Festal Service to the Venerable Euthymius the Confessor, Abbot of Zedazeni
At Great Vespers
We sing “Blessed is the man”, the first antiphon.
At “Lord, I have cried”, the stichera
on 8, Tone 5.
— O holy confessor and father, blessed Euthymius, star of Georgia, radiance of divine love and enlightener of our people, unshaken pillar of patience, strength and beam of the Church, all-radiant lamp and luminary of all the world, treasury of the virtues, who didst choose the course of the narrow way and didst stand unshaken in the right confession: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
— O holy confessor and father, blessed Euthymius, boast of ascetics and strength of the right faith, chosen servant of the Holy Trinity, peer of the angels, raised from earth to heaven by thy toil and struggle, and dwelling in the Kingdom of Christ God: intercede now with Him and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
— O holy confessor and father, blessed Euthymius, radiance of divine love and enlightener of thy people; 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.
— O holy confessor and father, blessed Euthymius, for the righteousness and humility that thou didst acquire, thou wast beloved of all, and thou wast learned not only in the divine Scripture and the teachings of the fathers, but didst also excel in Georgian chant, and becamest for thy flock an image of wisdom and godliness: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
— O holy confessor and father, blessed Euthymius, being wondrously filled with divine wisdom in that fierce struggle, thou didst enlighten the land of the Georgians with the grace of the Gospel, O God-bearing one, and as a good shepherd didst toil for thy flock; and now, made radiant by the grace of confession, thou standest before our God and Saviour: intercede now with Him and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
— O holy confessor and father, blessed Euthymius, lover of God and fulfiller of His divine commandments, it is fitting for us above all to hear these wondrous deeds of thine and to glorify God, who hath granted us such a caring father and wondrous ascetic, and to cry to thee: Rejoice, for thy name is written in heaven. Entreat Christ now that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
With what crown of praise shall we wreathe the adornment of our Church and the enlightener of the Georgians by his teaching, the great father and teacher, who didst instruct thy people in the love of God and of the fatherland and didst strengthen them by thy mighty struggle, through which Christ God, who hath great mercy, cast down the assaults of the enemies?
With what hymns of praise shall we sing of the all-radiant lamp and luminary of all Georgia, the champion of the faithful, filled with the grace and wisdom of God, our venerable and God-bearing father Euthymius the Confessor, through whom Christ God, who hath great mercy, cast down the assaults of the enemies?
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The Church of the Georgians keepeth the feast of thy memory and biddeth all the faithful sing of thy struggle, who didst multiply with wisdom the grace given thee by God, teaching thy people the commandments of Christ God: and now intercede now with Him 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).
At the entrance, the prokeimenon of the day
The Old Testament readings of the venerable one.
1. The reading from the Wisdom of Solomon. (The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God…)
2. The reading from the Wisdom of Solomon. (The righteous live for evermore, and with the Lord…)
It is written under 9 March.
3. The reading from the Wisdom of Solomon (Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest…). It is written under 7 May.
At the Litia, the sticheron of the church.
Then of the venerable Euthymius.
Thou didst grow rich in virtues, O father, and labouring greatly with St Philemon and the hierarch Alexander for the enlightenment of the Iberian people, thou didst choose the monastic way, for which thou hadst prepared thyself from thy youth; and being placed as a novice in the monastery of Gelati, under the guidance of the great ascetic, father Alexis the elder, thou didst advance in struggle and prayer: now deliver us too from the ways of perdition and set us on the true way.
Never didst thou give thyself up to delight and luxury, O venerable father Euthymius, but, armed with divine watchfulness, thou didst become a zealous follower of those great men of the Holy Mountain, Euthymius and George, the spreaders of the divine books, and all the days of thy life thou didst spend in great struggle and vigil: so now also calm my heart, shaken and defiled by the waves of the world, and fill me with divine watchfulness.
Being a spreader of the divine Scripture and of the teachings of the fathers, like a lamp burning with fire thou didst appear to souls fallen into the darkness of ignorance and didst become their guide to the unwaning light, for thou didst call all to the knowledge and glory of God, and didst appear as a rule for monks, and didst pour forth divine joy upon the Church of the Georgians and upon those who sing in her.
Thy most wondrous struggle astonisheth us, O venerable one, and more still we marvel at thy confession and thy love for God and neighbour; for in that time of godlessness thou didst gain divine zeal, O blessed ascetic Euthymius, and by copying many hymns and preserving them for the children of the Church, thou didst put to shame that evil scheming of the tyrants.
Thy deeds shone brighter than the orb of the sun, when thou didst preach the true faith, O saint, and multiply the divine books and the most ancient hymns; therefore we too, not ignorant of thy struggles and labours, O our venerable father Euthymius, entreat thee: help us before God, that He may grant us to walk becomingly in this world.
Thou didst appear wise in God, O blessed one, by the power of the Most High, and by that divine power thou didst preserve the treasure of our Church, the God-inspired hymns; and as thou didst exalt the crown of the Orthodox confessors, the Church of the Georgians found thee as a treasure of great price and received thee with joy.
Like the light of the sun, so hath thine all-hymned feast illumined the minds of those who sing, O wondrous God-bearing father: entreat Christ now, O venerable one, to look upon His people, who have no defence before Him, and to deliver us from evil sins and manifold trials.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Being the good fruit of the land of Iberia, with a son's fervour thou didst serve the people that bore thee, who now honour thee as their father, O holy and great enlightener Euthymius; and making church chant flourish by thy struggle, thou movest singers even to this day to praise and hymn God beautifully: ask now of Him for us the peaceful preservation of the world, the strengthening of Orthodoxy, the revival of our people, and great mercy for our souls.
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.
Ever meditating on the commandments of Christ day and night with a pure mind, thou didst shepherd His flock with love and teach them to guard themselves from the passions: now raise us too to imitate thy virtues, O blessed one, that we may flee evil habits and passions.
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Thou didst bear the burden of the day with courage and valour, O good and faithful servant, and didst multiply the talent given thee; wherefore thou wast numbered with the confessors, and with the venerable fathers didst enter into the joy of thy good Lord: now intercede unceasingly for those who praise thee.
Verse: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he will delight greatly in His commandments.
God adorned thee, O holy Euthymius, with the light of learning 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.
The multitude of singers confess thee their guide, O God-bearing and venerable Euthymius, for they are filled with that divine grace as they perform the hymns which thou didst gather by great struggle, and they make merry at thy memory, O imitator of the fathers of old: with them entreat Christ God to have mercy on our souls.
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.
Thou didst draw up pearls of great price from the depth of ignorance, and didst adorn anew the Church of the Georgians with angelic voices; O transcriber of divine hymns, holy confessor Euthymius, entreat Christ God to have mercy on our souls. (Twice)
“O Theotokos and Virgin…” once.
“God is the Lord”
Thou didst draw up pearls of great price from the depth of ignorance, and didst adorn anew the Church of the Georgians with angelic voices; O transcriber of divine hymns, holy confessor Euthymius, entreat Christ God to have mercy on our souls.
Glory… The troparion (the same). Both now…
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:
Thou didst complete a life of piety on earth, O all-blessed Euthymius the Confessor, and didst appear as a rule for monks and a radiant luminary of Georgia: now make the true light shine in our hearts, and intercede for those who praise thee. (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).
Thy divine virtues are praised today by the Orthodox who love Christ: purity, meekness, humility and wondrous love of labour; and now we too honour thee, O saint, thrice-blessed father Euthymius, and praise thee, made courageous by thy struggle. (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.
After the Magnification, the sessional hymn. Tone 8
Wisdom.
In that time of misfortune, when the Lord was sending glorious men to His flocks, thou too wast chosen, O blessed father, for the service of God and of the people; and having enriched the Church by preserving those ancient hymns, by thy divine zeal and great struggle thou didst appear well-pleasing to the Holy Trinity. (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 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 to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
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 Luke, chapter 6, verse 17 (At that time Jesus stood…); it ends at verse 23 (…your reward is great in heaven…).
After Psalm 50, the sticheron.
The sound of thy struggle went out into all the land, O God-wise father, blessed Euthymius; therefore in heaven thou didst find the reward of thy labours and didst receive from God a twofold crown, of a confessor and of a venerable one; and now, having boldness before Him, ask peace for our souls.
Irmos: At Thy beck, O God, Thou didst raise the flowing natures as a wall and lead the people of Israel through their midst on dry land; and they sang the song of victory.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
Springing from a root of servants of God, from thy youth thou wast like a tree planted by the rivers of water, and in thy season thou didst bring forth fruit fair and worthy of the heavenly treasuries.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
From thy youth thou wast humble and wholly removed from evil, and as thou didst grow up, O venerable one, thou didst flee the lusts of youth and wast made ready for the service of God and the revival of our people.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
Though thou wast a stranger to human glory, thou didst know the will of the Lord, and learning all the orders and chants of the Church in the Georgian tongue, thou didst appear as a pillar and strength of our Church.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
God sent thee as a luminary to the Georgians, O all-blessed Euthymius, and filled thee with heavenly gifts, that through thy teachings it might be poured out upon us too and guide all toward the true life.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The curse of Eve, the first mother, was loosed when she who knew not wedlock bore Him who is above natures; and the people of the faithful rightly glorify her, as is meet.
Irmos: O God our Saviour, Creator of all, who by Thy word didst establish the high heavens with all their power, by Thy divine Spirit establish us in unity upon the rock of faith.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
მოწოდებულ იყავ რაჲ მსახურებად ერისა შენისა, დაარსე სტამბაჲ, დიდებულო, და იწყე საღმრთისმსახუროთა წიგნთა თარგმანებაჲ და ბეჭდვაჲ ენასა ზედა ქარველთასა, დამცრობილ იყო რაჲ რუსთა მიერ ეკლესიასა შინა ჩუენსა.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
As the Lord shone in thy heart brighter than the sun, O venerable one, thou didst multiply with wisdom the grace given by Him, labouring unceasingly to spread the divine Scripture and the teaching of the fathers among thy people.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
When thou wast tonsured into the lesser schema, O venerable one, they gave thee the name of Euthymius of Athos, to whom thou, this new ascetic, wast joined for the comfort of the Iberian people, and thou didst become like him in monastic poverty.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Being ordained a hieromonk, thou didst preach the all-spotless faith of Orthodoxy, and enlightening thy people, sunk in the darkness of ignorance, O venerable one, thou didst teach them to keep the commandments of God.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
მჴსნელო ჩუენო იესუ, ვედრებითა მშობელისა შენისაჲთა მშჳდობაჲ სოფელსა მოჰმადლე, და ძლევაჲ ჯუარითა მოეც ერსა ჩუენსა ღმრთისმოყუარესა მტერთა ზედა ურწმუნოთა, და მორწმუნენი ღირს-მყვენ შენდობასა.
When the devil saw thee enter fervently upon the struggle, he brought manifold trials upon thee to quench thy fervour, and God permitted it, as with righteous Job; but thou didst prepare thyself for trials: many times thou didst hunger and thirst; thou didst toil; thou didst bear reproach and abuse; thou wast imprisoned; thou didst stand before the tribunal and wast beaten, and before the fighters against God thou didst boldly confess Christ: entreat Him now to deliver from afflictions us who keep thy memory, O Euthymius blessed of God.
Irmos: Not an angel but the Lord Himself, God incarnate of the Virgin, Thou didst come to us and save us wholly, who cry: Glory to Thy power.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
Becoming like the fathers of old in righteousness and humility, armed with courage of mind and innocence of heart, thou didst desire the enlightenment of thy people and didst print church books.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
In the time of the dominion of the fighters against God, many were forced to put off the monastic habit; but thou, loving thy people, didst teach all to do battle against the enemies invisible and visible, lest the judgement of God should come upon them.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
Daily thou didst labour for the revival of Georgian chant, and didst guard those ancient collections of hymns from decay and obliteration, and didst transcribe them into notation, with which chant we glorify God to this day.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
When those fighters against God brought great affliction and distress upon the churches and the faithful, thou wast kindled with heavenly longing, and wondrously filled with divine wisdom, thou didst labour unceasingly in that fiercest contest.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O true Mother of God, entreat thy Son the Creator to guide us to a calm haven and save us from drowning in our sins.
Irmos: The Spirit of salvation, O Lord, which the first prophets conceived in their hearts and brought forth upon the earth, made known to us Thy coming to earth for the life of the faithful; and now, being enlightened, we magnify Thee in song.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
In the time of the tyranny of the godless, when they closed the monastery of Gelati and ordered the superior to depart, thou didst resolve to preserve the manuscripts of hymns from the fighters against God, and didst hide many collections from their eyes.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
As they served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever, thou wast fired with zeal, O courageous Euthymius, by the love of Christ, and didst carry those ancient collections of hymns from Kutaisi to Mtskheta by ox-cart.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
A citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem, thou didst settle in the new Jerusalem, the royal city of Mtskheta, near Makvloani, where Nino, the handmaid of Christ, came from Jerusalem and, praying, converted the Georgians by the life-giving Cross.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Being an intercessor for the Iberians and for their good progress, thou wast appointed to that great cathedral of Svetitskhoveli, and didst hide again in an unseen place the manuscripts so wondrously preserved.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Heaven and earth were enlightened through thee, O unwedded Mother of Jesus, for thou didst make the unquenchable Light to shine upon us, the God of all, who delivered them that were shut up in darkness and made us dwellers of the heavenly Kingdom.
Irmos: Drowned in the billows of the temptations of this world, fallen from the ship of sin and cast to the beast that slayeth souls, I cry to Thee: As Thou didst deliver Jonah from corruption and death, so deliver me also, O Christ.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
Being a good shepherd, a great intercessor with the Theotokos for thy flock, greatly loving Her lot, Iberia, by divine providence thou didst again search out those most ancient collections and transcribe into notation the hymns written in neumes.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
Standing unshaken in the right confession, thou wast appointed abbot at Zedazeni, and bringing there the treasure entrusted to thee by God, the Georgian hymns in manuscript, thou didst bury it beneath the earth in iron chests.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
As the Lord shone in thy heart brighter than the sun, He moved secret believers to do good, and through their efforts that treasure buried by thee in the earth was brought up and placed in a museum; and now it is kept in the repository of manuscripts and gladdeneth many of the faithful, and above all those who sing in church.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Boundless mercy, surpassing sweetness and humility were thy guides on the true way, and thou didst multiply with wisdom the grace given thee by God: now ask forgiveness of transgressions for those who keep thy memory, as one who standeth before God.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thy mystery, O Virgin, was foreshown of old by the ark of the law, which received the divine writings, by the golden jar, the dwelling of the manna, and by the rod.
The Church, imitating the heavens, rejoiceth and glorifieth thy memory with chant adorned by God; O holy father Euthymius, who with the angels singest to the King, cease not to entreat for us all.
Taking up with courage the shield of faith, O venerable father Euthymius, thou wast armed with fasting, prayer and many other struggles, and preaching the Gospel among the godless, thou didst endure many trials and didst receive from God the crown of confession: ask now of Him for us the forgiveness of our sins and iniquities, that we may be counted worthy of His glory.
Irmos: The youths in the furnace in Babylon were bedewed from on high; they cried to God and said: Blessed art Thou, O Lord of our fathers, O God, unto the ages.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
ჟამსა მას შინა ყოვლისავე საქმისა ქართულისა დევნულებათასა, გამოსჩნდი ნუგეშად ერისა შენისა, და არცაღა დასცხრებოდი დაცვისათჳს ენისა ჩუენისა და აღორძინებისათჳს ქართულისა გალობისა. აწ გვიოხე წინაშე ღმრთისა, დანერგოს ჩუენ შორის შიში და მოძაგებაჲ ცოდვისაჲ და სიყუარული ღმრთისა და მოყუასისაჲ.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
Thou didst take upon thyself a great struggle and labour for the increase of the collections of hymns, and didst fill thy land with holy books, whereby thou didst adorn the Church of the Georgians, O God-wise father, and radiantly array the faithful people with divine teaching.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
The ethereal look of thy face and the leanness of thy body bore witness to thy spiritual labours of courage, and thy humble conduct to the purity of thy inner mind; and like Christ thou didst teach all to share their wealth with the poor and to help those in want.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Calling those ancient collections of hymns an everlasting treasure, more precious than gold and silver, gems and pearls, thou didst count thyself a goldsmith and didst cry: How hath this wealth come to me, into which I, the unworthy one, put my hand?!
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 bush on Sinai that burned yet was not consumed revealed God to Moses, slow of speech and heavy of tongue; and divine zeal delivered the youths from the furnace, and they cried out in song: All ye works, bless today God and the Lord; hymn and exalt Him unto the ages.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
Callistratus, Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, esteeming highly thy wondrous struggle, summoned thee with honour and thanked thee greatly for thy labour and struggle; and at his request thou didst set to notation the exclamations spoken during the divine service.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
Spending thy days in solitude at Zedazeni, thou didst fall ill, O thou deified by grace; and as thou didst endure bitter pains, the sisters of the monastery of Samtavro visited thee and were greatly grieved at thy weakness and prayed to God for thy relief.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
Praying to God for thy people and fatherland, thou didst commit thy soul into His hands and wast joined to the multitude of the saints; and when they buried thee in the courtyard of Zedazeni, near the altar, not even through death did the honour of holiness depart from thee, O venerable one.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Being a spiritual teacher and guide of the Georgians, thou didst labour that they might flourish in spiritual and bodily good things; and printing countless books and hymns, thou didst instruct many and move them to sing to God: entreat Him now to grant us repentance and forgiveness of sins.
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.
Irmos: O thou who knewest not wedlock, keeper of incorruption, thou didst clothe the Creator Word with our nature. Come, O immaculate Virgin Theotokos, and with Him who was born of thee teach the faithful, that we may be counted worthy to glorify thee.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
Not only the singers but all the faithful hastened to come to thy tomb, for it became for the infirm a treasury of grace and a fountain of healings; and when they entreated thee for mercy, thou didst ever hear their supplication and grant consolation to all.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
When the hierarchs saw thy wondrous tomb pouring forth healings worked by thy grace, they magnified thee with a loud voice as a glorious ascetic and a confessor father, and appointed for the Georgians thy blessing and praise as a memorial for ever.
Venerable father Euthymius, pray to God for us.
When they numbered thee among the saints, O confessor father, our people and our Church gained thee as an ascetic and man of prayer, a glory and an image of holiness; and now, having the grace to help, raise us up to imitate thy virtues, that we may flee evil habits and passions.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The talent entrusted to thee, O God-bearing one, thou didst not hide in the earth, but didst multiply it as a faithful servant and bring it to God manifold: entreat Him now to drive away trials and the assaults of demons from those who trust in thee and sing thy praises.
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.
Having zeal for the right faith and for the spreading of divine knowledge, thou didst multiply for thy flock the holy Scripture and the teachings of the fathers for the enlightenment of souls; and adorning the Church with divine hymns, thou didst move her faithful children to praise and hymn God. (Twice)
We call thee blessed, O confessor father Euthymius, and honour thy holy memory, for struggling courageously for the Georgian people, by translating divine books and multiplying thy works thou didst supply what was lacking in divine worship, and didst preserve for the Church the collections of hymns created by our glorious forefathers.
Christ gave thee the grace of struggle and so honoured thee in this passing world, and after thy death thou wast glorified yet more before Him, honoured with the venerable and the confessors unto the ages.
Thou didst show humility of life and firmness of faith, O our father Euthymius, and serving God in holiness thou wast refined like gold in the furnace of trials; therefore with love we kiss thy holy icons and entreat thee, as the loving father of the Christ-loving people, to heal us of bodily sickness and of the sins of the soul, and to shelter us from the fierce afflictions and deceptions that surround us.
Ever meditating on the commandments of Christ day and night with a pure mind, thou didst shepherd His flock with love and teach all to turn from evil and to care for their souls by almsgiving, fasting and prayer: entreat now the man-befriending God for us too, that He may arm us with His invincible power and keep us from the assaults of enemies invisible and visible.
The Church of the Georgians now rejoiceth in thy memory and biddeth all the faithful call thee blessed, as a fervent zealot and the preserver of our hymns, and praise God who glorified thee.
Come, O ye Georgian peoples, and with spiritual praises let us sing of the venerable Euthymius the Confessor, the abbot of Zedazeni, as one who enriched our Church with hymns, the helper of all the faithful and the unashamed advocate of those who sing.
აწ ვიქადით შენთჳს, ღირსო მამაო ექვთიმე, აღმსარებელო მამაო, და ურვათა შინა მყოფნი ვითხოვთ შენ მიერ შეწევნასა, რაჲთა ჩვეულებისაებრ წინაპართა ჩუენთასა ვმსახურებდეთ ერსა, და მარადის ვადიდებდეთ ღმერთსა.
Make merry now, O monastery of Zedazeni, and keep festival, O land of the sons of Kartlos, for Christ God hath visited us in mercy and granted us a confessor father and an ascetic elder, a helper in afflictions, a consolation in sorrows, a physician of sicknesses and a deliverer from passions.
Now we marvel at thy confession and thy love for God and neighbour, having been illumined by thy struggle, and we entreat thee to intercede for us before God, for the deliverance of this our land and people from the snares of Satan and from the tyranny and deception of the evil Antichrist.
“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.” Tone 5
Let us sound the trumpet of hymns, let us leap for joy and be glad, rejoicing in the all-holy feast of our all-praised 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 let us say: Now ask forgiveness of transgressions for those who keep thy memory, as one who standeth before God.
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 venerable one, Odes 3 and 6.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7: 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?
The Epistle: 1 Corinthians, chapter 12, verse 7 (Brethren, to each one of us…); it ends at verse 12 (…to every man severally as He will…).
Alleluia, Tone 6: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord.
Verse: His seed shall be mighty upon the earth.
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 11, verse 27 (The Lord said to His disciples…); it ends at chapter 12, verse 1 (…My burden is light…).
Communion hymn: The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance…
Compiled by Tinatin Mchedlishvili
