Paraklesis to our Venerable Father Gregory of Khandzta
Priest: Blessed is our God…
And if a layman, he says: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure 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, 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 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.
God showed thee forth as a worker of signs and wonders, O blessed one, and gave thee authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every sickness; wherefore we entreat thee: O ascetic, good governor of the monasteries of Klarjeti, who didst make the empty deserts a city, father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that trust in thee and deliver the Christians from every temptation.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst shine forth as a star of the heavenly firmament, and, armed with the grace of the Holy Spirit, didst make thy flock radiant with the knowledge of God, O venerable one; and when thou camest to the regions of Klarjeti, thou didst raise in the desert monasteries of great beauty for the glory of God and the salvation of many souls, O teacher and enlightener of the Iberian people, blessed Gregory of Khandzta: be an intercessor before Christ the King and ask mercy for us.
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 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: At Thy beck, O God, Thou didst raise the flowing natures as a wall and lead the people of Israel through their midst on dry land; and they sang the song of victory.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
From thy youth thou wast a dwelling of God, and when thou hadst reached the summit of perfection, thou didst put on the priestly vesture of righteousness and grace, and humility became thy guide upon the true way.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
Thou wast zealous at God's prompting, and with three fellow-strugglers didst leave thy parents and thy friends and pass by the corruptible things of this world.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst leave all earthly glory, and when thou camest to the desert of Klarjeti, thou didst add great courage to the lovers of the desert and enter upon a fierce struggle.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The curse of Eve, the first mother, was loosed when she who knew not wedlock bore Him who is above natures; and the people of the faithful rightly glorify her, as is meet.
Irmos: O God our Saviour, Creator of all, who by Thy word didst establish the high heavens with all their power, by Thy divine Spirit establish us in unity upon the rock of faith.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
According to his custom the devil was kindled to war against thee; but thou, enlightened by spiritual graces, like a pillar of fire didst divide the seas of temptations and win victories over the passions that corrupt the soul.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
The grace of God dwelt in thee and showed thee as a loud-voiced herald to our impoverished and humbled nation, for by thy teaching thou didst bring up into the light those sunk in the depth of ignorance.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Christ God, who strengthened thee, made known the valour of thy struggles and spread it to all the bounds of Kartli; and when the lovers of the desert heard that thou didst live like an angel, they hastened to see thy holiness, and, beholding thee as an angel of heaven, they were stirred up to the service of God.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
მჴსნელო ჩუენო, ვედრებითა მშობელისა შენისაჲთა მშჳდობაჲ სოფელსა მოჰმადლე, და ძლევაჲ მტერთა ჯუარითა მოეც ერსა ჩუენსა ღმრთისმოყუარესა მტერთა ზედა ურწმუნოთა, და შენდობასა ღირს-მყვენ მორწმუნენი.
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, O Lover of mankind, 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 the servant or handmaid (here name those for whom you are praying). 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.
Taking up the Cross, thou didst order thy life in the service of God and make the regions of Klarjeti a city by the multitude of monks, and didst build Khandzta and Shatberdi for the gathering of fathers and the glory of God: cease not to entreat Him, O Gregory, valiant among fathers, that He may be merciful to our nation and deliver the land from perdition.
Irmos: O Christ God, who didst not leave the bosom of the Father in heaven and didst come down to earth, I have heard the report of Thee, and with praise I glorify Thy power.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
When thou camest to that impassable and terrible region, by thy resolve and with divine help thou didst build Khandzta and Shatberdi for the gathering of God-loving souls.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
Thy God-speaking tongue, O venerable one, filled our land with teaching like a river, and watered the hearts of the ignorant and brought them to the knowledge of God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
ვითარცა მწყემსმან მღჳძარემან, მწვალებელთა სიბორგილენი განაქარვე და სამწყსოსა შენსა ასწავებდი გზასა უცთომელსა, ზეცად აღმყუანებელსა. აწცა დაგვიფარენ მწვალებელთა თანა ლოცვისაგან.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O true Mother of God, entreat thy Son the Creator to guide us to a calm haven and save us from drowning in our sins.
Irmos: The Spirit of salvation, O Lord, which the first prophets conceived in their hearts and brought forth upon the earth, made known to us Thy coming to earth for the life of the faithful; and now, being enlightened, we magnify Thee in song.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
When grace was poured forth upon thy lips, thou didst compose the hymns of the Church full of sweetness, didst enrich divine worship with the praises of the saints, and didst lay up spiritual books as a treasure for our churches.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
There was granted thee, O blessed Gregory, wisdom beyond word and a foreknowledge of many splendours, and by thy priestly mediation thou didst drive away the siege of evil darkness; therefore the Church of the Iberians rejoiceth and giveth thanks to God for thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Like the sun shone forth the powers of the miracles wrought by thee in the desert through divine grace, whereby thou wast magnified, O God-loving Gregory, not in the land of the Iberians only but in all the world.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Heaven and earth were enlightened through thee, O unwedded Mother of Jesus, for thou didst make the unquenchable Light to shine upon us, the God of all, who delivered them that were shut up in darkness and made us dwellers of the heavenly Kingdom.
Irmos: Drowned in the waves of the temptations of this world, sunk with the ship of sin and cast to the beast that destroys souls, I cry to Thee: As Jonah, deliver me from corruption and death, O Christ.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
Thou who didst establish a blessing in the house of Prince Gabriel and wast shown a fervent mediator before God, give us the rich blessings of thy fatherly compassion, that we may resist the snares of the devil and the guile of men.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
Like Samuel thou becamest a seer in spirit, and didst arm kings with thy teachings and embolden them by prayer, and didst struggle spiritually for them before God for deliverance from temptations: now deliver us from evil and save us from the billows of sin.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
ვითარცა შენ მიერ განმჴნობილი მეფჱ აშოტ მძლე ექმნა აგარისტომთა და „სამეფოჲ ქარ-თლისაჲ“ კუალად აღადგინა, ეგრეთცა სიმჴნჱ და მძლეველობაჲ ყოველთა მაჭირვებელთა ზედა გარდამოგვივლინე და დაჴსენ ზახებაჲ ურიცხვთა მტერთა ჩუენთა.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thy mystery, O Virgin, was foreshown of old by the ark of the law, which received the divine writings, by the golden jar, the dwelling of the manna, and by the rod.
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. Amen.
Choir: Amen.
Thou didst take upon thee the yoke of Christ, father Gregory, and on thy shoulders didst bear His Cross, carrying in thine all-holy flesh the marks of His divine sufferings; wherefore thou wast shown a partaker of His divine glory, receiving as a reward the recompense of worthiness.
Priest: Let us attend. Wisdom. Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Verse: Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His.
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, Blessed be ye poor in spirit: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Through the intercessions of our venerable father Gregory, 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 holy 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 transgressions, and have mercy on me, O God.
Sticheron: Truly thou wast shown to be a wondrous shepherd, and didst fence thy flock with the canon laid down by the apostles and hierarchs, and didst enrich it with divine teaching; wherefore thou hast found the reward of thy labours in heaven and wast counted worthy to dwell in the eternal Kingdom: ask of Christ God for us remission of sins, deliverance from temptations 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 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-martyrs Barbara and Marina; of the holy priest-martyr Neophytus of Urbnisi and the holy great-martyr Abo of Tbilisi; of the holy glorious martyrs David and Constantine, princes of Argveti; of the holy hundred thousand martyrs slain in Tbilisi by the Khwarezmians 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 martyrs, the six thousand monks of Gareja; of the God-wise and blessed fathers Hilarion the Georgian and Serapion of Zarzma; of our venerable Athonite fathers John, Gabriel, John-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 the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of our venerable and God-bearing father Gregory of Khandzta, 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 youths in the furnace in Babylon were bedewed from on high; they cried to God and said: Blessed art Thou, O Lord of our fathers, O God, unto the ages.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
Thou didst offer the divine Mysteries as a faithful priest, an imitator of the Saviour, and didst burn up the demons as with fire in the furnace of thy prayers: “O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.”
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
The Lord gave thee, Gregory, power over evil spirits, and thou didst cast them out; and those whom they tormented were set free and cried: “O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Awe fell upon kings and all peoples at the graces of thy holiness and the majesty of thy countenance, and with thanksgiving they sang to God: “O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.”
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, daughter of Adam; rejoice, Bride of God; rejoice, Mother of the Saviour, who didst contain thy Creator: intercede for us always.
Irmos: The bush on Sinai that burned yet was not consumed revealed God to Moses, slow of speech and heavy of tongue; and divine zeal delivered the youths from the furnace, and they cried out in song: All ye works, bless today God and the Lord; hymn and exalt Him unto the ages.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
Speaking of the glory of God beyond the orators, thou didst lay a firm foundation for them that desire the divine life and becamest an example of good to thy kinsmen. Accept now my zeal and save me from the billows and from the all-destroying passions.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
რომელმან არად შერაცხენ ქადებაჲ უკეთურისა მის ცქირისაჲ და საღმრთოჲთა შურისგებითა მოაშთვე მგელ-ღმრთისმსახური მტერი ეკლესიისაჲ, მტერი იგი მომსრველი მო-რწმუნეთა ქართველთაჲ დაამჴუე და ერსა ჩუენსა ზედა აღძრულნი უკეთურთა ზრახვანი განაქარვე ძალითა ქრისტჱსითა.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
ვითარცა გამოუჩნდი შენ ჴელმწიფეთა, საკჳრველი ეგე დიდებული მამაჲ, და შეზღუდენ ღირსებითა და სიმართლითა, ეგრეთვე აწ ჩუენცა განგვიმრავლნე ყოვლისა ქართველთ ზნეობითა სრულ-ყოფილნი ერის-მძღუარნი, რაჲთა ზრუნვიდენ ერისათჳს და აქებდეს ქრისტესა ღმერთსა.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Irmos: The three youths in the furnace in Babylon worshipped the Trinity and despised the golden image, and, sprinkled with dew, they cried out in song: All ye works, bless today God and the Lord, praise and supremely exalt Him unto the ages.
Irmos: Thou who without knowing man didst carry the Creator Word of incorruption didst clothe Him with nature; come, O spotless Virgin Theotokos, and with Him that was born of thee teach the faithful, that we may be made worthy to glorify thee.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
In purity thou didst pass through this life like an angel of God, and when thou hadst commended thy spirit to the Lord, thou didst find in heaven the reward of thy labours; and now thou dwellest in the everlasting light which thou didst long for: O father, forget not us who entreat thee.
Venerable father Gregory, be an intercessor for them that entreat thee.
Since the land of the Iberians acquired thee, O father, as a divine wall, a strength and a good advocate, thy people, the lot of the Theotokos, ever ask help through thee; and thou, remembered through painted icons and supplications, dost again heal them that have recourse to thee and deliver them from temptations.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now again we draw near to the calm haven and protector of our people; we bow down before thy holy icon and entreat thee: O venerable father Gregory, look upon them that trust in thee and deliver us from the afflictions and sorrows that come upon us.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The old law foreshadoweth thee, O holy Virgin, and the new confesseth thee as Theotokos, O unwedded one; and we the faithful say with faith: O Mother of the Word, cease not to entreat God for them that trust in thee.
It is truly meet that we should magnify thee, O Theotokos, who art ever-blessed and all-immaculate and the Mother of our God. Thee, more honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the only Theotokos, we magnify in song.
The priest censes.
Let us now lift up our hands, O ye faithful, and praise the strength of Orthodoxy given from heaven and the joy of the churches, the boast of priests and the all-radiant luminary of divine worship, who fought the good fight, as the venerable George Merchule telleth us; and let us glorify Him that gave him wondrous miracles.
As a zealot for God and a great helper we move thee to intercede with our God, that He may look upon His people, who have no defence before Him, and loose the sickness of the Sodomites, and deliver us from the affliction of the Gomorrahites through thine intercession.
ვითარცა ძუელად ითხოვე ერისა შენისათჳს გამოჴსნაჲ ღელვათაგან მძჳნვარეთა, ეგრეთვე აწ გვაქუს მეოხებაჲ შენი ქრისტჱს მიმართ, რაჲთა განათავისუფლოს ქუეყანაჲ ჩუენი მძლავრებისაგან მტერისა, და დაიფაროს სატანისა მაჴეთაგან და სჯულისაგან უცხოჲსა საზეპუროჲ ერი ივერიისაჲ.
Though the regions of Klarjeti have fallen silent, Khandzta and Shatberdi boast of the labours thou didst accomplish in them; and we hasten with zeal to thy monasteries, now ruined and diminished, not only to pray there but also to dwell there, O thrice-blessed father Gregory, and ever to serve the resting-place of thy precious bones.
O wonderworking father Gregory! Commend us now to our Protectress the Theotokos, that she may grant us the wisdom to discern good and evil and, after the manner of the men of our fatherland, count us worthy to sing to the all-holy Trinity:
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 dawn-bright star of the desert, enlightener of the lands and waters of Iberia and of all who dwell in them, steadfastness of the Orthodox granted from heaven and great archimandrite of the monasteries of Klarjeti, companion and fellow-dweller of the angels and guide of monks, boast of the fathers, glory of princes and strength of warriors, bold reprover of sovereigns and instructor with the rod of teaching, worker of many wonders, our venerable father Gregory of Khandzta!
ჵ, ყოვლად ნეტარო მამაო და წმიდაო მოღუაწეო, საკჳრველთმოქმედო გრიგოლ ხანძთელო! სრულ-ჰყავ რაჲ სრბაჲ შენი და მიიცუალე წინაშე ღმრთისა, არაჲვე დაუტევენ ობლად მოწაფენი და მოსურნენი თჳსნი, არამედ მამობრივითა მეოხებითა შენითა მსწრაფლ შეეწევი სულთაგან არაწმიდათა შეპყრობილთა და ყოველთა მვედრებელთა შენთა მოსცემ ლხინებასა, გარნა აწ მთავარნი უსჯულოებისანი აღძრულ არიან ჩუენ ზედა და იღუწიან განხრწნასა და აღსპობასა ერისა ჩუენისასა, ხოლო ჩუენ ძილის დაჴსნილებასა მივცემივართ და ვერცაღა ძალ-გვიძს წინა-აღდგომად მათთა. ამისთჳსცა გუაქუს მეოხებაჲ შენი ქრისტჱს მიმართ, ღირს-გვყოს წინასწარმეტყუელებათა შენთა აღსრულებისა და მოგვცეს მეფჱ, სარწმუნოჲ და მართალი, მმართებელად და წინამძღურად, ვითარცა დავით ისრაელთა, რაჲთამცა კეთილად განაგებდეს და იურვოდეს ღმრთისმშობლის წილხვედრსა ერსა ჩუენსა, მტჳრთველსა საუფლოჲსა ჯუარისასა ქუეყანასა ზედა, და აღადგენდეს მამულისა ჩუენისა ერთობასა და აღამაღლებდეს ღირსებასა და ძლიერებასა ქუეყანისა და ნათასავისა ჩუენისასა. განაძლიერე მსახურებასა შინა უწმიდესი და უნეტარესი, სრულიად საქართველოჲს კათალიკოს-პატრიარქი, მცხეთა-თბილისის მთავარეპისკოპოსი და ბიჭვინთისა და ცხუმ-აფხაზეთის მიტროპოლიტი, დიდი მეუფჱ, მამაჲ ჩუენი ილია, ყოვლადსამღდელონი მიტროპოლიტნი, მთავარეპისკოპოსნი და ეპისკოპოსნი, პატიოსანნი მღდელნი, ქრისტეს მიერ დიაკონნი და ყოველნი სამონაზვნო წესნი, ზიარნი მართლმადიდებელისა ეკლესიისანი, ხოლო კეთილისმყოფელნი ჩუენნი და ყოველნი მართლმადიდებელნი ქრისტეანენი დაიცვენ პატიო-სნითა მეოხებითა შენითა.
O true shepherd of Christ's flocks and great guide of fathers, luminary and advocate of the Church of the Iberians, and strength of them that fall down before thee with faith: help us to come up out of the depths of sin, and with compunction entreat God to grant glory to the churches, honour to the clergy, good shepherding of the people to those in authority, courage to soldiers, sinlessness to the laity, modesty to women and good upbringing to children; and that He restore to us love of righteousness and courage of soul, many children, mercy to widows and orphans, and standing by one another; that He grant us love of a holy life, hatred of unseemly deeds and contrition of heart, crowning with the saints and a dwelling in the Kingdom of Heaven, that we too with thee may glorify 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 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. (Thrice) 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 intercession of Thy most pure Mother, the grace and prayers of our venerable father Gregory of Khandzta and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
While his icon is kissed we sing thus:
By strengthening the teaching of Christ thou wast shown to be an invincible helper and pillar of the Church of the Iberians and a champion of the faith; and after death, by divine help, thou healest sicknesses and manifold afflictions and swiftly helpest those held fast by unclean spirits.
O Lady Mary, look upon them that with faith kiss the precious icon of our father, holy Gregory, who became the beauty of the Church; and may his grace and thy mercy be with us all the days of our life.
Author and compiler: Tinatin Mchedlishvili
