Supplicatory Paraklesis to Saint Iotam Zedginidze, Who Laid Down His Life for the King
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, 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…
Amen. Lord, have mercy (12 times).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O come, let us worship 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.
Priest: God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Choir: Verse 1: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever. Choir: Verse 2: All nations compassed me about, and in the name of the Lord I drove them back. Choir: Verse 3: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. Choir: 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.
Thy faithfulness and self-sacrifice, O soldier of the Lord clothed with struggle, Iotam, amazed the king of the Georgians, for thou didst deliver him from certain death and his people from calamities; and Him who gave thee good counsel and granted thee the steadfastness and strength to lay down thy life for the king, entreat now, O holy one, to deliver us from the snare of the enemy and from betrayal by a neighbour.
Glory… The same. Both now…
We will never cease, O Theotokos, we the unworthy, from speaking of thy mighty acts; for hadst thou not stood before us to intercede, who would have kept us free until now? We will not depart from thee, O Lady, for thou ever savest thy servants from all misfortunes.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings. Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.
Irmos: The multitude of chariots with their horsemen Thou didst cast into the depths of the Red Sea by the strength of Thine arm, O Christ, and Thou didst save the Israelites, and they sang a new song of victory.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
The peoples of heaven and of earth glorify thy memory together, and we who trust in thee honour thee, O God-bearing Iotam, and bring thee a gift of praise.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
The Georgian people found in thee a great helper in afflictions, O God-blessed Iotam, for there is none that calleth on thee in temptation and findeth not swift consolation.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
A noble and pious man, thou hadst faithfulness to thy fatherland and thy king, love for the Church and the people, and wast one who praised God: entreat Him now for our deliverance from every affliction.
Ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The choir of the prophets foretold thee of old as the divine mountain and the impassable gate; therefore we pray thee: open to us the divine doors of repentance, O Virgin.
Irmos: O Thou who didst found the earth upon the waters and didst give it abundant fruitfulness, establish Thy Church, O Christ, upon the unshaken rock of Thy commandments, O Thou who alone art good and lovest mankind.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
When the atabeg of Samtskhe grew proud and fell away from the king and strove to break the unity of Georgia, the king was angered and set out to war to take vengeance on the atabeg; but traitors were set on to kill the anointed of God.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
Having heard the counsel of the faithless, thou didst warn the king and assure him of the treachery of those close to him: now also withhold not thy help from us, and keep by His power our people, which is called by the name of Christ.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The gathering of the faithless was exposed by thee, O worthy Iotam, yet the king would not believe in the treachery and was angry with thee; but thou didst count that deed a shame for the people and the ruin of its unity, and didst resolve to save the king.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou who standest at the right hand of Christ as a Queen clothed in golden raiment, O thou in whom God rejoiceth, ask for us the Kingdom of heaven by thine intercession, O all-holy Virgin.
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 the servant or handmaid (here name those for whom you are praying).
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 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.
As a rock and a tower firm and indestructible, O wondrous Iotam, thou didst not fear the terror of the death that stood before thine eyes, but didst zealously fulfil the God-inspired custom and with fervent resolve didst lay down thy head for thy king and fatherland, whereby thou didst pass into immortality, and by the joy of thy struggle didst beautifully enlighten the holy Church of the Georgians.
Irmos: Hearing of Thy glorious coming, O Christ, Habakkuk marvelled and cried out with fear: Thou wentest forth for the salvation of Thy people, to save Thine anointed.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
Christ gave thee good counsel, and thou saidst: “O king! If I lie down in thy bed and they kill me, forget not my sons.” Therefore we call blessed thy wondrous self-sacrifice.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
Though the king did not truly believe there was a snare, his heart was softened and he said to thee: “Wilt thou thus give thyself up to death for thy king?!” and he praised thy wondrous faithfulness.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
For thy courage and valour the king received thee with great honour and said to thee as thou wentest to thy suffering: “Though I believe not in this snare, I am grateful to thee and will bestow on thee a high dignity.”
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Help me, O holy Theotokos, who am ever drowned in the pleasures of the flesh and groan every day as I lie upon the bed of despondency.
Irmos: O Thou who clothest Thyself with light as with a garment, to Thee I flee and to Thee I cry: Enlighten my darkened soul, for Thou alone art plenteous in mercy.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
Walking in the commandments and ordinances of God, thou didst not turn back for fear of orphaning thy children, but didst leave the honour and glory handed down to thee from thy forefathers, for the sake of faithfulness to thy fatherland and the peaceful keeping of thy people.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
The king marvelled at thy nobility, and, promising with an oath to fulfil every request, he said to thee: “I will ever be an advocate and protector to all thy kin.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The arena of the lovers of victory shone forth, and thou didst run the narrow and afflicted way and made ready to endure death: now drive away the temptations stirred up by the devil against them that trust in thee.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
He whom the mind cannot comprehend put on flesh, O thou who art full of grace, and received thee as His own dwelling, and saved mankind.
Irmos: The waves have compassed me about, and the belly of the whale hath become my tomb, and I cry to Thee: Deliver me, O Lover of mankind, and save me, O most merciful Lord.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
Making ready to offer thyself, thou didst rise above human nature and cry out with wisdom and courage: “Now I too shall die in the stead of the anointed one, for thus it pleaseth God, for the salvation of the people.”
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
Thou wast kindled with love for thy native land and didst bid thy sons lay down their heads for their people and fatherland: now we entreat thee, O worthy one, deliver thy people from grievous sins and manifold temptations.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As one chosen of God and valiant, by laying down thy head for the king thou didst deliver thy people from sorrows: so now also shelter us from all the passions that oppress us and from the snare of the devil.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
A sword pierced thy heart when thou didst behold thy Son upon the Cross, O spotless Virgin, and His divine side wounded by the spear, and thou didst lament bitterly.
Deliver thy servants from dangers, O most holy Virgin Theotokos, for after God we all flee unto thee, as to an unbreakable wall and protection.
Look upon us, O all-praised Theotokos, and heal the grievous wounds of our bodies and the sicknesses of our souls.
Priest: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Priest: For Thou art the King of peace and the Saviour of our souls, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
The Church of the Iberians celebrateth thy precious memory, O valiant one, and gathereth the children of the Georgian race, who glorify thy God-pleasing resolve; for thou becamest an example to thy people as one who fulfilled the Lord's commandment: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Therefore we who are gathered worthily adorn thy memory with praises, O holy Iotam, who didst lay down thy life for the king!
Priest: Let us attend. Wisdom.
Prokeimenon before the Gospel, Tone 4: God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
Verse: The saints shall boast in glory and shall rejoice upon their beds.
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For holy art Thou, O our God, who restest in the saints, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
Verse: Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Priest: And that He may make us worthy to hear the holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord our God.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Wisdom! Aright! Let us hear the holy Gospel. Peace be unto all.
Choir: And to thy spirit.
Priest: The reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Priest: Let us attend.
The Lord said to His disciples, Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
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 Saint Iotam Zedginidze, 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: Though thou knewest beforehand of thy death, O wondrous Iotam, thou didst lay down thy head and thy life for thy people and thy king and deliver him from suffering and death; therefore we move thee to intercede with God for the peaceful keeping of the churches, for the gift of victory through the Cross to our people and for the deliverance from all afflictions and pains of us who hope in thine intercession.
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 father among the saints Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the wonderworker; 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 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 our God-wise and blessed fathers Hilarion the Georgian, Serapion of Zarzma and Gregory of Khandzta, and of our venerable Athonite fathers John, Gabriel, John-Tornike, Euthymius and George; of the holy glorious martyrs David and Constantine, princes of Argveti, and holy Tsotne the Confessor; of the holy victorious martyr Shalva of Akhaltsikhe and the holy hundred thousand martyrs slain in Tbilisi by the Khwarezmians; of the holy great-martyr Bidzina and the holy glorious martyrs Shalva and Elizbar, eristavis of Ksani; of our holy, pious and great kings Vakhtang Gorgasali, Ashot the Kuropalates, David the Builder and Solomon; of the holy and right-believing Queen Tamar; of the holy victorious kings and queens Archil, Luarsab, Demetrius, Shushanik and Ketevan; of the holy martyrs, the six thousand monks of Gareja, and the many holy fathers and mothers martyred in Adjara by the Turks; of holy Ilia the Righteous, Euthymius the Man of God and Euthymius the Confessor; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; of holy Iotam Zedginidze, who laid down his life for the king, 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 most exalted God of our fathers quenched the blazing furnace for the youths, and they cried aloud: O God, blessed art Thou.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
On that night, when the faithless fell upon the king's tent, armed with prayer and faith thou didst commend thy spirit to the Lord and cry aloud: “O God, blessed art Thou.”
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
When they saw thee lying upon the bed, they took thee for the anointed of God; and when they slew thee with the sword as a sheep, thou didst cry in thy heart: “O God, blessed art Thou.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having given thy mortal life for the king, thou didst receive from the immortal King as a reward the crown of holy confession: now intercede before Him, that He may plant in us hatred of sin and love of virtue.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Through thee, O radiant cloud, there dawned upon us the unwaning Sun, Christ our God, who enlighteneth them that are in the darkness of ignorance, O Theotokos.
Irmos: To Thee, the only Creator of all, the youths cried aloud a spiritual hymn: All ye works, sing to the Lord and exalt Him unto the ages.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
At dawn the king hastened to his tent, and when he saw thy body pierced with the spear, he was greatly grieved; and he seized his traitors, and not one escaped his hands.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
Since thou hadst done a deed of virtue lofty, memorable and worthy of every praise, the king was moved to gratitude and, calling thy sons, he filled them with favour and granted them the office of sparapet of Kartli and that of amilakhor at the royal court.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
Thy sons, receiving this honour well, served the king and the people with zeal and gave thanks to thee, who hadst changed their rank of nobleman into that of prince.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Rightly do the Zedginidzes together with the Amilakhvaris honour thee and boast of thee, and give thanks to thee, O holy one, their renowned and all-glorious forefather, as the cause of their exaltation.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
God, who through thee became incarnate for our sake, showed thee, the holy and all-immaculate, to be the divine intercessor for all our race, O Virgin; therefore we the faithful sing thy praise with a loud voice.
Irmos: Dance for joy, O Isaiah: the Virgin hath conceived and borne a Son without beginning, Emmanuel, God and man; the Dayspring is His name. Him do we magnify, and her who bore Him we call blessed.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
The Most High looked upon thy spotless offerings as upon Abel's, and like righteous Enoch thou didst please God: entreat Him now, O valiant Iotam, to give us an understanding and wise heart to discern good and evil.
Holy Iotam, who laid down thy life for the king, pray to God for us.
Since thou didst glorify thy name and thy lineage by pleasing God, the Church of the Iberians set thee among the saints and appointed thy praise and commemoration for her flocks.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Hearing of thy deeds, O blessed one, we send up glory to God, who showed us such a forefather, and we call thee blessed as the conscience and the boast of our people.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The prophet beheld thee of old as a radiant lampstand, O all-immaculate one, bearing Christ, the spiritual candle, by whom we who lay in the darkness of the passions have been enlightened; therefore we call thee blessed, O Theotokos, ever-Virgin.
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:
Who would not marvel at thy self-sacrifice, O thrice-blessed Iotam, or who would not sing to Christ, who gave thee such strength, whereby thou didst lay down thy head for the king and deliver thy people and fatherland from the snare? And us who have gained thee as an intercessor, O valiant one, turn not away ashamed, but make God merciful toward us, that He may fill us with divine watchfulness and guide us on the straight and righteous way.
შენ, დიდებულო იოთამ, შეუერთდი რაჲ დიდებულსა მწყობრსა სჯულისა და ქუეყანისათჳს თავდადებულთა მამა-პაპათასა, მოიღე ჴელმწიფებაჲ ეშმაკთა ოტებისაჲ და უძლურთა კურნებისაჲ, აწცა ნუ დასცხრები ვედრებად ქრისტჱს მიმართ, რაჲთა დაშრიტოს საზეპუროსა ერსა ჩუენსა ზედა აღძრული საიდუმლოჲ იგი უშჯულოებისაჲ და მოგუმადლოს ჩუენ ღირსნი მამანი და ბრძენნი წინამძღუარნი, რაჲთა არა სრულიად განიხრწნას საქართველოჲ _ წილხვედრი ესე ქუეყანაჲ ღმრთისმშობლისაჲ.
არა დაინთქა თავდადებაჲ შენი საკჳრველი სიღრმესა დავიწყებისასა, რამეთუ ძველნი მატიანენი გვაუწყებენ, თუ ვითარ მოკლულ იქმენ ნაცვლად მეფისა, აწ არღარა გჳვის მთავარ და წინამძღუარ და არცაღა ძალგვიძს წინა-აღდგომად ურიცხუთა მათ მტერთა ჩუენთა, არამედ მოწყალე-ჰყავ ჩუენ ზედა მართლ-მსაჯული იგი უფალი, რაჲთა გჳჴსნნეს მოწევნადთა ჭირთა და ურვათაგან.
დიდად მჴნედ და ერთგულად გამოჩნდი შენ, ყოვლად ქებულო იოთამ, განაქარვე რაჲ განზრახვაჲ ორგულთა მათ ერისათა, აწ გჳოხე უფლისა მიმართ და გჳთხოვე, რაჲთა გარე წარაქციოს რისხვაჲ აღდგომილი ჩუენ ზედა, სიმრავლისაგან ცოდვათა ჩუენთასა, და ლაზარესაებრ აღგჳდგინოს მამული ჩუენი _ საქართველო _ პირველსავე დიდებასა, რაჲთა არა დასათრგუნველ ვიქმნეთ მარბიელთა უცხოთა ტომთა და ნათესავთაგან და გჳჴსნეს ჩუენ ძმათა შორის ბრძოლისაგან.
O valiant and invincible soldier of Christ, Iotam, as of old thou didst show wondrous protection to thy people, so now commend us to the Protectress of our people, the Virgin Mary, that we become not a reproach and a laughing-stock to our enemies, but after the manner of the men of our fatherland may glorify God with the thrice-holy hymn:
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. (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.
Priest: Again and again, bending our knees, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
O radiant soldier numbered with the martyrs of Christ and unashamed upholder in afflictions, swift helper of them that entreat thee, wall and shelter of all the Georgians, O God-blessed Iotam!
O radiant soldier numbered with the martyrs of Christ and unashamed upholder in afflictions, swift helper of them that entreat thee, wall and shelter of all the Georgians, O God-blessed Iotam!
ჵ, ჴრმლითა უწყალოდ დაგმერილო და ნაცულად მეფისა ვნებულო, ღუაწლისა-მძლეო დიდო მხედარო იოთამ! რომელსა ქრისტჱსგან მოგიღებიეს მადლი შეწევნისაჲ, აწ ყურად-იღე აწ ლოცვანი ჩუენნი და მოგჳჴსენე წინაშე მისსა, რაჲთა კადნიერებაჲ მათი შეჰმუსროს, რომელნი უღმრთოებით აღჭურვილ არიან მართლმორწმუნეთა ზედა, და ვიდრე აღსრულებადმდე საუკუნისა დაიცვას ივერიაჲ ჴდომისაგან მტერთა და ორგულთაჲსა, ხოლო ყოველთა მკჳდრთა მისთა მოგუმადლოს შენებრ მჴურვალებაჲ სარწმუნოებისაჲ, ძმებრივი სიყუარული მოყუასისაჲ და საღმრთოჲ მოშურნეობაჲ მამულისაჲ, და თჳნიერ შებრკოლებისა აღგჳდგინოს ძირისაგან დავითისა, ცხებული ღმრთისაჲ, რომელიცა სარწმუნოებითა მტკიცითა მოჰკრძალავს ყოველთა სამზღუართა საქართველოჲსასა და აღამაღლებს და აღადგენს სიმაღლესა და ძლიერებასა ჩუენსა ქუეყანით დავიწყებისაჲთ, რაჲთა ვიყოთ ერთ სამწყსო და უფალი იყოს მწყემს ჩუენდა. მრავალშემძლებელითა ძალითა შენითა განაძლიერე უწმიდესი და უნეტარესი, სრულიად საქართველოს კათოლიკოს-პატრიარქი, მცხეთა-თბილისის მთავარეპისკოპოსი და ბიჭვინთისა და ცხუმ-აფხაზეთის მიტროპოლიტი მამაჲ ჩვენი ილია, ყოვლადსამღდელონი მიტროპოლიტნი, მთავარეპისკოპოსნი და ეპისკოპოსნი და ყოველნი სამღდელონი და სამონოზნო წესნი, მჴედართმთავარნი და ქალაქმთავარნი, ქრისტესმოყუარე მჴედრობანი, და კეთილისმყოფელნი ჩუენნი, და ყოველნი მართლმადიდებელნი ქრისტეანენი.
O thou who didst lay down thy head for the king and shelter thy fatherland and thy people from the snare, soldier of Christ Iotam! With a martyr's boldness intercede before God, that He may look upon us, who have no defence before Him, and 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 and modesty to women; that He may restore to us godliness, love of righteousness, many children and mercy to widows and orphans; that He may 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.
Choir: 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 prayers of Thine all-holy Mother, of holy Iotam Zedginidze and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
While his icon is kissed we sing thus, Tone 4:
O helper in every good thing and guide of all that entreat thee, valiant and God-bearing Iotam! With reverence we fall down before thy holy icon, which ungrudgingly poureth forth steadfastness, grace and mercy, and we ask thy help, for thou hast boldness before God: ask for us that we may be kept unharmed from all temptations of soul and body and be counted worthy of the Kingdom of heaven.
O Lady, all-radiant Mary, through the prayers of holy Iotam Zedginidze direct the days of our life to the glory of thy Son and our God. Amen.
Author and compiler: Tinatin Mchedlishvili
