Akathist to Our Venerable and God-bearing Fathers John and Gabriel the Georgians, John-Tornike, Euthymius and George the Hagiorites
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things with Thy grace, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, deliver us and release us from our sins; O Master, pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy (Thrice). Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Lord, have mercy (Twelve times). Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings. Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.
With praises we sing of the great George the Hagiorite together with Euthymius, of John-Tornike, the soldier of Christ, and of John and Gabriel the Georgians, and we send you as intercessors to God, that He may turn away the wrath justly stirred up for our sins and break the insolence of our countless enemies, who ever do us violence and oppress us, and grant an untroubled and wise life to those who praise you: Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
The grace of working wonders given you from on high, surpassing human power and speech, amazed the powers of heaven; and we give thanks to Jesus our God, who did not disregard this our beloved people, through the intercession of His Mother, and sent you, such fathers, for our instruction and understanding, that we may become zealots and imitators of your virtues and cry with thanksgiving:
Rejoice, luminaries of Georgia who shone forth from Athos; rejoice, valiant preachers of Orthodoxy; rejoice, impregnable walls of piety; rejoice, lovers of the wilderness like the great Forerunner; rejoice, continuers of the struggle of Gregory of Khandzta; rejoice, pillars and strength of the monastic assembly; rejoice, servants of God, faithful to fatherland and king; rejoice, rules and canons of the Church; rejoice, most holy stars of divine glory; rejoice, heavenly champions of our people; rejoice, sleepless guardians and defenders of the land of Iberia; Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
The grace of God dwelt in thee, valiant John, and thou, brave and chosen in the armies, didst forsake passing wealth and free thyself from all the cares of this world; and reaching the glorious lavra of the Four Churches, thou didst amaze the fathers there, the venerable Moses and Gelasius, by thy monastic struggle, for thou hadst but one care: to please God by prayer and fasting. So now also water our souls with divine teaching and instruction, that by thy longing we may struggle courageously and be made worthy to sing to God: Alleluia.
When thy fame spread in Georgia, pilgrimage became thy guide on the true path, and with the blessing of the fathers thou didst reach Mount Olympus; thou didst quench the fiery darts of the evil one by obedience and didst bear the care of the mules with humility. So now also enlighten my soul with the radiance of thy grace and drive all insolence and pride from my darkened mind, that we may ever do what is pleasing to God and call thee blessed with faith:
Rejoice, thou who didst take up the cross of Christ upon thy shoulders; rejoice, thou who art praised in humility and obedience; rejoice, thou who didst forsake a beloved fatherland and choose the heavenly fatherland; rejoice, thou who for love of God didst flee the glory of this age and gain heavenly glory; rejoice, thou who didst acquire the grace of theology; rejoice, thou who didst hate the vainly proud and the liars; rejoice, thou who teachest divine zeal and reverence; rejoice, reprover of those who have strayed from the paths of truth; rejoice, thou who by unceasing prayer and psalmody didst quench the glory of the deceiver and his snares; rejoice, thou who didst nurture the flock of Christ in Orthodoxy; Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
Forsaking thy nobility, like Abraham thou didst sojourn in a strange land; and when thou didst hear that thy son Euthymius had been given as a hostage to the king of the Greeks, thou didst go up to Constantinople, the royal city, deliver thy son and, returning to Olympus, bring him up spiritually. So now also help us with thy fatherly mercy, that our fathers may day by day teach their children the divine law and love for the fatherland, and that the mothers of Georgia may give themselves to bringing up children to be a boast, imitating the mothers of old, that we may all walk in wisdom on the path of truth and ever sing to the Lord: Alleluia.
The voice of thy virtues went out into all the earth, valiant John, and fleeing the glory of men thou didst take thy son Euthymius and, reaching in secret the Holy Mountain, the lavra of the great Athanasius, thou didst put the proud adversary to shame by hiding thy virtues and wonders. So now also quench the designs of the wicked stirred up against our people and weaken the tongues of heretics by the power of Christ, that we may walk in the paths of righteousness and truth and, kept unharmed, say with fervour:
Rejoice, thou who didst shine like an angel among men by a divine way of life; rejoice, thou who wast worn down in the flesh and adorned in spirit; rejoice, bee who didst gather the honey of courage from the ascetics; rejoice, thou who like wise Abraham didst offer thy son upon an invisible altar; rejoice, fruitful tree that didst bring forth a good shoot; rejoice, thou who didst put to shame the deceiver, the ruler of this world; rejoice, deliverer from every evil deed and from the stirrings of the flesh; rejoice, instructor of the ignorant and the disobedient; rejoice, thou who drivest away the stench of ungodliness and plantest the seed of the worship of God; rejoice, thou who askest of the Lord the sweetness of piety for the Georgian people; rejoice, thou who stretchest out thy hand to the poor and visitest widows and orphans; Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
Thou didst hasten by God’s prompting, blessed John, to teach thy son translation; and thy son Euthymius was enlightened from his youth by divine grace, and there was given him a lofty mind that beheld divine wisdom, and understanding to speak languages and translate books, as was made known to him by the appearing of the all-holy Theotokos; therefore we, her portion, offer a worthy hymn to her only-begotten Son: Alleluia.
In his youth thy son fell gravely ill, John, and the zeal of the physicians was of no avail; but thou didst enter the church and venerate the holy icon of the spotless Mother, and entreating her with shedding of tears for Euthymius, the compassionate Mother looked upon thy sorrows and granted health and a spirit of wisdom to thy son; therefore we venerate the Virgin Mother of God and offer thee a praise of thanksgiving:
Rejoice, thou humble one and lover of abasement; rejoice, chosen vessel of virtues and dwelling of God-pleasing deeds; rejoice, companion of the great Athanasius and imitator of the apostles; rejoice, good shepherd of the divine flocks; rejoice, rule and canon of monks; rejoice, partaker with those first righteous ones; rejoice, great adornment of the servants of God and guide of lovers of the wilderness; rejoice, refuge of the old and the young; rejoice, merciful benefactor of the poor; rejoice, helper and advocate of the erring; rejoice, sweet father of all who flee to thee; rejoice, good mediator between God and men; Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
While thou wast in the church, thy son saw a vision; and coming to him, venerable John, thou didst see him sound and unharmed. “What is this, my child?” thou didst ask thy son in amazement; and the youth opened his mouth, and like a fountain there flowed unceasingly from it Georgian purer than that of all Georgians: “A Queen clothed in radiance stood before me and said to me in our tongue: What aileth thee, Euthymius? – I am dying, O Lady, I cried with tears; and she healed me and said: Fear not, child; arise and speak freely in Georgian; and behold, as thou seest, she hath delivered me from bitter pains.” And thou, hearing this, O blessed one, receiving grace and mercy, didst offer a hymn to the Theotokos and sweetly glorify Christ God born of her: Alleluia.
Until then thou didst grieve, God-wise John, for thy son spoke Georgian with difficulty; but having been granted that blessed vision, of which the angels alone are worthy, by the breath of the Spirit he proclaimed the glory of Christ God and beyond human strength magnified His sweet and comforting Mother, by whose gift and mercy your struggle was accomplished; and we, kindled by love for you, offer thanksgiving to the Theotokos and are moved to sing to you:
Rejoice, men of spiritual longings, true growers of the knowledge of God; rejoice, unhewn rocks of the right faith; rejoice, partakers of divine love; rejoice, golden lamps of godliness; rejoice, unfailing fountains of mercy; rejoice, shields that guard piety and swords that cut off impiety; rejoice, loud-voiced preachers of the all-holy Theotokos; rejoice, rules of righteousness and comfort; rejoice, glory and boast of your beloved fatherland; rejoice, all-radiant lampstands that enlighten the Georgian people; rejoice, untiring labourers in the vineyard of Christ; Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
Then thy most wise father said to thee, Euthymius: “Our land is very poor in books; the talent God hath granted thee, as a faithful servant, multiply and offer many times over to the Church of Iberia”; and thou didst obediently follow his command, and like a rational bee labouring at the sweet honey of the divine books, with the nectar of thy translations thou didst sweeten our language and Church; therefore, singing in it, we give glory, and as with the sweet voice of an organ we sing to Him who made thee wise: Alleluia.
When the fountain of living water, the Queen Theotokos, gave thee wisdom to drink, blessed Euthymius, there flowed from thy lips a fountain of incorruption, abundantly watering thy dry land, whose ruler was eager that thou shouldst translate from the Greek tongue and send divine books; therefore thou didst give thyself no rest, and didst send writings of piety to David the Curopalates; and he cried out with joy: “Thanks be to God, who hath revealed a new Chrysostom to our people”, and praised thy zeal:
Rejoice, thou who wast dedicated to God from infancy and didst follow Christ in spotless priesthood; rejoice, thou who wast purified by prayer and enriched with the grace of foresight; rejoice, thou who wast filled with ineffable joy by the all-spotless Virgin Mary; rejoice, thou who didst speak hidden mysteries in a manner worthy of God in the Georgian tongue and spread wisdom abroad; rejoice, thou who guidest the hearts of the hearers to understanding; rejoice, father of all translations, who didst multiply the holy Scriptures and the writings of the Orthodox fathers; rejoice, thou who with thy theologian’s tongue didst undo every artifice of words and cut off the murmuring of the Jews; rejoice, thou who didst grant teachings profitable to the soul and humble those harmful to the soul; rejoice, thou who didst store up for the Georgian race one honeycomb of eternal sweetness from flowers of every kind; rejoice, thou who didst copy rare manuscripts and beautifully expound the power of the depths of the books; rejoice, unerring writer of the rules and canons of the Church that confirm our faith; rejoice, thou who didst plant the knowledge of God among the Kartlosians and blot out the stain of superstition; Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
Thou hadst a God-fearing kinsman, the commander of Kartli, Tornike Chordvaneli; he spared neither his age nor his military honour, and taking up the monastic struggle for love of God he went to Olympus, but did not find thee there, venerable John; and coming to the Holy Mountain he reached the great lavra; and you, those good friends, greeted one another and gave thanks to God who had made you worthy to see one another again, and sang to His goodness: Alleluia.
When your name went out to all the ends of the earth, by God’s help the Georgians began to come and multiply; and seeing this, ye valiant ones built the church of John the Evangelist and cells in a beautiful wilderness, and settled the people allotted to the Theotokos on the mountain that is her own portion. Entreat now the Virgin Theotokos to renew grace and blessing for our people and to multiply again the Georgian race on the Holy Mountain, in the Iveron monastery, that we may not forget your benefactions, and keeping your memory may call your wisdom blessed:
Rejoice, rational towers unshaken and unmoving monuments of courage; rejoice, fellow-champions and most experienced commanders, sprung from Tao; rejoice, fellow-strugglers who blossomed on the Holy Mountain; rejoice, ye who speak with wisdom and rightly fulfil the divine Scriptures; rejoice, ye who instead of worldly riches and rest loved humility and poverty; rejoice, ye who live with one soul and swiftly uproot all harmful deeds; rejoice, ye who by courage of spirit give an example to the faint-hearted and the slothful and put the negligent to shame; rejoice, comforters and defenders of your kinsmen in foreign lands; rejoice, ye who gathered together spotless citizens and struggling brethren; rejoice, ye who strengthen monks in their struggles and nurtured great luminaries of the Church; rejoice, ye who bring to nought the evil designs of enemies; Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
When Sclerus rebelled in Greece and rose against the young emperors, they wrote to John and the great Athanasius: “In the war we have no helper save David the Curopalates; now we entreat you that the great commander John, once Tornike, go to him”; and thou, venerable one, didst not wish to leave the monastery, but thou hadst pity on the young emperors, and with the blessing of the fathers didst set out for Tao. So now also we stir thee, a soldier of the heavenly King, to help and intercession, and cry to the Lord: Alleluia.
When thou didst come before David the Curopalates and tell him all their plight, he at once appointed thee commander, blessed Tornike-John, and sent thee to Greece with a chosen army; and thou, putting off the monastic habit, didst put on armour of iron, and going out to battle with the rebels didst overthrow them with the help of God; then the Greek emperors rightly rejoiced and granted the “upper lands” to the Curopalates, while to thee, brave one, they gave the honour of synkellos and offered praise and thanks as to an invincible soldier of Christ:
Rejoice, thou who by thy courage strengthenest and hast mercy on the Christ-loving army; rejoice, protector of all the wronged and oppressed; rejoice, thou who blessest pious rulers and art swift to hear; rejoice, teacher of soldierly valour and rouser of courage; rejoice, thou who for obedience to the fathers didst take up a mighty sword; rejoice, thou who puttest to shame the crafty and the vengeful; rejoice, thou who chastisest with wrath those who have fallen from faith and fatherland; rejoice, thou who didst repel and overthrow the arrogant Sclerus; rejoice, thou who didst calm the disaster coming upon the Greek emperors and establish their sceptre; rejoice, strengthener of the spiritual courage of the Iberians; rejoice, thou who wast enrolled as a soldier of heaven and didst gain the reward of victory; Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
When Tornike returned again to Athos with great wealth, he cut off his own will entirely and followed obedience to thee; then you, father John, resolved to build a Georgian monastery and built this glorious lavra by the sea. So now also grant us divine zeal for the fatherland and courage of spirit, that we may weep over the loss of this monastery and sing to Jesus our Deliverer in spirit and in truth: Alleluia.
Seeing, holy father, the humility and obedience of the great Tornike, thou too didst honour him fittingly and wast merciful to his old age; but that blessed man had been brought up in battles and loved to tell of military deeds; and thou, wise John, taking pity on him, didst say to him with honey-flowing tongue: “If thou wouldst talk of worldly matters, tell them to Gabriel, the chosen among ascetics”, who lived in stillness in the clefts near the monastery and in wintertime stayed in the Iveron monastery; and we praise such long-suffering of thine and, standing before your icons, cry with longing:
Rejoice, ye of one soul in spirit and brothers in the flesh, for ye made the name of your native land shine; rejoice, raisers of churches like heaven, for ye laboured for the increase of the Georgians on Athos and established this holy place for your race; rejoice, ye adorned with good labour, for ye settled your own in a foreign land and glorified them above the Greeks who dwelt there; rejoice, ye who attained apostolic power, for ye roused the Lord’s people from spiritual sleep and set them on the royal way; rejoice, ye who spur men on to virtues and struggles, for ye showed mercy to all according to their worth and raised men up to imitate you; rejoice, havens of many souls, for many hastened to hear the words of God from you and to be with you; rejoice, ye of one soul in spirit and mighty in body, for power was given you by God to work great miracles; rejoice, exalters of every Georgian virtue, for ye saved the people of God from soul-destroying drowning; rejoice, for your virtue and worth spread not only in Georgia but in all Greece, in Jerusalem and on Sinai; rejoice, for Iveron boasteth of your labours accomplished in it and crieth that it is the dwelling of the Georgian brethren; rejoice, angels of earth and men of heaven, for like swift-winged eagles ye fly over all the world and shine the gifts of your help more brightly than the sun upon all who venerate you; rejoice, living icons whom we have before us as a pattern of holiness and a courage of valour; Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
When John, once Tornike, heard this, he was struck with fear and fell at thy feet and with tears asked forgiveness; then thou didst raise him up with love and forgive him in the name of the Lord; and he, mingling contrition of heart and stillness of mind with reverence, and made perfect in a good old age, stood before God, was numbered with the army of heaven and with them singeth to the Creator of all: Alleluia.
O most exalted grace, Gabriel the Georgian, for out of many fathers thou wast chosen to receive the precious icon of the Mother of God, which moved as though alive and walked bodilessly upon the sea without sinking; receiving it, wondrous father, thou didst walk upon the sea without sinking, and where thou didst lift up the icon of the Theotokos, there sprang forth a wonderworking spring, which still poureth forth healing. So now also make the children of the Georgian people worthy to serve inseparably the all-holy icon of the Portaitissa and to praise thee and sing according to their strength:
Rejoice, thou who wast like John and Elijah in love for the wilderness, for thou didst hate this passing world and converse with God in stillness and humility; rejoice, for thou wast perfect in virtue, good and able to shepherd souls according to the will of God; rejoice, beholder of ineffable mysteries, for by purity of heart thou didst ever gain the vision of God, and didst hear a tongue thou knewest not; rejoice, for a fire-flaming icon appeared opposite the Holy Mountain; rejoice, great lover of the Theotokos, for the Greeks heard: “Gabriel the Georgian is the one to bring out the icon of the All-holy, and that elder alone is worthy to touch it”; rejoice, thou who didst surpass Peter’s walking on the waters, for thou didst draw near without sinking, and the sea that bore the Queen wondrously gave thee her fiery icon, and thou didst take it to thy breast; rejoice, for after three days ye bore the icon, sealed with a wound of blood, in litany to the monastery and set it reverently in the sanctuary, but that wondrous icon hid itself and became invisible, and after much searching ye found it at the gate; rejoice, very own servant of the Mother of God, for she appeared to thee in sleep and said: “I do not wish for your protection, but I am the guardian and protectress of the Georgian race”; rejoice, for when thou didst tell the God-bearing John and the venerable Euthymius, they built a small church near the gate and placed that wonderworking icon in it and named it “Portaitissa”; rejoice, for she went to no other monastery, but was pleased to dwell in that of the Iberians and was called “the Mother of God of the Iberian Gate”; rejoice, for such a manifest miracle was shown by the all-holy Theotokos out of love for the people allotted to her, when she granted her wondrous icon to Iveron; Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
When John, lying on his bed, bore bitter pains with courage, thou wast obedient to his commands, blessed Euthymius, and under his guidance didst govern the Iveron monastery, and as steward and carer the great lavra of Athanasius also, and didst instruct the elders and abbots of the Greek monasteries; and when thy father was about to die, he appointed thee governor over his affairs and with singing commended his spirit to Christ, the King of heaven and God: Alleluia.
Having spent fourteen years as superior, thou didst work many miracles and shepherd thy flocks well; but being hindered from the translation of the holy Scriptures, thou didst entrust the leadership of the brethren, according to thy father’s testament, to his kinsman George Varazvache and didst appoint him elder and shepherd in Iveron; then he built a great church in the name of the Theotokos and was called the Builder; and thou beyond thy strength didst give thyself to translating the divine books and didst remain watchful until the day of thy repose; and when thou didst die, O wonderworker Euthymius, all were left fatherless like orphans, and comforted by thy memory they offered thee such a hymn:
Rejoice, disciple of Christ the Chief Shepherd, who didst shepherd thy flock well and keep spotless souls unwounded; rejoice, destroyer of the rulers of darkness; rejoice, thou who didst take upon thy shoulders the manifold care of the Hagiorites; rejoice, thou who enlightenest with a multitude of miracles those who hope in thee and bringest to nought the designs of adversaries; rejoice, thou who didst instruct monks with a most strict monastic rule; rejoice, thou who turnest the guilty to repentance and drivest out the disobedient; rejoice, thou who didst bring to their senses by a dread interdict brethren who stirred up trouble and resisted; rejoice, thou who wast ever clothed in hair shirt and chains and didst not ascend the throne of catholicos of the Church of Cyprus; rejoice, thou who wast twice wondrously delivered from being cut down by the sword of bold murderers and from death; rejoice, thou who didst shine brighter than the sun on Mount Athos at the Transfiguration; rejoice, thou who wast called a second Elijah, bringing rain in time of drought; Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
Labouring in the divine Iveron monastery, George the Hagiorite radiantly wrote your “Life” and “Struggles”, for the profit of souls and the gain of many who wish to be saved, and raised a monument of faith for our people, that your memory might not be forgotten by generations to come; and he himself made known to the Patriarch of Antioch the purity of the faith of the Georgians, and having explained to him theological matters hard to grasp, he dispelled the slander of the monks of Symeon and confirmed the independence of the Church of Iberia; therefore with you we praise that labourer of wisdom and offer God a praise of thanksgiving: Alleluia.
The Church of Georgia with her children is radiantly adorned with the adornment of your holy books, and with Euthymius she praiseth George, who stand as entreaters and intercessors for us before the Theotokos, who granted Euthymius health and a tongue speaking well in Georgian, and to thee wisdom and knowledge to confirm the right faith; and ye enlightened the land of Georgia, her portion, and gave all-beautiful teachings to your people. So now also offer our entreaty to the all-spotless Lady, that until the end of the age she may guard Iberia and the people of Iberia, whom she chose above all nations, that in worth and holiness we may walk on the path of our fathers and ever praise you, the strugglers of our Church and people:
Rejoice, rules and boast of the priesthood; rejoice, monks and abbots of the Iveron monastery; rejoice, fathers and fervent protectors of the Holy Mountain; rejoice, labourers of wisdom and translators of the holy Scripture; rejoice, God-moved harps of the words of David; rejoice, true growers of the knowledge of God; rejoice, images of spiritual perfection and abysses of understanding that know hidden things; rejoice, new Chrysostoms, enlighteners of the Georgian people; rejoice, wise preachers of the teaching of the apostles and fathers; rejoice, ye who stayed the fierce spiritual famine; rejoice, ye who received from Christ the crown of victory; Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
O good shepherds and spiritual teachers: John and Gabriel the Georgians, John who was Tornike, and Euthymius and George the Hagiorites! Have mercy on us who fall down in faith before your mighty intercession and your fatherly grace and help, and deliver us from evil sins and infirmities and from the many snares of the devil, that we may be washed in body and soul from the defilement of the enemy’s delusions and be directed on the path of the commandments that leadeth us to the life of the purified, the elect of God, and with them glorify the all-holy Trinity: Alleluia.
This kontakion thrice, then:
The grace of working wonders given you from on high, surpassing human power and speech, amazed the powers of heaven; and we give thanks to Jesus our God, who did not disregard this our beloved people, through the intercession of His Mother, and sent you, such fathers, for our instruction and understanding, that we may become zealots and imitators of your virtues and cry with thanksgiving:
Rejoice, luminaries of Georgia who shone forth from Athos; rejoice, valiant preachers of Orthodoxy; rejoice, impregnable walls of piety; rejoice, lovers of the wilderness like the great Forerunner; rejoice, continuers of the struggle of Gregory of Khandzta; rejoice, pillars and strength of the monastic assembly; rejoice, servants of God, faithful to fatherland and king; rejoice, rules and canons of the Church; rejoice, most holy stars of divine glory; rejoice, heavenly champions of our people; rejoice, sleepless guardians and defenders of the land of Iberia; Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
With praises we sing of the great George the Hagiorite together with Euthymius, of John-Tornike, the soldier of Christ, and of John and Gabriel the Georgians, and we send you as intercessors to God, that He may turn away the wrath justly stirred up for our sins and break the insolence of our countless enemies, who ever do us violence and oppress us, and grant an untroubled and wise life to those who praise you: Rejoice, venerable fathers of Athos, true shepherds and teachers of the Georgian people!
O all-honourable and God-bearing fathers of ours, John and Gabriel the Georgians, John who was Tornike, and Euthymius and George the Hagiorites! All-radiant stars of the wilderness, firm pillars of fasting and prayer, boast of monks and adornment of ascetics, enlighteners of the Georgians, comforters of the poor and helpers and advocates of all the helpless and despairing!
O God-wise fathers and teachers of the Georgians, John and Gabriel the Iberians, Tornike-John, and Euthymius and George the Hagiorites, our wise intercessors and strugglers! Ye who by the grace and mercy of God reached the Holy Mountain as a haven of souls and for the increase of our race, by your fatherly compassion reconcile us to the good God, that He may renew His love for us and our faith in Him, and increase our race again in the glorious Iveron monastery, that they may venerate and serve the hope of all Christians and, above all, the protectress of our Church and people – the icon of the Theotokos of the Iberian Gate, called Portaitissa and wonderworking; for not a single Georgian is found in this your monastery, which with great struggle ye built as a dwelling for the Georgians. Entreat the sweet Jesus whom you love to look with mercy upon the portion of His Mother, our people, which beareth the Lord’s cross on earth, and to anoint and crown a Christ-loving king on the throne of all Georgia, to govern well and care for the Georgian people, to restore the unity of our fatherland and exalt the dignity and strength of our land and race, that our countless enemies may not say: Where is their God, in whom they hope? Strengthen the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazeti, the great lord, our father (name), the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, all the priestly and monastic orders and all Orthodox Christians.
O men of heaven and angels of earth: John and Gabriel the Georgians, the renowned John who was Tornike, and Euthymius and George the Hagiorites! Cease not to entreat Christ, O venerable ones, that He may grant glory to the churches, zeal and watchfulness over souls to our pastors; to rulers wisdom, strength and good shepherding of the people; to judges impartial justice; to soldiers courage; to superiors understanding and humility; to the laity sinlessness and to women chastity; to spouses love and concord; to children obedience; to the oppressed patience; to oppressors the fear of God; to the sorrowful long-suffering; to the joyful restraint and the spirit of understanding and godliness; and that He may forgive us superstition and false belief, pride, guile, treachery, envy, hatred, love of money, ingratitude, murmuring, murders, thefts, fornications and disorders, and grant us a life of good conduct, adornment with works of mercy, enlightenment through holy prayer, cleansing through confession, radiance through communion, an honourable departure, the inheritance of the kingdom, singing with the angels, reigning with the saints, and with you glory and thanksgiving; for to Him befitteth all glory, honour and worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and all-spotless, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, through the grace and intercession of our holy fathers and guides Euthymius the Hagiorite and George and the other venerable and God-bearing fathers of Athos and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Compiled by Tinatin Mchedlishvili
