Afterfeast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Troparion — Tone 4
Your Nativity, O Christ our God, / has shone to the world the Light of knowledge; / for by it, those who worshipped the stars / were taught by a star to adore You, / the Sun of Righteousness,1 / and to know You, the Dayspring2 from on High. / O Lord, glory to You!
Kontakion — Tone 3
(Original Melody)
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, / and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One! / Angels with shepherds glorify Him. / The wise men journey with a star, / since for our sake the Pre-Eternal God was born as a young Child.3
1 Malachi 4:2.
2 The beginning of day, dawn.
3 Literally: Since for our sake, God before the ages was born as a young Child.
Virgin Martyr Anysia at Thessalonica
Troparion — Tone 4
(Podoben: “Joseph was amazed...”)
Your lamb Anysia calls out to You, O Jesus, in a loud voice: / “I love You, my Bridegroom, and in seeking You I endure suffering. / In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You, / and I died so that I might live with You. / Accept me as a pure sacrifice, / for I have offered myself in love.” / Through her prayers save our souls, since You are merciful.
Kontakion — Tone 3
As a two-fold lamp you illumine the Church of Christ / with truly mystical radiance. / You brought forth a hundred-fold fruit through your contest, O Anysia; / and you shone forth in asceticism, O Melania. / You were both found worthy of the incorruptible life of the righteous.
Martyr Zoticus the Keeper of Orphans
Troparion — Tone 3
Your holy martyr Zoticus, 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 Zoticus; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.
Apostle Timon the Deacon of the Seventy
Troparion — Tone 3
Holy Apostle Timon, / entreat the merciful God, / to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.
Martyr Philetairus of Nicomedia
Troparion — Tone 3
Your holy martyr Philetairus, 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 Philetairus; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.
Venerable Theodora of Caesarea, in Cappadocia
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 mother Theodora, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Venerable Theodora of Constantinople
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 mother Theodora, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Monastic Martyr Gideon of Karakalou, Mount Athos
Troparion — Tone 1
The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Father, / for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. / By so doing you taught us to disregard the flesh for it passes away / but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. / Therefore your spirit, venerable Gideon, rejoices with the angels.
Kontakion — Tone 2
As a venerable and proven ascetic, as an honorable and renowned martyr, / and as a model of the desert life, O most exalted Gideon, / we sing hymns of praise to you, / for you have trampled upon serpents.
Saint Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia
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 Macarius, / entreat Christ our God / that our souls may be saved.
Opening of the relics of Saint Daniel of Pereyaslavl
Troparion — Tone 3
From your youth, O blessed one, you devoted yourself entirely to the Lord, / always obeying God and resisting the devil, you overcame sinful passions, / thereby becoming a temple1 of God and you built a beautiful monastery for the glory of the Most Holy Trinity, / and for Christ's flock gathered in them, O God-pleaser, you departed to the eternal abodes, O Father Daniel. / Entreat the tri-hypostatic God, one in essence, for the salvation of our souls.
1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19.
Kontakion — Tone 8
You appeared as an unfading Light, a bright luminary enlightening all with the purity of your life, O Father Daniel, / because you were a model and a rule for monastics, a father of orphans, and benefactor of widows. / Therefore, we your children cry out to you: / “Rejoice, our joy and crown; rejoice, for you have a special right to address God; / rejoice, great strengthener of our city.”