Polyeleos Feast.

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading

Blessed is the man… is chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4, Podoben “As ones one valiant among the martyrs…”

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

Your memory dawns like the sun, holy Olha.* The mother of the kings of Rus’, you pointed the way to Christ.* Teaching the angelic way, you overthrew the idol,* and the devil you countered with strength from the Holy Spirit.* You led the whole land to God from the darkness of ignorance.* pray to Him for those who remember you.

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

Your memory dawns like the sun, holy Olha.* The mother of the kings of Rus’, you pointed the way to Christ.* Teaching the angelic way, you overthrew the idol,* and the devil you countered with strength from the Holy Spirit.* You led the whole land to God from the darkness of ignorance.* pray to Him for those who remember you.

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

With wisdom of things divine* you overcame the one who tempted Eve.* Eliminating the devil’s way * you fostered a God-given paradise for the Church;* there you planted the life-giving Cross* so that the heavenly bread and blood of Christ* will grant those who partake angelic life.* Pray for all those who remember you.

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

With wisdom of things divine* you overcame the one who tempted Eve.* Eliminating the devil’s way * you fostered a God-given paradise for the Church;* there you planted the life-giving Cross* so that the heavenly bread and blood of Christ* will grant those who partake angelic life.* Pray for all those who remember you.

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

We spiritually rejoice in remembering you, holy Olha.* Together with miracle-workers and martyrs, pray fervently to Christ.* With the holy Theotokos as your helper,* free us from harm and sadness as we sing to you.

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

Come, you Christian people of Rus’* and in praises let us magnify our first mother,* who showed great wisdom and courage,* who spurned the glory of this world and loved Christ our true God more than all others;* and let us cry out thus to her:* O all-glorious favourite of Christ, pray for the people of Rus’,* that they might not be turned away from the orthodox faith by any of the wiles of the enemy,* but may remain unshaken in piety.

Tone 4, Glory…

Come, you generations of Rus’ and with hymns let us praise the all-wise Olha!* Come, and, enriched in understanding, learn from her* how to bring our understanding to the obedience of faith!* Come, O you men, and render honour to an all-glorious woman!* Come, you women, and emulate her great manliness!* Come, you rulers, and understand an incorrupt glory which surpasses all earthly things!* Come, all you her descendants, and celebrate with splendour on her day!* For she prays fervently to the Lord, that our souls be enlightened.

Now…

O Mother of God, because of You* David the Prophet became an ancestor of God;* he foretold and sang a joyous hymn of praise* and cried out to Him who worked wonders in you:* “The Queen stood at your right hand.”* God revealed you as a life-giving mother,* when He chose to be incarnate of you without a father.* He renewed in man His image* which the passions had corrupted.* He found the lost sheep in the mountains,* carried it on His shoulders,* offered it to the Father,* generously numbered it among the powers of heaven,* and saved the whole world, since He is Christ of great and rich mercy.

Readings

(1) Judges 4:1-5:12; (2) 13:2-20; (3) Proverbs 31:10-12.

Aposticha

Tone 8, Podoben “O all-glorious wonder…”

O all-glorious wonder!* Through a woman the Lord who loves mankind all-wondrously restored the human race,* which had fallen through a woman,* and in later times He sent a woman for the conversion of the race of Rus’:* the all-glorious Olha, whose baptism laid the foundation for the enlightenment of the land of Rus’* to the salvation of our souls.

The Lord is close to all that call upon Him, to all that call on Him in truth.

Rejoice, O divinely saved city of Kyiv,* who have poured forth the light of Christ upon all the ends of our land,* and showed forth therein the first saint, the all-honoured Olha!* Rejoice, O Vyshhorod, her honoured inheritance!* Rejoice, O assembly of the women of Rus’, who have provided our boast,* to the salvation of our souls!

The will of those who fear Him shall He do, and their supplication shall He hear, and He shall save them.

Be glad, O barren land of Rus’!* Dance, O you who never felt the pangs of childbirth,* for you have now given birth to your child, the blessed Olha!* And to the Lord she calls our father Volodymyr,* and by her struggles moves to emulation the choirs of God’s saints,* and your cities and groves, to the salvation of our souls.

Tone 8, Glory…

Great is your glory, and your memorial is celebrated with praises, O all-wise Olha,* who disdained the emptiness of the idols and understood the truth of the Gospel.* In your old age you bound your mind to Christ in obedience,* and have shown the true path of life to all the generations of Rus’.* In our behalf entreat Him who alone loves mankind.

Now…

O unwedded Virgin who ineffably conceived God in the flesh,* Mother of God Most High:* accept the entreaties of your servants, O most immaculate one,* granting to all cleansing of transgressions;* and, accepting now our supplications, pray that we all be saved.

Troparion

Tone 1

On the wings of the knowledge of God* you lifted your mind, O glorious Olha* and soared beyond the visible* attaining to God, the Creator of all.* You found Him and in baptism received the new life* abiding forever in incorruption* and enjoying the fruits of the life-giving Tree.

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!

AT GREAT MATINS ON SATURDAY MORNING

Usual Beginning

Hexapsalm

Great Litany

The Lord is God, Tone 1

Troparion, Tone 1

On the wings of the knowledge of God* you lifted your mind, O glorious Olha* and soared beyond the visible* attaining to God, the Creator of all.* You found Him and in baptism received the new life* abiding forever in incorruption* and enjoying the fruits of the life-giving Tree. (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!

Psaltar Reading

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn, Tone 3

You have truly been shown to be the wisest among women,* O glorious Olga.* Rejecting the delusion of paganism,* you believed in Christ and led Volodymyr to Him.* Therefore, as our first mother, do not forget us, your unworthy children,* but by your God-pleasing prayers* strengthen us in Orthodoxy and piety.

Glory… Now…

Soften our hearts, hardened by evil, O most pure Virgin.* Comfort us in our sorrow,* for you endured great suffering at the Cross of your Son.* Hear our prayers, for in your goodness you are always ready to listen* to those who call upon you.

Psaltar Reading

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn, Tone 4

The Lord guides the steps of the righteous.* Thus, O holy Olga, He who searches every heart and mind led you into the Kingdom of Heaven.* Through your prayers, may we also be found worthy of that Kingdom.

Glory… Now…

O Lady Theotokos,* the unfailing hope and unconquerable refuge of Christians,* do not turn away those who seek your help.* In your goodness, come to our aid* and have mercy upon us.

Polyeleos

Exaltation

We magnify you,* O blessed Princess Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles,* and we honour your holy memory,* for you trampled the idols underfoot and enlightened many of the people of Rus’ through holy Baptism.

verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,* who greatly delights in His commandments.

Glory… Now… Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to You, O God. (3).

Small Litany

Sessional Hymn, Tone 8

It was fitting that you should bear the name of the Empress* who was Equal-to-the-Apostles, O blessed one,* for you emulated her who diligently sought the Cross of Christ. You yourself sought Christ our true God and took up His Cross.* Pray to Him, that we, though burdened by our sins, may also take up the easy yoke of the Cross* and receive the hope of heaven.

Glory… Now…

“From this day forward all generations will call me blessed,”* you proclaimed, O most pure Virgin,* when you received the greeting of the righteous Elizabeth.* Therefore, following the teaching handed down by our fathers,* we also hymn you as the Theotokos and Mother of the Light.

Gradual Hymn, Tone 4

Antiphon I

From my youth do many passions war against me:* but do You yourself help me and save me,* O my Saviour.

You that hate Sion,* shall be put to shame by the Lord;* as grass in the fire shall you be put withered up.

Glory… Now…

By the Holy Spirit is every soul is enlivened:* by purification it is raised on high and made bright* by the triple Unity* in a holy mystery.

Prokiemenon, Tone 4

Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.

verse: The heavens proclaim the glory of God, and the firmament shows forth His haniwork.

Let every breath, Tone 4

Gospel

Matthew 13: 33, 44-50

Psalm 50

Verses at Psalm 50

Tone 6

Let us praise the all-wise Olga,* the proclaimer of the Faith and divinely chosen guide to salvation,* and with hymns let us honour her holy memory;* for with all the saints of our land* she prays for the salvation of our souls.

Canon, Tone 5

The full Canon of the Saint is given here; if an abbreviation is necessary, only Ode 9 may be taken.

Ode 1

Irmos: Let us hymn Christ, Who drowned the haughty Pharaoh, his captains and armaments in the sea, and Who most gloriously saved Israel and led them across dry land, for He has been glorified.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
You are our greatness and boast, O divinely wise Olga, for through you we have been freed from the delusion of idolatry. And now pray for the generations of generations whom you have led to God, hymning Christ, for He is glorious.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
You drove the arrogant devil from Rus’, everywhere breaking asunder the ungodly graven images; and you have freed all the people from iniquity, teaching them with wisdom to hymn Christ, for He is glorious.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
You washed away the blackness of sin in the laver of Baptism, and loved Christ. Standing before Him, pray for your servants who glorify you with faith.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Isaiah calls you the Rod, O most pure one, and David calls you the Throne of the Lord; Habakkuk refers to you as the overshadowed Mountain, and Moses proclaims you the Bush unburnt. But we call you the Mother of God.

Ode 3

Irmos: With Your mighty arm and powerful word You created heaven and earth; and Your Church, which You redeemed by Your blood, is established in You, crying out: There is none holy but You, O Lord!

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
With mighty arm, wise words, and powerful discourse you taught your son the law of Christ, and forbade the people to offer sacrifice to idols, O most glorious Olga. And now, assembled in your memory, we glorify you.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
Like a bee of good understanding, you sought the Faith of Christ which blossomed afar off; and, receiving Baptism in the Imperial City like true honey, you brought it to your city and people. Satisfied by it, all escape the bitterness of sin.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
We offer you our praise and supplication, O Olga, for through you we have come to know God, before Whom you now stand. Ask peace and victory over the pagans for all Orthodox Christians, and remission of sins for the souls of us who hymn you, O ever-blessed one.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
You were shown to be the dwelling-place of the unapproachable God. Therefore, the ranks of angels unceasingly hymn you, giving glory to the Master. For you gave birth to the Word of the Father, Who is co-beginningless with the Father and without an earthly father. O the wonder! The Holy Spirit overshadowed you!

Sessional Hymn, Tone 3:

We honour your struggle, O blessed one, for wondrous was the strength of your spirit revealed in the weakness of your body. Having rejected the delusion of paganism, you boldly preached the Christian Faith, providing us with an example of zeal for the Lord.

Glory… Now…

He who was ineffably incarnate from your pure blood prepared a throne within your womb, O most pure Virgin, whom all generations rightly glorify as the Theotokos.

Ode 4

Irmos: Purified by the Spirit of God who inspired him, the divine Prophet Habakkuk said in fear: When the years draw near, You will be made known, O God, for the salvation of mankind!

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
The Spirit of God rested upon you, as upon the Prophetess Deborah of old. Enlightened by Him, and strengthening the wise Vladimir, you cast down the devil through your grandson’s Baptism, just as Barak vanquished Sisera at the brook Kishon.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
O divinely wise Olga, with a contrite heart you stood before God in prayer like a mighty torrent. You delivered your people from the oppression of graven images, freed them from the captivity of the enemy, and called upon Christ to help us.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
On the glorious day of your holy repose, we joyfully celebrate your memory, offering a hymn of supplication to Christ, who crowned you with an imperishable crown. O divinely wise Olga, ask remission of sins for us who glorify you with faith.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
We praise you as the Mother of God and pure Virgin, the rod of the Spirit of God, which, as Isaiah foretold, sprang forth from the root of Jesse and blossomed into Christ the Flower, bearing the Transcendent One in the flesh.

Ode 5

Irmos: O almighty Word of God, send peace upon the whole world, enlightening and illumining with the light of truth all who, rising from the night, glorify You.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
Like a chaste dove, you soared to the summit of the palm tree of the virtues on sacred wings of silver. There you made your nest in the abundance of paradise, O glorious Olga.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
Of you Solomon sang long ago: In the vineyard of the King an olive tree has blossomed forth. For you planted in Rus’ the grapes of holiness, bringing forth the fruit of repentance, in which Christ Himself rejoices.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
Have mercy, O Master, upon Your newly enlightened people, and do not give us over into the hands of the heathen because of the multitude of our iniquities. But by the prayers of our instructress Olga, deliver us from every temptation.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O clouds, as it is written, let gladness rain down upon mortals; for Christ, the Son of God, who cleanses the world of sins, became incarnate of the Virgin and has been given to us.

Ode 6

Irmos: Accept my supplication in Your holy and heavenly Church, that, like Jonah, I may cry out to You from the depths of the sea of my heart: Lead me up from my sins, I pray You, O Lord!

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
Receiving the zeal of the Holy Spirit in your heart, you rejected the false religion of your forebears. Seeking Christ, the true God, you were shown to be a child of light, joining the choir of the first-fruits of the saints in heaven.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
You were shown to be a new teacher of Christ in Rus’, going throughout its cities and villages, destroying graven images, and teaching the people to worship the one God. Entreat Him on behalf of those who hymn you.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
O divinely blessed Olga, pray to God for your children. Ask for lasting peace for our hierarchy, and remission of sins for us who ever glorify you.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having come through you to know the Word of God, the almighty Only-begotten Son, we mortals cry out to you: Rejoice, O blessed Theotokos, hope of our souls!

Kondakion, Tone 4

Today, let us praise God* Who gives blessings to all,* for in Rus’-Ukraine He glorified* Olga the divinely wise.* Let us ask Him to grant our souls* pardon of sins through her prayers.

Ikos

Seeing the way of life of the Christians and understanding the futility of the lives of the heathen, you said to yourself, O divinely wise Olga: “O the depth of the wisdom and goodness of the Creator of all! How have You remained hidden from me until now? How can I continue to worship idols? For no one who has tasted what is sweet desires what is bitter. Therefore, though I am advanced in years, call me to Yourself, O Holy Trinity, and grant me remission of sins!”

Ode 7

Irmos: The pious children subdued the fire of the furnace; therefore, it rained dew upon them from on high. Though by nature they were subject to the flames, transcending nature they courageously cried aloud: Blessed are You, O Lord, enthroned in the glory of Your Kingdom!

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
On the day of your commemoration, O most wondrous Olga, we offer you hymns of praise as a royal diadem for your divinely wise head, for Christ has crowned you with incorruption. Pray for your flock, that they may be delivered from every evil as they cry aloud: Blessed are You, O Lord, enthroned in the glory of Your Kingdom!

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
Shall we call you the mountain of Lebanon? For upon you the dew of heaven descended. Or shall we call you the river Pishon, more beautiful than the precious sapphire, having brought forth Vladimir, through whom the land of Rus’ was enlightened? Pray for us who cry aloud: Blessed are You, O Lord, enthroned in the glory of Your Kingdom!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In the Spirit we call you the ark overlaid with pure gold, O Virgin, for you have saved the world from the noetic flood. Save us, for we place our hope in you and flee to you. Deliver us from sins and temptations as we lie in the pit of despair, for we cry aloud: Blessed are You, O Lord, enthroned in the glory of Your Kingdom!

Ode 8

Irmos: The three children, strengthened by the power of the Holy Trinity, pursued and overcame the Chaldeans; and nature was wondrously changed, for the fire became dew and preserved them as though wrapped in swaddling clothes. O God, who have poured forth wisdom upon all Your works, You we supremely exalt throughout all ages!

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
Clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit, strong as a lioness, Olga hastened alone to destroy the idols in every place. This was marveled at in heaven and on earth: that a woman should first come to know God, though through woman our whole race first fell. And now, saved through her, we chant: O God, who pour forth wisdom upon all Your works, You we supremely exalt throughout all ages!

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
The Wisdom of God wrote beforehand concerning you: “Behold, you are fair, My beloved, and there is no blemish in you!” The radiance of your countenance, like the fragrance of myrrh, marked your Baptism, O Olga. Thereby Christ anointed you in the midst of the delusion of idols, and by His mercy has brought us all from the stench of demons to repentance.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
Remember me, your poor servant, who has been robbed by the enemy and has sinned more than other men, O Sovereign Olga. Pray to Christ that He grant me forgiveness for all the offenses which I, wretched as I am, have senselessly committed, that I may cry out in repentance: O God, who pour forth wisdom upon all Your works, You we supremely exalt throughout all ages!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Do not disregard the prayers of your servants, O Virgin, for we boast in you and are your little flock. Hasten to our aid and rescue us from our enemies. Have mercy on us who confess you to be the Mother of God and cry out to your Son: O God, who pour forth wisdom upon all Your works, You we supremely exalt throughout all ages!

Ode 9

Irmos: Our race departed from Eden because of our first mother, Eve; but through you it has been called back, for you gave birth for our sake to Christ, the new Adam, in two natures, O pure Virgin. Adam, our forefather, leapt for joy, having escaped the ancient curse; and we, boasting in you, have come to know God through you. Therefore we magnify you.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
Rejoice, O Eve our foremother, for he who deceived you has been cast out of Eden and is now trampled underfoot by your descendants. For behold, Olga planted the Tree of Life, the Cross of Christ, in Rus’, through which Paradise has been opened to all the faithful. And we, rejoicing that we have come to know God through her, magnify Vladimir together with her.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
Though a woman by nature, you struggled beyond the strength of women. You distributed countless pieces of gold that you might acquire the law of Christ your Teacher, by which you enlightened the land of Rus’. And we, rejoicing that we have come to know God through you, magnify you together with the martyrs.

Blessed Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
O pure instructress in the law and teacher of the Faith of Christ, accept the praise of your unworthy servants, and intercede with God for us who honour your memory. Pray that we may be delivered from temptations, misfortunes, sorrow, and grievous sins. Deliver us also from the torments to come, for we who magnify you unceasingly beseech you.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Behold the Tabernacle! Behold the holy Mountain of God! Behold the Rod! Behold the golden Vessel! Behold the sealed Fountain! Behold the holy Paradise of the new Adam! Behold the dread Throne! Behold the most pure Mother of God, the helper of all who hymn her!

Small Litany

Hymn of Light

Illumined by the light of the grace of God, O divinely wise Olga, you kindled the lamp of the true Faith in your homeland and set an example for our father Vladimir, through whom we have been led from the darkness of ignorance into the light of Christ.

Glory… Now…

We, who languish in the darkness of iniquity and have been defiled by the impurity of sin, have you as our guide to the never-waning Light. Therefore, lead my wretched soul to the purity of heaven by your almighty intercession, O most pure Virgin.

Stichera on the Praises, Tone 2

Praise Him for His powerful deeds, * praise His surpassing greatness.

O brethren, let us praise our Savior and Lord for His great benefactions. In His love for mankind, He kindled the fire of divine love in the heart of our first mother Olga, and through her revealed the abundant fruits of His sowing in our land: true leaders of the heavenly Kingdom among our princes, wise guides to salvation among our hierarchs, and pillars of faith and piety among every choir of the venerable. Through their prayers He saves our souls from death.

O praise Him with sound of trumpet, * praise Him with lute and harp.

O brethren, let us praise our Savior and Lord for His great benefactions. In His love for mankind, He kindled the fire of divine love in the heart of our first mother Olga, and through her revealed the abundant fruits of His sowing in our land: true leaders of the heavenly Kingdom among our princes, wise guides to salvation among our hierarchs, and pillars of faith and piety among every choir of the venerable. Through their prayers He saves our souls from death.

Praise Him with timbrel and dance, * praise Him with strings and pipes.

Sing to the Lord a new song, O forests and valleys of the land of Rus’, in memory of our guide! Cry out to God with a voice of rejoicing, O mountains and hills, which of old were defiled by idolatrous sacrifices and served for the destruction of our fathers, but have now been sprinkled with the dew of the grace of your Creator and overshadowed by the Cross of His Son. Together with us, worship Him who saves our souls.

O praise Him with resounding cymbals, * praise Him with clashing of cymbals. Let everything that lives and that breathes * give praise to the Lord.

Because of our sins, there have arisen among us senseless men who not only say in their hearts, “There is no God,” but also preach destructive and corrupt doctrines, leading away from the Holy Church those who are weak in faith. Yet through the prayers of the blessed Olga, may the Lord save our souls from them.

Tone 8, Glory…

Tell us, O our beloved mother, how you overcame all the wiles of the enemy by the grace of the Most High, that, instructed by you, we also may learn how to save our souls.

Now…

O Theotokos, unwedded Mother, you are our refuge and strength, our hope and unshakable rampart. Do not turn your face away from us, but entreat your Son and our God, that through you He may save our souls.

Great Doxology

Troparion, Tone 1

On the wings of the knowledge of God* you lifted your mind, O glorious Olga* and soared beyond the visible* attaining to God, the Creator of all.* You found Him and in baptism received the new life* abiding forever in incorruption* and enjoying the fruits of the life-giving Tree.

Litany of Supplication

Insistent Litany

Great Dismissal

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 1: On the wings of the knowledge of God* you lifted your mind, O glorious Olga* and soared beyond the visible* attaining to God, the Creator of all.* You found Him and in baptism received the new life* abiding forever in incorruption* and enjoying the fruits of the life-giving Tree.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4: Today, let us praise God* Who gives blessings to all,* for in Rus’-Ukraine He glorified* Olga the divinely wise.* Let us ask Him to grant our souls* pardon of sins through her prayers.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.

verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)

Epistle

Galatians 3:23-29

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and He was attentive to me, and He heard my prayer.

verse: He brought me out of the pit of misery and the mud of the swamp. (Psalm 39:2,3)

Gospel

Matthew 25:1-13

Communion Hymn

The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)