Festal Service to Our Venerable Father Zenon 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).
— To the venerable Zenon.
Thou didst forsake the corruptible glory of the world, O Zenon, beauty of Ikalto, wondrous one, and, becoming a fellow-traveller on the narrow way with thy teacher John, ye had truth as your guide on that journey of strangers; and when ye reached the region of Kartli in peace, the chosen hierarch of Christ, Eulavios, informed by the Spirit, came out to meet you; and, receiving together with him the fiery tongues, by his blessing and fervent prayer ye attained, O venerable ones, 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.
We find thee a shepherd of the sheep and a praying ascetic of good struggle, and we see the demons cast down by thee, O Zenon, beauty of Ikalto, wondrous one, radiance of divine love and enlightener of the dwellers of Kakheti; 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.
Truly a good ascetic and an unshaken pillar, appearing in the mountains of Kakheti, O Zenon, beauty of Ikalto, wondrous one, thou didst settle in Ikalto, and there didst wisely gather the faithful and raise them to spiritual heights: pray, O all-blessed one, for us who keep thy precious memory, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
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 Zenon, beauty of Ikalto, wondrous one: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
Thy divine virtues are ever praised by the Orthodox who love Christ, O Zenon, beauty of Ikalto, wondrous one: purity, meekness, humility and mercy to the poor; and now we too, not ignorant of thy struggles and labours, fervently entreat thee: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
Blessed are the dwellers of thy monastery, O Zenon, beauty of Ikalto, wondrous one, treasury of many gifts and vessel that keepest virginal purity, haven of grace, fountain of healings, unmercenary physician of the sick, helper of true fasters and consoler of the sorrowful, calm harbour for those tossed by the passions of this world: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
On the day of thy memory we rejoice, the assemblies of Orthodox Georgians, O Zenon, beauty of Ikalto, wondrous one, and cry to thee with a loud voice: For love of Christ thou didst forsake the beauty of the world, and, settling in the region of Kakheti with the blessing of thy teacher, thou didst found the monastery of Ikalto, and by God's guidance didst shepherd the flock entrusted to thee with a meek and humble spirit: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
The Church of Georgia keepeth the feast of thy memory and biddeth us sing of thy struggle, O Zenon, beauty of Ikalto, wondrous one, temple of mysteries united with the angels, abyss of understanding, beholder of things ineffable, father of elders, 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.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst see hidden mysteries as though they were manifest, O holy elder, and didst know surely the things to come, and all that thou didst say is true: grant us now a heart of understanding and wisdom to discern good and evil, that we may escape the ways of perdition and be guided on the true way.
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.
— 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 Zenon.
O our father Zenon, worthy of remembrance, wondrous and all-praised, thou didst spring up from the land of Mesopotamia, near Antioch, and, beginning the monastic life in thine own homeland, thou didst live in all humility and struggle; and thy teacher John worked from God manifold signs and wonders and healed sicknesses and pains. Help us too now and shelter us from all infirmities and afflictions.
This thy blessed teacher and radiant luminary John shone like a bright star in the darkness of ignorance upon souls gone astray, and became their guide to the unwaning light; but he fled the glory of this passing world, and, leaving the place where he dwelt, went away into the far desert and settled in a cave with his twelve disciples, among whom thou wast numbered, O blessed Zenon, and didst attain a great measure.
Having gained from the Saviour the grace of the Holy Spirit through prayer and vigil, ye despised all bodily delights and tastes, and by fasting and constant prayer ye wore down the body and by every hardship withered and weakened its tyranny; and for a long time no one knew your dwelling, but God, who was glorified by you, glorified you and again revealed His servants to the world.
When the report of you went out through Antioch and all Mesopotamia, they brought the sick and the possessed on beds to John, and all were healed by the power of God and by his prayer; but that father fled the honours of the world, and resolved to go away into a strange land, and told his disciples, among whom thou too wast, O holy Zenon, to struggle in that same place and to pray for him also; but ye were so bound together by spiritual love that ye said to him: “We will not leave thee alone, for thou art the guide of our souls, and through thy graces we look for mercy from God.”
Leaving your land and your fatherland, called by the voice of the Lord, ye came to the land that is the lot of the Theotokos, for there the holy Gospel of Christ was preached by the great apostle Andrew in place of the Mother of God; and at last, when the holy virgin Nino was sent by Her, the king and all the people were baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity; but under the dominion of the Persians the error of heretics and pagans multiplied, and some turned aside from the right faith.
…to Mtskheta, the capital, then pre-eminent among the other cities. And entering before the Life-giving Pillar together with his disciples, he bowed down to the Lord, falling upon the floor and watering the ground with tears, and long he offered supplications to the good and most sweet King.
Entering the royal city of Mtskheta, ye drew near to that Life-giving Pillar which King Mirian with a countless multitude of people could not raise for three days, and God raised it at the prayer of Nino, the enlightener and converter of the Georgians, our mother and apostle; and on bended knees, watering the ground with tears, ye asked help of the good and most sweet King, that He might guide you by His truth to a place where ye might finish the remaining days of your life in stillness, well-pleasing to Him.
God, who despiseth not the supplication of His servants, showed him a mountain to the north of the city of Mtskheta and of the Precious Cross, and made known to him that he should go up to the summit of that mountain; and having crossed the Aragvi, ye went up to venerate the Precious Cross and prayed there; and when ye had climbed that mountain, on which the pagans had built a tower, where demons had thickly settled and were served with the smoke of sacrifices, thy teacher, O blessed Zenon, seeing that it was suited to solitary stillness, said to his disciples: “Here will I settle, that by prayer this place may be purified and become an adornment to the Churches and to the Georgian peoples round about.”
აღირჩია რაჲ მარტოდ მყოფობაჲ ღმერთშემოსილმან მამამან ჩუენმან, წმიდამან იოვანე, გაკურთხათ იწროსა გზასა მას ზედა მონაზონებისასა სრბად წმიდითა ჯუარითა თჳსითა, და განგსწავლიდათ თჳსთა მოწაფეთა და გეტყოდათ: „შვილნო, სარგებელისათჳს ამის ქუეყანისა წარმოგუავლინნა უფალმან ჩუენმან იესუ ქრისტემან და აქა მოგჳძღუა, რამეთუ ახალ ნერგ არს ქუეყანაჲ ესე, ამისთჳს-ცა წარვედით, რაჲთა განამტკიცებდეთ ქრისტეს სამწყსოთა, მრავლითა საცთურითა დაბრკოლებულთა და სპარსთა მაზდეანთა და ერთბუნებიანთაგან ჰაოსიანთა ცთუნებულთა.“ და წარგზავნასა მას თქუენსა ამიერ და იმიერ მხარეთა და უდაბნოთა საქართველოჲსათა, მოგცათ ნაწილთაგან წმიდათა მოწამეთაჲსა, და მათითა მადლითა იცვებოდით ყოველთაგან-ვე საფრჴეთა ეშმაკისათა, და გაქუნდათ ნუგეშინის-საცემელად სულისა და ჴორცთა.
When this desert-loving turtledove settled on the mountain of Zedazeni, he found there a small cave, and by the harshest labours of ascetic struggle, by fasting, unceasing prayer and standing, he utterly withered and weakened the flesh and all the assaults and wiles of the deceiving devil; and when that holy one sent thee to Kakheti, O blessed Zenon, ye holy twelve fathers parted from your teacher and from one another and dwelt in solitude as it pleased the Holy Spirit; then the faithful of Christ would come, and, taught by you and built up in spirit, they would go away to their homes; and ye worked great healings by the help of God, by which ye cast down the assaults of the enemies in Iberia and strengthened this faith of the Orthodox.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Leaving that wise teacher of thine, thou didst take up the cross in which thou didst glory, O thrice-blessed one, and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and at John's direction thou didst set thy steps on the true way; and reaching the borders of Kakheti, thou didst multiply soul-profiting teachings, drive out evil spirits and heal the sick: so now also be our intercessor with God, that we may escape all snares and overcome the evil wiles of the enemy, invisible and visible.
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 Zenon, 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, and didst put on purity as light, and like a turtledove didst serve Christ in meekness with a spotless mind, O holy Zenon, blessed one, 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 holy Zenon, with the light of wonders and the radiance of divine gifts, and filled thy soul with wisdom; and 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 John thy teacher, and with thy spiritual brethren 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 Zenon. (Twice)
— Or another troparion: The Georgian people rejoice in thy feast and offer worship to Christ God, who hath given such a father and intercessor to our people, the lot of His Mother; and receiving mercy from God through thee, with a voice of joy we praise the boast of elders and the glory of Kakheti, our God-wise father Zenon of Ikalto. (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: “The Georgian people rejoice in thy feast…” (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:
Hastening toward the angelic struggle, thou didst leave the world under the guidance of John, like John the Baptist; and when thou hadst settled in Iberia with thy twelve fellow-strugglers, thy God-speaking tongue, O venerable one, filled the land of Kakheti with teaching as with a river, and, watering the hearts of the ignorant, brought them to the knowledge of God, and they were saved in spirit: and now be our intercessor before God, that He may keep us, the Orthodox peoples, from the snares of Satan, and deliver those who trust in thee from vain turmoil and evil trials. (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).
Thou didst grow rich in virtues, O father, and above all didst love poverty, and gavest thyself up to the life of a stranger, and didst sojourn in Iberia as did thy teacher John; and Christ God, who strengthened thee, made manifest the courage of thy struggles and spread it through all the ends of Kartli and Kakheti; therefore the assembly of the Georgians rejoiceth, and boasteth of thee, and exulteth with joy, having been taught by the holy Thirteen Syrian Fathers. (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).
— “The sessional hymn” after the Polyeleos:
Thou didst mortify the flesh by struggle, and by thy divine zeal didst appear well-pleasing to the Holy Trinity; wherefore thou wast joined to the choir of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers, O holy Zenon, and didst raise the Georgian peoples from passing delights to the heights: O God-bearing one, entreat Christ God to grant remission of sins to those who with longing honour thy memory. (Tone 8) (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.
— The first antiphon of Tone 4 (of Sunday Matins).
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.
— 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 teacher, so thou too, O holy Zenon, 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 Zenon, pray to God for us.
We, the Orthodox people, have the custom of rejoicing at the commemoration of all the saints, and above all today we make merry at thy feast, O Zenon of Ikalto who didst struggle well, pillar and strength of the assembly of monks, and with one accord we honour thy holy memory.
Holy venerable father Zenon, pray to God for us.
Having become by purity of heart a dwelling of the Holy Spirit, thou wast sent by God as a luminary for Kakheti, O venerable one, and He gave thee grace to drive out demons and heal the infirm: now shelter thy flock from all oppressing passions and from the deceptions of demons.
Holy venerable father Zenon, pray to God for us.
Reaching the borders of Kakheti, 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 too from a faith that is lifeless and lukewarm.
Holy venerable father Zenon, pray to God for us.
O new apostle of the land of Kakheti, herald of God-inspired teachings and revealer of this path of piety, the fragrance of thy prayers ever rose up to God like goodly incense. Entreat Him now to deliver us from all afflictions and trials.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou wast the strength of Orthodoxy granted from on high and the joy of the Church of Iberia, for with the staff of faith thou didst drive away the evil wolf and keep thy flock unharmed from his ravages, being strengthened by the power of the Trinity.
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 Zenon, pray to God for us.
Having been taught by John thy teacher, thou wast sent by him to Kakheti, for at that time the luminaries of Orthodoxy had grown few in our land, and thou didst drive away that darkness of ignorance by the light of thy preaching.
Holy venerable father Zenon, pray to God for us.
Thou hadst mighty zeal like Elijah, O honoured father Zenon, for thou wast kindled like divine fire against the heretics and didst burn up their tongues: be an intercessor for those who honour thy feast.
Holy venerable father Zenon, 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; and thou didst receive as a gift the grace of wonders, to heal the sicknesses of those who honour thee with faith.
Holy venerable father Zenon, pray to God for us.
Though thou didst wish to hide thyself, O blessed one, thou couldst not be hidden, and the report of thee went out through our land; for it is not possible that one who hath lit a lamp should set it under a bushel, but on a lampstand, that it may give light to men.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, O venerable father Zenon, 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 among the twelve disciples of John of Zedazeni, thou didst learn much from him, and being illumined by divine grace, didst illumine others also, and didst build a monastery at Ikalto, wherein monks multiplied, and 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 Zenon blessed of God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The sound of thy struggle went out into all our land, O God-wise father Zenon, blessed one, for thou didst humble those who spoke falsehood loftily, the impious heretics, grievously deluded, who in their folly did not believe in the Saviour in two natures; and thou didst exalt the right and true faith, teaching many the union without confusion of Godhead and manhood. Now also grant peace to our faithful authorities and army, and deliver the people who glorify thee from alien teachings and deceptions.
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 Persians, and to spread the faith of Christ, didst send the thirteen fathers from Assyria to Iberia, and through them, by the founding of monasteries, didst firmly establish all our people upon the rock of faith: 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 Zenon, pray to God for us.
Settling in the borders of Kakheti, thou didst shine like a lamp upon the high lampstand of monasticism, O all-blessed Zenon; and those who saw and heard of thy holy life glorified God, wondrous in the saints.
Holy venerable father Zenon, pray to God for us.
When thy prayer rose up before God, the demons, haters of good, unable to endure thy struggle, rose up and fell upon thee, O holy Zenon, and began to make war with many and various wiles.
Holy venerable father Zenon, 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 that divine wisdom; she keepeth thy memory and with praises glorifieth Christ God: entreat Him now, O blessed Zenon, to drive away from those who entreat thee the trials stirred up by the devil.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The tongues of men are too weak to utter the mystery of thy spotless birthgiving, O unwedded Bride; but with faith they confess thee as the 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 Zenon, pray to God for us.
Thou didst become a zealous follower of those great monks of old, radiant with fasting and struggle, O venerable one, and all the days of thy life thou didst spend in prayer, tears and vigil.
Holy venerable father Zenon, pray to God for us.
Illumined by the radiance of spiritual graces, as by a pillar of fire, thou didst divide the seas of trials, O all-blessed Zenon, and didst found the monastery at Ikalto, and well didst thou finish the course of this passing life.
Holy venerable father Zenon, 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 Zenon!
Holy venerable father Zenon, 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 Zenon, an ascetic and man of prayer for the Orthodox Georgians, and the glory and strength of the land of Kakheti.
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 Zenon, pray to God for us.
Mesopotamia, that land of yours, together with its inhabitants, boasteth of you, O all-praised ones, for from there ye sprang up, O holy and blessed John and Zenon, and together with the other eleven ye enlightened the race of the Georgians.
Holy venerable father Zenon, pray to God for us.
Unable to endure error, and greatly loving the people that is the lot of the Theotokos, thou didst rebuke the Georgians for ungodliness, lest the judgement of God should come upon them.
Holy venerable father Zenon, pray to God for us.
Alone thou didst endure the frost of night and the heat of day in thy wandering, and didst become a temple of the Word of God; and having attained the heavenly Jerusalem, thou art an intercessor for those who sing thy praises.
Holy venerable father Zenon, pray to God for us.
Thou art united with the choir of the holy fathers who came from Assyria to Iberia, and with your teacher John, who struggled on the mountain of Zedazeni, and with one accord ye rejoice before God: entreat Him now to deliver us from sins and iniquities.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thy feast is fairly praised by those who love thee, O righteous Zenon, 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 divine wisdom, 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 Zenon of Ikalto!
Ikos: Make merry now, O land of Kakheti; exult, O monastery of Ikalto, and keep festival, O land of the sons of Kartlos, for Christ God hath visited us in mercy and granted us the holy Thirteen Syrian Fathers, among whom thou art, O blessed Zenon; and since ye strengthened our people in piety, 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 Zenon, 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 Zenon, 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.
Holy venerable father Zenon, 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 Zenon, pray to God for us.
Heal our desires, soaked in passions, which vex our mind, and still the waves of evil unworthiness; and strengthen our hearts, grown weak from the cares of this world, O father Zenon, that we may glorify Christ unto the ages.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
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 Zenon, pray to God for us.
As David humbled himself and said with a contrite heart: “I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people,” so thou too didst show the height of humility, and didst love God, the wealth that cannot be stolen, through whom thou wast glorified for ever: be an intercessor with Him for us who today magnify thy memory.
Holy venerable father Zenon, 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.
Holy venerable father Zenon, pray to God for us.
Like the radiant sun thou didst shine in the firmament of the Church of the Georgians, being a true teacher to all who fled to thee, 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 progress.
Holy venerable father Zenon, pray to God for us.
When thou hadst built the monastery of Ikalto, after many years our holy father Arsenius renewed and enlarged it, and gathered there God-wise fathers and learned men to teach learning and to be a school of every good thing; and when he named it the Academy of Ikalto, our people were taught in it for many centuries.
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 ძილის დაჴსნილებასა მივცემივართ და ვერცაღა ძალგვიძს წინააღმდგომად ბოროტისა, არამედ მოწყალე-ჰყავ ჩუენ ზედა მართლ-მსაჯული იგი უფალი, რაჲთა განვსძლიერდეთ და განვცხოველდეთ სულითა და ჴორცითა და კურთხეულითა ენითა ქართულითა ღირს-ვიქმნეთ გალობად ღმრთისა.
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 Zenon, 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, which thou didst found.
Holy venerable father Zenon, 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 Zenon, pray to God for us.
The honour of holiness hath not departed from thee even through death until now, O venerable father Zenon, for thy tomb hath become for the infirm a treasury of grace and a fountain of healings.
Holy venerable father Zenon, 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 Zenon, and made thee shine forth from Mesopotamia, and spread thy radiance over this land darkened by sin, and drove away all the gloom of darkness; and illumined by thee we have come to know God without beginning, worshipped in three Persons, and we make thee our intercessor before Him. (Twice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Christ gave thee grace to work wonders also, and so honoured thee in this passing world; and after thy death thou wast glorified yet more before Him, and, united in good love with thy teacher and thy spiritual brethren, thou standest before God: ask now for the peaceful preservation of the whole world, and grant our people victory over enemies and oppressors, and great mercy to those who sing thy praises.
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.
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 Zenon, 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 Zenon, 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, Zenon, the ascetic of Ikalto, who laboured greatly for our people in the spirit before God, for deliverance from trials and for rescue from every passion; and now let us entreat his holiness to plant in us the fear and hatred of sin and the love of God and neighbour.
Though the grave hath covered thee, O father Zenon, thou flashest forth from that holy monastery over all the land with the shining of wonders, and pourest spiritual fragrance upon our souls and minds; therefore we hasten to Ikalto, the dwelling-place of thy relics, that we may draw healing for our souls and bodies.
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Though thy countless wonders astonish us, O wondrous God-bearing Zenon, 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 afflictions and trials.
Verse: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he will delight greatly in His commandments.
And 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 the tomb of thy relics; 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 Zenon 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: “The Georgian people rejoice in thy feast…” (Tone 4).
— “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.
