Paraklesis to the Holy Great-martyr Barbara
Priest: Blessed is our God…
And if a layman, he says: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. 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)
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, now and ever and unto 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…
Lord, have mercy. (Twelve 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 God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
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. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
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.
Let us honour the holy martyr Barbara, for she crushed the snares of the enemy and, like a bird, escaped from them by the help and weapon of the Cross, the all-praised one. Glory…
Thy lamb, O Jesus, Barbara, cries out with a loud voice: I love Thee, O my Bridegroom, and seeking Thee I shed my blood; I am crucified with Thee and buried with Thee in Thy baptism, and I suffer for Thy sake that I may reign with Thee, and I die for Thy name that I may also be glorified with Thee. Through her intercessions, O Saviour, save our souls. Both now…
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 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: Having passed through the water as on dry land and escaped the evils of Egypt, the Israelite cried aloud: Let us sing to our Redeemer and our God.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
The glorious memory of the all-immaculate and radiant bride Barbara hath gathered us together; come, O ye faithful, let us eagerly sing, for He hath been glorified.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
Thou didst shine with the light of thy countenance, but still more didst thou gladden Christ with the goodness of thy soul, O passion-bearer Barbara; for He hath been glorified unto the ages.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
Thou didst estrange thy senses from things corruptible and utterly renounce the delights of the world, O blessed Barbara, virgin-martyr, and didst love Christ, who hath been glorified.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
All thy course, O venerable one, thou didst direct toward God, O all-praised Barbara; thou didst despise corruptible marriage and wast betrothed to Christ as a pure virgin.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The ever-existing Sun opened the impassable and sealed gate of thy womb, O immaculate one, and Christ God, who hath been gloriously glorified, shone forth radiantly upon the world.
Irmos: Thou art the strength of them that entreat Thee, O Christ; Thou art the light of them that are in darkness, and my soul magnifieth Thee.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
While thou didst dwell in thy father’s tower, O glorious Barbara, the spiritual fire was kindled within thee, and thy heart was set aflame by God; and it enlightened thy mind brighter than the light of the sun.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
The beauty of thy virtues veiled the beauty of thy face, and the brightness of thy soul surpassed the comeliness of thy body, O courageous one; wherefore thou didst finish thy course by martyrdom.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
Thou wast called by the Lord and didst keep thyself a pure virgin for the immortal Bridegroom of souls, Christ God; therefore He loved thy God-radiant purity and made thee to dwell with those wise virgins.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Neither luxury, nor ease, nor the delights of the world enticed thee, O blessed Barbara; but thou becamest a bride of the Son of God, and the all-praised Mother of God receiveth thee into His bridal chamber.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Creator of all times, who is before the times, was born of thee, O Virgin, at the end of times, as a babe in the flesh.
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 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. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray for our God-protected people and its sovereignty (for its Christ-loving authorities and armed forces).
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
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 (the local bishop is commemorated), and for all our brethren in Christ.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again let us pray to the Lord our God that He may have mercy on the servant or handmaid…. 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. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray for all Orthodox Christians.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
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.
By thy contest thou didst astonish all, for thou didst endure the wounds of the tyrants, torments, bonds and prisons, O all-praised Barbara; wherefore He granted thee the heavenly crown, for which thou didst run and strive eagerly in spirit; and He Himself bestowed on thee the grace of healings, O martyr, that thou mightest heal the infirmities of men.
Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thine ineffable dispensation; I have considered Thy works and confessed Thy Godhead.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
Thou didst perceive the vanity of this passing world and hate it utterly, O valiant one, and thou becamest a runner upon the true path of the right hand, which led thee before thy God.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
Thou didst sever thyself from the clay of worldly mire, O venerable one, incorrupt virgin, and didst gaze upon the immaterial Light and wast filled with the grace of theology.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
With wisdom and understanding thou didst depict the mystery of the Holy Trinity, O valiant and venerable Barbara, by opening three windows; grant us also understanding to discern good and evil.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
In the bath thou didst trace with thy finger the sign of Christ God crucified, which looses death-dealing sicknesses, O glory of the martyrs; with them entreat God for our deliverance from every affliction.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou, the only Virgin, didst bear for us, beyond the laws of nature, the Creator of creatures; therefore we confess thee Theotokos.
Irmos: Why hast Thou cast me away from Thy face, O never-setting Light, and why hath the unlit darkness covered me? But look upon me and direct my paths in the light of Thy commandments, I pray.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
Thou couldst not bear the lawlessness of thy father, O immaculate one, but, blazing with divine zeal, thou didst boldly expose his folly, cast down the idols standing on high and scatter them like dust.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
When thy merciless father saw thy godliness, O beautiful virgin, he raged to slay thee with the sword; but his insolence came to nothing, for Christ, the Rock of strength, sheltered thee.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
Thou wast driven away by thy father, O holy one, and the rock received thee, as it once received Thecla the protomartyr, through Christ our wonderworking God; entreat Him to shelter us also from all oppression.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Barbara left wealth and fatherland and followed Thee, the Setter of the contest, O Master Christ God, as a lamb follows its shepherd, and she cried: Thou art the fulfiller of my struggles.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The divine Light of life shone forth seedlessly from the Virgin at the end of times; He dispelled the grievous sorrow of sin, and the Most High enlightened our soul and mind by His incarnation.
Irmos: Forgive, O Good One, my countless sins, for which I call upon Thee: deliver me from evils. To Thee I cry: hear me, O God my Saviour.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
When thy lawless father sought thee, O blessed one, a crafty shepherd betrayed thee and told the merciless man where thou didst dwell; and he, forgetting the natural law of love for his child, set thee before the idolatrous governor.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
Standing before the tyrants, thou didst say: I am betrothed to the King of heaven; though ye make an end of me with torments, I will not deny the power of the Trinity. Now, as thou hast boldness, intercede for us before Him, that He may deliver us from the snare of the enemy.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
Thou didst not tremble before the tyrants, O holy one, nor fear the fire, and thou didst humble the demons by the power and sign of the precious Cross in the city of Heliopolis.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst expose the ungodliness of the deceivers with the word of wisdom given thee by God, O valiant one, and by the endurance of thy struggles thou didst astonish many minds; now grant us also strength, courage, wisdom and holiness, that we may scatter our countless enemies.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Human nature, enslaved to the guilt of sin, was set free once more through thee, O Lady, when thy Son was slain for it in the flesh upon the Cross as a sacrifice to the Father.
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 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.
Thou didst worship the Holy Trinity with faith and follow Him according to His command, O honourable martyr; thou didst overthrow the altars of the idols and struggle in their midst, O holy Barbara; thou didst despise the folly and the threats of the tyrants and cry aloud: In the Holy Trinity I put my hope, and I glorify the one Godhead.
Thou didst receive the grace of healings and grantest healing to the suffering, and deliverest all men from that all-destroying disease, the plague; therefore, having come to thy church, we praise thy memory and cry: Deliver thy servants from every sickness and pain, O virgin-martyr Barbara, by thine intercession with the Lord. Glory…
Since we have the church of the champion, let us gather in it quickly, O lovers of the martyrs, that we may receive the grace of healings and be set free from every destroying disease, plague and affliction; and, being healed, let us stand and behold the virgin’s birth, fatherland and upbringing: how out of a father’s lawlessness a holy child shone forth, the all-beautiful bride of God, who kept her virginity undefiled and offered it as a dowry to the Bridegroom. And let us cry: Deliver thy servants from the plague, O virgin-martyr Barbara, by thine intercession with the Lord. Both now…
Gathered together, let us worthily honour Barbara, perfected by martyrdom for Christ, that by her intercession we may be delivered from soul-destroying perdition, from pestilence, earthquake and ruin, and may pass our life in the world in peace and be counted worthy, until our death, to partake of the all-holy and life-giving Mysteries of Christ; that, strengthened by divine grace, we may attain the Kingdom of heaven and be in the light with all the saints who have pleased God from the ages, and sing with them. Make wondrous, O Saviour, Thy mercy among all who confess with faith, we who hope in the Holy Trinity and glorify the one Godhead.
Priest: Let us attend. Wisdom.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4: God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
Verse: Bless ye God in the congregations, the Lord from the fountains of Israel.
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.
Verse: Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Priest: And that He may make us worthy to hear the holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord our God.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
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 Matthew.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Priest: Let us attend.
At that time Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me. But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
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 all-praised great-martyr Barbara, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.
Both now and ever, and unto the 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.
Sticheron: Thou didst shine forth with the divine light of the virtues and wast adorned in godly beauty with the crown of the martyrs, O honourable Barbara, and wast arrayed incorruptibly in goodness; therefore thou wast counted worthy of the heavenly tabernacles through thy good struggle and courageous martyrdom, by which thou didst slay the crafty enemy, O God-wise one. Entreat Christ God to grant forgiveness of sins to us who with longing celebrate thy memory.
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, by the power of the Cross of the vine; through the protection of the honourable bodiless Powers of heaven; of the honourable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy prophet Elijah the Tishbite and righteous Enoch; of the holy, glorious and all-praised foremost apostles Peter and Paul; of the holy apostle Thomas and the apostles who enlightened Georgia, Andrew the First-called, Simon the Canaanite and Matthias; of our holy mother, the virgin Nino, equal to the apostles; of the holy King Mirian and Queen Nana, equal to the apostles; of our fathers among the saints, the great ecumenical teachers and hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom; of our holy wonderworking fathers Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, and Spyridon of Trimythous; of our holy and venerable father John of Zedazeni and his twelve disciples, the second enlighteners of the Church of Georgia and her ever-protectors; of the holy, glorious and victorious martyrs: the holy great-martyr George the Trophy-bearer and the holy great virgin-martyr Marina; the holy priest-martyr Neophytus of Urbnisi and the holy great-martyr Abo of Tbilisi; the holy glorious martyrs David and Constantine, princes of Argveti; the holy six thousand martyred monks of Gareja; the holy hundred thousand martyrs slain in Tbilisi by the Khwarezmians, and the holy great-martyr Shalva of Akhaltsikhe; the holy great-martyr Bidzina and the holy glorious martyrs Shalva and Elizbar, eristavis of Ksani; of the God-wise and blessed fathers Hilarion the Georgian, Serapion of Zarzma and Gregory of Khandzta, and of our venerable Athonite fathers John, Gabriel, John who was once Tornike, Euthymius and George; of our holy, pious and great kings Vakhtang Gorgasali, Ashot the Kuropalates, David the Builder and Solomon; of the holy and pious King Tamar; of the holy victorious kings and queens Archil, Demetrius, Shushanik, Ketevan and Luarsab; of holy Ilia the Righteous; of holy Euthymius the Confessor and the holy confessors John and George-John; of the holy and righteous parents of the Theotokos, Joachim and Anna, and of the holy great virgin-martyr Barbara, 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: Once in Babylon the fire was put to shame by divine zeal, for in it the three youths walked as in paradise and, bedewed, cried out thus: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
Thou didst show a pure mind, stronger than iron, O passion-bearer, through thy love for Christ; thou didst not feel the torments at all, but sang sweetly: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
Christ the Saviour beheld thy mighty struggles from on high, O all-glorious Barbara; He gave thee courage and proclaimed thy valour to the whole world, and thou didst cry: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
Christ appeared to thee in the prison with unapproachable light and healed thee of thy wounds, O passion-bearer, and gave thee joy; the Bridegroom made thee a lover of His beauty.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Juliana perceived the fervent love and sweetness of thy mind and followed thee with longing, O blessed Barbara; she shared in thy struggles and cried: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The mystery of the incarnation from thee was prefigured by the ladder of Jacob, through which God was united to men, O all-immaculate one, and the ever-blessed God of our fathers made human nature divine,
Irmos: The Chaldean tyrant in wrath and fury heated the furnace sevenfold for the youths; but seeing them kept unharmed from the fire by the power of the Most High, he cried aloud to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye youths, bless; ye priests, sing; ye people, supremely exalt Him unto the ages.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
As they were beaten in the stadium, the holy virgins strengthened one another and spoke thus: Let us not fear in the least; for though the flesh is weak, the spirit is willing, and the end is near, and the Bridegroom of souls, immortal and everlasting.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
When the tyrant saw your courage, he was not abashed by your fair youth, but cast Juliana into a dark prison and stripped thee naked; but Christ wondrously covered thee with divine glory.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
The struggles of those courageous virgins astonish the powers of heaven and arm the race of women with courage, that they may follow Christ and eagerly sing to God and the Lord and exalt Him unto the ages.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Of old the honourable myrrh-bearing women brought myrrh to the tomb of the Lord and beheld His resurrection; but thou didst offer thyself instead of myrrh to the King as a precious gift, and didst cry: Ye youths, bless; ye priests, sing; ye people, supremely exalt Him unto the ages.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We confess thee truly Theotokos and venerate thee, O immaculate and all-holy Mother of God, for thou, O worthy one, didst bear One of the All-holy Trinity, whom with the Father and the Spirit we hymn: Ye youths, bless; ye priests, sing; ye people, supremely exalt Him unto the ages.
Irmos: Heaven was amazed at this, and the ends of the earth marvelled, that God appeared bodily to men, and thy womb became more spacious than the heavens; therefore, O Theotokos, the ranks of angels and of men magnify thee, as is meet.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
When thou wast stripped naked for Christ’s sake, the angel clothed in light clothed thee, O holy one, and thou didst walk as a bride adorned with jewels, O blessed Barbara, and wast renewed by the right hand of the Most High.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
The lawless governor feared lest the whole city should become confessors of Christ, and he ordered the soldiers to slay Juliana with the sword; and when he handed thee over to torture, thou didst endure countless wounds for Christ as though thou wert bodiless.
O holy great-martyr Barbara, pray to God for us.
When thou wast counted worthy to be perfected by the sword at thy father’s hand, O all-honoured Barbara, thou didst hear the divine voice accepting thy petitions: that Christ had granted thee as a reward the grace of healings for them that entreat thee, and that those who ask for help through thee receive more than they ask.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Ye who withstood the weakness of womanly nature with manly struggle and received the heavenly crown from Christ, now entreat the Virgin Mary and her Son, that He may forgive us also our transgressions.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou who wast pleased to have her as Thy Mother, O most merciful King, accept with sweetness her intercession for us and fill Thy creatures with Thy mercy, that we may magnify Thee, the beneficent God, and venerate her who bore Thee.
It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and all-spotless, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
The priest censes.
Thy memory looses and drives away the cruel disease of plague and smallpox, O virgin-martyr Barbara, as thou didst ask in prayer of Christ God; therefore we pray thee, O blessed one, heal my soul, which is bitterly sick and grievously palsied.
The city of Kiev is filled with joy and glories, O Barbara, beautiful in virginity, for it possesses a great treasure, the holy shrine of thy relics; and all who flee to it with faith to kiss it obtain the good fulfilment of their petitions.
Every believer and all the Orthodox people honour thine incorrupt relics, O beautiful bride of Christ; for though dead, thou shinest as one living upon the whole earth more brightly than the orb of the sun, and from thy shrine thou preachest Christ God.
By thy martyr’s boldness deliver us, O holy Barbara, from all sicknesses of soul and body, from enemies visible and invisible and from everlasting torment; and until my end make me worthy to partake of the all-holy and life-giving Mysteries of Christ.
Oh, how glorious is thy memory, O all-praised martyr! For through thy painted icons and when thou art remembered in prayers thou workest wonders; thou art a fellow-carer and protector of them that flee to thee, and thou settest them free from all sicknesses and bitter pains.
O eye of virgins, martyr Barbara, entreat for us also the heavenly Virgin, that, as she is merciful, she may fulfil what she has spoken and not withdraw her intercession from the people of her portion; for we have sinned, yet daily we commit our hopes to her and with the thrice-holy hymn we sing to God:
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (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.
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…
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for, at a loss for any defence, this supplication do we sinners offer unto Thee as Master: 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. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, long life, salvation, enlightenment, forgiveness, prosperity and quiet for the servants (or handmaids) of God and for all the children of our Church, that the Lord our God may preserve this our royal city and this holy church and all the cities and villages of Iberia 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 holy, glorious and nobly victorious great-martyr Barbara, radiant lamp of the Church of Christ, bountiful giver of miracles, merciful and without anger, defender of the poor and swift helper of the sick!
O holy, glorious and all-praised virgin-martyr Barbara, fair Bride of Christ, who as one betrothed to the heavenly Bridegroom dwellest in His bridal chambers with the five wise virgins and with Juliana, ask now of Christ God to guard our fatherland from the snares of the enemy and from hatred among brethren, and to look with mercy upon the portion of His Mother, our Orthodox and right-confessing people. Heal our many wounds by thy prayer acceptable to God, and grant us divine zeal for our fatherland and the fear of God, that all who dwell in Georgia may be established in Orthodoxy and one mind, and with one mouth and one heart sing to Christ the true God. Strengthen in their ministry the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazeti, the great lord, our father Ilia, the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, the honourable priests, the deacons in Christ and all the monastic orders, the members of the Orthodox Church and all right-believing Christians. Glorify those who bear thy name and entreat thee. Entreat, O all-radiant martyr, the sweet Jesus whom thou lovest, to forgive us our apostasies, the destruction and defilement of churches, the murders of the servants of God, treachery, envy and lawlessness, the killing of our infants in the womb and the rest of the multitude of our sins.
O all-wise and all-beautiful Barbara, martyr and Bride of Christ God! Intercede before Him that He may grant glory to the churches, honour to the clergy, good shepherding of the people to rulers, courage to soldiers, sinlessness to the laity and chastity to women; and to us a life of good conduct, adornment with works of mercy, enlightenment through holy prayer, cleansing through confession, radiance through communion, an honourable departure, the inheritance of the kingdom, singing with the angels, reigning with the saints, and with thee glory and thanksgiving; for to Him befitteth all glory, honour and worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Priest: Wisdom!
O 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 only Theotokos, we magnify in song.
Priest: Glory to Thee, O our God, 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) Bless.
The priest gives the dismissal.
Choir: Amen.
A layman: 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. (Thrice)
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thine all-holy Mother, of the holy great-martyr Barbara and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
While her icon is kissed we sing thus:
O helper in every good and guide of all who entreat thee, we flee to thee with all our hope. Since thou didst shed thy blood for love of Christ, entreat Him with a martyr’s boldness, O blessed and beautiful Barbara, that we may be kept unharmed from all temptations of soul and body, be counted worthy of the Kingdom of heaven, and glorify the All-holy Trinity with thee unto the ages.
Author and compiler: Tinatin Mchedlishvili
