Festal Service to the Holy Hundred Thousand Martyrs Slain in Tbilisi by the Khwarezmians
We sing “Blessed is the man”, the first antiphon.
At “Lord, I have cried”, the stichera
on 8, Tone 5.
To the holy martyrs.
O most renowned martyrs, when the torturers had done all as they were commanded, and brought fathers together with their wives and compelled them to do likewise, you, the greater number seized for Christ's sake, showed wondrous courage and would not endure the desecration of the holy icons and the forsaking of the law, but boldly and valiantly confessed Christ God, and instead of freedom and honour received the crown of martyrdom.
O blessed and wise was your way of life! For neither by threats nor by flattery of the tyrants did you deny Christ, our Creator and Lord, but you strengthened one another, saying: “Let us endure once a dreadful death, and receive with our Saviour Jesus Christ immortality without end”; wherefore we, this assembly gathered by God, boast in you and honour your memory, calling you all-praised.
O ye glorious in the courage of piety, among those seized for Christ ye were not all of one age: some of you were children, some youths, some men in their prime, some old men and some elders; yet all of you attained through the unity of the faith to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; wherefore we sing of you, a unity joined together by the Holy Spirit.
O ye gathered from many tens of thousands, ye became fellow-martyrs and sharers one with another, and with one accord ye came to the arena of suffering, not all men, but some women also, yet all one in Christ Jesus; for among those baptised into Christ and clothed with Christ there is neither male nor female; wherefore with one accord ye are praised in the Church.
ჵ, უძლეველითა ღუაწლითა ბრწყინვალენო, რომელთა უძლურებაჲ დედობრივი განიოტეთ და ღუაწლსა მამაკაცებრ ახოვნად შეკადრნეთ, აწ დაშრიტეთ ერსა ჩუენსა ზედა აღძრულნი უკეთურთა ზრახვანი და დედანი და დანი ჩუენნი, ხატნი და ბეჭედნი მამულისა ყოფისანი, იჴსენით ვნებათაგან ყოვლად წარმწყმედელთა და ურცხვინოებისაგან დაიფარეთ, რაჲთა ქრისტჱს სიყუარულითა და შიშითა, ჩუეულებისაებრ მამულისა სლვისა, ჴსენებასა თქუენსა ადიდებდენ და კურთხეულითა ენითა ქართულითა დაუცხრომელად გნატრიდენ.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
რომელთა მრავალ-სახენი ტანჯვანი მოითმინეთ და კეთილად სრულ-ჰყავთ სრბაჲ თქუენი, მარტჳლნო, და ესრეთ გჳრგჳნი ძლევისაჲ დაუჭნობელი მოიხუენით, აწ მოუვლინეთ რისხვაჲ ღმრთისაჲ ჩუენზედ აღძრულთა მათ უშჯულოთა მტერთა ჩუენთა, უფლისა განმარისხებელთა და მშჳდობაჲ და წყალობაჲ თქუენი აღურაცხელი მოჰმადლეთ სჯულდებულსა ერსა, მართლმადიდებელსა და მართლაღმსაარებელსა, ჴსენებისა თქუენისა კეთილად აღმასრულებელთა და სურვილით პატივის-მცემელთა.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Who will not call thee blessed, O all-holy Virgin? Who will not praise thine all-pure childbearing? For the only-begotten Son, who shone forth timelessly from the Father, came forth ineffably incarnate from thee, the pure one; being God by nature, and for our sake becoming man by nature, not divided into two persons, but known in two natures without confusion. Entreat Him, O honoured and all-blessed one, for the salvation of our souls.
1. The reading from the prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 43. (Thus saith the Lord: All the nations are gathered together…)
2. The reading from the Wisdom of Solomon. (The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God…)
3. The reading from the Wisdom of Solomon (The righteous live for evermore, and with the Lord…)
Ye were seized not under one rank, O victors of the contest, but some of you were bishops, some priests, some deacons and servants of the Church, some monks and those under a rule, some judges and rulers of the people, some chiefs among the soldiers and some soldiers; yet all offered themselves upon the altar of suffering to Christ God; wherefore with fear we fall down before your precious icon. And when the senseless fighters against Christ fell upon you without fear, as upon lambs, and vied with one another — some striking you with the sword, some piercing you with spear and arrow and mercilessly wounding your flesh, and some cutting you apart with knives and casting you from under the bridge into the Mtkvari — then your martyrdom was accomplished and ye attained the unfading crown; and now ask for us remission of sins and a good life, that with joy of heart we may call you blessed.
O martyrs crowned with victory, when your severed heads rolled upon that bridge, and the crimson of your blood adorned the places round about Metekhi, where your all-holy blood was shed, then your souls, made pure, went up together into the hands of the heavenly forefather.
O ye made purple with your blood, when they buried your holy bodies, hewn by spears, in the depths of the river, near the place where they burned the flesh of the holy and glorious martyr Abo, from then on you became many times the deliverers of the people of Tbilisi from countless afflictions; wherefore we entreat you, O martyrs: be our intercessors with Christ, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Though you were confessors of the true faith, you were not all Georgians, but some were strangers who came from another faith and came to know Christ, the true God, and, imitating those blessed martyrs Shushanik, Razhden and Abo, offered themselves for His sake; wherefore we, the peoples of Georgia, hasten to your church and, all gathered together, praise you.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, O Virgin, cloud and chariot of the Word; rejoice, O holy dwelling of God, beyond the mind and beyond every bound; rejoice, O unwedded one, who didst conceive by the Spirit God who is above all gods; rejoice, thou who didst give birth without seed and didst give suck without corruption; rejoice, ever-virgin and blessed one.
O all-precious martyrs, present me also unashamed before the throne of Christ, where you dwell crowned, that we who praise you and keep your memory well may find rest and unending delight.
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
ღუაწლით შემოსილნო მოწამენო ათნო ბევრნო, მარადის უფლისა მვედრებელნო, აწ მომწყდართა თქუენთა თანა ევედრენით ქრისტესა ღმერთსა, რაჲთა განაბნიოს მტერნი ჩუენნი ურიცხვი, და შეგვკრიბოს განბნეული ერი ქართველთაჲ.
Verse: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he will delight greatly in His commandments.
The precious memory of the martyrs is come today, gladdening the Georgians who love the martyrs, that we may receive healing, for these received from God the grace of the Holy Spirit for the healing of our souls.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Today our land is beautifully adorned, and the Georgian people rejoiceth, as though crowned with a crown by you, O most renowned martyrs, and the feast of your memory shineth radiantly.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O unwedded Virgin, who didst ineffably conceive God in thy womb, O Mother of God Most High, accept the supplication of thy servants, O all-immaculate one, who grantest to all the cleansing of sins; accept our supplication also, and ask great mercy for us.
ღუაწლით შემოსილნო მოწამენო ათნო ბევრნო, ევედრენით ყოვლად სახიერსა ღმერთსა, რაჲთა მოჰმადლოს ქართველთა სარწმუნოებაჲ თქუენებრი, და დაიფაროს ქუეყანაჲ ივერიისა წვალებისაგან და სჯულისაგან უცხოჲსა, ხოლო მკჳდრნი ტფილისისანი ყოვლისაგან ძვირისხილვისა.
Who could endure the trials that came upon you, O choir of a hundred thousand martyrs? For everything was shaken by the cries and the dreadful voices of lamentation; yet you did not heed the command of the lawless, nor did you trample the precious icons, but laid down your souls for Christ. God was well pleased with this sacrifice and set light upon you; wherefore your memory is kept with praises.
“O Theotokos and Virgin…” once.
Let us gather in faith, O Georgians who love the feast, and let us all cry out, clapping our hands, at this present feast of the hundred thousand martyrs, that we may rejoice with the hosts of heaven. (Twice)
Glory… Both now…
The mystery hidden from all ages is revealed to the Archangel, that he may declare it with trembling to the Virgin; and he bringeth glad tidings to her who is blessed among women; with him let us cry out: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
They slew you mercilessly with the sword like sheep — piercing the bellies of some, cutting others asunder, and smashing the heads of others — and so put you to death, as Herod did the innocent infants and as Zacharias was slain without cause; wherefore, gathered here, all we the faithful honour and praise you. (Twice)
Glory… Both now…
O all-immaculate and holy one, thou didst conceive by the divine Spirit God the Maker and Creator of all, and didst bear Him without corruption; wherefore we magnify thee and sing thy praise, O Virgin, as the palace of the King of all and the helper of the world.
Now pour out upon us the grace of your prayer, O ye hundred thousand, and forsake not those who ask of you, but entreat Christ, O ye inseparable and invincible helpers, to cast down our cunning enemies and grant victory to our people, chosen for adoption as sons of God, redeemed and set free by the blood of Christ, and sealed and enrolled as a people for His own possession. (Twice)
Glory… Both now…
The Word of the Father, who is co-eternal with Him, taketh from thee the beginning of our nature, O Theotokos; the Timeless One entereth into time, the Word becometh flesh, and the Son of God is called thy Son. O this incomprehensible mystery! Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.
From my youth unclean passions war mightily against me; therefore I entreat Thee: be my helper and save me, O Good One.
Ye that hate Zion, be put to shame by the Lord, and like withered grass shall Gehenna devour you.
Glory… Both now…
By the Holy Spirit every soul is quickened and exalted in purity, and is made radiant by the Trinity, one in essence, in a manner befitting God and mystically.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Verse: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?
“Let every breath…” The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 10, verse 16 (The Lord said to His disciples: Behold, I send you forth…); it ends at verse 23 (…he shall be saved).
After Psalm 50, the sticheron.
We have gained you as a watchful shepherd, O all-holy ones, O choir of a hundred thousand martyrs, O divine assembly, for you readily drive away the evil designs of the enemies and grant peace to the Church, O victors of the contest; wherefore all of us, gathered to keep this your feast, call you blessed without ceasing.
Irmos: The multitude of chariots with their horsemen Thou didst cast into the depths of the Red Sea by the strength of Thine arm, O Christ, and Thou didst save the Israelites, and they sang a new song of victory.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
You were illumined with the light of the Trinity, O all-praised ones, and numbered with the ranks of the angels, with whom you ever rejoice and are glad, O hundred thousand martyrs, and you heal manifestly by working wonders.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
O great martyrs, clothed in the struggle, deliver those who sing your praise with longing from grievous sins, from infirmities and from temptations, that we may be made worthy of the Kingdom of heaven.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
You who shared in the one Lord, and kept blamelessly the one faith and the one baptism, and did not enslave your adoption as sons of God, open now to us the doors of mercy by your prayers, we entreat you.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O intercessors for those who entreat and glorify you, who suffered for the faith of Christ, O precious hundred thousand martyrs, shelter us the faithful by your intercession.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The choir of the prophets foretold thee of old as the divine mountain and the impassable gate; therefore we pray thee: open to us the divine doors of repentance, O Virgin.
Irmos: O Thou who didst found the earth upon the waters and didst give it abundant fruitfulness, establish Thy Church, O Christ, upon the unshaken rock of Thy commandments, O Thou who alone art good and lovest mankind.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
By the rending of your bodies you shared in the bodily wounds of our Saviour, O valiant ones, soldiers of Christ armed with the Cross, and you received the radiance of goodness and the crown of righteousness from the righteous Judge.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
You counted as nothing the wrath of Jalal ad-Din, who sought to force you to desecrate the holy icons, but with reverence, O martyrs, you venerated the radiant icons of Christ the King and of His all-holy Mother.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
You did not choose, O beautiful martyrs, the honour of this passing time, nor did you deny the name of Christ, for whose sake you suffered and laid down your souls; and now you shelter and deliver the Georgian peoples for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By your suffering and death for Christ you crushed the head of the proud serpent; wherefore give strength to our tongue, which speaketh feebly, that we may weave for you this hymn of glory and victory.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou who standest at the right hand of Christ as a Queen arrayed in vesture of gold, O thou who art full of divine joy, ask for us the heavenly Kingdom by thine intercession, O all-holy Virgin.
You fought the good fight in faith, O precious martyrs gathered from many tens of thousands, and exposed the godlessness of the tyrants, O courageous ones; wherefore you worthily received the crown of righteousness and were offered to God as a well-pleasing sacrifice; by your holy intercession you grant all the forgiveness of sins.
Glory… Both now…
Behold, you have made your dwelling in heavenly glory, and the everlasting Kingdom has been given you, and by divine communion you have been deified, O hundred thousand martyrs; remember now those who sing your praise and glorify your memory.
Irmos: Hearing of Thy glorious coming, O Christ, Habakkuk marvelled and cried out with fear: Thou wentest forth for the salvation of Thy people, to save Thine anointed.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
The divine martyrs, lovers of the Trinity, a hundred thousand in number, we the faithful adorn with praises, and we commit ourselves wholly to your divine protection.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
You brought to nought all the wiles of the enemy, O victors of the contest, and his fierce assaults, for you had from God invincible power.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
Now you stand before the thrones with the choir of martyrs, O martyrs, filled with the divine perfection of crowns, and you intercede without ceasing for us all.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
მარადის უფლისა მვედრებელნო, აწ მომწყდართა თქუენთა თანა ევედრეთ ქრისტესა ღმერთსა, რაჲთა განაბნიოს მტერნი ჩუენნი ურიცხვი და შეგვკრიბოს განბნეული ერი ქართველთა.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Help me, O holy Theotokos, who am ever drowned in the pleasures of the flesh and groan every day as I lie upon the bed of despondency.
Irmos: O Thou who clothest Thyself with light as with a garment, to Thee I flee and to Thee I cry: Enlighten my darkened soul, for Thou alone art plenteous in mercy.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
Like all-radiant stars ye dawned, O all-praised ones, and ye drive the darkness of godlessness from the faithful and scatter the heat of the passions by grace.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
As the flash of the sun and the brightness of the moon enlighten the world, so you enlightened the Church of Christ God with the blood of your struggles, as with purple.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
You shone forth as lights in the world, O all-glorious martyrs, and dispelled the darkness of error; wherefore the name of your martyrdom is now magnified.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
You appeared as radiant luminaries, O martyrs a hundred thousand in number, and with divine rays you enlighten those who cry to you in faith: Entreat Christ the King for us.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
He whom the mind cannot comprehend put on flesh, O thou who art full of grace, and received thee as His own dwelling, and saved mankind.
Irmos: The waves have compassed me about, and the belly of the whale hath become my tomb, and I cry to Thee: Deliver me, O Lover of mankind, and save me, O most merciful Lord.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
By a right confession you received Christ in your midst, O wise ones, and joined your blood to the blood of the martyrs, and with them received the crown of glory.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
By slaughter and blood you acquired spiritual grace, O martyrs; today we rejoice in your memory and praise the Creator who granted you such graces, O our helpers.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
O firm pillars of Orthodoxy, raise me up who have stumbled and been cast to the ground, that I may find forgiveness for my transgressions.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now look down in mercy from heaven, O ye of many struggles, upon those who entreat you, and deliver us from sicknesses and pains, from passions, afflictions and temptations.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
A sword pierced thy heart when thou didst behold thy Son upon the Cross, O spotless Virgin, and His divine side wounded by the spear, and thou didst lament bitterly.
O glorious hundred thousand martyrs, blessed is that earth which was made rich with your blood, and holy is the water of that great river Mtkvari, which became your garment and your grave; there you cast down the pride of Jalal ad-Din and offered yourselves to Christ God: entreat Him, as He is good, to have mercy on our souls.
Irmos: The most exalted God of our fathers quenched the blazing furnace for the youths, and they cried aloud: O God, blessed art Thou.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
Ye did not deny the Creator nor were ye ungrateful for His benefaction, but ye set your hope on God and cried: “O God, blessed art Thou.”
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
The steadfast and all-radiant companies of the hundred thousand martyrs cried out at the tribunal of the godless: “O God, blessed art Thou.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The choir of martyrs, of hierarchs and priests, of holy fathers and mothers, a radiant assembly, cried out with thanksgiving: “O God, blessed art Thou.”
O holy hundred thousand martyrs, entreat…
By the valour of your struggles and your confession of Christ God, O blessed ones, you showed all your invincible courage and cried aloud: “O God, blessed art Thou.”
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Through thee, O radiant cloud, the never-setting Sun hath shone forth upon us, Christ our God, who enlightens them that are in the darkness of ignorance, O Theotokos.
Irmos: To Thee, the only Creator of all, the youths cried aloud a spiritual hymn: All ye works, sing to the Lord and exalt Him unto the ages.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
When the tormentors raised their right hands to strike your necks with force, then you cried aloud: “We exalt Thee, O God, unto the ages.”
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
Be our intercessors always with the Lord, O martyrs, for you are the helpers of all the faithful who bless Christ and exalt Him unto the ages.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
You who conquered the demons and put the tyrant to shame, grant us also now contrition of heart, that we may ever cry aloud: “We exalt Thee, O God, unto the ages.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now ask of the Saviour with compunction, by your entreaties, deliverance for our people from every affliction, and offer our hymn to the Lord: “We exalt Thee, O God, unto the ages.”
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
God, who through thee became incarnate for our sake, showed thee, the holy and all-immaculate, to be the divine intercessor for all our race, O Virgin; therefore we the faithful sing thy praise with a loud voice.
Irmos: Dance for joy, O Isaiah: the Virgin hath conceived and borne a Son without beginning, Emmanuel, God and man; the Dayspring is His name. Him do we magnify, and her who bore Him we call blessed.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
You showed a suffering beyond compare in imitation of Christ, for even infants not yet of age and weak women became courageous and forgot their nature; wherefore with thankful hearts we offer you praise.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
Now loose the bonds of sin of these that sing to you, O martyrs clothed with struggle, and still the billows of the passions and the heat of torment by your intercession.
Holy hundred thousand martyrs, pray to God for us.
You who shine in the universe with the blood of martyrdom, deliver us from every affliction, O martyrs, and fence about, O invincible ones, all who are worthily gathered here.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The spotless choir, the divine host, the chosen rank, the holy camp, the mighty army, the thrice-blessed multitude entreateth Thee for us, O Christ God: for their sake grant us the forgiveness of sins.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The prophet beheld thee of old as a radiant lampstand, O all-immaculate one, bearing Christ, the spiritual candle, by whom we who lay in the darkness of the passions have been enlightened; therefore we call thee blessed, O Theotokos, ever-Virgin.
O unshakeable towers of the Church and divine pillars of Orthodoxy, who suffered for the faith of Christ, O all-invincible hundred thousand martyrs, entreat Jesus who crowned you to grant peace to those who sing your praise and great mercy to those who honour you.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
რომელთა მეორედ მიიღეთ ნათლისხღებაჲ სისხლითა თქუენითა, და განსწმიდეთ სულნი თქუენნი, მოწამენო, აჰა, ქართლოსიანნი გევედრებით: ოხაჲ ჩუენი შესწირეთ მჴსნელისა მიმართ და გჳთხოვეთ, შეჰმუსროს მტერნი ჩუენნი ურიცხუნი, შურითა მკულელებრითა შეჭმულნი, და დაამხოს უკეთურებითა და ზაკუვით მოსრულნი ბოროტნი თანამზრახველნი მათნი, აღსპობისა ჩუენისა მსურველნი.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We confess thee truly as the Theotokos, O Lady, we who have been saved through thee, for thou didst ineffably bear God, who delivereth from death by the Cross and draweth to Himself the assembly of the hundred thousand martyrs, with whom we praise thee, O Virgin.
Come, ye assemblies who love the martyrs, ye Orthodox Georgians, let us rejoice and keep with praises the memory of the martyrs of Christ, for their all-praised memory is beautiful and radiant.
Our royal city keepeth festival for your radiant memory, and the Church rejoiceth with gladness, and calleth all the faithful to sing and to praise you.
O our kinsmen of Kartli, who shine upon the earth with the blood of martyrdom, help us, for at the place of your martyrdom we entreat you in the blessed Georgian tongue and keep your memory year by year.
O flock of rational sheep, when the evil wolves surrounded you and tore you mercilessly, as Herod did the innocent infants and as Zacharias was slain without cause, then you found that place whither you longed to come, where there is no sorrow, but joy.
ვითარცა მრავალ-გზის ურიცხუთა ჭირთა ტფილისელთასა დამჴსნელ იქმენით, ეგრეთვე გარე წარაქციეთ ყოველნი მტერნი და მაჭირვებელნი ჩუენნი, რომელთა განიგდეს წილი სამკჳ-დრებელსა ჩუენსა ზედა და აღგვიდგინეთ მამული ჩუენი პირველსავე დიდებასა.
Now be glad, O land of the Georgians, for in thee was shed the blood of the hundred thousand martyrs who suffered in Tbilisi at the hands of the Khwarezmians, who laid down their souls in the likeness of the Deliverer and now rejoice before the Trinity and intercede without ceasing for us all.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Great is the radiant victory which you showed while yet in the flesh, as though bodiless, for you longed for death for Christ's sake, through which you passed into immortality; and by the joy of your struggle you beautifully arrayed the Georgian Church in purple; wherefore the right-believing, martyr-loving Georgian people praise you in songs and cry out eagerly.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion by Demetre, King of the Georgians, of the Bagrationi line.
Theotokos and all-honoured, Mother and Virgin, lovely lily, to thee the winged angel brought glad tidings; in thee the crowned King delighteth, and Him do kings with many subjects serve.
The Great Doxology, and the Dismissal.
At the Liturgy: at the Beatitudes, from the canon of the saints, Odes 3 and 6.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4: In the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wonderful; He hath wrought all His desires among them.
Verse: I beheld the Lord always before me, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.
The Epistle: Ephesians, chapter 6, verse 10 (Brethren, be strong in the Lord…); it ends at verse 18 (…which is the word of God…).
Alleluia, Tone 4: The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them.
Verse: Many are the afflictions of the righteous.
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter 21, verse 12 (The Lord said to His disciples: Beware of men, lest they lay their hands on you…); it ends at verse 20 (…possess ye your souls…).
Communion hymn: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
Author and compiler: Tinatin Mchedlishvili
