Canon I of All Saints of Mount Athos,

Exapostilarion of the resurrection.

Irmos: The staff of Moses, once working a wonder, striking the sea in the form of the Cross and dividing it, drowned the mounted tyrant Pharaoh, and saved Israel who fled on foot, chanting a hymn unto God.

Katavasia: I shall open my mouth…

Kontakion, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “O Thou Who wast of Thine own will lifted up on the Cross…” —

The choir of the venerable fathers, who came from many lands and made their abode on Mount Athos, hath been vouchsafed spiritual gifts by the Lord and hath shown us the way of asceticism in word and deed. Wherefore, praising them well as is meet, let us cry out: O sanctified multitude of the venerable, beloved of God! O divinely assembled garden of the bees who, in the clefts and caves of the mountain, as in noetic hives, have stored up the sweetest honey of spiritual stillness and have spiritually offered fragrant incense upon the altar of heaven! O boast of Athos and melodious instruments of the glory of God: Pray ye to the Lord, that our souls find mercy!

Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…: —

On the Praises, 8 stichera: 4 for the resurrection, and 4 for the saints of Athos, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Joy of the ranks of heaven…” —

Theotokion: Rejoice, O all-holy Lady, who hast hallowed Athos by thy coming! Rejoice, thou who cast down the idols in that place! Rejoice, thou who didst plant the true Faith on the mountain! Rejoice, thou who didst from thence drive unbelief away!

in Tone VIII —

Glory…: Exapostilarion of all saints of Athos: Spec. Mel.: “Hearken, ye women…” —

Irmos: Thy victorious right arm hath in godly manner been glorified in strength; for as almighty, O Immortal One, it smote the adversary, fashioning anew the path of the deep for the Israelites.

Kontakion & ikos of the resurrection

Come, all ye who dwell on Athos, let us praise with hymns the honored assembly of the fathers of Athos, the loving favorites of God, our intercessors and unceasing mediators before the Lord.

Now & ever…, Theotokion: When God divided the nations according to the number of his angels, then He foresaw that thou, O Virgin, wouldst be His all-pure Mother, and He set the great Mount Athos apart for thee as an inalienable inheritance.

O God of all, grant the gift of eloquence unto me, Thy servant, who now begin to praise in hymns the fathers who shone forth on Mount Athos and did Thy will.

Irmos: O Lord, Fashioner of the vault of heaven and Creator of the Church: establish me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, confirmation of the faithful, Who alone lovest mankind.

O venerable fathers, who dwelt on Mount Athos in the body, ye have lifted up your mind wholly to the noetic and eternal mountains and have truly dwelt on earth like the immaterial angels.

Theotokion: Rejoice, thou who chose Mount Athos as thy portion! Rejoice, thou whose will it hath been to be the helper of that place! Rejoice, bestower of earthly blessings upon the faithful who abide there! Rejoice, surety of their eternal salvation!

With hymns let us honor the holy assembly of the fathers of Athos, the friends of the all-holy Virgin and loving favorites of Christ God, our fervent intercessors who pray continually for the salvation of our souls.

Irmos: O Thou Who alone hast known the weakness of human nature, having in Thy mercy formed Thyself therein: Thou dost gird me about with power from on high, that I may chant to Thee: Holy is the living temple of Thine ineffable glory, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Stichos: The saints shall boast in glory, and they shall rejoice upon their beds.

Now & ever…, Theotokion: Thou, O all-pure Virgin, hast promised ever to fight with all who on Mount Athos contend against the adversary who wageth war on men. Wherefore, O Mistress, mindful of thy promise, forsake us not, we beseech thee.

In hymns I honor Athanasius the Great, the sacred founder of the Great Lavra, the model and standard for the fathers on Athos, both in appearance and in deed.

Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power; Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, hast visited our lowliness. Wherefore, with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

For the sake of your extreme humility and concern for things divine, O fathers, through the grace of the Spirit ye truly received foreknowledge and foresight from God. Wherefore, ye foretold and manifestly spake of things of the future as though they were in the present.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

I must needs praise the glorious Agapius of Vatopedi, who heard the voice of the Theotokos, who toiled in slavery and delivered his master and his sons, in that he is free of everlasting torment.

Irmos: Habbakuk, gazing with the eyes of foresight upon thee, the mountain overshadowed by the grace of God, prophesied that the Holy One of Israel would come forth from thee, for our salvation and restoration.

Stichos: Sing unto the Lord a new song; His praise is in the Church of the saints.

Theotokion: Rejoice, O fervent mediatress for those who live within thy portion! Rejoice, thou who hast promised to that place the mercy of thy Son until the end of time! Rejoice, thou who hast foretold that His grace would never be removed therefrom! Rejoice, O joy and salvation of our souls!

I praise the life of Athanasius, the comely scion of the Monastery of Simonopetra, and the godly Acacius the New; and the venerable Gabriel of Iveron, who drew forth from the sea the miraculous icon of the Portaïtissa.

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

Illumined now by the unapproachable glory of the all-radiant Trinity, O God-bearing fathers, and filled with divine gladness and joy, O glorious ones, pray ye earnestly in our behalf, that we may be delivered from everlasting torment.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: How great is thy forethought for Mount Athos, O Mistress! For thou didst say that thou wilt be an instructor and teacher in the virtues for all who live virtuously thereon, and a nurturer and physician for their bodies and souls.

Glory…: How can I not honor the honorable Gennadius, who in Vatopedi manifestly beheld the oil which flowed forth through the miracle of the Mother of God? And how can I remain silent concerning the God-bearing George? For they are the founders of the Monastery of Iveron.

Irmos: O Christ Who hast enlightened the ends of the world with the radiance of Thy coming and hast illumined them with Thy Cross: with the light of Thy divine knowledge enlighten the hearts of those who hymn Thee in Orthodox manner.

Glory…, in Tone VIII —

Theotokion: Rejoice, O Virgin, for through thy blessing the power of the Most High hath overshadowed the mountain! Rejoice, thou who by the grace of God hast planted a spiritual garden in the midst of thine inheritance! Rejoice, for its valleys and groves have been filled with monks! Rejoice, for there hath shone forth on Athos a multitude of the venerable, who pray for the salvation of our souls!

O venerable fathers of Athos, who struggled by means of grace divine, ye founded sacred folds on the mountain and, with the help of the Mother of God, nurtured multitudes of monastics in the meadows of salvation. Pray ye now for us, your flock, that we be delivered from all want, and that our souls be saved.

Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the abyss of evils, I pray, for to Thee have I cried, and Thou hast hearkened to me, O God of my salvation.

Evangelical sticheron. First Hour

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Who doth not rejoice, hearing of thy promise, O all-immaculate Maiden? For thou hast said that thou shalt intercede before thy son and God for those who live well on the Holy Mountain, asking for them forgiveness of transgressions.

I hymn Gregory Palamas, who hath been revealed as a great theologian and a sacred instrument of the Holy Spirit, the beholder of the never-waning light, the true instructor of the faithful in theology.

Irmos: The uttermost abyss hath surrounded us, and there is none to deliver us. We are accounted as lambs for the slaughter. Save Thy people, O our God, for Thou art the strength and correction of the weak!

Theotokion: Rejoice, for thou ever regardest thine inheritance! Rejoice, for thou dost vouchsafe it the grace of God and thine own mercy! Rejoice, thou who dost establish the hearts of thy servants upon the rock of the commandments of Christ! Rejoice, thou who bringeth down the blessing of thy Son upon us!

Meet it is also to praise the other Gregory, who fasted splendidly in the environs of the Lavra, and the other Gregory, his namesake, who raised up the most lauded monastery which beareth his name.

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!

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Protected by thine alliance, as with mighty armor, O Theotokos, the venerable ones of Mount Athos have vanquished all the forces of the demons and have received the trophy of victory.

The Monastery of Simonopetra put forth Damian as a shoot, and the Monastery of Philotheou gave rise to another Damian, the martyred monk, and with him the godly Dometius. Let us call them blessed.

Irmos: O Theotokos, we, the faithful, perceive thee to be a noetic furnace; for, as the supremely Exalted One saved the three youths, in thy womb the praised and most glorious God of our fathers wholly renewed the world.

Theotokion: Rejoice, O most compassionate one, who bestowest all gifts upon thy servants! Rejoice, thou who art their all-merciful consoler amid battle, pangs and toils! Rejoice, thou who arrangest for them a long life on earth and a most blessed one in the heavens! Rejoice, thou hope and salvation of our souls!

I hymn the wondrous Dionysius, who founded the Monastery of John the Baptist, and Dometius, the fellow faster of Dionysius.

Irmos: Madly did the Chaldæan tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but, beholding them saved by a higher Power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Thou art the Mistress of the world, O Ever-virgin, and even more art thou the Mistress and intercessor of Mount Athos, saving it from all trials and misfortunes.

Glory…: Another Dionysius, the scion of Iveron, and Damascene, the divine adornment of the Lavra, are now blessed, for they have received twofold crowns, for suffering and for fasting.

Irmos: The children of Israel in the furnace, shining more brightly than gold in a crucible in the beauty of their piety, said: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: Rejoice, O our protectress in this present age! Rejoice, our intercessor and sure hope in that which is to come! Rejoice, thou who grantest entry there to every good man! Rejoice, thou who dost repel the assault of every evil from thy portion.

Come ye, let us all praise the fathers who have made Mount Athos a heaven, who have shown forth therein an angelic life, and have assembled a multitude of monks; and let us cry out unto them: deliver us from every misfortune and temptation, O ye multitude of the venerable, boast of Athos.

Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God hath appeared in the flesh, and that thy womb became more spacious than the heavens. Wherefore, the ranks of men and angels magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Thou hast shown thyself seated upon an exalted and splendid throne, O Mistress, shedding thy light upon all; and countless choirs of monks, the fathers who are now being praised, stood round about thee in the sunny environs of Athos and around the Holy Mountain, and were shown to be pillars of fire.

Ikos: O how goodly is your unity, O divinely wise fathers! O how comely and sweet is this your festival, whereon all of you, the saints who have shone forth on the Mountain, both known and nameless, receive our general praise as a spiritual brotherhood; for it is fitting to celebrate on a single day those who pleased the Lord in a single place. Wherefore, having assembled together, both monastics and layfolk, as new children of the fathers of old we call you blessed as is meet, crying out together: From all evil save the place wherein ye lived, O ye multitude of the venerable, boast of Athos.

Irmos: The bush which burnt with fire yet was not consumed showed forth an image of thy pure birthgiving. And now we pray that the furnace of temptations which rageth against us may be extinguished, that we may magnify thee unceasingly, O Theotokos.

Theotokion: Rejoice, thou by whom all the monasteries of the mountain are protected! Rejoice, thou by whom all the snares of the enemy are destroyed! Rejoice, thou who movest thy Son to compassion for us! Rejoice, thou through whom thy servants have acquired boldness before Him!

All the armies of the angels together were stricken with awe, beholding your valor of soul and contest, which transcend nature, O fathers who bore the sign of the Cross: how, clad in a material body, ye vanquished incorporeal foes and in thanksgiving chanted a hymn to the Lord: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee Who hast strengthened the mortal nature of men! Twice

Now & ever…: Theotokion: All those who dwell on Mount Athos offer thee hymns of thanksgiving, O Mother of God, for thou dost ever save them from every evil circumstance, and dost nurture, care and take thought for them. And we beseech thee: Vouchsafe also unto us the kingdom of God at the hour of our repose.

Every mind is filled with awe at Thy love for mankind, O Mary Theotokos, which thou didst show to the monastic ranks who fasted on Mount Athos. For thou didst gather them from throughout the earth unto that great mountain, and didst entrust it to the monks as thine own inheritance. Truly great is thy forethought for us, O Ever-virgin!

Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Loving God with all your soul, O venerable ones, ye performed great feats of asceticism; and, likewise loving your neighbor, ye raised up monasteries in divers places on Athos and assembled multitudes of cœnobites therein. Wherefore, pray ye, O solicitous fathers, and be ye full of love for us, that our souls may be saved.

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in Tone II: Most blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos…

With hymns I honor Euthymius, the abbot of Vatopedi, who was bound with chains and plunged into the depths of the sea, but denounced the intentions of the Latin-minded and hath received from the hand of the Lord the imperishable crown of martyrdom.

I also hymn another honorable Euthymius, the founder of the Monastery of Iveron, for while he was once serving God, he was seen by those with him to be a pillar bright as the sun. And I praise yet another venerable Euthymius, the founder of Dochiariou.

Meet it is to praise the honored and faithful ministers of the Trinity: Theodosius, the abbot of the Monastery of Philotheou, and Theophanes the faster, the divine adornment of the Monastery of Dochiariou, and the exceeding wise Theoleptus of Philadelphia.

How can I leave without praise Theonas, the luminary of the Monastery of Pantocrator, who was later hierarch of Thessalonica? And how can I fail to praise in words Theophilus the myrrh-gusher, who emitteth a fragrance sweeter than any perfume?

Glory…: Let us praise the founder of the sacred Monastery of Iveron, the venerable John, the father of Euthymius according to the flesh; and with him let us also hymn the steadfast monks martyred for Christ, the divinely wise James and another James, the scions of Iveron.

O venerable fathers of Athos, like sweetly singing nightingales dwelling amid the groves of the Holy Mountain ye learned ever to utter the saving name of Jesus, illumining your mind with light divine, and delighting your hearts with the joy which floweth therefrom. By your supplications grant this also unto us who keep your memory.

I praise in song the venerable Joasaph of the Monastery of Dionysiou, for, rejoicing, he shed his blood for love of Christ the King of all, and received a crown of martyrdom.

It is truly fitting to praise in hymns the great Callixtus, the wise and divinely inspired instrument of grace, the adornment and glorious pastor of the Monastery of Iveron.

Let the venerable Cosmas, the excellent scion of the Monastery of Zographou, be honored in hymns, who beheld the Theotokos with his own eyes; and with him let the martyred priest Constantius, who lived at the Lavra, be likewise honored.

And do thou also rejoice in the Lord, O Monastery of Koutloumousiou, for within thine environs blossomed forth the great Cyprian, the martyred monk and priest of Christ.

Glory…: The Monastery of Dionysiou rejoiceth in its children like a mother, and it praiseth the honorable new martyr Macarius and Leontius, who hath most gloriously poured forth a fragrant myrrh from his grave.

O venerable fathers of Athos, performing many and divers feats of asceticism ye thereby soared aloft from that mountain to the mountains of heaven; and establishing your dwelling-place there, ye have now found rest for your souls, like golden and all-comely doves. There be ye also mindful of us who praise you.

With hymns let us honor the sacred child of the Lavra, the God-bearing Maximus, who received from the divine Spirit the rich gift of prophecy.

I honor the divine offshoots of the Monastery of Vatopedi: the glorious Neophytus, who heard the voice of the pure divine Maiden, and Nicodemus, who hath shone forth among the venerable.

Be thou hymned as is meet, O wondrous Niphont, excellent adornment of the Monastery of Dionysiou, who wast the shepherd of Constantinople and paragon of all the venerable.

Be glad, O honored Monastery of Dochiariou, who hast been enriched by a glorious founder, the wise Neophytus, who, like a fruitful tree, was replete with every virtue.

Glory…: O Karyes, center of asceticism, be thou also glad in the divine Spirit, having given rise to the glorious Nectarius, the sweetest nectar of the virtues, who abode with the venerable.

O venerable fathers who shone forth on Athos, like stars of great brilliance ye illumine that mountain with beams of the virtues and divine gifts, and have shown the site of your spiritual struggles to be a second heaven, having dispelled the foul darkness of the demons. Cease ye never to pray for us to the Lord.

The God-bearing Niphont was shown to be one of the saints on Athos who dwelt like a bird within the environs of the Lavra and hath received from God the gift of prophecy.

Nilus, the myrrh-gusher of the Lavra, and Nicodemus, the flower of Kavsokalyvia, the new martyr beloved of Christ, are praised in songs and hymns as is meet.

How can I not honor among the choir of the divine fathers the valiant Nicephorus, who lived in spiritual stillness in the wilderness and was worthily vouchsafed spiritual gifts?

Let Paul, the founder of two monasteries — Grigoriou and Xeropotamou — the ornament of fasters, who shone forth in his repose like another sun, be praised in hymns.

Glory…: I chant a hymn unto Pachomius, the divine offshoot of Kavsokalyvia, the new martyr of Christ, who hath receive a twofold crown from the hand of the Lord.

O inhabitants and protectors of Athos, our intercessors after the Theotokos, great and manifold benefactors and instructors, pillars of fire who stand with love and joy around the Mother of the Light: Cease ye never to pray for us to the Lord.

Peter is praised, the first to dwell in seclusion on Athos, who lived an immaterial life and in the flesh drove away incorporeal demons, who went about naked all his life and was richly granted the gifts of the Holy Spirit, through the prayers of the Theotokos.

In hymns let us honor the glorious Romanus, the adornment of fasters and joy of the martyrs of Christ, whom the Lavra, that center of asceticism, put forth like a fragrant rose.

Let the divine hierarch Savva be praised, who received from Christ the power to work miracles and shone upon the land of Serbia like the sun, together with Symeon, his father according to the flesh and son in the Spirit, who hath poured forth a fragrant myrrh from his tomb; for they are the founders of the divine Monastery of Chilandar.

With hymns let us honor Symeon, the excellent instructor of the Monastery of Philotheou, and Simon the myrrh-gusher, who by the guidance of the stars of heaven erected a most lofty monastery on a rock and received from God the power to work miracles and authority over unclean spirits.

We bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Lord:

Leap up and dance, O honored Monastery of Dionysiou, who hast given rise to the godly Philotheos, the adornment of fasters, whom Mary the Theotokos delivered from prison, and whose precious head hath shone forth like the sun.

O venerable fathers of Athos, regiment of the Queen of heaven, who with her help have vanquished the princes of darkness, have mortified the flesh, have revived the spirit and received the divine activity of grace: Cease ye never to pray for us to the Lord!

Rejoice, honored Monastery of Vatopedi, who art enriched by the twelve martyred monks who courageously denounced the Latin-minded Emperor Michael and Patriarch John! For they were given over to death by hanging and have received twofold crowns from God.

Be glad, O honored Monastery of Iveron, for thou hast offered many of thy children to God as martyred monks, who were cast into the depths of the sea because they denounced with valiant mind the heresy of the Latin-minded.

Leap up and rejoice also, thou Monastery of Zographou, who hast offered to the Lord thy sons, the twenty-four godly martyred monks, who valorously put to shame the machinations of the Latin-minded, and whose lives were ended in fire like a sacred immolation.

And thou, O Karyes, honored center of fasting, dance now and rejoice, for thou also hast offered to Christ thy children, the steadfast martyred monks, who were beheaded by the sword because they defended the dogmas of the fathers and set at nought the falsehood of the Latins.

Glory…: Triadicon: O most Holy and worshipful Trinity, accept those whom Mount Athos offereth to Thee as chosen firstfruits, who have been pleasing unto Thee in times past and in the latter days, known by name or unknown; and through their supplications keep us all from all harm.

Rejoice, O glorious Mount Athos, who hast as intercessors the God-bearing fathers who shone forth on thee! And celebrating their joyous festival with thine inhabitants, honor thou the council of thy saints!

Rejoice, O Ever-virgin, seeing the fulfillment of thy prophecy that Mount Athos would become holy! For the fathers who struggled in asceticism thereon, whom we honor today, have truly been shown to be saints, sealing thy prophecy in deed, O Maiden.

Great Doxology. Resurrectional troparion alone. Litanies and dismissal.