Sunday before the Nativity
Troparion — Tone 2
Great are the accomplishments of faith, / for the Three Holy Youths rejoiced in the source of the flame, as if by restful waters,1 / and the Prophet Daniel appeared / as a shepherd of lions as of sheep. / By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 6
(For when the Sunday before the Nativity falls on December 18-19)
You would not worship an image made by hands, O thrice-blessed youths; / but shielded by the ineffable Essence, you were glorified through your ordeal 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 if You will, You can do so."2
Kontakion — Tone 1
(For when the Sunday before the Nativity falls on December 20-24)
Be glad, O Bethlehem! Prepare yourself, O Ephratha; / for the Lamb is on her way to give birth to the Great Shepherd she carries in her womb. / The God-bearing Fathers will rejoice, beholding Him, / and with the shepherds, they will praise the Virgin who nurses Him.
1 Psalm 22/23:2
2 Luke 5:12
Martyr Sebastian at Rome, and his companions
Troparion — Tone 1
O Sebastian, spurning the assemblies of the wicked, / you gathered the wise martyrs / who with you cast down the enemy; / and standing worthily before the throne of God, / you gladden those who cry to you: / Glory to him who has strengthened you! / Glory to him who has granted you a crown! / Glory to him who through you works healing for all!
Kontakion — Tone 4
Excelling in godly zeal, / you gathered a band of martyrs from which you shone as a star. / The arrows that wounded your body, O Sebastian, / pierced the hearts of the enemy. / Therefore Christ has glorified you!
Venerable Sebastian, Abbot of Pshekhonye Monastery, Vologda
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 Sebastian, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Righteous Simeon, Wonderworker of Verkhoturye
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 Simeon, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Saint Modestos, Archbishop of Jerusalem
Troparion — Tone 4
O divinely wise Módestos, / you lived a holy life, clothed in Hierarchal garments, / you rejoice, O most blessed shepherd of Jerusalem. / Now standing before Christ, you illumine the ends of the earth with miracles, / be a helper to those who beseech you to pray for all of us, O Father.
Kontakion — Tone 4
You were a venerable Hierarch, / and by your angelic life, you served Christ in Zion. / Therefore, we glorify you, O Father Módestos, adornment of Patriarchs.
Saint Florus, Bishop of Amisus
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 Florus, / entreat Christ our God / that our souls may be saved.
Saint Michael the Confessor at Constantinople
Troparion — Tone 8
Champion of Orthodoxy, teacher of purity and of true worship, / the enlightener of the universe and the adornment of hierarchs: / all-wise father Michael, your teachings have gleamed with light upon all things. / Intercede before Christ God to save our souls.
New Hieromartyr Archbishop Thaddeus of Tver
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 Thaddeus, entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Venerable Daniel the Hesychast
Troparion — Tone 8
(Podoben: “Come, let us worship the Word… ”)
With the streams of your tears, you cultivated the barrenness of the desert, / and by your sighings from the depths, your labors bore fruit a hundredfold, / and you became a luminary of the world, radiant with miracles, / O Daniel our Father. Intercede with Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 3
Living an angelic life on earth, / you made yourself an image and model for your disciples. Through prayers, long fasts and vigils, / you were accounted worthy of dwelling in the land of the meek, O Saint Daniel honored by God, / the adornment of hesychasts and praise of monks.