Troparia and kontakia for May 2

Bright Tuesday

Troparion — Tone 1

The audacity of those who hated the Icon of the Lord and the might of the godless came to Nicaea, / and those who were sent there inhumanly tortured a widow who devoutly revered the Icon of the Mother of God; / but by night, she and her son cast the Icon into the sea, crying out: / “Glory to you, O pure one, for the impassable sea has given you its shoulders.1 / Glory to your straight way,2 O you who alone are incor­rupt.”


1 The waves.
2 Psalm 5:8.

Troparion — Tone 4

(Podoben: “Go quickly before...”)
You strove in contest on Lesbos for the sake of Christ God; / sanctifying her by the discovery of your relics, O blessed martyrs. / Therefore, we honor you, God-bearer Raphael, / together with Nicholas the deacon, and the virgin Irene, / as our divine protectors, and intercessors with the Lord.

Kontakion — Tone 8

Although your holy Icon was cast into the sea by the widow who could not save it from its enemies, O Theotokos, / it has been shown as the Guardian of Mount Athos and the Gate-Keeper of Ivḗron Monastery, / driving the Enemy away and delivering those who honor you from all misfor­tunes and dangers.

Kontakion — Tone 4

(Podoben: “You Who were lifted up...”)
Let all of us honor the Holy Martyrs / who contended for Christ as our protectors and wonderworkers, / whose relics were hidden beneath the earth for many years, / and who have revealed themselves to us in wondrous ways: / Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene, as well as those who contended with them, as protectors and wonderworkers.

Saint Matrona of Moscow

Troparion — Tone 4

Offspring of the land of Tula, angelic ascetic of the city of Moscow, blessed Eldress Matrona. / You remained blind from birth until the end of your life, / but you received spiritual sight, clairvoyance, and intercession from God. / Most of all, you received the gift of healing the spiritual and bodily illnesses / of all who come to you and ask you with faith, O our joy.

Troparion — Tone 2

Today, O faithful, let us glorify the divinely-wise blessed Eldress Matrona, / who blossomed in the land of Tula and who gloriously adorned the city of Moscow; / for she, not knowing the light of day, / was illumined by the light of Christ and was enriched with the gift of healing. / Having been a migrant and a wanderer on earth, / now, in the heavenly Bridal Chamber, she stands before God's throne and prays for our souls.

Kontakion — Tone 7

Called to serve Christ from your mother’s womb, O righteous Matrona, / you walked the path of sorrows and tribulations, / showing steadfast faith and piety, / you were well pleasing to God. / Therefore, honoring your memory, we pray to you: / Help us to abide in the love of God, O blessed eldress!

Saint Athanasius the Great, Patriarch of Alexandria

Troparion — Tone 3

(Podoben: “The Divine Faith...”)
You were a pillar of Orthodoxy, O Hierarch Athanasios, / supporting the Church with divine doctrines; / you proclaimed the Son to be of one Essence with the Father, / putting Arius to shame. / O Righteous Father, entreat Christ God to grant us great mercy.

Kontakion — Tone 2

(Podoben: “With the streams of your blood...”)
Having planted the dogmas of Orthodoxy, / you cut out the thorns of false doctrine, / and multiplied the seed of faith with the rain of the Spirit; / therefore, we praise you O righteous Athanasios.

Translation of the Relics of the Holy Passionbearers Boris and Gleb (in Baptism Roman and David—1072 and 1115)

Troparion — Tone 2

Righteous passion-bearers and true fulfillers of the Gospel of Christ, / chaste Boris and guileless Gleb, / you did not resist the attacks of your brother, the enemy, / when he killed your bodies but could not touch your souls. / Therefore, let the evil lover of power mourn / while you rejoice with the angels standing before the Holy Trinity. / Pray that those who honor your memory may be pleasing to God, / and that all Orthodox Christians may be saved.

Kontakion — Tone 3

Today your most glorious memory shines forth, / noble participants in the passion of Christ, holy Boris and Gleb, / for you call us together to sing praises to Christ our God! / Praying to Him before your sacred images, / we receive the gift of healing by your prayers, / for you are indeed divine healers.

Saint Athanasius of Lubensk, 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 Athanasius, / entreat Christ our God / that our souls may be saved.

Martyr Hesperus with his wife and sons at Attalia

Troparion — Tone 4

Your holy martyrs, O Lord, / through their sufferings have received an incorruptible crown 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!