Tone VI

Saturday

Friday Evening at Vespers

On “Lord, I have cried…”: 3 stichera of the holy martyrs, hierarchs and the venerable, in Tone VI: Special Melody: “Having set aside…”—

Stichos: If Thou shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, O Lord, who shall stand? For with Thee there is forgiveness.

Walking in the footsteps of the sufferings of Christ, the whole company of the martyrs went down mightily to many struggles. They confessed Him as God before ungodly tyrants and iniquitous kings, and endured many tortures, hoping to receive heavenly honors. These they now behold, rejoicing, and they stand with all the choirs of the incorporeal hosts before the Lord.

Stichos: For Thy name’s sake have I patiently waited for Thee, O Lord; my soul hath waited patiently for Thy word, my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

O most sacred shepherds, ye were emulators of the Christ, the Chief Shepherd, and preserved utterly unharmed the divinely chosen flock, the divine treasures of piety, driving away the wild wolves; and ye brought them well into the fold of heaven. As ye make your abode there, remember those who praise you with love, and pray ye with boldness unto Christ in behalf of our souls.

Stichos: From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch let Israel hope in the Lord.

O all ye venerable fathers, who lived in holiness, ye vanquished the demons; and extinguishing torments of conscience, ye valiantly endured the burning of the passions, O blessed ones, and rejoice now with the heavenly hosts; for in the flesh ye emulated the life of those incorporeal beings. With them entreat Christ, the all-good God, that we who honor you may find deliverance from our falls.

Then the stichera for the saint, from the Menaion; or if there is no Menaion, these stichera of the martyrs, in the same tone & melody—

Stichos: For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plenteous redemption; and He shall redeem Israel out of all his iniquities.

Thy martyrs did not deny Thee, O Lord, nor did they depart from Thy commandments. Through their supplications have mercy on us.

Stichos: O praise the Lord, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye peoples.

The foregoing sticheron is repeated.

Stichos: For He hath made His mercy to prevail over us, and the truth of the Lord abideth forever.

O martyred passion-bearers, citizens of heaven, who suffered on the earth, ye endured many torments. By their supplications and entreaty, O Lord, preserve us all.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion—

Who doth not call thee blessed, O all-holy Virgin? Who will not hymn thine all-pure birthgiving? For the only-begotten Son Who shone forth timelessly from the Father, came forth, ineffably incarnate, from thee, the pure one; and being God by nature, He became man for our sake, not divided into two Persons, but known in two natures without confusion. Him do thou beseech, O pure and most blessed one, that our souls find mercy!

Then, O gladsome Light…; the Prokimenon of the day; and Vouchsafe, O Lord…

Aposticha stichera, in Tone VI—

Martyrica: They who suffered for Thy sake, O Christ, endured many torments and have received perfect crowns in the heavens. Let them pray in behalf of our souls.

Thy Cross was the invincible weapon of the martyrs, O Lord; for they looked upon imminent death, foreseeing the life which is to come, and they were strengthened by hope in Thee. By their supplications have mercy on us!

Nekrosimon: Thy creating command was my beginning and foundation; for, desiring to fashion me into a living being out of that which is invisible and that which is visible, Thou didst form my body out of earth, and didst give me a soul by Thy divine and life-creating breath. Wherefore, grant rest unto Thy servants, O Christ, in the land of the living, in the habitations of the righteous.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

O Christ, through the prayers of her who gave Thee birth, of Thy martyrs and apostles, the prophets and holy hierarchs, the venerable, the righteous and all the saints, grant rest to Thy departed servants.

Then, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…; Trisagion through Our Father…; Troparia. Litany, and Dismissal. 

Friday Night at Compline

Canon of Supplication to the All-Holy Theotokos 

Ode I

Irmos: A helper and protector hath He been unto me for my salvation. He is my God, and I shall glorify Him. He is the God of my fathers, and I shall exalt Him, for gloriously hath He been glorified.

Reject me not, O good one, neither abominate nor despise me who with fervor hasten beneath thy lovingkindness, O pure one, but grant that I may share in the grace which resideth in thee.

O good Theotokos, helper of the sorrowful, accept the sighing which issueth forth from my soul, and deliver me from all the shameless evils I have grievously committed.

Glory…: Before thee do I fall down, O good one, thou intercessor for the troubled. From everlasting fire, from darkness and the abyss deliver me who have lived my whole life in evil.

Now & ever…: Woe is me! How can I who have sinned before Thee without measure entreat Thee, O my Jesus? Yet do I offer Thee as mediatress the pure one who gave Thee birth. Have mercy and save me!

Ode III

Irmos: On the rock of Thy commandments, O Lord, establish Thou mine unsteady heart, for Thou alone art our holy Lord.

I fall down before thee, O Mother of the Word. In thy compassion accept me, and by thy fervent entreaties grant forgiveness of transgressions unto me who beseech thee.

Have mercy upon me, O Mistress, have mercy upon me, and deliver me from all wickedness, from the oppression of the demons and everlasting torment.

Glory…: Restrain me who am besotted with the bitterness of lusts, O Mistress, granting me the divine sobriety of repentance and saving conversion.

Now & ever…: O Theotokos who ineffably gavest birth to the Lord and Creator of all things, entreat Him to save thy flock.

Ode IV

Irmos: The prophet heard of Thine advent, O Lord, and was afraid, for Thou didst desire to be born of the Virgin and reveal Thyself to men; and he said: “I heard report of Thee and was afraid. Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Constantly picking at the sores brought upon my soul by sensuality, and in pain from the stripes they cause me, I lie insensate and unhealed. O Theotokos, have mercy and heal me, and save me by thy supplications.

The darkness of sin hath covered my soul, O Theotokos, so that I go about in the light as though it were night, not knowing the commandments of Christ. O thou who gavest birth to the divine Light, have mercy upon me and enlighten me, I pray.

Glory…: The Word of the living God descended into thy womb, O Virgin Mother and, receiving my substance through thine all-pure blood, He cometh forth in two natures, but a single hypostasis. Him do thou beseech, that He save our souls.

Now & ever…: I have avidly gone through the desires of the body and all the pleasures, and have become wholly corrupt, vile and abominable. O all-pure Theotokos, have mercy, and save me in thy lovingkindness.

Ode V

Irmos: Enlighten me who rise at dawn out of the night, I pray, O Thou Who lovest mankind, and guide me in Thy precepts; and teach me to do Thy will, O Savior.

I have kindled for myself the fire of Gehenna, doing that which is shameful, and have grievously brought upon myself the wrath of God. Help me, O pure one, and forsake me not.

Though I am ever asking the remission of my transgressions, yet do I never cease to commit the most wicked deeds, O all-pure one, and I offend thee. O purification of the faithful, have pity on me!

Glory…: O pure one, entreat Jesus, to Whom thou gavest birth through thy blood—perfect man and true God—that we be delivered from everlasting fire.

Now & ever…: O impassable gate, open unto me the portals of true repentance, I pray, and show me the path of penitence, O pure one, thou guide of all.

Ode VI

Irmos: With all my heart I cry out to the compassionate God, and He heard my cry from the uttermost depths of hades, and hath led my life up from corruption.

Waves of shameful thoughts now engulf me; yet do thou guide me to the calm harbor of true repentance by thy lovingkindness, O Mistress.

Having acquired thee as our hope and insuperable rampart, our steadfast intercessor, O Maiden, we are delivered from transgressions and grievous passions, and from all harm.

Glory…: O pure Virgin Theotokos, I fall down before thee and cry out in lamentation: Deliver my wretched soul from the judgment which is to come, and from everlasting fire.

Now & ever…: In thy supplications thou art the strength of those who are faint of soul, O all-pure one; wherefore, disdain me not, but heal me who am sick of soul.

Then, Lord, have mercy! Thrice. Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn, in Tone VI—

In the lovingkindness of Thy compassions Thou didst come down to earth, O Christ, and, becoming incarnate of the Virgin, Thou didst sanctify all on earth and call them all to heaven; wherefore, trusting in Thee, we no longer sin, but are freed from cares by Thee: for Thou art our Savior, Creator and God.

Ode VII

Irmos: We have sinned, we have committed iniquity, we have dealt unjustly before Thee. We have neither done nor acted as Thou hast commanded us. But forsake us not utterly, O God of our fathers.

When mine accursed soul will have to endure separation from my body, there will be no one to deliver or comfort it. Then do thou stand forth, O Mistress, and deliver me from the oppression of the demons.

I fall down before thee and offer thee fervent teardrops. I know thy love for mankind, I know thy long-suffering and guilelessness: have mercy now upon me, O pure one; forgive me and save me.

Glory…: O Virgin, have mercy on my wretched soul which is beset by the passions. Look upon the tumult of my passions, look upon the inconstant burning of my flesh, and grant me thy saving help and salvation.

Now & ever…: The Son and Word, Who is consubstantial and equally unoriginate with the Father, received of thee flesh like thine, though immutably noetic and animate in a way He Himself knew; and therein He hath refashioned our nature into something higher, O pure Virgin.

Ode VIII

Irmos: Let every creature that hath breath hymn, bless and supremely exalt for all ages Him Whom the armies of heaven glorify and before Whom the cherubim and seraphim tremble.

I am at a loss when I consider my acts, and I tremble before the dread tribunal of the Judge. What answer shall I give at that time, wretch that I am? O Mistress of the world, be thou my helper.

Turn not thy face away from me, O Mistress, when I gaze upon thine image, but be merciful unto me, and avert from me the sentence which will be pronounced.

Glory…: O Bride of God, Mary who knewest not wedlock, deliver me, thy servant, from all the harm of the wicked one, I cry to thee, and at the coming trial stand before me as advocate, O thou who alone art the intercessor for Christians.

Now & ever…: That He might deify men, O Mistress, thy Son manifested Himself as a perfect man through thee; wherefore, beseech Him, that He show me forth as wholly purified, a partaker in His divine kingdom.

Ode IX

Irmos: O Virgin who received the angel’s salutation and gavest birth to thine own Creator, save those who magnify thee.

Thou alone art the intercessor for men, O all-pure one; thou art the bulwark of Christians, O pure one. Thee do I now set before Christ as a mediator for me, the lowly one, that by thy supplications He may have mercy on me, the accursed.

I have done the deeds of the night, and the night of tortures is rightly now about to cover me, the vain one, and the retribution of hell to receive me; but as thou gavest birth to God the Judge, O pure Virgin, deliver me from all torment.

Glory…: The time of my life have I wasted in evils. I have drawn nigh unto the gates of hell, but in nowise desire to enter therein. Help me, O good Theotokos, for I have set my hope on thee.

Now & ever…: O right loving Mistress, adornment of the angels and glory of the martyrs, with them pray that we find mercy and remission of our debts, and help us all to finish well the race of our life in doing good.

Then, It is truly meet…, and a prostration. Trisagion through Our Father…Troparion, and the rest as usual. Dismissal. 

Saturday Morning at Matins

After the first chanting of the Psalter, these Sessional hymns of the martyrs, in Tone VI—

Ever enlightened by Thee, and having extinguished the lamp of the infidels, like lamps the saints always shine forth light upon the righteous. Through their supplications, O our Savior, light Thou my lamp, and save me, O Lord.

Stichos: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.

Having endured the struggle of martyrdom, the saints receive from Thee the honors of victory; they set at naught the intentions of the iniquitous, and have received crowns of incorruption. For their sake be Thou entreated, O God, and grant us great mercy.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

O Thou Who called Thy Mother blessed, Thou didst go to Thy suffering with a free will, and didst shine forth upon the Cross, desiring to seek out Adam. And Thou didst say to the angels: Rejoice with Me, for I have found the lost coin! O our God Who hast ordered all things in Thy wisdom, glory to Thee!

After the second chanting of the Psalter, these Sessional hymns of the martyrs, in Tone VI—

While the choirs of the incorporeal ones stood by, holding trophies of victory, and tyrants and kings were amazed, the all-wise ones showed forth athletes’ opposition at the tribunal and the wounds of torture in their martyrdom; and they cast down the apostate by their confession of Christ. O Lord Who strengthened them, glory to Thee!

Stichos: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.

The memory of Thy saints hath appeared today like the garden of paradise in Eden, O Lord; for therein all creation rejoiceth, and by their supplications Thou grantest us peace and great mercy.

Stichos: Many are the tribulations of the righteous, and the Lord shall deliver them out of them all.

Nekrosimon: Truly all things are vanity; life is but a shadow and a dream: for in vain doth every mortal disquiet himself, as the Scripture hath said. When we acquire the world, then shall we make our abode in the grave, where kings and paupers alike are found. Wherefore, grant rest to Thy departed servants, O Christ God, in that Thou lovest mankind.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

I offer thee sighs from the heart and innermost parts, and I beseech thy help, which easily reconcileth, O most immaculate one, as saith the Scriptures. Have mercy on my most passion-fraught soul, and entreat the greatly merciful God, that He deliver me from judgment and the lake of fire, O only blessed one.

Ode I

Canon of the holy martyrs, hierarchs, the venerable and the departed, 
the composition of Joseph, in Tone VI—

Irmos: The sensual Pharaoh was drowned with all his army, and Israel, crossing through the midst of the sea, cried aloud: Let us chant unto the Lord God, for He hath been glorified!

Having enlightened those in darkness with your radiant intelligence and put to shame the impious tyrants, O martyrs, ye manifestly became victors, and have passed over to the never-waning Light.

Resplendent in the beauties of the virtues, O holy hierarchs of Christ, ye choir of the venerable, O only triumphal procession of the prophets and all the righteous, ye have entered the mansions of heaven.

All the multitude of women who joined themselves unto Christ have with manly labors trampled underfoot him who by grievous deception brought death upon Eve; and they are blessed with divine hymns.

Glory…Nekrosimon: O Christ Who in the beginning formed man out of the earth, in the habitations of the righteous, in places of ease, grant rest to the souls of Thy servants, we pray, in that Thou art all-good.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Thou hast been shown to be more sacred than the cherubim and the seraphim, O pure one who gavest birth to the Author of creation. Him do thou unceasingly entreat, that He have pity on thy servants, who glorify thee.

Another canon, of the departed, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone VI—

Irmos: Traversing the deep on foot, as though it were dry land, and seeing the tyrant Pharaoh drowned, Israel cried aloud: Let us chant unto God a hymn of victory!

Stichos: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.

In the chambers of heaven the valiant martyrs always beseech Thee, O Christ. Grant that the faithful whom Thou hast translated from the earth may receive everlasting good things.

Stichos: Grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants.

O Thou Who hast adorned all things, Thou didst form man’s living substance midway between lowliness and majesty; wherefore, grant rest to the souls of Thy servants, O Savior.

Glory…: In the beginning Thou didst set me to be a dweller and husbandman in the garden of paradise; yet Thou didst eject me, who broke Thy commandment; but grant rest to the souls of Thy servants, O Savior.

Theotokion: He Who of old fashioned our first mother Eve from Adam’s rib is clothed in flesh through thine all-pure womb; and therewith He destroyed the might of death, O pure one.

Ode III

Canon of All Saints

Irmos: Making steadfast the thoughts of my soul, establish me upon the firm rock of Thy Faith, O Lord; for I have Thee as my refuge and confirmation, O Good One.

Subjected to bodily pangs, the athletes looked forward, rejoicing, to a painless reward; and they now allay our many pangs with grace.

Driving away the beasts of evil with steadfast mind, the divine hierarchs delivered the godly children of Christ unharmed by their malice.

Having mortified carnal-mindedness, the choir of the venerable, willingly bowing under the yoke of the Lord, received life everlasting.

Glory…Nekrosimon: From everlasting fire, O Christ, deliver those who have passed from this life in piety, and grant them remission of debts and eternal delight, O Good One.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: The women who loved Christ, surrounding thee who ineffably gavest birth unto Him, O most holy Mistress, dance with joyful mind.

Canon of the Departed

Irmos: There is none as holy as Thee, O Lord my God, Who hast uplifted the horn of Thy faithful and established us on the rock of the confession of Thee, O Good One.

Stichos: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.

Having suffered lawfully and been adorned by Thee with crowns of victory, Thy martyrs, O Bestower of life, earnestly ask that everlasting honor be given unto the faithful who have passed away.

Stichos: Grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants.

Having first with many miracles and signs instructed me, the lost one, in latter times Thou didst abase Thyself as One compassionate; and having searched, Thou didst find and save me.

Glory…: They who come to Thee from the one who poureth forth unstable corruption do Thou cause to dwell joyously in the eternal mansions, O Good One, justifying them by faith and grace.

Theotokion: There is none as immaculate as thee, O all-pure Mother of God; for thou alone didst conceive in thy womb the true God Who is from before the ages, Who hath destroyed the power of death.

Ode IV

Canon of All Saints

Irmos: I heard report of Thee and was afraid; I understood Thy works and was in awe, O Lord. Standing fast, the passion-bearers beheld the prideful one trampled under their feet; and in thanksgiving they glorified the Creator of all things.

Armed with the splendors of words, the holy hierarchs save men from the darkness of heresies, leading them to the light of understanding.

The venerable ones, consuming the material passions with an ardent understanding of God, were shown to be burning coals, and are greatly glorified.

Glory…Nekrosimon: O Lord Who hast dominion over the living and the dead, unto those whom Thou hast taken to Thyself grant rest with all who have been well-pleasing unto Thee.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: O all-pure one, the Lord Who ineffably clothed Himself in flesh from thee hath taken to Himself the company of women who struggled manfully.

Canon of the Departed

Irmos: Christ is my power, my God and my Lord, the honored Church doth sing, crying out in godly manner with a pure mind, keeping festival in the Lord.

Stichos: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.

Revealing knowledge greater than wisdom and the most perfect goodness of spiritual gifts, O Master, Thou didst unite the choirs of the martyrs to the angels.

Stichos: Grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants.

Grant that those who have passed over to Thee may receive Thine all-pure glory, O Christ, where are the dwelling-places of those who are glad and the voice of pure rejoicing.

Glory…: They who hymn Thy divine might do Thou receive, taking them from this earth and making them children of the Light, and cleansing them of the darkness of sin, O greatly Merciful One.

Theotokion: The Master chose thee as the all-pure receptacle, the immaculate temple, the most holy ark, the virginal place of sanctity, the beauty of Jacob.

Ode V

Canon of All Saints

Irmos: O Christ Who shineth Thy light upon the world, illumine the heart of me who cry to Thee out of the night, and save me.

Clothing yourselves in vesture woven of grace from on high, O athletes, ye stripped the enemy naked.

We honor the holy prophets, the divinely wise hierarchs, and the venerable who were well-pleasing unto God.

In psalms and hymns let us praise the company of women, for they were well pleasing unto God.

Glory…Nekrosimon: Enroll Thy servants in the mansions of Thy righteous ones, O Lord, overlooking the offenses they committed in this life.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Thou wast shown to be she who delivereth us from all the harm of the enemy, O Mistress, entreating Christ, Who alone is compassionate.

Canon of the Departed

Irmos: With Thy divine light illumine the souls of those who with love rise at dawn unto Thee, I pray Thee, O Good One, that they may know Thee, O Word of God, to be the true God Who calleth all forth from the darkness of sin.

Stichos: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.

Sacrificing themselves to our glorious God as a sacred wholeburnt offering and the first-fruits of human nature, the martyrs ever win salvation for us.

Stichos: Grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants.

Vouchsafe a sojourn in heaven and generous gifts unto Thy faithful servants who have fallen asleep, O Lord, granting them deliverance from transgressions.

Glory…: O only Compassionate and Immortal One, Who alone art by nature the Bestower of life and the truly unfathomable Abyss of goodness: Vouchsafe Thy kingdom unto those who have fallen asleep.

Theotokion: O Mistress of the world, He Who was born of thee became the might, song and salvation of those who perished, delivering from the gates of hades those who bless thee with faith.

Ode VI

Canon of All Saints

Irmos: Slain by the monster of sin, I cry to Thee, O Christ: Free me from corruption, as Thou didst the prophet.

Ye engulfed the noetic foe with the outpouring of your divine blood; and ye watered the hearts of the faithful, O passion-bearers.

Having crucified yourselves to the world and the passions, O venerable ones, and ye holy hierarchs, ye have been vouchsafed divine glory.

As is meet, we bless the choir of the prophets and the assembly of honorable women, who contended well.

Glory…Nekrosimon: With Thine elect give rest to the souls who have fallen asleep in times past, O God, overlooking their transgressions.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: O thou who gavest birth to Christ in the flesh, slay thou the passions of my flesh, O Virgin, and give life to my soul by thy mediation.

Canon of the Departed

Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, fleeing to Thy calm haven I cry unto Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O greatly Merciful One!

Stichos: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.

Nailed to the Cross, Thou didst gather to Thee the choirs of the martyrs who emulated Thy suffering, O Good One; wherefore, we beseech Thee: Grant rest unto those who have passed over to Thee.

Stichos: Grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants.

When in awesome manner and with ineffable glory Thou shalt come to judge the whole world, O Deliverer, be Thou well-pleased that thy faithful servants, whom Thou hast taken from the earth, may meet Thee in splendor on the clouds.

Glory…: O Master, Who art the well-spring of life, cause Thou to dwell amid the food of paradise Thy servants, who with divine courage have departed unto Thee in faith; and lead up those who were in chains.

Theotokion: Having broken the commandment of God, we returned to the earth; but because of thee, O Virgin, we have been elevated from earth to the heavens, shaking off the corruption of death.

Ode VII

Canon of All Saints

Irmos: O Lord God of our fathers, Who hearkened to the hymnody of Thy venerable children and bedewed the burning furnace: blessed art Thou!

Let us honor with hymns the passion-bearers of Christ, who quenched the flame of cruel ungodliness with the showers of their blood.

Having destroyed the winter of heresies, the right glorious hierarchs proceeded, rejoicing, to the springtime of God.

By patience the ascetics inherited the rich grace of the Spirit and destroyed a multitude of demons.

Glory…Nekrosimon: Vouchsafe, O Compassionate and greatly Merciful One, that those who have passed from this life may inherit the paradise of Thy sustenance.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: He Who showed thee to be a virgin even after giving birth, O pure one, saved the choirs of holy women who followed thee.

Canon of the Departed

Irmos: The Angel caused the furnace to pour forth dew upon the pious youths, and the command of God, which consumed the Chaldæans, prevailed upon the tyrant to cry out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Stichos: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.

Delivered from the first crime by Thy blood, the martyrs, stained with their own blood, manifestly prefigure Thy sacrifice. Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Stichos: Grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants.

Thou didst slay savage death, O life-creating Word. Accept those who have departed in faith, who hymn Thee, O Christ, and say: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Glory…: O most divine Master, Who breathed Thy divine breath into me, a man, vouchsafe Thy kingdom unto those who have passed from this life, O Savior, that they may hymn Thee and say: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Theotokion: Thou wast the most exalted of all created beings, O all-immaculate one, having conceived Him Who broke down the gates of hades and shattered its doors; wherefore, we, the faithful, hymn thee as the Mother of God.

Ode VIII

Canon of All Saints

Irmos: In the furnace Thy venerable children emulated the cherubim, chanting the thrice-holy hymn: Bless, hymn and exalt the Lord supremely for all ages!

Wounded in their valor by threefold waves of torments, the divine martyrs, passing into profound peace by grace, attained the kingdom on high.

The venerable and most wise hierarchs, shining like the sun, enlighten the whole world with the rays of their teachings and the splendors of healings.

O all ye glorious prophets and hierarchs, ye venerable and righteous ones, ye multitudes of martyrs and women: Preserve your whole flock unshaken by the demons.

Glory…Nekrosimon: We hymn the righteous of ages past and the divinely eloquent prophets, and we cry out with compunction: By their supplications, O Word, grant rest unto those who have fallen asleep in faith.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: The choir of women loved thee as the full and proximal beauty of God, O Virgin, and in thy train they were brought before the Master of all, blessing thee together, O all-pure one.

Canon of the Departed

Irmos: From the flame didst Thou pour forth dew upon the venerable ones, and didst consume the sacrifice of the righteous one with water; for Thou, O Christ, dost do all things soever Thou desirest. Thee do we exalt supremely for all ages!

Stichos: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.

Mightily showing forth struggles, ye received crowns of victory, O martyrs and passion-bearers, crying out to Christ: We supremely exalt Thee, the Lord, forever!

Stichos: Grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants.

The faithful, who in sacred manner have forsaken the things of this life and have meekly gone to Thee, the Master, do Thou receive, in that Thou art full of lovingkindness, granting peace unto those who supremely exalt Thee, the Lord, forever.

Glory…: Be Thou well-pleased, O Savior, that all who have fallen asleep in the past may now dwell in the land of the meek, justifying by faith in Thee and by grace those who supremely exalt Thee, the Lord, forever.

Theotokion: We all call thee blessed, O all-blessed one, for thou didst truly give birth to the good Word, Who became flesh for our sake. Him do we exalt supremely for all ages.

We then chant the Hymn of the Theotokos [the Magnificat], with the refrain: “More honorable than the cherubim…”: and make prostrations.

Ode IX

Canon of All Saints

Irmos: O Virgin who received the angel’s salutation and gavest birth to thine own Creator, save those who magnify thee.

Ye were brought to the Master as pure sheep, O passion-bearing martyrs. Him do ye entreat, that He save our souls.

As shepherds ye tended the faithful in the fields of piety, O holy hierarchs, and dwell now in the fold of God.

Let us bless the choirs of the venerable with the holy hierarchs and prophets, and the women who suffered mightily.

Glory…Nekrosimon: O greatly Merciful One, vouchsafe that the departed may receive the eternal gladness of which the councils of the saints partake.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: O Virgin who gavest birth to the Light, enlighten my soul, driving away the darkness of my slothfulness and sin.

Canon of the Departed

Irmos: It is not possible for men to behold God, upon Whom the ranks of angels dare not gaze; but through thee, O most pure one, hath the Word appeared incarnate unto men; and magnifying Him with the armies of heaven, we call thee blessed.

Stichos: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.

Hope strengthened the choirs of the martyrs, and enkindled thereby they took wing to the love of Thee, thereby depicting beforehand the truly unshakable rest which is to come, which do Thou vouchsafe unto the faithful departed, O Good One.

Stichos: Grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants.

Be Thou well-pleased, O Christ, that those who have departed in faith may receive Thy radiant and divine effulgence, granting them rest in the bosom of Abraham, and vouchsafing them everlasting blessedness, in that Thou alone art merciful.

Glory…: As Thou art good and full of lovingkindness by nature, the Willer of mercies and the Abyss of compassion, those of this place of affliction and the shadow of death Thou hast taken away. Cause them to dwell where Thy light shineth, O Savior.

Theotokion: O pure one, we know thee to be the holy tabernacle, the ark, the tablets, the law and grace; for for thy sake remission hath been given to those justified by the blood of Him Who became incarnate of thy womb, O most immaculate one.

Then, “It is truly meet to bless thee…”, and a prostration. Litany, exapostilarion, and the usual psalms.

On the Praises, these stichera of the martyrs, in Tone V—

All creation celebrateth on the memorial of Thy saints, O Lord: the heavens rejoice with the angels, and the earth maketh merry with men. By their supplications have mercy on us.

O Lord, if we did not have Thy saints as advocates and Thy goodness having mercy upon us, how would we dare to hymn Thee, Whom the angels glorify without ceasing. O Thou Who knowest the hearts of men, spare Thou our souls!

The memory of the martyrs is a joy to those who fear the Lord; for, having suffered for the sake of Christ, they have received crowns from Him; and they now pray with boldness in behalf of our souls.

Our God hath made wondrous His chosen saints. Rejoice and be glad, all ye His servants, for for you have crowns and His kingdom been made ready! We pray you: Forget us not!

Nekrosimon: Of old, the eating of the tree in Eden became infirmity for Adam when the serpent spewed forth its venom; for for this cause did universal death come about, devouring man. But the Master came, and cast down the serpent and hath given us resurrection. Unto Him, therefore, let us now cry out: Have pity on those whom Thou hast taken to Thyself, O Savior, and, as Thou lovest mankind, grant them rest with the saints.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

We have come to know God Who was incarnate of thee, O Virgin Theotokos. Him do thou entreat for the salvation of our souls.

Aposticha stichera of the departed, in Tone VI: Special Melody: “Having set aside…”—

O greatly merciful Master, Who hast unapproachable lovingkindness for us and an inexhaustible well-spring of divine goodness, when those on earth depart unto Thee cause them to dwell in the beloved and desirable habitations, granting them possession which abideth forever. For Thou didst shed Thy blood for all, O Savior, and hast redeemed the world with a life-bearing ransom.

Stichos: Blessed are they whom Thou hast chosen and taken to Thyself, O Lord.

Of Thine own will Thou didst endure a vivifying death, didst pour forth life, and gavest the faithful eternal food. Among them number those who have fallen asleep in the hope of resurrection, by grace forgiving all their offenses, in that Thou alone art sinless and alone art good and lovest mankind; that Thy name, O Christ, may be hymned by all, and we may glorify Thy saving love for mankind.

Stichos: Their souls shall dwell am.id good things.

Knowing Thee to be, in Thy divine power, the Lord of the living and Master of the dead, O Christ, we beseech Thee: With Thy chosen ones grant rest unto Thy faithful servants who have departed unto Thee, the only Benefactor, O Thou Who lovest mankind, in a place of comfort, am.id the splendors of the saints; for Thou art the One Who willest mercy, and as God Thou savest those whom Thou didst create according to Thine image, O only greatly Merciful One.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Thou wast shown to be a receptacle of divine majesty, O all-pure one, for thou didst contain God and gavest birth unto Christ in two natures but a single Hypostasis, O Mother who knewest not wedlock. O pure one, entreat thine only-begotten and firstborn Child, Who preserved thee an unblemished virgin even though thou gavest birth, that He grant rest am.id light and incorrupt blessedness unto those have fallen asleep in the Faith.

Then, “It is good to give thanks…” Trisagion through Our Father…Troparion. Litany. First Hour, and Dismissal. 

Saturday at Divine Liturgy

On the Beatitudes, these troparia, in Tone VI—

Remember me, O God my Savior, when Thou shalt come in Thy kingdom., and save me, in that Thou alone lovest mankind.

Undaunted by fire, the sword, or the savage onslaught of wild beasts, O glorious passion-bearers, ye have been vouchsafed life everlasting.

O Thou Who lovest mankind, and Who hast glorified the prophets and teachers, the venerable and the righteous, by their supplications save Thou our souls.

Nekrosimon: Those who in faith have departed from temporal things do Thou number with all the saints and righteous, O Word, that we may glorify Thee.

Glory…: Triadicon: We glorify the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, saying: O Holy Trinity, save Thou our souls!

Now & ever…: Thou hast been shown to be blessed among all generations; for in truth thou didst ineffably give birth to our blessed God, O all-pure one.

The End of Tone VI