Supplicatory Paraklesis to the Holy Priest-martyr Dositheus, Metropolitan of Kutaisi
Priest: Blessed is our God…
And if a layman, he says: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thine all-holy Mother and of all the saints, 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, 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…
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 nations compassed me about, and in the name of the Lord I drove them back. 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.
In the struggles of piety thou didst shine forth like a lamp, and, adorned with virtues, didst dye thy holy vestment purple with crimson blood, O blessed priest-martyr Dositheus: entreat Christ God to have mercy on our souls.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Sharing in the ways of the apostles and occupying their thrones, thou didst find in deeds, O blessed one, the ascent to divine vision; wherefore thou didst rightly divide the word of truth, and for the faith didst struggle even unto blood, O holy hierarch Dositheus: entreat Christ God to have mercy on 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? Or who would have kept us free until now? We will not depart from thee, O blessed Lady, for thou savest our souls from all temptations.
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: Of old the people of Israel walked through the waves of the Red Sea, and Moses, stretching out his hands in the form of the Cross, cast down the might of Amalek in the wilderness.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
Thy radiant memory is worthily glorified in the Church, O God-bearing Dositheus, and it biddeth all the faithful to adorn with praises thy struggle and thy wondrous self-sacrifice.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
Preaching the all-spotless faith of Orthodoxy, O all-praised father, thou didst teach thy flock to keep the commandments of God and to glorify Him.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
To the divine shepherd, the hierarch Dositheus, as the boast of the Georgians, we offer a hymn of praise, and we ask his help in the time of afflictions and temptations.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In giving birth thou didst keep thy virginity and didst wondrously send to us in the flesh the very Creator and Lord of all, O all-holy, ever-virgin Mother.
Irmos: The Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, and thus she crieth: Thou art my hope; strengthen me, O Creator.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
Thou didst spring up as a goodly shoot from the noble princes of Imereti, and yet more did thy parents bring thee up in the teaching of piety, O blessed one; and thou didst please God.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
Brought up from thy youth in true teaching, O holy one, thou didst greatly hope in God, and, laying down thy life for thy people, thou didst ascend for ever into His glory.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Being learned in the holy Scripture and the divine law, thou didst eagerly fulfil all the commandments of God: now ask of Him repentance and remission of sins for us also.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We entreat thee, O Mother of God, we who fall down before thine intercession and protection: ever deliver us from the temptation of the evil one and teach us the way of piety.
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 and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazeti, 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... (here those for whom prayer is made are commemorated by name).
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: 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 the brethren and for all 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.
Worthily ordained by Christ as shepherd of rational sheep, thou didst preach the all-spotless faith of Orthodoxy, and, teaching all to keep the commandments of God, didst lay down thy life for thy flock, O father; and having received from God on high the crown of victory, be now an intercessor for us also before Him, O all-blessed Dositheus, that He may grant deliverance and peace to all who celebrate thy memory.
Irmos: When the Church beheld Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, lifted up upon the Cross, she stood worthily in her order and cried aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
Thy heart longed, O holy one, to enter the arena of the monastic struggle; and, strengthened by the truth and armed with the power of the Cross, thou didst set out on the narrow and afflicted way.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
Striving zealously to please God, thou wast appointed deacon and numbered among His true servants: entreat Him now for our deliverance from every sin and iniquity.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Clothing thyself with the priesthood as with a garment of grace, thou didst offer to God the bloodless Sacrifice, O God-bearing one, and didst grant hope and healing to all.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Virgin Mary, Mother of the unsetting Sun, through the prayers of the blessed Dositheus keep us, who are given over to bitter distress, from enemies visible and invisible.
Irmos: Thou, O Lord, art the Light that cometh into the world, who enlightenest the hearts of Thy faithful that worship Thee.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
God, seeing the simplicity of thy soul, set thee as a hierarch upon royal thrones, and thou didst shepherd well the rational flocks.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
Being appointed to Kutaisi according to the order of the ordinances, thou didst first of all teach the priests and instruct thy flock in watchfulness.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
When Christ entrusted thee with a great struggle, thy fervent prayer and good works went before thy episcopate like an unwaning light.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The mind of men and of angels cannot tell of thine all-glorious and ineffable giving birth, O all-holy one.
Irmos: With song and the voice of rejoicing Thy Church praiseth Thee, O Christ, having been cleansed by that blood which flowed from Thy divine and holy side.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
Becoming a chief shepherd, O holy one, thou didst shepherd and teach as our Saviour taught His apostles, and didst rebuke the priests of falsehood.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
Bearing thy cross with wisdom, O all-praised father, thou didst ever feed widows and orphans and the poor, and wast shown a consolation to the mourning, the destitute and the infirm.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Being a good shepherd, thou didst implant in the hearts of thy flock love for their native land and didst perfect them in the virtues, O God-bearing one.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rend the bonds of my sins, O Bride of God, who by the law of life grantest freedom from the law of sin, thou who didst bear the King of the law.
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 ages of ages. Amen.
Choir: Amen.
Adorned with the beauty of a hierarch and the blood of martyrdom, thou didst stand before Christ and pass into His mansions; and behold, looking down from heaven on them that come to thy church and entreat deliverance and healing, thou swiftly grantest consolation and stirrest them to sing: Rejoice, O beauty of the Church, holy Dositheus of Kutaisi!
მამად და მოძღურად გყო რაი ქრისტემან მტერთაგან მიმძლავრებულისა ერისა შენისა, უძღოდი, ვითარცა მოსეი ისრაელთა, და სიმხნითა და სიბრძნის-მოყუარებითა, და მტერთა მათ უხილავთა და ხილულთა ახოვნად წყობითა და ხორცთა თვისთა უწყალოდ განკაფითა მრავალთა ექმენ სახეი მამულიშვილობისა და ღმრთისმოყუარებისა, ამისთვისცა პატივის-გცემთ და გიღაღადებთ: გიხაროდენ, ეკლესიისა შუენებაო, წმიდაო დოსითეოზ ქუთათელო!
Priest: Let us attend. Wisdom. Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The saints shall boast in glory and rejoice upon their beds
Verse: Sing unto the Lord a new song; His praise is in the church of the 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.
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 Luke.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Priest: Let us attend.
The Lord said to His disciples, There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you My friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: but he that denieth Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
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 priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, 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: Being a good fruit of the land of the Iberians, O holy hierarch Dositheus, thou didst serve thy people with a son's fervour; and it now reveres thee as its father and teacher, and, marvelling at thy struggle, singeth to God: ask of Him now for us the peaceful keeping of the world, the strengthening of Orthodoxy, the flourishing of our people and great mercy 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-holy 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 the holy, glorious and victorious martyrs: the holy great-martyr George the Trophy-bearer and the holy great virgin-martyrs Barbara and Marina; of the holy glorious martyrs David and Constantine, princes of Argveti, and the holy great-martyr Shalva of Akhaltsikhe; of the holy great-martyr Bidzina and the holy glorious martyrs Shalva and Elizbar, eristavis of Ksani; of the holy hundred thousand martyrs slain in Tbilisi by the Khwarezmians and the holy martyrs, the six thousand monks of Gareja; of our holy and blessed fathers Lucian, Dodo, Damian, Onuphrius and Simeon of Gareja; 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 priest-martyr Neophytus of Urbnisi and the holy great-martyr Abo of Tbilisi; of the God-wise and blessed fathers Hilarion the Georgian, Serapion of Zarzma and Gregory of Khandzta; of our venerable fathers John and Gabriel the Georgians, John who was once Tornike, and Euthymius and George of the Holy Mountain; of our holy, pious and great kings Vakhtang Gorgasali, Ashot the Kuropalates, David the Builder, Tamar and Solomon; of the holy victorious kings and queens Archil, Luarsab, Demetrius, Shushanik and Ketevan; of holy Ilia the Righteous; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; of our father among the saints, the priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, and of all Thy saints, we entreat Thee, O most merciful God: 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: The Abrahamic youths, bound by the magi for the divine laws, were cast into the furnace, and in the flame they cried: Blessed art Thou, O God, in the temple of Thy holiness.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
Serving the holy King Solomon faithfully, thou wast appointed by him, as a trustworthy chief shepherd, locum tenens of the catholicosal throne of Imereti and Odishi-Abkhazia, and didst commend thy flock to the Lord.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
Likening thyself to the patriarchs of old, O worthy one, thou didst renew and adorn churches and monasteries with crosses and icons, and wast shown a consolation to monks and clergy, bestowing every need.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Being a hierarch of great learning, thou didst set up a printing press and begin the printing of liturgical books in the Georgian tongue, O father, and didst renew the ancient charters and deeds.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The heavenly ranks and the assemblies of the bodiless sing to Him who was born of thee, O Theotokos, crying: Blessed art Thou, O God, in the temple of Thy holiness.
Irmos: Stretching out his hands, Daniel tamed the beasts in the den, and the three youths quenched the flame of the fire through God, and, made wise, they fearlessly cried: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
When God granted thee great wisdom, thou didst obey His will, O valiant one, and by thy piety didst strengthen the faith of the people: now help us also and fill us with divine watchfulness.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
ხედვიდი რაი რუსთაგან ეკლესიისა და ერისა შენისა დამცრობასა, და პატრიარქისა ექსორიობასა ქუეყანასა მათსა, ფრიად იურვოდი, ნეტარო, და ღმრთისა და მამულისა სიყუარულსა გულსა შინა შთაუსახავდი სამწყსოსა შენსა.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
არცაღა ჰრიდებდი რაი ეგზარხოსისა და განმგებელთა მხილებასა ანგარებასა და ბოროტსა მძლავრებასა შინა, მართლ-ქადაგებითა შენითა განიმრავლებდი მტერთა, და გბრძოდენ, წმიდაო, სიყუარულისათვის ერისა შენისა, და ურცხვად გწამებდენ ცილსა.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With the angels all rejoice at thy giving birth who with faith call thee Theotokos, O all-holy one, for thou didst bear for us the King and Saviour, to whom we sing: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.
Irmos: The cornerstone was cut without hands from thee, O unhewn mountain, O Virgin: Christ, who joined the natures together; wherefore we the faithful, rejoicing, worthily magnify thee.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
მოღუაწებამან შენმან, ეფთვიმისა თანა გაენათელისა, აღაორძინა ბრძოლაი იმერთაი ერთმორწმუნეთა დამპყრობელთა მიმართ, და განამტკიცა ზრახუაი მათი სამეფოისა მათისა აღდგენისაი.
Holy priest-martyr Dositheus of Kutaisi, pray to God for us
ფრიად გბრძოდენ თქუენ რუსნი, რამეთუ ქადაგებასა შინა ამხელდით მათ, ვითარცა მტერთა ეკლესიისა, ენისა, და მეფისასა, და უპატიოდ შეგიპყრეს, ვითარ ამბოხის მოთავენი, და ექსორია გყვეს რუსეთსა.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
When thy death was commanded, O blessed one, they mercilessly stabbed thee with the sword, an old man in years; and when they had buried thy remains at Ananuri, thou didst gain from the Lord a dwelling in the Kingdom.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Before thy Son, O Virgin, the blood of this holy martyr crieth out: hear his entreaty and entreat our Saviour to deliver us from slavery to the evil demons and from falling away from the law.
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.
The priest censes; the reader or a layman reads:
Wondrously filled with divine wisdom in that harsh struggle, thou didst lay down thy life for thy flock like a good shepherd; and now, enlightened by the grace of the priesthood and all-adorned with the blood of martyrdom, thou standest before God: entreat Him now to drive from us the sinful darkness of ignorance and deliver us from every evil.
Since thou didst adorn the holy Church of Christ with thy blood as with a royal ornament, she is radiantly adorned with her children and biddeth all the faithful to praise and hymn thy wondrous struggle, O most holy Dositheus: ask of Christ for us deliverance from the malice of countless enemies and from the deception of the devil.
ოდეს მზაკუვარებითა მოსრულნი ერთმორწმუნენი იღუწიდენ, რაითა ქრისტეისმოსახელეი ერი ჩუენი შთასთხინნეს უფსკრულსა უმეცრებისასა და გარდასახნეს ერად ბნელისა, წინააღუდეგ შენ, ძლიერად, წმიდაო, რაითა დაიცვა ერი შენი მძლავრებისაგან მათისა, და დაიკალ, ვითარცა კრავი, და შეიწირე მსხუერპლად წინაშე ღმრთისა, მას ევედრე აწ, რაითა მართლმადიდებელსა ერსა ჩუენსა მოანიჭოს ძლევაი ყოველთა მხდომთა და წინააღმდგომთა ზედა.
სიყუარულითა გაქებთ შენ, ჰოი, ღმერთშემოსილო დოსითეოზ, ეფთვიმე გაენათელისა თანა, ვითარცა ზეციერთა წინამბრძოლთა და სიქადულთა ერისა ჩუენისათა, და გევედრებით შეწევნასა წინაშე ღმრთისა, განგვიმრავლდენ ქართველთ ზნეობითა სრულ-ყოფილნი ერის-მძღუარნი და მამანი სულიერნი, რაითამცა ჯერისაებრ უწინამძღვრონ ერსა შენსა და ყოვლითურთ განწმენდილი და განათლებული მიუძღუნან უფალსა.
Thou wast zealous for the service of God and of the fatherland, O Dositheus, and for the enlightening of the people, the lot of the all-holy Theotokos: commend us now also to her goodness, that she may calm our hearts, shaken and defiled by the billows of the world, and keep us from every sin and temptation, that, kept unharmed, we may rejoice and praise 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, 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. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, length of days, salvation, enlightenment, forgiveness, prosperity and tranquillity for the servants (or handmaids) of God and all the children of our Church, that the Lord our God may keep 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 may be merciful to us for our good estate in His goodness and love for mankind, and turn away the wrath that daily cometh upon us, and deliver us from His just rebuke that lieth upon us, and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (12 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 priest-martyr and father, blessed Dositheus, chosen servant of the all-holy Trinity and fair ornament of the holy Church of the Iberians; manifest sun of Imereti and glory of the Georgian people; merciful to the poor, nourisher of orphans and defender of widows; thou who offerest rational souls to the Father, and our great intercessor before God!
ჰოი, ყოვლად დიდებულო დოსითეოზ მღდელთმოძღუარო! მარტვილებრივითა კადნიერებითა ნუ დასცხრები აწ ვედრებად ჩუენთვის ქრისტეის ღმრთისა მიმართ, რაითა მშვიდობითა დაიცვას ქუეყანაი ესე ჩუენი, საქართველო, წილხვდომილი დედისა თვისისაი, და დაიფაროს მტერისა საფრხისა და ძმათა შორის ბრძოლისაგან; დაამხუნეს მწვალებელთა სიბორგილენი და დაიმარხოს ეკლესიაი თვისი წმიდად და შეუძრველად, ხოლო ჩუენ მოგვმადლოს ზრახვათა სიწმიდეი, ყოვლად წარმწყმედელთა ვნებათაგან გათავისუფლებაი და დახსნაი მახეთაგან ბოროტისა. ყოვლადძლიერითა ლოცვითა შენითა დაიფარე და განაძლიერე უწმიდესი და უნეტარესი, სრულიად საქართველოს კათალიკოს-პატრიარქი, მცხეთა-თბილისის მთავარეპისკოპოსი, და ბიჭვინთისა და ცხუმ-აფხაზეთის მიტროპოლიტი დიდი მეუფეი, მამაი ჩუენი ილია, ყოვლადსამღდელონი მიტროპოლიტნი, მთავარეპისკოპოსნი და ეპისკოპოსნი, პატიოსანნი მღდელნი, ქრისტეს მიერ დიაკონნი და ყოველნი სამონაზვნო წესნი, ზიარნი მართლმადიდებელისა ეკლესიისანი და ყოველნი მართლმორწმუნენი ქრისტეანენი.
O great hierarch Dositheus, radiant in piety among the holy fathers, be now our guide in life and our intercessor before God, and ask that He grant peace to our land; honour to the clergy, good shepherding of the people to our rulers and governors, courage to soldiers, sinlessness to the laity and modesty to women, help and protection to the poor and orphans, and to us forgiveness of sins and a Christian end to our life, that in the heavenly Jerusalem we may with thee glorify Him to whom is due all glory and honour, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto 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 thee in song.
Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee.
Choir: Glory… Both now…
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Bless us.
Priest: May Christ our true God, through the intercessions…
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 priest-martyr Dositheus, Metropolitan of Kutaisi, and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Our Church hath been enlightened, adorned by thy struggle, O holy priest-martyr Dositheus; with love we kiss thy holy icons and entreat thee, as the sweet and loving father of our people, to heal us of the sicknesses of the body and of the sin of the soul, and to shelter us from the fierce afflictions, sicknesses and passions that beset us.
O Lady Mary, radiance of all the saints, through the prayers of our God-bearing father Dositheus the priest-martyr count us worthy of the eternal glory and radiance of thy Son and our God. Amen!
Compiled by Tinatin Mchedlishvili
