Joyous New Year!

Troparion of the New Year

Maker of the Universe, O Lord who alone have power over seasons and times: bless this year with Your bounty, preserve our country in safety and keep Your people in peace, through the payers of the Mother of God and save us.

Kontakion of the New Year

O Creator and Master of time and eternity, super-substantial God of All, O Merciful One: bless the course of this year, and in Your boundless mercy, save all those who worship You, our One and only Master, and who cry out to You in fear: O savior grant a happy year to all mankind.

Synaxarion of the Fourth Sunday of Lent

Kontakion of John Climacos in Tone One

O wise and blessed John, you gave us your teachings as fruits ever ripe to liven the hearts of those who hear them well. Your doctrine is like as ladder that leads to heavenly and everlasting glory the souls of those who honor you, O father John our teacher.

Ikos

O our father, you have become the dwelling place of God; you shine with your virtues, with faith, hope and love, as the most pure gold; you expound the divine precepts, and practiced asceticism as one who was liberated from the flesh. You acquired wisdom, courage, chastity, and humility, by which you were raised on high. Illuminated by constant prayer, you attained the tabernacles of Heaven, O father John, our teacher.

Synaxarion

On this same day, the fourth Sunday of the Fast, we celebrate the memory of our Father John, the author of “The Ladder.”

O John, while living, you seemed dead to the body. Now that you appear dead and without breath, you live forever. You left your book, through which you ascended on high, clearly teaching the ladder of ascent to Heaven to everyone.

By the prayers of Your saints, O Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Synaxarion of the Third Sunday of Lent

Kontakion in Tone Seven

The Angel's fiery sword will no longer guard the gate of Paradise, for the Cross of the Lord has put it out wondrously. The power of Death has been broken, the victory of Hades wiped out, and You, my Savior, have stood up and called out to all those bound in Hell: "Come now; enter again into Paradise!"

Ikos

Pilate set up three crosses on Golgotha, two for the thieves and one for the Lord of life. Seeing this, Hades asked its servants: "Who has driven this spear into my heart? A wooden lance has pierced me, and I am torn apart. What pain has penetrated my womb and my heart! What sorrow stabs my spirit! I am forced to give up Adam and his children, those whom I had received from the forbidden Tree; for the new Tree leads them to enter again into Paradise.

Synaxarion

On this day, the third Sunday of the Fast, we celebrate the feast of the veneration of the precious and life-giving Cross.

Let the whole creation bow down in woship before You, O Word, as it venerates Your life-giving Cross.

Wherefore, through its power, O Christ our God, protect us against the snares of the evil one, make us worthy to pass safely through the struggle of the Fast. May we adore Your divine Passion and Your life-giving Resurrection. Have mercy on us, for You alone are good and the Lover of Mankind. Amen.

Synaxarion of the Second Sunday of Lent

Kontakion of the Holy Relics in Tone Eight

Through penance and mortification, the holy martyrs of Christ have overcome the disorder of their burning passions. During their lifetime, they had received the grace of healing the sick; after their death, they have the power of performing miracles. It is a great marvel indeed that healing should come forth from mere bones. Glory to the Creator, to God alone!

Kontakion of Gregory in Tone Eight

Holy and divine instrument of wisdom, joyful trumpet of theology, with one accord we sing your praises, O Gregory inspired by God! But since you stand now in mind and spirit before the Original Mind, guide our minds to Him, O father, that we may cry out to you: "Hail, O preacher of grace!"

Ikos

You appeared on earth as an angelic messenger, proclaiming to mortal men the mysteries of God. Endowed with a human mind and flesh, yet speaking with the voice of the bodiless powers, you have filled us with amazement, O saint inspired by God, and made us cry aloud to you: "Hail, for through you the darkness is dispelled! Hail, for through you the light has returned! Hail, messenger of the uncreated Divinity! Hail, reprover of the created folly! Hail, height impossible to climb that tells us of God's nature! Hail, depth hard to scan, which speaks of His energy! Hail, for you have rightly proclaimed His glory! Hail, torch that shows us the Sun! Hail, cup filled with nectar! Hail, for through you the truth has shone forth! Hail, for through you falsehood has been plunged into darkness. Hail, preacher of grace!"

Synaxarion

On this second Sunday of the Great Fast, we commemorate our holy father Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica.

Truly, the great preacher of the wondrous and brilliant Light has been led by the Fount of Light into unsetting Light.

By his holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us.

From the Triodion - Saturday of the First Week of Lent

Troparion of Theodore in Tone Two

Faith can accomplish great things: because of its power, through it the Holy Great Martyr Theodore rejoiced in the midst of the flames as if he had been in refreshing water. Burned by the flames, he was offered to the Holy Trinity as delightful bread. Through his intercessions, O Christ God, save our souls.

Kontakion of Theodore in Tone Eight

Your faith in Christ was like a breastplate on our heart. Through it, you overcame the enemies' power; wherefore, you are crowned in eternity with a heavenly diadem.

Ikos

O You who are seated on a throne of light, with faith and thankfulness we sing Your praise. For You have granted us a "Gift of God", Theodore, courageous in his martyrdom, thrice-blessed in his life, the champion of the truth. With firm devotion, he held fast to Christ and proved to be a mighty victor over the deceitful Enemy, wherefore he was crowned in eternity with a heavenly diadem.

Synaxarion

On the same day, the Saturday of the first week of the Great Fast, we celebrate the splendid miracle which ws performed by the glorious among the martyrs, Theodore the Recruit, through the boiled wheat.

By boiled wheat, Theodore has fed the city, frustrating the deception of the food polluted by impiety.

By his holy prayers, O our God, take pity on us and save us. Amen.

From the Triodion - Saturday of our God-bearing Fathers, the Ascetics

Troparion in Tone Four

O God of our Fathers who always deal with us according to Your compassion, do not remove Your Mercy from us; but through their intercession, direct our lives in peace.

Kontakion in Tone Eight

O Lord, all those who followed the ways of God, the Light of the Universe, were filled with joy, for they have preached and practiced piety and prevented evil deeds. Through their intercession, preserve in perfect peace those who praise You and glorify Your Name, that they may sing to You: "Alleluia!"

Ikos

Looking at the pleasures of this life and pondering their nature and effects, and reflecting on the toil and suffing they cause, I judge the life of mortal man to be filled with misery. You alone would I call blessed, for you have chosen the better part: to suffer with Christ and to remain with Him, tha you may always sing with the Prophet David: Alleluia!

Synaxarion

On this (same) day, we commemorate all the holy men and women who were outstanding in the ascetic life.

I will pour out these words as perpetual libations forever to the souls of the just whose memory will remain forever and ever.

Through the intercession of all the holy ascetics, O Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Hymns of the Paschal Divine Liturgy

TROPARION OF EASTER IN TONE FIVE

Christ is risen from the dead, and by His death, He has trampled upon Death and has given life to those who were in the tombs.

HIPACOI OF EASTER IN TONE FOUR

Mary and her companions went forth before dawn. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, and heard the angel say: Why do you seek Him as a man among the dead, when He is in eternal splendor? Behold the shroud is folded. Hasten and proclaim to the world that the Lord is risen and has put death to death, for he is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind.

KONTAKION OF PASCHA

Though You went down to the tomb, O Immortal One, You overthrew the power of Hades, and rose victorious, O Christ God; You greeted the Ointment-bearing Women, saying: Rejoice! You gave peace to your Apostles, and to those who had fallen, resurrection.

From the Triodion -- Mid-Lent

O merciful Lord, You endured the Passion of the Cross in the midst of the earth, granting redemption and freedom from the passions to all. Therefore, in the midst of the Fast, we have set Your Cross before us and venerate it with great joy. Glorious with the light of the virtues, may we all be counted worthy to see Your Passion and life-giving Resurrection, O Word of God, who alone are rich in mercy.

O Savior, Your Cross has given to us Christians a power that never can be defeated. Through it, the alien hosts of the Enemy are put to flight, O Christ; and Your Church, professing the true Faith, is overshadowed with peace. Venerating it, we raise our fervent cry to You: Make us worthy of the inheritance of Your saints!

Glory ... Now and always...

Today the Master of creation and the Lord of Glory is nailed to the Cross and His side is pierced. He who is the sweetness of the Church tastes gall and vinegar. A crown of thorns is placed upon Him who covers the heavens with clouds. He is clothed in a cloak of mockery, and He who formed man with His own hands is struck by a hand of clay. He who wraps the heavens in clouds is scourged upon His back. He accepts spitting and scourging, insults and slaps. All these things my Deliverer and God endures for me whom am condemned, that in His compassion He may save the world from death.

From O Lord, to You I Call, Vespers, Wednesday, Fourth Week of Lent

I have surpassed the Publican in my transgressions, but I do not match his repentance. I have not accomplished the good deeds of the Pharisee, yet I boldly outdo his boasting. By Your infinite humility, O Christ God, by which You laid low the arrogance of the demon on the Cross, establish me in the good deeds of the one and the humility of the other. Confirm me in the good intentions of both, and save me, O Savior!

From the Aposticha, Vespers, Wednesday, Fourth Week of Lent

The Divine Cross lies before us for our veneration, and it sanctifies the time of the Fast. Let us approach with a pure conscience to draw from it sanctification and enlightenment, and let us cry aloud with awe: Glory to Your compassion, O our Savior, who loves mankind!

From the Kathismata (Sessional Hymns), Orthros, Wednesday, Fourth Week of Lent

The Angel's fiery sword will no longer guard the gate of Paradise, for the Cross of the Lord has put out wondrously. The power of Death has been broken, the victory of Hades wiped out, and you, my Savior, have stood up and called out to all those bound in Hell: Come now; enter again into Paradise!

Kontakion, Orthros, Wednesday, Fourth Week of Lent

We have completed half of the Fast, which has led us to Your Holy Cross. Enable also to behold the day which Abraham saw and rejoiced, when he took his son Isaac back alive from the mountain, as from a tomb. Deliver us from the Enemy by faith; may we share in Your Mystical Supper, calling upon You in peace: Our Light and our Savior, glory to You!

From the Aposticha, Orthros, Wednesday, Fourth Week of Lent

From the Triodion

Come, let us drink a new drink: not miraculously produced from a barren rock, but from the Fount of Immortality springing forth from the Tomb of Christ, in which we are established.

I glorify the One Divinity in Three Persons, without beginning and not divided: Father, Son, and Life-giving Spirit, in whom we are baptized.

Katavasia: By the power of Your Cross, establish me firmly on the rock of faith, O Christ our Master, that my spirit may not falter beneath the arrows of the Enemy: for You alone are holy, You alone are Lord.

From the third Ode of the Canon, Orthros, Third Sunday of Lent

The Angel's fiery sword will no longer guard the gate of Paradise, for the Cross of the Lord has put it out wondrously. The power of Death has been broken, the victory of Hades wiped out, and You, my Savior, have stood up and called out to all those bound in Hell: Come now; enter again into Paradise!

Kontakion, Orthros, Third Sunday of Lent

On this day, the third Sunday of the Fast, we celebrate the feast of the veneration of the precious and Life-giving Cross.

Let the whole creation bow down in worship before You, O Word, as it venerates Your Life-giving Cross.

Wherefore, through its power, O Christ our God, protect us against the snares of the Evil One, make us worthy to pass safely through the struggle of the Fast. May we adore Your divine Passion and Your Life-giving Resurrection. Have mercy onus,for You alone are good and the Lover of Mankind. Amen.

Synaxarion, Orthros, Third Sunday of Lent

O Lord, You willingly stretched out Your hand upon the Cross: fill us with Your light through fasting and through prayer, through abstinence and works of charity. Count us worthy to venerate Your Cross with contrite hearts, for You are good and the Lover of Mankind.

From O Lord, to You I Call, Vespers, Monday, Fourth Week of Lent