejoice, O joyous one!
Polyeleos, and this magnification—
We bless thee, O venerable father Sergius, and we honor thy holy memory, O instructor of monastics and converser with the angels.
Selected Psalm verses—
A With patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive unto me, and He hearkened unto my supplication. [Ps. 39: 2]
B He set my feet upon a rock, and He ordered my steps aright. [Ps. 39: 3]
A Lo, I have fled afar off and have dwelt in the wilderness. [Ps. 54: 8]
B I am become like a pelican of the wilderness. [Ps. 101: 7]
A I have watched, and am like a sparrow that sitteth alone upon the housetop. [Ps. 101: 8]
B My knees are grown weak through fasting. [Ps. 108: 24]
A And my flesh is changed for want of oil. [Ps. 108: 24]
B With tears will I water my couch. [Ps. 6: 4]
A For many dogs have encircled me, the congregation of evil doers hath surrounded me. [Ps. 21: 17]
B They have bent their bow, a bitter thing. [Ps. 63: 4]
A That they may shoot in secret at the blameless man. [Ps. 63: 4]
B I beheld the Lord ever before me, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. [Ps. 15: 8]
A All the nations compassed me round about, and by the name of the Lord I warded them off. [Ps. 117: 10]
B Blessed be the Lord Who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth. [Ps. 123: 6]
A Let all Thy works, O Lord, give praise to Thee. [Ps. 144: 10]
B And let the righteous ones bless Thee. [Ps. 144: 10]
A Know also that the Lord hath made wondrous His righteous one. [Ps. 4: 4]
B He hath labored forever, and shall live to the end. [Ps. 48: 9-10]
A The Lord preserveth the souls of His saints. [Ps. 96: 10]
B The saints shall boast in glory and shall rejoice upon their beds. [Ps. 149: 5]
A Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. [Ps. 115: 6]
B Chant unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. [Ps. 29: 5]
Glory…, Now & ever…
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice
When thy mind took wing to divine desire, O blessed one, thou didst forsake all thoughts which draw thee down below. Having made thine abode in the wilderness, thou didst blossom like an all-comely lily of virtue; and having uprooted the thorns of the passions, thou didst plant therein the fruits of thy labors. Wherefore, thou hast reaped as harvest riches in the heavens which cannot be taken away. O venerable Sergius, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of offenses unto those who honor thy holy memory with love. Twice
In thee doth all creation rejoice, O thou who art full of grace—the assembly of angels and the race of men. O sanctified temple and garden of the Word, thou boast of virgins, from whom God, Who is our God from before time, was incarnate and became a babe. For He made thy womb a throne, and thine inner parts He made more spacious than the heavens. In thee doth all creation rejoice, O thou who art full of grace. Glory to thee!
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Stichos: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to Matthew, § 43
[Mt. 11: 27-30]
The Lord said to His disciples: “All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him. Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give thee rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—
Let us honor the great Sergius, the angel on the earth and man of God in heaven, the goodly adornment of the world, the food of goodly virtues, the boast of fasters; for, planted in the house of the Lord, he sprang forth in justice like a cedar in the wilderness, increasing the Christ’s flock of reason-endowed sheep in holiness and righteousness.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.