Canon of the Prophet Zacharias, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone VIII—

Exapostilarion of the prophet: Spec. Mel.: “O Light immutable…”—

Irmos: Having traversed the water as though it were dry land, and escaped the evil of Egypt, the Israelite cried aloud: Let us chant unto our Deliverer and God!

Kontakion of the prophet, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Today the Virgin…”—

Sessional hymn of the prophet, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “That which hath been commanded…”—

By thy mediation, O prophet, impart unto me the grace of the Spirit, to help me praise thy memory, crying out: Let us chant unto our Deliverer and God!

Theotokion: Clad in the vestment of the full-length tunic like Aaron, thou didst receive the Maiden who sprouted forth from the root of Jesse and bore the Deliverer in her womb.

Glory…: Exapostilarion of the righteous Elizabeth: Spec. Mel.: “The heaven with stars…”—

Irmos: To Him Who crushed battles with His arm and led Israel across the Red Sea, let us chant, as to God our Deliverer, for gloriously hath He been glorified.

Kontakion of the Righteous Elizabeth, in Tone IV—

Glory…: Sessional hymn of the righteous Elizabeth, in Tone IV—

Thy life was found to be blameless, and thou wast arrayed in the vesture of the priesthood and the luminous splendors of prophecy, O divinely eloquent and blessed one.

Theotokion: Giving birth to Isaac, Sarah rejoiced; and when thou, a Virgin, didst give birth to the Lord Jesus, it was fitting that thou rejoice yet more, O all-pure one.

Irmos: Thou art the confirmation of those who have recourse to Thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of the benighted; and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

Having thy head adorned with the crown of the law, O Zacharias, thou wast shown to be sacred, crying out: Let us chant unto our Deliverer and God!

Theotokion: Set my life aright, O most pure Theotokos, thou life which filled with light the house of Zacharias.

Irmos: My heart is established in the Lord; my horn is exalted in my God; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies. I am glad in Thy salvation.

Thou didst have true love for God, O right loving Elizabeth, preserving His commandments; for he truly loveth God who keepeth His commandments. Wherefore, we magnify thee, the beloved of God, with praises.

Theotokion: The barren Sarah, giving birth in her old age, was blessed to be a mother. We are at a loss, O all-pure one, how to praise thee, Mother and Virgin, as is meet.

Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thy dispensation; I have understood Thy works, and have glorified Thy divinity.

We who are saved by grace must please God with virtues, just as Elizabeth walked in the commandments of the Lord blamelessly, whom let us bless with hymns, as is meet.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Irmos: With noetic eyes the Prophet Habbakuk foresaw Thy coming, O Lord; wherefore he cried aloud: “God shall come out of Thæman!” Glory to Thy power! Glory to Thy condescension!

O God Who dost accomplish all things, Thou didst manifest Thine almighty mercy in the blessed Elizabeth. We offer thee thanks for all Thy works.

Theotokion: The Fashioner of creation, Who loosed the barrenness of Elizabeth, found thee, O Virgin, to be a pure habitation, and dwelt therein.

Irmos: Waking at dawn, we cry to Thee: Save us, O Lord! For Thou art our God, and we know none other than Thee.

When thou didst offer the incense of the covenant, O high priest, then didst thou receive the prophetic proclamation of the Forerunner.

Theotokion: The birth of Isaac removed the reproach of childlessness from his mother and magnified her with glory; and when the Holy One was born of thee, O all-pure Virgin and Mother, He brought thee pristine glory. Let every mortal glorify thee!

Irmos: Grant us peace, O Lord our God. O Lord our God, take us for Thy possession. O Lord, we know none other than Thee; we call upon Thy name.

The priesthood anointed thee with oil to serve as priest, like Aaron. Wherefore, thou wast counted worthy to behold an angel.

Theotokion: Thy tongue is directed toward hymnody, O divinely eloquent one; for thou didst behold her who kneweth not wedlock bearing a Child within her womb.

Irmos: Grant me a robe of light, O Thou Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment, O most merciful Christ our God.

Zacharias begat John, the dawn which announced to the whole world Thee, the noetic Sun, O Savior.

Theotokion: Two sons, Joseph and Benjamin, did the barren Rachel bring forth as fruit; and she is honored for her goodly offspring. And thou, a Virgin, gavest birth to Him Who is one in Hypostasis but two in essence. Ineffable is thy glory, O Mother of Emmanuel.

Irmos: Like the waters of the sea am I tossed about by the waves of life, O Thou Who lovest mankind. Wherefore, like Jonah I cry to Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O compassionate Lord!

In the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit called thee and Zacharias righteous, O blessed Elizabeth, saying that ye were righteous in the sight of God. The Messiah is the truth for us from God, and therefore, by the Messiah wast thou justified. Who will not magnify thee with hymns of praise?

Theotokion: Thou wast recognized by the prophetess Elizabeth, O Virgin Mother of God, bearing the unoriginate Word and Savior in thy womb.

Irmos: In the furnace the Hebrew children boldly trod the flame underfoot and transformed the fire into dew, crying out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

Not everyone who liveth is justified in God’s sight; but thou wast righteous, O ever-memorable Elizabeth. The Lord Jesus is sanctification for all. Let each of us praise thee as holy.

Theotokion: When he was born of Rachel, Benjamin caused his own mother’s death; but the Word Who was born of thee is the true life of all. Him do thou beseech, that we who place our trust in Him may have everlasting life.

Irmos: The Chaldæan furnace, burning with fire, was bedewed by the Spirit through the presence of God; and the children chanted: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

O God Who art wondrous in Thy saints, Thou wast wondrous also in the blessed Elizabeth. We offer unto Thee, the Most Compassionate One, a hymn of thanksgiving.

Theotokion: Zacharias, beholding thee, recognized thee as the fulfillment of the law, the chief object of all prophecy, O Maiden, and he cried out: Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, O all-pure one!

Irmos: The Lord Who was glorified on the holy mountain, and by the fire in the bush revealed to Moses the mystery of the Ever-virgin, hymn ye and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Today Zacharias, the prophet and high priest of the Most High, the father of the Forerunner, setteth the table of his memorial, feeding the faithful; for he hath distributed the food of righteousness unto all. Wherefore, he hath reposed as a divine initiate of the mysteries of the grace of God.

Theotokion: Giving birth to Isaac, a prefiguration of Christ, Sarah said: “The Lord hath made laughter for me!” But do thou, O most lauded Mother and Virgin, who gavest birth to Him Whom Isaac prefigured and yet hast remained Virgin, rejoice yet more.

Irmos: O Thou Who coverest Thy chambers with waters and settest the sands as a bound for the sea: Thee doth the sun hymn; Thee doth the moon glorify; and unto Thee doth all creation offer a hymn forever, as to the Creator of all.

Ikos: The high priest of the law was bound by silence, receiving, with the barren and chaste Elizabeth, the angel of the coming of Christ, the prophet and initiate of the mysteries, by the voice of the angel. And by his nativity hath grace, deliverance and our universal reconciliation been renewed. As a divine initiate of the mysteries of the grace of God his preaching is the Lamb and Creator, the Renewer of nature, Who giveth fruit from the barren womb and is the Son of the Virgin.

Theotokion: Rejoicing, Zacharias, the high priest and preacher of God, paid homage to the Virgin and Mother who beareth the Lord of creation. Her do we exalt supremely for all ages.

Irmos: Saved by thee, O pure Virgin, we confess thee to be in truth the Theotokos, magnifying thee with the incorporeal choirs.

Having ministered to God as a priest according to the law, O Zacharias, thou wast shown to the whole world as a pillar of light, prophesying that Christ would come forth from the Virgin, incarnate of the Holy Spirit, the Orient from the heights of righteousness, Who doth illumine all the world, direct our feet to the ways of peace, and save our race, thou didst say.

Theotokion: The birth of Samuel from his barren mother did away with the tears of her eyes and brought her joy; and the Lord born of thee is the cause of joy for the whole world. We magnify thee unceasingly with hymns, O Virgin Mother.

Irmos: Foreign to mothers is virginity, and strange is childbirth to virgins; yet both were accomplished in thee, O Theotokos. Wherefore, all of us, the peoples of the world, magnify thee unceasingly.

When the Messiah was already incarnate, we listened to thee, His first herald, when, with awe, thou didst say unto the divinely chosen Maiden who embraced thee: “Whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?” Wherefore, praising thee, we cry aloud: Rejoice, thou mirror revealing the mysteries of God to us!

Theotokion: As thou art the dwelling-place of the Light, O Virgin, illumine my soul which hath been darkened by the passions, and by thy supplications deliver me from the outermost darkness.

We, thy sinful servants, saved by thee through the Son Who was born of thee, confess thee to be our Mistress, O Theotokos; for having given birth inaccessibly unto God Who cleanseth us of every sin by His own blood and bringeth us into the joy of paradise, in gladness we praise thee and Him.

Theotokion: Samson, shown from his youth to be strong, was the glory of his barren mother. And in Jesus Who was born of thee is all the fullness of the Godhead embodied. We magnify thee, who art more glorious than all the saints, O all-pure Virgin.

Thy prophet, O Master, faithfully ministered unto Thee with the symbols of the law and was counted worthy of the grace to perceive Thy truth.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Thou, the most brilliant and all-blessed one, didst receive light through darkest light; for through the law grace hath now been added unto thee.

Making announcement, the divine Gabriel, who standeth before God, revealed to thee the voice and Forerunner of the Word, O blessed one.

As the wife of Zacharias, thou didst walk blamelessly in all the commandments; but there were others, virgins, who possessed not the oil of the virtues. Better is thine appellation than their virginity. Let people of every age glorify thee!

Paul, betrothing the faithful to Christ, referred to the married as a pure virgin, saying: I have betrothed you a pure virgin to one Husband. How much more hath God joined to the wise virgins thee who hast walked in all His commandments, O divinely wise Elizabeth. Wherefore, we praise thee as is meet.

Thou, O God, hast shown the blessed Zacharias and Elizabeth, who walked in the commandments of the Lord, to be a model of how to please Thee, like unto the pillar of fire and the cloud when Israel was journeying to the promised land. Ineffable is Thy love for mankind, O almighty Master!

Upon thy head, O prophet, was the mitre placed which bore the impress of the true and divine priesthood.

Creation rejoiceth in thine offspring, O high priest; for thou didst beget the preacher of repentance.

Thou didst lead a life adorned, for with Elizabeth thou didst keep all the commandments of the Lord.

To him whom God, through His angel, spake in the prophecy of Malachi, saying: “Behold, I will send Mine angel before Thy face”, didst thou, a barren woman, give birth, O Elizabeth. We crown thee with worthy praises.

The voice of God crying in the wilderness is born of thee, O most honored Elizabeth. Wherefore, who will not praise thee as the mouth of God?

As once from a barren rock Thou didst pour forth water for Thy people, O God, so from the barren Elizabeth Thou hast given the preacher of repentance. O almighty Master, most glorious are all Thy works!

He who served the shadow of the law was shown to be a preacher of grace, O our Savior; for he was counted worthy to behold Thine incarnation.

Adorned with words of prudence, O sacred Zacharias, thou didst receive the ever-existing Word clad in the flesh.

Thou wast shown to serve God in the temple as a right wondrous priest, O divinely inspired initiate of the mysteries of God.

When John was in thy womb, O holy Elizabeth, seeing His Savior he, the babe, did leap. Blessed is thy womb which made manifest the babe who recognized Jesus as his salvation.

Strengthened by the Holy Spirit against all desires, O all-blessed Elizabeth, thou didst name thy son John. Let everyone praise thee, the instrument of the Holy Spirit.

O God, Thou didst show forth Elizabeth’s conceiving as an image of Thine own inconceivable birthgiving from the Virgin. Glory to Thy mighty wisdom!

Like the full moon, thou didst receive the light of righteousness from the Messiah, the noetic Sun, O Elizabeth beloved of God, and with Zacharias didst walk in all the commandments of the Lord. Wherefore, blessing thee with worthy hymns, we magnify the Lord, the most compassionate Light, Who illumineth all.

Ikos: As God once inscribed His commandments upon two tablets of stone, so hath He illumined you with His grace, O blessed Zacharias and Elizabeth; for ye walked blamelessly in His commandments. Therefore, praising you worthily, we magnify the Lord of all, the most compassionate Light Who illumineth all.

When the voice of one crying in the wilderness came forth from the barren woman supernaturally, he loosed the bonds of thy tongue, that thou couldst cry: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

The Forerunner, the beloved friend of the Bridegroom, was born of a barren woman, manifestly proclaiming the birthgiving of the Virgin unto those who cry out with faith: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

O thrice-blessed Zacharias, thou wast wholly a divine instrument of the Spirit, and didst proclaim thy son to be a prophet, who crieth: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

O divinely wise Elizabeth, thou teachest us to give thanks unto God, saying of thy birthgiving: “Thus hath the Lord dealt with me!” And therein thou wast a teacher instructed by God.

He whom the angel, within the sanctuary, told Zacharias to call John, thou didst thus name, instructed by God, when he was born of thee for all people. Thy tongue is like unto the angels’, O ever-memorable Elizabeth.

As when God, making the heavens heavy with manna, let it fall upon His people in the wilderness, so hath He given us John, the herald of grace, through the blessed Elizabeth. Great is Thy mercy toward men, O God!

Thou wast shown to be a prophet of the truth, for thou didst prepare John the Forerunner to tread first the paths of Christ, O blessed high priest. Him do we exalt supremely for all ages.

Giving voice in speech, thou didst bless the Master, the Lord of glory Who hath bestowed salvation upon us, Who shone forth upon us in the flesh from David. Him do we exalt supremely for all ages.

Thou was counted worthy of great gifts, O divinely revealed one, begetting the Forerunner, the greatest of all the prophets, who hymneth and exalteth the Lord supremely for all ages.

As God said of His Church: “Thou art all-comely, My beloved, and there is no blemish in thee”, so art thou also blameless, O righteous Elizabeth. In that the Lord Jesus is the sanctification of His faithful, we magnify thee as all-comely.

The people saw thee, who didst walk in all the commandments of the Lord, freely justified by the grace of God, O right blessed Elizabeth. Wherefore, it is meet to glorify the mercy of God in thee.

Elizabeth was the first proclaimer of the mystery wrought in Thee, O Jesus, when she said: “Blessed is the Fruit of the Virgin’s womb, Who is Lord and God!” Behold the working of Thy wisdom! Glory to Thy love for mankind!

Thou wast filled with the inspiration of the Comforter and didst begin to bless the Lord, O divinely wise initiate of the sacred mysteries, divinely blessed one.

Perceiving the fulfillment of the archangel’s words, O all-praised and divinely eloquent one, thou didst straightway move thy tongue to blessing.

Thou wast adorned with crowns of suffering and the priesthood and with the enlightenment of prophecy, O all-blessed Zacharias, divinely eloquent one.

Believing the Messiah Who had come to be thy Lord, and keeping the commandments of the Lord, thou didst please Him well, O Elizabeth. ­Wherefore, entreat the all-good Master for those who bear thy name and all who praise thee, that their souls may be saved.

He who keepeth the commandments of God hath God promised to love and appear to him; wherefore, thou art loved by God, O Elizabeth, who didst walk in His commandments. Entreat the All-good One in behalf of those who bear thy name, that they may love God and be loved by His loving-kindness.

Elizabeth, the kinswoman of Mary, gave birth, though barren and bereft of children. Thou didst magnify Thy mercy with her, O God, and every good work is from Thee. Glory to Thine ineffable compassions!

At first, thou wast struck mute in the holy of holies, by the voice of the angel, for the springing forth from thee of the voice of one crying in the wilderness; and now thou art silent for his sake, slain, O Zacharias, before the holy of holies.

Thou wast the glory of barren mothers, the model of virtues for sinners, O blessed Elizabeth, keeping the commandments of the Lord. We glorify the goodness of God made manifest in thee.

Having shone forth eternally, Light from Light, before the morning star, O Word, Thou didst come forth as Light, immutably, under time, from Thy Mother, illumining the ends of the world with radiant effulgence, as Thou art the Light of the world.

On the Praises, 4 stichera of the righteous Elizabeth, in Tone I—

The barren and childless Elizabeth didst Thou bless with fertility, O God, that Thou mayest reveal Thine almighty goodness. By Thy grace, have compassion upon us, who every day are withered by sins, that we may become a right fruitful tree, O Omnipotent One. Twice

The ever-memorable couple walked blamelessly in Thy commandments and through Thy grace were righteous in Thy sight, O Compassionate One. All this was Thy mercy, O Master. Glory to Thy compassionate loving-kindness!

God Who worketh within you that which He willed to accomplish, O right blessed couple, made you heirs to the Kingdom in His great mercy. Glory to Thee, O most merciful Master!

Glory…, in Tone VI—

The greatest born of women is named by eternal Wisdom and hath come forth from thee, a barren woman, O God-loving Elizabeth. Let the faithful rejoice in the ever-memorable one, magnifying our Benefactor!

Now & ever…, in Tone IV—

He Who is hymned by the seraphim and upborne by the cherubim chose the womb of the pure divine Maiden as a most beautiful throne. Wherefore, we send up to Thee this hymn of thanksgiving: Glory to Thee, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind! Glory to Thee, O Jesus all-sweet! Glory to Thee, O all our hope! Glory to Thee, salvation of the faithful! Glory to Thy compassionate dispensation!

Great Doxology, and the dismissal.