Troparia and kontakia for March 18

2nd Sunday of Great Lent: St Gregory Palamas

Troparion — Tone 8

O luminary of Orthodoxy, support and teacher of the Church, / ideal of monks and invincible champion of theologians, / O wonderworker Gregory, boast of Thessalonika and herald of grace, / always intercede for all of us that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion — Tone 4

Now is the time for action! / Judgment is at the doors! / So let us rise and fast, / offering alms with tears of compunction and crying: / “Our sins are more numerous than the sands of the sea; / but forgive us, O Master of All, / so that we may receive the incorruptible crowns.”

Kontakion — Tone 8

(Podoben: “O Victorious Leader...”)
Holy and divine instrument of wisdom, / radiant and harmonious trumpet of theology, / we praise you in song, O divinely-speaking Gregory. / As a mind standing before the Primal Mind, guide our minds to Him, Father, / so that we may cry aloud to you: “Rejoice, herald of grace.”

Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Caves Lavra

Troparion — Tone 2

When you gathered in the Caves and enclosed yourselves therein, / then, O God-bearers, having died to carnal passions, you buried yourselves with Christ. / There in the Caves, you destroyed the snares of the devil. / Therefore, the angels gave you heavenly crowns.

Repose of Saint Nikolai of Zhicha

Troparion — Tone 8

O golden-tongued preacher proclaiming the risen Christ, / everlasting guide of the cross-bearing Serbian people, / resounding harp of the Holy Spirit, and dear to monastics who rejoice in you, / pride and boast of the priesthood, teacher of repentance, master for all nations, / guide of those in the army of Christ as they pray to God, / Holy Nikolai teacher in America and pride of the Serbian people, / with all the saints, implore the only Lover of mankind / to grant us peace and joy in his heavenly kingdom!

Kontakion — Tone 3

Born at Lelich in Serbia, / you served as archpastor at the church of Saint Nahum in Ochrid. / You presided on the throne of Saint Savva at Zhicha, / teaching the people of God and enlightening them with the Gospel, / bringing them to repentance and love for Christ. / And for His sake you endured suffering at Dachau. / Therefore, Nicholai, we glorify you as one newly well pleasing to God.

Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem

Troparion — Tone 8

You were seen in Zion clothed in a robe of godliness / as an illustrious pillar of the Apostles’ faith. / You became an heir to their grace, / setting forth their pious doctrines / and dispensing their talents of wisdom. / O Cyril, our Father and hierarch, pray for us.

Kontakion — Tone 1

With your lips, O wise Cyril, / and through divine inspiration / you enlightened your people / to the worship of the one Trinity, / undivided in essence, yet divided in Hypostases. / Wherefore rejoicing, we celebrate your all-holy memory, / offering you as our intercessor before God.

Martyrs Trophimus and Eucarpus of Nicomedia

Troparion — Tone 4

Your holy martyrs Trophimus and Eucarpus, O Lord, / through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. / For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through their intercessions, save our souls!

Venerable Aninas of the Euphrates

Troparion — Tone 8

By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father Aninas, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!

Saint Cyril of Astrakhan

Troparion — Tone 8

By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father Cyril, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!