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Well worth a visit !
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Akathist To St Michael The Archangel
The Akathist to St. Michael the Archangel
Recite the Prayers of Introduction.
Preamble
Chosen captain of the heavenly hosts and defender of mankind, we - delivered by you from afflictions -offer this hymn of thanksgiving, and do you standing before the throne of the King of Glory set us free from all distress that we may cry to you with faith and love:
Hail, Michael great captain, with the hosts of heaven!
First Chant
As leader of the fiery choirs of angels, it is right to praise you with angelic tongue, 0 Michael, but until -taught by you - we have become used to the speech of the bodiless powers, hear the praises from thankful lips though they be those of mortal beings:
Hail, first-formed star of the world!
Hail, candle of truth and justice, shining like gold!
Hail, first receiver, in the choir of angels of the rays of the uncreated light!
Hail, head of angels and archangels!
Hail, you in whom the creative glory of the Right Hand shines!
Hail, you by whom the assembly of all bodiless creatures is made beautiful!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
Beholding the splendor of your spiritual beauty and the strength of your right hand that is like a flash of lightning, we - wrapped as we are in the mortal flesh of this earth - but, filled with joy and thankfulness toward the Creator, cry aloud: 0 Archangel of God, with all the hosts of heaven: Alleluia!
Second Chant
0 most wonderful Michael, leader of the heavenly hosts, ask for us a clear understanding, free from passions, that, lifted in thought from earthly to heavenly things, we may sing a hymn of praise to you:
Hail, nearest beholder of the ineffable beauty and goodness of God!
Hail, close participator in the mysteries of the all-good counsels of the most Holy + Trinity!
Hail, faithful fulfiller of the pre-eternal judgments of the + Trinity!
Hail, you at whom the heavenly hosts, with love, stand amazed!
Hail, you to whom those born on earth give glory!
Hail, you before whom the hosts of heaven tremble!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
Archangel Michael, you show in yourself the strength of an unconquerable zeal for the glory of God. At the head of the choirs of angels, you have withstood the arrogant daystar Satan, exceedingly proud and breathing out evil when he and his dark fellow-servants had been cast down into the nethermost parts of the world, while the heavenly hosts led by you in your glory shouted as with one voice for joy before the throne of God: Alleluia!
Third Chant
All Christian people have you, 0 Archangel Michael, as a mighty defender and helper in battle against the adversary. Therefore, we, wishing to be granted your marvelous protection, call upon you on the day of your solemn feast in this way:
Hail, you by whom Satan was cast down like lightning from heaven!
Hail, you by whom humanity preserved goes up to heaven!
Hail, splendid adornment of the most radiant world on high!
Hail, most glorious defender of the fallen world here below!
Hail, never-defeated by the forces of evil!
Hail, you, established forever by divine grace in truth and righteousness with all God?s angels!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
O chief ruler of the angels, deliver us who keep your radiant feast with joy from the storm of temptations and troubles, for you are a mighty helper in afflictions and the preserver and defender in the hour of death of all those crying aloud to Our Lord and Our Lady: Alleluia!
Fourth Chant
Seeing your boldness against the regiments of Satan, all the ranks of angels followed after you with joy into the fight for the name and the glory of their Master, crying aloud: "Who is like unto God!" And we, seeing Satan cast down beneath your feet cry to you as victor:
Hail, you by whom peace and quiet returned to heaven!
Hail, you whom the spirit of evil was laid low even unto hell!
Hail, you who direct the angelic armies and the hosts of the invisible world to the destruction of evil!
Hail, you who, unseen, calm the agitation and fighting of the elements of the unseen world!
Hail, wonderful defender of those waging war with the spirits of evil!
Hail, strong helper of those on earth grown weak through the temptations and assaults of the world!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
You have appeared in the Church of Khony as a divinely flowing fountain of great miracles. For, not only was a large and fearful serpent dwelling there destroyed by your strength, but a stream of water was revealed there healing all bodily ailments, that all might glorify you, 0 Lord God of the angels, and all might cry out to You with Faith: Alleluia!
Fifth Chant
Hearing you and knowing you as a great light shining among the choirs of angels, after God and His Holy Mother, we run to you, wonderful Michael. With the rays of your light illuminate all of us who sing to you in the following manner:
Hail, mediator of the law given by the hand of Moses on Mount Sinai!
Hail, you by whom the judges and leaders of Israel found strength and protection!
Hail, you, through whom the prophets and high priests of the Jews received the gift of knowledge from the all-knowing God!
Hail, you who provide with secret wisdom the God-fearing givers of the law!
Hail, you who put kindness and mercy into the hearts of those who administer justice and truth!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
You have announced beforehand the judgments of God when, in former times - at the sight of you -Mannah was filled with fear and perplexity, thinking that he would no longer live, but taught by his wife of the goodness of the vision, and the gentleness of your words, from joy at having a son, Samson, who was about to be born, he cried out to God in thanksgiving: Alleluia!
Sixth Chant
You have shone forth wonderfully, 0 Michael, when in the form of a man you have stood before Joshua, son of Nun, saying: "Take off your shoes, for I am the chief captain of the hosts of the Lord." And we, marveling, sing to you:
Hail, untiring guardian of leaders, rulers, and governments!
Hail, you, swift to overthrow those withstanding authority as they oppose the command of God!
Hail, you who appease the mighty wave of popular tumult!
Hail, invisible destroyer of vile customs!
Hail, you who enlighten those in doubt in the hour of great perplexity!
Hail, you who save all those tried by soul-destroying and false attacks!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
Wanting to show that the fortunes of men are not dependent on themselves, but are always held in His Divine Hand, the Maker of all has given you to the kingdoms of the earth as a defender and keeper, that you may prepare all the tribes and peoples for the Kingdom of God that is eternal. Therefore, all of us knowing your great service for the salvation of mankind, cry to God in thanksgiving: Alleluia!
Seventh Chant
The Creator and Master of all miracles has shown us a new miracle on earth through you, chief angel, when you miraculously saved the church built in honor of your name from being flooded with the waters of the river. You commanded the rising stream to turn back into the bosom of the earth, at the sight of which the blessed Archipus together with his spiritual children cried to you in thanksgiving:
Hail, indestructible rampart of the holy Church of God!
Hail, you at whose behest the elements are subdued!
Hail, you by whom all evil intents are brought to naught!
Hail, you who bring joy to all the faithful from the throne of the Almighty God!
Hail, you who lead unbelievers on the path of justice and truth!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
Habakkuk, the prophet, saw in his very self a strange wonder of your power, 0 chief captain of God?s armies, when carried off at the Divine Command, he was quickly taken from Judah to Babylon to give food to Daniel, a prisoner in the den of the lions. Therefore, amazed at the mighty effect of your strength, he cried out with faith: Alleluia!
Eighth Chant
Standing before the throne of God, Michael, you are entirely in the heights yet you are not far from men and women below upon the earth. You ever fight against the enemies of mankind?s salvation. Therefore, all who wish to reach the long-desired homeland of heaven call to you with one accord:
Hail, leader of the thrice-holy hymn of the angels!
Hail, ever-ready advocate and guardian of those on earth!
Hail, who, in strange fashion, struck down Pharaoh with his faithless Egyptians in their ponderous pride!
Hail, who gloriously led the Jews in their wandering through the wilderness!
Hail, you who quenched the flame of the fiery furnace of Babylon for the three youths!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
Joyful trembling seized the monks of the Holy Mount of Athos when they saw how you saved the Godfearing child who was thrown into the depths of the sea with a stone around his neck by money-grubbing men. The monastery that received him was adorned by your name, 0 Michael, and cries to God in thanksgiving: Alleluia!
Ninth Chant
Speakers, eloquent in words and who love clever thoughts, have not sufficient strength to declare your might, 0 Michael, and how in one night you destroyed the one hundred and eighty-five thousand warriors of Sennacherih, the king of Assyria, as a warning to him not to blaspheme the Name of the Lord in the future. We, honoring your zeal for the glory of the truth of God, cry out to you with gladness:
Hail, unconquerable leader of the armies of Orthodoxy!
Hail, very fear and defeat of armies whose beliefs are evil!
Hail, planter of the Orthodox faith and worship!
Hail, uprooter of heresies and schisms that harm the soul!
Hail, you who strengthened the pious Maccabees on the field of battle!
Hail, you who struck down in the temple itself Heliodorus, the captain of the evil king, Antiochus!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
0 chief captain of God, be for us who wish to be saved, a firm helper, to deliver and preserve us from distress and mishap, and even more so from our own evil habits and sins so that, progressing in faith, hope and love of Christ, we may thankfully cry out with joy to the Master of angels and mankind for your strong defense: Alleluia!
Tenth Chant
0 chief captain of God, you are a wall for all who believe and a strong pillar in the struggles with visible and invisible enemies. With thankful hearts and voices we cry:
Hail, unconquerable opponent of the enemies of the Faith and the adversaries of the Holy Church!
Hail, untiring helper of those who humbly announce the Good News!
Hail, you who enlighten with the light of faith those sitting in the land of darkness!
Hail, you who direct along the path of truth and repentance those made foolish through false wisdom!
Hail, terrible avenger of those who call in vain upon the Name of the Lord!
Hail, chastiser-bearing lightning for those who foolishly mock the Mysteries of the Holy Faith!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
0 angel of God, every song of praise falls short because of the multitude of miracles performed by you not only in heaven and on earth, but also in the dark shades of the depths of the netherworld, where you have chained the serpent with the bonds of power of the Lord, that those delivered from the evil one?s wickedness might bless the Master of heaven and earth, crying: Alleluia!
Eleventh Chant
0 chief captain, you appeared as a light-bearing servant of truth and the purity of divine worship when, foreseeing the snares of the spirit of darkness, you have forbidden him in the Name of the Lord, that he dare not show the hidden body of the prophet Moses, leader of the Jews, to the sensual children of Israel lest they deify him. Therefore, while we now honor your divinely bright feast, we cry to you:
Hail, you who kept the purity of knowledge of God among the Jews in the days of the Old Testament!
Hail, who by grace have many times uprooted the weeds of error in the days of the New Testament!
Hail, destroyer of heathen prophets and idols!
Hail, fortifier of Christians who struggle and suffer!
Hail, you who fill the weak in spirit with the strength of the grace of God!
Hail, you who clothe in the armor of faith those who fail in the flesh!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
Beg grace for us from God in heaven as we sing to the glory of your honorable name, 0 Michael, that in the shadow of your protection we may live in all piety and purity until, set loose from the bonds of flesh and death, we may be granted to stand before the flaming throne of the King of Glory and sing with all the choirs of angels: Alleluia!
Twelfth Chant
Singing the praises of your many different miracles performed for our salvation, we pray the Lord and Master of all, 0 Michael, that the spirit of zeal for the glory of God that is within you fail not in us who sing to you with these hymns of praise:
Hail, you who divinely set up in the heights of power the servants of God in time of need!
Hail, you who invisibly bring down from the heights of strength and glory those who are unworthy and insolent!
Hail, you, who on the last day, shall gather the chosen from the four ends of the earth!
Hail, you by whom at the voice of God sinners shall be committed like bares to the eternal fire!
Hail, you by whom Satan and his angels shall be cast into the lake of fire!
Hail, you by whom the righteous shall gloriously be made to settle in the mansion of our heavenly Father!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
0 most wonderful leader of archangels and angels, because of your most marvelous service for the salvation of mankind, accept from us the sound of praise and thanksgiving now offered to you, and as you are filled with the strength of God, protect us with your immaterial wings from all visible and invisible enemies, that we may cry without ceasing to the Lord glorified by you and who glorified you: Alleluia!
Prayer of Entrustment
0 great and holy Michael, Archangel of God, standing at the head of the angels before the everlasting + Trinity, 0 advocate and preserver of mankind, who - with your hosts - has broken in heaven the head of the daystar, Satan, the exceedingly proud one, and who always puts to shame his evil and cunning servants on earth, we run to you with faith and pray to you with love: be an unbreakable shield and firm bastion for the Holy Church and for our nation, protecting them with your lightning sword. Be for us a guardian angel, a wise counselor and helper of our land bringing to it from the throne of the Eternal Ruling King and Lord our God enlightenment and strength, joy, peace and comfort. Be for us the chief captain and fellow-fighter of our honorable country, crowning it with glory and victory over unjust adversaries, that all who oppose us may know that God and His holy angels stand ready to defend us. Be the physician and healer of those wounded. Be the pillar and defender of those children of the Church of God that are in captivity. And forsake not, 0 Archangel of God, with your help and protection, those of us who today glorify your holy name. For, behold, though we are great sinners, yet we desire not to perish in our iniquities but to turn to the Lord and be made by Him to live for good works. Illuminate our minds with the light of the Countenance of God that shines without ceasing on the lightning-like forehead, that we may understand that the will of God concerning us is good and perfect and knows all that is right for us to do, and even that which is right to omit and overlook. Strengthen by the grace of the Lord, our weak and feeble purpose, that made firm in the commandments of the Lord we may cease to wallow in earthly thoughts drawn by the lusts of the flesh as senseless children through the perishable beauties of the world. Above all these things, ask from on high for us the true spirit of repentance, true sorrow and contrition for our sins before God, that we may spend the remaining number of our days in this temporal life, not in the satisfying of our feelings and in the bondage to our passions, but in the blotting out of the evil we have done by tears of faith and heartfelt compunction, by works of charity, chastity, and holy acts of loving mercy.
When the hour of our end and of our liberation from the earthly bonds of our own bodies draws near, 0 Archangel of God, leave us not without defense against the earthly spirits of evil who try to hinder the entry of man into the heavenly places. Preserved by you, may we, without hindrance, reach those all-glorious dwelling-places of Paradise where there is neither sorrow nor sighing but only life without end. May we be made worthy to behold the Face of our all-gracious Lord and Master, and falling at His feet with tears may we cry out in joy and tender feeling: Glory to You, our most tender, dear Redeemer, who, because of Your great love for us, your unworthy servants and handmaidens, have been pleased to send Your angels in the service of our salvation! For all the powers of heaven praise You, and we give glory, honor and thanksgiving to You, Father +, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
0 chosen captain of the heavenly hosts and defender of mankind, we, delivered by you from all afflictions, offer this hymn of thanksgiving, and do you, standing before the throne of the King of Glory, set us free from all distress that we may cry to you with faith and love:
Hail, Michael, great captain, with all the hosts of heaven! Three times.
Recite the Concluding Prayers.
Text taken from Byzantines dot Net
Recite the Prayers of Introduction.
Preamble
Chosen captain of the heavenly hosts and defender of mankind, we - delivered by you from afflictions -offer this hymn of thanksgiving, and do you standing before the throne of the King of Glory set us free from all distress that we may cry to you with faith and love:
Hail, Michael great captain, with the hosts of heaven!
First Chant
As leader of the fiery choirs of angels, it is right to praise you with angelic tongue, 0 Michael, but until -taught by you - we have become used to the speech of the bodiless powers, hear the praises from thankful lips though they be those of mortal beings:
Hail, first-formed star of the world!
Hail, candle of truth and justice, shining like gold!
Hail, first receiver, in the choir of angels of the rays of the uncreated light!
Hail, head of angels and archangels!
Hail, you in whom the creative glory of the Right Hand shines!
Hail, you by whom the assembly of all bodiless creatures is made beautiful!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
Beholding the splendor of your spiritual beauty and the strength of your right hand that is like a flash of lightning, we - wrapped as we are in the mortal flesh of this earth - but, filled with joy and thankfulness toward the Creator, cry aloud: 0 Archangel of God, with all the hosts of heaven: Alleluia!
Second Chant
0 most wonderful Michael, leader of the heavenly hosts, ask for us a clear understanding, free from passions, that, lifted in thought from earthly to heavenly things, we may sing a hymn of praise to you:
Hail, nearest beholder of the ineffable beauty and goodness of God!
Hail, close participator in the mysteries of the all-good counsels of the most Holy + Trinity!
Hail, faithful fulfiller of the pre-eternal judgments of the + Trinity!
Hail, you at whom the heavenly hosts, with love, stand amazed!
Hail, you to whom those born on earth give glory!
Hail, you before whom the hosts of heaven tremble!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
Archangel Michael, you show in yourself the strength of an unconquerable zeal for the glory of God. At the head of the choirs of angels, you have withstood the arrogant daystar Satan, exceedingly proud and breathing out evil when he and his dark fellow-servants had been cast down into the nethermost parts of the world, while the heavenly hosts led by you in your glory shouted as with one voice for joy before the throne of God: Alleluia!
Third Chant
All Christian people have you, 0 Archangel Michael, as a mighty defender and helper in battle against the adversary. Therefore, we, wishing to be granted your marvelous protection, call upon you on the day of your solemn feast in this way:
Hail, you by whom Satan was cast down like lightning from heaven!
Hail, you by whom humanity preserved goes up to heaven!
Hail, splendid adornment of the most radiant world on high!
Hail, most glorious defender of the fallen world here below!
Hail, never-defeated by the forces of evil!
Hail, you, established forever by divine grace in truth and righteousness with all God?s angels!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
O chief ruler of the angels, deliver us who keep your radiant feast with joy from the storm of temptations and troubles, for you are a mighty helper in afflictions and the preserver and defender in the hour of death of all those crying aloud to Our Lord and Our Lady: Alleluia!
Fourth Chant
Seeing your boldness against the regiments of Satan, all the ranks of angels followed after you with joy into the fight for the name and the glory of their Master, crying aloud: "Who is like unto God!" And we, seeing Satan cast down beneath your feet cry to you as victor:
Hail, you by whom peace and quiet returned to heaven!
Hail, you whom the spirit of evil was laid low even unto hell!
Hail, you who direct the angelic armies and the hosts of the invisible world to the destruction of evil!
Hail, you who, unseen, calm the agitation and fighting of the elements of the unseen world!
Hail, wonderful defender of those waging war with the spirits of evil!
Hail, strong helper of those on earth grown weak through the temptations and assaults of the world!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
You have appeared in the Church of Khony as a divinely flowing fountain of great miracles. For, not only was a large and fearful serpent dwelling there destroyed by your strength, but a stream of water was revealed there healing all bodily ailments, that all might glorify you, 0 Lord God of the angels, and all might cry out to You with Faith: Alleluia!
Fifth Chant
Hearing you and knowing you as a great light shining among the choirs of angels, after God and His Holy Mother, we run to you, wonderful Michael. With the rays of your light illuminate all of us who sing to you in the following manner:
Hail, mediator of the law given by the hand of Moses on Mount Sinai!
Hail, you by whom the judges and leaders of Israel found strength and protection!
Hail, you, through whom the prophets and high priests of the Jews received the gift of knowledge from the all-knowing God!
Hail, you who provide with secret wisdom the God-fearing givers of the law!
Hail, you who put kindness and mercy into the hearts of those who administer justice and truth!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
You have announced beforehand the judgments of God when, in former times - at the sight of you -Mannah was filled with fear and perplexity, thinking that he would no longer live, but taught by his wife of the goodness of the vision, and the gentleness of your words, from joy at having a son, Samson, who was about to be born, he cried out to God in thanksgiving: Alleluia!
Sixth Chant
You have shone forth wonderfully, 0 Michael, when in the form of a man you have stood before Joshua, son of Nun, saying: "Take off your shoes, for I am the chief captain of the hosts of the Lord." And we, marveling, sing to you:
Hail, untiring guardian of leaders, rulers, and governments!
Hail, you, swift to overthrow those withstanding authority as they oppose the command of God!
Hail, you who appease the mighty wave of popular tumult!
Hail, invisible destroyer of vile customs!
Hail, you who enlighten those in doubt in the hour of great perplexity!
Hail, you who save all those tried by soul-destroying and false attacks!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
Wanting to show that the fortunes of men are not dependent on themselves, but are always held in His Divine Hand, the Maker of all has given you to the kingdoms of the earth as a defender and keeper, that you may prepare all the tribes and peoples for the Kingdom of God that is eternal. Therefore, all of us knowing your great service for the salvation of mankind, cry to God in thanksgiving: Alleluia!
Seventh Chant
The Creator and Master of all miracles has shown us a new miracle on earth through you, chief angel, when you miraculously saved the church built in honor of your name from being flooded with the waters of the river. You commanded the rising stream to turn back into the bosom of the earth, at the sight of which the blessed Archipus together with his spiritual children cried to you in thanksgiving:
Hail, indestructible rampart of the holy Church of God!
Hail, you at whose behest the elements are subdued!
Hail, you by whom all evil intents are brought to naught!
Hail, you who bring joy to all the faithful from the throne of the Almighty God!
Hail, you who lead unbelievers on the path of justice and truth!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
Habakkuk, the prophet, saw in his very self a strange wonder of your power, 0 chief captain of God?s armies, when carried off at the Divine Command, he was quickly taken from Judah to Babylon to give food to Daniel, a prisoner in the den of the lions. Therefore, amazed at the mighty effect of your strength, he cried out with faith: Alleluia!
Eighth Chant
Standing before the throne of God, Michael, you are entirely in the heights yet you are not far from men and women below upon the earth. You ever fight against the enemies of mankind?s salvation. Therefore, all who wish to reach the long-desired homeland of heaven call to you with one accord:
Hail, leader of the thrice-holy hymn of the angels!
Hail, ever-ready advocate and guardian of those on earth!
Hail, who, in strange fashion, struck down Pharaoh with his faithless Egyptians in their ponderous pride!
Hail, who gloriously led the Jews in their wandering through the wilderness!
Hail, you who quenched the flame of the fiery furnace of Babylon for the three youths!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
Joyful trembling seized the monks of the Holy Mount of Athos when they saw how you saved the Godfearing child who was thrown into the depths of the sea with a stone around his neck by money-grubbing men. The monastery that received him was adorned by your name, 0 Michael, and cries to God in thanksgiving: Alleluia!
Ninth Chant
Speakers, eloquent in words and who love clever thoughts, have not sufficient strength to declare your might, 0 Michael, and how in one night you destroyed the one hundred and eighty-five thousand warriors of Sennacherih, the king of Assyria, as a warning to him not to blaspheme the Name of the Lord in the future. We, honoring your zeal for the glory of the truth of God, cry out to you with gladness:
Hail, unconquerable leader of the armies of Orthodoxy!
Hail, very fear and defeat of armies whose beliefs are evil!
Hail, planter of the Orthodox faith and worship!
Hail, uprooter of heresies and schisms that harm the soul!
Hail, you who strengthened the pious Maccabees on the field of battle!
Hail, you who struck down in the temple itself Heliodorus, the captain of the evil king, Antiochus!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
0 chief captain of God, be for us who wish to be saved, a firm helper, to deliver and preserve us from distress and mishap, and even more so from our own evil habits and sins so that, progressing in faith, hope and love of Christ, we may thankfully cry out with joy to the Master of angels and mankind for your strong defense: Alleluia!
Tenth Chant
0 chief captain of God, you are a wall for all who believe and a strong pillar in the struggles with visible and invisible enemies. With thankful hearts and voices we cry:
Hail, unconquerable opponent of the enemies of the Faith and the adversaries of the Holy Church!
Hail, untiring helper of those who humbly announce the Good News!
Hail, you who enlighten with the light of faith those sitting in the land of darkness!
Hail, you who direct along the path of truth and repentance those made foolish through false wisdom!
Hail, terrible avenger of those who call in vain upon the Name of the Lord!
Hail, chastiser-bearing lightning for those who foolishly mock the Mysteries of the Holy Faith!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
0 angel of God, every song of praise falls short because of the multitude of miracles performed by you not only in heaven and on earth, but also in the dark shades of the depths of the netherworld, where you have chained the serpent with the bonds of power of the Lord, that those delivered from the evil one?s wickedness might bless the Master of heaven and earth, crying: Alleluia!
Eleventh Chant
0 chief captain, you appeared as a light-bearing servant of truth and the purity of divine worship when, foreseeing the snares of the spirit of darkness, you have forbidden him in the Name of the Lord, that he dare not show the hidden body of the prophet Moses, leader of the Jews, to the sensual children of Israel lest they deify him. Therefore, while we now honor your divinely bright feast, we cry to you:
Hail, you who kept the purity of knowledge of God among the Jews in the days of the Old Testament!
Hail, who by grace have many times uprooted the weeds of error in the days of the New Testament!
Hail, destroyer of heathen prophets and idols!
Hail, fortifier of Christians who struggle and suffer!
Hail, you who fill the weak in spirit with the strength of the grace of God!
Hail, you who clothe in the armor of faith those who fail in the flesh!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
Beg grace for us from God in heaven as we sing to the glory of your honorable name, 0 Michael, that in the shadow of your protection we may live in all piety and purity until, set loose from the bonds of flesh and death, we may be granted to stand before the flaming throne of the King of Glory and sing with all the choirs of angels: Alleluia!
Twelfth Chant
Singing the praises of your many different miracles performed for our salvation, we pray the Lord and Master of all, 0 Michael, that the spirit of zeal for the glory of God that is within you fail not in us who sing to you with these hymns of praise:
Hail, you who divinely set up in the heights of power the servants of God in time of need!
Hail, you who invisibly bring down from the heights of strength and glory those who are unworthy and insolent!
Hail, you, who on the last day, shall gather the chosen from the four ends of the earth!
Hail, you by whom at the voice of God sinners shall be committed like bares to the eternal fire!
Hail, you by whom Satan and his angels shall be cast into the lake of fire!
Hail, you by whom the righteous shall gloriously be made to settle in the mansion of our heavenly Father!
Hail, Michael, great chief captain with all the hosts of heaven!
Kontakion
0 most wonderful leader of archangels and angels, because of your most marvelous service for the salvation of mankind, accept from us the sound of praise and thanksgiving now offered to you, and as you are filled with the strength of God, protect us with your immaterial wings from all visible and invisible enemies, that we may cry without ceasing to the Lord glorified by you and who glorified you: Alleluia!
Prayer of Entrustment
0 great and holy Michael, Archangel of God, standing at the head of the angels before the everlasting + Trinity, 0 advocate and preserver of mankind, who - with your hosts - has broken in heaven the head of the daystar, Satan, the exceedingly proud one, and who always puts to shame his evil and cunning servants on earth, we run to you with faith and pray to you with love: be an unbreakable shield and firm bastion for the Holy Church and for our nation, protecting them with your lightning sword. Be for us a guardian angel, a wise counselor and helper of our land bringing to it from the throne of the Eternal Ruling King and Lord our God enlightenment and strength, joy, peace and comfort. Be for us the chief captain and fellow-fighter of our honorable country, crowning it with glory and victory over unjust adversaries, that all who oppose us may know that God and His holy angels stand ready to defend us. Be the physician and healer of those wounded. Be the pillar and defender of those children of the Church of God that are in captivity. And forsake not, 0 Archangel of God, with your help and protection, those of us who today glorify your holy name. For, behold, though we are great sinners, yet we desire not to perish in our iniquities but to turn to the Lord and be made by Him to live for good works. Illuminate our minds with the light of the Countenance of God that shines without ceasing on the lightning-like forehead, that we may understand that the will of God concerning us is good and perfect and knows all that is right for us to do, and even that which is right to omit and overlook. Strengthen by the grace of the Lord, our weak and feeble purpose, that made firm in the commandments of the Lord we may cease to wallow in earthly thoughts drawn by the lusts of the flesh as senseless children through the perishable beauties of the world. Above all these things, ask from on high for us the true spirit of repentance, true sorrow and contrition for our sins before God, that we may spend the remaining number of our days in this temporal life, not in the satisfying of our feelings and in the bondage to our passions, but in the blotting out of the evil we have done by tears of faith and heartfelt compunction, by works of charity, chastity, and holy acts of loving mercy.
When the hour of our end and of our liberation from the earthly bonds of our own bodies draws near, 0 Archangel of God, leave us not without defense against the earthly spirits of evil who try to hinder the entry of man into the heavenly places. Preserved by you, may we, without hindrance, reach those all-glorious dwelling-places of Paradise where there is neither sorrow nor sighing but only life without end. May we be made worthy to behold the Face of our all-gracious Lord and Master, and falling at His feet with tears may we cry out in joy and tender feeling: Glory to You, our most tender, dear Redeemer, who, because of Your great love for us, your unworthy servants and handmaidens, have been pleased to send Your angels in the service of our salvation! For all the powers of heaven praise You, and we give glory, honor and thanksgiving to You, Father +, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
0 chosen captain of the heavenly hosts and defender of mankind, we, delivered by you from all afflictions, offer this hymn of thanksgiving, and do you, standing before the throne of the King of Glory, set us free from all distress that we may cry to you with faith and love:
Hail, Michael, great captain, with all the hosts of heaven! Three times.
Recite the Concluding Prayers.
Text taken from Byzantines dot Net
Akathist To All Saints Of Western Europe
Akathist to all the Saints that shone forth in the lands of the West
(written by Hierod. Grigorie Benea, translated by:Calina Gavrea and Fr. Andrew Philips)
Kontakion 1
Now let us praise, as is meet, all the saints that in times of old shone forth in the lands of the West, enlightening those parts through their sufferings and struggles. And let us sing to them, as to those that unceasingly pray for us before God, saying: Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Ikos 1
The most holy name of our Savior hath been glorified wondrously within you, O saints of the West. For, beholding your holy life and deeds for salvation, the peoples of the West learned how to worship the True God and honour you with joy, saying:
Rejoice, apostles and martyrs, monks and bishops, for ye are the praise and joy of all
the West!
Rejoice, for ye above all are the most precious fruit of these lands!
Rejoice, for your holy blood washed away all heathen defilement!
Rejoice, for through teachings full of power ye delivered the people from ignorance!
Rejoice, for in the darkness of those times ye shone like most radiant beacons of light!
Rejoice, for ye showed yourselves before the whole world as true guides to the path of salvation!
Rejoice, for in this way ye became fathers in Christ unto all the peoples of the West!
Rejoice, for even to this day ye pray unceasingly for us in the heavens!
Rejoice, for ye above all are the strong hope of these places!
Rejoice, for all the faithful of the West boast of you!
Rejoice, for ye teach us how to give true honour to God!
Rejoice, for ye call the whole West to repentance and turn back to God!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 2
The lands of the West were also counted worthy to receive the wonderful Apostles of God, that with unquenchable zeal everywhere preached the good news of salvation. And through them the peoples of the West were born in Christ for the first time, and began singing to Him as to the true God: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
The Holy Apostles made themselves enlighteners of the West through their untiring labours. For they put at naught the dark powers of the enemy and fearlessly spread the light of Christ in all places. And for this they confessed the truth even unto blood and became worthy to hear from the mouths of all songs of praise like these:
Rejoice, Apostles of Christ, that strove to bring the Gospel to the lands of the West!
Rejoice, for ye above all others are the fathers and protectors of these places!
Rejoice, therefore, Holy Peter and Paul, Princes of the Apostles, for ye founded the first Church in the West!
Rejoice, for through you pagan Rome began to offer pure sacrifice to the True God!
Rejoice, for ye were shown to be fearless before all the terrors and persecutions of the unbelievers!
Rejoice, for at the end ye sealed your faith in Christ even with your own blood!
Rejoice, Holy Apostle James, son of Zebedee, who hast enlightened the Spanish lands!
Rejoice, for thy relics rest in those parts to this day, bringing great comfort to all!
Rejoice, thou too, Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot, who brought the faith of the Risen Christ to Britain!
Rejoice, for like all the other Apostles thou too didst receive death for eternal life!
Rejoice, Holy Aristobulus, who hast followed Saint Simon in preaching!
Rejoice, for thou didst become the first bishop of Britain and witness of Christ!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 3
The Apostles of God left worthy disciples and followers in the places they enlightened, and they were in nothing less than their fathers, but in all things followed them in labour and zeal. For through the example of their lives they delivered the heathen from idolatry and brought them to venerate the One True God, teaching them to sing to Him unceasingly: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
Now let us all sing with one voice to all those that were worthy to become followers of the Holy Apostles, furthering their work and hallowing the lands of the West through their teachings and blood; and let us all say to them, as to those who even to this day pray before the throne of God for us, words of praise like these:
Rejoice, all ye who have shown yourselves to be wonderful disciples of the disciples of Christ!
Rejoice, for alongside your fathers ye struggled fervently for the enlightenment of the West!
Rejoice, therefore, amongst all, Holy Clement, for the prince of the Apostles consecrated thee bishop of Rome!
Rejoice, for thou didst guide the flock entrusted to thee with great wisdom and worthiness!
Rejoice also, Holy Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, for thou too didst receive consecration from the hands of Saint Peter!
Rejoice, thou bearer of God, for thy writings greatly console us to this day!
Rejoice, for thy glorious martyrdom is for all an example of manliness and courage in the face of death!
Rejoice, thou too, Holy Justin lover of wisdom, for through thy writings thou didst arouse the wrath of the enemies of Christ!
Rejoice, for not suffering thy divine wisdom, they martyred thee in the arenas of Rome!
Rejoice, also, Holy Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon, who from Asia Minor came to enlighten the lands of Gaul!
Rejoice, for through thy divinely-inspired writings, thou didst ceaselessly fight against all heresies!
Rejoice, for because of this, all Christians honour thee as a great Pillar and Father of the Church!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 4
Now let us offer songs of praise to all those that in the lands of the West suffered for Christ even unto blood, and through their manliness trampled down death; and to God, Who strengthened them in torments and tortures beyond all imagination, let us all unceasingly sing thus: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
With joy ye shed your blood for Christ, O venerable martyrs, and to Him ye offered yourselves as a well-received sacrifice. And the peoples of the West, seeing your unspeakable patience, understood that the God of Glory Himself dwelt within you, and marvelling at such a thing, with faith began singing to you thus:
Rejoice, Tatiana and Anastasia, together with Sophia and her three daughters!
Rejoice, Cecilia and Agnes, who showed yourselves women unequalled in courage!
Rejoice, Laurence, archdeacon, together with Sebastian, the glorious martyr of Christ!
Rejoice, good victors, for through your unspeakable passions ye hallowed pagan Rome!
Rejoice, all ye who filled all the lands of the West with your struggles!
Rejoice, Agatha and Lucy, praised martyrs, for in Italy ye fought the good fight!
Rejoice, Valentine and Januarius, enlightened bishops, for ye sealed your teaching with blood!
Rejoice, Cyprian, hierarch, together with Perpetua and Felicity and all those that laid down their lives for Christ in the African lands!
Rejoice, Maurice, wonderful martyr, for in the Swiss lands alongside thy soldiers thou didst fearlessly stand up in the face of death!
Rejoice, Vincent, deacon, for thou didst hallow Spain through thine unimaginable torments!
Rejoice, Alban, valiant warrior, for thou didst offer thyself as the first pure sacrifice of Britain to the true God!
Rejoice, Ursula, bride of Christ, who with thy blood washed the German lands!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 5
As the enemy of our salvation saw that he could not defeat the faith of the disciples of Christ through tortures and persecutions beyond compare, he sent against them hosts of deceitful teachers and shepherds, who with treachery would lead the faithful into delusion. But against them stood up wise Fathers, great both in word and deed, who with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit overcame all heresy and taught the people to give true honour to God, saying: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
Now let us praise with joy all the fearless confessors of the Orthodox Faith, who valiantly fought for the truth in the lands of the West and rooted out all lies from among the people through their holy struggles and deeds; and let us sing to them as to true chosen ones of the all Merciful God, saying:
Rejoice, Holy Hosius of Cordoba, for thou didst preside the First Council of the whole world!
Rejoice, Holy Hilary, bishop of Poitiers, for thou too didst fearlessly defend the true faith!
Rejoice, for on account of this thou didst suffer countless persecutions at the hands of the Arian blasphemers!
Rejoice, holy Ambrose, for thou didst rule over the city of Milan with thy divine wisdom!
Rejoice, for with thy words and writings thou didst turn the throngs to Christ!
Rejoice also, Blessed Augustine, for through the prayers of thy mother Monica, God turned thee back from the path of perdition!
Rejoice, for thou didst become a wise bishop and great fighter against heretics!
Rejoice, Jerome, thou blessed man, for through thy many writings thou didst enlighten the lands of the West!
Rejoice, Holy Leo, Pope of Rome, for at the Council of Chalcedon thou didst wonderfully fight for the Orthodox Faith!
Rejoice, for having godly light, thou didst unfailingly guide the people entrusted to thee on the path of salvation!
Rejoice, Holy Martin, fearless Pope, for together with Saint Maximus thou didst confess the truth unto death!
Rejoice, for with joy thou didst suffer for the true faith all the torments of the impious emperor!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 6
The times of dread persecution ended through Divine Providence, but martyrdom for Christ did not cease. For those that had up until then visibly shed their blood for the faith, began to suffer for it invisibly, through fasting and tears crucifying all their sinful desires and lusts. On account of this, they made themselves even like unto earthly angels in the flesh, learning to offer to God unceasing praise: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
The lands of the West also gave birth to men and women perfect in holiness, who by their struggles beyond nature, won the everlasting joys of heaven, making themselves to all an unlying example on the path of salvation. Let us therefore honour first those that shone in the land of Gaul, establishing the monastic life in those parts, and let us joyfully say to them thus:
Rejoice, Holy Martin, for of all Western people, thou first wast deigned to taste of the sweetness of monastic life!
Rejoice, for following thine example, throngs of the faithful chose to forsake the fleeting glory of this world!
Rejoice, for shining with the gift of wonderworking, thou didst become bishop of Tours and the great protector of the West!
Rejoice, Holy John Cassian, for together with thy friend Germanus thou didst drink of the wisdom of the desert Fathers!
Rejoice, for through thy wonderful writings thou didst make thyself the true founder of monastic life in the West!
Rejoice, Holy Honoratus, for on the isle of Lerins thou didst found Gaul’s most famous monastery!
Rejoice, for countless numbers of saints strove there for salvation, turning Gaul into the Thebaid of the West!
Rejoice, therefore, together with Hilary and Eucherius, with Vincent and Ceasarius and many other holy monks!
Rejoice, Holy Gregory of Tours, for thou too didst ceaselessly strive for the fame of the saints of thy lands!
Rejoice, Holy Germanus, bishop of Auxerre, who also through thy gifts enlightened both Britain and Gaul!
Rejoice, blessed Saint Genevieve, for from childhood thou didst yearn to live as an anchoress!
Rejoice, for thou proved thyself a most-powerful protectress of Paris through thy holy prayers!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 7
Springing up from the lands of Gaul as from a clear and fresh fountain, monastic life
spread everywhere in the West; and in each nation it bore fruit in holy monks full of
virtue, who with pure voices and hearts of praise sang to God for themselves and for
the whole world: Alleluia!
Ikos 7
Now let us all praise with one voice those that strove for Christ in the lands of Britain and Italy, and who through their struggles made themselves enlightened apostles of those lands and fathers of monastic life in those places; and let us sing to them as to most wonderful victors in the struggle against the powers of the enemy, saying thus:
Rejoice, Holy Ninian, for it was at Saint Martin’s feet that thou didst learn all the secrets of monastic life!
Rejoice, for perfecting thyself in holiness thou didst become the enlightener of thy home, the land of the Picts!
Rejoice, Holy Patrick, wonderful apostle, for by thy divine zeal thou didst turn the land of Ireland to God!
Rejoice, for in this way thou didst make thyself the father of the Irish people, for whom thou prayest fervently to this day!
Rejoice, for countless disciples followed thee on the path of holiness!
Rejoice, among them all, blessed Brigid, for by thine unutterable love thou didst become the mother of all Ireland!
Rejoice, thou Holy David, wise bishop, for in Wales thou didst establish countless monasteries!
Rejoice, for on account of this the Welsh revere thee to this day as their protector before God!
Rejoice, Holy Benedict, great struggler, for the land of Italy was enlightened by thine unearthly life!
Rejoice, for through thy wonderful Rule thou didst become a true father to all the monks of the West!
Rejoice, Holy Alexis, Man of God, for in the city of Rome thou didst live in utter meekness!
Rejoice, for on account of thy many gifts the whole world cherisheth thee as a great saint!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 8
The enemy of our salvation could not bear that the peoples of the West all with one voice raise up songs of praise to the True God, and therefore he set on them waves of savage and pagan peoples, who in their cruelty passed all through fire and sword. But in those times of great suffering, enlightened preachers rose up in the West, in nothing less than the first Apostles. And through their burning zeal, they turned the temptation of the enemy into heavenly blessing and bore the heathen to Christ, teaching them to sing to Him as to One God: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
Now let us praise all those that among the Franks earned Heaven by their struggles and through their zeal turned many back to Christ. For shining with heavenly gifts, they enlightened the people and wisely guided them to salvation; and therefore they are deigned to hear from the mouths of all songs of praise like these:
Rejoice, Saint Remigius, wonderful archbishop, for thou first wast the Apostle of the Franks!
Rejoice, for inflamed by holy zeal thou didst baptize Clovis, the King of the Franks, together with many heathen!
Rejoice, Holy Clotilde, holy woman, for through thy tears thou didst bring thy husband to Christ!
Rejoice, for together with Saints Radegunde and Bathild, thou didst give all a true example of Christian wives and Queens!
Rejoice, Holy Germanus, bishop of Paris, for thy generosity made thee known as the father of the poor!
Rejoice, for thou didst shine forth before the whole world with thy great gentleness and kindness!
Rejoice, Holy Eligius, skilled smith, for thy love tamed the heathen hearts of stone!
Rejoice, for becoming bishop of Noyon, thou didst turn countless savage Teutons back to Christ!
Rejoice, Holy Amandus, who in the Netherlands preached the Christian faith!
Rejoice, Holy Lambert, for together with thy disciple Hubert thou too didst strive to enlighten those places!
Rejoice, Holy Leger, valiant bishop, for thou didst not waver to reprove the wrong-doings of the king and his subjects!
Rejoice, for on account of this thou wast tormented in all ways, and at the end received a martyr’s death!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 9
Seeing themselves overwhelmed by the heathen throngs, the shepherds of the West wisely decided to go and conquer them for Christ. Therefore they sent men enlightened by God and perfect in virtue, who through their valiant struggles defeated the darkness of heathenism and became fathers in Christ to many nations, together with whom they ceaselessly sang to God the song: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
Through Gregory, the wonderful pope of Rome, and Augustine, the faithful monk, the English people was the first among the German peoples to be born to new life and offer to Christ as a pure sacrifice a host of saints. Now let us sing joyfully to these, as to those that made themselves worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven and the veneration of the whole world, saying to them thus:
Rejoice, thou first, Holy Gregory, great Patriarch, for in perfect wisdom thou didst shepherd the lands of the West!
Rejoice, for burning with zeal for Christ, thou didst strive to bring the heathen peoples to the Faith!
Rejoice, for on account of this thou didst send Saint Augustine to preach, and together with him thou art to this day called the Apostle of the English!
Rejoice, Holy Augustine, for thou didst carry the English people to Christ, baptizing their king, Ethelbert!
Rejoice, for becoming Archbishop of Canterbury, together with thy disciples thou didst bring the first light of Christ to the whole English land!
Rejoice, Paulinus, Birinus and Felix, wonderful apostles, for ye became fathers in Christ of the English!
Rejoice, Oswald, Edwin and Sigebert, martyr kings, who defended the Christian faith unto blood!
Rejoice, Aidan, Chad and Botulph, pious fathers, for in the lands of England ye established monastic life!
Rejoice, Theodore, Wilfrid and John, most wise bishops, for through you the English Church became full of glory!
Rejoice, Hilda, Mildred and Audrey, holy nuns, for by your strivings ye outran by far many men!
Rejoice ye, among all the English saints, Cuthbert, great wonderworker, and Guthlac, father of the desert!
Rejoice, thou also, wise and Venerable Bede, for thou didst devote all thy life to sacred writings!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 10
The lands of Spain made themselves also worthy of great preachers and bishops, who by their unceasing striving brought the heathen to Christ and turned the heretics to the true faith, calling all to give glory and praise to the True God and with thanks always sing to Him: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
Now let us rightly honour as is meet all those that in Spain wondrously confessed the true faith of Christ our Savior and for it fought unto death. And let us offer them songs of praise, as to those that scattered the darkness of lies and made the truth victorious, saying to them joyfully thus:
Rejoice, Holy Martin, Archbishop of Braga, for through thy zeal thou didst bring the Suevian people to the true faith!
Rejoice, for on account of this thou art to this day reckoned the enlightener and father of those places!
Rejoice, Holy Hermenegild, for among the Visigoths thou first didst confess the Orthodox Faith!
Rejoice, for on account of this thou didst even suffer death, setting at naught thy father, the heretical king!
Rejoice, Holy Leander, for through thy labours the Visigoths abandoned the Arian heresy!
Rejoice, for becoming bishop of Seville, thou didst wisely strive for the best of thy flock!
Rejoice, for in this thou wast helped by thy brother and sister, Saints Fulgentius and Florence!
Rejoice, thou also, Holy Isidore, for thou wast the fourth and most honoured child of this holyfamily!
Rejoice, for thou didst succeed thy brother to the see of Seville, proving to be an undeceiving guide on the path of salvation!
Rejoice, for through thy countless writings thou didst enlighten the world, and thou art to this day revered as a Father!
Rejoice, Holy Ildephonsus, Archbishop of Toledo, for thou didst show thyself to be a true disciple of Saint Isidore and wise shepherd!
Rejoice, for burning with love for the most Pure Mother of God, thou didst defend in writing her eternal virginity!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 11
The light of Christ shone even in the unfriendly lands of the Teutons, for the God of glory called all the peoples to Him. Therefore let us sing now to Him Who in His unspeakable mercy redeemed mankind from corruption, and let us worship Him as the Only God, saying: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
Now let us rightly honor, as is meet, the wondrous preachers that rose up from among the Irish and the English, who enlightened many peoples and through their wisdom and zeal showed themselves to be one in honour with the Holy Apostles, and let us sing to them as those that brought to Christ a great harvest of heathen people, saying to them thus:
Rejoice, thou first, Holy Columba, wonderful son of Eire, for through thy zeal thou didst enlighten the lands of the Scots!
Rejoice, for by founding the famous monastery of Iona, thou didst become the Apostle and father to the heathen Picts!
Rejoice, thou too, Holy Columban, for leaving Ireland, thou didst become a fearless preacher to many nations!
Rejoice, for thou didst found many monasteries in the West, setting in them a rule according to the teachings of the desert fathers!
Rejoice, for fearlessly thou didst reprove the evil deeds of unworthy bishops and kings, suffering for this countless persecutions!
Rejoice, Holy Gall, for thou wast deigned to be a disciple of Saint Columban and the beloved Apostle of the Swiss!
Rejoice, thou too, Holy Clement, most wise Englishman, for thou didst preach Christ among the savage heathen!
Rejoice, for on account of thy burning zeal thou bearest to this day the title of Apostle of the Frisians!
Rejoice, Holy Boniface, for together with Saint Clement thou didst bring the Gospel to the lands of the Germans!
Rejoice, for through thee and thy holy disciples, God foreordained to bring to Himself all the German peoples!
Rejoice, for having the blessing of the holy Pope Zacharias, thou didst strive to correct the impieties of the Franks!
Rejoice, for thou didst crown thy holy labors with the crown of martyrdom, which thou didst receive in great old age!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 12
The dreaded Northmen were the last fruit which the faithful people of the West brought to the True God. For being enlightened with the true faith, the Viking nations began to worship our Saviour Christ with zeal, singing to Him in a sweet voice: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
Now let us now honour with praises all those that shone forth in the West in the times near the end and through their struggles made themselves the heirs of Heaven. For some even suffered martyrdom for Christ, while others fearlessly preached Him among the heathen. Therefore let even us offer them honor as it is meet, singing to them thus:
Rejoice, all ye that in the lands of Iberia suffered death at the hands of the unfaithful Hagarenes!
Rejoice, among them, Eulogius and George, for together with many others ye hallowed with your blood the city of Cordoba!
Rejoice, all those that in the lands of Ireland and England suffered martyrdom at the hands of the savage Vikings!
Rejoice, for on account of your sacrifice, God turned the people that persecuted you to believe in Him!
Rejoice, among all the new martyrs, Edmund, glorious king, for through thy sufferings thou didst become the great defender and patron of the English land!
Rejoice, Holy Anschar, for thou first didst preach Christ among the heathen Danes!
Rejoice, for thou didst become bishop of Hamburg, and art revered to this day as the Apostle of the North!
Rejoice, thou too, Holy Olaf, valiant warrior, for being Viking by thy nation, thou didst offer thyself as a pure sacrifice to God!
Rejoice, for thou didst become the Christian king of Norway, slaughtered by the heathen for thine unwavering faith!
Rejoice, Holy Sigfrid, for through thy struggle thou didst enlighten the Swedish land and turn the heathen king to Christ!
Rejoice, Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, for thy wisdom and kindness made thee the much beloved father of the whole of England!
Rejoice, for thou didst anoint as king Saint Edward, the innocent martyr, whose relics bring comfort to Orthodox Christians to this day!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 13
Now let us sing with songs of thanksgiving to Him Who called His Saints from all over the Earth and gathered His beloved from the edges of the world, to God, Who is glorified in the Holy Trinity. For through His chosen one, Saint John the Wonderworker, He revealed to us the old saints of the West in these last days, for our joy and comfort. For this, then, and for all the others, let us thank Him as our most beloved God, and let us worship Him with voices of praise, saying to Him: Alleluia!
This Kontakion is to be read three times.
And then again Ikos 1:The most holy name of our Saviour...and Kontakion 1: Now
let us praise, as is meet,...
Then this:
Prayer to all the Saints that shone forth in the lands of the West
O ye saints of the West, that in times of old confessed the true faith of our Saviour Christ and for it fought even unto death, thus making yourselves worthy of heavenly glory and becoming heirs of everlasting life! Now do we, your unworthy successors, fall to our knees before you, and humbly beg you: as ye have boldly interceded for us before the throne of God unto this day, so from this time on do ye pray, O our beloved saints, for all the lands of the West! Pray that the Merciful and Long-Suffering God grant them forgiveness of sins and correction of life, and turn them, through His judgments, to repentance and the true faith for which ye sacrificed yourselves.
Again we pray to you, O saints, for all the right believing faithful of the West who have need of your help and mercy: protect them by your prayers from all the temptations that befall them; strengthen them in the true faith and grant them zeal to preach it; guard them from all the wickedness of enemies seen and unseen; and show them victorious before the unfaithful, for the glory of God and your honour. That through you, O saints of the West, the true faith may once again shine forth with power in the West, as it shone in times of old, and that the light of Christ may enlighten all.
And thus, O ye saints, who through Divine Providence have shown yourselves to us in these latter days, receive us also, as the workers of the eleventh hour, for your veneration. And pray for us, who unworthily sing to you songs of praise, that our God, Who forgiveth easily, make us too partakers of heavenly bliss, granting us salvation, as the God Who is Good and loveth mankind. That thus, together with you, beloved saints of the West, we may sing unto Him and worship Him as the All-Merciful God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
(written by Hierod. Grigorie Benea, translated by:Calina Gavrea and Fr. Andrew Philips)
Kontakion 1
Now let us praise, as is meet, all the saints that in times of old shone forth in the lands of the West, enlightening those parts through their sufferings and struggles. And let us sing to them, as to those that unceasingly pray for us before God, saying: Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Ikos 1
The most holy name of our Savior hath been glorified wondrously within you, O saints of the West. For, beholding your holy life and deeds for salvation, the peoples of the West learned how to worship the True God and honour you with joy, saying:
Rejoice, apostles and martyrs, monks and bishops, for ye are the praise and joy of all
the West!
Rejoice, for ye above all are the most precious fruit of these lands!
Rejoice, for your holy blood washed away all heathen defilement!
Rejoice, for through teachings full of power ye delivered the people from ignorance!
Rejoice, for in the darkness of those times ye shone like most radiant beacons of light!
Rejoice, for ye showed yourselves before the whole world as true guides to the path of salvation!
Rejoice, for in this way ye became fathers in Christ unto all the peoples of the West!
Rejoice, for even to this day ye pray unceasingly for us in the heavens!
Rejoice, for ye above all are the strong hope of these places!
Rejoice, for all the faithful of the West boast of you!
Rejoice, for ye teach us how to give true honour to God!
Rejoice, for ye call the whole West to repentance and turn back to God!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 2
The lands of the West were also counted worthy to receive the wonderful Apostles of God, that with unquenchable zeal everywhere preached the good news of salvation. And through them the peoples of the West were born in Christ for the first time, and began singing to Him as to the true God: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
The Holy Apostles made themselves enlighteners of the West through their untiring labours. For they put at naught the dark powers of the enemy and fearlessly spread the light of Christ in all places. And for this they confessed the truth even unto blood and became worthy to hear from the mouths of all songs of praise like these:
Rejoice, Apostles of Christ, that strove to bring the Gospel to the lands of the West!
Rejoice, for ye above all others are the fathers and protectors of these places!
Rejoice, therefore, Holy Peter and Paul, Princes of the Apostles, for ye founded the first Church in the West!
Rejoice, for through you pagan Rome began to offer pure sacrifice to the True God!
Rejoice, for ye were shown to be fearless before all the terrors and persecutions of the unbelievers!
Rejoice, for at the end ye sealed your faith in Christ even with your own blood!
Rejoice, Holy Apostle James, son of Zebedee, who hast enlightened the Spanish lands!
Rejoice, for thy relics rest in those parts to this day, bringing great comfort to all!
Rejoice, thou too, Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot, who brought the faith of the Risen Christ to Britain!
Rejoice, for like all the other Apostles thou too didst receive death for eternal life!
Rejoice, Holy Aristobulus, who hast followed Saint Simon in preaching!
Rejoice, for thou didst become the first bishop of Britain and witness of Christ!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 3
The Apostles of God left worthy disciples and followers in the places they enlightened, and they were in nothing less than their fathers, but in all things followed them in labour and zeal. For through the example of their lives they delivered the heathen from idolatry and brought them to venerate the One True God, teaching them to sing to Him unceasingly: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
Now let us all sing with one voice to all those that were worthy to become followers of the Holy Apostles, furthering their work and hallowing the lands of the West through their teachings and blood; and let us all say to them, as to those who even to this day pray before the throne of God for us, words of praise like these:
Rejoice, all ye who have shown yourselves to be wonderful disciples of the disciples of Christ!
Rejoice, for alongside your fathers ye struggled fervently for the enlightenment of the West!
Rejoice, therefore, amongst all, Holy Clement, for the prince of the Apostles consecrated thee bishop of Rome!
Rejoice, for thou didst guide the flock entrusted to thee with great wisdom and worthiness!
Rejoice also, Holy Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, for thou too didst receive consecration from the hands of Saint Peter!
Rejoice, thou bearer of God, for thy writings greatly console us to this day!
Rejoice, for thy glorious martyrdom is for all an example of manliness and courage in the face of death!
Rejoice, thou too, Holy Justin lover of wisdom, for through thy writings thou didst arouse the wrath of the enemies of Christ!
Rejoice, for not suffering thy divine wisdom, they martyred thee in the arenas of Rome!
Rejoice, also, Holy Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon, who from Asia Minor came to enlighten the lands of Gaul!
Rejoice, for through thy divinely-inspired writings, thou didst ceaselessly fight against all heresies!
Rejoice, for because of this, all Christians honour thee as a great Pillar and Father of the Church!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 4
Now let us offer songs of praise to all those that in the lands of the West suffered for Christ even unto blood, and through their manliness trampled down death; and to God, Who strengthened them in torments and tortures beyond all imagination, let us all unceasingly sing thus: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
With joy ye shed your blood for Christ, O venerable martyrs, and to Him ye offered yourselves as a well-received sacrifice. And the peoples of the West, seeing your unspeakable patience, understood that the God of Glory Himself dwelt within you, and marvelling at such a thing, with faith began singing to you thus:
Rejoice, Tatiana and Anastasia, together with Sophia and her three daughters!
Rejoice, Cecilia and Agnes, who showed yourselves women unequalled in courage!
Rejoice, Laurence, archdeacon, together with Sebastian, the glorious martyr of Christ!
Rejoice, good victors, for through your unspeakable passions ye hallowed pagan Rome!
Rejoice, all ye who filled all the lands of the West with your struggles!
Rejoice, Agatha and Lucy, praised martyrs, for in Italy ye fought the good fight!
Rejoice, Valentine and Januarius, enlightened bishops, for ye sealed your teaching with blood!
Rejoice, Cyprian, hierarch, together with Perpetua and Felicity and all those that laid down their lives for Christ in the African lands!
Rejoice, Maurice, wonderful martyr, for in the Swiss lands alongside thy soldiers thou didst fearlessly stand up in the face of death!
Rejoice, Vincent, deacon, for thou didst hallow Spain through thine unimaginable torments!
Rejoice, Alban, valiant warrior, for thou didst offer thyself as the first pure sacrifice of Britain to the true God!
Rejoice, Ursula, bride of Christ, who with thy blood washed the German lands!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 5
As the enemy of our salvation saw that he could not defeat the faith of the disciples of Christ through tortures and persecutions beyond compare, he sent against them hosts of deceitful teachers and shepherds, who with treachery would lead the faithful into delusion. But against them stood up wise Fathers, great both in word and deed, who with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit overcame all heresy and taught the people to give true honour to God, saying: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
Now let us praise with joy all the fearless confessors of the Orthodox Faith, who valiantly fought for the truth in the lands of the West and rooted out all lies from among the people through their holy struggles and deeds; and let us sing to them as to true chosen ones of the all Merciful God, saying:
Rejoice, Holy Hosius of Cordoba, for thou didst preside the First Council of the whole world!
Rejoice, Holy Hilary, bishop of Poitiers, for thou too didst fearlessly defend the true faith!
Rejoice, for on account of this thou didst suffer countless persecutions at the hands of the Arian blasphemers!
Rejoice, holy Ambrose, for thou didst rule over the city of Milan with thy divine wisdom!
Rejoice, for with thy words and writings thou didst turn the throngs to Christ!
Rejoice also, Blessed Augustine, for through the prayers of thy mother Monica, God turned thee back from the path of perdition!
Rejoice, for thou didst become a wise bishop and great fighter against heretics!
Rejoice, Jerome, thou blessed man, for through thy many writings thou didst enlighten the lands of the West!
Rejoice, Holy Leo, Pope of Rome, for at the Council of Chalcedon thou didst wonderfully fight for the Orthodox Faith!
Rejoice, for having godly light, thou didst unfailingly guide the people entrusted to thee on the path of salvation!
Rejoice, Holy Martin, fearless Pope, for together with Saint Maximus thou didst confess the truth unto death!
Rejoice, for with joy thou didst suffer for the true faith all the torments of the impious emperor!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 6
The times of dread persecution ended through Divine Providence, but martyrdom for Christ did not cease. For those that had up until then visibly shed their blood for the faith, began to suffer for it invisibly, through fasting and tears crucifying all their sinful desires and lusts. On account of this, they made themselves even like unto earthly angels in the flesh, learning to offer to God unceasing praise: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
The lands of the West also gave birth to men and women perfect in holiness, who by their struggles beyond nature, won the everlasting joys of heaven, making themselves to all an unlying example on the path of salvation. Let us therefore honour first those that shone in the land of Gaul, establishing the monastic life in those parts, and let us joyfully say to them thus:
Rejoice, Holy Martin, for of all Western people, thou first wast deigned to taste of the sweetness of monastic life!
Rejoice, for following thine example, throngs of the faithful chose to forsake the fleeting glory of this world!
Rejoice, for shining with the gift of wonderworking, thou didst become bishop of Tours and the great protector of the West!
Rejoice, Holy John Cassian, for together with thy friend Germanus thou didst drink of the wisdom of the desert Fathers!
Rejoice, for through thy wonderful writings thou didst make thyself the true founder of monastic life in the West!
Rejoice, Holy Honoratus, for on the isle of Lerins thou didst found Gaul’s most famous monastery!
Rejoice, for countless numbers of saints strove there for salvation, turning Gaul into the Thebaid of the West!
Rejoice, therefore, together with Hilary and Eucherius, with Vincent and Ceasarius and many other holy monks!
Rejoice, Holy Gregory of Tours, for thou too didst ceaselessly strive for the fame of the saints of thy lands!
Rejoice, Holy Germanus, bishop of Auxerre, who also through thy gifts enlightened both Britain and Gaul!
Rejoice, blessed Saint Genevieve, for from childhood thou didst yearn to live as an anchoress!
Rejoice, for thou proved thyself a most-powerful protectress of Paris through thy holy prayers!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 7
Springing up from the lands of Gaul as from a clear and fresh fountain, monastic life
spread everywhere in the West; and in each nation it bore fruit in holy monks full of
virtue, who with pure voices and hearts of praise sang to God for themselves and for
the whole world: Alleluia!
Ikos 7
Now let us all praise with one voice those that strove for Christ in the lands of Britain and Italy, and who through their struggles made themselves enlightened apostles of those lands and fathers of monastic life in those places; and let us sing to them as to most wonderful victors in the struggle against the powers of the enemy, saying thus:
Rejoice, Holy Ninian, for it was at Saint Martin’s feet that thou didst learn all the secrets of monastic life!
Rejoice, for perfecting thyself in holiness thou didst become the enlightener of thy home, the land of the Picts!
Rejoice, Holy Patrick, wonderful apostle, for by thy divine zeal thou didst turn the land of Ireland to God!
Rejoice, for in this way thou didst make thyself the father of the Irish people, for whom thou prayest fervently to this day!
Rejoice, for countless disciples followed thee on the path of holiness!
Rejoice, among them all, blessed Brigid, for by thine unutterable love thou didst become the mother of all Ireland!
Rejoice, thou Holy David, wise bishop, for in Wales thou didst establish countless monasteries!
Rejoice, for on account of this the Welsh revere thee to this day as their protector before God!
Rejoice, Holy Benedict, great struggler, for the land of Italy was enlightened by thine unearthly life!
Rejoice, for through thy wonderful Rule thou didst become a true father to all the monks of the West!
Rejoice, Holy Alexis, Man of God, for in the city of Rome thou didst live in utter meekness!
Rejoice, for on account of thy many gifts the whole world cherisheth thee as a great saint!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 8
The enemy of our salvation could not bear that the peoples of the West all with one voice raise up songs of praise to the True God, and therefore he set on them waves of savage and pagan peoples, who in their cruelty passed all through fire and sword. But in those times of great suffering, enlightened preachers rose up in the West, in nothing less than the first Apostles. And through their burning zeal, they turned the temptation of the enemy into heavenly blessing and bore the heathen to Christ, teaching them to sing to Him as to One God: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
Now let us praise all those that among the Franks earned Heaven by their struggles and through their zeal turned many back to Christ. For shining with heavenly gifts, they enlightened the people and wisely guided them to salvation; and therefore they are deigned to hear from the mouths of all songs of praise like these:
Rejoice, Saint Remigius, wonderful archbishop, for thou first wast the Apostle of the Franks!
Rejoice, for inflamed by holy zeal thou didst baptize Clovis, the King of the Franks, together with many heathen!
Rejoice, Holy Clotilde, holy woman, for through thy tears thou didst bring thy husband to Christ!
Rejoice, for together with Saints Radegunde and Bathild, thou didst give all a true example of Christian wives and Queens!
Rejoice, Holy Germanus, bishop of Paris, for thy generosity made thee known as the father of the poor!
Rejoice, for thou didst shine forth before the whole world with thy great gentleness and kindness!
Rejoice, Holy Eligius, skilled smith, for thy love tamed the heathen hearts of stone!
Rejoice, for becoming bishop of Noyon, thou didst turn countless savage Teutons back to Christ!
Rejoice, Holy Amandus, who in the Netherlands preached the Christian faith!
Rejoice, Holy Lambert, for together with thy disciple Hubert thou too didst strive to enlighten those places!
Rejoice, Holy Leger, valiant bishop, for thou didst not waver to reprove the wrong-doings of the king and his subjects!
Rejoice, for on account of this thou wast tormented in all ways, and at the end received a martyr’s death!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 9
Seeing themselves overwhelmed by the heathen throngs, the shepherds of the West wisely decided to go and conquer them for Christ. Therefore they sent men enlightened by God and perfect in virtue, who through their valiant struggles defeated the darkness of heathenism and became fathers in Christ to many nations, together with whom they ceaselessly sang to God the song: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
Through Gregory, the wonderful pope of Rome, and Augustine, the faithful monk, the English people was the first among the German peoples to be born to new life and offer to Christ as a pure sacrifice a host of saints. Now let us sing joyfully to these, as to those that made themselves worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven and the veneration of the whole world, saying to them thus:
Rejoice, thou first, Holy Gregory, great Patriarch, for in perfect wisdom thou didst shepherd the lands of the West!
Rejoice, for burning with zeal for Christ, thou didst strive to bring the heathen peoples to the Faith!
Rejoice, for on account of this thou didst send Saint Augustine to preach, and together with him thou art to this day called the Apostle of the English!
Rejoice, Holy Augustine, for thou didst carry the English people to Christ, baptizing their king, Ethelbert!
Rejoice, for becoming Archbishop of Canterbury, together with thy disciples thou didst bring the first light of Christ to the whole English land!
Rejoice, Paulinus, Birinus and Felix, wonderful apostles, for ye became fathers in Christ of the English!
Rejoice, Oswald, Edwin and Sigebert, martyr kings, who defended the Christian faith unto blood!
Rejoice, Aidan, Chad and Botulph, pious fathers, for in the lands of England ye established monastic life!
Rejoice, Theodore, Wilfrid and John, most wise bishops, for through you the English Church became full of glory!
Rejoice, Hilda, Mildred and Audrey, holy nuns, for by your strivings ye outran by far many men!
Rejoice ye, among all the English saints, Cuthbert, great wonderworker, and Guthlac, father of the desert!
Rejoice, thou also, wise and Venerable Bede, for thou didst devote all thy life to sacred writings!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 10
The lands of Spain made themselves also worthy of great preachers and bishops, who by their unceasing striving brought the heathen to Christ and turned the heretics to the true faith, calling all to give glory and praise to the True God and with thanks always sing to Him: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
Now let us rightly honour as is meet all those that in Spain wondrously confessed the true faith of Christ our Savior and for it fought unto death. And let us offer them songs of praise, as to those that scattered the darkness of lies and made the truth victorious, saying to them joyfully thus:
Rejoice, Holy Martin, Archbishop of Braga, for through thy zeal thou didst bring the Suevian people to the true faith!
Rejoice, for on account of this thou art to this day reckoned the enlightener and father of those places!
Rejoice, Holy Hermenegild, for among the Visigoths thou first didst confess the Orthodox Faith!
Rejoice, for on account of this thou didst even suffer death, setting at naught thy father, the heretical king!
Rejoice, Holy Leander, for through thy labours the Visigoths abandoned the Arian heresy!
Rejoice, for becoming bishop of Seville, thou didst wisely strive for the best of thy flock!
Rejoice, for in this thou wast helped by thy brother and sister, Saints Fulgentius and Florence!
Rejoice, thou also, Holy Isidore, for thou wast the fourth and most honoured child of this holyfamily!
Rejoice, for thou didst succeed thy brother to the see of Seville, proving to be an undeceiving guide on the path of salvation!
Rejoice, for through thy countless writings thou didst enlighten the world, and thou art to this day revered as a Father!
Rejoice, Holy Ildephonsus, Archbishop of Toledo, for thou didst show thyself to be a true disciple of Saint Isidore and wise shepherd!
Rejoice, for burning with love for the most Pure Mother of God, thou didst defend in writing her eternal virginity!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 11
The light of Christ shone even in the unfriendly lands of the Teutons, for the God of glory called all the peoples to Him. Therefore let us sing now to Him Who in His unspeakable mercy redeemed mankind from corruption, and let us worship Him as the Only God, saying: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
Now let us rightly honor, as is meet, the wondrous preachers that rose up from among the Irish and the English, who enlightened many peoples and through their wisdom and zeal showed themselves to be one in honour with the Holy Apostles, and let us sing to them as those that brought to Christ a great harvest of heathen people, saying to them thus:
Rejoice, thou first, Holy Columba, wonderful son of Eire, for through thy zeal thou didst enlighten the lands of the Scots!
Rejoice, for by founding the famous monastery of Iona, thou didst become the Apostle and father to the heathen Picts!
Rejoice, thou too, Holy Columban, for leaving Ireland, thou didst become a fearless preacher to many nations!
Rejoice, for thou didst found many monasteries in the West, setting in them a rule according to the teachings of the desert fathers!
Rejoice, for fearlessly thou didst reprove the evil deeds of unworthy bishops and kings, suffering for this countless persecutions!
Rejoice, Holy Gall, for thou wast deigned to be a disciple of Saint Columban and the beloved Apostle of the Swiss!
Rejoice, thou too, Holy Clement, most wise Englishman, for thou didst preach Christ among the savage heathen!
Rejoice, for on account of thy burning zeal thou bearest to this day the title of Apostle of the Frisians!
Rejoice, Holy Boniface, for together with Saint Clement thou didst bring the Gospel to the lands of the Germans!
Rejoice, for through thee and thy holy disciples, God foreordained to bring to Himself all the German peoples!
Rejoice, for having the blessing of the holy Pope Zacharias, thou didst strive to correct the impieties of the Franks!
Rejoice, for thou didst crown thy holy labors with the crown of martyrdom, which thou didst receive in great old age!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 12
The dreaded Northmen were the last fruit which the faithful people of the West brought to the True God. For being enlightened with the true faith, the Viking nations began to worship our Saviour Christ with zeal, singing to Him in a sweet voice: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
Now let us now honour with praises all those that shone forth in the West in the times near the end and through their struggles made themselves the heirs of Heaven. For some even suffered martyrdom for Christ, while others fearlessly preached Him among the heathen. Therefore let even us offer them honor as it is meet, singing to them thus:
Rejoice, all ye that in the lands of Iberia suffered death at the hands of the unfaithful Hagarenes!
Rejoice, among them, Eulogius and George, for together with many others ye hallowed with your blood the city of Cordoba!
Rejoice, all those that in the lands of Ireland and England suffered martyrdom at the hands of the savage Vikings!
Rejoice, for on account of your sacrifice, God turned the people that persecuted you to believe in Him!
Rejoice, among all the new martyrs, Edmund, glorious king, for through thy sufferings thou didst become the great defender and patron of the English land!
Rejoice, Holy Anschar, for thou first didst preach Christ among the heathen Danes!
Rejoice, for thou didst become bishop of Hamburg, and art revered to this day as the Apostle of the North!
Rejoice, thou too, Holy Olaf, valiant warrior, for being Viking by thy nation, thou didst offer thyself as a pure sacrifice to God!
Rejoice, for thou didst become the Christian king of Norway, slaughtered by the heathen for thine unwavering faith!
Rejoice, Holy Sigfrid, for through thy struggle thou didst enlighten the Swedish land and turn the heathen king to Christ!
Rejoice, Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, for thy wisdom and kindness made thee the much beloved father of the whole of England!
Rejoice, for thou didst anoint as king Saint Edward, the innocent martyr, whose relics bring comfort to Orthodox Christians to this day!
Rejoice, all ye Saints, that in the lands of the West confessed the true faith!
Kontakion 13
Now let us sing with songs of thanksgiving to Him Who called His Saints from all over the Earth and gathered His beloved from the edges of the world, to God, Who is glorified in the Holy Trinity. For through His chosen one, Saint John the Wonderworker, He revealed to us the old saints of the West in these last days, for our joy and comfort. For this, then, and for all the others, let us thank Him as our most beloved God, and let us worship Him with voices of praise, saying to Him: Alleluia!
This Kontakion is to be read three times.
And then again Ikos 1:The most holy name of our Saviour...and Kontakion 1: Now
let us praise, as is meet,...
Then this:
Prayer to all the Saints that shone forth in the lands of the West
O ye saints of the West, that in times of old confessed the true faith of our Saviour Christ and for it fought even unto death, thus making yourselves worthy of heavenly glory and becoming heirs of everlasting life! Now do we, your unworthy successors, fall to our knees before you, and humbly beg you: as ye have boldly interceded for us before the throne of God unto this day, so from this time on do ye pray, O our beloved saints, for all the lands of the West! Pray that the Merciful and Long-Suffering God grant them forgiveness of sins and correction of life, and turn them, through His judgments, to repentance and the true faith for which ye sacrificed yourselves.
Again we pray to you, O saints, for all the right believing faithful of the West who have need of your help and mercy: protect them by your prayers from all the temptations that befall them; strengthen them in the true faith and grant them zeal to preach it; guard them from all the wickedness of enemies seen and unseen; and show them victorious before the unfaithful, for the glory of God and your honour. That through you, O saints of the West, the true faith may once again shine forth with power in the West, as it shone in times of old, and that the light of Christ may enlighten all.
And thus, O ye saints, who through Divine Providence have shown yourselves to us in these latter days, receive us also, as the workers of the eleventh hour, for your veneration. And pray for us, who unworthily sing to you songs of praise, that our God, Who forgiveth easily, make us too partakers of heavenly bliss, granting us salvation, as the God Who is Good and loveth mankind. That thus, together with you, beloved saints of the West, we may sing unto Him and worship Him as the All-Merciful God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Service to St Etheldreda/St Audrey of Ely
Having been to the stunningly lovely Cathedral of Ely, and prayed at the original site of her shrine, I have a great veneration for St Etheldreda/St Audrey.
I am reproducing the text of a service to celebrate her Feast Day in plenty of time !
The original service is from this amazing site.
The 23rd Day of the Month of June
Commemoration of our Holy Mother Audrey, Abbess of Ely
At Vespers
At 'Lord, I have cried', 3 stichira in Tone VIII:
Thou, O Virgin Queen, hast suffered the pains of ascetic struggle and thus gained grace through the necklace of thy virtues, to heal diseases of both body and soul, to drive out demons and protect all those that suffer: O venerable Mother Audrey, do thou pray for us that we may obtain healing and great mercy.
In times of old the mere touch of thy burial robes bestowed sight on the blind and healing on the sick who faithfully beseeched thine aid. Now, O holy and venerable Mother Audrey, boast of Ely, do thou pray for us in thy noble strength that we may obtain great mercy.
Fruit of the pious King Anna, together with thy holy family, thou wast fervent with the love of God in all purity and modesty and merciful to thy neighbour, O Blessed and venerable Mother Audrey. Therefore God endowed thee with the noble strength of grace and others, both men and women, followed thee: do thou beseech Christ to preserve in the Faith those who call thee blessed.
Glory, Tone II:
With the sword of abstinence thou didst sever spiritual snares and bodily passions, and with the silence of prayer and fasting thou didst strangle all sinful thoughts, with the streams of thy tears thou didst water the whole fenland desert and cause fruits of repentance to grow in thine island-monastery, wherefore, O holy Audrey, we celebrate thy holy memory.
Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God:
O Mother of God, save thy servants from dangers, for, after God, we all flee to thee as an indestructible rampart and protection.
Hymn to the Cross and the Mother of God:
When the spotless lamb beheld her Child being dragged as a man willingly to the slaughter, she cried out through her tears: Dost thou seek to make me childless who gave Thee birth, O Christ? Why hast Thou done so, O Saviour of us all? Yet I praise and glorify Thine ineffable goodness, O Thou Who lovest mankind.
If there is a Polyeleion, then the Sunday Hymn to the Mother of God in Tone VI: 'The shadow of the law …'
Entrance, Joyful Light, Prokimenon of the Day.
Readings: Wisdom of Solomon 3, 1-9; Wisdom of Solomon 5, 15-23 and 6, 1-3; Wisdom of Solomon 4, 7, 16, 17, 19, 20 and 5, 1-7.
At the Aposticha, in Tone I:
Thou didst desire the glory of the holy fathers and mothers, thou didst love incorruptible glory. Therefore, a Queen among men and twice Virgin-spouse, renouncing worldly pleasure and subjecting thy body to ascetic warfare, thou hast obtained the reward of thy labours and dost reign with Christ the King, O noble Audrey.
Verse: God is wonderful in His Saints, the God of Israel.
Together with thy holy sisters, thou, O Virgin-Queen, didst desire the fair beauty of Christ thy Bridegroom with good deeds and, adorned with the labours of the ascetic life, thou didst strive to attain to Him, wherefore thou now dost reign with Christ the King in His glory.
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints.
Thou didst set course for the heavenly haven and calmly sail over the stormy oceans of the world. Without foundering thou didst pilot thy soul's ship through the bitterness of sweet things, filled with the secret treasures of renunciation and heavenly life in word and deed.
Glory, Tone VI:
O holy Mother Audrey who art praised by all, this day thy sacred festival shineth forth brighter than the sun, enlightening those in darkness and driving away the gloom of the demons from the fenlands and from our souls.
Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God, or this Hymn to the Cross and the Mother of God also in Tone VI:
When the Mother who gave Thee birth saw Thee crucified, O Christ, she cried: What is this strange mystery, O my son? How dost Thou die, crucified, O Giver of Life?
Troparion Tone VIII:
In thee the Image of God was preserved, O noble Audrey, for thou didst take up thy cross and follow Christ. Royal virgin, thou didst teach the multitude by thine example that the flesh is to be scorned as fleeting, while the soul needeth great care as immortal. Wherefore, O holy Audrey, thou dost now make glad with the angels.
At Matins
At 'God is the Lord', the Troparion of the Saint twice, Glory…Now and ever, and the Hymn to the Mother of God or to the Cross and the Mother of God in the same tone.
After the first reading from the Psalter, Sessional Hymn Tone V:
Thou didst valiantly persevere in ascetic feats and defeat the devil with his many snares, O holy Audrey. After thy life of hardship thou art now gone to God, praying for those who reverently celebrate thy festival.
Glory …Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God in the same tone:
O sinless Virgin Mother, shine down rays of repentance upon me, scatter the darkness of my wicked deeds and drive away all thought of evil from my heart.
After the second reading from the Psalter, Sessional Hymn Tone IV:
Though crowned on earth, thou didst crucify thy body with its passions and love Christ thy Bridegroom with all thy heart, O Audrey, wherefore thou wast crowned in heaven, and numbered among the choirs of Angels, ever praying for those who honour thee.
Glory… Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God:
The storm of sins striketh me, as doth the tempest of my sinful thoughts, have compassion upon me, O pure one, and graciously stretch forth thy hand to help me that, saved, I may magnify thee.
The Magnification:
We magnify thee, O holy Mother Audrey, and we honour thy holy memory, for thou dost pray for us to Christ our God.
Verse: I waited and waited for the Lord, and He attended to me and heard my prayer.
Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII:
O Mother chosen by God, thou hast passed calmly through the storms of life and been piloted to Paradise, now do thou praise the Redeemer with the Angels, that He may grant us grace and great mercy and preserve the flock which through thy labours thou didst bring unto Him.
Glory … Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God:
Rejoice, thou who through the Archangel didst receive the Joy of all the world; Rejoice, thou who didst give birth to thy Creator and Lord; Rejoice, thou who wast made worthy to become the Mother of God.
Gradual, First Antiphon of Tone IV, 'From my youth…'
Prokimenon, Tone IV:
God is wonderful in His Saints, the God of Israel.
Verse: Bless God in the churches, praise the Lord from the wellsprings of Israel.
Let every breath. Gospel: Matt 25, 1-13.
After Psalm 50, Sticheron Tone II:
With the sword of abstinence thou didst sever spiritual snares and bodily passions, and with the silence of prayer and fasting thou didst strangle wrongful thoughts; with the streams of thy tears thou didst water the whole fenland desert and cause fruits of repentance to grow in thine island-monastery, wherefore, O holy Audrey, we celebrate thy holy memory.
Canon Tone VIII:
Ode I
Irmos: By parting the sea with the sign of the Cross, the miraculous rod of Moses drowned the pursuing chariots of Pharaoh, and saved fleeing Israel who marched on, singing to God.
My soul is continually drowned by the storm of passions and stirred by the clamour of evil thoughts: O holy Audrey, do thou guide me through the trackless fens of the demons to the still haven of Christ's will, that I may hymn thee worthily.
Thou wast enlightened with the virtues of virginity, O godly Audrey. With prayer and fasting thou didst put thy passions to death and follow in the life-bringing footsteps of the pure Word thy true Bridegroom.
O holy and glorious Audrey, amid the barren fen thou didst follow the teaching of the holy fathers and mothers, and live like the Bodiless Ones, in prayer and fasting, in purity and virginity, in true humility, and thus thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold.
Glory … Now and ever:
Thou art the divine vessel and table who hast borne the Bread of Life; thou art the unploughed land and holy mountain, and we glorify thee in hymns, O Mother of God.
Ode III
Irmos: O Lord, Creator of the vault of heaven and Builder of the Church, strengthen me in Thy love, O summit of desire, O bulwark of the faithful, O Thou alone Who lovest mankind.
Though men sought thee as their Queen, the Almighty had chosen thee as His Bride, and now thou dwellest with Christ the King in glory in the heavenly mansions. From there thou makest streams of healing to stem the flowing of our passions.
Instead of necklaces and fine jewellery, thou wast adorned with the love of Christ, Who in His abundant compassion, though rich became poor; thou hast followed His Life-bringing words, despising all earthly riches and glory and thus hast become noble in soul.
Thou didst acquire golden wings of virtue, O Blessed Audrey, and as an immortal dove thou hast flown up to the heights of heaven from the desolate fenlands through the noble strength of prayer.
Glory … Now and ever:
O Virgin, our race hath been saved through Him Who for our sakes became poor in His Body which He took from thy womb: wherefore we praise and bless thee, O most pure grace-filled Maiden.
Sessional Hymn Tone IV:
As Christ's virgin and undefiled bride thou art adorned with ascetic feats; thou hast entered the incorruptible chamber with Him, contemplating its beauties. Do thou beseech Him for us who lovingly hymn thee, that we may be saved from all adversity.
Glory … Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God:
O pure, spotless and unwedded Bride who alone hast given birth to the eternal Son and Word of God: together with the holy and venerable Apostles and Martyrs, Prophets and Ascetics, beseech thou Him to grant us healing and great mercy.
Hymn to the Cross and the Mother of God:
O most pure Virgin, Mother of Christ our God, a sword pierced thy soul when thou didst behold thy Son and God willingly crucified. Wherefore, O blessed one, do not cease to pray to Him, that He may grant us the forgiveness of our sins.
Ode IV
Irmos: O Lord, I have heard of the mystery of Thy dispensation. I contemplate Thy works and glorify Thy divine nature.
O noble Audrey, holy and royal jewel in the crown of East Anglia, thy bright festival shineth with the radiance of the Spirit and, healing both bodily and spiritual eyes, enlighteneth our souls as we sing to thee in faith.
With miracles and foreknowledge, thou hast brought to the Faith those who had not known the Master, and by the noble strength of prayer and fasting thou hast revealed Him to those who were beset by the darkness of heathendom.
Couselled by the wisdom of the holy Abbesses Hild and Ebbe, thou, O Queen and virgin, didst bring to Christ the gifts of bodily abstinence and the labours of fasting, and He hath rewarded thee with the unending joy of His kingdom.
Glory … Now and ever:
O most pure one, who art humble, save me who live in pride, for thou didst give birth to Him who hath exalted our humbled nature.
Ode V
Irmos: Enlighten us by Thy commandments, O Lord, and by Thine uplifted arm grant us Thy peace, O Lover of men.
From amid the eel-island in the fens, thou didst raise thy hands aloft to the Creator, O Mother Audrey, and defeating the slippery serpent-enemy through the noble strength of thy prayers, thou didst protect all those that cry unto thee in faith.
Filled with the noble strength of prayer, thou wast made a nun by Bishop Wilfrid, and the Most High took thee by thy right hand, O Mother Audrey, and making thine island-fortress into a stronghold of holiness and prayer, He led thee into the joys of Paradise.
O venerable Audrey, thou didst tread the narrow path of ascetic struggle, spending night in prayer and fasting, clothed not in fine linen but coarse woollen, and showing many others the way, thou didst attain to the breadth of Paradise.
Glory … Now and ever:
Those who do not acknowledge thee to be the Mother of God, O most pure one, shall not see the Light Whom thou didst bear.
Ode VI
Irmos: I will pour out my prayer to the Lord, and to Him I will confess my grief: for my soul is full of evil and my life hath drawn nigh unto hell, and like Jonah I will pray: Raise me up from corruption, O Lord.
O venerable Audrey, rejecting the foolishness of men, thou didst gain the wisdom of God, and stilling thy bodily tumults and becoming mistress of thy passions, now thou dwellest in passionless serenity.
Thou didst love to venerate the Saviour's Image, O glorious Saint, and to follow His teaching and heavenly life in thy words and deeds. By the necklace of thy virtues, thou art become a model of purity and modesty for all womankind.
Christ hath shown thee forth to thy godly nuns and all folk as a cloud shedding the rain of grace on those who ask this in faith, and thy shrine became a sign of spiritual greatness in all the English land, O holy Mother Audrey, and thou didst show how by noble strength of prayer we are to withstand the impious.
Glory … Now and ever:
O most pure one, thy Son is lovely beyond the sons of men by the beauty of His divinity, He Who took flesh for our sakes.
Kontakion Tone II:
O holy Audrey, Mother of many, for the love of God thou didst spurn the need for rest and make thy spirit most bright through fasting and prayer, defeating the passions. Thou didst make the barren fenlands into islands of prayer and through thine intercessions thou dost destroy the snares of our enemies.
Oikos:
O God, grant me streams of speech, make my mind a wellspring of piety, and bless my tongue, that I may hymn Thy lamb whom Thou hast crowned with grace. For if Thou Thyself didst not give me worthy words, how can I, a beggar, bring a gift to her who is so rich in words and deeds? Wherefore give me strength to declare her contests, for she hath mastered the passions. Through thine intercessions thou dost destroy the snares of our enemies.
Ode VII
Irmos: The Hebrew Children in the furnace trod upon the flames, and changed the fire into dew, singing: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God forever.
Despising all fading glory, O holy Audrey, thou didst seek for heavenly rewards, the light and rest of God's eternal glory in His beauty, which thou didst show to thy holy sisters, thy faithful steward Owin and the holy hermit priest Huna.
Thou didst exchange this corrupt world for ageless life above the world, temporal food for eternal substance and earthly marriage for the heavenly Bridegroom, O Virgin-Abbess Queen Audrey, noble strength of the Orthodox faith.
Beyond the booklore of the foolish, thou didst gain the knowledge of divine love, O Audrey, and become like the angels while still in the flesh. With fervour like unto theirs thou didst lovingly keep vigil and sing: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, throughout all ages.
Glory … Now and ever:
The multitude of my evil deeds hath cast me into affliction: look on me and snatch me from the flames, O Virgin, crying: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, throughout all ages.
Ode VIII
Irmos: Inspired by God the Children stood in the midst of the flames and sang: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.
Forsaking the vain artifices of men, thou art adorned and ennobled with the radiance of thy pure life, O Mother, and thou dost stand before Thy Bridegroom, Christ our God, interceding for the salvation of our souls.
For long gloriously preserved in thine island shrine, thy body healed man's manifold diseases and drove away the demons with their wickedness. Do thou now intercede with Christ our God for us sinners who honour thee.
O holy Mother, baptised as child by the holy Bishop Felix, in felicity thou wast brought to the Master of all, Christ our God, as a holy sacrifice and bright offering, as the sweet-smelling incense of prayer.
Let us bless … Now and ever:
Ineffably and without corruption thou hast given birth to the Word Who saveth all from corruption, O Virgin. Therefore in faith we magnify thee.
Ode IX
Irmos: Creation was filled with dread on hearing of the ineffable condescension of God, that the Most High came down of His own will and became incarnate of the Virgin, therefore the all-pure Mother of God do we magnify.
Desiring thy Bridegroom's spiritual beauty in pure love for Him thou, O Queen, didst ardently cry: Where dost Thou rest and pasture Thy flock? Let me rest with Thee and take delight in Thy peace, magnifying Thy graciousness, O Christ my King.
In thy soul was found understanding and humility, divine goodness, unwavering faith, and hope and love of God. In thy vigils thou didst draw near to Him, O Blessed Audrey, and thou wast illumined and enlightened with the gift of foreknowledge and healing.
Today we faithful come to praise and magnify the Lord, Who glorifieth thy holy festival, O holy and venerable Audrey. As thou now dost stand before Christ thy Bridegroom, remember us who venerate thee and heal the eyes of our souls.
Glory … Now and ever:
O God Who wast born of the Virgin and didst preserve her incorrupt after Thy birth: spare me when Thou wilt sit and judge my deeds; overlook my sins and wickedness, for Thou art the sinless, gracious God and thou lovest all mankind.
Exapostilarion:
Thou didst show the princes who pursued thee to be foolish and bereft of glory, for virgin in soul and body, thou wast manly in thine understanding and faith, O holy Audrey, boast of Ely, crown of Queens, beauty of chaste women and adornment of the monastic life.
Glory … Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God:
Enlighten me with the day of spiritual joy, O pure one, for thou art life and light to those who dwell in darkness. Thou art mistress of thy desires and actions, for thou art the sovereign Lady of all; deliver us all from calamity, and the afflicted from the temptations of the evil one.
At the Praises: 4 Stichira in Tone IV:
Thou didst subdue the urges of the flesh to the soul, thou didst follow Christ, dwelling with ascetics in chastity, thou didst overcome the flames of worldly pleasure with holy tears, increasing thy fervour for Christ, O noble and strong Audrey.
In Ely thou didst built a holy dwelling place for God to benefit many, O wise one, for in thy pure soul thou didst discern the temple of the Holy Spirit; thou didst also guide souls into the good way of abstinence and bring them to the Master as a dowry. With them in faith we honour thee, O Mother Audrey .
Maidens, following thy teaching, loved their Lord and Bridegroom; become noble and strong in spirit, they despised bodily weakness and subdued their passions. They were brought with thee to the heavenly mansions, ever rejoicing.
Glory in Tone VIII:
O wonder of wonders! How fervently thou didst give thyself to God in ascetic labours and tears! Filled with divine love thou didst overcome bodily passions, trample down demons through abstinence, and become a bride of the Almighty through the noble strength of the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God:
With the Archangel's cry let us say: Rejoice, Mother of God, for thou hast brought into the world Christ the Giver of Life!
Hymn to the Cross and the Mother of God:
When the most pure one beheld Thee crucified, with broken heart she cried out through her tears: Where hast Thou gone, my most beloved Jesus, my Son and my Lord? Forsake not me who gave birth to Thee, O Christ.
Great Doxology. Troparia. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.
At the Liturgy
At the Beatitudes, 8 Troparia from Odes III and IV of the Canon of the Saint.
Prokimenon Tone IV:
Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.
Verse: In the congregations bless ye God, the Lord from the wellsprings of Israel.
The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians 208 (3, 23-29)
Alleluia in Tone I:
With patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive unto me, and He hearkened unto my supplication.
Verse: And He brought me out of the pit of misery, and from the mire of clay.
The Gospel according to St Matthew 104 (25, 1-13)
Communion Verse: In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.
I am reproducing the text of a service to celebrate her Feast Day in plenty of time !
The original service is from this amazing site.
The 23rd Day of the Month of June
Commemoration of our Holy Mother Audrey, Abbess of Ely
At Vespers
At 'Lord, I have cried', 3 stichira in Tone VIII:
Thou, O Virgin Queen, hast suffered the pains of ascetic struggle and thus gained grace through the necklace of thy virtues, to heal diseases of both body and soul, to drive out demons and protect all those that suffer: O venerable Mother Audrey, do thou pray for us that we may obtain healing and great mercy.
In times of old the mere touch of thy burial robes bestowed sight on the blind and healing on the sick who faithfully beseeched thine aid. Now, O holy and venerable Mother Audrey, boast of Ely, do thou pray for us in thy noble strength that we may obtain great mercy.
Fruit of the pious King Anna, together with thy holy family, thou wast fervent with the love of God in all purity and modesty and merciful to thy neighbour, O Blessed and venerable Mother Audrey. Therefore God endowed thee with the noble strength of grace and others, both men and women, followed thee: do thou beseech Christ to preserve in the Faith those who call thee blessed.
Glory, Tone II:
With the sword of abstinence thou didst sever spiritual snares and bodily passions, and with the silence of prayer and fasting thou didst strangle all sinful thoughts, with the streams of thy tears thou didst water the whole fenland desert and cause fruits of repentance to grow in thine island-monastery, wherefore, O holy Audrey, we celebrate thy holy memory.
Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God:
O Mother of God, save thy servants from dangers, for, after God, we all flee to thee as an indestructible rampart and protection.
Hymn to the Cross and the Mother of God:
When the spotless lamb beheld her Child being dragged as a man willingly to the slaughter, she cried out through her tears: Dost thou seek to make me childless who gave Thee birth, O Christ? Why hast Thou done so, O Saviour of us all? Yet I praise and glorify Thine ineffable goodness, O Thou Who lovest mankind.
If there is a Polyeleion, then the Sunday Hymn to the Mother of God in Tone VI: 'The shadow of the law …'
Entrance, Joyful Light, Prokimenon of the Day.
Readings: Wisdom of Solomon 3, 1-9; Wisdom of Solomon 5, 15-23 and 6, 1-3; Wisdom of Solomon 4, 7, 16, 17, 19, 20 and 5, 1-7.
At the Aposticha, in Tone I:
Thou didst desire the glory of the holy fathers and mothers, thou didst love incorruptible glory. Therefore, a Queen among men and twice Virgin-spouse, renouncing worldly pleasure and subjecting thy body to ascetic warfare, thou hast obtained the reward of thy labours and dost reign with Christ the King, O noble Audrey.
Verse: God is wonderful in His Saints, the God of Israel.
Together with thy holy sisters, thou, O Virgin-Queen, didst desire the fair beauty of Christ thy Bridegroom with good deeds and, adorned with the labours of the ascetic life, thou didst strive to attain to Him, wherefore thou now dost reign with Christ the King in His glory.
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints.
Thou didst set course for the heavenly haven and calmly sail over the stormy oceans of the world. Without foundering thou didst pilot thy soul's ship through the bitterness of sweet things, filled with the secret treasures of renunciation and heavenly life in word and deed.
Glory, Tone VI:
O holy Mother Audrey who art praised by all, this day thy sacred festival shineth forth brighter than the sun, enlightening those in darkness and driving away the gloom of the demons from the fenlands and from our souls.
Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God, or this Hymn to the Cross and the Mother of God also in Tone VI:
When the Mother who gave Thee birth saw Thee crucified, O Christ, she cried: What is this strange mystery, O my son? How dost Thou die, crucified, O Giver of Life?
Troparion Tone VIII:
In thee the Image of God was preserved, O noble Audrey, for thou didst take up thy cross and follow Christ. Royal virgin, thou didst teach the multitude by thine example that the flesh is to be scorned as fleeting, while the soul needeth great care as immortal. Wherefore, O holy Audrey, thou dost now make glad with the angels.
At Matins
At 'God is the Lord', the Troparion of the Saint twice, Glory…Now and ever, and the Hymn to the Mother of God or to the Cross and the Mother of God in the same tone.
After the first reading from the Psalter, Sessional Hymn Tone V:
Thou didst valiantly persevere in ascetic feats and defeat the devil with his many snares, O holy Audrey. After thy life of hardship thou art now gone to God, praying for those who reverently celebrate thy festival.
Glory …Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God in the same tone:
O sinless Virgin Mother, shine down rays of repentance upon me, scatter the darkness of my wicked deeds and drive away all thought of evil from my heart.
After the second reading from the Psalter, Sessional Hymn Tone IV:
Though crowned on earth, thou didst crucify thy body with its passions and love Christ thy Bridegroom with all thy heart, O Audrey, wherefore thou wast crowned in heaven, and numbered among the choirs of Angels, ever praying for those who honour thee.
Glory… Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God:
The storm of sins striketh me, as doth the tempest of my sinful thoughts, have compassion upon me, O pure one, and graciously stretch forth thy hand to help me that, saved, I may magnify thee.
The Magnification:
We magnify thee, O holy Mother Audrey, and we honour thy holy memory, for thou dost pray for us to Christ our God.
Verse: I waited and waited for the Lord, and He attended to me and heard my prayer.
Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII:
O Mother chosen by God, thou hast passed calmly through the storms of life and been piloted to Paradise, now do thou praise the Redeemer with the Angels, that He may grant us grace and great mercy and preserve the flock which through thy labours thou didst bring unto Him.
Glory … Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God:
Rejoice, thou who through the Archangel didst receive the Joy of all the world; Rejoice, thou who didst give birth to thy Creator and Lord; Rejoice, thou who wast made worthy to become the Mother of God.
Gradual, First Antiphon of Tone IV, 'From my youth…'
Prokimenon, Tone IV:
God is wonderful in His Saints, the God of Israel.
Verse: Bless God in the churches, praise the Lord from the wellsprings of Israel.
Let every breath. Gospel: Matt 25, 1-13.
After Psalm 50, Sticheron Tone II:
With the sword of abstinence thou didst sever spiritual snares and bodily passions, and with the silence of prayer and fasting thou didst strangle wrongful thoughts; with the streams of thy tears thou didst water the whole fenland desert and cause fruits of repentance to grow in thine island-monastery, wherefore, O holy Audrey, we celebrate thy holy memory.
Canon Tone VIII:
Ode I
Irmos: By parting the sea with the sign of the Cross, the miraculous rod of Moses drowned the pursuing chariots of Pharaoh, and saved fleeing Israel who marched on, singing to God.
My soul is continually drowned by the storm of passions and stirred by the clamour of evil thoughts: O holy Audrey, do thou guide me through the trackless fens of the demons to the still haven of Christ's will, that I may hymn thee worthily.
Thou wast enlightened with the virtues of virginity, O godly Audrey. With prayer and fasting thou didst put thy passions to death and follow in the life-bringing footsteps of the pure Word thy true Bridegroom.
O holy and glorious Audrey, amid the barren fen thou didst follow the teaching of the holy fathers and mothers, and live like the Bodiless Ones, in prayer and fasting, in purity and virginity, in true humility, and thus thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold.
Glory … Now and ever:
Thou art the divine vessel and table who hast borne the Bread of Life; thou art the unploughed land and holy mountain, and we glorify thee in hymns, O Mother of God.
Ode III
Irmos: O Lord, Creator of the vault of heaven and Builder of the Church, strengthen me in Thy love, O summit of desire, O bulwark of the faithful, O Thou alone Who lovest mankind.
Though men sought thee as their Queen, the Almighty had chosen thee as His Bride, and now thou dwellest with Christ the King in glory in the heavenly mansions. From there thou makest streams of healing to stem the flowing of our passions.
Instead of necklaces and fine jewellery, thou wast adorned with the love of Christ, Who in His abundant compassion, though rich became poor; thou hast followed His Life-bringing words, despising all earthly riches and glory and thus hast become noble in soul.
Thou didst acquire golden wings of virtue, O Blessed Audrey, and as an immortal dove thou hast flown up to the heights of heaven from the desolate fenlands through the noble strength of prayer.
Glory … Now and ever:
O Virgin, our race hath been saved through Him Who for our sakes became poor in His Body which He took from thy womb: wherefore we praise and bless thee, O most pure grace-filled Maiden.
Sessional Hymn Tone IV:
As Christ's virgin and undefiled bride thou art adorned with ascetic feats; thou hast entered the incorruptible chamber with Him, contemplating its beauties. Do thou beseech Him for us who lovingly hymn thee, that we may be saved from all adversity.
Glory … Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God:
O pure, spotless and unwedded Bride who alone hast given birth to the eternal Son and Word of God: together with the holy and venerable Apostles and Martyrs, Prophets and Ascetics, beseech thou Him to grant us healing and great mercy.
Hymn to the Cross and the Mother of God:
O most pure Virgin, Mother of Christ our God, a sword pierced thy soul when thou didst behold thy Son and God willingly crucified. Wherefore, O blessed one, do not cease to pray to Him, that He may grant us the forgiveness of our sins.
Ode IV
Irmos: O Lord, I have heard of the mystery of Thy dispensation. I contemplate Thy works and glorify Thy divine nature.
O noble Audrey, holy and royal jewel in the crown of East Anglia, thy bright festival shineth with the radiance of the Spirit and, healing both bodily and spiritual eyes, enlighteneth our souls as we sing to thee in faith.
With miracles and foreknowledge, thou hast brought to the Faith those who had not known the Master, and by the noble strength of prayer and fasting thou hast revealed Him to those who were beset by the darkness of heathendom.
Couselled by the wisdom of the holy Abbesses Hild and Ebbe, thou, O Queen and virgin, didst bring to Christ the gifts of bodily abstinence and the labours of fasting, and He hath rewarded thee with the unending joy of His kingdom.
Glory … Now and ever:
O most pure one, who art humble, save me who live in pride, for thou didst give birth to Him who hath exalted our humbled nature.
Ode V
Irmos: Enlighten us by Thy commandments, O Lord, and by Thine uplifted arm grant us Thy peace, O Lover of men.
From amid the eel-island in the fens, thou didst raise thy hands aloft to the Creator, O Mother Audrey, and defeating the slippery serpent-enemy through the noble strength of thy prayers, thou didst protect all those that cry unto thee in faith.
Filled with the noble strength of prayer, thou wast made a nun by Bishop Wilfrid, and the Most High took thee by thy right hand, O Mother Audrey, and making thine island-fortress into a stronghold of holiness and prayer, He led thee into the joys of Paradise.
O venerable Audrey, thou didst tread the narrow path of ascetic struggle, spending night in prayer and fasting, clothed not in fine linen but coarse woollen, and showing many others the way, thou didst attain to the breadth of Paradise.
Glory … Now and ever:
Those who do not acknowledge thee to be the Mother of God, O most pure one, shall not see the Light Whom thou didst bear.
Ode VI
Irmos: I will pour out my prayer to the Lord, and to Him I will confess my grief: for my soul is full of evil and my life hath drawn nigh unto hell, and like Jonah I will pray: Raise me up from corruption, O Lord.
O venerable Audrey, rejecting the foolishness of men, thou didst gain the wisdom of God, and stilling thy bodily tumults and becoming mistress of thy passions, now thou dwellest in passionless serenity.
Thou didst love to venerate the Saviour's Image, O glorious Saint, and to follow His teaching and heavenly life in thy words and deeds. By the necklace of thy virtues, thou art become a model of purity and modesty for all womankind.
Christ hath shown thee forth to thy godly nuns and all folk as a cloud shedding the rain of grace on those who ask this in faith, and thy shrine became a sign of spiritual greatness in all the English land, O holy Mother Audrey, and thou didst show how by noble strength of prayer we are to withstand the impious.
Glory … Now and ever:
O most pure one, thy Son is lovely beyond the sons of men by the beauty of His divinity, He Who took flesh for our sakes.
Kontakion Tone II:
O holy Audrey, Mother of many, for the love of God thou didst spurn the need for rest and make thy spirit most bright through fasting and prayer, defeating the passions. Thou didst make the barren fenlands into islands of prayer and through thine intercessions thou dost destroy the snares of our enemies.
Oikos:
O God, grant me streams of speech, make my mind a wellspring of piety, and bless my tongue, that I may hymn Thy lamb whom Thou hast crowned with grace. For if Thou Thyself didst not give me worthy words, how can I, a beggar, bring a gift to her who is so rich in words and deeds? Wherefore give me strength to declare her contests, for she hath mastered the passions. Through thine intercessions thou dost destroy the snares of our enemies.
Ode VII
Irmos: The Hebrew Children in the furnace trod upon the flames, and changed the fire into dew, singing: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God forever.
Despising all fading glory, O holy Audrey, thou didst seek for heavenly rewards, the light and rest of God's eternal glory in His beauty, which thou didst show to thy holy sisters, thy faithful steward Owin and the holy hermit priest Huna.
Thou didst exchange this corrupt world for ageless life above the world, temporal food for eternal substance and earthly marriage for the heavenly Bridegroom, O Virgin-Abbess Queen Audrey, noble strength of the Orthodox faith.
Beyond the booklore of the foolish, thou didst gain the knowledge of divine love, O Audrey, and become like the angels while still in the flesh. With fervour like unto theirs thou didst lovingly keep vigil and sing: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, throughout all ages.
Glory … Now and ever:
The multitude of my evil deeds hath cast me into affliction: look on me and snatch me from the flames, O Virgin, crying: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, throughout all ages.
Ode VIII
Irmos: Inspired by God the Children stood in the midst of the flames and sang: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.
Forsaking the vain artifices of men, thou art adorned and ennobled with the radiance of thy pure life, O Mother, and thou dost stand before Thy Bridegroom, Christ our God, interceding for the salvation of our souls.
For long gloriously preserved in thine island shrine, thy body healed man's manifold diseases and drove away the demons with their wickedness. Do thou now intercede with Christ our God for us sinners who honour thee.
O holy Mother, baptised as child by the holy Bishop Felix, in felicity thou wast brought to the Master of all, Christ our God, as a holy sacrifice and bright offering, as the sweet-smelling incense of prayer.
Let us bless … Now and ever:
Ineffably and without corruption thou hast given birth to the Word Who saveth all from corruption, O Virgin. Therefore in faith we magnify thee.
Ode IX
Irmos: Creation was filled with dread on hearing of the ineffable condescension of God, that the Most High came down of His own will and became incarnate of the Virgin, therefore the all-pure Mother of God do we magnify.
Desiring thy Bridegroom's spiritual beauty in pure love for Him thou, O Queen, didst ardently cry: Where dost Thou rest and pasture Thy flock? Let me rest with Thee and take delight in Thy peace, magnifying Thy graciousness, O Christ my King.
In thy soul was found understanding and humility, divine goodness, unwavering faith, and hope and love of God. In thy vigils thou didst draw near to Him, O Blessed Audrey, and thou wast illumined and enlightened with the gift of foreknowledge and healing.
Today we faithful come to praise and magnify the Lord, Who glorifieth thy holy festival, O holy and venerable Audrey. As thou now dost stand before Christ thy Bridegroom, remember us who venerate thee and heal the eyes of our souls.
Glory … Now and ever:
O God Who wast born of the Virgin and didst preserve her incorrupt after Thy birth: spare me when Thou wilt sit and judge my deeds; overlook my sins and wickedness, for Thou art the sinless, gracious God and thou lovest all mankind.
Exapostilarion:
Thou didst show the princes who pursued thee to be foolish and bereft of glory, for virgin in soul and body, thou wast manly in thine understanding and faith, O holy Audrey, boast of Ely, crown of Queens, beauty of chaste women and adornment of the monastic life.
Glory … Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God:
Enlighten me with the day of spiritual joy, O pure one, for thou art life and light to those who dwell in darkness. Thou art mistress of thy desires and actions, for thou art the sovereign Lady of all; deliver us all from calamity, and the afflicted from the temptations of the evil one.
At the Praises: 4 Stichira in Tone IV:
Thou didst subdue the urges of the flesh to the soul, thou didst follow Christ, dwelling with ascetics in chastity, thou didst overcome the flames of worldly pleasure with holy tears, increasing thy fervour for Christ, O noble and strong Audrey.
In Ely thou didst built a holy dwelling place for God to benefit many, O wise one, for in thy pure soul thou didst discern the temple of the Holy Spirit; thou didst also guide souls into the good way of abstinence and bring them to the Master as a dowry. With them in faith we honour thee, O Mother Audrey .
Maidens, following thy teaching, loved their Lord and Bridegroom; become noble and strong in spirit, they despised bodily weakness and subdued their passions. They were brought with thee to the heavenly mansions, ever rejoicing.
Glory in Tone VIII:
O wonder of wonders! How fervently thou didst give thyself to God in ascetic labours and tears! Filled with divine love thou didst overcome bodily passions, trample down demons through abstinence, and become a bride of the Almighty through the noble strength of the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, Hymn to the Mother of God:
With the Archangel's cry let us say: Rejoice, Mother of God, for thou hast brought into the world Christ the Giver of Life!
Hymn to the Cross and the Mother of God:
When the most pure one beheld Thee crucified, with broken heart she cried out through her tears: Where hast Thou gone, my most beloved Jesus, my Son and my Lord? Forsake not me who gave birth to Thee, O Christ.
Great Doxology. Troparia. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.
At the Liturgy
At the Beatitudes, 8 Troparia from Odes III and IV of the Canon of the Saint.
Prokimenon Tone IV:
Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.
Verse: In the congregations bless ye God, the Lord from the wellsprings of Israel.
The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians 208 (3, 23-29)
Alleluia in Tone I:
With patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive unto me, and He hearkened unto my supplication.
Verse: And He brought me out of the pit of misery, and from the mire of clay.
The Gospel according to St Matthew 104 (25, 1-13)
Communion Verse: In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.
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