Festal Service to Our Venerable Father Arsenius of Ikalto
— “O come, let us worship” — is sung.
— “Bless the Lord, O my soul” (Psalm 103) — is sung.
— “Blessed is the man” — the first antiphon of the first kathisma.
— “Lord, I have cried” (sung in Tone 5).
— Of the venerable Arsenius. — On 8.
Thou didst set thy mind upon the study of the divine books, O blessed one, and give wings to thy journey toward the height of heaven, where thou hast made thy dwelling, O God-wise Arsenius; and united to the choir of the saints, thou rejoicest before God: intercede now with Him and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
Thou didst forsake the corruptible glory of the world, and setting thy feet on the narrow way, O father Arsenius, thou wast tonsured a monk in the monastery of Ikalto; and the life of a stranger became thy guide on that true way, and reaching Constantinople thou didst learn much and treasure up spiritual books for our Church: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
Christ God, who strengthened thee, directed thee to the Black Mountain, and settling in that renowned monastery of Simeon the Wonderworker, thou didst take up the labour of translation with the blessing of Ephrem Mtsire; and thou didst so advance that thou didst fill our land with teaching as with a river, and water the hearts of the ignorant and bring them to the knowledge of God: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
When Ephrem made manifest the courage of thy struggles, he made it known to all and spread thy translations through all the land with the blessing of Antony Tbelisdze; and thou, by their support and fervent prayer, didst attain, O blessed one, the perfect fulness of the virtues: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
After the repose of thy teacher, the great ascetic Ephrem, who yet was called the Lesser, thou didst go again to the land of the Greeks, and settling in the Academy of Mangana, didst zealously pursue the labour of translation, for the enlightenment of thy people and the glory of God: entreat Him now, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
We see the demons cast down by thee, O all-praised Arsenius, wondrous one, radiance of divine love and enlightener of kings and peoples; unshaken pillar of patience; strength and beam of the Church; all-radiant lamp and luminary of all Georgia; treasury of the virtues and intercessor by thy holy prayer for all who honour thee: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
Leaving thy life abroad, at the entreaty of David thou didst come to Iberia and become his helper in convening the Council of Ruisi-Urbnisi; and when the king and the people found thee, as a treasure of God, they received thee with joy, for thou didst multiply soul-profiting teachings and instruct the king and the people. And now intercede with Christ for us also, and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
Appearing to King David as a truly good ascetic, a man of prayer and an unshaken pillar, thou didst first settle at Shio-Mgvime, and struggling daily at the translation of God-inspired books and the enlightenment of the people, thou didst raise the king and all the people to spiritual heights: now intercede with Christ for us also, and ask, O venerable one, 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.
The Church of Georgia keepeth the feast of thy memory and biddeth us sing of thy struggle, O Arsenius, beauty of Ikalto, wondrous one, temple of mysteries united with the angels, abyss of understanding, beholder of things ineffable, father of elders and teacher of the king, boast of monks and guide of hermits, who rejoicest before the all-holy Trinity, illumined with great radiance, and art the helper of those who entreat thee: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy. (Tone 6).
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. (Tone 6).
— The entrance with the censer.
— The prokeimenon of the day
— The Old Testament readings — three readings of the venerable one (see 28 September, in the service to St Chariton).
— At the Litia, the sticheron of the church — one.
— Then of the venerable Arsenius.
O our father Arsenius, worthy of remembrance, wondrous and all-praised, thou didst spring up in the region of Kakheti, in the village of Ikalto, a son of noble princes, and from thy youth thou didst live in all humility and struggle; and fleeing the honours of the world, thou didst put on the angelic habit in the monastery of Ikalto; and going away to a strange land, leaving thy land and thy fatherland, called by the voice of the Lord, thou didst come to Constantinople, to the Academy of Mangana, and there didst learn for the glory of God and the enlightenment of thy people.
O this lofty and awe-inspiring work, O holy Arsenius! For coming to the Black Mountain, thou didst take upon thyself the struggle and labour of translating the holy books from the Greek, and didst fill thy land with writings of piety, whereby thou didst adorn the Church of the Georgians and radiantly array her children with divine teaching: now calm our hearts, shaken and defiled by the waves of the world, and fill them with divine watchfulness.
Thou didst grow rich in virtues, O father, and with Ephrem Mtsire and John Petritsi thou didst struggle on the Black Mountain for the enlightenment of the Iberian people; and Christ God, who strengthened you, made manifest the courage of your struggles and spread it through all the ends of your land; therefore we rejoice, and boast of you, and exult with joy, having been taught by the holy books and by your translations.
The God-loving king of the Georgians gained thee as a bulwark of the law and an image of holiness, for the radiance of thy life, and many times by letters and entreaties he persuaded thee to come to his kingdom, that all might be blessed by thee and illumined by the sight of thee; and thou, seeing King David's faith and love toward thee, didst come to him and become the counsellor and fellow-struggler in his countless good works.
The grace of God dwelt in thee, O God-bearing one, and filled thee with wisdom, and made thee a loud-voiced preacher, speaking those hidden mysteries, and made thy name manifestly radiant among the sons of Kartlos; and like the radiant sun thou shinest in the firmament of the Church, O blessed one, and like an organ thy mouth soundeth sweetly with sweet teachings.
Like a bright star thou didst shine in the darkness of ignorance upon souls gone astray, and didst become their guide to the unwaning light; and thy prayer, word and teaching, filled with the most rich grace of God, became the rudder and helmsman for the king and princes, for the clergy and the peoples, for thou didst call all to the knowledge and glory of God; and having founded the Academy of Gelati with King David, thou didst labour in it unceasingly.
Like Elijah thou didst fearlessly rebuke the nobles and the clergy, and didst deliver countless souls from drowning in sin: so now also make wise our rulers and governors and fence them about with peace through the intercession of the Theotokos, that we may walk in the paths of righteousness and truth and call thee blessed as a great father and the teacher of the king.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We call thee blessed, O shepherd and teacher of the Iberians, who like the sun didst appear to our king and people, and with praises we sing to thee: Rejoice, unerring writer of spiritual words and of the ordinances of the law, and strengthener in the Orthodoxy handed down by the holy fathers; rejoice, thou who didst wash away the stain of superstition and set right again, more fully and purely, the manuscripts corrupted by the evil of the times and by the foolish; rejoice, thou who didst astonish those who saw and witnessed thy great struggle, and didst spread divine teachings among the foolish and unlearned; rejoice, radiant image of piety, O our venerable father Arsenius of Ikalto!
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.
— At the Aposticha, the sticheron. (Tone 8).
When the grace of God dwelt in thee, it made thee hate the glory of this passing world and love humility and the life of a stranger, compunctionate prayer, vigil and standing with uplifted hands, like unto the bodiless ones; and having finished thy course, thou didst stand before Christ with joy. O holy elder of Ikalto, blessed Arsenius, ask for us now also great mercy from Him.
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Thou didst put desire to death and love holy virginity, O holy Arsenius, blessed one, and didst put on purity as light, and like a turtledove didst serve Christ in meekness with a spotless mind, adorned with divine understanding. Therefore we praise thee and call thee blessed with songs of fair praise.
Verse: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he will delight greatly in His commandments.
God adorned thee, O saint, with the light of wonders and the radiance of divine gifts, and when He had filled thy soul with wisdom, as a living fountain and an unfailing spring thou didst pour forth divine teachings for the increase of the flock of Christ.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O good and faithful servant, good labourer of the vineyard of Christ, thou didst bear the burden of the day with courage and valour and didst multiply the talent given thee; wherefore thou wast numbered with King David, thy disciple, and didst enter into the joy of thy good Lord: now intercede unceasingly for those who praise thee.
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.
— “Lord, now lettest Thou”.
— After “Our Father”:
— Troparion of the venerable one: In thee, O wondrous father, the image was well preserved; for taking up the cross thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds didst teach to disregard the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal; wherefore thy soul rejoiceth with the angels, O blessed Arsenius. (Twice)
— “O Theotokos and Virgin” — once.
— The blessing of the loaves.
— “God is the Lord” (sung in Tone 4).
— The troparion of the venerable one: “In thee, O wondrous father, the image was well…” (Twice)
— “Glory…”, “Both now…” — the resurrectional dismissal Theotokion (in the tone of the troparion):
The mystery hidden from eternity and unknown to the angels, O Theotokos, was revealed through thee to those on earth: God incarnate in unconfused union, who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake, and thereby raised up the first-formed and saved our souls from death.
After the first kathisma, the sessional hymn, Tone 1:
The treasure that thou didst offer to the Church of God, thy translations and labours, have radiantly clothed her like ornaments of gold, and she hath set them upon her head like a royal crown radiantly adorned with precious stones, that it may shine for all who enter her with joy, and present to Christ all who are made radiant by the grace of God! (Twice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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.
— After the second kathisma, the sessional hymn. (Tone 4).
The grace of God dwelt in thee, O God-bearing one, and filled thee with wisdom, and made thee a loud-voiced preacher, speaking those hidden mysteries, and made thy name manifestly radiant among the sons of Kartlos; and like the radiant sun thou shinest in the firmament of the Church, O blessed one, and like an organ thy mouth soundeth sweetly with sweet teachings. (Twice)
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 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.
— “The Polyeleos”, the nineteenth kathisma (Psalms 134 and 135).
— “The Magnification” of the venerable one (with selected verses from the Psalter).
— Sessional hymn after the Magnification: “Wisdom…” (Tone 8).
უფალმან ჩუენმან იესუ ქრისტემან წარმოგავლინა შენ მოძღვრად და წინამძღოლად დავით აღმაშენებლისა, და განსანათლებლად ერისა ამის, ღმრთისმშობლის წილხვედრისა, გარნა მრავლითა საცთურითა დაბრკოლებულისა და თურქთა მაჰმედინთა და ერთბუნებიანთაგან ჰაოსიანთა ცთუნებულთა, და მისითა მადლითა ორნივე ეგე იცვებოდით ყოველთაგან-ვე საფრჴეთა ეშმაკისათა, რამეთუ კუერთხითა სარწმუნოებისაჲთა განიოტეთ ბოროტნი მგელნი და ძალითა სამებისაჲთა განძლიერებულთა უვნებელად დაიცევით სამწყსოჲ თქუენი ტაცებათაგან მათთა, ევედრე აწ ქრისტესა ღმერთსა, ცოდვათა მოტევებისა მონიჭებად, სურვილით პატივის-მცემელთა ჴსენებისა შენისასა. 2-გზის
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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.
— The prokeimenon (of the Matins Gospel): “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Tone 7).
Verse: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?
— The Matins Gospel: Luke, section 24; 6:17–23.
— “Glory…” — “Through the intercessions of our holy father Gabriel…”
— “Both now…” — “Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Merciful One…”
— “Have mercy on me, O God…” (the short verse).
After Psalm 50, the sticheron.
Like thy disciple David the Builder, so thou too, O holy Arsenius, didst not only offer thine own fruits to God as a sweet-smelling sacrifice, like righteous Abel, whose offering God, the Creator of all, smelled as an odour of sweetness, but didst also offer to Christ other souls without number, and bring Him fruits most fair and fragrant, and lambs without blemish and spotless; therefore thou hast boldness before God: ask peace for the world and great mercy for our souls.
— “O God, save Thy people…”
Two canons are read.
The first canon — of the Theotokos (the irmos twice) — on 6 (see the canons of the Theotokos at the end of the Parakletike: “Pharaoh the charioteer…” or “Having passed through the water…”).
— The second canon — of the venerable one (without the irmos) — on 8. (Tone 8).
— The Katavasia: the usual one.
— The little litany — “Let us sing to the Lord”.
Irmos: Pharaoh who rode in the chariot was drowned by the rod of Moses, which once worked wonders when it struck crosswise, traced the figure of the Cross and divided the Red Sea; but it saved Israel, the fugitive going on foot, singing a hymn to the Lord: for gloriously hath He been glorified.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
At this all-hymned spiritual gathering, called by the Holy Spirit, let us, the peoples gathered with eagerness, sing and rejoice worthily at the memory of our God-bearing father, the ascetic Arsenius.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
Having gained from the Saviour the grace of the Holy Spirit through prayer and vigil, thou didst despise all bodily delights and tastes, and by fasting and constant prayer didst wear down the body, and by every hardship didst wither and weaken its tyranny.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
Being urged by Ephrem thy teacher to translate Greek writings, thou didst see him send them to Iberia, for at that time the luminaries of Orthodoxy had grown few in our land, and he drove away that darkness of ignorance by the labours of thy hands.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
After Ephrem's death, reaching the borders of Iberia at the king's entreaty, thou didst preach the all-spotless faith of Orthodoxy, and teaching many, didst instruct them to keep the commandments of God. Entreat Him now, O blessed elder, to deliver us from a faith that is lifeless and lukewarm.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O translator, learned in the Greek and Georgian tongues, and enlightener of all the churches, the fragrance of thy struggle ever rose up to God like goodly incense. Entreat Him now, O venerable one, to deliver us from sins and iniquities.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Glorious things have been spoken of thee from generation to generation, O Virgin, who didst receive the Word of God into thy womb and remain a virgin, O Theotokos Mary; therefore we all magnify thee, who wast found to be our deliverer after God, for gloriously art thou glorified.
Irmos: O Lord, who didst fix the vault of heaven and art the Builder of the Church, establish us in Thy love, Thou summit of all joy and strength of the faithful, who alone lovest mankind.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
Having become by purity of heart a dwelling of the Holy Spirit, thou wast sent by God for the cleansing of the Church, O venerable one, and He gave thee grace to strengthen our sorely afflicted people and the young King David. Now shelter thy flock from all oppressing passions.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
The talent entrusted to thee, O venerable one, thou didst not hide in the earth, but didst multiply it as a faithful servant and bring it to God manifold; for the translation of the “Great Nomocanon” was laid as the foundation and cornerstone of the “Decree” of Ruisi-Urbnisi.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
We find thee a shepherd of the sheep and a praying ascetic of good struggle, O Arsenius worthy of praise, radiant light of the priesthood, pillar and strength of the assembly of monks.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, O venerable father Arsenius, fair adornment of Kakheti, rule and canon of monks; entreat Christ God to grant forgiveness of sins to us who with longing keep thy memory.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou didst dwell in the womb of the Virgin, O Lord, and didst appear to men in the flesh, as Thou wast well pleased, and didst show her forth as truly the Theotokos, O Thou who alone lovest mankind, and as the helper of all the faithful.
— After “Establish” (Ode 3):
Sessional hymn: Being the spiritual teacher and guide of David, the renowned king of the Georgians, thou didst teach him much and illumine him with divine grace; and he illumined others too, and desired to build a church in the monastery of Shio-Mgvime; and thou too didst build a radiant church in the name of the Theotokos, which standeth to this day for the salvation of souls and the glorification of God: entreat Him now to deliver from passions and afflictions us who keep thy memory, O Arsenius blessed of God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
ყოველსა ქუეყანასა ჩუენსა განხდა ჴმაჲ ღუაწლისა შენისაჲ, ღმრთივგანბრძნობილო მამაო არსენ, სანატრელო, რამეთუ დაამდაბლე, რომელნი მაღლად იტყოდეს სიცრუვესა, ბოროტად შეცთომილნი ბილწნი მწვალებელნი ჰაოსიანნი, არაჲ ირწმუნებდეს რაჲ უგულისხმონი მჴსნელსა ორითა ბუნებითა, და აღამაღლებდი მართალსა და ჭეშმარიტსა სარწმუნოებასა, მრავალთა შეასწავებდი რაჲ შეურწყმელად ღმრთეებისა და კაცებისა შეერთებასა. აწცა მოეც მშჳდობაჲ მთავრობასა და მხედრობასა ჩუენსა მორწმუნესა და ერნი მადიდებელნი შენნი, იჴსენ უცხოთა სწავლებათა და საცთურთაგან.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O holy Virgin, Mother of God, who for the salvation of our people didst send forth on the apostolic path the maiden, the virgin Nino of Cappadocia, made wise by the Holy Spirit; who through her, by the cross of vine that Thou gavest, didst cast down the pagan altars in Mtskheta and establish the apostolic Church in our land; who after many years, to strengthen our people, diminished by the lawless, and to spread the faith of Christ, didst make the holy and valiant King David shine forth, and didst reveal the holy and blessed elder Arsenius as his teacher and the guide of his ways: O Mother of the Word, cease not now to entreat God for us who trust in Thee.
Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power, Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, who didst not leave the bosom of the Father and didst visit our poverty; therefore with the prophet Habakkuk I cry to Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
Settling in the monastery of Shio-Mgvime, thou didst lay down the rules of the Mgvime monastery after the rule of St Simeon's monastery, O all-blessed Arsenius; and those who saw and heard of thy holy life glorified God, wondrous in the saints.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
The demons, haters of good, unable to endure thy struggle, rose up and fell upon thee, O holy Arsenius, and began to make war with many and various wiles; but thou didst receive as a gift the grace of wonders, to heal the sicknesses of those who honour thee with faith.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
The wiles of godlessness could not shake the firmness of thy faith, for thou didst not fear those wicked, crafty and lying spirits, but by the sign of the Precious Cross and fervent prayer thou didst tear apart their countless snares.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The Church rejoiceth with her children, filled radiantly with those divine translations and writings of thine; she keepeth thy memory and with praises glorifieth Christ God: entreat Him now to drive away from those who trust in thee the trials stirred up by the enemy.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The tongues of men grow weak to utter the mystery of Thine incorrupt childbearing, O Bride unwedded, but with faith they confess Thee Mother of the Light.
Irmos: Cast me not away from Thy face, O Light that never setteth, lest the unillumined darkness cover me; but look upon me and direct my ways to the light of Thy commandments, I pray Thee.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
Thou didst become a zealous follower of those great men of the Holy Mountain, Euthymius and George, radiant with fasting and struggle, O venerable one, and all the days of thy life thou didst spend in ascetic labour and vigil.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
Wondrous are Thy mysteries, O Christ God, for Thou hast sent us, as a lamp burning with fire, the venerable Arsenius, an ascetic and man of prayer for the Orthodox Georgians, and the glory and strength of the land of Iberia.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
When the king sent thee with great wealth to Palestine, to rebuild and adorn anew the Monastery of the Cross, and above all the tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ, thou didst return to Iberia, and day by day ye laboured for the glory of God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now who shall recount thy wondrous struggle? For truly thou didst appear as the adornment of fasters and an unashamed man of prayer before God. Entreat Him now to deliver us from every sickness and from evil trial.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou hast gained a mother’s boldness towards thy Son, O all-immaculate one; cease not to help us before Him, we entreat thee, for thou hast intercession with Him and the forgiveness of sins for all Christians.
Irmos: I will pour out my prayer unto the Lord and ever confess my sins, for my soul is filled with evils and my strength hath drawn near to hell; and like Jonah I cry: Bring me up, O my God.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
Thou hadst mighty zeal like Elijah, O honoured father, for thou wast kindled like divine fire against the heretics and pagans and didst burn up their tongues: now be an intercessor for us who honour thy feast.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
When from ancient writings thou didst gather the Life of Nino, the enlightener and converter of the Georgians, thou first of all didst understand, O blessed one, how a woman was sent to the land that is the lot of the Theotokos to preach Christianity.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
The hidden mystery thou didst behold as if it were manifest, O holy elder, and the future thou didst know surely, and all that thou didst say is true: now give us an understanding and wise heart, to discern between good and evil.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thy feast is fairly praised by those who love thee, O blessed Arsenius, and the angels bring the singing of those who hymn thee before God: entreat Him now to shelter us from the snare of the enemy and from enmity among brethren.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Deliver us from the snare of our sins, O Virgin Theotokos, by thy supplication to thy Son, who was born of thee beyond nature, the Son of God without beginning.
— After “I cried” (Ode 6):
Kontakion: Our people now boasteth, and the holy monastery of Ikalto maketh merry, for many faithful hasten this day into her bosom to magnify the great adornment of the Georgians, the father and teacher of King David, who planted virtue in many souls and is the swift physician of all the sick and possessed; therefore we cry to thee: By thy prayers save us, O our venerable father Arsenius of Ikalto!
Ikos: Keep festival, O land of the sons of Kartlos, for Christ God hath visited thee in mercy and granted thee a father of godly beauty, and his disciple King David, to strengthen our people in piety; for never from that time hath this land of the Georgians turned aside from the holy and right faith, nor shall we turn aside unto the ages, by the grace of the Holy Trinity and the intercession of the all-holy Lady Theotokos, our hope and protectress.
Irmos: The Hebrew youths walked boldly upon the fire in the furnace and, bedewed, cried aloud, saying: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, unto the ages.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
Thou wast the teacher of the great King David and the guide of all his ways, and a great intercessor with the Theotokos for our people, greatly loving the people of Her lot, Iberia, and praying for the Iberians and for their good progress.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
ჯერეთ მჴნჱ და ახოვანი მეფჱ დავით დასნეულდია და განაგო რაჲ ყოველივე სარგებელი სულისა თჳსისაჲ, ანდერძი თჳსი შენ მოგანდო და მეფედ კურთხევაჲცა ძისა თჳსისა და ევედრებოდა ღმერთსა ერისათჳს და სამეფოჲსა. აწ დაცემული ესე და დამდაბლებული ქართველთა ერი კუალად აღადგინე მსახურებად ღმრთისა და მამულისა მეოხებითა შენითა.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
Boundless mercy, surpassing sweetness and humility were thy guides on the true way, and like Christ thou didst teach all to give generously to the poor and help those in want.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
For the whole world, and above all for the Georgians, thou didst offer up supplication, that they might overcome the opponents of the truth by the right faith and ever gain the victory over the crafty enemy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Like the radiant sun, shining in the firmament of the Church of the Georgians, thou didst rebuke many and teach them to do battle against the enemies invisible and visible, and didst make them watchful in prayer. And now thou art established as a saint of the Church of Iberia and hast grace to help us.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, daughter of Adam; rejoice, Bride of God; rejoice, Mother of the Saviour, who didst contain thy Creator: intercede for us always.
Irmos: The Chaldean tyrant in his fury heated the furnace sevenfold for the youths, but, seeing them saved by a higher power, unharmed and untouched by the fire, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Bless Him, ye youths; sing His praises, ye priests; ye people, supremely exalt Him unto the ages.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
When Zenon, one of the Thirteen, had built the monastery of Ikalto, after many years thou didst renew and enlarge it, and gather there God-wise fathers and learned men to teach learning; and from that time our people were taught in it for many centuries, and it was named the Academy of Ikalto.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
Now the Church of Iberia is illumined by thy glory and biddeth all the faithful to call thee blessed, O fervent zealot and master over the passions, protector of the poor and guide of sinful souls.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
Now the assembly of the faithful, recalling thy struggle, rejoiceth and exulteth, and asketh thine intercession with God, that He may drive from us the darkness of ignorance that cometh from sin, and clothe with dispassion, faith and joy all, O venerable one, who honour thy glorious memory.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
აწ მტერნი იგი ჭეშმარიტებისანი იღუწიან, რაჲთა ღმრთივდაცული ერი ჩუენი შთასთხინნეს უფსკრულსა უმეცრებისასა და გარდასახნეს ერად ბნელისა, ხოლო ჩუენ ვერცაღა ძალგვიძს წინააღმდგომად ბოროტისა, არამედ მოწყალე-ჰყავ ჩუენ ზედა მართლ-მსაჯული იგი უფალი, რაჲთა განვსძლიერდეთ და განვცხოველდეთ სულითა და ჴორცითა.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The three youths in the furnace in Babylon worshipped the Trinity and despised the golden image, and, sprinkled with dew, they cried out in song: All ye works, bless today God and the Lord, praise and supremely exalt Him unto the ages.
We praise, we bless, we worship the Lord, singing and supremely exalting Him unto all the ages.
— After “Let us bless” (Ode 8): — “More honourable”.
Irmos: Thee, the Mother who knew not wedlock, the unwedded one, who beyond nature didst bear Him who is without beginning, the Creator, the true God, we magnify with unceasing songs.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
The day of thy departure from this passing world was made known to thee, and thou didst pray; and having commended thy flock and our people, and then thy soul, to the Lord, thou wast joined to the multitude of the saints, and they buried thee in the monastery of Ikalto, near Zenon.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
When the Georgians saw thy tomb pouring forth healings, and the countless wonders worked by thy grace, they glorified thee with a loud voice as a wonder-working father, and appointed for us thy blessing and praise as a memorial for ever.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
The honour of holiness hath not departed from thee even through death until now, O venerable father Arsenius, for thy tomb hath become for the infirm a treasury of grace and a fountain of healings.
Holy venerable father Arsenius, pray to God for us.
Those who trust in thee and love thee hasten even now to that monastery wherein the holy tomb that holdeth thy relics, like an unfailing spring, richly poureth forth the fragrance of graces and granteth healing to those who honour it.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Not only of that holy monastery art thou the dweller, O blessed one, but of the whole land of the Georgians, and a man of prayer and swift helper, and the all-powerful and invincible protector and intercessor of all the Orthodox.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The old law foreshadoweth thee, O holy Virgin, and the new confesseth thee as Theotokos, O unwedded one; and we the faithful say with faith: O Mother of the Word, cease not to entreat God for them that trust in thee.
— After “Magnify” (Ode 9): — “It is truly meet” — is not sung.
“The Exapostilarion”: The bodiless Light illumined thee, O blessed Arsenius, and made thee shine forth from Kakheti, and spread thy radiance over this our land darkened by sin, and drove away all the gloom of darkness; and illumined by thee we have come to know the law and order of Christianity and have glorified in truth God without beginning, worshipped in three Persons, and we make thee our intercessor before Him. (Twice)
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 venerable, with whom we praise thee, O Virgin.
— “Let every breath” — is sung.
— At the Praises, the stichera — on 8.
The monastery of Ikalto now rejoiceth, which treasureth thy holy relics, O boast of ascetics and strength of the right faith, chosen servant of the Holy Trinity, peer of the angels, raised from earth to heaven and inheritor of the Kingdom, O Arsenius, beauty of Ikalto, wondrous one.
Kakheti, thy homeland, together with its inhabitants, boasteth of thee, O all-praised one, for from there thou didst spring up, O saint; and unable to endure error, and greatly loving the people that is the lot of the Theotokos, thou didst rebuke all for ungodliness, lest the judgement of God should come upon them. Entreat Him now to deliver us from every affliction and deception.
Thy struggle hath radiantly clothed the Church of God like a treasure of gold, and she hath set it upon her head like a royal crown radiantly adorned with precious stones, that it may shine for all who enter her with joy. Therefore we cry to thee, O venerable one: Entreat Christ God to remove all arrogance and pride from my darkened mind, and to deliver our people, who bear the name of Christ, from the nets of the demons and from the charm and deception of Antichrist.
By the radiance of thy grace illumine those who glorify thee, O God-bearing father Arsenius, for like the great luminaries that send forth bright rays, thou dost make radiant all who keep the feast of thy memory, and dost pour divine grace upon the souls of the faithful, who with faith and longing praise thy feast, radiant and worthy of praise.
On this day of the spiritual festival of the faithful, the feast of the venerable father Arsenius, let us cry out to him: Rejoice, heavenly man and earthly angel; rejoice, thou who didst set many on the way of salvation; rejoice, glory of the righteous and strengthener of our people: be our intercessor before God, that He may keep us, the Orthodox peoples, from the snares of Satan and from the invasion of foreigners, and grant us peace and mercy.
— Come, O ye Georgian peoples, and with spiritual praises let us sing of the holy and valiant soldier of Christ, Arsenius, the teacher of the holy king and founder of the Academy of Ikalto, who laboured greatly for our people in the spirit before God, for deliverance from trials and for rescue from every passion and deception; and now entreat God to plant in us the fear and hatred of sin and the love of virtue.
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Though thy countless deeds astonish us, O wondrous God-bearing Arsenius, yet we marvel more at thy struggle and thy love for God and neighbour, by which thou didst illumine this land of Kakheti with wonders; and thou ever helpest those who fervently flee to thee: entreat Christ God unceasingly now for us who honour thy all-blessed memory, for deliverance from all sicknesses and pains.
Verse: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he will delight greatly in His commandments.
O enlightener of Kakheti and purifier of the law, now look down upon us from on high, O God-bearing one, and still the uprisings of passions invisible and visible; drive away the trials and assaults of demons from these thy flocks and from those who sing thy praises, standing before thy tomb; and together with the Mother of God offer our supplication before Christ, with the help of the heavenly hosts, of the Forerunner and of John the Theologian.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Let us sound the trumpet of hymns, let us leap for joy and be glad, rejoicing in the all-holy feast of the all-praised Arsenius of Ikalto. Gather together, O faithful Georgians, and let us adorn and praise with spiritual acclaim our blessed father, as one who hath made rivers of teaching flow forth for us, and let us sing: the infirm, to the healer of sicknesses; the afflicted, to their deliverer; sinners, to their fervent intercessor; the sorrowful, to their comforter; travellers, to their companion; sailors, to their helmsman; and all everywhere, magnifying with faith the hope of all, let us say: Be our intercessor, O God-bearing one, that through thy prayers and petition the Lord God may arm us with His invincible power against all our enemies visible and invisible, and save us. (Tone 5).
“Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen”: O Virgin Theotokos, Thou art the true vine that brought forth the cluster of life; we entreat Thee, O full of grace: together with the apostles intercede for the salvation of our souls.
— “The Great Doxology” — is sung.
— The troparion of the venerable one: “In thee, O wondrous father, the image was well…” (Twice)
— “Glory…”, “Both now…” — the resurrectional dismissal Theotokion (in the tone of the troparion):
The mystery hidden from eternity and unknown to the angels, O Theotokos, was revealed through thee to those on earth: God incarnate in unconfused union, who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake, and thereby raised up the first-formed and saved our souls from death.
— The troparion of the venerable one.
— The kontakion of the venerable one.
— “The Typika antiphons” — during the singing of the Beatitudes are inserted
“In Thy Kingdom remember us” — on 8:
— from Ode 3 of the venerable one — 4 troparia (with the irmos).
— from Ode 6 of the venerable one — 4 troparia, with their own “Glory…” and “Both now…”.
The Epistle — for the venerable: Galatians, section 213; 5:22 – 6:2.
The Gospel — Matthew, section 43; 11:27–30.
At the entrance:
The troparion of the venerable one.
The kontakia — “Glory…” — of the venerable one
Both now… — “O hope and refuge…”
“The Prokeimenon”: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Tone 7).
Verse: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?
“Alleluia”: “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he will delight greatly in His commandments.” (Tone 6).
Verse: “His seed shall be mighty upon the earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed.”
Communion hymn: The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.
The service was compiled by Tinatin Mchedlishvili.
