Menaion of the Orthodox Church

Also on The 31st Day of the Month of March

Commemoration of the Appearance of the Wonder-Working Image of the All-Holy Theotokos, Known as the Iveron Icon, or the Keeper of the Gate

At Little Vespers

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 4 stichera, in Tone I

Come, all ye people, and having assembled with faith, let us glorify the Theotokos our Mistress, the helper of our race! And, surrounding her precious icon, let us lovingly venerate it, saying: Rejoice, O all-pure Virgin! Rejoice, Mother of the Lord Most High! Rejoice, protection and salvation of our souls!

Rejoice, O Mount Athos, for the glory of the Lord hath shone upon thee! For a star of great splendor hath moved from the east to the west: the icon of the Mother of God hath appeared in a pillar of fire, enlightening Athos with its arrival.

As the bush which burned with fire, yet remained unharmed, was once revealed to Moses on Sinai, so is the sacred image of the all-immaculate one wrapped in fire, yet remaineth unconsumed, sanctifying those who gaze upon it with faith.

Come ye joyfully, O choirs of monks! Draw ye forth inexhaustible grace from the icon of the Mother of God which flasheth with fire, and receive it with faith and love; for it is bestowed most gloriously upon your monasteries as a rampart and bulwark, that it may protect you against all enemies, visible and invisible.

Glory…, Now and ever…, in Tone V

Come, ye people, and let us worship before the wonder-working and most precious image of the Mother of God, which she hath given to the Monastery of Iveron as an ever-vigilant and invincible guardian; for she sheltereth that holy monastery, and all who live on Holy Athos, with her protection, and granteth abundant gifts of healings out of the inexhaustible wellspring of her holy icon, unto all who honor that wondrous image of the Mother of God. Wherefore, chanting, let us cry out to the prototype thereof: Rejoice, O help of the world, thou consolation of our souls!

Then, “O joyful Light…”, without an entrance. Prokimenon: “Our God is in heaven and on earth…”; and then, “Vouchsafe, O Lord…”

On the Aposticha, these stichera, in Tone II

We thy servants glorify and hymn thee, the pure habitation of the all-pure Light, O Theotokos; for thou dost sanctify us by the revelation of thine all-pure icon.

Stichos: Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest, Thou and the ark of Thy holiness.

Glory to Thee, O Christ our King! Glory to Thy great loving-kindness towards us! For Thou hast given to the Orthodox the icon of Thine all-pure Mother, which poureth forth upon us torrents of grace in abundance.

Stichos: The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David, and He will not annul it.

Let us keep splendid festival today, O right-believing people, overshadowed by the advent of the icon of the Mother of God, with faith receiving therein a constantly attentive guardian; and let us cry out to the Theotokos: Protect us from all evil, and save thou our souls!

Glory…, Now and ever…, in Tone VI

Let us make haste to the calm haven, the Virgin Mother, the helper of our race; and let us bow down before her precious image which is reverenced by the angels, crying out with compunction: Look down, O compassionate Mother, upon the grievous sorrows which beset us, and heal thou the sickness of our souls!

Troparion: for text, see Great Vespers. Litany and dismissal.

At Great Vespers

After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man…”, the first antiphon.

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera, in Tone V

Adorn thyself, O Athos! Rejoice and be glad, O Monastery of Iveron! For, lo! the wondrous icon of the Mother of God cometh, borne over the sea by angels, resplendent with an ineffable light, driving away the gloom of sorrows and griefs, and illumining all with the rays of her mercy.

The choirs of monks and companies of ascetics fall down before thee, O Lady, and, lovingly gazing upon thy holy icon, they cry out to thee: Come unto us, O good Mother! Take pity upon those who honor thee, and grant us thy holy image as an earnest of mercy and salvation!

O all glorious wonder! For as the bush which burned with fire, yet remained unharmed, was once revealed to Moses on Sinai, so is the image of the all-immaculate Theotokos clothed in fire, yet remaineth unconsumed, illumining us who are in darkness, and preserving us unharmed amid the furnace of temptations and misfortunes.

Come thou, O Gabriel! Go forth with dryshod feet out onto the sea, and take the icon of the Mother of God in thine arms, unto the joy of Athos, as a bulwark for the Monastery of Iveron, and as a consolation for all Christians!

O Virgin Theotokos, thou mighty helper, the Monastery of Iveron now boasteth and rejoiceth in thee, having thee as a helper unashamed, an impregnable rampart, and unshakable foundation, and an ever-vigilant guardian. O Lady, never cease to deliver thy monastery and all Christian people from all dangers by thy supplications.

Grant consolation to thy servants who are held fast by temptations, O pure Theotokos, and exalt the horn of the faithful. By thy supplications save thou all the monasteries and cities of the Orthodox, strengthen our right-believing hierarchs against heresies and schisms, and defend all thy faithful servants who praise thee.

Thine all-pure icon, O Virgin Theotokos, is spiritual healing for the whole world. We flee to it, bowing down before thee; we venerate and kiss it; we draw forth the grace of healing through it, and by thy supplications we are freed from ailments of spirit and bodily sufferings.

The Monastery of Iveron, enlightened by the icon of thee and thy Son, as with royal purple and fine linen, O Theotokos, is adorned with miracles. Today it calleth all to celebrate its revelation, shining with the grace of the Holy Spirit more brightly than the radiance of the sun, gushing forth a wellspring of healings upon the sick and infirm, and granting rich mercy unto all.

Glory…, Now and ever…, in Tone VIII

O good Mother, Virgin Lady and Theotokos: spurn us not, thy humble servants, who offer up our unworthy prayers before thine all-pure icon. Be thou a fervent mediatress before thy Son for us sinners; deliver us from all misfortunes and temptations, that, saved by thee, we may continually cry out to thee: Rejoice, O good gate-keeper who openest unto us the portals of paradise!

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three readings:

A Reading from the Book of Genesis

Jacob went forth from the well of the oath, and departed into Haran. And he came to a certain place, and slept there, for the sun had gone down; and he took one of the stones of the place, and put it at his head, and lay down to sleep in that place, and dreamed: and behold a ladder fixed on the earth, whose top reached to heaven, and the angels of God ascended and descended on it. And the Lord stood upon it, and said: “I am the God of thy father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. Fear not; the land on which thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. And thy seed shall be like the sand of the earth; and it shall spread abroad to the sea, and the south, and the north, and the east; and in thee and in thy seed shall all tribes of the earth be blessed. And behold I am with thee to preserve thee continually in all the way wherein thou shalt go; and I will bring thee back to this land; for I will not desert thee, until I have done all that I have said to thee.” And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and said: “The Lord is in this place, and I knew it not.” And he was afraid, and sad: “How fearful is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”

A Reading from the Book of Exodus

Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he brought the sheep nigh to the wilderness, and came to the Mount of Horeb. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the bush, and he saw that the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. And Moses said: “I will go near and see this great sight, why the bush is not consumed.” And when the Lord saw that he drew nigh to see, the Lord called him out of the bush, saying: “Moses, Moses!” And he said: “What is it?” And He said: “Draw not nigh hither: loose thy sandals from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” And He said: “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses turned away his face, for he was afraid to gaze at God. And the Lord said to Moses: “I have surely seen the affliction of My people that is in Egypt, and I have heard their cry caused by their taskmasters; for I know their affliction. And I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land, and to bring them into a good and wide land, into a land flowing with milk and honey.”

A Reading from the Book of Exodus

God led the people round by the way to the wilderness, to the Red Sea: and in the fifth generation the children of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had solemnly adjured the children of Israel, saying: “God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones hence with you.” And the children of Israel departed from Succoth, and encamped in Etham by the wilderness. And God led them, in the day, by a pillar of cloud, to show them the way, and in the night by a pillar of fire. And the pillar of cloud failed not by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, before all the people.

At the Litya, these stichera, in Tone VIII

Come, ye who love the feasts of the Church, and ye companies of fasters; and having assembled together, let us offer hymns of praise to the Virgin Mary: for today the splendid festival of the revelation of her precious icon of Iveron hath dawned. And surrounding it in fear and love, let us chant to the Theotokos: Rejoice, inexpressible joy of all! Rejoice, thou who enlightenest us with thy holy image! Rejoice, boast and confirmation of all! Rejoice, salvation of our souls!

What shall we call thee, O Virgin Theotokos? Pillar of fire guiding us to an everlasting inheritance? Mighty rampart, in that thou defendest the generation of the Orthodox? Ever-vigilant guardian, in that thou preservest and savest this habitation? Wherefore, delivered from the tribulations which befall us, let us cry out to the Mistress: Rejoice, thou cause of good things, sure hope of Christians!

Glory…, Now and ever…, in Tone V

Athos rejoiceth; the Monastery of Iveron joineth in chorus, and the whole land of Russia holdeth festival. The Mother of God hath mercifully visited us in her wonder-working image, whereby she granteth aid amid necessities, consolation amid sorrows, healing amid illnesses, deliverance amid misfortunes, and bestoweth great mercy upon us all.

At the Aposticha, these stichera, in Tone IV

We glorify today the glorious appearance of thine icon, O most immaculate Theotokos, and we celebrate thine aid to us; for, in that thou art the Mother of Life, thou entreatest Christ our God in behalf of us who place a firm trust in thee, O our true guide to salvation.

Stichos: I shall remember thy name in every generation and generation.

Set aside all grief, O ye faithful; for, lo! a second burning bush, the icon of the Mother of God, appeareth for the cleansing of the sinful, and is seen by the monks of Athos.

Stichos: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear.

O Mother of God, thou appearest in a pillar of fire, signifying thy guidance of us in the sojourn of life, that thou mayest direct us, who have gone astray, to the eternal mansions of heaven.

Glory…, Now and ever…, in Tone V

Come, all ye monks and layfolk, let us glorify the all-pure Virgin Theotokos; for today, because of her sacred icon, her path is in the sea and her steps in many waters; for she passeth over the sea from Nicæa to Athos, in a pillar of fire, and in her arrival granteth her faithful a gift. And we, illumined by the ray of grace, call the mediatress of our salvation blessed.

Troparion, in Tone I

The audacity of those who hate the image of the Lord and the might of the impious came godlessly to Nicæa, and emissaries inhumanly interrogated the widow who piously venerated the icon of the Mother of God; but at night, she and her son cast the icon into the sea, crying out: “Glory to thee, O pure one, for the trackless sea hath given thee its breast! Glory to thy straight journey, O thou who alone art incorrupt!”

At Matins

At “God is the Lord…”, the Troparion of the icon, thrice.

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone I

The appearance of thine all-radiant countenance bringeth joy to all the faithful, and it giveth the Monastery of Iveron an ever-vigilant guardian and deliverance from misfortunes. Wherefore, we hymn thee, O all-pure one. Ever shelter us with thy protection.

Glory…, Now and ever…, in Tone VIII

This is the day of the Lord! Rejoice, O ye people! For, lo! the Light-bearing cloud spreadeth out upon the air and appeareth before Mount Athos in a pillar of fire, alone holding in her maternal arms the one Christ, the Creator of the universe, for the salvation of our souls.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone III

Today the flocks of Athos rejoice with splendor. They compose a multitude of hymns, lovingly honoring the immaculate one, adorning themselves with the magnitude of the grace which they have received through the advent of the icon of the all-immaculate Maiden who illumineth with rays of divine knowledge those who hymn her piously .

Glory…, Now and ever…, in Tone V

An all-glorious wonder is seen today: how the fiery icon of the divine Maiden appeareth on the waters, emitteth beams of radiance, and saveth the habitations of fasters by a miracle. Wherefore, let us cry out in thanksgiving: Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace!

Polyeleos, and this Magnification

We magnify thee, O all-holy Virgin, divinely elect Maiden, and we honor thy holy image, whereby thou pourest forth healings upon all who have recourse to it.

Selected Psalm Verses

A Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness. [Ps. 131: 1]

B How he made an oath unto the Lord, and vowed unto the God of Jacob. [Ps. 131: 2]

A Lo, we have heard of it in Ephratha, we have found it in the plains of the wood. [Ps. 131: 6]

B Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. [Ps. 86: 3]

A God is in the midst of her, and she shall not be shaken. [Ps. 45: 6]

B The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David, and He will not annul it. [Ps. 131: 11]

A Of the fruit of thy loins will I set upon thy throne. [Ps. 131: 11]

B For the Lord hath elected Sion, He hath chosen her to be a habitation for Himself. [Ps. 131: 13]

A The Most High hath hallowed His tabernacle. [Ps. 45: 5]

B Holiness and majesty are in His sanctuary. [Ps. 93: 6]

A Holy is Thy temple, wonderful in righteousness. [Ps. 64: 5,6]

B Holiness becometh Thine house, O Lord, unto length of days. [Ps. 92: 6]

A I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation. [Ps. 44: 18]

B Blessed is the Lord forever, and unto the ages of ages. [cf. Ps. 88: 53]

Glory…, Now and ever…, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Thrice

After the Polyeleos, this Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII

Who can describe thy greatness, O Theotokos? For in the manifestation of thine image thou didst astound all the Orthodox, curing many infirmities and healing diseases. O most merciful Mistress, deprive us not now of thine assistance, but by thy supplications defend and save our lawful civil authorities, and by thy power protect all their Christ-loving armed forces; that, boasting in thee and placing all our hope on thee, we may not be put to shame forever.

Glory…, Now and ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

The Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.

Prokimenon, in Tone IV

I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation.

Stichos: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Gospel according to Luke, §4 [Lk. 1: 39-49, 56]

In those days, Mary arose and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zechariah, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” And Mary said: “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name.” And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI

When the appearance of thy wondrous icon took place, the fathers of Athos, beholding the pillar of fire upon the sea, were astonished and stricken with awe. But, walking across the sea like a second Peter, Gabriel cried out to thee, shedding tears: O all-holy one, come thou and preserve thine inheritance unassailed by the foe!

Canon, in Tone VIII

Ode I

Irmos: The staff of Moses, once working a wonder, striking the sea in the form of the Cross and dividing it, drowned the mounted tyrant Pharaoh, and saved Israel who fled on foot, chanting a hymn unto God.

Accept these hymns of praise from my defiled lips, O all-immaculate one, as once thy Son, my God and Lord, accepted the widow’s two mites; and grant me remission of my transgressions, that I may magnify thee as is meet.

The hymnody of the angels befitteth thee, the Mother of God; for in strange manner thou gavest birth unto their Creator. But accept from us, O Mistress, these humble prayers, that we may chant unto the Lord: Gloriously hast Thou glorified Thyself in our weakness!

The waters grew, and the waves became solid in the midst of the sea, bearing thine icon, O Mother of God. Wherefore, make firm my quaking heart steadfast upon the rock of the commandments of Christ.

Thou wast a helper and protector for the Monastery of Iveron, O Virgin, sinking the forces of the pirates and their ships in the sea. Drown thou also in the depths of the loving-kindness of thy Son all the passions of my soul and my countless transgressions.

Ode III

Irmos: O Christ, Who in the beginning established the heavens in wisdom and founded the earth upon the waters, make me steadfast upon the rock of Thy commandments; for none is holy as Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Make firm my heart in hope on thee, O Mother of God; take thou all pride and vainglory from my benighted mind, that I may cry out: None is as holy as the Lord, and none is as righteous as our God!

Thou, O Mother of God, dost gird the weak about with strength and feedest the hungry. Visit also mine infirmity, and nurture me, who hunger and thirst, with the Bread of Life Who came down from heaven to earth through thy virginal womb.

Raise me up from the ground, wretch that I am; lift me up out of the mire of sin, though I am poor; and grant prayer unto me who now make entreaty, that, magnifying thine assistance, I may hymn thee.

Show my barren mind to be fruitful, O good Virgin who wast born of a barren woman; for through the appearance of thine icon thou grantest an abundance of all good things.

This Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII

Today the splendid festival of our helper hath dawned! Let creation leap up, and let the assemblies of men join chorus! For the holy Theotokos calleth us together to behold her fire-bearing icon which illumineth the faithful with rays of mercy. Wherefore, rejoicing, we cry aloud: O Lady, from famine, fire, the sword and tribulations save us who honor the appearance of thine icon!

Glory…, Now and ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Ode IV

Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power; Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, hast visited our lowliness. Wherefore, with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Thy virtue hath covered the heavens, O Mother of God, and the earth hath been filled with thy praise; but thou hast departed for the salvation of men, and hast come to save thine inheritance.

Hearing report of thine arrival, the monks of Athos were afraid and, considering thy works, were filled with awe. And when my soul is troubled, be thou mindful of thy mercy, O Mistress, that I may cry out: Glory to thine aid, O Mother of God!

Thou art my might and power, O Theotokos. Through thee do I find rest in the day of my sorrow, and through thee do I pass from the land of wandering into the inheritance of heaven; and I rejoice in the Lord, my God and Savior.

Ode V

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

O pure one, look upon the people of thy flock who wake at dawn out of the night, and who surround thy divinely praised icon, entreating remission of their sins, correction of life and a share in divine glory. Yea, thrust us not away from thy face, O Mother of the never-waning Light.

All in thy flock, joining chorus together with their whole soul and mind, honor thine icon with psalms, spiritual songs and divine hymnody, asking forgiveness and salvation of soul. And as thou art our healing, O Mistress, Bride of God, grant them unto us.

Thy temple, O Virgin, hath been shown to be another paradise, having the icon of thy beauty in its midst like the tree of life; and all, venerating it fervently with reverence and love, cry out: O Mistress, grant us peace! Pay thou our ransom, for we know none other consolation than thee!

Having acquired thee as a river of sweetness ever gushing forth a torrent of plenitude, the manna of heaven, and abundance and grace, O Maiden, those who dwell in thy monastery hymn thy birthgiving.

Ode VI

Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the abyss of evils, I pray, for to Thee have I cried, and Thou hast hearkened to me, O God of my salvation.

Foundering in the tempest of the sea of life, in sorrow of heart I cry out to thee, O Mistress, and to thee do I flee, as to a calm haven. Lead up my life from corruption!

The uttermost abyss of sins hath encompassed me, and my spirit perisheth; but extend thou thine outstretched arm, O Mistress, and render me unharmed who approach thine icon, as thou didst Gabriel.

Turn me not utterly away from thy countenance, O Mother of the never-waning Light; neither let me drown in the abyss of mine iniquities, that my life may escape corruption, and I may sacrifice with a voice of praise and confession.

Kontakion, in Tone VIII

Even though thy holy icon was cast into the sea by the widow who was unable to save it from the foe, O Theotokos, yet hath it been shown to be the preserver of Mount Athos and the gate-keeper of the Monastery of Iveron, frightening away the enemy and delivering from all misfortunes and dangers those who honor thee in our homeland.

Ikos: Beholding the icon of the Mother of God which appeared in the pillar of fire, the company of ascetics of Iveron cried out: O Master, count us worthy to receive the icon of Thy Mother, for the consolation of our earthly sojourn! And do thou, O Gabriel, dare to walk forth upon the sea and take the treasure revealed to us in thine arms, that it may be for us an ever-vigilant guardian, a protection and joy for all Christians!

Ode VII

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the fire stood in awe of the condescension of God; wherefore, the youths, dancing with joyous step in the furnace, as in a meadow, chanted: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

I have sinned, I have committed iniquities, I have done what is unrighteous in Thy sight, O Lord Jesus! Yet as thou art good, O Theotokos my Mistress, quench the fire of His just wrath with thy fervent mediation, that we may chant unto Him: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

With the streams of thy compassions, O Mother of God, bedew us who are burning up in the furnace of temptations and misfortunes, that our enemies may be put to shame, and that all may understand that thou alone, O Mistress, art glorified throughout the whole universe.

We hymn thee, O Mother of God, as the throne of the King of glory, more honorable than the cherubim, the animate temple wherein the Lord made His abode, the firmament of the heavens wherein shone Christ, the Sun of righteousness; and we exalt thee supremely for all ages.

Thou art the gladness of those who dwell in the wilds and the consolation and boast of the Imperial City, O Virgin Mary, who art all-hymned and exalted supremely forever.

Ode VIII

Irmos: Madly did the Chaldæan tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but, beholding them saved by a higher Power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

The hosts of the angels hymn thee, the human race exalteth thee, and all creation blesseth thee, O all-pure Virgin Theotokos. Accept from me, who am unworthy, the praise I offer thee.

Sing, ye monks of Athos! Bless, O Iberian land! O land of Russia, exalt supremely the good Mistress who gusheth forth rivers of miracles through her wonder-working icon! We praise, bless and bow down before thee, O Theotokos, hymning and exalting thee supremely for all ages!

It is not only Holy Athos which is enlightened by the likeness of the Iveron icon; but the reigning city of Moscow hath also been adorned therewith, receiving miraculous help therefrom and acquiring a wellspring of consolation therein.

The land of Novgorod, and other cities and towns were likewise sanctified by copies of thine icon, and have been enlightened by miracles, O Mistress, crying out: Hymn ye the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Ode IX

Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God hath appeared in the flesh, and that thy womb became more spacious than the heavens. Wherefore, the ranks of men and angels magnify thee as the Theotokos.

The mystery of the profundity of thy birthgiving striketh the intelligence of the angels with awe, O Virgin, and thine all-pure icon driveth the demons away; for, unable to bear the sight of its power, they flee and vanish. And we lovingly bow down and venerate it, and magnify thee, the Theotokos.

Come ye, and let us all bow down, fall prostrate and magnify the Mother of God, who hath watched over us, the lowly, who feedeth the hungry with good things, and in the appearance of her wondrous icon hath concluded with us a covenant of mercy.

O Virgin Theotokos, hope of Christians, extend unto our generation thy mercies, which thou didst bestow upon our fathers. Protect and save us from all evil.

O most merciful helper of Christians, the tongue of neither angel nor man is able to hymn thee worthily, in that thou art more honorable than all creation and more glorious than earthly things. O Mistress, mercifully accept this entreaty offered thee by us. Ever save us, for in thee have we placed our trust.

Exapostilarion

Taking thy most precious icon in his arms, O Mistress, Gabriel cried out to thee: O sweet Mother of Christ the King, be thou the protection of thy monastery, the joy of all Christians, and the surety of life everlasting!

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone IV

O the ineffable goodness, O the glorious revelation of the icon of the Mother of God, which is resplendent with miracles and illumineth with grace those who approach it! Receiving it with gladness, with hymns we honor and bless the divine Maiden as is meet. Twice

O thy forethought concerning us, O Mistress! For today thou sendest forth thy wondrous icon, and mercifully grantest us an ever-vigilant guardian and a consolation for our sojourn. Wherefore, acknowledging thy precious wonders, with hymns we magnify thee.

O all-glorious wonder! How is the fire-bearing icon borne upon the surface of the waves of the sea as upon a chariot, illumining men’s minds with radiant beams of grace? Joyfully honoring its festival with hymns, we send up glory to the Theotokos.

Glory…, Now and ever…, in the same tone

Fulfilling thy word, O Mother of God, the venerable Gabriel strode dryshod upon the waters of the sea, and, taking up thy sacred icon, he joined the chorus of the ascetics of Athos and held festival. Wherefore, marvelling at the ultimate Author of these miracles, we also cry out: Glory to the one King and God Who, at the supplications of the Theotokos, hath wrought wondrous things! Preserve our Orthodox hierarchs, whom Thou hast chosen to watch over us, and grant that they may triumph over all heresies, in that Thou art almighty!

At Divine Liturgy

On the Beatitudes, 8 Troparia: 4 from Ode III, and 4 from Ode VI of the canon to the icon.

After the Entrance: the Troparion of the icon; Glory…, Now and ever…, the Kontakion of the icon.

Prokimenon, in Tone III: the Song of the Theotokos

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

Stichos: For He hath looked upon the lowliness of His handmaiden; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Epistle to the Hebrews, §320 [Heb. 9: 1-7]

Brethren, the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.

Alleluia, in Tone II

Stichos: Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest, Thou and the ark of thy holiness.

Stichos: The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David, and He will not annul it.

Gospel according to Luke, §54 [Lk. 10: 38-42, 11: 27-28]

At that time, Jesus entered into a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said: “Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.” And Jesus answered and said unto her: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” And it came to pass, as He spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto Him: “Blessed is the womb that bare Thee, and the paps which Thou hast sucked.” But He said: “Yea, rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”

Communion Verse

I will take the cup of salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord.