Saturday in the First Week
MATTINS
After the Six Psalms and the Great Litany, we sing The Lord is God, and then the apolytikion (troparion) of St. Theodore, Great are the achievements of faith… (twice).
TONE TWO
Most glorious and beyond our understanding are all thy mysteries, O Theotokos: for with the seal of thy virginity unbroken, thou hast become in full reality a mother, giving birth to the true God. Pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
After the first reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymns to the Martyrs in the Tone of the week.
After the second reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns to St. Theodore:
TONE THREE
Burning with orthodoxy of faith, thou hast quenched the error of false teaching and destroyed the godless worship of idols. Sacrificed as a burnt offering to God, with thy miracles thou bringest joy to the ends of the earth. O glorious martyr, pray to Christ our God that we may receive great mercy.
Glory be to the Father…
The Lord, who strengthened thee in thy sufferings, has granted thee to all the inhabited earth as a divine gift of salvation. Thou healest the diseases of our soul and puttest to flight the passions of our body. O martyr Theodore, pray to Christ our God that we may receive great mercy.
Both now…
Theotokion
In thy womb, O Virgin undefiled, thou hast conceived God whom nothing can contain, the hypostatic Word and consubstantial Son, who shone forth changelessly before all ages from the Father. With the prophets and the martyrs, with the holy monks, the ascetics and the righteous, entreat Him that we may be granted the remission of our sins.
Psalm 50, and then the Canons: to the patron saint of the church or monastery, with six troparia; and the two Canons to St. Theodore, with eight troparia. Between the troparia we insert the appropriate verses of the Biblical Canticles.
Canticle One
First Canon
TONE FOUR
by John, Metropolitan of Euchaita
Irmos: I shall open my mouth…
He who transcends all things has set thee higher than all His elect, for thou hast given birth to Him ineffably. Therefore today, O Virgin worthy of all glory, we bring before thee the victorious martyr, crowned by thy Son, and we sing his praises.
I shall sing the praises of Theodore, great among martyrs, the spiritual athlete, illustrious and renowned, famed for his miracles from one end of the earth to the other.
A day of gladness has dawned in this season of mourning, and with its light it has dispersed the gloom. Through the grace of the holy martyr, it heralds from afar the coming feast of the Resurrection.
The Lord, who was Himself offered in sacrifice, has accepted the sacrifice of the martyr who suffered for the glory of God; and with the blood of this holy victim He purifies the Church.
Theotokion
Out of season, yet with spiritual beauty, we keep festival in this time of fasting. For, making all things beautiful, the Queen shares now in the memorial of the martyr, who braved danger and shed his blood for her.
Second Canon
TONE SIX
by the same John
Irmos: Crossing the deep…
O Christ our God, truly wonderful in Thy saints, fill my heart with wonder at Thy mercy, and give me words that I may praise the wonders of Thy martyr.
Victorious martyr of Christ, thou wast steadfast in suffering and unflinching in pain; and now be swift, O Theodore, in coming to our help.
In his wickedness the tyrant rejected the true faith of his fathers, and he devised an unholy plot, setting himself at enmity with the Lord.
Theotokion
The prophecies spoken by God through holy men of old have received a clear fulfilment in thee, Mother and Virgin: for by a birth fearful and surpassing nature thou hast borne the true and living God.
TONE FOUR
Katavasia: I shall open my mouth and the Spirit will inspire it, and I shall utter the words of my song to the Queen and Mother: I shall be seen radiantly keeping feast and joyfully praising her wonders.
Canticle Three
Irmos: O Mother of God, thou living and plentiful fount…
The people of Christ, O Lady, long to see the day of thy Son; and in preparation they celebrate this present feast, honouring thee and thy victorious martyr.
The greatest among martyrs has turned the sadness of this present season into joy, granting us relief from the strictness of the holy Fast.
Fitting and appropriate is the gift which thou dost grant us through thy prayers, O martyr; for thou callest us to dwell with thee in Paradise, and joyfully we offer thee our gifts of praise.
Thou hast laid a good foundation through thy victory, O glorious martyr; with a courage surpassing nature thou hast overthrown the beast of destruction that breathed out fire and murder.
Raging as fiercely as the devil who apostatized of old, the new apostate sprinkled blood from the pagan sacrifices on the food in the markets, polluting it as though with poison. But he failed miserably in his plan, outwitted by the martyr.
Theotokion
The whole earth, O Virgin, is filled with the knowledge of the Lord who came forth into the world from thee; and great is the grace of the divine martyrs who have confirmed the truth through their lives.
Second Canon
Irmos: O Lord my God, there is none holy as Thou…
Of old the devil whispered craftily into the ears of Eve, through her beguiling Adam with deceit; and now he has again poured out the deceitful poison of his wickedness.
The lawless enemy was seized with fury when he saw our first father and mother in the joy of Paradise; deceitfully he sought an opportunity to show his hatred against them.
We have entered now upon the beginning of the holy Fast, when every Christian purifies himself by great abstinence.
Theotokion
Most holy Virgin, firm hope of the world, our protection and defence, in thy goodness neglect not the prayer of thy servants, who with loving hearts at all times call thee blessed.
Katavasia: O Mother of God, thou living and plentiful fount, give strength to those united in spiritual fellowship, who sing hymns of praise to thee: and in thy divine glory vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.
Sessional Hymn
TONE EIGHT
Putting on the whole armour of God, thou hast overthrown the false idols and caused the angels to glorify thy sufferings. Thy mind on fire with love of God, bravely thou hast scorned death in the flames. Rightly art thou named ‘Gift of God’, for to all who ask thou dost grant divine gifts and the grace of healing. O victorious martyr Theodore, intercede with Christ our God, that we who celebrate thy holy memory with love may receive remission of our sins.
Glory be to the Father…
Thou wast not weakened by the flattery of Maximin; but, endued with courage by the words of Christ, thou hast reduced to ashes the temple of the idols. Thou hast bravely overcome the adversary, passing, as the Psalmist says, through the fire as though it had been water. Therefore, as a just reward for all thy sufferings, thou hast become a source of healing for those who pray to thee with faith. O victorious martyr Theodore, intercede with Christ our God, that we who celebrate thy holy memory with love may receive remission of our sins.
Both now…
Theotokion
Thou art the undefiled Bride of the Creator, the Virgin Mother of the Redeemer, the Tabernacle of the Most High. I am the shameful dwelling-place of sin, and in full knowledge have become the plaything of the demons. O hasten to deliver me from their wickedness, making me through virtue a temple of glory. O pure Receiver of the Light, drive away the dark cloud of the passions, and bestow on me the brightness from on high, the pure radiance of thy light that knows no evening.
Canticle Four
Irmos: He who sits in glory…
O strange and marvellous union and intermingling! At His birth the God-Man has united virginity with childbearing; and, honouring His martyr, He unites a day of gladness with these days of mourning.
See how Christ’s soldier loved his Master! For in his zeal he consumed the enemies of Christ with fire, and as his final feat eagerly he offered himself as an acceptable sacrifice to his Lord.
Triumphant in sufferings, in speech scornful of torture, the noble martyr of Christ astonished and confounded his onlookers; and he became a strange and marvellous spectacle to the whole creation.
O divine forbearance! My God and Master suffered even after death, yet not one of His bones was broken. So was it also with His soldier: the fire and the wheel did not touch his corpse.
Theotokion
Dying with the Master, the servants of life are raised with Him from the dead, and now live with Him eternally. Together with the Son, they glorify the Mother, blessing Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Second Canon
Irmos: ‘Christ is my strength, my God and Lord…’
Dreadful was the plot devised by the ungodly ruler: for in his wretchedness he planned to defile the people of Christ with unclean food.
This unlawful design he put into effect, giving orders that all clean food should be taken away, and replaced with food that he had polluted with the blood from pagan sacrifices.
His wicked act became known to all the Christians; and when they learned of it, they gathered in the holy temple of the Lord.
Theotokion
O Christ, begotten of the Father before all ages, as our intercessor with faith we bring before Thee the Mother that gave Thee birth. Hearken to her prayers and be gracious to Thy servants.
Katavasia: He who sits in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, Jesus the true God, is come in a swift cloud, and with His sinless hand He has saved those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ.
Canticle Five
Irmos: The whole world was amazed at Thy divine glory…
Today the forecourt of grace is opened, and this present time of relief prefigures the coming feast of the Resurrection. With its radiance and joy it honours the Queen of Light and the glorious martyr.
On those who love the Epiphany of His beloved Son, God bestows a glorious gift—Theodore, performer of miracles, worker of acts of divine power.
O enemy of man’s salvation, useless are thy shafts and arrows against the martyr. Though put to death, he is alive and ever-watchful; and, opposing all thine evil works, he preserves every Orthodox Christian.
Theotokion
Strange was the miracle that came to pass in God’s Handmaiden! Confirmed by the sufferings of the victorious martyrs, it is accepted with undoubting faith by all of us, and it remains for ever the cause of man’s wonder and his worship.
Second Canon
Irmos: I entreat Thee, loving Lord…
With amazement the Archbishop learned of the plan of the ungodly emperor; and celebrating an all-night vigil, he prayed to God not to abandon utterly the people of His inheritance.
In truth God comes swiftly to the aid of all that invoke Him with sincere and fervent prayer; and He did not neglect them, but quickly gave them a solution in their trouble.
With all speed a helper from on high was sent to earth, the victorious martyr Theodore: he appeared in a dream to the Chief Shepherd and told him how to defeat the purpose of the lawless ruler.
Theotokion
No one who runs fervently to thee for help, O Lady, is ever put to shame: but his prayer is answered more quickly than it is made, and the gift for which he asks is granted, in the way that best will help him.
Katavasia: The whole world was amazed at thy divine glory: for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, hast held in thy womb the God of all, and hast given birth to an eternal Son, who rewards with salvation all who sing thy praises.
Canticle Six
Irmos: As we celebrate this sacred and solemn feast…
The friends and children of Thy bridal chamber cannot fast, O Saviour, since they have Thee the Bridegroom in their midst, together with Thy Mother and Theodore Thy friend; they welcome Thee as guest, and minister to Thee.
The emperor of evil memory fell away from the God of salvation; he fell away from wisdom; and, lapsing into madness, he rebelled against the faith. But his designs were defeated by the illustrious martyr of Christ.
Through his sufferings the martyr became more wise, through his actions more courageous; resisting tyrants, he gained the victory, and even after death he did not cease from his feats.
Theotokion
This day, O Lady, through thy watchful care we have been delivered from soul-destroying peril by the miracle of thy victorious martyr, and we give thanks alike to him and thee.
Second Canon
Irmos: When I behold the upswelling sea of life…
Amazed by the strange vision in which thou hast appeared to him, the Archbishop said: ‘Who art thou, my lord, that speakest to me? Show me how to find help quickly.’
Theodore replied: ‘I am the martyr. Listen to me. Boil wheat, and distribute it among the people, and ye shall thus be saved from the polluted food of the avenger.’
Great is the wonder thou hast performed, Theodore, and marvellous is thy help. Taking courage, then, with undivided heart we turn to thee for refuge, and we pray: save thy servants.
Theotokion
At the good pleasure of the Father, and through the descent of the Holy Spirit upon thee, thou wast made the dwelling-place of the Light, the pure tabernacle of the Word: guide me with thy light.
Katavasia: As we celebrate this sacred and solemn feast of the Mother of God, let us come, clapping our hands, O people of the Lord, and give glory to God who was born of her.
Kontakion
TONE EIGHT
Thou hast carried as a shield the faith of Christ within thy heart, and trampled underfoot the power of the enemy, O greatly-suffering martyr; thou hast received a heavenly and eternal crown, for thou wast undefeated in the battle.
Ikos
O Thou who art seated on the throne of light, with faith and thankfulness we sing Thy praise. For Thou hast granted us a divine gift: Theodore, courageous in his martyrdom, thrice-blessed in his life, the champion of the truth. With firm devotion he held fast to Christ, and proved a mighty victor over the deceitful enemy, for he was undefeated in the battle.
Canticle Seven
Irmos: The holy Children bravely trampled upon the threatening fire…
O just Master, Thou hast said that Thy righteous servants are not bound by the Law. So Thine own Mother and Thy servant Theodore, worker of many miracles, with the joy of their memorial release us today from the laws of fasting.
How glad, how great and joyful is this present feast, which the greatest and most glorious of the martyrs has established for us, through a single wonder keeping the people of Christ pure from defilement.
With songs of triumph and garlands of praise let us honour the holy martyr, for he withstood the evil serpent and prevailed against the enemy that destroys our soul and does mischief to our body.
Theotokion
The ancestor of all mankind, though forewarned, did not avoid the food that brings destruction to the soul. But thy faithful people, O Lady, instructed by thy martyr, turned away from the food of death; and with him they offer thee a sacrifice of thanksgiving for their salvation.
Second Canon
Irmos: An angel made the furnace moist with dew…
Thou hast come, O glorious saint, as a cloud quenching with its moisture the flames of despair, and thou hast preserved from the furnace of the tyrant all the faithful who cry: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
O lawless king, in shame let thy lips be sealed, which devised a wicked plot against us: for thy strength has been destroyed by the King of Kings and Lord of all.
Foolish Julian, thy heart was altogether filled with evil and worked deceitfully against us; but our wise God gave us healing remedies to save us from thy poison, for He grants His grace to those that call upon Him.
Theotokion
Thy conceiving is beyond all words, O undefiled Virgin, and thy childbearing beyond all understanding: for thou hast given birth in the flesh to God who saves all men from corruption. Therefore, blessed Theotokos, we glorify thee.
Katavasia: The holy Children bravely trampled upon the threatening fire, refusing to worship created things in place of the Creator; and they sang in joy: ‘Blessed art Thou and praised above all, O Lord God of our fathers.’
Canticle Eight
Irmos: O all-powerful Deliverer of all…
By thy childbearing thou hast filled heaven and earth with joy; and now, in this dark season, thou givest us a moment of gladness, keeping festival in honour of the triumphant martyr.
Brethren, let us keep the Sabbath today, resting from our labours of the past week: for at the beginning God blessed this day by resting on it from His labours, and now He has blessed it also with the solemn feast of the martyr.
Truly this is the first among Sabbaths, the Sabbath of Sabbaths; it is filled with the grace of the martyr and the power of God, for we celebrate the memorial of a great deliverance.
With the holy food of God the King, the pure martyr saved us from the lawless emperor’s polluted food; so, by a strange and marvellous wonder, he sanctified the seventh day of the week.
Theotokion
The voluntary death of the martyrs confirms the mystery brought to pass in thee, O Maiden. For they put their trust in God incarnate, who of His own will accepted suffering, and bravely they offered themselves in sacrifice.
Second Canon
Irmos: Thou hast made dew fall from the flames…
Thou wast delivered from the flames by divine power, O martyr Theodore, and now by thy holy protection thou hast saved us from the wicked devices of the transgressor.
Thy servants wept and lamented in the evening, because of the evil snare of the apostate. But joy shone forth in the morning through thy fervent aid, O martyr patient in suffering.
When fallen into danger, we find in thee a deliverer to save us from the devices of the enemy, O Theodore, victorious martyr of Christ, and we glorify thee for ever.
Theotokion
The mind of man is powerless to express the mystery of thy childbearing, O pure Virgin; therefore with reverent faith we honour thee as Theotokos and we glorify thee for ever.
Katavasia: The Offspring of the Theotokos saved the holy Children in the furnace. He who was then prefigured has since been born on earth, and He gathers together all the creation to sing: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Thy birthgiving was undefiled…
A multitude from every place runs to the Ark of the testimony: we magnify the Queen of all, and we honour the indwelling grace of God bestowed on him who outshines in glory all the other martyrs.
O Church of Christ, be strong and of good courage in the face of those who fight in vain against thee. For, during life and after death, the friends of Christ care for thee, as did the holy martyr whose feast thou keepest now with thanksgiving.
Though he was thought to be long since dead, his deeds prove that even after death he is alive and protects the faith with the same zeal as before. Enriched by him, we magnify him as our benefactor.
Theotokion
O sealed Book of God, I set thee as a divine seal on my hymn: I offer thee my praises, Virgin, thereby giving greater glory to thy martyr.
Second Canon
Irmos: No man is able to see God…
O glorious martyr, thou hast proved a faithful champion and a strong defence to us. We honour thy holy and venerated memory, the victorious feats of thy suffering and martyrdom, and the divine protection thou hast brought us.
O blessed Theodore, the ever-blessed wonder which thou hast performed is praised in all the world: therefore, gathering at this yearly festival, we give glory to Christ who has glorified thee.
Seeing the love of those who sing thy praises, martyr of Christ, grant them in return increasing grace. Thou knowest how great is our faith, O glorified saint: cease not to be a fervent intercessor with God on our behalf, a witness and a mediator.
Theotokion
We shall not cease to sing thy praises, O Virgin: thou art our helper and protection, our swift succour, our defender who is never put to shame. Keep thy suppliants from all harm, and deliver them at all times from every device of the evil one.
Katavasia: Let every mortal born on earth, radiant with light, in spirit leap for joy, and let the hosts of the angelic powers celebrate and honour the holy feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry: Hail! Pure and blessed ever-Virgin, who gavest birth to God.
Exapostilarion
Saint of God, crowned and victorious, thou standest now with the angels before the judgement-seat of Christ. Filled with the light of heaven, pray without ceasing, O Theodore, for peace in the world and for our salvation, who with true devotion celebrate thy joyful feast, O blessed and glorified martyr.
Glory be to the Father…
Repeat the exapostilarion.
Both now…
Theotokion
Wishing to restore the fallen world from corruption, the Lord came to dwell within thy womb, O Theotokos, in a way that He alone understands. And all of us who have found salvation cry aloud to thee with the greeting of the Angel: Hail! Blessed among all women, for thou hast brought forth joy to the whole inhabited earth.
Lauds. Four stichera are sung, in honour of the saint:
TONE ONE
to the special melody, O purest Virgin, thou joy of the heavenly hierarchies…
O ye faithful, let us join with one accord and praise in mystical hymns the champion of the heavenly army, the strong warrior of our holy faith; and let us say: O martyr of Jesus, worthy of our wonder, pray for us who honour thee.
O thrice-blessed Theodore, truly thou art named ‘The gift of God’, for thou hast been given as a source of gladness to all those in affliction. For everyone who in sincerity draws near thy shrine receives with joy the reward of thy miracles and worships Christ.
By thy sufferings and labours thou hast treasured up for thyself the riches and glory of holiness. Thou hast offered all thy strength as a gift acceptable to God, and by thy martyrdom thou hast with eagerness fulfilled the promise of thy God-given name.
Let us rejoice on this radiant festival of the divine martyr; and let us all who love to keep the feasts make glad in faith, as we honour the joyful celebration of his death. Let us sing in praise of Jesus, who has glorified his memory.
Glory be to the Father…
TONE SIX
Thou art a gift of holiness, O Theodore, in thy wisdom bringing to the world the riches of the divine life. Christ has glorified thy memory; and rejoicing in thy feast with one accord, we faithful praise thy labours and thy sufferings.
Both now…
Theotokion
O Theotokos, thou art the true Vine that has put forth the fruit of life. We pray thee, O Lady, intercede together with the martyr and all the saints, that mercy may be granted to our souls.
Aposticha in honour of the saint:
TONE THREE
Now the company of martyrs rejoices at thy shrine, O victorious martyr Theodore, and the ranks of angels extol thy fortitude in suffering. Christ Himself, the Giver of crowns, is present and with His own right hand He grants rich gifts of grace to those who sing thy praises. Thou hast sought and found Him whom thy heart desired, and now thou dwellest in His presence, conversing always with Him. Pray to Him, that light and salvation may be granted to our souls.
℣. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him (Psalm 63:11).
The pure and undefiled Fast has now begun, and brings us to the celebration of the martyr’s miracles. Through the Fast our souls are cleansed from filth and defilement, and through the martyr’s sufferings and miracles we are given strength to fight bravely against the passions. Illumined, therefore, by the grace of holy abstinence and by the wonders worked by Theodore the martyr, strengthened by our faith in Christ, we pray Him to bestow salvation on our souls.
℣. The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree: and shall spread abroad like a cedar in Lebanon (Psalm 91:13).
Possessing, O Theodore, a martyr’s boldness before God, thou hast brought to nothing the plot devised by the apostate against the faith of Christ. Fighting as a champion in defence of God’s people, through a fearful visitation thou hast delivered them from the food defiled by sacrifice to idols. So we honour thee as destroyer of idols, as saviour and guardian of Christ’s flock, as protector ever ready to hearken to our prayers; and in our hymns of praise we ask that, through thine intercessions, forgiveness and illumination may be granted to our souls.
Glory be to the Father…
TONE EIGHT
Armed with good courage through thy sufferings, O victorious martyr of Christ, by His power thou hast invisibly defended the true spiritual worship. The impious idols and the cruel tyrant thou hast rendered powerless, scorning torments and the fire that burns for but a moment. Alike in name and in reality thou art a gift from God: by thine intercessions save those that celebrate thy memory.
Both now…
Theotokion
Accept, O Lady, the prayers of thy servants, and deliver us from all necessity and affliction.
Then It is a good thing to give thanks…; Holy God…, etc., and the Lord’s Prayer; the troparion of St. Theodore, Great are the achievements…; Glory be to the Father… Both now…; Most glorious and beyond our understanding…; and the Litany, Have mercy upon us, O God… After the blessing by the priest, Blessed be He who is…, and the Prayer for Orthodox Christians we proceed (without the Dismissal) to the First Hour.
DIVINE LITURGY
The Typika (Psalms 102 and 145) and the Beatitudes. With the Beatitudes we sing four troparia from Canticle Three of the first Canon to St. Theodore, and four troparia from Canticle Six of the second Canon.
Prokimenon:
TONE SEVEN
The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him (Psalm 63:11).
℣. Hear my voice, O God, when I pray unto Thee: deliver my soul from fear of the enemy (Psalm 63:2).
Epistle: (For the day) Hebrews 1:1–12.
(For St. Theodore) 2 Timothy 2:1–10.
Alleluia:
TONE FOUR
℣ 1. The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree: and shall spread abroad like a cedar in Lebanon (Psalm 91:13).
℣ 2. They that are planted in the house of the Lord: shall flourish in the courts of our God (Psalm 91:14).
Gospel: (For the day) Mark 2:23–3:5.
(For St. Theodore) John 15:17–16:2.
Communion verse: The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance: he will not be afraid of any evil tidings. Alleluia.