At Vespers

By abstinence and through fervent prayer thou didst cause the passions of thy body to wither up, and with torrents of tears thou didst drown the deceitful serpent, O blessed one; and thou wast well-pleasing in great measure unto God, O venerable Chariton. Wherefore, Jesus, Who loveth mankind, the Savior of our souls, hath adorned thee with heavenly gifts. Twice

We chant “Blessed is the man…”, the first antiphon.

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…”—

Now & ever…: The dogmatic theotokion, in the same tone—

Troparion, in Tone IV—

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

All-splendidly adorned more than the sun with thrice radiant beams, thou hast shone forth upon those in tribulations, O all-wondrous Wenceslaus, releasing those unjustly bound and dispelling every illness from those who with faith cry out for thine aid and with love hymn thy most honored dormition. Twice

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

Troparion, in Tone VIII—

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Come, all ye faithful, and let us spiritually celebrate today the all-wondrous memory of Wenceslaus, the servant of Christ; for, forsaking his corruptible earthly governance, he received the kingdom of heaven, and this day surrendered his all-holy soul into the hands of the Master, glorifying the Lord Who hath made his memory wondrous.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

And 3 stichera, in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: “The paradise in Eden…”—

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Led by love of the calling of the Most High, thou didst come to the Church of Christ, O all-blessed one, from which thou didst receive a royal crown which is incorrupt and passeth not away; and thou wast illumined thereby like the setting of the sun, emitting rays of miracles upon the northern lands, which hymn thine all-praised memory, O invincible and holy Wenceslaus. Twice

With the shedding of thine all-pure blood, O all-praised Wenceslaus, thou hast adorned the Church of Christ as with a robe of royal purple; and resplendent therein, it gathereth all lands into a choir to celebrate with splendor thine all-holy memory, and to cry out with faith unto the Creator of all: Glory to Thee, O Christ, Who hath made wondrous the memory of Thy saint!

Glory…, in Tone VI—

Assembling today, with joyful voices let us glorify the martyred Prince Wenceslaus, wondrous in piety, the tower of strength and foundation of the Church of Bohemia, who was treacherously slain for his love of the all-holy Trinity; and, crowning him with hymns of praise, let us join chorus together, celebrating his sacred memory, and saying: O holy athlete of Christ, intercede before Him for thy much-suffering people, and for every nation that honoreth thee, that we all may be saved!

Who doth not call thee blessed, O all-holy Virgin? Who will not hymn thine all-pure birthgiving? For the only-begotten Son Who shone forth timelessly from the Father, came forth, ineffably incarnate, from thee, the pure one; and being God by nature, He became man for our sake, not divided into two Persons, but known in two natures without confusion. Him do thou beseech, O pure and most blessed one, that our souls find mercy!

At the aposticha, these stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—

Assembling, let us praise the great helper of those in misfortune, for he hath received from Christ the Savior the gift of grace: to deliver the oppressed, to console the grieving, and to heal every infirmity for those who with faith cry out for aid and with love celebrate his all-wondrous feast.

Stichos: The righteous man shall flourish like a palm tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied.

Unto God, Who is wondrous in His saints, let us render glory and thanks for bestowing upon His holy martyr Wenceslaus the gift of healings and divers miracles; for, though reigning over an earthly kingdom, he ever fixed the gaze of his soul upon the eternal kingdom of heaven. Wherefore, we honor his sacred memory with faith and venerate his precious relics.

Stichos: They that are planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of our God they shall blossom forth.

Raised in piety from infancy by thy grandmother, the holy martyr Ludmilla, thou didst grow in both wisdom and stature, and didst dedicate thyself to the Holy Church of the Lord; and when thou didst come to thy throne, thou didst multiply and increase the temples and monasteries of thy realm, and didst encourage thy subjects to forsake their heathen beliefs and ways, and to embrace the Holy Orthodox Faith, the path which leadeth to salvation.

Glory…, in Tone III—

Striving to please God Who is wondrous in His saints, thou didst love the saints of God more than earthly riches and power. For when the emperor of Germany offered to grant thee whatsoever thou mightest desire, thou didst not ask for lands or castles, or for gold or jewels, O holy Wenceslaus, but didst humbly request a portion of the relics of the martyr Vitus, to serve as an ornament for the Church of Bohemia more precious than any gem. And unto God and His martyr thou didst erect in Prague a magnificent cathedral, where thine own holy remains have also found rest. Pray thou, O God-pleasing Wenceslaus, that all who venerate them and flee to thine intercession may find mercy from the Lord.

Through the divine Spirit, by the will of the Father, without seed thou didst conceive the Son of God Who hath existed without mother from before the ages, and for our sake thou gavest birth in the flesh unto Him Who came forth from thee without father; and thou didst nurture Him on milk as a babe. Wherefore, cease not to pray, that our souls be delivered from tribulations.

Today angels and men share a common joy. Heaven and earth join together in splendid chorus for thy memorial, O holy one. And we sinners earnestly cry aloud unto thee: Pray thou to the Master in our behalf, that from dangers and from visible and invisible foes, He may deliver us who honor thine all-honored memory.

The mystery hidden from before the ages and unknown even to the angels, through thee, O Theotokos, hath been revealed to those on earth: God incarnate in unconfused union, Who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake and, thereby raising up the first-formed man, hath saved our souls from death.

At “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast granted a sign…”—

With the sweat of thy struggle thou didst quench the burning coal of the passions, O right wondrous one, thyself partaking of fire through thy wounds and pangs; and thou didst confess the condescension of the incarnate Word before the iniquitous tyrants, and wast a witness for Him, arrayed in the wounds of thy many and varied torments, O God-bearing Chariton who art most rich. Twice

Fleeing, thou didst withdraw into the desert places and the mountains, preserving thy soul undefiled, and wast shown to be a habitation of the Trinity, O most sacred and blessed Chariton; by the power thereof thou didst found sacred houses, O blessed one, and monasteries for the edification in salvation of monastics who honor thy holy memory, O ever-memorable one. Twice

Glory…, the composition of John the Monk, in Tone IV—

O God-bearing Chariton, even after death thou livest in Christ in the heavens, for Whose sake thou didst crucify thyself to the world; for, being above the flesh and the world, thou didst truly live, transcending visible things. Yet thou didst not live for thyself alone, but Christ our God dwelt within thee. Him do thou entreat, that our souls be saved.

Now & ever…: the dogmaticon in the same tone—

The Prophet David, the forefather of God, for thy sake gaveth voice beforehand in psalmody concerning thee, unto Him Who in thee accomplished mighty works: the Queen stood at Thy right hand. For God Whose good pleasure it was to become incarnate of thee without father showed thee, His Mother, to be the mediatress of life, that He might renew His image which had become corrupt through the passions; and having found the sheep which had strayed among the mountains and become lost, He taketh it upon His shoulders and bringeth it to His Father; and Christ, Who is possessed of great and rich mercy, in accordance with His will, uniteth it with the hosts of heaven, and saveth the world, O Theotokos.

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three Readings:

The righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the Most High. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall He cover them, and with His arm shall He protect them. He shall take to Him His jealousy for complete armor, and make the creature His weapon for the revenge of His enemies. He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment for an invincible shield. His severe wrath shall He sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with Him against the unwise. Then shall the right-aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them. Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. Hear, therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. For power is given you by the Lord, and sovereignty from the Most High.

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery, and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for Himself. As gold in the furnace hath He tried them and received them as a burnt offering. And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. They that put their trust in Him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with Him: for grace and mercy is to His saints, and He hath care for His elect.

Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. For honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. He pleased God, and was beloved of Him: so that living among sinners he was translated. Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind. He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: for his soul pleased the Lord; therefore hasted He to take him away from among the wicked. This the people saw, and understood not, neither laid they up this in their minds: that His grace and mercy is with His saints, and that He hath respect unto His chosen.

On the Aposticha, these stichera of the venerable one, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “O all-praised martyrs…”—

O all-praised Chariton, thou didst lay out thy life with care for the virtues; for they who submit to thy teachings praise Christ in hymnody and the Orthodox Faith. Standing before them, pray thou that they be made firm in the peace of the divine Spirit.

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

O divinely inspired Chariton, thy life doth appear to men as equal to that of the angels; and thy confession was offered up as a sacrifice of sweet savor and goodly incense, to the heavens. And now, pray thou, that peace and great mercy be granted to our souls.

Stichos: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, in His commandments shall he greatly delight.

O Chariton who art most rich, thou wast a conqueror of the passions and didst vanquish the robbers. And while joining chorus with the crowned ones, O blessed one, be thou mindful of us who celebrate thy memory. Pray thou now unto Christ, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy.

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

We honor thee, O Chariton our father, the instructor of a multitude of monks; for we have truly learned to walk aright in thy steps. Blessed art thou who, having labored for Christ, didst denounce the power of the enemy. O converser with angels, companion of the venerable and of the righteous: with them entreat the Lord, that our souls find mercy.

O unwedded Virgin who ineffably conceived God in the flesh, Mother of God Most High: accept the entreaties of thy servants, O most immaculate one, granting unto all cleansing of transgressions; and, accepting now our supplications, pray thou that we all be saved.

With the streams of thy tears thou didst cultivate the barrenness of the desert, and with sighs from the depths of thy soul thou didst bring forth the fruit of thy labors an hundredfold; and thou wast a beacon for the whole world, shining with miracles. O Chariton our father, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.