AT MATINS

Canon of the resurrection, with 4 troparia, including its irmos; canon of the Theotokos, with 2 troparia; and 2 canons of the saints, with a total of 8 troparia —

“Having beheld the resurrection of Christ…” Psalm 50. Glory…: Through the prayers of the apostles… Now & ever…: Through the prayers of the Theotokos… Have mercy on me, O God… Jesus having risen from the tomb…

Then the Evlogitaria: “Blessed art Thou, O Lord… The council of angels…; Hypacoï of the tone, and these sessional hymns of the saints —

After the kathismata of the Psalter, the resurrectional sessional hymns, with their refrains and theotokia.

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone —

At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the resurrection, twice; Glory…: the troparion of the venerable fathers; Now & ever…: the theotokion: “When Gabriel announced to thee: ‘Rejoice!’…”

After the Polyeleos, this magnification —

At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the resurrection, twice; Glory…, the troparion of the saints; Now & ever…: the Theotokion:

We bless you, O venerable fathers of Athos, who fasted on that mountain, and we honor your holy memory, O instructors of monks and conversors with the angels.

Then, the troparia [eulogitaria]: “The assembly of the angels…”

Selected Psalm Verses —

Hypacoï, and these sessional hymns of the saints —

A With patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive unto me, and He hearkened unto my supplication. [Ps. 39: 2]

In Tone VIII: Having been illumined with the lightning-flashes of the saints, as though entering a beautiful paradise we have found delight in a torrent of sweetness; and gazing in wonder at their valorous feats, let us come to love their virtues, crying out to the Savior: Through their supplications, O God, give us a share in Thy kingdom!

B He set my feet upon a rock, and He ordered my steps aright. [Ps. 39: 3]

In Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…” —

A Lo, I have fled afar off and have dwelt in the wilderness. [Ps. 54: 8]

Like the radiant sun, like the brilliant morning-star, hath the honored day of the memorial of the saints who have shone forth in the land of Russia dawned, illumining all of us and rousing our hearts to emulate their godly life and their zeal for the Faith.

B I am become like a pelican of the wilderness. [Ps. 101: 7]

Glory…, in Tone VIII —

A I have watched, and am like a sparrow that sitteth alone upon the housetop. [Ps. 101: 8]

All the faithful people of Russia celebrate on the day of the commemoration of Thy saints, O Lord. The heavens rejoice and the ends of our earth are glad. Through their supplications grant unto our souls great mercy.

B My knees are grown weak through fasting. [Ps. 108: 24]

Now & ever…, in the same tone —

A And my flesh is changed for want of oil. [Ps. 108: 24]

Looking down from the highest, O most merciful Master, visit us who have been afflicted by sin, taking unto thyself the wretched; and through the supplications of the Theotokos and all the saints of Russia, grant unto our souls great mercy.

B With tears will I water my couch. [Ps. 6: 4]

The Hymn of Ascents of the tone of the week.

A For many dogs have encircled me, the congregation of evil doers hath surrounded me. [Ps. 21: 17]

Prokimenon of the tone of the week.

B They have bent their bow, a bitter thing. [Ps. 63: 4]

Let every breath praise the Lord.

A That they may shoot in secret at the blameless man. [Ps. 63: 4]

Gospel of the Resurrection.

B I beheld the Lord ever before me, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. [Ps. 15: 8]

Canon of the Resurrection in the tone of the week, with 4 troparia, including its Irmos; that of the Theotokos, with 2 troparia; and that of the Saints, with 8 troparia.

A All the nations compassed me round about, and by the name of the Lord I warded them off. [Ps. 117: 10]

B Blessed be the Lord Who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth. [Ps. 123: 6]

A Let all Thy works, O Lord, give praise to Thee. [Ps. 144: 10]

B And let the righteous ones bless Thee. [Ps. 144: 10]

A Know also that the Lord hath made wondrous His righteous one. [Ps. 4: 4]

B He hath labored forever, and shall live to the end. [Ps. 48: 9-10]

A The Lord preserveth the souls of His saints. [Ps. 96: 10]

B The saints shall boast in glory and shall rejoice upon their beds. [Ps. 149: 5]

A Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. [Ps. 115: 6]

B Chant unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. [Ps. 29: 5]

Glory…, Now & ever…

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice

In Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…” —

Having shone forth like the morning star, the precious memory of the fathers of Athos illumineth the inhabitants of that mountain like the radiant sun and warmeth the hearts of monastics, inspiring them to emulate their life of asceticism and zeal for the faith of Christ.

In Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “Rejoice…” —

How beauteous is your company, O thrice-blessed fathers! It delighteth the hearts of the faithful and maketh spiritually glad the assemblies of monastics of the Holy Mountain. Pray for us, we entreat you, O saints, that we may be delivered from misfortunes and sorrows, from every evil circumstance and from everlasting torment which is to come.

Glory…, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the wisdom of the Word…” —

Loving the God of all with all their soul, the fathers who fasted on Athos offered up their spiritual struggles in solitude; and, fervently loving their neighbor, they erected honorable temples in divers places on that mountain, wherein assembling multitudes of laymen, they made of the Holy Mountain a city. To them, therefore, let us cry out: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who honor your holy memory with love.

Thy Son, O Virgin, is Christ, the Son of God, the only Mediator for all Christians. And thou, O all-pure one, art a Mother most sweet and a helper for those who dwell on the Holy Mountain; for thou didst receive it from thy Son as thy portion. Wherefore, take pity on us, thy faithful children and servants, O Mistress, beseeching thy Son and our God, that He grant us remission of the transgressions we have committed in word, deed and thought.

Song of Ascents of the tone of the Octoechos. Prokimenon of the tone.

“Let every breath praise the Lord…”

Resurrectional Gospel.

Both canons from the Octoechos, without the martyrica; and the canon of the greatmartyr, with 6 troparia, the acrostic whereof is: “With divine praises I hymn thee who art the namesake of divine gifts,” the composition of Theophanes, in Tone IV —

O Good One, Who for our sake wast born of the Virgin and, having endured crucifixion, cast down death by death, and as God revealed the resurrection: disdain not that which Thou hast fashioned with Thine own hand. Show forth Thy love for mankind, O Merciful One; accept the Theotokos who gave Thee birth and prayeth for us; and save Thy despairing people, O our Savior!

After the kathismata, the sessional hymns of the resurrection, in the tone of the week, with their stichoi and theotokia.

After the Polyeleos, the Magnification —

We magnify you, O all ye saints who have shone forth in the land of Russia, and we honor your holy memory; for ye entreat Christ our God in our behalf.

Selected Psalm Verses —

A Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world. [Ps. 48: 2]

B My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. [Ps. 48: 4]

A Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. [Ps. 33: 12]

B I have proclaimed the good tidings of Thy righteousness in the great congregation. [Ps. 39: 10]

A Thy truth and Thy salvation have I declared. [Ps. 39: 11]

B I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I hymn Thee. [Ps. 21: 23]

A That I may hear the voice of Thy praise, and tell of all Thy wondrous works. [Ps. 25: 7]

B O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. [Ps. 25: 8]

A I have hated the congregation of evil-doers, and with the ungodly will I not sit. [Ps. 25: 5]

B For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and I have not acted impiously toward my God. [Ps. 17: 22]

A The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak of judgment. [Ps. 36: 30]

B His righteousness abideth unto ages of ages. [Ps. 110: 3]

A Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice. [Ps. 131: 9]

B Blessed are those who dwell in Thy house; unto ages of ages shall they praise Thee. [Ps. 83: 5]

Glory…, Now & ever…, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice .

Psalm 50. Glory…: Through the prayers of the apostles… Now & ever…: Through the prayers of the Theotokos… And the stichera of repentance and the resurrection.