Troparia and kontakia for May 8

Bright Tuesday

Troparion — Tone 1

The audacity of those who hated the Icon of the Lord and the might of the godless came to Nicaea, / and those who were sent there inhumanly tortured a widow who devoutly revered the Icon of the Mother of God; / but by night, she and her son cast the Icon into the sea, crying out: / “Glory to you, O pure one, for the impassable sea has given you its shoulders.1 / Glory to your straight way,2 O you who alone are incor­rupt.”


1 The waves.
2 Psalm 5:8.

Troparion — Tone 4

(Podoben: “Go quickly before...”)
You strove in contest on Lesbos for the sake of Christ God; / sanctifying her by the discovery of your relics, O blessed martyrs. / Therefore, we honor you, God-bearer Raphael, / together with Nicholas the deacon, and the virgin Irene, / as our divine protectors, and intercessors with the Lord.

Kontakion — Tone 8

Although your holy Icon was cast into the sea by the widow who could not save it from its enemies, O Theotokos, / it has been shown as the Guardian of Mount Athos and the Gate-Keeper of Ivḗron Monastery, / driving the Enemy away and delivering those who honor you from all misfor­tunes and dangers.

Kontakion — Tone 4

(Podoben: “You Who were lifted up...”)
Let all of us honor the Holy Martyrs / who contended for Christ as our protectors and wonderworkers, / whose relics were hidden beneath the earth for many years, / and who have revealed themselves to us in wondrous ways: / Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene, as well as those who contended with them, as protectors and wonderworkers.

Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian

Troparion — Tone 2

O beloved Apostle of Christ our God, / come quickly to deliver your helpless people. / He on whose breast you leaned, will accept you as intercessor. / Entreat Him, O Theologian, to disperse the clouds of darkness, / granting us peace and great mercy!

Kontakion — Tone 2

Who shall declare your greatness, / O virgin disciple, / for you pour forth wonders and are a source of healings, / and pray for our souls as theologian and friend of Christ.

Venerable Arsenius the Great

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!

Kontakion — Tone 2

You shone from Rome as a great sun and reached the royal city,1 most blessed one, / enlightening it by your words and deeds, and dispersing the darkness of foolishness. / Therefore, we honor you, O Venerable Arsenios, glory of the Fathers.


1 Constantinople

Venerable Arsenius the Lover-of-Labor of the Kiev Far Caves

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!

Venerable Pimen the Ascetic of the Kiev Far Caves

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 Pimen, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!