Festal Service to Our Venerable Father Gregory of Khandzta, Archimandrite of the Deserts of Klarjeti and Builder of Khandzta and Shatberdi
We sing “Blessed is the man”, the first antiphon.
At “Lord, I have cried”, the stichera
on 8, Tone 5.
To the venerable Gregory.
O God-bearing father, blessed Gregory, companion in counsel and in dwelling of the angels, sharer with the prophets, the holy apostles and the martyrs, and co-heir of the unfading Light, who shinest with divine radiance, for thou standest boldly before Him, illumined by grace, and ever beholdest His glory and delightest for ever in His goodness: entreat Christ, be our intercessor with Christ, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
O God-bearing father, blessed Gregory, star of the desert, radiance of divine love and enlightener of monks, unshaken pillar of patience, strength and beam of the Church, all-radiant lamp and luminary of the whole world, treasury of the virtues, who didst make the empty desert a city and show it forth as a paradise: entreat Christ, be our intercessor with Christ, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
O God-bearing father, blessed Gregory, boast of monks and strength of the right faith, chosen servant of the Holy Trinity, peer of the angels, raised from earth to heaven by the guidance of monks, inheritor of the Kingdom, citizen of heaven by angelic song, crowned with the saints and illumined in the light of the vision of God, and intercessor by thy holy prayer for all who honour thee: entreat Christ, be our intercessor with Christ, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
O God-bearing father, blessed Gregory, temple of mysteries united with the angels, abyss of understanding, beholder of things ineffable, father of fathers, head 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: entreat Christ, be our intercessor with Christ, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
“O crowns…”
With what crown of praise shall we wreathe the strength of the Church of Christ, who enlighteneth all with his teaching, the unflinching reprover of rulers, the intercessor and helper of all, the consoler of all the afflicted and the refuge of all in trials, the pillar of piety, the champion of the faithful, the all-praised Gregory, through whom Christ cast down the uprisings of the enemies, and who hath great mercy? (Twice)
With what hymns of praise shall we sing of him who is like a star radiant with God, shining forth by his dwelling in the desert, a plant of paradise bearing good fruit, a great helper and teacher, the reprover of all the wicked and slothful, for whose sake Christ cast down their uprisings, and who hath great mercy?
With what songs of praise shall we sing of the adorner of the Church, the shepherd and teacher of the Iberians, who appeared like the sun to our people and taught them to love God and the fatherland, in whom we set our hope, that in the unity of faith and love we may confess him as the guide and stronghold of our people, who hath great mercy?
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now be glad, O lovers of the feast, and with songs of praise let us sing and extol the boast of priests and the glory of Khandzta, the fountain of wonders and the great intercessor and advocate of the faithful: Rejoice, unsleeping guardian of the monasteries of Klarjeti, who didst make the empty deserts into cities; rejoice, all-radiant lampstand, who didst enlighten the ends of the world with wonders; rejoice, divine joy of the afflicted and fervent intercessor of those in trials, O venerable and wonderworking father Gregory: entreat Christ God without ceasing for us who with faith and love ever honour thy joyful and all-blessed memory.
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 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.
O angel on earth and man of God in heaven, fair adorner of the world and good in sweetness, O father Gregory, we praise thee, who wast planted in the house of God and didst flourish in righteousness, and as a cedar in the desert didst multiply the flock of Christ, rational sheep, worthily and justly, and didst become in truth a light of the world.
Thou didst appear, O father Gregory, as the chief of monks and maker of cities in the empty deserts, and thou healest the passions of our infirmity for those who sing to thee with faith: Rejoice, all-radiant star of the east, enlightener, lamp and shepherd of monks; rejoice, boast of the fasters by thy good works and joyful radiance of all the world; intercede for those who sing thy praise.
Adorned with priestly vesture in a manner befitting God, thou didst preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, and didst compose the hymns of the Church, and didst enrich the Church with divine teaching; enlightened by it, we now magnify thee, the heavenly man and earthly angel, the adornment of the world and the eye of ascetics, who didst multiply the flock of Christ and wast a guide to ascetics in righteousness and holiness, and dost intercede with God for our souls.
Thou didst forsake the world, O saint, and take up the cross, in which thou didst glory, O thrice-blessed father; and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the foreknowledge of God thou didst direct thy steps to the land of Klarjeti, and didst raise in the desert the monasteries of Khandzta and Shatberdi for the salvation of souls and as a refuge for many; and the brethren gathered in them attained thy measure by their humility, and cast out evil spirits, and healed all the sick, and sang thy praise in hymns as a great shepherd and preacher of the faith.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O good servant, kind and faithful, good labourer in the vineyard of Christ, thou didst bear the burden of the day with courage and valour, and didst multiply the talent given thee; wherefore the gates of heaven were opened to thee, and thou didst enter into the joy of thy good Lord; and now be the unceasing intercessor of those who praise thee, that we also, moved by divine longing, may call thee blessed without ceasing.
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.
By word and deed thou didst glorify the glorious God, and didst meditate on His commandments always, day and night, with a pure mind; and like a pillar of light thy radiant prayer went up to heaven, O blessed father Gregory: ask for us great mercy from Christ.
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Thou didst put desire to death and bring purity to life, and didst love holy virginity; and thou didst clothe thyself in purity as with light, and like a turtledove didst serve Christ in meekness with a spotless mind, O blessed Gregory, adorned with divine understanding.
Verse: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he will delight greatly in His commandments.
God adorned thee with the light of wonders and the radiance of divine graces, O thrice-blessed one, and filled thy soul with wisdom; and as a living spring and an unfailing well thou pourest 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 monks confesseth thee as their guide, O God-bearing father Gregory, for they are filled with the divine graces which thou didst leave behind, and they delight in thy memory, O fellow-champion of the holy fathers; with them entreat Christ God to have mercy on our souls through thine intercession.
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.
God showed thee forth as a worker of signs and wonders, O blessed one, and gave thee power to cast out evil spirits and to heal every sickness, O God-bearing one; wherefore we glory in thy divine glory and entreat thee: O good ruler of the monasteries of Klarjeti, ascetic and maker of cities in the desert, O father Gregory, be the intercessor of those who trust in thee, and deliver Christians from every trial.
Thou didst shine forth as a star in the firmament of heaven, and, armed with the grace of the Holy Spirit, didst enlighten thy flock with the knowledge of God, O venerable father; and when thou hadst reached the land of Klarjeti, thou didst raise in the desert most beautiful monasteries for the glory of God and the salvation of many souls, O teacher and enlightener of the Iberian people, blessed Gregory: be our intercessor before Christ the King and ask mercy for us.
The troparion of the venerable one. Glory… 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.
“Angelic powers…”
Thou didst complete a life of piety on earth, and didst appear as a rule for monks and a radiant light for all the world, O God-bearing father, and thou enlightenest those who swiftly flee to thee, O holy Gregory; now also make the true light to shine in our hearts, and be the unceasing intercessor of 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.
“Today Thou hast appeared…”
Thou shinest with light unapproachable, and as a star thou didst shine forth in the desert of Klarjeti and multiply the flock of Christ, O venerable father; ask deliverance from transgressions for those who keep thy memory, since thou standest before 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.
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.
Wisdom.
From childhood thou wast sanctified, O ever-memorable venerable father, as one truly enlightened, and on earth thou didst live as an angel, for thou didst mortify the flesh by ascesis and by thy divine zeal didst appear well-pleasing to the Holy Trinity; wherefore thou wast joined to the choir of monks and didst lead the faithful people up from the pleasures of this passing world to the heights, O God-bearing Gregory: entreat Christ God to grant remission of transgressions to those who with longing honour thy memory. (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.
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.
Idiomelon, Tone 6.
The report of thy good deeds hath gone out into all the earth, O God-wise father; wherefore in heaven thou hast found the reward of thy labours, and hast destroyed the hosts of demons and attained the rank of the angels, whose blameless life thou didst rival, O holy Gregory; having boldness before God, ask peace for our souls.
The canon of the Theotokos (on 6) — see 28 September.
Irmos: By a wonder the Lord saved His people and of old dried up the surging sea by His word; and today He is born incorruptibly of the Virgin and leadeth us up to heaven, equal in nature to the Father; to Him let us sing.
Raise the eyes of our soul to behold the radiance of thy graces, O venerable father, and stir the instrument of the tongue to thy glory, that I may sing thy praise worthily, O Gregory, boast of the fathers.
From childhood thou didst keep the divine image through love for Him who became a Child for our sake, thy heart being wounded, O God-bearing father; and as thou didst grow in years thou wast raised from strength to strength by perfection of spirit.
From youth thou didst trample under the feet of the soul the stirring of the passions, O blessed father, and the flattering sweetness of the senses gave thee no delight at all, for thou didst await those unfading sweet delights, O holy Gregory.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst acquire the beginning of wisdom at the very beginning of thy youth, O venerable father, and didst nail thy flesh with the fear of the Lord, O holy Gregory; and thence thou didst rise to that fearless love of the saints and shine forth by the grace of God.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Heal my soul, fallen through many pains, O all-glorious Theotokos, that with a voice of thanksgiving I may eagerly magnify thee for ever.
Irmos: O God, look upon the hymn of Thy servants, humble the insolence of the deceiver, exalt the Church today, and establish unshaken in Orthodoxy them that trust in Thee.
Thou wast raised on high with the choirs of the bodiless, when thou didst make the struggle of thy labours a chariot for thy soul and didst ascend by practice to the lofty visions, O blessed father, and wast made worthy to behold things invisible, O holy Gregory.
Thou didst appear as a harp of the living Spirit, tuned by the powers of the Spirit, O venerable father, and didst shine forth as a star of the desert, and didst lay up the treasure of words like gold in the Church of God, O blessed Gregory.
By fasting thou didst fence in the flesh, O blessed one, and didst put to death the stirrings of the passions by prayer and vigil; wherefore the power of the Holy Spirit made its dwelling in thee and showed thee forth as a luminary to the ends of heaven.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst become a fruitful branch, O God-bearing one, sprung from roots of servants of God, planted by the streams of the divine Scriptures, and thou didst bring forth as sweet fruit the understanding of them.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Ezekiel foresaw thee as the gate of light through which the King passed, as He alone knoweth, O incorrupt Virgin; wherefore I entreat thee: open to me the gates of repentance that lead into the Kingdom.
Thou didst make thy days radiant, O blessed one, by mighty struggle in the desert, whereby thou didst draw near to the divine radiance, O father Gregory; ask of Christ the remission of our countless sins for those who keep the feast of thy memory.
Irmos: Of old Habakkuk foretold prophetically the salvation of men and said: In wrath Thou hast remembered mercy; from the shaded mountains Thou camest, O Saviour, the Word, the Creator of this people.
God did not hide thy labours, but by signs and wonders proclaimed the radiance of thy struggles, and made thy word and thy sight longed for among all, O thou blessed of God.
From youth thou didst meditate on the God-inspired books and didst ascend to the summit of perfection when thou hadst cleansed thy mind of the passions, and by the purity of thy soul thou didst become a dwelling for the all-holy Spirit.
Thou didst become like God, O blessed one, a father to orphans and food for the hungry, clothing for the naked and helpless, and a physician for the diseases of the sick, O father Gregory.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The Light of the Father made thee shine forth as a radiant lamp for those in the world, and thou didst spread the lustre of thy virtues to the ends of heaven, as His radiance, O venerable father.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As a virgin thou didst give birth, and wast not corrupted as a mother; but thou didst become a Mother and remain a Virgin; wherefore we sing to thee: Rejoice, O Theotokos.
Irmos: Thou camest, O Christ, to forgive the dark deceptions of the night; rising early we offer Thee a hymn, as Thou art worthy, that Thou mayest guide us on the way of peace to enter the Kingdom which Thou didst promise us.
As a star thou didst shine forth in the desert, and thou swiftly helpest those who flee to thee with faith; wherefore we call thee blessed and magnify thee in songs as a fervent intercessor.
The Benefactor, who hath mercy on all, gave riches to thy kindred, and to thy mouth He gave a living spirit, like His holy disciples, and made thee a thirteenth apostle.
Thou didst acquire the spring of the Holy Spirit in thy heart, filled with the mystery of wisdom and the riches of grace, O thrice-blessed father: deliver from trials those who honour thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst yearn for wisdom, O lover of the desert, and didst love her above all things; wherefore she rested upon thee, and through thy lips made a spring of grace to flow forth, sweeter than honey.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
God sanctified thine all-holy womb, O Bride, when He dwelt therein in holiness; and, lifted up on the Cross, He lifted up creation with Himself.
Irmos: Jonah went down into the depth of the sea and cried to God in supplication: Bring me up from drowning, O Lord; and I, O Christ, cry unto Thee: Overlook the multitude of my transgressions.
When the wicked enemy of the Church was plotting thy murder and the plunder of Khandzta, the fire of the Lord's zeal kindled thy mind, O God-bearing one, and by thy prayer thou didst strike dumb his mouth that blasphemed God, and didst destroy him utterly.
O great hermit of the glorious deserts of Klarjeti, cease not now also to labour for us before Christ, for thou canst help in all things all who hope in thy prayers and flee to thine intercession.
Christ the King crowned thee with the crown of holiness as a victor in the contest, O blessed father Gregory, and adorned thy holy head with a priceless ornament.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O mighty combatant against the assaults of the passions, hidden and manifest, blessed Gregory, since thou hast boldness before God, ask for help, that we may escape the enemy of our souls.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou didst bear for us a new Child, O Theotokos, Him who is before the ages and sitteth timelessly with the Father, who by the Cross renewed men grown old through sin and made them partakers of the Godhead.
Thou didst take upon thee the yoke of Christ, O God-bearing father Gregory, and on thy shoulders didst bear His Cross, carrying in thine all-pure flesh the marks of His divine sufferings; wherefore thou didst appear a partaker of His divine glory, gaining a reward according to thy worth.
From good roots sprang forth a beautiful fruit: from childhood the God-bearing one was nourished by grace rather than by milk, and he subjected the mortal flesh to the immortal spirit and struggled even unto death; and when he departed from the world, he was numbered with glory among the assembly of the fathers, and he intercedeth for us who glorify his all-radiant memory.
Irmos: Through love for the Saviour of all the youths counted as nothing the wrath of the God-hating tyrant, and, cast into the fire, they were not burned, and thus they cried: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Thy people keep the feast of thy memory, O blessed one, and cry to thee: Look down upon us from heaven, O blessed father, and deliver us from the billows of the world, that we may not be drowned, whom thou didst teach to sing: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Thou didst despise all the vanity of the world, O most glorious worthy one, and didst trample vainglory like clay, and through poverty didst find in heaven the unfailing riches of the Kingdom, ever singing: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou. Rejoice, fountain of holy theology and cup overflowing with the love of wisdom, O all-wise one, great luminary of the whole world, who didst teach all to sing thus: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst cut down the hosts of demons, O God-bearing one, as a valiant soldier of the Saviour, with the sword of labours, and didst burn up their camps as with fire in the furnace of thy prayers: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In the grace of thy prayer, O saint, we glory with mouth and soul, O glorious one, for through thee we are all delivered from trials and billows, from grievous sorrows and from the passions of sin.
Irmos: The youths in Babylon, unburnt, were of old a figure of thee, O all-glorious Virgin, when the fire of the Godhead was born of thee and kept thee unharmed and spotless; all the people ever bless thee.
As was his wont, the devil was kindled to make war upon thee, O God-bearing one, for he had found a vessel of falsehood, as of old Judas the betrayer; and his sword was turned back upon himself.
The most wretched one, estranged, the dwelling of the devil, beheld a pillar of light and a priceless cross round about thee, O venerable father; he trembled greatly, and the sinews of his arms were loosed.
Thou didst have mercy, O saint, on thy desperate murderer and become like Christ, healing him who fell down before thee with tears and letting him go in peace, for thou art the helper of the penitent who bless Christ and exalt Him unto the ages.
Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Lord.
When the choir of the holy fathers gathered at thy repose, O blessed one, thou wast filled with joy at the sight of them, and didst bless all, and didst teach them faithfully and plainly to sing thus: Bless the Lord, all ye works, and exalt Him unto the ages.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou didst deliver human nature from the curse by thy childbearing, O incorrupt Virgin, for thou didst bear the only Blessed One, who blesseth us and filleth heaven and earth with grace.
We praise, we bless, we worship the Lord, singing and supremely exalting Him unto all the ages.
Irmos: Silence were fitting, since we cannot praise thee worthily today, O Theotokos; yet let us not be silent from fear, but according to our weakness let us offer praise, wherewith we magnify thee.
From the heavenly powers thou didst hear the blessed voice, O servant of God Most High, for Christ the King of heaven was calling thee, the earthly angel and heavenly man; and thou didst depart with joy, and rejoicest with the Lord for ever.
The sweet fragrance of precious incense filled thy cell, O venerable father, and with gladness the assembly of angels received thy spotless soul, with whom thou delightest, O God-bearing one.
The tongue of man cannot recount thy struggles, O saint, well-pleasing to God, for thou didst pass through this world worthily, O glorious one, and now, united with the delight of paradise, thou rejoicest with the angels and reignest with Christ for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Ask, O worthy one, from Christ God for the whole world peaceful preservation, for our people victory and the strengthening of Orthodoxy, and for our souls great mercy abundantly.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou carriest in thy holy hands Him who beareth all things; entreat Him, O holy one, that we may live unharmed by the evil-doing of strangers.
Thou didst appear as a radiant image and receive the Holy Spirit, O venerable father, through whom thou didst make the eyes of the soul radiant with divine vision; and, illumined, foreseeing things to come, thou didst speak of all that was to be with divine purity; now be our intercessor before God, O holy Gregory. (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.
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.
“O most glorious wonder…”
O God-bearing father, holy Gregory, thou didst take the yoke of Christ upon thy neck and with courage didst crush the assaults of the enemies and show forth the deserts as a city; wherefore we call thee blessed and cry to thee with faith: O beautiful glory of Klarjeti, Christ hath made thee to dwell with the bodiless: be our intercessor. (Twice)
O God-bearing father, holy Gregory, we Georgians gathered in faith honour thee as a great ascetic and cry to thee with faith: O hermit like unto holy Anthony, who didst go forth with joy into the trackless desert and in place of wild beasts didst settle men equal to the angels, be our intercessor before God, that He may save us.
O God-bearing father, holy Gregory, thou didst appear as a rule for monks and the boast of the Orthodox, a sweet and radiant luminary of all the world, and a most skilful and honoured physician for the infirm; for thou didst not fear the terror of the deceiving enemy, but didst break the bows and arrows of the demons and weaken their cruel snares by thy divine teaching. O the gifts given thee, O blessed one, whereby thou didst put the evil demons to shame and make the glory of Christ shine forth!
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 our all-praised teacher. 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 Gregory, 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.
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
