Song of ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV
Canon of the forefeast, with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the venerable martyr, with 8 troparia.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “When the stone had been sealed…”—
Having been born most gloriously from the womb of a barren woman, thou didst give birth from thy virginal womb in manner transcending nature; for, revealed as a beautiful stem, thou didst give rise to the Life of the world. Wherefore, the hosts of heaven cry out to thee, O Theotokos: Glory to thine advent, O pure one! Glory to thy nativity! Glory to thy virginity, O Mother who hast not known wedlock!
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—
On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the forefeast, twice; Glory…, that of the martyr; Now & ever…: that of the forefeast, again.
Canon of the forefeast,, with 8 troparia, the irmos being chanted twice (see in the Menaion); and that of the venerable one, with 4 troparia, the acrostic whereof is “Like cassia is the hymnody of Cassiana”, in Tone VI—
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “The Word Who is co-beginningless…”—
Glory…, Now & ever…: the foregoing is repeated.
On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the forefeast, twice; Glory…, that of the venerable martyr; Now & ever…, that of the forefeast, Once.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I—
All those of heaven now rejoice, and the human race now keepeth festival with them. The prophets mystically are glad; for she whom they foresaw in generations of old in images—the bush, the jar and the staff, the cloud, the portal, the throne and the great mountain—is born today.
At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the forefeast, twice; Glory…, that of the venerable one; Now & ever…, of the forefeast, again.
Glory…, Now & ever…, the sessional hymn of the forefeast, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “When the stone had been sealed…”—
Glory…, Now & ever…: the foregoing is repeated.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I—
O ye Orthodox people, let us hasten today to the shrine of the relics of the venerable martyr, and let us bring to mind the words and acts of this great man, whereby he showed himself to be a beacon of the Orthodox Church and the fervent helper of those who honor his holy memory. Through his supplications, O Christ our Savior, grant Thy peace unto us sinners, for Thou alone lovest mankind.
Glory…, Now & ever…: the sessional hymn, of the forefeast in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “The Word Who is equally without beginning…”—
Having been born most gloriously from the womb of a barren woman, thou didst give birth from thy virginal womb in manner transcending nature; for, revealed as a beautiful stem, thou didst give rise to the Life of the world. Wherefore, the hosts of heaven cry out to thee, O Theotokos: Glory to thine advent, O pure one! Glory to thy nativity! Glory to thy virginity, O Mother who hast not known wedlock!
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: That which was mystically commanded…” —
O great and glorious venerable martyr Macarius, invincible defender of the Church of Christ, tireless preacher of the word of God: entreat Christ our God, that at His dread judgment He deliver us from standing at His left hand and from the everlasting torment of Gehenna, O our fervent advocate!
All those of heaven now rejoice, and the human race now keepeth festival with them. The prophets mystically are glad; for she whom they foresaw in generations of old in images—the bush, the jar and the staff, the cloud, the portal, the throne and the great mountain—is born today.
Polyeleos, and this magnification—
We bless thee, O venerable martyr Macarius, and we honor thy holy memory, O instructor of monks and converser with the angels.
Selected Psalm verses—
A Our God is refuge and strength. [Ps. 45: 2]
B A helper in afflictions which mightily befall us. [Ps. 45: 2]
A Therefore shall we not fear when the earth be shaken. [Ps. 45: 3]
B O God, who shall be likened unto Thee? Be Thou not silent, neither be still, O God. [Ps. 82: 2]
A For behold, Thine enemies have made a noise, and they that hate Thee have lifted up their heads. [Ps. 82: 3]
B Against Thy people have they taken wicked counsel, and have conspired against Thy saints. [Ps. 82: 4]
A They have made the dead bodies of Thy servants to be food for the birds of heaven. [Ps. 78: 2]
B The flesh of Thy saints for the beasts of the earth. [Ps. 78: 2]
A They have poured out their blood like water. [Ps. 78: 3]
B For Thy sake we are slain all the day long. [Ps. 43: 23]
A We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. [Ps. 43: 23]
B Thou hast made us a byword among the nations. [Ps. 43: 15]
A And I became a man scourged all the day long. [Ps. 72: 14]
B By fire hast Thou tried us even as silver is tried by fire. [Ps. 65: 11]
A We went through fire and water, and Thou didst bring us out into refreshment. [Ps. 65: 12]
B Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous. [Ps. 31: 11]
A For the Lord is in the generation of the righteous. [Ps. 13: 5]
B And their inheritance shall be for ever. [Ps. 36: 18]
A The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them. [Ps. 33: 18]
B A light hath dawned forth for the righteous man, and gladness for the upright of heart. [Ps. 96: 11]
A In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be. [Ps. 111: 6]
B In the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wondrous; He hath wrought all His desires in them. [Ps. 15: 3]
A Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel. [Ps. 67: 36]
B The righteous man shall flourish like a palm tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied. [Ps. 91: 13]
A The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him. [Ps. 63: 11]
B And all the upright in heart shall be praised. [Ps. 63: 11]
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice
When thy glorious suffering was finished and the ungodly Moslems had severed thy head, Christ revealed thy relics to be incorrupt; and kissing them, we cry aloud unto thee: O holy one, by thy supplications save us from the deception of the evil one!
Out of the love of my soul I cry unto thee, O Mistress, thou ray of the all-radiant Sun, portal of salvation, gate of heaven, noetic ladder for all Christians: Accept the entreaty of those who call thee blessed, O hope of our souls, and grant us salvation.
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Stichos: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to Matthew, § 43
[Mt. 11: 27-30]
The Lord said to His disciples: “All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him. Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—
O heir of God who hast a portion with Christ, servant of the Lord, holy Macarius, thy life was in accord with thy name: for thy gray hairs shone forth understanding, the radiance of thy countenance bore witness to the innocence of thy soul, and thy quiet speech proclaimed thy meekness. Thy life was glorious, and thy repose is with the saints. Pray thou in behalf of our souls.
After the kathismata of the Psalter, the sessional hymns of the forefeast (see in the Menaion).
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.