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!”
Saint Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome
Troparion — Tone 3
(Podoben: “Your confession of the Divine Faith...”)
You strengthened the Church with true doctrines, O godly-wise Hierarch Martin; / you confessed the
two natures of Christ and vanquished heresy. / O venerable Father, / entreat Christ God that He may
grant us great mercy.
Kontakion — Tone 8
(Podoben: “O victorious leader...”)
As a hierarch and teacher of ineffable things, / you gushed forth streams of doctrine, O most
wise Martin: / you expounded the true theology that in Christ there are two natures and two wills. /
Intercede for those who cry to you: Rejoice, most blessed Father.
Martyrs Anthony, John, and Eustathius of Vilnius
Troparion — Tone 4
Having rejected worldly honors and glory, O valiant and honorable sufferers, / vigorously and courageously you endured torments for the sake of the Faith, / surrendering yourselves to death for the Master, the Life of all. / Therefore, Christ has illumined you gloriously with a pillar of cloud from Heaven, and honors you from His Throne of glory. / Standing before Him with the Angelic Host, pray that our souls may be saved.
Kontakion — Tone 3
(Podoben: “Today the Virgin...”)
Having abandoned the delusion of your fathers, O Saints, you were brought to Christ; / and with all
the zeal of your souls you stood firmly unto death with boldness of mind. / Therefore, attaining the
victory of true honor, / pray unceasingly to the Master for us all.
Martyr Ardalion the Actor
Troparion — Tone 3
Your holy martyr Ardalion, O Lord, / through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. / For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through his intercessions, save our souls!
Kontakion — Tone 2
(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”)
You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance, / which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Ardalion; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.
Martyr Azades the Eunuch and 1,000 Martyrs of Persia
Troparion — Tone 4
Your holy martyrs 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!
Vil'na Icon of the Mother of God
Troparion — Tone 4
O Most Pure Virgin Theotokos, / most blessed and speedy intercessor for all the faithful, / before your holy wonderworking Icon, / we pray that by it, just as before, you may grant protection to the city of Moscow; / so now mercifully deliver us from all our troubles and misfortunes and save our souls, for you are compassionate.1
1 Literally, tender-hearted.
Kontakion — Tone 8
To you, O Champion Leader, / we your servants dedicate a feast of victory and thanksgiving, / as those rescued from sufferings, O Theotokos; / but since you possess invincible might, free us from all dangers, / that we may cry to you: “Rejoice, unwedded Bride.”