CHAPTER XIX.

THE GENERAL SERVICE TO TWO OR MANY MONK MARTYRS.

At the Vespers, for O Lord, I have cried, the Stichera, Tone 8. Similar to: What shall we call you...

Having fought valiantly, ye have, O ascetics, manfully endured the assaults of the tyrants; with love ye have laid your souls under the sword and have put on the crowns of martyrs and are worthily exulting together with angels. Your endurance was great and still greater the gifts,-do supplicate for our souls.

Ye have lived well, O holy ones, emulating the exploits of martyrs, O valiant ones; for the torments you have manfully treated with contempt, by fasting you have consecrated your bodies and with love ye have shed your blood, that you might together put on the crowns of your sufferings; do supplicate that our souls may be saved.

O ascetic martyrs of Christ! Ye have fought well, utterly neglecting the temporary life and by will having manfully overcome the wisdom of the flesh, and having thus finished your course in Christ, ye are now worthily tabernacling with angels; wherefore honouring your memory we entreat you: Supplicate the Lord that He may have mercy upon our souls.

Glory ...Both now ...the Theotokion: Unto whom canst thou be likened, my wretched soul, since thou never dost rise to repentance and dost not dread the fire awaiting the wicked? Arise, then, and call upon the only one that is swift for protection, vociferating: O Virgin Mother! Supplicate thy Son and our God to deliver me from the snares of the evil one.

The Stavro-theotokion: Beholding the Lamb voluntarily stretched on the tree of the cross, the she-lamb, suffering motherly pangs and bewailing, vociferated: O my Son! What is this strange sight? Giving 193life unto all as Lord, how dost Thou, O Long-suffering One, undergo death in granting resurrection unto the earthly? I glorify Thy great condescension, O my God.

If Idiomelon be appointed, Glory ... Tone 8:

Having lived the lives like unto those of angels in the labours of fasting, and by abstemiousness having brought your bodies into subjection unto the spirit, you were the true workers of the commandments of the Lord; ye have preserved the archetypal beauty of the image and accomplished feats of suffering in the pains of fasting and of martyrdom, wherefore ye were adorned with double crowns. Do assiduously supplicate the Saviour that we may be saved.

Both now ...the Theotokion: Thy shelter, O Theotokos-Virgin, is a spiritual medicine; for fleeing unto it we obtain deliverance from the maladies of the soul.

The Stavro-theotokion: Standing before Thy cross, O Lord, she that hath given Thee birth without seed, motherly bewailing, said: Woe unto me, O my Child! How have you gone down from mine eyes, O Reasonable Sun, Light unto the eyes? Rise up, O All-powerful, shine forth with Thy light unto all that confess Thee as true God and man?

If the Celebration be with the Polyeleon, say the Theotokion of the resurrection: The King of the Heavens... The Entrance...The Prokeimenon of the day and the Readings of the ascetics. (See Appendix.)

With the Versicles the Stichera, Tone 8. Similar to: Thy martyrs, O Lord...

Thy ascetic martyrs, O Lord, emulating the bodiless, by their prayers and abstemiousness have driven away the passions of the flesh, and having shone forth in miraculous deeds, have enlightened the hearts of all; through their intercessions, grant unto Thy people, great mercy.

The Versicle : Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. O ascetic martyrs! Animated with virtuous zeal, ye have manifestly destroyed the heresy of Arius and Nestorius, and having been the champions of the orthodox, have become famous unto all; through their supplications, O Christ, grant unto Thy people great mercy.

The Versicle: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments. Being the stars upon the firmament of abstemiousness, ye have enlightened the souls of ascetics and have driven away whole myriads of demons, O ascetic martyrs ; wherefore after your demise ye are being blessed, since ye supplicate for the salvation of all those who celebrate your holy memory.

Glory ...Tone 6: Blessed are ye, O ascetic-martyrs of Christ our God; as ascetics, since you have loved the truth and received grace, and as martyrs, since the sword did not separate you from the love of Christ, and therefore ye are now rejoicing, for great is your meed in the heavens.

Both now... the Theotokion: No one that hath recourse unto thee, O most pure Theotokos-Virgin, goeth away from thee with shame; but asking for grace he obtaineth the grant of a profitable demand.

The Stavro-theotokion: Beholding Thee crucified, O Christ, she that gave Thee birth, vociferated: What is this strange mystery I see, O my Son ? How dost Thou die-hung in the flesh, O Giver of life ?

The Troparion from the Typicon ; but if there be no Typicon, say the following Troparion, Tone 4:

O God of our fathers, that ever dealest by us according to Thy kindness, do not withdraw from us Thy mercy; but at their intercessions direct our life in peace.

Glory ...Both now ...the Theotokion or the Stavro-theotokion.

At the Matins, for God is the Lord, the same Troparion. After the 1st Stichologia, the Cathisma, Tone 4. Similar to: Thou that wast of Thine own will lifted...

Neglecting the delight of earthly and corruptible things, ye were animated with loving attachment to the desert-life and detestation of the beauties of the world and of temporal food, and therefore were accounted worthy to be numbered among the choirs of martyrs and ascetics; supplicate together with them that your servants may be saved. Twice.

Glory... Both now... the Theotokion: He that sitteth on the cherubic throne and abideth in the bosom of the Father, doth 195sit in thy womb, O Sovereign-Lady, as upon His holy throne; for God is become incarnate, He hath truly assumed the rule over all the nations, and with understanding we now sing unto Him; do entreat Him that thy servants may be saved.

After the 2nd Stichologia, the Cathisma, Tone 8. Similar to: Of the wisdom...

Imitating, in your abstemiousness, the manners of John the Baptist and the virtues of Elijah the Tishbite, ye have lived the life of the bodiless, glorifying with the angels the Holy and Divine Trinity, and beating off by your valiance the incursions of the demons; wherefore in suffering ye have manfully carried your combats, adoring Christ's divine incarnation and Godhead, O blissful (mentioned by name) ; Him supplicate to grant remission of sins unto those who lovingly celebrate your holy memory. Twice.

Glory... Both now... the Theotokion: As Virgin, and one among women, we, all the generations of men, bless thee that without seed gavest birth unto God in the flesh, for the divine fire did find abode in thee, and thou dost suckle as a babe the Maker and Lord. Wherefore we, both the angelic and human kind, worthily glorify thy divine child-birth, and with one voice cry unto thee: Supplicate Christ the God to grant remission of sins unto those who worthily sing thy glory.

After Praise ye the name of the Lord... the Refrain: We glorify you, O ascetic-martyrs, and honour your holy memory, O preceptors of monks and associates of angels. The selected Psalm: I waited patiently for the Lord...

After the Polyeleon, the Cathisma, Tone 8. Similar to: Of the wisdom...

Brightly illumined with the light of the Trinity, ye, O lightbearing fathers, have forsaken the deep darkness of sweet things, and as lamps illumining with divine works the hearts of the faithful, ye have appeared blessed for your asceticism and your sufferings; wherefore we venerate to-day your light-bearing and honourable memory, and with one voice call out: O ye, Godvoiced and abounding in riches! supplicate Christ the God to 196grant remission of sins unto those who lovingly honour your holy memory. Twice.

Glory... Both now... the Theotokion: As the all-undefiled Bride of the Creator, as the innocent of marital life Mother of the Deliverer, as one that was the receptacle of the Comforter, do hasten, O all-hymned one, unto me, a defiled habitation of wickedness and a sport of demons, although endowed with understanding, and deliver me from the villany of these, making me a bright habitation of virtues; O thou, light-granting and incorruptible, disperse the cloud of passions, and make me worthy both of the communion of the Highest and of the Light never growing dim, through thine intercessions.

The Graduals, the 1st Antiphon of the 4th Tone. The Prokeimenon: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. The Verse: What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? Let every breath... The Gospel (St. Matt. 10, 16-22).

After the 50th Psalm the Sticheron, Tone 4: Having brightly illumined your souls with the most brilliant rays, ye have, O ascetics, adorned the earth with your virtues; having Christ in your hearts, ye were enlightening, as a never-setting sun, the communities of heathens, and are adorning us with your martyrdom, O ascetic martyrs.

The Canon, Tone 4. Ode 1. The Heirmos

The red abyss of the sea with unmoistened steps having crossed on foot, the Israel of old hath, through the cruciform arms of Moses, obtained victory in the wilderness over the forces of Amalek.

Through asceticism having become luminous, ye have, O most blissful ones, appeared as God-shining lights through the shedding of your blood, wherefore you are exulting together with the ascetics of Christ and martyrs.

In the sea of your tears having first drowned the spiritual Pharaoh, ye, O wise ones, have afterwards vanquished him in the streams of your blood, and given him over unto ruin.

Let us praise the ascetic fathers that were slain for Christ, the martyrs that lived as ascetics, singing unto our God-the Deliverer, for He is glorified.

The Theotokion: He that is God by nature, -and Whom nothing could com- 197prise, hath confined Himself in thee, O Theotokos-Virgin, having, for the sake of compassion, become earthly that He may save the earthly through His ineffable mercy.

Ode 3. The Heirmos

Neither in wisdom nor in power and riches we glory, but in Thee, O Christ, the Hypostatical Wisdom of the Father, for there is none more holy than Thou art, O Lover of man.

Having pleased God with the contrition of your hearts, ye have broken down the self-exultation of the enemies, O most blissful ones, whilst ye were being cut up with the sword and slain.

Meditating on the everlastingness of the future, ye, O wise ones, have repulsed the fleeting and corruptible things that drag one down, wherefore ye are being blessed, O ascetic martyrs.

Glorifying in Thy power, the God-bearing ones have mightily vanquished the armies of the ruiner, and having been slain for Thee, O Saviour, and shown doubly great exploits, were crowned for the same.

The Theotokion: O most pure one, that hast given birth unto the Most Holy Word of God! Do sanctify souls and bodies of those that bless thee, O most unblemished one.

The Cathisma, Tone 4. Similar to: Speedily prevent...

As strangers and emigrants ye have appeared on earth, O ascetics ; in the wilderness ye have made tents for you and have valiantly fought, adorning your nakedness with the raiments of virtue and emulating the sufferings of Christ; wherefore ye have endured the immolation of martyrdom.

Glory ...Both now... The Theotokion: To the Theotokos let us, sinners and humbled, now flee, and in penitence fall down before her, calling out of the depth of our souls: O Sovereign Lady, help us, taking pity on us, do hasten to our assistance, as we are perishing from the multitude of our transgressions, neither turn thy servants empty away, for thou art the only hope that we have.

[The Stavro-theotokion The Virgin and the lamb beholding on the cross and pierced with a lance the Lamb that was without seed born of her, and feeling wounded with the arrows of affliction, vociferated pain- 198fully exclaiming: What is this new mystery? How dost Thou die--the Sole Lord of life? Wherefore arise, raising up the fallen fore-fathers.

Ode 4. The Heirmos

Elevated on the cross seeing Thee, the Sun of righteousness, the church stood up in her order worthily calling out: Glory to Thy power, O Lord.

Having refused to obey the passions of the flesh, ye, O most blissful ones, have subjugated the enemy, and having been slain with the sword, ye in exultation were together translated unto the life eternal.

Having of your own free will, before death, slain yourselves with abstemiousness, ye, O ascetics, were involuntarily and cruelly murdered with the sword by the wicked, hoping to live after the death also.

Although ye, fathers, have departed this life through being slain with the sword by the wicked, yet before your end have ye endured cruel attacks, being dead unto the world.

The Theotokion: The Child-God Eternal-doth renew the human race afresh, having appeared from the Virgin and having become man; let us sing unto Him: Glory to Thy power, O Lord.

Ode 5. The Heirmos

Thou, my God, didst come into the world as light, as a holy light that bringeth out of the darkness of ignorance those who in faith hymn Thee.

Your blood hath appeared as a beautiful paradise, having in your midst the Lord as the tree of life, Who accepted thereof as a pure offering.

Having commingled the drops of blood with the streams of your tears, ye have, O God-bearers, immersed therein the multiformous serpent.

Ye were vouchsafed to behold the divine beauty, and have obtained eternal joy in the place of labours and pains, O blissful ones.

The Theotokion:Thou hast given birth, above word and understanding, unto God, and didst remain Virgin after the birth, just as thou wast before the birth, O pure God's Bride.

Ode 6. The Heirmos

I will sacrifice unto thee, O Lord, with the voice of praise, -crieth out unto Thee the church, having been cleansed of the demons' blood with the blood that did mercifully run out of Thy side.

Having repulsed the bonds of passions with abstemiousness, and by violent death having been freed of the bonds of the body, ye have been called unto the indissoluble goodness of the Master.

Having appeared as mountains through your exalted life, ye have by Christ's might brought down under your feet him who is striving to destroy the mountains and the whole creation.

Through abstemiousness and labours ye have, O holy fathers, attenuated your bodies and have virtuously offered your blood unto Christ and were deservedly crowned.

The Theotokion: Lull to sleep the unappeasable storm of my passions with thine unceasing supplication, O Virgin,-I implore thee,-and do not permit me to sleep the heavy sleep of sin.

The Contakion from the Typicon; but if there be no Typicon, say the following Contakion, Tone 2. Similar to: Seeking the highest...

Through the multitude of waves dry-shod passing, with the streams of your tears did ye submerge the incorporeal enemies, O Godly-wise ascetic martyrs; having now received the gift of miracles, intercede incessantly for us all.

The Oikos: O ascetic martyrs! Ye have mortified your flesh on earth with the life-bearing deadliness and typified the passion of Christ the God-firstly in your asceticism and secondly once more in your sufferings; wherefore Christ did send down unto you the double crowns and hath made ready for you an abode in heaven and eternal tabernacle wherein ye joyfully have entered as consanguineous both of martyrs and ascetics. Do incessantly supplicate for us all.

Ode 7. The Heirmos

In the Persian furnace the youths, descendants of Abraham, burning rather with love of piety than with the flame of fire, have called out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord.

Adorned with the brilliant light of virtues and illumined by the sacred sufferings, ye have passed unto the never-dimning Light; and have appeared as the sons of day.

Having voluntarily avoided the sweets of this world, ye have, O holy ones, given yourselves over entirely unto the One Who hath strangely appeared in the flesh among men, and have acquired the future and incorruptible good things.

Blessed art Thou, O God, that hast this day completed the course of the sufferers-the God-bearing fathers, and hast manifested them as participators of Thy heavenly Kingdom.

The Theotokion: Thee carrying in thy womb the Manna of life, the ancient pot of manna hath truly and clearly typified. Blessed art Thou among women, O most spotless Sovereign-Lady.

Ode 8. The Heirmos

Having spread his hands, Daniel did close the jaws of the lions in their den ; and the force of the fire was deadened by the zealously pious youths who girded themselves with virtue and. called out: Bless the Lord, all ye the works of the Lord.

The great choir of the ascetic martyrs, adorned with the valours of asceticism, sheweth to-day the members of all the divine choirs lauding and together with themselves hymning Christ: Bless the Lord, all ye the works of the Lord.

As lambs have ye stood whilst ye were slaughtered with your tormentors' swords, and were brought up unto the sacrificed Word as a perfect sacrifice; ye have also appeared in the habitations of the firstlings, singing: Bless the Lord, all ye the works of the Lord.

Both the body and soul have ye, O ascetics, dedicated unto the Lord, having been moved thereto by abstemiousness, and with the streams of your blood having dried up the wicked sea of the tyrants, singing: Bless the Lord, all ye the works of the Lord.

The Theotokion: Through thee, O pure God-hailed, doth once more open the first paradise, therein is led again the man that was first condemned and becometh truly deified unto the restoration of men that sing: Bless the Lord, all ye the works of the Lord.

Ode 9. The Heirmos

A stone cut out without hands from an untouched mountain -from thee, O Virgin, was separated- that corner stone, even Christ, Who hath joined together the distant natures; rejoicing thereat, we magnify thee, O Theotokos.

O come, let us loudly laud in sacred odes the holy ascetic fathers who have holily lived in deserts and caves and piously suffered martyrdom.

How exceedingly laudable are your labours in asceticism, O martyrs; how great the exploits with which ye have hurled down the flatterer; how wonderful are the sufferings which ye have lawfully endured and for which ye have obtained the crowns.

Your God-reflecting memory is illumined by the brilliant light of the labours which ye have endured for Christ's sake, and by the grace of the All-effecting Holy Spirit, doth illumine the consciences of all.

The Theotokion: The cherubim dread beholding the Word that in an unspeakable manner sitteth on them, -the Child that is being carried on thy motherly arms, O most pure Sovereign-Lady, and is the Highest above all creation.

The Photagogicon. Similar to: By the Spirit in the sanctuary...

With the pains of asceticism ye have utterly destroyed the serpent -the origin of evil, and, at your end, obtained the crown of martyrdom, -O ye, ornament of the fathers, glory of the martyrs, multitude of the ascetic martyrs -the wonderful fathers.

The Theotokion: The most glorious wonder of thy giving birth, which is above all understanding, doth astound every mind both of angels and men: being a Virgin thou hast given birth, a Virgin thou didst remain, just as thou wast Virgin before that birth. What a strange mystery! How wonderful and most glorious is the birth!

with the Lauds, the Stichera, Tone 4. Similar to:As a virtuous...

Let us joyfully hymn the wise martyrs and ascetic fathers, for in obedience to Christ's injunctions, and having abolished every unclean service, the holy ones have honourably and trustfully served the One God and Lord, Whom they, in the presence of the tyrants, valourously confessed, and therefore were crowned from above. Twice.

Ye, O most laudable, have forsaken the life that draggeth down, the delights of food and flourishing glory as transient things, and have attached yourselves unto Christ, kindled by His exceeding beauty, cleaving unto Him as sweet-smelling wild roses, and ye were God-beseemingly crowned with the crowns of the incorruptible Kingdom.

Ye that have detested this world, have appeared above the world, joined unto the church of the first-born, and with the angels you sing now incessant odes, standing all together before God; having also repulsed as martyrs the filthy illusion of idols, ye have put to shame the mad conceit of the tyrants.

Glory ...Tone 4: Adorned with the raiment of purity and enlightened by divine prayer, having in you Christ also that was born of the Virgin, you were not taken up with the love unto this world nor would partake of the delights of flesh, but, assiduously working up unto the Fire, with the divine fire ye have consumed the transient fire of passions; wherefore do supplicate, O blissful ascetic martyrs, that we also may be delivered from the all-destructive and eternal fire.

Both now...the Theotokion: We have comprehended the God that is incarnate of thee, O Theotokos-Virgin; do supplicate Him for the salvation of our souls.

The Stavro-theotokion: Seeing how the most lawless people were unrighteously nailing Thee to the tree, the Virgin and Thy pure Mother, O Saviour, had her heart pierced, as Simeon hath foretold.