Troparia and kontakia for December 15

Sunday of the Forefathers

Troparion — Tone 2

By faith You justified the Forefathers, / when through them You betrothed Yourself beforehand to the Church of the Gentiles. / The saints boast in glory, / that from their seed there is a glorious fruit: / she who bore You without seed. / By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Kontakion — Tone 6

(The Original Melody)
You did not worship the graven image, / O thrice-blessed youths, / but shielded by the ineffable Essence, / you were glorified in your trial by fire. / In the midst of the unbearable fire you called upon God, crying: / "Hasten, O compassionate One. / and in Your mercy, come to our aid, / for You can do so if You will."¹

¹ Luke 5:12.

Hieromartyr Eleutherius, Bishop of Illyria, his mother, Martyr Evanthia, and Caribus the Eparch

Troparion — Tone 5

Adorned with the robe of priest / stained with the streams of your blood, / O wise and blessed Eleutherius, over-thrower of Satan / you hastened to Christ your Master. / Pray unceasingly for those who faithfully honor your contest!

Kontakion — Tone 2

We all praise and entreat you, O Hieromartyr Eleutherius, / adornment of priests and encouragement of martyrs: / Free from danger those who lovingly celebrate your memory, / and pray unceasingly for us all!

Venerable Paul of Latros

Troparion — Tone 4

Since you dwell together with the bodiless hosts / and are a companion of all the venerable ones, / we praise you, most glorious Paul, / and we beseech you: / “Always pray for us, so that we may find mercy!”

Kontakion — Tone 8

From your youth, O wise one, you bravely desired that which passes understanding / and you forsook the tumult of the world. / Because of your divine way of life you became a dwelling of the Trinity / and enlighten those who turn to you with faith! / Therefore we cry out to you: “Rejoice, most wealthy Paul!”

Saint Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Sourozh, Crimea

Troparion — Tone 4

O solitary dweller with the bodiless hosts, / you took the Cross as your weapon / and stood firm against the iconoclasts, / who would not honor the icon of Christ our God. / But you cut out all wicked heresies, / then, having won the martyr’s crown, / you delivered your city, Surozh, from all enemies. / And now we implore you, O Stephen: / Deliver us from temptation and eternal torment!

Kontakion — Tone 3

Strengthened by the power of the Most High God, / you overcame the iconoclasts of the royal house. / Today your relics are the glory of Surozh and joy for the faithful, / and the bodiless hosts bear them triumphantly, / glorifying you with hymns of praise, O great Hierarch Stephen!

Venerable Tryphon, Abbot of Pechenga

Troparion — Tone 8

You were a guide and instructor on the path which leads to life, / for at first, Venerable Father Tryphon, you came to the Norwegian land, / and then to the farthest ends of the northern lands. / You enlightened the pagans, giving birth to them by water and the Holy Spirit, / and planted your children like olive trees in the barren wilderness. / You built the great Monastery of the Holy and Life-Giving Trinity, / one in essence and indivisible, and you gathered many Monks. / Therefore, regarding you as an equal of the Apostles and of the desert dwellers, / we bow down and cry out: / “Pray to the God of all for us, and for all those who honor your memory.”

Kontakion — Tone 8

Turning all your spiritual aspiration toward God, / you steadfastly followed His call from your soul, settling in the remote wilderness; / there you lived like the Angels and Apostles, and were a path to salvation for many. / Therefore, Christ has glorified you and enriched you with the gift of miracles. / Thus, we all cry out to you: “Rejoice, O confessor of Christ our God; / rejoice, for your city is an unshakable fortress, O Tryphon our Father.”

Martyr Jonah, disciple of Tryphon of Pechenga

Troparion — Tone 4

Your holy martyr Jonah, O Lord, / through his suffering 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 Jonah; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.

Martyr Eleutherius at Constantinople

Troparion — Tone 3

Your holy martyr Eleutherius, O Lord, / through his suffering 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 Eleutherius; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.

Venerable Pardus the Hermit, of Palestine

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 Pardus, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!

Hieromartyr Hilarion, Archbishop of Verey

Troparion — Tone 4

O Hilarion, warrior of Christ, / glory and boast of the Church of Russia, / you confessed Christ before the perishing world, / you strengthened the Church by your blood, / and having acquired divine understanding, / you proclaimed to the faithful: / Without the Church there is no salvation!

Kontakion — Tone 6

O Hilarion, Hieromartyr of Christ, you were not afraid of the servants of the coming Antichrist, / but confessed Christ courageously and laid down your life for God's Church, / O adornment of the New Martyrs of Russia, and boast of Holy Russia, / you are the glory and confirmation of our Church.