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.
Repose of Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America
Troparion — Tone 7
O joyful north star of the Church of Christ, / guiding all men to the Heavenly Kingdom; / teacher and apostle of the true faith; / intercessor and defender of the oppressed. / Adornment of the Orthodox Church in America, / blessed Father Herman of Alaska, / pray to our Lord Jesus Christ / for the salvation of our souls!
Troparion — Tone 4
O blessed Father Herman of Alaska, / north star of Christ’s holy Church, / the light of your holy life and great deeds / guides those who follow the Orthodox way. / Together we lift high the Holy Cross / you planted firmly in America. / Let all behold and glorify Jesus Christ, / singing his holy Resurrection.
Kontakion — Tone 3
The eternal light of Christ our Savior, / guided you, O blessed father Herman, / on your evangelical journey to America, / proclaiming the Gospel of peace. / Now you stand before the throne of Glory; / intercede for your land and its people / peace for the world and salvation for our souls!
Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes, at Sebaste
Troparion — Tone 4
O radiance of the Martyrs revered by all, / we glorify the five Passion-bearers, / for despising earthly glory, / O most luminous sun and most wise orator Eustratios, / with the other Martyrs you willingly endured fire and torments for Christ, the King of all; / and from His throne of glory He crowned you with crowns of honor. / By their intercessions, O Christ God, save our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 2
[Podoben: “Neither the tomb, nor death could hold…” (Kontakion for the Dormition)]
You shone as a most brilliant light for those who sat in the darkness of ignorance, O Prizewinner. / And armed with faith as with a spear, / you were not frightened by the audacity of your adversaries, / O Eustratios, most eloquent of orators.
Virgin Martyr Lucy of Syracuse
Troparion — Tone 5
(Podoben: “Come, let us worship the Word...”)
Wearing the radiant mantle of virginity, / and virginally betrothed to the Life-giver Christ, / you forsook the love of your earthly betrothed; / therefore, as a bridal gift, / you brought to Him the outpouring of your blood. / O Virgin Martyr Lucy, intercede with Him for us all!
Kontakion — Tone 3
We honor you, pure Virgin and trophy-bearer Lucy, / and we praise your illustrious contest; / for you desired only the beauty of Christ, / disdaining all corruptible things. / When you were beheaded, you received incorruptible glory.
Venerable Arcadius of Novotorsk
Troparion — Tone 4
Guided by your spiritual mentor, the Venerable Father Ephraim, an excellent zealot of obedience, / O Father Arcadius, you fled from worldly vanity and were a superb monk; / working diligently, you have received a crown of heavenly glory from Christ God. / And now, together with the Venerable Father Ephraim, / pray for us before the Throne of the Most High, / that we may be delivered from all troubles and sorrows, / and for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 2
By directing your mind to the depths of the knowledge of God, / you ascended to the heavenly abodes, / and your life was equal to that of an angel, O Father Arcadius. / You were obedient to your spiritual guide and teacher, the Venerable Ephraim, in all things. / And now, standing with him before the Throne of the Master Christ, / pray unceasingly for all of us.
Venerable Mardarios the Recluse of the Kiev Caves
Troparion — Tone 4
O blessed Mardários, for the sake of Christ you possessed nothing, / and because of your many good works, He dwelt in your heart. / Pray for us who praise you with hymns.
Kontakion — Tone 2
O glorious Mardários, / you aspired to heavenly things, coveting nothing earthly, / and through non-acquisitiveness you became a chariot of fire ascending to Heaven, / and were found worthy to dwell with the Angels. / Now with them, pray unceasingly to Christ God for all of us.
Venerable Arsenius of Latros
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 Arsenius, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Hieromartyr Gabriel of Serbia
Troparion — Tone 4
By sharing in the ways of the Apostles, / you occupied their throne, / and through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O divinely-inspired one; / Therefore, by rightly dividing the word of truth, you suffered for the Faith, / even unto the shedding of your blood. / O Hieromartyr Gabriel, entreat Christ God to save our souls.
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 as a protector of your flock. / Therefore, we cry fervently to you: / “By your intercessions, deliver us from all misfortunes, / O Gabriel our Father.”