Saturday of Cheesefare Commemoration of all our God-bearing Fathers and Mothers who shone forth in asceticism
Troparion — Tone 8
Only Creator, with wisdom profound, You mercifully order all things, / and give that which is needed to all men: / Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Your servants who have fallen asleep, / for they have placed their trust in You, our Maker and Fashioner, and our God.
Kontakion — Tone 8
With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Your servants, / where there is neither sickness nor sorrow, and no more sighing, / but life everlasting.
Venerable John Cassian the Roman
Troparion — Tone 8
Having been purified through fasting, / you attained the knowledge of wisdom from the God-bearing Fathers who lived in the desert, / and learned to restrain the passions. / Therefore, by your prayers, grant that our flesh may be obedient to our spirit; / for you, O Venerable Cassian, are the teacher of all those in Christ who glorify your memory.
Kontakion — Tone 4
As a venerable monk, O John Cassian, / you consecrated your life to God, and radiant with virtue, / you shone like the sun with the splendor of your divine teachings, / always enlightening the hearts of all who honor you. / Earnestly entreat Christ on behalf of those who praise you with fervent love.
Venerable John-Barsanuphius, Bishop of Damascus
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 John, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Heiromartyr Theokteristus
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 Theokteristus, entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Saint Meletius, Archbishop of Khar'kov and Akhtyrsk
Troparion — Tone 4
You came to know that worldly goods are temporary and fleeting, / and from your youth you loved a life of fasting and filled with labors, O most blessed one, / the glory of hierarchs and boast of monastics, diligent evangelist of the Pre-Eternal Word, / shelter and refuge of the destitute and the wretched. / Therefore, in your prayers, you tried to keep watch with Christ,1 / and in seeking Him, you found an unfading crown with all the Saints. / O Hierarch Meletios, our Father, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
1 Matthew 24:42
Kontakion — Tone 4
Aflame with zeal for God, you loved Him with all your heart, O Meletios, our Father, / and for His sake, you hastened toward monastic contests, / and brought yourself to Christ God, as a good shepherd, / wisely shepherding the flock which Christ gave you. / O Hierarch, worthy of praise, pray to Christ God for us.
Saint Germanus of Dacia Pontica (Dobrogea)
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 Germanus, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!