as a Martyr thou hast constancy; as Brother-of-God, freedom-of-speech; as Hierarch, intercession. Supplicate CHRIST the GOD that our souls may be saved. Ост. 26тн. The universe hath found thee a great Champion in dangers, O Prizebearer, who rightly directeth the nations. As once thou didst humble Lyæas in the Stadium, and didst give confidence to Nestor, so now, O Holy-one, supplicate CHRIST the GOD to vouchsafe unto us the great mercy. OF THE HOLY UNMERCENARIES COSMAS AND DAMIAN. (Nov. 1st.) Holy Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers, look upon our weaknesses: ye have received gifts, give gifts unto us. Nov. 8TH. Ye Chief-captains of the Heavenly armies, we, the unworthy, importune you that your prayers may shield us, that ye may cover us with the glorious shelter of your wings, guarding us while we fall-down and earnestly cry-aloud Redeem us from dangers, as Chief-orders of the Powers above. : OF JOHN THE MERCIFUL, ARCHBISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA. (Nov. 12TH.) In thy patience, O religious Father, thou hast gained thy reward, having persevered continually in prayers, having loved the poor, and succoured them. But, O blessed John the Merciful, intercede with CHRIST the GOD that our souls may be saved. [Both now, and ever, and to the ages of the ages. Amene. Theotokion. Thou Who for us wast Born, &c. As at page 183.] Nov. 13TH. The grace which proceedeth from thy mouth, like the brightness of fire illuminateth the universe, enricheth the world with the treasures of liberality, and sheweth to us the height of humility. But instructed by thy words, O Father John the Goldenmouthed, intercede with the WORD, CHRIST the GOD, that our souls may be saved. [Both now, and ever, and to the ages of the ages. Amene. Theotokion. Thou Who for us wast Born, &c. As at page 183.] OF THE HOLY and all-celebRATED APOSTLE PHILIP. (Nov. 14TH.) O Holy Apostle Philip, intercede with the merciful GOD, that forgiveness of stumblings may be granted to our souls. OF THE HOLY APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST MATTHEW. (Nov. 16TH.) OF THE HOLY PROPHET ABDIAS. (Nov. 19TH.) We celebrate, O LORD, the memory of Thy Prophet Abdias, through whom we importune Thee: O save our souls. EVE OF THE ENTRANCE OF THE THEOTOKOS. (Nov. 20TH.) To-day Anna persuadeth us to joy, for fruit opposed to pain buddethforth, the alone ever- -Virgin: the one who, indeed, also to-day rejoicing, bringeth-up the fulness of prayers to the Temple of the LORD, as Temple of God the WORD, and pure Mother. Nov. 21sT-24TH. To-day proclaimeth the beginning of the good-pleasure of GOD, and of the salvation of men. In the Temple of GOD the Virgin is clearly shewn forth, and CHRIST is announced to all. Let us also with a great-voice cry-aloud to her: Hail! thou in whom is fulfilled the Economy of the Creator. [Both now, and ever, and to the ages of the ages. Amene. To-day proclaimeth the beginning, &c. As immediately above.] Nov. 25TH. Let us hymn the all-celebrated Bride of CHRIST Katherine the Divine, and protectress-of-the-city of Sinai, our helper and defender: for she vigorously put-to-silence the tortuousnesses of the impious with the sword of the SPIRIT; and now, crowned as a Martyr, asketh for all the great mercy. [Both now, and ever, and to the ages of the ages. Amene. To-day proclaimeth the beginning, &c. As above.] Nov. 30TH. As the first-called of the Apostles, and own-brother of the Coryphæus, supplicate the MASTER of all, O Andrew, to give peace to the universe, and to our souls the great mercy. OF THE HOLY PROPHET NAOUM. (DEC. 1ST.) We celebrate, O LORD, the memory of Thy Prophet Naoum, through whom we importune Thee: O save our souls. OF THE Holy PROPHET ABBAKOUM. (DEC. 2nd.) We celebrate, O LORD, the memory of Thy Prophet Abbakoum, &c. As ab. OF THE HOLY PROPHET SOPHONIAS. (DEC. 3RD.) We celebrate, O LORD, the memory of Thy Prophet Sophonias, &c. As ab. DEC. 5TH. By the flowing, &c. As at page 184, changing John to Savvas. [Both now, and ever, and to the ages of the ages. Amene. Theotokion. Thou, Who for us wast Born, &c. As at page 183.] DEC. 6TH. A rule of faith, and an image of meekness, the truth of thine actions shewed thee forth to thy flock a teacher of continence: through this thou didst acquire in humility, exaltations, in poverty, riches. O Father Hierarch Nicolas, intercede with CHRIST the GOD that our souls may be saved. [Both now, and ever, and to the ages of the ages. Amene. Theotokion. The mystery hidden from the ages, &c. As at page 182.] OF THE CONCEPTION OF OUR MOST-HOLY MISTRESS, THE THEOTOKOS AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY.* (DEC. 9TH.) To-day are burst the bonds of barrenness, for God, hearing the desire of Joakeim and Anna for children, clearly promised them a Divinedaughter, from whom shall be Born Him Who is Uncontainable, Who shall become a Mortal by the summons of the Angel crying-aloud to her: Hail, O full-of-grace, the LORD is with thee. DEC. 11TH. In faith the Forefathers were justified; by them was before-designated a Church from the nations. The Saints are boastful in Glory, for from their seed is the renowned fruit, who without seed brought-forth Thee. Through their supplications, O CHRIST the GOD, save our souls. DEC. 12TH. At the First Synod, thou wast shewn-forth a Champion and a Wonderworker, O God-bearer, our Father Spyridon: wherefore, though dead, in the grave, thou calledst to, and changedst the serpent into gold; and as thou chantest thy Holy prayers, thou hast Angels for fellow-ministers to thee, O Sacred-one. Glory to Him Who hath glorified thee; Glory to Him Who hath crowned Thee; Glory to Him Who by thee hath bestowed health upon all. [Both now, and ever, and to the ages of the ages. Amene. In faith the Forefathers were justified, &c. As above.] DEC. 13-16тн. As for the 11TH. OF THE HOLY PROPHET DANIEL, AND OF THE HOLY THREE CHILDREN ANANIAS, AZARIAS, AND MISAEL. (DEC. 17TH.) Great are the results of faith! In the fountain of flame, as upon water of refreshment, the Three Holy Children exulted; and the Prophet Daniel was shewn-forth a herdsman of lions as of sheep. Through their supplications, O CHRIST the GOD, have mercy upon us. [Both now, and ever, and to the ages of the ages. Amene. In faith the Forefathers were justified, &c. As above.] DEC. 18TH AND 19TH. Great are the results of faith! &c. As above. [Both now, and ever, and to the ages of the ages. Amene. Theotokion. Thy mysteries, O Theotokos, &c. As at page 181.] *Named thus, analagously to Sep. 23rd, instead of from "Anna, Mother of the Theotokos." DEC. 20TH-23rd. Great are the results of faith! &c. As on preceding page. [Both now, and ever, and to the ages of the ages. Amene. Prepare, O Bethlehem, the Edem in which all may dwell; make ready, O Evphratha, because the Tree of Life cometh-forth from the Virgin in the Cave: for truly her Womb is shewn-forth as an Intellectual Paradise, wherein is the Divine Plant, from Which we eat Life, but not, as Adam, death. CHRIST is Born, an Image of the formerly fallen raised-up again.] DEC. 24TH. Amene. Great are the results of faith! &c. As on preceding page. [Both now, and ever, and to the ages of the ages. When, as was written, with Joseph the elder, as from the seed of David, Mary came to Bethlehem at the set time of the Birth, bearing in her womb the seedless Babe, no-one gave her a place for lodging: but as a delightsome palace the Royal Cave was shewn-forth. CHRIST is Born, an Image of the formerly fallen raised-up again.] DEC. 25TH. O CHRIST Our GOD, upon the world Thy Birth hath raised the Light of knowledge: for in It they who served the stars were taught by a Star to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Day-spring from on high. Glory to Thee, O LORD. Glory to the FATHER, and to the Son, and to the Holy GHOST. DEC. 26TH. Announce the wonders, O Joseph, to David, the Parent-of-God; thou hast seen Whom the Virgin bare in the womb; with Magi thou hast worshipped Him; with Shepherds thou hast Glorified Him, through the revelation of an Angel. Supplicate CHRIST the GOD that our souls may be saved. [Both now, OF THE HOLY Proto-Martyr and Archdeacon STEPHEN. (DEC. 27TH.) Thy head is crowned with a Regal diadem, from conflicts which thou hast endured for CHRIST the GOD, O First-struggler of the Martyrs: for thou didst refute the madness of the Jews, beholding thy Saviour at the Right Hand of the FATHER. Ever, therefore, importune Him for our souls. [Both now, and ever, and to the ages of the ages. Amene. CHRIST OUR GOD, upon the world, &c. As above.] DEC. 28TH. As for the 26TH. OF THE 14,000 HOLY BABES, WHO WERE DESTROYED UNDER HEROD. (DEC. 29TH.) Be importuned, O LORD, by the pains of the Saints, which for Thee they suffered; and heal all our griefs, we pray, O Lover-of-men. DEC. 30TH AND 31ST. As for the 26TH. JAN. 1ST. Their sound is gone forth into all the earth, which is now filled with thy words, whereby thou didst dogmatize, and make plain the nature of allthings, and set in order the customs of men. But, O sacred Basil, religious Father, intercede with CHRIST the GOD that our souls may be saved. [Both now, and ever, and to the ages of the ages. Amene. Thou didst assume unchanged the form of Man, Who art, according to substance, GOD, O Tender-hearted LORD; and fulfilling the Law didst will to be Circumcised in the Flesh, that Thou mightest put an end to darkness, and roll-away the covering of our sufferings. Glory to Thy Goodness; Glory to Thy Tenderness-of-heart; Glory, O WORD, to Thine unutterable Condescension.] BEFORE THE HOLY DIVINE-MANIFESTATION. (JAN. 2ND-4TH.) Prepare, O Zabulon, and make-ready, O Nephthalim. Leap, ye breasts of Jordan river, to receive the MASTER Coming to be Baptized. Exult, O Adam, with the Foremother; hide not yourselves as in the former Paradise, for truly, beholding you naked, He manifested Himself, that ye might be clothed in the first garments. CHRIST is manifested, willing to renew the whole creation. EVE OF THE HOLY DIVINE-MANIFESTATION. (JAN. 5TH.) Once, Eliseus, with the mantle of the ascended Elias, turned-back the river Jordan, and separated the waters on this side and on that: and the moisture itself became a dry path, to typify truly the Baptism by which we cross-over the passage of the stream of life. CHRIST is manifested in Jordan, sanctifying the waters. JAN. 6TH. In Jordan when Thou wast Baptized, O LORD, the worship of the TRI- OF THE SYNAXIS OF THE HONOURABLE AND GLORIOUS PROPHET, We commemorate the Just with encomiums: but thou, O Forerunner, wast chosen to bear witness of the LORD; for thou art truly shewn forth as most-august of Prophets, in that thou wast deemed worthy to Baptize in the streams Him also, Whom thou didst herald. Wherefore thou didst |