Great and Holy Saturday
Troparion — Tone 2
The Noble Joseph, / when he had taken down Your most pure Body from the tree, / wrapped it in fine linen, / and anointed it with spices, / and placed it in a new tomb.
Troparion — Tone 2
When You descended to death, O Life Immortal, / You slayed hell with the splendor of Your Godhead, / and when from the depths You raised the dead, / all the Powers of Heaven cried out, / O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory to You!
Troparion — Tone 2
The Angel came to the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb and said: / “Myrrh is fitting for the dead, / but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption.”
Kontakion — Tone 6
He who shut in the depths is beheld dead, / wrapped in fine linen and spices. / The Immortal One is laid in a tomb as a mortal man. / The women have come to anoint Him with myrrh, / weeping bitterly and crying: / “This is the most blessed Sabbath / on which Christ has fallen asleep to rise on the third day!”
Hieromartyr Januarius, Bishop of Benevento, and his companions, at Pozzuoli
Troparion — Tone 3
Consecrated through anointing with oil, / you became pastors for your godly wise people. / You were slain as honorable lambs / and offered to the Word and First Shepherd, / Who was Himself slain as His sheep, / O most laudable Hieromartyrs Januarius and Theodore, / beacons for all the world. / Therefore we all honor your holy memory in love, / as you intercede for our souls.
Troparion — Tone 3
Naples has found you a champion in dangers, / O Januarius, our glorious father. / You delivered her from plague, famine and affliction, / and from the fire of Vesuvius. / With faith and love we venerate you and honor your holy relics!
Kontakion — Tone 3
You were adorned with the anointing of the priesthood / and the blood of martyrdom, O glorious Januarius and Theodore, / and you shine forth everywhere, / rejoicing in the highest, / looking down upon us who come to your temple / and cry out unceasingly: / Preserve us all, entreating God who loves mankind!
Kontakion — Tone 4
The Master has given you to Naples, O holy one, / as a precious treasure and fountain of healings. / You are a guardian and protector of the faithful, / and you avert the evils of Vesuvius’ fire. / Therefore we cry to you in faith: / Rejoice, O Januarius, / our father and protector!
Hieromartyr Theodore of Perge in Pamphylia, his mother, Philippa, and Martyrs Dioscorus, Socrates, and Dionysius
Troparion — Tone 4
By sharing in the ways of the Apostles, / you became a successor to their throne. / Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O divinely-inspired one; by rightly dividing the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, / even to the shedding of your blood. / O Hieromartyr Theodore, entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 4
(Podoben: “You were lifted up...”)
As one who lived piously among Hierarchs and who underwent martyrdom, O divinely-wise one, / you abolished the sacrifices of idolatry and showed yourself to be a protector of your flock. / Therefore, we cry fervently to you: / “By your intercessions, deliver us from all misfortunes, / O Theodore our Father.”
Martyrs Isaac, Apollos, and Quadratus, of Nicomedia
Troparion — Tone 4
Your holy martyrs Isaac, Apollos, and Quadratus, 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!
Saint Maximian, Patriarch of Constantinople
Troparion — Tone 4
In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, / an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; / your humility exalted you; / your poverty enriched you. / Hierarch Father Maximian, / entreat Christ our God / that our souls may be saved.
The Recovery of the Relics of Saint Theodore of Sanaxar
Troparion — Tone 4
From your youth you loved Christ with filial love, / and desiring to serve only the Lord, / you have chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away by death.1 / You devoted yourself to the one thing needful, and to the Giver of Life, / and you were found worthy to receive from Him the gifts of divine teaching and spiritual discernment, / guiding all who have recourse to you, seeking the salvation of their souls, / O divinely-wise Elder Theodore of Sanaxar.
1 Luke 10:42.