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!”
Venerable Niketas the Confessor, Abbot of Medikion
Troparion — Tone 4
You were a firm pillar and an undaunted guardian of sacred tradition, O Nicetas; / you were adorned with holy dispassion and became an illustrious confessor of the Faith. / Accept the prayers of those who cry to you, / interceding for them with Christ our God.
Kontakion — Tone 2
You acquired a heavenly mind and life, / shining as brightly as the sun in the splendor of your deeds! / Father Nicetas, you enlighten those in the darkness of life guiding them all to God. / Pray without ceasing for us all!
Holy Virgin Martyr Theodosίa of Tyre
Troparion — Tone 4
(Podoben: “Be quick to anticipate...”)
Through your struggles in the contest, / you offered the God-given gift of your virginity to the Word; / therefore, He brought you to the heavenly Bridal Chamber. / O prize-winner, intercede with the Master of all, / that He may deliver us from all manner of misfortunes.
Kontakion — Tone 4
(Podoben: “Be quick to anticipate...”)
As a pure virgin and prize-winner, / you were spiritually betrothed to the King of Heaven, / O all-praised Theodosίa, entreat Him for the salvation of our souls
Martyr Irene
Troparion — Tone 4
Your lamb Irene calls out to You, O Jesus, in a loud voice: / “I love You, my Bridegroom, and in seeking You I endure suffering. / In Baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You, / and I died so that I might live with You. / Accept me as a pure sacrifice, / for I have offered myself in love.” / Through her prayers, save our souls, since You are merciful.
Saint Illyricus of Mount Myrsinon in the Peloponnesus
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 Illyricus, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus
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!
“Unfading Flower” Icon of the Mother of God
Troparion — Tone 5
Rejoice, O Bride of God, / rejoice, mystical rod which blossomed the Unfading Flower;1 / rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, / through whom we are filled with joy and inherit life.
1 This is a quotation from the Saturday of the Akathist Hymn, Canon to the Theotokos, Ode 7.