The Service to a Female Martyr.
At the Vespers, for O Lord, I have cried, the Stichera, Tone 4. Similar to: As a virtuous...

Having adorned thy soul with the beauties of virginity and with the blood of martyrdom, thou hast, O glorious martyr (mentioned by name), handed thyself over unto thy Maker Who doth indeed preserve thee in incorruption for ever; wherefore thou dost exult, O all-praised one, together with the hosts of angels and archangels, and with the choirs of apostles, prophets and martyrs.

Tied to the wheels, torn by ferocious beasts, tortured both by fire and water, having sharpened thy mind with the Divine Spirit, thou hast manfully smothered the prince of darkness with the rush of thy blood and hast passed over unto the intellectual palaces, bringing unto thy Bridegroom, O Virgin, martyrdom as thy marriage portion.

Having been sanctified with the blood of the Bridegroom, even Christ, thou hast, O most laudable one, adorned with thine own blood the garment of flesh; being therefore refined both inwardly and outwardly thou wast, O most laudable (mentioned by name), made worthy of His bright palace; Him supplicate that may be delivered from corruption and dangers those who in faith celebrate thine all-honoured memory.

Glory... Both now... The Theotokion: Since thy supplication unto the Lord is indefatigable and thine intercession incessant, do thou, O most pure one, lull to sleep the attacks and lay down the waves of my wretched soul; vouchsafe, O Maiden -I implore thee- consolation unto my heart that is now in affliction and grant grace unto my mind that I may worthily glorify thee.

The Stavro-theotokion: Beholding thee, the Lamb and the Shepherd, on the tree, the ewe that gave Thee birth wept and motherly spake unto Thee: O Son most desired! How is it that Thou art hung on the tree, O Long-suffering? How is it that Thy hands and feet, O Word, were nailed by the lawless and that Thou, O Master, hast shed Thy blood?

If there be idiomelon, Glory, Tone 6: Upon the right hand of the Saviour there stood virgin, great sufferer and martyr (mentioned by name), arrayed in unassailable virtues and adorned with the oil of purity and with the blood of martyrdom, holding joyfully the lamp and vociferating unto Him: Unto the sweet smell of Thy myrrh have I directed my steps, O Christ the God, since I was struck with the love for Thee; do not drive me away, O Heavenly Bridegroom! Through her intercessions send down unto us, O All-powerful Saviour, Thy mercies.

Both now...the Theotokion: No one that hath recourse unto thee, O most pure Theotokos-Virgin; goeth away from thee with shame, but asking for grace, he obtaineth the grant of a profitable demand.

The Stavro-theotokion: Beholding Thee hanging on the cross, the most pure one with lamentations vociferated motherly: O my Son and my God, my sweet Child, how dost Thou endure the infamous passion ?

If the Celebration be with the Polyeleon, say the Theotokion of the resurrection: Who will not bless thee?... The Entrance.The Prokeimenon of the day. The Readings of the martyrs (see Appendix).

With the Versicles the Stichera, Tone 4. Similar to: As a virtuous...

Having manfully and wisely stood in thy mind against the rage of the tormentor and his insolent harshness, thou, O Godwise one, foresawest the ever and immovably abiding unto the ages delights of the future ; which thou, O glorious one, hast also obtained, having passed over from earth unto the heavenly palaces and unto the choir indestructible.

The Versicle : Wonderful in His holy ones is God, the God of Israel.

The magnificence of the Kingdom and the handsome fairness of thy Bridegroom, even Christ, wast thou made worthy to behold, having been adorned with the wounds of thine unyielding martyrdom, and unto the source of all good didst thou worthily approach; wherefrom hast thou, O blissful one, richly obtained the fruit of divine joy and the immortal glory.

The Versicle: In the congregations bless ye God, even the Lord, from the fountains of Israel:

Neither the laborious yoke, nor womanly weakness, neither famine nor sores could prevent thee, O all-praised one, from shewing firmness in thy martyrdom, and thou hast suffered the torments with all the fervour of thy soul; whence hast thou obtained the heavenly habitation and art adorned with the crown of grace, standing before thy Maker?

Glory ...Tone 5: The beauty of thy virginity hath desired the King of glory, even Christ, since He hath betrothed thee unblemished as a bride unto Himself in uncorrupted union; for, having granted of His own will unto thy virtue strength against the enemies and passions, He hath shewn thee invincible in thine enduring the most painful sores and atrocious torments, adorned thee with double crown and placed thee on His right hand as a resplendent queen. Him supplicate, O martyr honourable and long-suffering (mentioned by name), that unto thy psalmodists may be granted salvation and life and great mercy.

Both now-the Theotokion: We the faithful bless thee, O Theotokos-Virgin, and glorify, as in duty bound, thee -the immoveable city, the wall unassailable, firm intercession and refuge of our souls.

The Stavro-theotokion: Beholding of old her Lamb lifted up on the cross, the Virgin and Maiden blessed of all, vociferated tearfully: Woe unto me, O my Son? How dost Thou die, being God, immortal by nature?

The Troparion from the Typicon ; but if there be no Typicon, say this Troparion, Tone 4:

Thy Lamb, O Jesus, (mentioned by name), is calling with a loud voice: Thee, O my Bridegroom, I love and, whilst Thee seeking, for Thee I endure martyrdom, I become crucified together with Thee and buried with Thee unto Thy baptism, and I suffer for Thy sake, so that I may reign in Thee, and I die for Thee that I may live with Thee; but as unblemished sacrifice do Thou receive me that in love sacrificed myself to Thee. At her intercessions, as the Merciful One, save our souls.

Glory... Both now... The Theotokion or the Stavro-theotokion.

At the Matins, for God is the Lord, the same Troparion. After the 1st Stichologia, the Cathisma, Tone 5. Similar to: The Co-unoriginate...

Having piously enslaved thyself unto the Almighty, thou, O honoured one, wouldest not become a slave of the impious tyrant, but hast firmly endured the dark confinement and the sores from fire, and art gone over unto God, O Godly-wise martyr (mentioned by name). Supplicate for us that celebrate thy memory. Twice.

Glory... Both now... the Theotokion: O pure Ever-Virgin, intercession both fervent and invincible, hope both certain and unassailable, wall, shelter and refuge of those that flee unto thee! With the angels do supplicate thy Son and God to grant unto the world pacification and salvation and great mercy.

After the second Stichologia, the Cathisma, Tone 1. Similar to: Thy sepulchre...

The fire of torments hast thou, O honoured one, extinguished with the dew of thy spirit, and art gone unto the light both divine and immaterial; and after thy blessed demise dost thou, O (mentioned by name), cause the drops of healing to flow, removing the flame of passions by the power of the spirit. Twice.

Glory... Both now... the Theotokion: Do accept, O Theotokos, the entreaties of thy servants, and deliver us from every calamity, since thou gavest birth unto the Saviour-Christ, the Deliverer of our souls.

After Praise ye the name of the Lord, the Refrain:

We magnify thee, O Christ's martyr (mentioned by name), and honour thy honourable passion which thou hast endured for Christ's sake.

After the Polyeleon the Cathisma, Tone 4. Similar to: Thou that wast lifted up on the cross...

Let us -the multitude of the faithful- gracefully hymn (mentioned by name), that came unto Christ of her own will and adorned her heart with virtues, for she hath put to shame the insolence of her tormentors, and having shone forth as the sun in the midst of the lawless, after her demise she did appear unto the earthly, both as a divine confirmation and power also. Twice.

Glory... Both now... The Theotokion: Having from the angel received in thy womb the Word and having given birth unto Emmanuel-the God Incarnate, do thou, O Theotokos, supplicate for our souls.

The Graduals, the 1st Antiphon of the 4th Tone. The Prokeimenon: Wonderful in His holy ones is God, the God of Israel. The Verse: In the congregations bless ye God, even the Lord, from the fountains of Israel. Let every breath. The Gospel, (St. Mark, 5, 24-34). After the 50th Psalm the Sticheron, Tone 6: (Glory ...for O Lord, I have cried).

The Canon, Tone 3. Ode 1. The Heirmos

Let us sing unto the Lord Who hath led His people over across the Red Sea, for He alone hath gloriously triumphed.

The all-praised maiden by her wonders doth incite unto the singing of hymns both the hosts above and the choirs of the earthly.

Having. desired the beauty of thy most fair heart, O allpraised one, the Master of all hath made thee worthy of the heavenly palaces.

For execution, pains and multiform sores didst thou, O martyr, go in without fear; for thou hadst the grace of the Saviour assisting thee and helping thine endurance.

The Theotokion: We hymn thee, O most pure Theotokos, that hast above nature given birth unto the Incarnate Word Everexisting and Most Divine.

Ode 3. The Heirmos

Thou art the stablishing of those having recourse unto Thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of those in darkness, and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

Thou didst appear before thy judges with courageous soul, O all-praised one, and hast vanquished the enemy as one destitute of courage.

Thou hadst neither blemish in thy beauty, nor failing in thy soul, and Christ hath received thee as a bride in the incorruptible palaces.

Do thou, O all-praised martyr of Christ (mentioned by name), heal the eschars of my soul and pacify with thine intercessions the storms of my life.

The Theotokion: We all the Christians have acquired in thee a refuge and wall, and we unceasingly doxologize thee, O innocent of marital life.

The Cathisma, Tone 8. Similar to: Of the wisdom...

With the streams of thy blood thou dost, O all-praised martyr of Christ, ever form a deluge unto the wicked, and with the heavy clouds of grace ever watering the intellectual fields, thou dost rear up thereon the ears of faith; wherefore after thy demise also hast thou gloriously appeared as a cloud, shedding the testimony of thy life. O all-praised great sufferer (mentioned by name), supplicate Christ the God to grant the remission of sins unto those that lovingly honour thy holy memory.

Glory... Both now... the Theotokion: As Virgin, and one among women, we, all the generations of men, bless thee that without seed gavest birth unto God in the flesh, for the divine fire did find abode in thee, and thou dost suckle as a babe the Maker and Lord. Wherefore we, both the angelic and human kind, worthily glorify thy divine child-birth, and with one voice cry unto thee: Supplicate Christ the God to grant the remission of sins unto those who worthily sing thy glory.

The Stavro-theotokion: Seeing the Lamb, the Shepherd and the Redeemer upon the cross, the lamb exclaimed in tears, and loudly lamenting, thus vociferated: The world indeed rejoiceth receiving through Thee the deliverance, but my innermost is consumed at the sight of Thy crucifixion which Thou dost endure on account of the mercifulness of Thy compassion. O Longsuffering Lord, abyss of mercy and a source inexhaustible, take compassion and grant the remission of transgressions unto those who in faith hymn Thy divine passion.

Ode 4. The Heirmos:

I have hearkened, O Lord, unto the mystery of Thine economy, comprehended Thy works and glorified Thy Godhead.

Having made thyself an unstained mirror of divine understanding, thou, O martyr, hast shone forth in the midst of the female sufferers as a golden lamp of exquisite workmanship.

Unto the dark demon thou didst not bring sacrifice, O invincible martyr (mentioned by name), for thou hast lovingly desired to receive the life-bearing death for thy piety.

Bearing thy body, O unblemished, one, painlessly with the passion-bearers, thou didst remain insensible to the sores through the working of the divine love.

The Theotokion: Grant unto us the purification of ignorance, as Sinless One, and pacify Thy world, O God, through the intercession of her who gave Thee birth.

Ode 5. The Heirmos

Watching early we call unto Thee, O Lord: Save us, for Thou art our God, beside Thee we know no other.

Having learned the opposites of the day and the world, thou didst not desire to love the contentious demon.

Having imagined he would be able to weaken thy divine strength, O martyr (mentioned by name), the most cunning in snares hath made of himself a laughing stock.

Grant unto me, O all-praised one, enlightenment and peace, dispersing with thine intercessions my great agitation and confusion.

The Theotokion:We hymn thee, O Theotokos, as Virgin after the birth, for thou hast brought forth unto the world in the flesh God the Word.

Ode 6. The Heirmos

A bright garment do grant me Thou that puttest on light as a garment, O Multi-merciful Christ, our God.

Bearing in thy feminine body manly wisdom of the mind, thou, O glorious one, hast disdained the beasts that are in waters.

Thou hast vanquished the pride of thy tormentors, hast remained unhurt, O invincible martyr, and obtained the crown of victory.

As good and beautiful, as honourable and shining with the lustre of virginity, doth the Bridegroom, even the Lord, bring thee unto Himself, O all-praised one.

The Theotokion: The only one that by the word hath given birth in the flesh unto the Word, do thou deliver our souls from the snares of the enemy, -we implore thee.

The Contakion from the Typicon; but if there be no Typicon, say this Contakion, Tone 2. Similar to: Seeking the highest...

Having found thine all-revered temple to be the healer of souls, we all the faithful with a loud voice cry unto thee, O virgin-martyr (mentioned by name), the greatly renowned Christ the God entreat incessantly for us all.

The Oikos: Coming together let us worthily honour (mentioned by name), that became affianced unto Christ through martyrdom, so that having been, through her intercessions, delivered from soul destructive ruin, from destruction, earthquake and plague, we may pass our lives in humility, and be vouchsafed, together with all the saints that pleased God in past ages, to walk in the light and to sing with them: Thou, O Saviour, hast astonished with Thy mercies all men that in faith praise her. Wherefore we call unto her: Supplicate unceasingly for us all.

Ode 7. The Heirmos:

The youths that came from Judea have once in Babylon, by the faith in the Trinity, trodden under their feet the flame of the furnace, singing: O God of the fathers, blessed art Thou.

Above understanding hath appeared the valour of the divine martyrs, for the Maker of all subdueth the creation unto those who in their suffering call out: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.

The illustrious maiden hath shut up the dissolute mouths of the tormentors and laid low the pride of the lawless, whilst by the Holy Spirit she divinely sang: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.

The trio of the pious youths hath of old burned those that made the furnace extremely hot; and now the God-wise maiden, hymning the Trinity, hath inclined the servants to sing unto the God of the fathers: O God, blessed art Thou.

The Theotokion: When Thou, O Saviour, didst desire to accomplish our salvation; Thou hast entered the womb of the Virgin and hast shewn her as intercession unto the world: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.

Ode 8. The Heirmos.

The King of the heavens, Whom the hosts of angels sing, praise ye and extol Him unto all the ages.

The most blissful among women, having the rewarding grace of the Most High, sang praising Christ unto all the ages.

Strengthened by the thought of the Bridegroom and caring for things immaterial, thou didst give up thy body unto death and liveth unto all the ages.

The Bridegroom, having secretly descended into the furnace unto the most pure bride, hath, by the dew of the Spirit and through the good pleasure of the Father, saved her that was hymning Christ unto all the ages.

The Theotokion: Do not despise, O Virgin; those that seek thine aid, and sing and extol thee unto the ages.

Ode 9. The Heirmos.

Thee, innocent of marital life -the Mother of the Most High God, thee that above understanding hast by the word given birth unto the True God, and that is higher than the most pure powers, in unceasing doxologies we magnify.

The flow of live blood is a sign of incorruptible life from above granted unto thee, O all-praised martyr, for thou hast appeared as an inexhaustible treasury of healings unto those that draw thereof.

The death hath touched thee in accordance with the law of nature, O God-wise one, and the life=bearing deadlyhood hast thou put on impassively; therein, as thine inspirited, all-precious body was laid, thou livest incorruptibly and the flow of thy blood is the witness thereof.

As a ray of the sun illumining all and as the fairest bride of Christ, as a turtle-dove fond of cleanliness and as an olive tree, as a cedar and as a truly chosen dove-we all praise thee, O (mentioned by name), divinely eminent.

The Theotokion: As a bride innocent of marital life, as a receptacle of sweet smell, as the true and spotless Virgin and Mother, that hast received in thy womb a cloud of the divine light, heavenly rain, -we magnify thee.

The Photagogicon:As a bride wast thou adorned, betrothed unto the Bridegroom by the good-effecting passions, and as a chosen one hast thouentered into the resplendent palace, carrying the lamp of a maiden, and now dost thou (mentioned by name) reign exultingly with the One Existing unto the ages.

the Theotokion: We all sinners possess in thee, O most pure Virgin, an intercession; do make by thy supplication thy Son easily reconciled unto us.

With the Lauds, the Idiomelic Stichera, Tone 3:

Seeing the celebration of the female martyr God-wisely performed, let us, O ye faithful, sing thanksgiving psalmody unto our God, wonderful in His counsels, for He hath vanquished the invisible might of the enemy in the nature of a female, and hath put forth His divine power in the weakness of the good martyr, since He through her intercessions doth save our souls. Twice.

The all-praised martyr of Christ (mentioned by name), having mingled the cup of truth with her blood of a martyr, ever doth offer it in the church unto which, with the voice of wisdom, she gathereth the church's nurslings, saying: Draw the beer -a pledge of the resurrection, that driveth away the infidels and purifieth the passions, but is preservative unto the souls of the pious, that call unto the Saviour: Thou that hast filled us from the stream of the sweetness of the Spirit, save our souls.

Let us whose souls were sealed with the blood of Christ in the day of redemption, with spiritual exultation, prophetically, draw the holy blood that is flowing unto us from the source of martyrdom, and is prefigurative both of the life-bringing passion of the Saviour and of the eternal glory; let us therefore cry unto Him: Thou that art glorified in thy saints, O Lord, save our souls through the intercessions of Thy most glorious female martyr.

Glory... Tone 6: Proceeding along the path of martyrdom, thou, O all-honoured (mentioned by name), hast escaped the counsel of thy tyrant; since as a wise maiden, carrying the lamp, thou halt entered into the courts of thy Lord, and as a valiant martyr thou hast obtained the grace to cure the passions of the flesh. Do thou, with thine intercessions before God, cure from spiritual maladies also us that are hymning thee.

Both now... the Theotokion: We have learned the God that was incarnate of thee, O Theotokos-Virgin; Him supplicate for the salvation of our souls.

The Stavro-theotokion: When the all-pure one saw Thee hanging on the cross, with lamentations she thus vociferated motherly: O my Son and my God, my sweetest Child, how dost Thou endure the ignominious passion?

chapter xix the general service
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