Troparia and kontakia for March 4

2nd Sunday of Great Lent: St Gregory Palamas

Troparion — Tone 8

O luminary of Orthodoxy, support and teacher of the Church, / ideal of monks and invincible champion of theologians, / O wonderworker Gregory, boast of Thessalonika and herald of grace, / always intercede for all of us that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion — Tone 4

Now is the time for action! / Judgment is at the doors! / So let us rise and fast, / offering alms with tears of compunction and crying: / “Our sins are more numerous than the sands of the sea; / but forgive us, O Master of All, / so that we may receive the incorruptible crowns.”

Kontakion — Tone 8

(Podoben: “O Victorious Leader...”)
Holy and divine instrument of wisdom, / radiant and harmonious trumpet of theology, / we praise you in song, O divinely-speaking Gregory. / As a mind standing before the Primal Mind, guide our minds to Him, Father, / so that we may cry aloud to you: “Rejoice, herald of grace.”

Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Caves Lavra

Troparion — Tone 2

When you gathered in the Caves and enclosed yourselves therein, / then, O God-bearers, having died to carnal passions, you buried yourselves with Christ. / There in the Caves, you destroyed the snares of the devil. / Therefore, the angels gave you heavenly crowns.

Venerable Gerasimus of the Jordan

Troparion — Tone 1

(Podoben: “When the stone had been sealed...”)
O citizen of the desert and angel in the body, / you were shown to be a wonderworker, O God-bearing Gerasimos, our Father. / You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer, / healing the sick, and the souls of those who run to you with faith. / Glory to Him Who strengthened you. / Glory to Him Who crowned you. / Glory to Him Who, through you, works healing for all.

Kontakion — Tone 4

Aflame with heavenly love, / you preferred the severity of the Jordanian desert to all worldly pleasures, / thus, a lion served you obediently and devotedly until your death, O Father; / and then, grief-stricken, it died on your grave. / Therefore, God has glorified you. / Pray to Him for us, and remember us, O Father Gerasimos.

Venerable Gerasimus of Vologda

Troparion — Tone 5

Equal in the image of the Bodiless Powers, / and of one mind with them, O Venerable Gerasimos, / you arrived alone at the Vologda River, foretelling that there would be a great city, / and in it a holy church, and that Hierarchs would appear there. / Therefore, you deigned to be buried near that city, / and after your death you were renowned for many miracles of healing. / Always pray for us, that we may receive mercy from God.

Kontakion — Tone 8

From your youth, O most wise one, you disdained worldly vanity and forsook corruptible treasures, / neither did you love perishable clothing, / but you received the Holy Angelic Schema with reverence and preserved it with a clear conscience, and with good works. / Even before your death you became a temple of the Holy Trinity1 because of your godly life, / and you enlightened the faithful who came to you; / therefore we all cry out to you: “Rejoice, Father Gerasimos, worthy of special reverence.”


1 I Corinthians 6:19

Venerable Joasaph of Snetogorsk, Pskov

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

Right-believing Prince Daniel of Moscow

Troparion — Tone 3

You have appeared to our land as a shining star / O faithful prince Daniel! / Your light illumined your city and monastery! / O champion of the Orthodox, / deliverer of captives, / advocate of the poor, / O sovereign of Russia pray to Christ God / to grant us peace and save our souls!

Martyrs Paul and his sister, Juliana

Troparion — Tone 4

Your holy martyrs Paul and Juliana, 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 James the Faster of Phoenicia, Syria

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

Saint Gregory, Bishop of Constantia, Cyprus

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

Martyr Vyacheslav (Leontiev), the Priest

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 Vyacheslav entreat Christ God to save our souls.