At Vespers

Glory..., in Tone VI: Idiomelon—

At “Lord, I have cried...,” six stichera, three for St. Anthimus, in Tone I: Spec. Mel: “O most lauded martyrs...”—

Now & ever..., the Dogmatic Theotokion in the same tone.

Troparion, in Tone IV—

Now and ever..., Theotokion, or this StavroTheotokion: Spec. Mel: “On the third day...”—

O divinely wise and blessed one, with the dye of thy blood thou hast brightened thy sacred and divine vesture. For piously thou hast gone from strength to strength and from glory to glory. And now do thou pray that peace and great mercy be granted our souls.

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

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

Thou didst offer to God the unbloody sacrifice, as a most lawful priest; and later, as a martyr most true, thou didst offer thyself unto Christ with blood, as an acceptable sacrifice and a whole burnt offering, O divinely eloquent and most honored one. Him do thou entreat in behalf of those who hymn thee.

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

And these 4 stichera, in Tone II—

Legions of martyrs didst thou lead unto Christ, O father Anthimus, teaching and instructing by thy doctrines and instructions, and manifestly presenting thyself as an example, O divinely wise one. With them do thou pray, that peace and great mercy be given to our souls.

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

Glory..., in Tone VIII—

And three stichera for St. Theoctistus, in the same tone and melody—

A Reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah

O father Theoctistus, thy splendid memorial doth gladden the assemblies of monks with the beauties of thy life, the riches of thy wonders, and the splendors of thy gifts. Entreat thou Christ, that peace and great mercy be granted our souls.

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

O father Theoctistus, the demons stood in awe of thy patient abstinence, and they were set at naught by thine unceasing supplications, O most lauded one; for thou didst acquire Christ as a companion. Him do thou now beseech, that peace and great mercy be granted our souls.

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

O father Theoctistus, thou wast a dwelling place of God; for, having preserved that which is in His image, proclaiming the truth by thy life, thou didst show forth the calling of thy holy model, O most wondrous one. Entreat thou Christ, that peace and great mercy be granted our souls.

Glory..., in Tone VI—

Thou wast a most lawful priest even to thine end, O blessed Anthimus; for, celebrating the divine and ineffable mysteries as a priest, thou didst shed thy blood for Christ God, and didst bring thyself to Him as a right acceptable sacrifice. Wherefore, as thou dost possess boldness before Him, earnestly pray for those who with faith and love keep thine all-honored memory, that they who honor it may be delivered from all temptations, misfortunes and evil ­circumstances.

Glory..., in Tone III—

The Virgin, standing once with the virginal disciple before the Tree at the time of the crucifixion, weeping, cried out: “Woe is me! How is it that Thou sufferest, O Christ, Who art the dispassion of all?”

At “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera: 4 in Tone I—

As a most fruitful vine of the new vineyard of Christ, planted in thy land in the splendor of its enlightenment, thou didst shine forth in many virtues and wast pleasing unto God; wherefore, with praises we call thee blessed, O Edward, thou most pious king. Twice

Travelling the royal way, O holy king, adorned with the love of Christ, the queen of the virtues, thou didst watch over the poor and wretched, and didst visit the sick, rendering judgment and justice to thy people, O Edward of godly piety.

Thou hast given thy precious relics, like a great treasure, unto those who honor thy memory, O Edward. Wherefore, thou dost heal the divisions of those who have recourse to thee, and by thine intercessions before God dost fulfill their petitions which are of profit.

O Edward, the iniquitous Ælfreda took counsel against thee, likening herself unto Jezebel who endeavored to slay the prophets of God, and she plotted thy murder, for she was not daunted by thy youth, nor by thy meek demeanor, nor yet by thy piety, but benighted with bitter hatred she followed the prompting of the devil. Twice

Like Judas who betrayed Christ with a kiss, so the impious queen, plotting evils against thee and taking counsel with her retainers, doth with deceitful intent invite thee, O king, in full knowledge that she is leading thee to the slaughter.

What, then, didst thou acquire, O foolish woman, who wrested the throne from thy lawful king and placed his gory crown upon the head of thine own son? For, lo! Edward shineth forth in the kingdom of heaven, adorned with a martyr’s crown, whilst thou, repenting in sackcloth and ashes, dost sue to obtain his pardon and intercession.

It is not on a hunt that thou goest forth, O most innocent king, but thou art treacherously summoned to a council of the iniquitous; thus thou dost not encounter the wild beast, but receivest a cruel death at the hands of bestial rebels. Yet departing thine earthly kingdom, thou art crowned with a martyr’s crown and dost inherit the kingdom of heaven, making thine abode with the saints and the righteous.

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three readings—

Thus saith the Lord: all the nations are gathered together, and princes shall be gathered out of them. Who will declare these things, or who will declare to you things from the beginning? Let them bring forth their witnesses, and be justified; and let them hear, and declare the truth. Be ye My witnesses, and I too am a witness, saith the Lord God, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know, and believe, and understand that I am He; before Me there was no other God, and after Me there shall be none. I am God; and beside Me there is no Savior. I have declared, and have saved; I have reproached, and there was no strange god among you. Ye are My witnesses, and I am the Lord God, even from the beginning; and there is none that can deliver out of My hands. I will work, and who shall turn it back? Thus saith the Lord God Who redeemeth you, the Holy One of Israel.

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 forever. 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.

At the Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and this sticheron of the saint, in Tone IV—

Come ye, let us make haste to the shrine of the much-healing relics of King Edward, who was pleasing unto God, and who in the years of his youth received a martyr’s crown, that he may intercede for his people, ever standing before the heavenly King, making unceasing supplication.

Let the impious queen lament, rending her garments and her hair, beholding thee, unjustly slain, O Edward, and glorified by God with miracles; for thou art vouchsafed a martyr’s crown, whilst she, mindful of her great guilt, and trembling before the impartial Judge, doth strive to cleanse her soul with repentance.

All who endure sorrows in this earthly life dost thou meet and comfort, O pious Bride of God, granting relief to them, and drying every tear from their eyes. Wherefore, help thou all who are in tribulation and suffering, granting them speedy deliverance, for thou art the surcease of all grief.

At the Aposticha, these stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O most glorious wonder…”—

O most glorious wonder! O providence divine! A most precious treasure, hidden beneath the earth to preserve it from mockery, is discovered in the fullness of time: for lo! the holy relics of the martyred king are revealed as a new and much-healing wellspring for all who with faith bow down before them and glorify God Who is wondrous in His saints.

Stichos: I have raised up one chosen out of My people.

O wondrous solemnity! O most joyous feast! For we celebrate the most splendid memorial of Edward the King, the merciful healer of the afflicted and the diseased, the defender of the orphaned, the consoler of the grieving, uprooter of irreverence and planter of piety, the bold intercessor and advocate for our souls.

Stichos: With My oil have I anointed him.

O the richness of the great wisdom of God! O the providence of God! The holy relics of the martyred Orthodox king are entrusted to the Orthodox Church! Wherefore, let us now bow down with faith, invoking the crowned passion-bearer in prayer; and let us fervently offer thanksgiving unto Christ God Who hath given us such a treasure and doth ever show forth His mercy upon us.

A valiant warrior who fought against incursions of the foe, thou didst array thyself yet more against the sinful passions; and, manifest as a glorious victor over both, putting on humble-mindedness as it were a breastplate, thou didst render glory and honor unto Christ God.

In accordance with the will of the Father, through the divine Spirit thou didst without seed conceive the Son of God Who without mother was begotten before the ages of the Father. And for our sake thou didst give birth in the flesh to Him Who was begotten of thee without father, and with milk didst thou nourish Him as an Infant. Wherefore, cease thou not to pray that our souls be delivered from misfortune.

Celebrating the newly-established commemoration of the holy king Edward who shone forth of old in the virtues and suffered in his innocence, and bowing down before his precious relics, in gladness we cry out: truly wondrous art Thou in Thy saints, O God!

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.