A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man…”, the entire kathisma.
Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone —
After “Now lettest Thou Thy servant…”, the troparion: “Virgin Theotokos, rejoice…”, twice; and the troparion of the venerable fathers, once, in Tone I —
A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
At “Lord, I have cried…”, 10 stichera: 4 for the resurrection, from the Octoechos; and 6 for the venerable fathers: 3 in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…” —
Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone —
Troparion, in Tone IV —
A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
O assemblies of monastics and laymen, come ye together and hold a splendid festival; for, behold! all the venerable ones who have fasted on Mouth Athos have summoned us all to spiritual joy, setting before us the struggles, sufferings and feats which they undertook in manner transcending nature.
Now & ever..., from the Pentecostarion or Theotokion; or this Stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel: “Rejoice...” —
Glory..., in Tone V —
Let us bless as is meet the company of the venerable, the choirs of monastics who shone forth on Mount Athos and have illumined all creation: the truly fragrant flowers, the beautiful trees of the Athonite orchard, unwithering and fruitful, the ever-flowing rivers of spiritual gifts.
Now & ever..., Theotokion; or this Stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel: “O most glorious wonder...” —
A Reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah
As befitteth sons, let us praise our honored fathers: the incorporeal ones in bodies, the godly men, the fiery pillars of Athos, who stand with love and joy around the pure Mother of God, as she was seen in a divine vision.
Now & ever…: the Dogmatic Theotokion in the tone of the week.
A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
And 3 stichera, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “Rejoice, boast of fasters…” —
Now & ever...: Theotokion, in Tone V —
A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon
Rejoice, O ye multitude of the venerable fathers of Athos, regiment of the Queen of heaven, who by the remembrance of God vanquished all the princes of darkness and cruel authorities, who mortified the flesh and gave life to the spirit, who quenched the burning embers of the passions with the outpouring of your tears! Having attained divine activity, entreat Christ the Lord, that He grant great mercy to our souls.
Glory..., Now & ever…: in the same tone —
Rejoice, O ye multitude of the venerable, who, shining forth from the Mountain like beacons and illumining the whole world with the splendors of spiritual gifts and divine virtues, have shown yourselves to be stars of great brilliance, making Athos another heaven and dispelling all the darkness of the demons. O heavenly men and earthly angels, honored habitations of the All-holy Trinity — the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, — entreat Christ the Savior, that He grant great mercy to our souls.
Rejoice, ye multitude of the venerable, storehouses of the virtues, treasuries of humility, sweet workhouses of constant prayer, comely assemblies of meekness, suns of discernment, wellsprings of compunction and twofold love, for God and neighbor: Entreat Christ, that He grant our souls great mercy.
Glory…, in Tone VI —
Today the honored celebration of the fathers of Athos, hath shone forth more splendidly than the skies bedecked with stars, illumining the thoughts of those who love the feasts of the Church. Come, then, ye inhabitants of the Holy Mountain, and with hymns of praise let us glorify them, saying: Rejoice, ye who vanquished the incorporeal demons and on earth emulated the angels in your life! Rejoice, inhabitants and citizens of Athos, who pray most mightily for all the world! Rejoice, O our intercessors before God, our manifold benefactors and guardians! Entreat ye the Lord, that our souls find mercy!
Now & ever…: the Dogmaticon in the tone of the Octoechos.
Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three readings:
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. Those who 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.
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.
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.
At the Litia, these stichera —
In Tone I: Rejoice in the Lord, O holy Mount Athos, thou noetical and beauteous paradise! For, lo! at the foot thy mountains ever-blooming and fragrant lilies have blossomed forth, and in thy vales and by thy shores trees of goodly foliage have grown up, bringing forth immortal fruits of the Spirit. Wherefore, having gathered both monastics and laymen within thyself, keep gladsome festival, and cry out with thanksgiving to thy Mistress and helper: I magnify thee, O Theotokos, who hast exalted me and given to my children the venerable fathers, by whose supplications they are ever protected and receive great mercy from thy Son.
O venerable fathers, who undertook feats of fasting on this mountain, from your youth ye took up the Cross of the Lord, whereby the world was crucified to you, and ye to the world. For some of you cut yourselves off from it sensibly, and others died in mind thereto. Wherefore, understanding the twofold activity of the Cross, ye made a twofold ascent of the spiritual ladder, by act and vision, and attained the perfection proper to man; and now ye are glorified by Christ in the heavens, for Whom ye also suffered. Beseech Him in behalf of our souls.
In Tone II: Come, ye assemblies of monastics, and as is meet let us honor today the memory of the holy fathers; for they established in this uninhabited place sacred monasteries and divers churches, and, as solicitous fathers, have bequeathed to us their teachings and rules as an inheritance. As dutiful sons, O brethren, let us therefore preserve our patrimony intact: let us not permit it to lie idle, like the barren fig-tree, but, looking to the end of our instructors’ life, let us emulate their faith and their struggles, that with them we may receive everlasting good things.
O divinely wise fathers, ye emulated the life of Moses and Elijah in the wilderness, and received their vision of God as is meet; for ye lived on Mount Athos, as on Sinai and Horeb, and were vouchsafed, as far as man is able, to see, not with the sight of your eyes or with the comprehension of your mind, the invisible and incomprehensible God, Whom Moses perceived in the dark cloud of fire and Elijah in the voice of the still, small breeze. And now, contemplating the Trinity in Unity and the Unity in Trinity, not as in the reflection of a glass or in the vision of a dream, but directly, O venerable fathers, pray ye in behalf of our souls.
In Tone III: Let us praise the fathers of Athos, who are like a lyre with four strings, comprising the venerable, the holy hierarchs, the confessors and martyrs; for, as servants, they kept the commandments to escape punishment; as hired laborers, they cultivated the virtues out of zeal for promised rewards; and, afire with the desire for Him, as sons by grace they pleased God. And now, having become heirs of God in the heavens and co-heirs with Christ, they pray for our souls.
Glory…, in Tone IV —
Come ye, let us bless today the annual commemoration of the God-bearing fathers on Athos. In that they all truly trod the paths of the Lord to blessedness. For, having impoverished themselves in spirit, they have become rich in the kingdom of heaven; having been meek, they have inherited the land of the meek; having wept, they have been comforted; having hungered for righteousness, they have been filled; and having been merciful, they have found mercy; pure of heart, they have seen God, as far as such is possible; having acted as peace-makers, they have been counted worthy of divine adoption; persecuted and tortured for the sake of righteousness and piety, they now rejoice and are glad in the heavens, and earnestly entreat the Lord, that our souls find mercy.
In thy mercy, O Lady, cease not to care for thy servants, who with faith come beneath thy mighty protection; and help and save us all, that we may continually glorify thee, the Mother of compassions, who sendest down great mercy upon the faithful.
On the Aposticha, the stichera of the resurrection in the tone of the Octoechos; and Glory…, in Tone VIII —
Who can recount your struggles, O most blessed fathers? Who can worthily praise your fasting, the vigilant soaring aloft of your mind in unceasing prayers, the irresistible call of your conscience to the virtues, your mortification of the flesh, your war against the passions, your standing all night, your ever-flowing tears, your humble-mindedness, and your victories over the demons, the multitudes of your spiritual gifts, how ye stood firmly for piety in the face of all, even to the shedding of your blood and to death? Wherefore, O ever-memorable ones, ye have been crowned as victors by Christ. Pray ye earnestly for us who honor your holy memory with faith.
O unwedded Virgin who ineffably conceived God in the flesh, Mother of God Most High: Accept the entreaties of thy servants, O most immaculate one, granting unto all cleansing of transgressions; and, accepting now our supplications, pray thou that we all be saved.
In hymns let us honor the fathers of the wilderness of Athos, the angels in the flesh, the confessors and the venerable, holy hierarchs and martyrs; and, emulating their virtues, let us cry aloud, saying: Glory to Him who hath glorified you! Glory to Him Who hath crowned you! Glory to Him Who hath shown you to be our intercessors amid tribulations!
On “Lord, I have cried...,” 6 stichera: 3 in Tone II: Spec. Mel: “When from the Tree...” —
Wholly didst thou bring thyself to Him Who gave thee perfect life, O most blessed one, as a living and animate whole-burnt offering, a sacrifice most pure and well-pleasing. Wherefore, thou hast become a right acceptable intercessor, rescuing from the tempest all who hymn thee with faith and call upon thee, O martyr Theodore.
Diligently didst thou cultivate the seed of the Word which was sown in thy soul, and thou didst increase it through the pangs of thy suffering; and wisely laid up in the granaries of heaven, thou didst find incorruptible delight, wherein now revelling, O blessed one, by thy mediations before Christ save those who hymn thee with faith.
O martyr and passion-bearer of Christ, by thine entreaties save those who are in divers needs, repelling every evil circumstance, driving away soul-destroying grief, and beseeching mercy and grace for us, that, saved by thy supplications, we may hymn thine honored struggles, rejoicing, O Theodore.
And 3 in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “As one valiant among the martyrs...” —
A courageous athlete, an invincible warrior wast thou shown to be by the Holy Spirit, casting down the adversary with the wisdom of thy words and wisely by patient manifestations of thy deeds. Wherefore, thou hast received crowns of victory and hast been joined to the choirs on high, O great martyr Theodore.
A pillar of godly piety wast thou, O thou who art most rich, detesting the temples of the impious, brought as a most perfect lamb and an acceptable immolation unto Him Who was blamelessly sacrificed for thy sake, Who glorified thy holy memory, and bestowed thee as a treasury of miracles upon those who are in the world, O Theodore.
Lifted up upon a cross, thy flesh lacerated, wounded with sharp arrows, beset with pain through all manner of the tormentors’ skills, thou wast shown to be unbowed and invincible through the power of Him Who was nailed to the Cross, O Theodore, glory of the martyrs.
Today hath the honored memory of Christ’s passion-bearer shone forth more brightly than the morning star, invisibly illumining the hearts of the faithful and dispelling the clouds from their souls through the activity of the grace of the Spirit. To Him let us cry out, O ye who love the martyrs: O thou divinely bestowed grace who hath been revealed to the faithful, who spreadest forth multitudes of miracles upon those who flee unto thee, O blessed Theodore: Unceasingly entreating Christ, fail not to obtain eternal blessings for those who honor thy memory with faith.
Once the Ewe-lamb, beholding her Lamb hastening to the slaughter, followed earnestly, crying out these words to Him: “Whither goest Thou, O Christ my Child most sweet? Wherefore runnest Thou this swift course so diligently, O Thou Who art long-suffering? O Jesus most desired, sinless, most merciful Lord: grant a word unto me, Thy handmaid, O my most beloved Son. Spurn not in silence her who gave Thee birth in manner most strange, O compassionate, most compassionate God, Who grantest the world great mercy.”
At the Aposticha, the stichera from the Octoechos, and Glory...: idiomelon, in Tone VIII —
O all ye faithful, as is meet let us bless the great and noble martyr Theodore, as the namesake of God’s gifts and the heir of His blessedness, the champion of the world, for he entreateth Christ God in behalf of our souls.
“I cannot bear, O my Child, to behold Thee dying upon the Tree, O Thou Who givest courage unto all, that Thou mightest give divine and saving courage unto those who of old fell into the sleep of perdition through the fruit of disobedience,” weeping, said the Virgin, whom we magnify.
Through true recruitment didst thou become a most comely general of the heavenly King, O passion-bearer Theodore; for with the weaponry of faith thou didst wisely array thyself, didst vanquish legions of demons and didst show thyself forth as a victorious athlete. Wherefore, we ever bless thee with faith.
After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man…”, the full kathisma.
On “Lord, I have cried…”, we chant 10 stichera: 4 for the resurrection, in Tone I, and 6 of the saints —
In Tone I: Come, ye assemblies of Russia, let us praise the saints that are in our land — the venerable, the holy hierarchs, the right-believing princes, the martyrs, hieromartyrs, the fools for Christ’s sake, and the company of holy women — both those known by name and those unknown; for truly by their deeds and words, and their manifold ways of life, and through the gifts of God, they became saints, and God hath glorified even their graves with miracles. And now, standing directly before Christ Who hath glorified them, they pray fervently in behalf of us who celebrate their splendid festival with love.
In Tone II: With what beauties of hymnody shall we praise the divinely wise hierarchs of Russia, the splendid adornment of the Church of Christ, the crown of the priesthood, the rule of piety, the inexhaustible wellsprings of divine healing, the outpouring of the gifts of the Spirit, the rivers of manifold miracles which gladden the land of Russia with their flow, the fervent helpers of pious folk, for whose sake Christ, Who hath great mercy, hath cast down the uprisings of the enemy.
In Tone VIII: Earth is glad and heaven rejoiceth, O venerable fathers, praising your feats and labors, your spiritual fortitude and purity of mind; for ye were not overcome by the law of nature. O holy company and divine assembly, ye are truly the confirmation of our land.
In the same tone: Spec. Mel.: “O most glorious wonder…” — O blessed and divinely wise princes of Russia, who shine forth with Orthodox loving-kindness and are resplendent with the brilliance of the virtues: Ye illumine all the faithful, driving away the darkness of the demons. Wherefore, we honor you as partakers of never-waning grace and unashamed preservers of your heritage, O right wondrous ones.
O all-blessed martyrs of Christ, ye gave yourselves over to voluntary sacrifice, have sanctified the land of Russia with your blood, and have brought splendor even unto the air by your repose; and now ye dwell in the heavens amid never-waning light, ever praying in our behalf, O beholders of God.
The corrections of your virtues have enlightened the hearts of the faithful, O fools for Christ’s sake and ye righteous, who have shone forth in Russia; for who hath heard of your boundless humility and forbearance, and doth not marvel? The needs of all did ye anticipate, O right-wondrous ones: ye were an example of meekness and guilelessness for all, of pity for the sorrowful, of speedy aid to those in misfortune, an untroubled haven for those at sea, and good speed for travellers. And now ye have been crowned with unfading wreaths by the hand of the omnipotent God. Him do ye entreat, that our souls be saved.
Glory…, in Tone V —
Rejoice, O faithful realm of Russia! Rejoice, O right-believing Prince Vladimir most rich! Rejoice, O chosen Olga! For ye were our first mediators before the Master of all, the initiators of Orthodoxy, and guides to the True Faith! Rejoice, every place and land and city nurtured by the citizens of the kingdom of heaven! These saints have been shown to be beacons for our souls! With the radiance of miracles, and by deeds and signs, they have shone forth mystically upon all the ends of the earth. And they now entreat Christ for the salvation of our souls.
Entrance. Prokimenon: “The Lord is King…” Three readings —
All the nations are gathered together, and princes shall be gathered out of them. Who will declare these things, or who will let them bring forth their witnesses, and be justified; and let them hear, and declare the truth? Be ye My witnesses, and I too am a witness, saith the Lord God, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know, and believe, and understand that I am he: before Me there was no other God, and after Me there shall be none. I am God; and beside Me there is no Savior. I have declared, and have saved; I have reproached, and there was no strange god among you. Ye are My witnesses, and I am the Lord God, even from the beginning: and there is none that can deliver out of My hands. I will work, and who shall turn it back? Thus saith the Lord God Who redeemeth you, the Holy One of Israel.
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 forever. Those who 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.
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 instead of a helmet. He shall take holiness 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 fly to the mark. And hailstones full of wrath shall 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 of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Most High.
At the Litia, the sticheron of the temple, and these stichera of the saints, in Tone VIII —
Rejoice with us, all ye choirs of saints and ranks of angels, spiritually gathered together; and let us come and chant a hymn of thanksgiving unto Christ our God. For, lo! the countless assembly of our kinsmen, who have been well-pleasing unto God, standeth before the King of glory, and with entreaty mediateth for us. They are the pillars and beauty of the Orthodox Faith; they have glorified the Church of God with their ascetic feats and the shedding of their blood, with their teachings and deeds; they have confirmed the Faith of Christ with miracles and signs; they have shone forth from all the regions of our land, have established the Orthodox Faith therein, and with apostolic zeal have brought it even unto other lands. Others have adorned the wilderness and the cities with holy monasteries, manifesting an angelic life. Many have been subjected to trials through mockery, wounding and cruel death by the children of this age. And many have struggled in other ways, in every class. And all pray to the Lord, that He deliver our homeland from tribulations, and provide us with a model of patience and endurance in the face of evil.
All the noetic ranks rejoice with us, joining in spiritual chorus. They have seen the Queen and Mistress of all, glorified by the faithful with many names. And all the souls of the righteous, beholders of the sight, rejoice to see her in the air, stretching forth her most precious hands in supplication, entreating peace for the world, confirmation for the land of Russia, and salvation for our souls.
At the Aposticha, the stichera of the Resurrection, in the tone of the week; and Glory…, in Tone IV —
Celebrating the yearly commemoration of our holy kinsmen, let us call them blessed, as is meet; for they have truly passed through all the beatitudes of the Lord: impoverished, they have become rich in spirit; being meek, they have inherited the land of the meek; having wept, they have found comfort; having thirsted after righteousness, they have been filled; having had mercy upon others, they have themselves found mercy ; pure of heart, they have seen God, as far as such is possible; peace-makers, they have been counted worthy of adoption by God; and persecuted and tormented for piety and righteousness’ sake, they now rejoice and are glad in the heavens; and they earnestly entreat the Lord, that He have pity on our homeland.
Let us sound the clarion of hymns! Together let us chant unto the Theotokos and Queen, the helper of our land: Rejoice, O thou who from ages past hast crowned our homeland with thy benevolence and pourest forth thy grace thereon! Wherefore, our Church of Russia doth celebrate with splendor thine all-honored protecting veil and the memory of thy miracles wrought thereby. Take not thy mercy away from us now, O Mistress; but look down upon our sorrows and oppression, and raise us up by thy mighty assistance.
After the blessing of the loaves, we chant: “O Virgin Theotokos, rejoice…”, thrice; and the troparion of the saints, once, in Tone VIII —
The land of Russia doth offer Thee, O Lord, all the saints who have shone forth in it, as the beauteous fruit of Thy salvific splendor. By their supplications and through the Theotokos preserve Thou the Church and our land in peace profound, O most Merciful One.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.