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APPENDIX H.

CONTAKIA OF THE DAY.

¶At page 73; and after the Contakion of the Resurrection, at pages 23, 103, 137, 142, and 148.

OF THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE.

Let us flee the boasting of the Pharisee, and let us learn of the Publican humility in groanings, crying to the Saviour: Be gracious to us, O Only Reconciler.

OF THE PRODIGAL.

To me was given wealth of the patrimony of Thy Glory, and skippingaway foolishly, I squandered it in wickednesses: wherefore the voice of the Prodigal crieth to Thee: I have sinned before Thee, O Compassionate FATHER; give me penitence, and make me as one of Thy hired-servants.

OF APOCREOS.

When upon earth cometh the GOD with Glory, and all-things togethertremble, and a river of fire traileth before the Tribunal, and the books are opened, and the secrets are revealed: then, O Righteous Judge, deliver me from the fire unquenchable, and make me worthy to stand at Thy Right Hand.

OF TYRINE.

O Guide of wisdom, Supplier of prudence, Corrector of the foolish, and Protector of the poor: stablish, instruct my heart, O MASTER. Thou gavest to me a word, the Word of the FATHER; for behold, I will not check my lips when they cry to Thee: O Merciful, have mercy upon me, the fallen-one.

1ST OF THE FASTS.

The Uncircumscript WORD of the FATHER, Incarnate from thee, O Theotokos, was Circumscribed; and the polluted Eikóna was elevated to the original form, conjoined to the Divine Beauty. But, confessing the Salvation, this Work and Word let us investigate.

2ND OF THE FASTS.

We hymn thee, O God-spoken Gregory, the sacred and divine Organ of Wisdom, the brilliant, harmonious Trumpet of Theology. But, as at the first, Mind suggested to mind, towards this guide thou our mind, O Father, that we may cry : Hail! herald of Grace.

3RD OF THE FASTS.

No longer the flaming sword guardeth the gate of Edem, for the wood of the Cross coming thereto with paradoxic quenching, driveth away the sting of death, and the victory of Hades. But attend, O my Saviour, to the loud-cryings of those in Hades: O lead us again to the Paradise.

4TH OF THE FASTS.

Ever-blooming fruits, wise lessons out of the book of of offerings, to these turning thy mind with soberness, thou gratifiest thy heart, O Blessed. For thou art a Ladder,* leading souls upward from earth to Heaven remaining also a glory of those who in faith honour thee.

5TH OF THE FASTS.

Fleeing from the darkness of sin, the light of penitence discerned, thy heart, O Glorious-one, belongeth to CHRIST; this, the all-blameless and Holy Mother, interceding from sympathy, constrains: wherefore, also of stumblings thou hast found acquittance, and together-with Angels thou art ever exulting.

OF THE PALMS.

Thou art mounted upon the Throne in Heaven, on the Foal upon the earth, O CHRIST the GOD, Who art the praise of the Angels, and the hymn of the Children who received Thee, crying-aloud: Blessed art Thou that cometh, the recaller of Adam.

OF THE HOLY AND GREAT PASCHA.

If also Thou didst descend into the Grave, O Immortal, yet Thou didst overthrow the power of Hades, and hast Risen as Conqueror, O CHRIST the GOD, having uttered Hail to the Ointment-bearing women, and to Thine Apostles being about to give peace; Thou Who to them that fell granted a Resurrection.

OF THE HOLY OINTMENT-BEARING WOMEN.

At Thy Resurrection, O CHRIST the GOD, the Hail having been uttered to the Ointment-bearers, the wailing of the foremother Eve ceased: but to Thine Apostles they proclaimed the injunction: The Saviour is Risen from the Tomb.

OF THE PARALYTIC.

My soul, O LORD, terribly paralyzed in all kind of sins, and unnatural doings, riseth at the Presence of Thy Divinity, even as rose also, of old, the Paralytic, that with those about to be saved it may cry: Glory to Thy Strength, O CHRIST, the Compassionate.

OF THE SAMARITAN-WOMAN.

The Samaritan-woman coming in faith to the well, beheld Thee, the Water of Wisdom; Which drinking abundantly, she inherited the Kingdom from above, the eternally celebrated.

* In allusion to the name John Climakos.

OF THE BLIND-MAN.

With the eyes of the soul blinded, we come to Thee, O CHRIST, as did he who was blind from birth; in penitence crying: Thou, of those in darkness, art the Light exceeding bright.

OF THE 318 FATHERS OF NICEA.

The proclamation of the Apostles, and the dogmas of the Fathers, sealed the One Faith to the Church, which also she bears as a garment of Truth, the vesture of Theology from above, erect and glorious, the great mystery of Godliness.

OF THE HOLY PENTECOST.

When the Highest, descending, confounded the tongues, He scattered nations; when He distributed the tongues of fire, He called all to Unity : we also, harmoniously, Glorify the All-Holy SPIRIT.

OF ALL THE SAINTS.

As first-fruits of nature to the Gardener of creation, the universe offers to Thee, O LORD, the God-bearing Martyrs. By their supplications, preserve in deep peace, Thy Church, through the Theotokos, O Thou of many-mercies.

SEP. 8TH.

By thy Holy Birth, O Spotless-one, Joakeim and Anna were freed from the reproach of childlessness, and Adam and Eve from the corruption of death. Wherefore thy people, redeemed from the bondage of stumblings, celebrate the same, crying-aloud to thee: The barren hath brought-forth the Theotokos and nourisher of our Life.

SEP. 14TH.

O CHRIST the GOD, Who wast of Thine own free-will raised upon the Cross: bestow Thy compassions upon Thy new people, named after Thee; let our faithful Kings rejoice in Thy Power, leading them to victory over the enemies. Let them have Thine assistance: a shield of peace, an

unconquered trophy.

OCT. 11-17TH.

The proclamation of the Apostles, &c. As above.

Nov. 21ST.

The most-pure Temple of the Saviour, the highly-honoured Bridalchamber and Virgin, the sacred Treasury of the Glory of God, to-day enters into the House of the LORD, and grace from the Divine SPIRIT entereth with her; her whom the Angels praise in hymn: Thou art a Heavenly Tabernacle.

DEC. 11-17TH.

Ye would not reverence the graven image, O thrice-blessed; but in the fiery trench, armed with a breastplate by the Ungraven Substance, ye were glorified. In the midst of the irresistible flame ye stood and called upon GOD: Make haste, O Compassionate, and press-on, as Merciful, to our help; for what Thou willest, that Thou canst do.

DEC. 18-24TH.

Be glad, O Bethlehem; O Evphratha, prepare; for behold, the Lamb, the Great Shepherd, hasteth to come-forth from the Womb that beareth Him: Whom when the God-bearing Fathers behold, they will exult; with Shepherds hymning Him to Whom the Virgin giveth suck.

DEC. 25TH.

The Virgin Brings-forth to-day Him Who is above-substance, and the earth offers, to the Unapproachable, the Cave. Angels with Shepherds glorify Him; but Magi with a Star are led to Him; for us He hath been Born a little Child, the GOD Who was before the ages.

DEC. 26TH-31ST.

To-day the Divine David is filled with gladness, and Joseph, with James, offereth praise for receiving the crown of relationship with CHRIST, they rejoice at His unutterable Birth on earth, hymning and crying-aloud : Save, O Compassionate, those who honour Thee.

JAN. 1ST.

The LORD of all hath endured Circumcision, and, as Good, hath cut-off the stumblings of mortals, giving to the world, to-day, Salvation: while among the highest Basil rejoiceth, the Light-bearing and Divinelyinitiated Hierarch of CHRIST the Creator.

JAN. 6TH.

Thou art manifested to the universe to-day, and Thy Light hath been shed upon us, who in knowledge hymn Thee. Thou hast come, Thou art manifested, Who art the Light unapproachable.

FEB. 2ND.

Having sanctified the Virginal womb by Thy Birth, and having blessed, as was fitting, the hands of Symeon, Thou dost now present and save us, O CHRIST the GOD. But give peace, amid strifes, to the State, and strengthen Kings, whom Thou dost love, O Only Lover-of-men.

MAR. 25TH.

To thee, the Champion General, thy city, as ransomed from terrors, ascribes thanksgiving for victories, O Theotokos. But do thou, as possessing irresistible strength, free me from all dangers, that I may cry to thee: Hail, O unmarried Bride.

JULY 13-19TH.

The proclamation of the Apostles, &c. As on preceding page.

AUG. 6TH.

At the Transfiguration upon the mountain, Thy Disciples, as those set apart, beheld Thy Glory, O CHRIST the GOD: in order that when they had seen Thy Crucifixion, and observed Thy voluntary suffering, they might proclaim to the world that Thou truly art the Effulgence of the FATHER.

AUG. 15TH.

The Theotokos and Hope, unresting in intercessions, unchangeable in protections, the grave and death have not power over: for He, Who dwelt in her ever-Virgin Womb, hath translated her into life, as Mother of Life.

APPENDIX I.

HYPAKOINE OF THE RESURRECTION.

At pages 32, 65, and 130.

TONE 2.

After the Passion, the Women going to the Tomb to anoint Thy Body, O CHRIST the GOD, saw Angels in the Grave, and were astonished: for they heard a voice from them That the LORD is Risen, giving to the world the great mercy.

TONE 3.

The lightning-like Angel, astounding to the sight, bedewing in words, said to the Ointment-bearers: Why seek ye the Living in a Tomb? He is Risen, having deserted the Tombs; know ye that the Unchangeable hath changed corruption; say unto God, How fearful are Thy Works, for Thou hast saved the race of men.

TONE 4.

The Ointment-bearers, going-before, proclaimed to the Apostles Thy paradoxical Waking, O CHRIST: for, as GOD, Thou hast Arisen, granting to the world the great mercy.

TONE 5.

The Ointment-bearers, having the mind amazed at sight of the Angel, and the soul illuminated through the Divine Awaking, announced to the Apostles: Declare to the nations the Resurrection of the LORD, for He hath together-done wonders, and hath granted to us the great mercy.

TONE 6.

Thou shatteredst the gates of Hades, as GOD, by Thy voluntary and Life-giving Death, O CHRIST, opening to us the old Paradise: and didst Rise from the dead, delivering our life from corruption.

TONE 7.

Thou Who didst take-to-Thyself our form, and enduredst the Cross bodily, save me by Thy Resurrection, O CHRIST the GOD, as Lover-of-men.

TONE 8.

The Ointment-bearers, standing at the Tomb of the Life-giver, sought the MASTER, the Immortal among the dead: and rejoicing at the gladtidings received from the Angel, to the Apostles proclaimed, That the LORD is Risen, granting to the world the great mercy.

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