Paraklesis to the Holy Thirteen Syrian Fathers
Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things with Thy grace, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice, with three small bows)
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 Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, deliver us and release us from our sins; O Master, pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12 times)
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 come, let us worship and fall down before God our King. (Prostration) O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God. (Prostration) O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God. (Prostration)
O Lord, attend to my prayer: hearken to my supplication in thy truth; hear me in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has brought my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in a dark place, as those that have been long dead. Therefore my spirit was grieved in me; my heart was troubled within me. I remembered the days of old; and I meditated on all thy doings: yea, I meditated on the works of thine hands. I spread forth my hands to thee; my soul thirsts for thee, as a dry land. Pause. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit has failed; turn not away thy face from me, else I shall be like to them that go down to the pit. Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for I have hoped in thee; make known to me, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for I have lifted up my soul to thee. Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord; for I have fled to thee for refuge. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God; thy good Spirit shall guide me in the straight way. Thou shalt quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake; in thy righteousness thou shalt bring my soul out of affliction. And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy mine enemies, and wilt destroy all those that afflict my soul; for I am thy servant.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God (prostration). Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God (prostration). Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee (prostration).
God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Verse 1: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever. Verse 2: All the nations compassed me about, and in the name of the Lord I withstood them. Verse 3: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. Verse 4: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
Thou shinest brightly in the wilderness, thou givest light to the Georgians more than the orb of the sun, O John, father of fathers; be an intercessor for them that honour thy feast and are enlightened.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O God of our fathers, who ever dealest with us according to Thy goodness, take not Thy mercy from us, but through their intercessions guide our life in peace.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We will never cease, O Theotokos, we the unworthy, from speaking of thy mighty acts; for hadst thou not stood before us to intercede, who would have delivered us from so many dangers? And who would have kept us free until now? We will not depart from thee, O Lady, for thou ever savest thy servants from all misfortunes.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings. Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.
Irmos: The nature of the river’s water froze and turned back upon itself, and Israel crossed the depths of the Red Sea with unfaltering feet and prepared a spiritual song as an offering to the Lord.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
There is no doubt that Christ is true and that the Truth is made wondrous in the venerable; and the death of the venerable is precious before God, for it is the putting on of incorruption by the corruptible and of immortality by the mortal, and an unfading reward for the victors.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
That wondrous image of thine astonishes the understanding, O John, for on it the likeness of God is portrayed; and that image, after thy adoption by grace, thou didst adorn with the likeness of God, whereby thou becamest wondrous among all.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Today the divine feast has come, in which the memory of the fathers, the disciples and companions of John, enlightens them that sing of their memory with faith and keep it with longing.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Emmanuel, which is, “God with us”, thou didst conceive by the Holy Spirit beyond corruption, O all-immaculate one, and didst bear beyond mind and word; and thou alone wast shown to be Lady, truly and properly Theotokos.
Irmos: Thou art the invincible protector, O Christ, and the unshaken strength of them that trust in Thee; keep us uncondemned and establish us upon the firm rock of Thy faith, O Lord Almighty.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
Branches of the true Vine, bearing fruit in their season, purified and perfect, transplanted by the heavenly Husbandman, the divine fathers are praised today in hymns in the paradise of heaven.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
Come, ye who have been enlightened by them, and let us together weave crowns of praise for the blessed disciples of wondrous John, sharers in his labours, who with their teacher partook of the reward of honour and of the crown.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
Let us extol together in song blessed Abibos, who attained the summit of desire by the way of the contests of martyrdom; Anthony, the rule and order of blessed mourning; and Shio, the pillar of stillness.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Let us worthily hymn Iese, co-enthroned with the apostles and equal to them in honour; David, the beautiful image of those who fast; Michael, the lover of wisdom through the pure movement of the mind; Pyrrhus and Stephen, together with the other fathers.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Through thee, O Theotokos, we have beheld God as man and the Lord of glory among servants, the Immortal as mortal and the Word in the flesh, without confusion of natures: O dread mystery, O ineffable beauty of the natures!
Deliver thy servants from dangers, O most holy Virgin Theotokos, for after God we all flee unto thee, as to an unbreakable wall and protection.
Look down with favour upon us, O all-praised Theotokos, and heal the grievous wounds of our bodies and the sicknesses of our souls.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
Priest: Again we pray for our God-protected people, its authorities and armed forces.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
Priest: Again we pray for the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, the great lord, our father Ilia, and for the most reverend… (name of the local bishop), and for all our brethren in Christ.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
Priest: Again we pray to the Lord our God that He may have mercy on Thy servants and handmaids (names). Multiply, O Lord, the days and years of their life, and deliver them, O Lord, from every affliction, wrath and distress, and from every wound of soul and body, and forgive them every transgression, voluntary and involuntary.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
Priest: For Thou art a merciful God who lovest mankind, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Ye left all earthly things and went up the mountain of the virtues, O blessed fathers, where, going from strength to strength, ye drew near to God and behold His glory face to face; for its sake ye crucified your flesh and renounced bodily rest, and now ye stand boldly before Him. Entreat Him, then, to grant remission of sins to them that lovingly honour your holy memory.
Irmos: The prophet heard beforehand of Thy coming, O Christ, and marvelled, and foretold it with praise, saying: The earth is filled with Thy glory, O Lord; Thou didst not disdain our lowliness, but, as befits Thy Godhead, Thou didst come and save Thine anointed.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
მირონდებულსა მას ალაბასტრსა, საღმრთოსა, ლარნაკსა შენსა, იოანე, აღმომდინარესა ნიშთა კურნებისათა, პატივცემულსა ღირსად მღდელთა მიერ და მეფეთა, დღეს პატიჟად უთნოებათა ჩუენთა, დათრგუნვილსა მტერთა ბოროტნათესავთაგან, მსწრაფლშემწე ექმენ, მცველ და განმათავისუფლებელ.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
The joyful memory of the blessed fathers, equal to the apostles in number, in grace and in honour, has come; come, O ye God-wise, and, enlightened by them, let us praise together the twelve gates of the heavenly city and the twelve precious, radiant stones of the priestly vestment.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The twelve blessed disciples of the all-experienced teacher shone forth like the twelve stars in the crown of the woman clothed with the sun; and with them, by the radiance of graces, blessed Elias, Dodo and Lucian with Evagrius illumine them that call upon them.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou who standest at the right hand of thy Son, arrayed in divers garments of woven gold, O abyss gathering the rivers of manifold graces, O star that didst contain the boundless light of the Creator of light: O thou full of grace, deliver us who know thee from passions of every kind.
Irmos: Thou art life without end and Light unapproachable, O Christ our God: drive away from our minds the shadow of the darkness of folly, and enlighten the senses of our souls with the unfading light of the knowledge of Thee.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
The bells of the Gospel preaching rang out sweetly among the nations — the disciples of wondrous John, equal to the apostles in number and in honour; and the ill-sounding music of the idols fell silent, the thorns were changed into cinnamon and cypress, and the wild beasts into the flock of Christ.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
That he might fire and temper the poisoned iron in the font — some anew, and some by calling them back to baptism — for the salvation of the Georgians, John was chosen by a call from heaven as a second Paul, urged on by the goad of divine zeal.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
The God-radiant assembly today worthily hymns with joyful praises the fathers united in spirit, the holy luminaries of the circle of the Church gathered in one mind with John, the great sun, as the ever-protectors and intercessors of the faithful.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
All-wondrous Joseph, burning with divine love, who felt neither the pains of the numbing frost nor the weight of the scorching heat, and Isidore, a sufficient rule of blessed mourning: these teachers of reverence are extolled today together with the other fathers.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
This mystery is beyond the mind and higher than the most exalted understanding: for the All-existing One, equal to the Father and the Spirit, comes down in His great goodness, and He whom the thrones of the Cherubim cannot contain is contained in the womb of the Virgin, to renew His own image that had fallen into corruption.
Irmos: Disdain not the cry of Thy servants, O Lord, but as Thou didst deliver Jonah from the belly of the whale, deliver us also from the invisible whale and the evil enemy, for Thou lovest mankind.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
David gained the beauty of hyacinth through holiness; Anthony by stillness became like hard jasper; and Shio like sapphire, as one who fled perishable fatness and portrayed mourning within himself.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
Abibos, hierarch of God, like sardius through the blood of martyrdom; blessed Thaddeus, a beautiful amethyst; Stephen the crown, a shining chrysolite; Zenon, an emerald, dweller in the green pasture of heaven beside the still waters: let them be praised, for they are worthy of praise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Michael, an honourable chalcedony, the image of fasting; Isidore, a sardonyx, an ever-living example of uprightness for writers; Pyrrhus, a beryl in colour, as a sea of reverence; Joseph, a chrysoprase, the firmness of spotless chastity.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O light cloud, chariot of God, immaculate Virgin, preserve from afflictions, O Theotokos, us who today with longing extol in song the walls of the heavenly city, whose number is made twelve by the divine shepherd Iese, the radiant topaz.
Deliver thy servants from dangers, O most holy Virgin Theotokos, for after God we all flee unto thee, as to an unbreakable wall and protection.
Look down with favour upon us, O all-praised Theotokos, and heal the grievous wounds of our bodies and the sicknesses of our souls.
Priest: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Priest: For Thou art the King of peace and the Saviour of our souls, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
From Syria thou didst appear as a luminary for Kartli and wast shown forth as father of the twelve fathers; thou pourest forth for us the graces of the Holy Spirit and illuminest us with a multitude of wonders, O holy father John. Grant peace to our faithful authorities and armed forces, and deliver from temptations the people who glorify thee.
Priest: Let us attend. Wisdom. The prokeimenon, a psalm of David, Tone 4:
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Choir: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Priest: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?
Choir: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Priest: Precious in the sight of the Lord…
Choir: is the death of His saints.
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For holy art Thou, O our God, who restest in the saints, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
Choir: Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
Priest: Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Choir: Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
Priest: Let everything that hath breath…
Choir: praise the Lord.
Priest: And that He will count us worthy to hear the holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord our God.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
Priest: Wisdom! Aright! Let us hear the holy Gospel. Peace be unto all.
Choir: And to thy spirit.
Priest: The reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Priest: Let us attend.
At that time Jesus stood in the plain, and the company of His disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases; and they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: for there went virtue out of Him, and healed them all. And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor in spirit: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Through the intercessions of the holy thirteen Syrian fathers, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression, and have mercy on me, O God.
O venerable fathers, the report of your good deeds has gone out into all the earth; therefore in heaven ye have found the reward of your labours; ye destroyed the hosts of demons and attained the rank of the angels, whose blameless life ye rivalled. Having boldness before Christ God, ask peace for our souls.
Priest: O God, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; visit Thy world with mercy and compassion; exalt the horn of Orthodox Christians and send down upon us Thy rich mercies, through the intercessions of our all-immaculate Lady Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary; by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the protection of the honourable bodiless Powers of heaven; of the honourable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-praised apostles; of our fathers among the saints, the great ecumenical teachers and hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom; of our father among the saints Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the wonderworker; of the holy great-martyr George, the Trophy-bearer and wonderworker; of the holy, glorious and victorious martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing fathers; and of our holy mother, the virgin Nino, equal to the apostles; of our holy father Ilia the Righteous; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna (and of the saint to whom the church is dedicated), and of all Thy saints: we entreat Thee, O most merciful Lord, hearken to the supplication of us sinners, and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (12 times)
Priest: Through the mercies and compassions and love for mankind of Thine Only-begotten Son, with whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Irmos: Beyond all wonder the youths in Babylon were found champions of the laws of their fathers, and in the fire, radiant and sprinkled with dew, they cried out together, saying: O most exalted God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
Having received the all-perfect crown of victory and honour, O John, thou didst gain a place among the second lights; and before thy departure, while still in the flesh, thou wast wholly counted worthy of the grace of the apostles, and speaking even in foreign tongues thou didst cry: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
Beautiful to us were the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, who brought us the good news, having received the tongues of fire like the apostles and speaking in foreign tongues: great John and his disciples, who sing: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The renowned and chosen hierarch of Christ, Eulavius, forewarned by the Spirit, came out to meet you, O fathers, when together with him ye received the tongues of fire, singing with one voice: O most exalted God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou didst carry the fire of the Godhead, O Theotokos, O spiritual bush, and beyond the laws of nature thou didst remain unburnt, O Virgin; and thou didst bear beyond understanding God made man, to whom we sing: O most exalted God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Irmos: The preparation of spectacles and the luxury of the lawless king in Babylon were brought to nothing by the concord of the youths, when they cried out with one voice; for in the furnace they were bedewed by the breeze, and they sang a hymn to the Creator of all the world: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him unto the ages.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
The powers of the signs which John and his disciples gained were brightly shown to us beyond nature, when by command they stayed the course of a river, cast out demons and, like Elisha, again divided the waters with the tip of a staff, singing to the Creator: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him unto the ages.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
With a holy staff the wondrous wonderworking hierarch of Christ, Iese, commanded a river to follow the track of his staff, and, obedient as though alive, it followed him over mountains and hills beyond the law of its nature; and another destroyed dragons with fire. Therefore we cry to Him who glorified them: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him unto the ages.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
Forgetting to eat their bread, they mingled their drink with weeping, and with the voice of groaning they dried up their flesh upon their bones, that they might drink the new drink at the immortal table of the heavenly bridal chamber, as was promised. This one counsel the fathers wisely devised, singing: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him unto the ages.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Today the thirteen Syrian fathers call us to their holy memory and prepare for us a drink of twofold healing; come, all of us together, and let us draw the water of joy that wondrously gushes forth through their prayers, singing to Him who glorified them: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him unto the ages.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Word who was in the beginning with the Father became flesh, that by taking it upon Himself He might renew His image; therefore He chose the Virgin Mother as the beginning of His flesh, to undo the curse of the first mother and through her make true blessing shine forth upon them that sing: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and exalt Him unto the ages.
Irmos: Beyond nature and above all word was this granted thee, O immaculate Mother and glorious Virgin: God the Lord, Deliverer and Saviour, shone forth for us from thy womb, made man and not changed; therefore all generations worthily call thee blessed in song, as thou didst say, and magnify thee.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
Taking the Cross upon your shoulders, O thirteen Syrian fathers, and going forth outside the camp of the world, crucified upon the summit of good works, ye offered yourselves to the Father of lights as a wholly purified sacrifice; thereby ye were shown to be partakers of the sufferings of Christ, O all-wondrous ones, and became partakers also of His Kingdom.
O holy thirteen Syrian fathers, pray to God for us.
Lovers of heavenly wisdom, ever beholding the power beyond all and Him who is most truly Being, and contemplating in Him the natures of all that is, they understood the properties of each substance as set forth by those who define them, and hastened toward the most longed-for Being — the twelve tried teachers, disciples of John, the chief of the wise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The rational bees wisely and eagerly gathered from all the unfading flowers in the meadow of the virtues, that they might be nourished with the immortal sweetness of Him who revealed to us sweetness and salvation: the divine, all-hymned fathers, equal in number to the apostles.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O all-glorious one, favoured beyond understanding, incorrupt Mother and Virgin who didst give birth, who didst bear One of the Holy Trinity, the Word of God, in two natures, to raise up the fallen image: raise up my fall also and draw me toward dispassion, that I may ever magnify thee, O all-hymned one.
It is truly meet that we should magnify thee, O Theotokos, who art ever-blessed and all-immaculate and the Mother of our God. Thee, more honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the only Theotokos, we magnify in song.
The priest censes.
Like the many-eyed Cherubim ye behold the glory of God, O blessed fathers John of Zedazeni, Abibos of Nekresi, Anthony of Martqopi, David of Gareja, Zenon of Iqalto, Thaddeus of Stepantsminda, Iese of Tsilkani, Joseph of Alaverdi, Isidore of Samtavisi, Michael of Ulumbo, Pyrrhus of Breti, Stephen of Khirsa and Shio of Mgvime, who have inherited the place prepared from the beginning for the venerable like you; ask for us also a dwelling with the righteous.
With the voice of hymnody and the longing of our soul we entreat you, O fathers blessed by God: ask of the heavenly Father for us, that He may stretch out to us the hand of mercy and deliver us from the hands of the guardians of the air.
As is meet, entreat Christ God that He may shelter us with His life-giving Cross and, having delivered us from hell, count us worthy of His Kingdom through your prayers, O fathers blessed by God.
With longing entreat the Holy Spirit by your prayer, O honourable fathers John of Zedazeni, Abibos of Nekresi, Anthony of Martqopi, David of Gareja, Zenon of Iqalto, Thaddeus of Stepantsminda, Iese of Tsilkani, Joseph of Alaverdi, Isidore of Samtavisi, Michael of Ulumbo, Pyrrhus of Breti, Stephen of Khirsa and Shio of Mgvime, that God the Ruler may guide us into the land of uprightness, and that we may be counted worthy to inherit the eternal Kingdom.
O all-holy Virgin Mary, with all the angels and the God-bearing fathers entreat Christ God, that we may attain those heavenly beauties and, crowned, sing for ever.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice, with three small bows)
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 Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, deliver us and release us from our sins; O Master, pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for, at a loss for any defence, we sinners offer to Thee, our good Master, this supplication: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have put our trust in Thee; be not exceeding wroth with us, nor remember our iniquities; but look upon us now, as Thou art compassionate, and deliver us from Thy just wrath; for Thou art our God, and we are Thy people; we are all the work of Thy hands, and Thy name is called upon us; and have mercy on us.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Open unto us the doors of compassion, O blessed Theotokos, that hoping in thee we may not perish, but through thee be delivered from our adversaries, for thou art the salvation of the Christian race.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
Priest: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, long life, salvation, enlightenment, forgiveness, prosperity and quiet for the servant (handmaid) of God.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
Priest: Again we pray that the Lord our God may preserve this royal city and all cities and villages from famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, the invasion of foreigners, civil war and deadly plague; that God, in His goodness and love for mankind, may be merciful to us so that we may stand well, and may turn away from us the wrath that daily cometh upon us, and deliver us from His righteous judgement that is laid upon us, and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (40 times)
Priest: Hear us, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of them that are far off upon the sea; and be gracious, be merciful unto our sins, and have mercy on us; for Thou art a merciful God who lovest mankind, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
O all-venerable God-bearing fathers John of Zedazeni, Abibos of Nekresi, Anthony of Martqopi, David of Gareja, Zenon of Iqalto, Thaddeus of Stepantsminda, Iese of Tsilkani, Joseph of Alaverdi, Isidore of Samtavisi, Michael of Ulumbo, Pyrrhus of Breti, Stephen of Khirsa and Shio of Mgvime: singers like the angels, honoured like the Baptist, crowns among the venerable, guides of monks, the honour of fathers, protectors of Christians, help of them that hope in you, and the hope and refuge of all who entreat your holiness!
O all-blessed, God-inspired fathers, all-radiant stars! Shed upon us, like rays, the grace of your holy prayer and enlighten our pious people; illumine the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, our father Ilia, and the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops and all the priestly and monastic orders; strengthen the servants of God and all Orthodox Christians. Entreat, O fathers, the God whom ye love to have mercy on us all in His great mercy.
O all-honoured holy fathers John of Zedazeni, Abibos of Nekresi, Anthony of Martqopi, David of Gareja, Zenon of Iqalto, Thaddeus of Stepantsminda, Iese of Tsilkani, Joseph of Alaverdi, Isidore of Samtavisi, Michael of Ulumbo, Pyrrhus of Breti, Stephen of Khirsa and Shio of Mgvime: with the sunlike radiance of your holy prayer shelter them that venerate your God-befitting holiness, and deliver us from famine and pestilence, from barrenness of the earth, from hail and from every harmful air, and from every sorrow; and entreat the All-holy Trinity to grant us peace and righteousness, a way of life well-pleasing to God, radiance in Orthodoxy, enlightenment through good works, a dwelling in the Kingdom of heaven, reigning with the righteous, crowning with the venerable, and eternal glory and joy; for to the Father belongeth glory, to the Son thanksgiving and to the Holy Spirit worship, from all ages, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Priest: Wisdom! Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Choir: More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the true Theotokos, we magnify thee.
Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee.
Choir: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) In the name of the Lord, (the priest’s title), bless.
Priest: May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-incorrupt Mother, of the holy, glorious and all-praised apostles, (of the saint to whom the church is dedicated,) of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna (and of the saint of the day), and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loveth mankind.
Choir: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
And a layman: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thine all-holy Mother, of our venerable and God-bearing fathers and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Author: Archpriest Mikheil Galdava.
