Forefeast of the Nativity of the Mother of God
Troparion — Tone 4
Today from the stem of Jesse and from the loins of David, / the handmaid of God Mary is being born for us. / Therefore all creation is renewed and rejoices! / Heaven and earth rejoice together. / Praise her, you families of nations, / for Joachim rejoices and Anna celebrates crying out: / “The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, the Nourisher of our life!”
Kontakion — Tone 3
Today the Virgin Theotokos Mary / the bridal chamber of the Heavenly Bridegroom / by the will of God is born of a barren woman, / being prepared as the chariot of God the Word. / She was fore-ordained for this, since she is the divine gate and the true Mother of Life.
Martyr Sozon of Cilicia
Troparion — Tone 4
O Martyr Sozon, you pledged your life to God, / Enduring the contest and becoming a sharer in Christ’s passion. / Save from temptation those who cry to you: / “Glory to him who strengthened you! / Glory to him who crowned you! / Glory to him who through you works healing for all!”
Kontakion — Tone 2
As we come together on this day, / let us, with loud voices, remember the true and God-bearing martyr, and athlete of piety, Sozon, / the divine initiate of grace, / the most bountiful giver of healings, / for he intercedes with God for us all.
Saint John the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Novgorod
Troparion — Tone 8
Great Novgorod rejoices over your relics today, O holy Hierarch John, / for they shine as the sun and grant healing to all who honor them in faith. / Entreat Christ God to deliver his people from captivity, / O wise Wonderworker, heavenly man and earthly angel, / that together with them we may hymn and glorify the Triune God.
Venerable Serapion of Spaso-Eleazar Monastery, 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 Serapion, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Hieromartyr Macarius, Archimandrite of Kanev and Pereyaslavl
Troparion — Tone 4
In your ascetical contests O Father Makarios, / you followed Christ, Who came down from Heaven for our sake. / Entreat Him on behalf of us who glorify you, / to grant us forgiveness of our transgressions, / and with love and humility of heart, to illumine and save our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 2
By your angelic life of fasting, / you were glorified by the exploit of a martyric death, / and took up your abode with the Angels; / O Makarios blessed by God, / do not cease to pray with them to Christ God for all of us.
Apostle Evodius (Euodias) of the Seventy
Troparion — Tone 3
Holy Apostle Evodius, / entreat the merciful God, / to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.
Apostle Onesiphorus of the Seventy
Troparion — Tone 3
Holy Apostle Onesiphorus, / entreat the merciful God, / to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.
Martyr Eupsychius of Caesarea, in Cappadocia
Troparion — Tone 3
Your holy martyr Eupsychius, 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 Eupsychius; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.
Venerable Luke, Abbot of Batheos Ryako
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 Luke, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Venerable Cloud (Clodoald), Abbot-Founder of Nogent-Sur-Seine near Paris
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 Cloud, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Venerable Macarius of Optina
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 Macarius, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Venerable Cassiani the Hymnographer
Troparion — Tone 4
In you, O Mother, was preserved with exactness what was according to the image; / 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 for the soul, since it is immortal. / Therefore, O Venerable Cassianḗ, your spirit rejoices with the Angels.