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.
Venerable Basil the Confessor, companion of Venerable Procopius at Decapolis
Troparion — Tone 1
Dweller of the desert and angel in the body, / you were shown to be a wonder-worker, our God-bearing Father Basil. / You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer: / Healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith. / Glory to Him who gave you strength! / Glory to Him who granted you a crown! / Glory to Him who through you grants healing to all!
Kontakion — Tone 2
(Podoben: “Seeking the highest...”)
You received a revelation of God from on high, O wise one, / and withdrew from the midst of the world’s tumult. / You lived the monastic life with honor, / receiving the power to work miracles and heal diseases by grace, / most blessed and holy Basil.
Blessed Nicholas (Salos) of Pskov the Fool-For-Christ
Troparion — Tone 4
According to the flesh, the Holy Fool was a Slav from the land of Pskov; / yet by feigning foolishness, he was shown as a glorified citizen of the Heavenly Jerusalem, 1 / rejoicing with the Angels; / he was named for the myrrh-streaming Hierarch Nicholas, / with whom he always prays to Christ God to grant us great mercy.
1 Hebrews 12:22
Kontakion — Tone 8
You were revealed as a wonderworker, O Nicholas, / when you turned the Tsar's power from wrath to mercy, / and so a fervent intercessor has appeared in our land. / Now we entreat you, O Saint: “Remain with us once more and protect us from the wiles of the Enemy; / for you are the glory and affirmation of the city of Pskov and of all those who love Christ.”
Hieromartyr Proterius, Patriarch of Alexandria
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 inspired one of God; / by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, / even to the shedding of your blood. / Hieromartyr Proterius, entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Hieromartyr Nestor, Bishop of Magydos in Pamphylia
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 inspired one of God; / by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, / even to the shedding of your blood. / Hieromartyr Nestor, entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Venerable Marina and Kyra of Syria
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 mothers Marina and Kyra, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Venerable Domnica (Domnina) of Syria
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 mother Domnica, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Venerable John Cassian the Roman
Troparion — Tone 8
Having been purified through fasting, / you attained the knowledge of wisdom from the God-bearing Fathers who lived in the desert, / and learned to restrain the passions. / Therefore, by your prayers, grant that our flesh may be obedient to our spirit; / for you, O Venerable Cassian, are the teacher of all those in Christ who glorify your memory.
Kontakion — Tone 4
As a venerable monk, O John Cassian, / you consecrated your life to God, and radiant with virtue, / you shone like the sun with the splendor of your divine teachings, / always enlightening the hearts of all who honor you. / Earnestly entreat Christ on behalf of those who praise you with fervent love.
Venerable John-Barsanuphius, Bishop of Damascus
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 John, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Heiromartyr Theokteristus
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 inspired one of God; / by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, / even to the shedding of your blood. / Hieromartyr Theokteristus, entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Saint Meletius, Archbishop of Khar'kov and Akhtyrsk
Troparion — Tone 4
You came to know that worldly goods are temporary and fleeting, / and from your youth you loved a life of fasting and filled with labors, O most blessed one, / the glory of hierarchs and boast of monastics, diligent evangelist of the Pre-Eternal Word, / shelter and refuge of the destitute and the wretched. / Therefore, in your prayers, you tried to keep watch with Christ,1 / and in seeking Him, you found an unfading crown with all the Saints. / O Hierarch Meletios, our Father, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
1 Matthew 24:42
Kontakion — Tone 4
Aflame with zeal for God, you loved Him with all your heart, O Meletios, our Father, / and for His sake, you hastened toward monastic contests, / and brought yourself to Christ God, as a good shepherd, / wisely shepherding the flock which Christ gave you. / O Hierarch, worthy of praise, pray to Christ God for us.
Saint Germanus of Dacia Pontica (Dobrogea)
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 Germanus, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!