Ode V

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

Receiving from Christ the invincible grace of the Spirit, thou didst mightily cast down the cruel ruler of this world, and, restraining the passions of thy soul, O Cyriacus, thou wast crowned with a crown of dispassion.

Theotokion: Rejoice, O Ever-virgin, thou golden censer of noetic fragrances, wherein Christ, the heavenly Incense, hath been placed, Who perfumeth those who have recourse unto thee, O Theotokos.

Let every tongue glorify the martyred monk James, his deacon James, the initiate of the mysteries, and Ignatius, the adornments of Athos, and Jordan, the boast of Trebizond, who have glorified Christ in their sufferings.

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

Thou didst show thyself to be strong, steadfastly enduring the pangs of fasting, remaining unyielding even unto the most profound old age, living with much gladness in deserts as in the chambers of royal palaces, O venerable one.

Theotokion: The company of prophets came to know thy mysteries, O pure one, for the Master hath shown thee to be the portal of heaven; and the Sun of righteousness, Who was incarnate of thee, O Virgin, hath shown forth upon those who are in darkness.

Who will not perforce bless the godly John, the comely scion of Ioannina, and John, the glorious adornment of Sostavia, and with them the splendid John Koulikas?

Keeping all-night vigils and approaching God without pride, thou dost converse in prayer with the immaterial Mind, O Cyriacus, and hast received brilliant rays of light, radiantly illumined in mind.

Let John the carpenter, the boast of Byzantium, be honored with hymns, and let John the tailor, the offspring of Thasos, be lauded, and John of Wallachia: three martyrs who are namesakes of grace.

Full of splendor and the gift of prophecy, O venerable one, of old thy pure tongue foretold the nearly complete destruction of the error of Origen, that deranged and soul-destroying man.

Like the thirsting deer of the Psalms, O new passion-bearers, ye hastened to the wellsprings of martyrdom, crying out to the tyrants: “Wherefore delay ye in torturing us? For we desire to be with Christ!”

Like blood-thirsty wolves the tribe of Ishmael fell upon you, O most praised lambs of God, and devised all manner of tortures to separate you from the love of Christ.

The waves of torment which burst forth through the rage of the ungodly were unable to drown the ship of your souls, O right glorious ones, before ye entered the harbor of the kingdom of heaven.

Let us hymn the Godhead in three Hypostases, Who hath given us as intercessors the holy new martyrs, who move Him to mercy for those who honor their memory.