day 5

September 5: Martyred Monk Athanasius, Abbot of Brest

O venerable father Athanasius, cleaving unto God through abstinence and prayer, thou didst mortify the passions and the intemperance of thy flesh, and didst show thyself to be a servant of the Almighty Savior. Wherefore, we revere thy most honored memory. Twice

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 4 stichera, in Tone VI—

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

The 5th Day of the Month of September

Having first pleased God by thy struggle in this earthly life, thou didst reach the end of thy life in the suffering of martyrdom. Wherefore, Christ Who loveth mankind, the Savior of our souls, hath crowned thee for thy twofold struggles.

Commemoration of the Martyred Monk Athanasius,

Thou didst hold nought more precious in this world than the purity of the Orthodox Faith, and for fearlessly preserving and preaching it wast put to death by the enemies thereof. Wherefore, Christ, the Judge of the contest, hath bestowed upon thee the wreath of victory.

Abbot of Brest

Glory…, in the same tone—

At Little Vespers

With hymns let us praise today the venerable martyr Athanasius, the athlete of our land; for ­having loved Christ from childhood and eagerly followed His precepts, he served for the confirmation of the Orthodox Faith in the Russian land. And having now been received into the mansions of heaven, he entreateth Christ God to have mercy upon our souls.

September 5: Holy Prophet Zacharias & the Holy Righteous Elizabeth

Rejoice, O radiant star who ineffably gavest birth to the Light Who shone forth from the Father before the morning star! With His radiance illumine the souls of us who sleep in the darkness and the shadow of death.

The 5th Day of the Month of September

Commemoration of the Holy Prophet Zacharias

& the Holy & Righteous Elizabeth,

the Parents of the Honorable Forerunner John the Baptist

(for this day we provide also the service in honor of the Martyred Monk Athanasius of Brest)