AT VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4, Podoben “Called from on high…”

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

O you who were illumined by light divine,* when with purity of mind you lifted up your eyes* and likewise preferred things which are to come eternally to things which are inconstant,* then, receiving fire in your heart, O father,* like a deer you thirsted for divine love;* and, unmindful of flesh and blood,* you prepared yourself for the struggles of asceticism,* for which cause you made the passions of thy body subject to your soul.

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

To ascend the mountains of God you made your dwelling in the heights,* without being brought low by the vigilant needs of this lowly body, O father Joannicius;* for, uniting yourself to the Good One by standing whole nights and days in prayer,* you were illumined and received the gift of prophecy,* to behold things afar off as though they were near,* and to foretell to the faithful things which are to come.* Therefore, we glorify you as a divine teacher.

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

The assaults and darts of the demons* you mightily blunted with the entreaties of your prayers,* and by the power of God, O right glorious one, you triumphed over them.* Therefore, as you were refreshed by the humility of thy heart,* the Good One has given you miracles as honours.* For this cause, your precious relics pour forth fragrant myrrh,* for you have shown yourself to be the sweet fragrance of Christ, O father Joannicius.

Tone 2, Podoben “When from the Tree…”

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

Receiving a fitting name through divine providence, O father,* you confirmed it, signifying it materially;* for in your endurance you vanquished multitudes of adversaries and the assembly of torturers.* Therefore, receiving a crown of victory, you cried out with faith:* Glory to Your invincible might, O You who loves mankind!

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

On this, your divine memorial,* you pour forth the most fragrant myrrh of healings upon us today, O wise Nicander;* You drive away the darkness of sorrows and bodily sufferings,* and fill with rich grace the assembly of all who cry out to Christ:* You are the inexhaustible myrrh perfuming all who hymn You!

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

As you have boldness before Christ, who alone is glorious in His saints,* entreat Him, O venerable Nicander,* for all who with love celebrate your memory and praise your corrections,* that through grace we may become partakers of His ineffable good things* and incorruptible glory.

Tone 6, Glory…

O venerable father, the sound of your corrections has gone forth into all the earth;* therefore, you have found the reward of your labours in the heavens.* You destroyed hordes of demons and have attained to the ranks of the angels,* whose life you blamelessly emulated.* As you have boldness before Christ God, ask peace for our souls.

Now…

Seeing You crucified, O Christ, she who gave You birth cried out:* What is this strange sight that I see, O my Son?* How is it that You die on the Tree, suspended in the flesh,* O Bestower of life?

Aposticha

Tone 6

Your Cross is life and help for Your people, О Lord;* and trusting therein, we hymn You, our God who was crucified in the flesh.* Have mercy on us!

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.

Your Cross, О Lord, has opened paradise to the race of mankind;* and delivered from corruption, we hymn You, our God who was crucified in the flesh.* Have mercy on us!

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.

They who suffered for Your sake, О Christ, endured many torments* and have received perfect crowns in the heavens.* May they pray on behalf of our souls.

Tone 8, Glory…

We honour you as the instructor of a multitude of monks, O Joannicius our father;* for through your steps we have truly recognized how to walk aright.* Blessed are you who, labouring for Christ,* denounced the power of the enemy,* O converser with the angels, companion of the venerable and the righteous.* With them pray to the Lord that our souls find mercy.

Now…

Beholding You, O Jesus, nailed to the Cross and accepting suffering willingly,* the Virgin, Your Mother, O Master, cried out:* Woe is me, O my sweet Child!* How is it that You unjustly endure wounds, O Physician who heals the infirmity of men* and have delivered all from corruption by Your lovingkindness?

Troparia

Tone 4

You fought like a brave soldier against the hostile flesh,* and you battled spiritual enemies by deep fasting.* You vanquished legions of devils by humility* and have shown yourself a great conqueror.* You received the power to heal from God.* O Joannicus, now beg Him to save our souls.

Glory…

O Lord our God, your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Now…

O Virgin, all immaculate Mother of Christ God,* a sword pierced your all-holy soul* when you saw your Son and God willingly crucified.* Therefore, O blessed One,* never cease to pray to Him* that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: You fought like a brave soldier against the hostile flesh,* and you battled spiritual enemies by deep fasting.* You vanquished legions of devils by humility* and have shown yourself a great conqueror.* You received the power to heal from God.* O Joannicus, now beg Him to save our souls.

Troparion, Tone 4: O Lord our God, your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 8: You became a brilliant star over the earth,* guiding those in the fog of passions.* You became a truly effective doctor,* for you received the grace to heal.* O father Joannicus, heal those who petition you,* that we may ever sing to you.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4: You were enlightened with the anointing of truth,* and you were illumined by the blood of martyrdom.* With joy you have taken up your place among the angels.* We gladly keep your memory today,* hoping to obtain purification through your prayers.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.

verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:15,12)

Epistle

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Alleluia, Tone 6

verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.

verse: His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)

Gospel

Luke 11:42-46

Communion Hymn

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