Supplicatory Paraklesis to the Holy Great-martyrs of Georgia, David and Constantine, Princes of Argveti
Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Reader: 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… Both now…
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, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Singers: Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)
Glory… Both now…
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… Both now…
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.
Deacon: God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Singers: God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Deacon: Verse 1: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever.
Singers: God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Deacon: Verse 2: All the nations compassed me about, and in the name of the Lord I withstood them.
Singers: God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Deacon: Verse 3: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
Singers: God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Deacon: 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.
Troparion, Tone 4.
Singers: Thy martyrs, O Lord, in their struggles received incorruptible crowns from Thee our God; for, having Thy strength, they cast down the tyrant and shattered the feeble might of the idols. Through their intercessions, O Christ God, save our souls.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Singers: Thy martyrs, O Lord, in their struggles received incorruptible crowns from Thee our God; for, having Thy strength, they cast down the tyrant and shattered the feeble might of the idols. Through their intercessions, O Christ God, save our souls.
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.
Ode 1, irmos: Let us sing to the Lord, who led His people through the Red Sea, to Him alone, for He hath been glorified. Ode 3. Prokeimenon, Tone 1. Ode 4. Ode 5. Ode 6. Kontakion, Tone 6. The Gospel of Luke. Ode 7. Ode 8. Ode 9. A prayer to be said kneeling.
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.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
To the utter narrowness of my mind and the weakness of my tongue, O Word, God beyond all mind, grant grace to praise Thy martyrs worthily.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
The firm adamants, the unshaken towers of the Word and unmoving pillars, David with Constantine, the Church hymns today with divine gladness.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Let us extol David with Constantine, the pillars of Zion established upon the chosen stone, the foundation of Zion, and dyed as with purple in their blood.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Known in two natures, one Christ after the union, O Bride, willing and acting in two, was born of thee in very essence for the salvation of the perishing.
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-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
The brightness of your contest, O martyrs, enlightened the ends of the earth, for ye finished the blessed course by which ye became sharers in the sufferings of Christ, O passion-bearers.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
Having glorified the Setter of the contest in your members, O saints, ye were glorified by Him with wondrous signs, as His own and His faithful.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The martyrs of Christ gladly laid down the souls of the valiant, soul for soul and life for life, and showed themselves wise in a most noble exchange.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Behold the Virgin whom Isaiah proclaimed, who conceived and bore a Son, Emmanuel, which is, God with us; Him let us worship with faith.
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. (The augmented litany.)
The two all-praised and invincible martyrs, blessed David and valiant Constantine, brought to nothing the error of many gods and the gloom of the idols; they struggled with joy and were well-pleasing to God. Let us keep their memory today with faith, that they may ask great mercy for us from Christ.
Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thine ineffable dispensation; I have considered Thy works and confessed Thy Godhead.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
The weight of the stones bound to the martyrs of Christ lightened the heaviness of matter, and the waters of the river, with the blood of the saints, cleansed them as in a washing and united them to the immaterial ones.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
The Master Builder, the Creator who gives life, by hanging stones upon you, precious stones, established you with ineffable art as a pillar of the Church.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Neither vain flattery nor the threat of fierce torments ever moved the firmness of thy mind, O invincible David, from the rock of the faith.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The sorrow of Eve’s curse never found thee subject to it, O Virgin, nor the mother’s law of corruption, O Mary; for thou wast shown to be above the laws of nature.
Irmos: Rising at dawn we sing to Thee, O Lord: save us, for Thou art good, for we know no other God.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
Thou didst set the nobility of the soul free from the passions, O David, and didst unite the ruling part of the mind with those lofty contemplations, O blessed one, gaining it in princely fashion.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
God found thy mind firmer than adamant, O Constantine, for the assault of the winds of ungodliness could not shake it; whereby thou becamest renowned, O valiant one.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou hast gained the fullness of divers gifts and of all good things, O dove of the heavenly Solomon, Mary, thou only blessed one.
Irmos: Grant me a radiant garment, O Thou who clothest Thyself with light as with a garment, O God, through the prayers of the saints.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
David resolved wisely in his heart to gain wisdom, and righteousness with holiness, and faith with gladness and longing in an earthen vessel; and to the good deed thou didst join contemplation, O wise one.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
As a fruitful cluster of the divine vine thou wast pressed in the winepress of martyrdom, O Constantine, and didst yield the wine of joy to the Church of Christ.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
In the arena of suffering the tried soldiers were shown to be perfect warriors, and as the reward of victory they received from the Setter of the contest incorruption with a crown.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
How far thou hast surpassed the Seraphim in holiness is beyond telling, O Bride; for Him upon whom they dare not look thou didst conceive in thy womb and bear beyond understanding.
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. (The small litany.)
Singers: O hope and refuge of Christians that faileth not, intercession with the Creator acceptable and well received, disdain not the voices of sinners’ prayers; but, since thou art good, make haste to help us who cry to thee with faith, O thou only blessed one. Hasten to entreat and be swift to intercede, stretching out thy hand with compassion, O Theotokos, who dost ever intercede for them that honour thee.
Deacon: Wisdom! Let us attend.
Priest: Peace be unto all.
Singers: And to thy spirit.
Deacon: The prokeimenon, a psalm of David:
To the saints that are in His land hath the Lord made wonderful all His will among them.
Verse: I foresaw the Lord always before me, for He is at my right hand, that I should not be moved.
(The choir repeats the prokeimenon as appointed)
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Singers: 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.
Singers: Amen.
Deacon: Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
Verse: Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.
(The choir repeats the prokeimenon as appointed)
Deacon: And that He will count us worthy to hear the holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Singers: Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
Deacon: Wisdom! Aright! Let us hear the holy Gospel.
Priest: Peace be unto all.
Singers: And to thy spirit.
Deacon: The reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Singers: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Deacon: Let us attend.
Priest: (reads the Gospel).
The Lord said to His disciples: Before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls.
Singers: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Reader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Through the intercessions of the holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, 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.
And upon this:
Like lightning and the brightness of sun and moon, your memory, O saints, enlightens the whole world; for ye became dwellings of the divine Light, David and Constantine, and ye drive away the darkness of the passions from all the faithful. (A prayer to be said by the priest)
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.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
“The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous,” he says, “for their reward and their care are with Him”; and seeing them to be lovers of courage, He stood beside them and made them invincible.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
I know how the bodies of Thy martyrs who went into the furnace for Thy name’s sake were kept unburnt, how again they passed unharmed among lions and how the waters shrank back before them; therefore we bless Thee, O Most High, the Setter of their contest.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thy blood, O Constantine, is more acceptable than the blood of spotless lambs, O blessed one; and thy wounds, O most blessed David, are sweeter than cinnamon and the incense of Sheba.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The timeless Son of the Father, O Virgin, thou didst make to dawn in time upon me, the people walking in darkness; through Him the darkness of the unseen night was driven from me, and we who had not obtained mercy were shown mercy.
Irmos: The King of heaven, whom the hosts of angels praise in song, praise ye and exalt Him unto all the ages.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
Like a bright morning star thou didst rise, O David, driving away the darkness of ungodliness; and like a divine springtime dispelling the winter of error, O Constantine, is the brightness of thy struggles.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
A God-beautiful pair, O Christ, went forth to suffering for Thy name, the blessed brothers; and as once the seven suffered for keeping Thy law, so now have the two.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
“Wounds and scourgings are counted by us as health, and death as life, for Thy sake, O Word of God,” cried the valiant soldiers in the contest, awaiting the crowns and rewards of victory.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
One Person of the triune Godhead became in truth one of us through thee, keeping unchanged what is His and what is mine; for Christ is one in two natures.
Irmos: We confess thee truly Theotokos, we who have been saved through thee, O pure Virgin, and with the choirs of the bodiless we magnify thee unceasingly.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
The feast of the all-praised martyrs has dawned like the sun, driving away the night; it calls the lovers of the feast to gather together and praise the deed set before us today.
O holy great-martyrs David and Constantine, pray to God for us.
O your good contest, ye martyrs! O your love of victory, ye valiant ones! For Christ is glorified in your holy labours unto the ages of ages.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By holy faith ye engaged the prince of darkness, O soldiers; and, having crushed the proud head, ye received glory with the crown of victory, O martyrs.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O joy of angels and of men, O Virgin, who in thyself hast united things heavenly and earthly in simple union, O full of grace: rejoice, all-blessed Theotokos.
Singers: It is truly meet that we should magnify thee, O Theotokos, who art ever-blessed and all-immaculate 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 only Theotokos, we magnify in song.
Reader: As invincible soldiers of the great King ye cast down the pride of the deceiver and were clothed in victory; therefore we extol you as valiant men in arms, and with faith we keep this wondrous memory of yours, O David and Constantine. Intercede for us in it, O ye who struggled much, that we may be delivered from every affliction and find great mercy from Christ.
Ye shone forth as all-radiant stars, O all-praised ones; ye truly enlighten the whole world with the light of godliness, drive away the darkness of ungodliness from the faithful and scatter the flame of the passions by grace. Therefore at your radiant and honoured memory we glorify and worship Christ who glorified you, and with one voice we cry to you: Entreat Christ God to grant forgiveness of sins to us who with longing keep your memory.
By the threats and flattery of the tyrants ye were not shaken, O invincible martyrs, for your thought was valiant and firm; but standing in the stadium ye sang of the Word’s condescension to men, for whose sake ye endured pains and bore afflictions and passed with joy to the life that knows no sorrow. Therefore we honour you, O passion-bearers, all-praised David and Constantine: entreat Christ God to grant forgiveness of sins to us who with faith keep your memory.
Your all-radiant relics, O martyrs, are a fountain of gifts of healing, and the shrine of your holy bones is a river of wondrous gifts. I call blessed the brotherhood united by the Holy Spirit, I hymn your fellowship in struggle through Christ, I praise your all-renowned courage and extol your glorious warfare: O David, great luminary of the world, and Constantine, pattern of that divine and longed-for warfare, forget not those who sing to you with longing.
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… Both now…
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, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Singers: Amen.
Reader: 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.
(The small (augmented) litany)
Deacon: Bending our knees, let us pray to the Lord.
Singers: Lord, have mercy.
O all-glorious, God-crowned martyrs David and Constantine, united with the angels, honoured with the apostles, perfection of the martyrs, glory of the fathers, beauty of virgins, swift helpers of them that entreat you, fulfillers of petitions and bestowers of mercies;
O all-radiant martyrs of Christ, David and Constantine! With the brilliance of your holiness illumine our God-protected people; by your all-luminous prayer enlighten the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, our great lord and father Ilia, and the most reverend archbishops and bishops and all the priestly and monastic orders; by your mighty power strengthen the lovers of Christ and the military order, and glorify all Orthodox Christians, those who bear your names and those who entreat you. Entreat, O holy martyrs of Christ, the all-sweet Jesus whom ye love, to grant us His grace and countless mercy;
O all-praised and honoured holy martyrs David and Constantine! By your God-glorified wonders and signs set free the captives, heal the infirm, deliver those in temptations, save those who sail the sea, convert sinners and commend them to Christ God who receiveth all, and glorify and exalt in soul and body all who glorify your holy names; that we may all be counted worthy of the glory of the Kingdom and the most wondrous radiance of God, that with the angels we may sing, with the saints we may glorify, and with you, the crowned ones, we may bless the Father who crowned you, the Son who strengthened you and the Holy Spirit who spoke in you, to whom belongeth all glory, honour and worship, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Singers: Amen.
Deacon: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Singers: 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 our God, glory to Thee.
Singers: 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)
In the name of the Lord, bless.
Priest: May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-holy Mother, of our venerable and God-bearing fathers and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loveth mankind.
Singers: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (3 times)
