Troparia and kontakia for August 31

The Placing of the Cincture (Sash) of the Mother of God

Troparion — Tone 8

Ever-Virgin Theotokos, protectress of mankind, / you have given your people a powerful legacy: / the robe and sash of your most honored body which remained / incorrupt throughout your seedless childbearing; / for through you time and nature are renewed! / Therefore we implore you: “Grant peace to your people and to our souls great mercy!”

Kontakion — Tone 4

Today your flock celebrates the enshrinement of your precious sash, / and it earnestly cries out to you: / “Rejoice, O Virgin, boast of all Christians!”

Hieromartyr Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage

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 divinely-inspired one; by rightly dividing the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, / even to the shedding of your blood. / O Hieromartyr Cyprian, entreat Christ God to save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 8

Guide of Orthodoxy, teacher of piety and holiness, / luminary of Carthage, and divinely-inspired adornment of Confessors. / O wise Cyprian, by your teachings you have enlightened all, O harp of the Spirit. / Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion — Tone 4

(Podoben: “You were lifted up...”)
As one who lived piously among Hierarchs and who underwent martyrdom, O divinely-wise one, / you abolished the sacrifices of idolatry and showed yourself to be a protector of your flock. / Therefore, we cry fervently to you / : “By your intercessions, deliver us from all misfortunes, / O Cyprian our Father.”

Kontakion — Tone 1

(Podoben: “The soldiers standing guard...”)
We honor you, O Cyprian, as a true shepherd / who by your sacred words and divinely-wise doctrines / have shown us the boundary stones which mark the one Church of Christ. / You bore witness courageously, even unto death; / therefore, we praise you as a Hierarch and Martyr. / Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.

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

Saint Aidan, Bishop of Lindesfarne

Troparion — Tone 4

The truth of things revealed you to your flock as a rule of faith, / a model of meekness, and a teacher of temperance. / Therefore, through humility, you attained the heights; / and through poverty, riches. / O Hierarch Aidan, our Father, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion — Tone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”)
O Hierarch Aidan, divine thunder, spiritual trumpet, / planter of faith, and pruner of heresies, / great favorite of the Trinity, as you stand before God with the Angels, / pray unceasingly for all of us.

Saint Eanswythe, Abbess of Folkestone

Troparion — Tone 8

In you, O Mother, was preserved with exactness what is according to the image; / 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 for the soul, since it is immortal. / Therefore, O Venerable Eanswythe, your spirit rejoices with the Angels.

Kontakion — Tone 2

(Podoben: “Having received the grace of healing...”)
Having discarded a bed for rest, for the sake of your love for God, O Mother Eanswythe, / and illuminating your spirit with fasting, / you completely vanquished your enemies; / and by your intercessions you destroyed the evil schemes of our adversaries.