Troparia and kontakia for April 23

Great and Holy Saturday

Troparion — Tone 2

The Noble Joseph, / when he had taken down Your most pure Body from the tree, / wrapped it in fine linen, / and anointed it with spices, / and placed it in a new tomb.

Troparion — Tone 2

When You descended to death, O Life Immortal, / You slayed hell with the splendor of Your Godhead, / and when from the depths You raised the dead, / all the Powers of Heaven cried out, / O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory to You!

Troparion — Tone 2

The Angel came to the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb and said: / “Myrrh is fitting for the dead, / but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption.”

Kontakion — Tone 6

He who shut in the depths is beheld dead, / wrapped in fine linen and spices. / The Immortal One is laid in a tomb as a mortal man. / The women have come to anoint Him with myrrh, / weeping bitterly and crying: / “This is the most blessed Sabbath / on which Christ has fallen asleep to rise on the third day!”

Greatmartyr, Victory-bearer, and Wonderworker George

Troparion — Tone 4

As the liberator of captives and defender of the poor, / physician of the sick, and champion of kings, O Victory-bearer Great Martyr George, / intercede with Christ God to save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 4

You contested with an excellent deed, O passion-bearer of Christ, / by faith you denounced the iniquity of the torturers, offering yourself as a sacrifice pleasing to God;1 / therefore you received a crown of victory, / and by your intercessions O Saint, / you obtain the forgiveness of sins for all.


1 Romans 12:1

Kontakion — Tone 4

(Podoben: “You were lifted up...”)
You were cultivated by God, and you showed yourself as a most honorable cultivator of piety; / and you harvested for yourself the sheaves of virtue; / for having sown in tears, now you reap with joy; / and having contested unto blood, you received Christ. / By your intercessions, O Saint, you obtain the forgiveness of sins for all.

Martyr Alexandra the Empress, wife of Diocletian

Troparion — Tone 3

Your holy martyr Alexandra, O Lord, / through her sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. / For having Your strength, she laid low her adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through her 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 Alexandra; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.

Martyrs Anatolius and Protoleon, soldiers converted by witnessing the martyrdom of Saint George

Troparion — Tone 4

Your holy martyrs Anatolius and Protoleon, 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!

New Martyr Lazarus of Bulgaria

Troparion — Tone 3

Your holy martyr Lazarus, O Lord, / through his sufferings 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 Lazarus; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.

Holy Martyr Polychronia

Troparion — Tone 4

(Podoben: “Be quick to anticipate...”)
Your Martyr Polychronίa, O Lord, / by her contest has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God; / for, possessed of Your strength, she laid the tyrants low / and shattered the powerless boldness of the demons. / By her supplications, save our souls.

Kontakion — Tone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights..”)
You shone forth in your splendor as a bright star, / proclaiming Christ to this temporal world, O Martyr Polychronίa, / vanquishing the snares of false gods, / you revealed the true light to the faithful, / and you always intercede on behalf of us all.