Day 22 of the Great Fast. Polyeleos Feast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain these ingredients. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.

GREAT VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

Blessed is the man… is chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 8

Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

O Lord, You willingly stretched out Thine hands upon the Cross:* grant us to worthily adore it with hearts full of compunction,* fill us with Your light through fasting and prayer,* through abstinence and good works;* for You are good and the Lover of mankind.

The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

O Lord, You willingly stretched out Thine hands upon the Cross:* grant us to worthily adore it with hearts full of compunction,* fill us with Your light through fasting and prayer,* through abstinence and good works;* for You are good and the Lover of mankind.

Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

O Lord, blot out the multitude of my sins,* according to the multitude of You compassions, O all-compassionate One,* and grant me, with a pure soul to behold and kiss Your Cross* during the present week of abstinence,* for You are the Lover of mankind.

Tone 3

Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

O mighty Wonder! Before us stands the Wood,* upon which Christ was crucified in the flesh.* The world worships it and illumined thereby, cries aloud:* “Great is the power of the Cross!* When devils look upon it, they are scorched;* signing ourselves with it fire is seen.”* I bless you, O most pure Wood;* I honour you and worship you with fear,* and I glorify God who through you bestowed upon me life without end.

Tone 2

If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

Valiantly enduring the present torments,* rejoicing in that for which they longed,* the holy martyrs said one to another:* If we do not shed our garments, we shall not put off the old man.* Winter is cruel, but paradise is sweet;* the ice is painful, but the acquisition of the Kingdom is delightful.* Then, let us not give way, O warriors!* Let us endure but a little while,* that we may be crowned with crowns of victory by Christ God,* the Saviour of our souls.

I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

Valiantly enduring the present torments,* rejoicing in that for which they longed,* the holy martyrs said one to another:* If we do not shed our garments, we shall not put off the old man.* Winter is cruel, but paradise is sweet;* the ice is painful, but the acquisition of the Kingdom is delightful.* Then, let us not give way, O warriors!* Let us endure but a little while,* that we may be crowned with crowns of victory by Christ God,* the Saviour of our souls.

From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

Casting off all their garments and entering the lake with trembling,* the holy martyrs said one to another:* Let us not spare today our corruptible garments,* that we may attain the paradise which we lost!* Having once been clothed because of the pernicious serpent,* let us now unclothe ourselves for the resurrection of all;* let us disdain the frigid ice and despise the flesh,* that we may be crowned with crowns of victory by Christ God,* the Saviour of our souls!

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Casting off all their garments and entering the lake with trembling,* the holy martyrs said one to another:* Let us not spare today our corruptible garments,* that we may attain the paradise which we lost!* Having once been clothed because of the pernicious serpent,* let us now unclothe ourselves for the resurrection of all;* let us disdain the frigid ice and despise the flesh,* that we may be crowned with crowns of victory by Christ God,* the Saviour of our souls!

Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

Seeing tortures as delight,* running to the frozen lake as to a warm spring, the holy martyrs said:* Let us not fear the season of winter,* that we may avoid the fearsome fire of Gehenna;* let our legs be consumed, that they may dance eternally;* let our arms be cut off, that they may stretch themselves forth to the Lord;* let us not spare our mortal nature;* let us submit to death, that we may be crowned with crowns of victory by Christ God,* the Saviour of our souls.

Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

Seeing tortures as delight,* running to the frozen lake as to a warm spring, the holy martyrs said:* Let us not fear the season of winter,* that we may avoid the fearsome fire of Gehenna;* let our legs be consumed, that they may dance eternally;* let our arms be cut off, that they may stretch themselves forth to the Lord;* let us not spare our mortal nature;* let us submit to death, that we may be crowned with crowns of victory by Christ God,* the Saviour of our souls.

Tone 2, Glory…

Valiantly enduring the present torments,* rejoicing in that for which they longed,* the holy martyrs said one to another:* If we do not shed our garments, we shall not put off the old man.* Winter is cruel, but paradise is sweet;* the ice is painful, but the acquisition of the Kingdom is delightful.* Then, let us not give way, O warriors!* Let us endure but a little while,* that we may be crowned with crowns of victory by Christ God,* the Saviour of our souls.

Now…

O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away* with the realization of grace.* For as the bush had burned without being consumed,* so you gave birth while a virgin* and you remained a virgin.* Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.* Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,* the Saviour of our souls.

Great Prokeimenon, Tone 8

You have given an inheritance, O Lord, to those who revere You.

verse: From the ends of the earth, I have cried to You.

verse: I will take refuge under the shadow of your wings.

verse: So I will sing praises to Your Name forever.

Reading I

Isaiah 43:9-14

All the nations are gathered together, and the rulers shall be assembled from among them. Who will declare these things or tell us things from the beginning? Let them bring forth their witnesses, and be proven right; and let them speak the truth. “You are My witnesses, and I am a witness,” says the Lord God, “and My Servant whom I chose, that you may know and believe, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no other God, nor shall there be after Me. I am God, and besides Me there is no one who saves. I proclaimed, and I saved. I denounced foreign gods so there were none among you. You are My witnesses, and I am a witness,” says the Lord God. “Even from the beginning, there is no one who can deliver out of My hands; I will work, and who will reverse it?”

Thus says the Lord God who redeems you, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I will send to Babylon and arouse all who flee, and the Chaldeans shall be bound in ships.

Reading II

Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
And no torture will ever touch them.
In the eyes of the undiscerning they seemed to have died,
And their departure was considered to be misfortune,
And their passage from us to be their destruction;
But they are at peace.
For though in man’s view they were punished,
Their hope is full of immortality.
Though chastened in a few things,
Great kindness will be shown them,
For God tested them and found them worthy of Himself.
He tested them like gold in a furnace
And accepted them as a whole burnt offering.
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,
And they will run about like sparks through straw.
They will judge nations and rule over peoples,
And the Lord shall reign over them unto the ages.
Those who trust in Him will understand truth,
And the faithful shall continue with Him in love,
Because grace and mercy are upon His elect.

Reading III

Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-24; 6:1-3

But the righteous live forever,
And their reward is with the Lord;
And their care is by the Most High.
Therefore they shall receive a kingly dwelling of dignity
And a crown of beauty from the hand of the Lord,
Because He will shelter them with His right hand
And protect them with His arm.
He will take His zeal as His full armor
And will turn His creation into weapons against His enemies.
He will wear righteousness as a breastplate
And put on impartial judgment as a helmet.
He will take holiness as an unconquerable shield
And sharpen His relentless wrath for a sword;
And creation will fight with Him against the senseless.
Well-aimed flashes of lightning will strike
And leap to their object as from a well-drawn bow of clouds;
And hailstones full of anger will be hurled
As from an engine of war.
The water of the sea will be vexed with them,
And the rivers will wash over them severely.
A powerful wind will oppose them,
And like a storm it will winnow them away.
Lawlessness will lay waste all the earth,
And wrongdoing will overturn the thrones of rulers.
Listen therefore, O kings, and understand;
Learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.†
Give ear, you that rule over multitudes,
And take pride in yourself over a multitude of nations.
For power was given to you from the Lord,
And your lordship from the Most High,
Who will make a careful search of your works
And examine closely your plans.

Aposticha

Tone 8

I, wretched as I am, dare not raise up my eyes to heaven, because of my wicked deeds;* but like the Publican, groaning I cry to You:* “O God, be merciful to me a sinner,* and deliver me from the Pharisee’s hypocrisy,* for You alone are lovingly compassionate.”

I have lifted up my eyes to You enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God until He has mercy on us.

I, wretched as I am, dare not raise up my eyes to heaven,* because of my wicked deeds;* but like the Publican, groaning I cry to You:* “O God, be merciful to me a sinner,* and deliver me from the Pharisee’s hypocrisy,* for You alone are lovingly compassionate.”

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we have been filled with shame; our soul is all too full of the mockery of the rich, of the contempt of the proud.

O martyrs of the Lord, you make holy every place* and heal all manner of infirmities;* and now we entreat you to pray on our behalf* that our souls be delivered from the snares of the enemy.

Tone 6, Glory…

In hymnody let us praise the forty passion-bearing martyrs, O faithful,* and with sweet singing let us cry out to them, saying:* Rejoice, O athletes of Christ:* Hesychius, Meliton, Heraclius, Smaragdus and Domnus,* Eunoicus, Valens and Vivianus, Claudius and Priscus!* Rejoice, Theodulus, Eutychius and John,* Xanthius, Helianus, Sisinnius, Cyrion, Angius, Aetius and Flavius!* Rejoice, Acacius, Ecditius, Lysimachus, Alexander, Elias and Candidus,* Theophilus, Dometian and godly Gaius and Gorgonius!* Rejoice, Leontius and Athanasius, Cyril and Sacerdon,* Nicholas and Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Chudion and Aglais,* for you have boldness before Christ our God, O most honoured martyrs!* Beseech Him earnestly that they that keep your most precious memory with faith may be saved

Tone 6, Now…

O Theotokos, you are the true vine who has budded forth for us the Fruit of life.* We entreat you: pray, O Mistress, with the holy apostles,* that our souls find mercy.

Troparia

Tone 1

O forty soldiers of Christ and honourable martyrs,* you went through fire and water, O mighty warriors,* and have come to live with the angels.* Join them in praying to Christ for those who praise you.* Glory to Him who strengthened you!* Glory to Him who crowned you!* Glory to Him who heals us through you!

Glory… Now…

O Holy Tabernacle, when Gabriel cried out to you:* Rejoice, O Virgin, full of grace,* the Lord of All became incarnate of you,* as the righteous David had foretold.* In bearing your Creator, you have shown yourself to surpass the vastness of the heavens.* We, therefore, cry out: Glory to Him who dwelt in you!* Glory to Him who came forth from you!* Glory to Him who has set us free* through your life-giving birth!

Ektenia: Have mercy on us, O God…

Prayer of Saint Ephrem (just the three prostrations)

Great Dismissal

FESTAL MATINS ON MONDAY MORNING

Usual Beginning

Hexapsalm

Great Litany

God the Lord, Tone 1

Troparia, Tone 1

Tone 1

O forty soldiers of Christ and honourable martyrs,* you went through fire and water, O mighty warriors,* and have come to live with the angels.* Join them in praying to Christ for those who praise you.* Glory to Him who strengthened you!* Glory to Him who crowned you!* Glory to Him who heals us through you! (2)

Glory… Now…

O Holy Tabernacle, when Gabriel cried out to you:* Rejoice, O Virgin, full of grace,* the Lord of All became incarnate of you,* as the righteous David had foretold.* In bearing your Creator, you have shown yourself to surpass the vastness of the heavens.* We, therefore, cry out: Glory to Him who dwelt in you!* Glory to Him who came forth from you!* Glory to Him who has set us free* through your life-giving birth!

Psalter Reading I

The appointed psalms are chanted.

Sessional Hymn I, Tone 8

O faithful, let us bow down before the all-honoured Wood* upon which the Fashioner of all has been raised.* It lays before us, sanctifying the body and soul of those who draw near with faith,* washing clean the defilement of sin from all who fast and ever sing the praises of Christ,* the only Benefactor.

Glory… Now…

The Word of the Father came down to earth,* and an angel of light cried to the Theotokos:* “Rejoice, O blessed One, who alone have guarded the bridal chamber:* you shall conceive the pre-eternal God and Lord,* that in His divine power He may save mankind from delusion.”

Psalter Reading II

The appointed psalms are chanted.

Sessional Hymn II, Tone 3

Having reached the middle of the season of abstinence, O my Christ,* and attained to the veneration of Your life-giving Cross,* we fall down before it and call upon You:* Mighty are You, O Lover of mankind,* and mighty are Your works,* for You have made manifest Your precious Cross,* before which we fall down in fear and worship as we cry aloud:* Glory to Your exceedingly loving compassion.

Glory… Now…

As an uncultivated vine, O Virgin,* you sprouted forth the most comely Cluster of grapes* which pours forth upon us the wine of salvation* making glad the souls and bodies of all.* Therefore, ever blessing you as the cause of good things,* with the angel we cry out to you:* Rejoice, O you who are full of grace!

Polyeleos

Magnification

We exalt you,* O holy forty Martyrs,* and we honour the precious sufferings God,* that you have endured for Christ our God.

verse: God is for us a refuge and strength, a helper close at hand, in time of distress.

verse: Many are the trials of the just ones, but from them all, the Lord will rescue them.

verse: We went through fire and through water, but then You brought us relief.

verse: The just will flourish like the palm tree and grow like a Lebanon cedar.

verse: The just will rejoice in the Lord and fly to Him for refuge. All the upright hearts will glory.

Glory… Now…

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to You, O God! (3)

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn, Tone 5

Adornment of the holy martyrs!* Lo! the divinely assembled company of the forty warriors of four-fold radiance!* Tried by fire and intense cold,* the wise ones were truly shown to be soldiers of Christ, the King of all;* and they entreat Him that we be saved. (2)

Glory… Now…

I weep now before the Judgment, O pure one,* mindful of my wicked and evil deeds,* of the abyss of my transgressions* which has grown in size from my youth, stifling my mind.* But by their intercession grant me remission,* and vouchsafe that I obtain salvation.

Gradual Hymns, Tone 4

Antiphon 1

From my youth do many passions war against me;* but do You Yourself defend* and save me, O my Saviour.

You haters of Sion shall be shamed by the Lord;* for like grass, by the fire* shall you be withered.

Glory… Now…

In the Holy Spirit, every soul is quickened,* and, through cleansing, is exalted* and made radiant* by the Triple Unity in a hidden sacred manner.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

We went through fire and water, and You brought us out into refreshment.

verse: You tried us even as silver is tried by fire.

Let everything that lives, Tone 4

Gospel

Luke 21:12-19

Psalm 50

Verses at Psalm 50

Tone 2

Prophetically David cried aloud in the Psalms:* We went through fire and water, and You brought us out into refreshment!* And you, O martyrs of Christ, fulfilling the word in very deed,* passed through fire and water, and entered into the Kingdom of Heaven.* Pray, O forty athletes, that we be given great mercy.

Canon

Ode 1

Canon I of the 40 Holy Martyrs

Irmos: Come, O people, let us chant a song to Christ God, who divided the sea* and guided the people whom He had led forth from the bondage of Egypt, for He has been glorified!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

With hymns inspired by God I praise the divinely-crowned regiment of the martyrs of Christ, radiantly celebrating the annual commemoration of the forty, for He has been glorified!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Rejecting every title on earth, the forty desired the title of Christian, from where they now dwell in the Highest.

Canon II of the 40 Holy Martyrs

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

By your supplication, O forty martyrs, now render God well-disposed towards us that call upon you with the pure love of our hearts.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Enlightened in the heavens with the rays of the splendour of the three-fold Sun, O forty martyrs, protect us that hymn you on earth, which is frozen over by the winter of temptations.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

O forty martyrs, invincible and unshaken rampart of piety and the Church: pacify now that which grievously troubles the Christian calling.

from the Triodion

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

The feast of the veneration of the Cross has appeared to all, effulgent with the sunlight of salvation, and shedding its radiance upon all those held fast by the darkness of the passions. Let us then make haste with pure hearts to adore the Cross.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

Having been cleansed by the grace of the Fast, let us with voices of thanksgiving cry aloud with pure minds to Him who alone is pure: “You have given Your blood for our sake, O Word, sanctifying us by Your Cross.”

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

At all times bound by the attacks of the serpent, I lie gravely wounded, O Saviour. By Your Passion on the Cross, by which You have raised up our first-formed parents; raise me up and guide me to fulfil Your will.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Standing by Your Cross, O Lord and Master, the Virgin looked upon Your wounds: and, pierced in her soul, she cried aloud: “Woe is me, O my Son! I did not feel the pain of childbirth when I bore You, but now I suffer in anguish.”

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

This is a holy and light-bearing week, in which the precious Cross has been exalted before all the world. With enlightened souls let us come, adoring it with fear and love, and let us glorify in songs Christ who has been crucified thereupon.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

We fall down and worship Your Cross, O Christ, and in expectation glorify Your Resurrection; we chant in praise of the nails that pierced You, and we honour Your spear, for through them the eyes and lips of our souls and bodies are made pure.

Glory…

We hymn the Trinity praised in a Unity of Essence, the Father and Son with the Holy Spirit, beginningless Godhead, eternal and uncreated, Life and fountain of Light: with all mankind we worship You who have brought all things into being.

Now…

We sing of you, O pure Virgin Theotokos, the cherubic chariot, from whom God has been born. For you alone are a fount of incorruption, bringing forth life to all, and from whence we draw the waters of healing.

Katavasia: Let us sing to the Lord, who has wrought marvellous wonders in the Red Sea:* for in the deep waters He has drowned our enemies and saved Israel.* To Him alone let us sing,* for He is glorified.

Ode 3

Canon I of the 40 Holy Martyrs

Irmos: Establish us within You, O Lord,* who has slain sin by the Tree,* and plant the fear of You* in the hearts of us that hymn You.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Disdaining the army and life, the comeliness of their bodies and wealth, the right glorious forty martyrs inherited Christ instead of all of these things.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

When the forty martyrs were beaten mercilessly with stones at the command of the tormentors, through the Spirit of God the stones were hurled back against them that commanded that they be beaten.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

The serpent of him that invented blasphemy spoke through the lips of the tormentors, but his God-opposing mouth is broken by the rocks hurled against the martyrs.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Without seed you conceived God in your womb, giving birth to Him that was ineffably incarnate; and even the hosts of Heaven dare not gaze upon Him, O pure Ever-virgin.

Canon II of the 40 Holy Martyrs

Irmos: Establish us within You, O Lord,* who has slain sin by the Tree,* and plant the fear of You* in the hearts of us that hymn You.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

O martyred company and united chorus of crowned martyrs: standing before the Master, you ever save us that sing your praises.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Battered by the lake of the passions and by the waves of grievous temptations, we flee to you, Christ’s forty warriors.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Warmed in the bosom of Abraham and adorned with glorious apparel, pray that Christ grant remission to them that are bound by the winter of evil circumstances.

Glory… Now…

O Virgin Bride of God: be the confirmation, refuge, and protection of them that have recourse to you in faith and confess you to be the Mother of God.

Katavasia: O Mother of God, living and plentiful fount,* give strength to those united in spiritual fellowship,* who sing hymns of praise to you:* and in your divine glory vouchsafe to them crowns of glory.

Sessional Hymn, Tone 8

Having served Christ in martyrdom as warriors and cast down the enemy through suffering,* in your deeds you fulfilled the words of the Prophet:* you went manfully through fire and water, finding refreshment, life incorruptible.* Therefore, adorned with heavenly crowns, you rejoice with the choirs of the bodiless ones, O blessed and all-praised passion-bearers.* Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins* to them that honour your holy memory with love.

Glory… Now…

Having fallen into subtle snares set for me by enemies, visible and invisible,* and caught in the tempest of my countless offenses,* I flee to the harbour of your goodness, as my fervent aid and protection, O pure one.* Therefore, O all-pure one, earnestly pray to Him that was incarnate of you without seed,* in behalf of all your servants, who pray unceasingly.* O all-pure Theotokos, ever entreat Him to grant remission of transgressions* to them that hymn your glory as is meet.

Ode 4

Canon I of the 40 Holy Martyrs

Irmos: I have heard report, O Lord, of Your dispensation,* and have glorified You who alone love mankind.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

“O most iniquitous ones, you are made vainly to offer such a bad bargain!” said the sufferers.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Sharpened swords and wild beasts, fire and the cross did the tormentors offer to the saints of Christ.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

“The fire of Gehenna is frightful to us, but we are not afraid of any of our fellow servants here present,” said the athletes.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

“Let our arms be cut off, let our feet be burned,” the holy ones cried out, “for we shall receive them back incorruptible.”

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

We beseech you, O all-pure one who conceived God without seed: ever pray for your servants.

Canon II of the 40 Holy Martyrs

Irmos: I have heard report, O Lord, of Your dispensation,* and have glorified You who alone love mankind.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

O martyrs, through God you have become our illumination, for you have clothed yourselves in splendour undimmed.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

O divinely elect and crowned assembly of martyrs, pray that they that hymn you be delivered from misfortunes.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

O holy ones, having been vouchsafed to behold the unwaning light of Christ, you are accounted worthy to shine forth upon them that sit in darkness.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Shining with the noetic radiance of Christ, O glorious ones, guide us to the divine illumination.

Glory… Now…

Hymning Him that was incarnate of your womb, O pure one, we glorify you as the Mother of God.

Katavasia: He who sits in glory upon the throne of the Godhead,* Jesus the true God, is come in a swift cloud* and with His sinless hands he has saved those who cry:* Glory to Your power, O Christ.

Ode 5

Canon I of the 40 Holy Martyrs

Irmos: O Lord, Bestower of light and Creator of the ages:* guide us in the light of Your commandments, for we know none other God than You.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Through the most mindless savagery of the tormentors, the athletes, condemned to spend the night in the open air in the cold, chanted a hymn of thanksgiving to God.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Rejoicing, the forty martyrs endured the painful ice, standing in the lake, yet strengthened with the hope of divine crowns.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

The serpent which before had made its nest in the waters, driven out became an object of scorn for the forty martyrs of Christ, for he was deprived of his deadly strength.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

To you who gave birth to Christ, the Creator of all, we cry aloud: Rejoice, O pure one! Rejoice, you that have shone forth the Light upon us! Rejoice, you that contained the infinite God!

Canon II of the 40 Holy Martyrs

Irmos: O Lord, Bestower of light and Creator of the ages:* guide us in the light of Your commandments, for we know none other God than You.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

From the raging of the heretics you now deliver the honourable Church of Christ, O forty martyrs; for, having been born within her, you have passed on to great dignity and glory.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Appearing to us, the forty divinely splendid martyrs of Christ like fiery beacons light the salvific way of piety for the faithful.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Passing over from earth to the shelter of heaven, where you stand before Christ, the Judge of the contest, O martyrs, count me worthy to acquire divine joy.

Glory… Now…

O Maiden Mistress, you truly bore God as your divine Offspring, as a mystery inscrutable and incomprehensible to all, passing all understanding.

Katavasia: The whole world was amazed* at your divine glory:* for you, O Virgin who have not known wedlock,* have held in your womb the God of all* and have given birth to an eternal Son,* who rewards with salvation all who sing your praises.

Ode 6

Canon I of the 40 Holy Martyrs

Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Your loving-kindness:* Lead me up from corruption, O God!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

With joy the author of enmity snatched him that fell away from the forty as he had the wretched Judas from the twelve apostles and man from Eden.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Being shameless, the devil rages in vain, for as of old by the thief and Matthias, so now by one in the office of guardsman is the tyrant also rent asunder.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Vain-minded and worthy of lamentation is he who missed both lives, for thawed by the fire, he departed into the unquenchable fire.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

O Virgin, you gave birth without knowing man, and remain forever a virgin, revealing images of your Son and God, the true Deity.

Canon II of the 40 Holy Martyrs

Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Your loving-kindness:* Lead me up from corruption, O God!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

O mighty ones, you have been shown to be watchful and vigilant preservers of the human race and offer up of supplications; and you have been set forth as helpers of the grieving.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Shining forth in the Church of Christ in your unexcelled beauties, O all-praised ones, from temptations deliver them that honour you with love.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Of old you became destroyers of the deception of the demonized persecutors, O most eminent ones; and now be our ready help and rampart.

Glory… Now…

On you have I placed my hope of salvation, O Ever-virgin Mother; and you have I appointed as the steadfast and unshaken intercessor of my life.

Katavasia: As we celebrate* this sacred and solemn feast of the Mother of God,* let us come, clapping our hands, O people of the Lord,* and give glory to God who was born of her.

Kontakion, Tone 6

You left the crowds of this world* and joined the Master in heaven, O forty martyrs.* Passing through fire and water,* you reaped glory and honour in heaven, O blessed saints.

Ikos

Unworthy as I am, I fall down before Christ Almighty, our Creator and God, who sits upon an unapproachable throne, who stretched out the heavens as it were a curtain, who established the earth, who gathered the waters in the bodies thereof, who created all things out of nothing, who grants breath and life to all, who receives hymnody from the archangels, is worshipped by the angels and is glorified by all; and offering up entreaty, I beg the grace of eloquence, that even I may piously hymn the saints whom He Himself showed forth as victors, granting them glory from the heavens and a multitude of crowns.

Ode 7

Canon I of the 40 Holy Martyrs

Irmos: When the golden image was worshipped on the plain of Dura,* Your three children despised the godless command,* and, cast into the midst of the fire, bedewed they sang:* Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

The guard set over the forty martyrs was struck with awe, beholding their crowns; and, rejecting that which bound him to life, taking wing with the love of Your manifest glory, with the martyrs he sang: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Hastening to the soul-destroying bath, he that loved his life dies; but he that loved Christ, being a most exemplary apprehender of those things which he beheld, sang with the martyrs as in a bath of incorruption: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

When the noetic fire flared up in the minds of the forty, the most subtle madness of the impious was consumed, as it were melting wax. And to You, O Christ, they sang: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

The power of Your Cross, as exceeding splendid and magnificent, O Christ, weaves crowns for the forty martyrs with opposites; for, having passed through fire and water, they cry out in incorruption: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

On Mount Sinai Moses foresaw you, O pure one, as a burning bush which, without being consumed, bore the unbearable radiance of the ineffable Being who, as One of the holy Hypostases thereof, united Himself to the coarseness of our flesh.

Canon II of the 40 Holy Martyrs

Irmos: When the golden image was worshipped on the plain of Dura,* Your three children despised the godless command,* and, cast into the midst of the fire, bedewed they sang:* Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Your annual commemoration has radiantly dawned, O you that are most rich, shining far, radiant with the splendour of the Fast. And celebrating it with faith, we chant with you: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

To all you are shown to be as ones loosened from the passions and beacons shining from afar, the cleansing of the world, the destruction of deception, clear-voiced proclaimers of the truth and expellers of falsehood, chanting: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

You are revealed to us as noetic beacons shining forth, O martyrs; for you save the tempest-tossed and guide them that sail and are battered by the storm of life, chanting to Christ: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Beautiful to God and desirable to the angels is the divinely assembled and most splendid regiment of the forty martyrs inspired by God, the godly and awesome company which cries out, saying: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

Glory… Now…

A beacon of light, a luminous cloud and a hallowed place have you been shown to be, O you that knew not wedlock, for you ineffably received the Word, the Holy One of them that are holy. And chanting to Him, we cry out: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!

Katavasia: The holy children bravely trampled upon the threatening fire,* refusing to worship created things in place of the Creator,* and they sang in joy:* Blessed are You and praised above all, O Lord God of our Fathers.

Ode 8

Canon I of the 40 Holy Martyrs

Irmos: God who descended into the fiery furnace for the Hebrew children* and transformed the flame into anew,* hymn You as Lord,* O you works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Savagely inciting every creature against the athletes, the enemy has been put to shame by them all, for the forty martyrs unceasingly hymn and exalt the Lord supremely for all ages.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Cruelly were the members of your bodies crushed for Christ, and you were offered to God as a divine holocaust; with the angels you ever hold chorus, O martyrs, hymning Christ for all ages.

Canon II of the 40 Holy Martyrs

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

You steadfastly gave yourselves over to a painful death in the midst of winter, O valiant ones; and now, having passed on to the true life which is hidden in Christ, you beg salvation and remission for us.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Having passed over from earth to the heavens, O crowned athletes, chorus of the victorious martyrs of the Church, ask for us salvation and deliverance from misfortunes, passions and evil circumstances.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Rending asunder the bonds of death, the Saviour has given victory over death to His martyrs, for, warmed by the cold, the forty sang, begging salvation for all the faithful.

from the Triodion

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

O Lord, have mercy on my soul and mind, wounded as they are by poisonous passions; compassionately assuage me by Your Cross and the Blood that flows from Your side, that I may sing with heartfelt fervour: “O priests bless and people supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

Of old Moses prefigured you, O precious Cross, lifting his arms up upon the mountain, putting Amalek to flight; and today, as we fall down and worship you, we put the hosts of demons to flight, chanting with faith: “O priests bless and people supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

I am shaken by the passions, ensnared by enemies, and led away by evil habits. Have compassion upon me, O compassionately loving Lord, and protect me with Your Cross, that with an unshaken heart I may chant: “O children bless, O priests praise, O people supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Lamenting in anguish, crying out with a mother’s grief, unable to bear the agony in the depths of thy soul, you gazed upon Him who has been born from your womb, hanging upon the Cross, and cry aloud: “O Child, what is this that I see? How do You suffer, who by nature cannot suffer? It is because You seek to deliver all mankind from corruption.”

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

Beholding the Cross of Christ lying before us in Church, let us draw near in fear and faith, O brethren, and let us fall down and worship it crying aloud: “You have brought life to mankind, O Giver of Light.”

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

Heaven revealed you, O life-giving Cross, as the ensign of victory in battle, the unconquerable weapon of kings, the destroyer of enemies, the horn of the Churches, and the salvation of the faithful.

We bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Lord.

I glorify the Holy Father, I honour the Holy Son, and I sing in praise of the Holy Spirit, simple Trinity, one in Essence. Each Person is God, Light and Lights, emanating from a single Sun.

Now…

Rejoice, impassible Gate; Rejoice, Bush unconsumed by fire; Rejoice, golden Vessel of manna; Rejoice, Mountain un-hewn by man; Rejoice, O Theotokos, the indestructible hope and rampart of those who put their trust in you.

We praise, we bless, and we worship the Lord, hymning and supremely exalting Him throughout all ages!

Katavasia: God is unceasingly glorified on high by the Angels,* O heaven of heavens, earth and mountains, plains and abysses, and all the human,* with hymns as to the Creator and Redeemer,* bless and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.

Magnificat

Ode 9

Canon I of the 40 Holy Martyrs

Irmos: O faithful, let us with hymns magnify in oneness of mind the Word of God,* who from God came in His ineffable wisdom to renew Adam* who had grievously fallen into corruption,* and who was ineffably incarnate for our sake of the holy Virgin.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Stripped naked and beaten with stones for Christ’s sake, you endured the wintry air, icy water and crushing of your limbs; and having been consumed by fire, O forty martyrs, you shine forth in the rushing river like beacons.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Having acquired the Cross as a staff of divine power, the forty athletes cried out to Christ: O Master, almighty Conqueror, crown us by Your own hand, that we may all magnify You unceasingly with hymns!

Canon II of the 40 Holy Martyrs

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Supernatural illumination and ineffable joy and glory have you been vouchsafed to receive; and now, O soldiers of Christ, O forty martyrs, from temptations, misfortunes and the wickedness of the enemy deliver them that honour you with love.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Having received power and might from the heavens, O you that are most rich, fellow prisoners of Christ, you have become dispellers of falsehood, driving away all the ephemeral gloom of idolatry and enlightening the world, O forty martyrs.

O holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

Adorned with the comeliness of an honourable martyrdom, and sharing in divine life, O forty martyrs, warriors of Christ, you truly rejoice, united to the most radiant and pure Light.

from the Triodion

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

Blessing his grandchildren of old, Jacob openly prefigured the precious Cross, by which, O compassionate Lord, bless and grant grace to us who fall down and worship it, and glorify You as the Redeemer of all.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

Having cleansed the soul and mind by the water of fasting, O faithful, let us adore the life-giving and divine Wood that lays before us: for it is a fount of forgiveness and heavenly light, a source of life and true rejoicing.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

I know, O Lord, that You are to come in the glory of the Godhead as the dread Judge, laying bare the hidden sins of all. Therefore I call upon You, O Good One: I have sinned, forgive me and count not my many and grievous sins.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

The Ewe-lamb having beheld the Lamb nailed upon the cross, and the light of the sun darkened, said weeping: “O Jesus, sun of glory, You have set in death. But shine forth with the light of Your Resurrection upon those who love You.”

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

Today let us all fall down and worship the most precious Cross at the place where the feet of our God and Master stood, as David prophetically said, for He who encloses all things in the hollow of His hand, has ascended it.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

O you that dwell on earth, cleansed by fasting draw near and behold today, the all-honoured Cross that lies before you. Fall down and worship it in fear and rejoice in faith, as you draw from it the sanctification of your souls.

Glory…

The Trinity supreme in Godhead is by Essence an undivided Unity. Though single in Nature, it is distinguished in Hypostases; though indivisible, it is divided; though one, it is three: the Father, Son, and Spirit of Life, together watching over all things.

Now…

Who has ever heard of a virgin that bore a child and a mother that knew not a man? O Mary, this miracle has been accomplished in you, but pray-tell how? “Do not enquire into the mystery of my childbearing: it is altogether true yet transcends the understanding of man.”

Katavasia: Upon Mount Sinai Moses saw you in the bush,* as one who conceived the fire of the Godhead within your womb, and yet remained unconsumed.* Daniel saw you as a mountain not cut by the hand of man,* and Isaiah proclaimed you as the Rod that blossomed forth from the root of David.

Hymn of Light, Tone 3

Let us hymn as is meet the company of forty,* the victorious regiment, the array of the holy martyrs,* for by fire, ice and water they have put to shame the regiments of the adversary* and have received crowns of glory from Christ the Saviour.

Glory…

Let the forty-member choir of the forty* who were martyred for the all-divine Trinity and the four-fold virtues,* by the four elements: fire, air, water, and earth, be hymned with divine songs,* for it suffered for Christ, the Master of all.

Now…

O Virgin Mother who, though a maiden,* gave birth to the Master of all things and all creation:* rescue me from the passions which torment me,* and lead me to the radiance of the loving-kindness* and to the most beautiful Pascha of your risen Son.

Praises

Stichera of the Praises

Tone 5

Come, O brethren, and with praises let us hymn the regiment of martyrs* which was consumed by fire and cold,* and with burning zeal burned up the winter of deception,* the most valorous army, the most sanctified company,* the unvanquished and invincible protection, the rampart and protectors of the faith,* the divine choir of the forty martyrs who mightily entreat Christ,* the Mediator of the Church,* that He send down upon our souls peace and great mercy.

Come, O brethren, and with praises let us hymn the regiment of martyrs* which was consumed by fire and cold,* and with burning zeal burned up the winter of deception,* the most valorous army, the most sanctified company,* the unvanquished and invincible protection, the rampart and protectors of the faith,* the divine choir of the forty martyrs who mightily entreat Christ,* the Mediator of the Church,* that He send down upon our souls peace and great mercy.

Rejoice, mighty and courageous assembly, victorious regiment,* pillars of piety, warriors of Christ, steadfast and invincible swordsmen,* truly divine, most mighty of mind and manly of soul,* holy choir desired of God, divinely elect company,* O forty martyrs equal in suffering, equal also in character, and who received equal crowns:* entreat Christ, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy!

Rejoice, victorious multitude, who were valorously courageous in battle,* stars who passed through fire and cold, who broke asunder the water’s ice,* who have rendered the earth heavenly and illumined all,* and who are now warmed in the bosom of Abraham* and join chorus with the armies of the angels, O forty martyrs,* flowers emitting the fragrance of spiritual diffusion:* entreat Christ, that He grant our souls great mercy.

Tone 5, Glory…

O athletes of Christ, you have rendered the most honourable Fast* most radiant through the commemoration of your glorious suffering;* for, being forty in number, you make holy the forty days of Lent,* emulating the Saviour’s suffering in your own suffering for Christ.* Therefore, as you are possessed of boldness, pray that we in the world* may attain to the Resurrection on the third day of God,* the Saviour of our souls.

Now…

We, the faithful bless you, O Virgin Theotokos,* and we glorify you as is meet,* for you are the impregnable city, the insuperable rampart,* the steadfast intercessor and refuge of our souls.

Small Doxology

Aposticha

Tone 6

The most excellent path to exaltation is humility,* as You Yourself have shown us, O Christ;* for You emptied Yourself and take the form of a servant.* You did not hearken to the arrogant prayer of the Pharisee,* but accepting the contrite sighing of the Publican in the heavens,* You have manifest Yourself as the blameless sacrifice.* Therefore I also cry out to You: Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful,* O my Saviour, and save me.

In the morning, fill us with Your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Give us joy to balance our affliction for the years when we knew misfortune. Show forth Your work to Your servants; let Your glory shine on their children.

The most excellent path to exaltation is humility,* as You Yourself have shown us, O Christ;* for You emptied Yourself and take the form of a servant.* You did not hearken to the arrogant prayer of the Pharisee,* but accepting the contrite sighing of the Publican in the heavens,* You have manifest Yourself as the blameless sacrifice.* Therefore I also cry out to You: Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful,* O my Saviour, and save me.

Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands, give success to the work of our hands.

At the commemoration of Your martyrs, O Lord,* the whole of creation keeps festival;* heaven with the angels rejoices,* and the earth with all mankind is exceedingly glad.* By their intercessions have mercy upon us.

Tone 2, Glory…

The forty martyrs, chanting a hymn to the Saviour,* have given the faithful to drink from the cup of truth which is filled with their blood,* with the fire of their torments and icy waters;* for, though one in mind; they offered themselves to Christ in many bodies.* And the godly mother of a Christ-loving son, bearing him upon her shoulder, said:* “Come, O athlete, and suffer with the rest!”

Now…

O impassible portal which has mystically been sealed, blessed Virgin Theotokos:* accept our supplications and bear them to your Son and God,* that through you He save our souls.

Then, “It is good to give praise to the Lord …,” Trisagion,

Troparion

Tone 1

O forty soldiers of Christ and honourable martyrs,* you went through fire and water, O mighty warriors,* and have come to live with the angels.* Join them in praying to Christ for those who praise you.* Glory to Him who strengthened you!* Glory to Him who crowned you!* Glory to Him who heals us through you!

Ektenia

Prayer of Saint Ephrem (with only three prostrations)

Dismissal