After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man…”, the first antiphon.
A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 for the Forefeast, in Tone I: Spec. Mel. “Joy of the ranks of heaven…”—
Troparion of the martyr, in Tone IV—
A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
Noetic beams of universal joy have shone forth upon the world, heralding Christ God, the Sun of righteousness, unto all in thy nativity, O all-pure one. For thou hast been shown to be the mediatress of true gladness and grace.
Glory…, Now & ever…: troparion of the forefeast, in the same tone—
A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
This, the glory of thy forefeast, O all-pure one, doth proclaim unto all the people thy benefactions which transcend description; for thou art now for us the mediatress of gladness and the cause of joy to come, O Ever-virgin Theotokos.
Troparion of the venerable one, in Tone VIII—
The Maiden who held God within her womb, the pure Theotokos, the glory of the prophets, the daughter of David is born today of Joachim and the chaste Anna; and the curse of Adam which lay upon us is annulled by her nativity.
Glory…. Now & ever…: Troparion of the forefeast (see in the Menaion).
And 3 stichera for the martyr, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given a sign…”—
When He Who of His own will took our weakness upon Him strengthened thine infirmity with power, O blessed one, for His sake thou didst run the race of martyrdom, rejoicing, and with thy most beautiful feet didst crush the impotent enemy. Wherefore, Jesus, Who loveth mankind, the Savior of our souls, hath woven wreaths of victory for thee.
When thou wast wounded, O glorious one, thou didst wound thine enemies and cast them down to the ground, armed with the Cross and manifestly arrayed in invincible armor, made steadfast by the love of Him Who hath translated thee to the noetic kingdoms as an unvanquished martyr, a heavenly man.
Manifestly emulating the Savior and Lord Who for thee underwent voluntary sufferings, O athlete Sozon, thou didst of thine own will give thyself over to wounds and stripes and unbearable torments. Wherefore, He hath honored thee with heavenly gifts and showed thee forth as a wellspring of healings for those who love thee.
Glory…, Now & ever…, of the Forefeast, in Tone IV: Idiomelon—
O Virgin all-holy and pure, we, the multitude of angels in heaven and the human race on earth, bless thy most honored nativity, in that thou didst become the Mother of Christ God, the Creator of all. Cease thou never to entreat Him, we pray, in behalf of us who, after God, have placed our trust in thee, O most lauded Theotokos who knewest not wedlock.
But if it be Friday evening: Glory…: the above doxasticon of the Forefeast; Now & ever…: the dogmaticon of the current tone.
On the Aposticha, these stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O most glorious wonder…”—
O most glorious wonder! The rod which is to bear the Flower springeth forth today from the righteous Joachim and Anna, from a barren mother and a fruitless womb, O Mother of God Who knewest not wedlock. Wherefore, the council of the prophets and the whole festive assembly of the patriarchs rejoice now in her nativity.
Stichos: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear.
Today David doth rejoice, Jesse now danceth, Levi is magnified, and the righteous Joachim rejoiceth in spirit: for the childlessness of Anna is loosed by thy nativity, O all-pure Mary, divinely joyous one. And all of us, the assembly of angels and men, call thy divine womb blessed.
Stichos: The rich among the people shall entreat thy countenance.
Rejoice, O assembly of men! Rejoice, O temple of the Lord! Rejoice, holy mountain! Rejoice, divine table! Rejoice, O lamp of the Light! Rejoice, O honored glory of the Orthodox! Rejoice, O Mary, Mother of Christ God! Rejoice, O most immaculate one! Rejoice, offering of the Bread divine! Rejoice, O tabernacle! Rejoice, O bush unburnt! Rejoice thou hope of all!
Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone IV: the composition of Germanus—
Universal joy hath shone forth upon us from the righteous Joachim and Anna, O most lauded Virgin who, in thine exceeding purity, becamest the animate temple of God, and who alone art truly known to be the Theotokos. Through her prayers, O Christ God, send peace upon the world and great mercy upon our souls.
In his suffering, O Lord, Thy martyr Sozon received an imperishable crown from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, he cast down the tormenters and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. By his prayers do Thou save our souls.
Mary, the divine Maiden, is born unto us today from the root of Jesse and the loins of David; and all things rejoice and are made new through joy. Rejoice together, O heaven and earth! Praise her, ye lands of the gentiles! Joachim maketh glad, and Anna holdeth festival, crying aloud: A barren woman giveth birth to the Theotokos, the Nourisher of our Life!
On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera, in Tone II—
Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, celebrating the memory of the venerable martyr Macarius with splendor; for by his words and acts he instructeth us how to live virtuously in Christ, to endure tribulations with trust in the Lord, and not to fear the death of the body, but to be faithful to Christ the Savior until our last breath, that we might receive the crown of life. Through the supplications of the blessed Macarius, O God, have mercy upon us. Twice
O holy Macarius who didst love the Lord Jesus surpassingly from thy youth, thou gavest thyself over to spiritual struggles, and wast a helper of the suffering and oppressed. And thou didst valiantly receive a martyr’s death at the hands of the Moslems; wherefore, Christ God hath revealed thee to the faithful as a fervent ally, granting great mercy to the world. Twice
What manner of praise shall we offer thee, O holy Macarius, for thou hast been shown to be a fragrant flower of the Church of Christ? For thou didst constantly teach the people the knowledge of the Faith of Christ, leading sinners to repentance, knowing the secrets of man’s heart. Thou didst see things yet to come as though they were in the present, and didst exhort all thy children to endure for the name of Christ. Wherefore, through thy supplications, O blessed one, our Savior granteth the faithful great mercy. Twice
Glory…, in the same tone—
Thou wast an heir to the kingdom of heaven, O Macarius, for thou didst acquire it by thy struggles, disdaining all the glory of this corrupt world; and having labored for Christ the Savior in word and deed, and not spurned His commandments, thou didst whiten thy garments in the blood of the Lamb Who for our sake of His own will underwent suffering, and granteth His faithful servants the crown of life incorruptible.
Now & ever…, idiomelon of the forefeast, in Tone IV—
O Virgin all-holy and pure, we, the multitude of angels in heaven and the human race on earth, bless thy most honored nativity, in that thou didst become the Mother of Christ God, the Creator of all. Cease thou never to entreat Him, we pray, in behalf of us who, after God, have placed our trust in thee, O most lauded Theotokos who knewest not wedlock.
Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three Readings:
The righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the Most High. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall He cover them, and with His arm shall He protect them. He shall take to Him His jealousy for complete armor, and make the creature His weapon for the revenge of His enemies. He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment for an invincible shield. His severe wrath shall He sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with Him against the unwise. Then shall the right-aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them. Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. Hear, therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. For power is given you by the Lord, and sovereignty from the Most High.
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 for ever. 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.
On “Lord, I have cried…”: 6 stichera: 3 of the forefeast (see in the Menaion), and 3 of the venerable one, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Joy of the ranks of heaven…”—
Like a nightingale singing hymns divine, like a lark uplifting its voice in song, like a melodious flute inspired by the Spirit of God, the venerable Cassiana setteth forth her incomparable hymns, and thereby moveth all the faithful to great compunction.
Cassiana, great among those whom the Spirit hath inspired, doth chant sweet-sounding hymns unto God, wherewith she instructeth us in piety and guideth us in the ways of repentance, that we may worship and glorify Christ our incarnate Savior.
Having acquired boldness before the Master of all, Cassiana standeth in the train of His all-pure Mother, and prayeth most earnestly, that those who honor her memory and celebrate it with splendor may be delivered from dire misfortunes and perils.
Glory…: Idiomelon, in Tone II—
When the New Rome held sway upon the earth, and its rulers upheld the Christian Faith, the venerable Cassiana, filled with the Spirit of God, chanted therein hymns of glory to Christ our God, praising also His holy martyrs, adding the golden coins of her inspiration to our rich treasury of spiritual songs. Wherefore, hearkening to her wondrous poesy, let us clap our hands with gladness, O ye faithful, crying out in adoration to the Word Who took flesh of the Ever-virgin: Great is Thy mercy! O Lord, glory to Thee!
Now & ever…. of the forefeast (see in the Menaion).
Aposticha stichera of the forefeast (see in the Menaion); and Glory…: Idiomelon of the venerable one, in Tone II—
The City of Constantine exulteth, enriched by the labors and memory of the chaste Cassiana; and, summoning the Christ-loving flock, it crieth out: Come, ye who love the venerable one, and let us rejoice on the day of her commemoration! Come and be glad, ye who love the saints of Christ! Come and behold the latter-day disciple of David the Psalmist! Come ye, and hearken to the melodious hymns she hath wrought for the good of our souls! For as the sinful woman, of whom she so eloquently sang, once washed the feet of Christ with her tears, so now doth Cassiana draw forth from us tears of compunction; and she prayeth now unceasingly to the Holy Trinity, that those who with faith celebrate her memory may be delivered from corruption and temptations, and from all manner of tribulations.
Now & ever…. of the forefeast (see in the Menaion).
In thee, O mother, that which is fashioned according to the image of God was preserved; for, taking up thy cross, thou didst follow after Christ, and by thy hymnody thou dost teach us the power of repentance: that tears shed in penitence wash away our sins and transgressions. Wherefore, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels, O venerable Cassiana.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.