Troparia and kontakia for April 18

Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women with the Noble Joseph

Troparion — Tone 2

The comely 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. / But You rose on the third day, O Lord, / granting the world great mercy.

Troparion — Tone 2

Appearing to the Myrrh-bearing Women at the tomb, the Angel exclaimed: / “Myrrh is meet for the dead; / but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption. / So proclaim: ‘The Lord is risen, granting the world great mercy.’”

Troparion — Tone 4

(Podoben: “You appeared to your flock as a rule of faith...”)
You visited Christ the Lord in the night, / and were born from above1 being received, as it were, as a secret Apostle. / With good courage you disputed with the Pharisees and Scribes2 / and followed the Savior. / Taking Him dead from the Cross, / you wrapped Him in cloths with myrrh and laid Him in the tomb, / O fervent3 Νikόdēmos.


1 John 3:3
2 John 7:50
3 or zealous

Kontakion — Tone 2

When You proclaimed “Rejoice” to the Myrrhbearers, / You caused the lamentation of the foremother Eve to cease by Your Resurrection; O Christ God; / commanding Your Apostles to proclaim: / “The Savior is risen from the tomb.”

Venerable John, disciple of Venerable Gregory of Decapolis

Troparion — Tone 8

The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Father, / for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. / By so doing you taught us to disregard the flesh for it passes away / but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. / Therefore your spirit, venerable John, rejoices with the angels.

Kontakion — Tone 1

Blessed John, with the Lord’s Cross upon your shoulder, / you climbed to the summit of virtues. / In place of passing pleasures / you attained the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Martyr Victor, and his companions, of Nicomedia

Troparion — Tone 4

Your holy martyr Victor and his companions, 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 Cosmas, Bishop of Chalcedon, and his fellow ascetic, Saint Auxentius

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 Cosmas, / entreat Christ our God / that our souls may be saved.

New Martyr John the New of Epirus

Troparion — Tone 3

Your holy martyr John, 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 John; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.

Venerable Euthymius, Enlightener of Karelia, Finland and the Righteous Anthony and Felix

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 fathers Euthymius, Anthony, and Felix, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!

“Maximov” Icon of the Mother of God

Troparion — Tone 4

O Sovereign Lady, / today the most glorious city of Vladimir rejoices exceedingly, / joyously celebrating the Feast of your apparition to Saint Maximus; / as we remember him now and beseeching you we cry out: / “O Most Holy Sovereign Lady Theotokos, / entreat your Son, that He strengthen the Orthodox Church, / and that He preserve our souls in peace in the Orthodox Faith.”

Kontakion — Tone 6

Turn your gaze toward us, O Theotokos praised by all, shine light into our darkened hearts, illumine your flock, O Most Pure one, for as the Mother of the Creator, whatever you wish, you are able to do, and you cry to those who entreat you, “I am with you, and no one can prevail against you.”1


1 Romans 8: 31

Saint Basil Ratishvili of Georgia

Troparion — Tone 8

In you the image was preserved with exactness, O Father, / for taking up your cross, you followed after Christ. / By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away, / but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. / Therefore, most venerable Father Basil your spirit rejoices with the Angels.