12th Sunday After Pentecost / Translation of the Relics of the Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen.

Beatitudes on 10 Octoechos 6; Martyr 4, from Ode 3.

1. From paradise didst Thou drive our forefather Adam, who had broken Thy 
commandment, O Christ; but, O Compassionate One, Thou didst cause to dwell therein 
the thief who confessed Thee on the cross, crying out: “Remember me, O Savior, in Thy 
kingdom!”
 
2. With the curse of death didst Thou condemn us who had sinned, O Lord, Bestower of 
life; yet having suffered in Thy flesh, O sinless Master, Thou hast granted life unto 
mortals who cry out: “Remember us also in Thy kingdom!”
 
3. In rising from the dead, Thou hast raised us up from the passions with Thyself through 
Thy resurrection, O Lord; and all the power of death hast Thou destroyed, O Savior. 
Wherefore, with faith we cry out to Thee: “Remember us also in Thy kingdom!”
 
4. O Thou who as God grantest life, by Thy three days in the tomb Thou didst raise up 
with Thyself the dead in hell, and as One Who is good Thou hast poured forth 
incorruption upon all of us who with faith ever cry out: “Remember us also in Thy 
kingdom!”
 
5. Risen from the dead, O Savior, Thou didst first appear to the myrrh-bearing women, 
crying out: “Rejoice!” and through them Thou didst announce Thy resurrection to Thy 
friends, O Christ. Wherefore, with faith we cry out to Thee, “Remember us also in Thy 
kingdom!”
 
6. Moses, stretching out his arms on the mountain, prefigured the Cross and thus 
conquered Amelek. And, receiving it with faith as a mighty weapon against the demons, 
we all cry out: “Remember us also in Thy kingdom!”

7. Thou wast shown to be a sacred speaker of divine mysteries and a theologian,

disputing with the assemblies of the Jews and mightily denouncing their godlessness and

their disposition which opposeth God, O most excellent martyr Stephen.

8. Come ye all, and together let us honor with divine hymns the protomartyr of Christ,

the first to minister as deacon, the converser with angels, who hath splendidly shown to

the martyrs the starting point of the race.

9. The first of the martyrs, the first of those who were chosen to serve as deacons,

appeareth as a treasure hidden in the earth; and he hath filled the world with divine

fragrance and the Church with rich gifts.

10. Thou hast been shown to be the portal of the noetic Orient, the Most High, Who

appeared on earth, O Virgin; for through thee, O all-pure one, the Word hath entered in

unto us, to save all from ignorance.

Troparia & Kontakia

Tone 3: Let the heavens be glad; let earthly things rejoice; /
for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm. /
He hath trampled down death by death; /
the first-born of the dead hath He become. /
From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us //
and Hath granted to the world great mercy.

[Troparion of the Temple]

Tone 4: For the sufferings which thou didst endure for Christ God, /

thy head hath been crowned with a royal diadem, O Stephen, /

first among those who have suffered; /

for, having denounce the insanity of the Jews, /

thou didst behold thy Savior at the right hand of the Father. /

Him do thou therefore entreat //

in behalf of our souls.

 
Tone 3: Thou didst rise today from the tomb, O Merciful One, /
and didst lead us out of the gates of death. /
Today Adam danceth and Eve rejoiceth; /
and together with them both the prophets and patriarchs //
unceasingly praise the divine might of Thine authority.

[Kontakion of the Temple]

Glory… Tone 6:

Thou wast the first to be sown on the earth by the heavenly Husbandman, /

O most laudable Stephen, /

and thou wast the first on earth to shed thy blood for Christ, /

O blessed one; /

first hast thou been to be crowned with the wreath of victory in the heavens, //

O first among athletes, crown-bearer, who wast first among martyrs.

Both now... Tone 6:

O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, /

O mediation unto the Creator unfailing, /

disdain not the suppliant voices of sinners, /

but be thou quick, O good one, to help us who in faith cry unto thee; /

hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, //

thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

The Epistle

Reader: The Prokimenon in the 3rd Tone: O chant unto our God, chant ye; chant unto our King, chant ye.

Choir: O chant unto our God, chant ye; chant unto our King, chant ye.

Reader: Clap your hands, all ye nations; shout unto God with a voice of rejoicing.

Choir: O chant unto our God, chant ye; chant unto our King, chant ye.

Reader: In the 8^th Tone: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words

unto the ends of the world.

Choir: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of

the world.

Reader: The Reading is from the First Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the

Corinthians: [1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (§158); Acts 6:8-7:5,47-60 (§17)]

Reader: Alleluia in the 3rd Tone: In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me not be put to

shame in the age to come.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader: Be Thou unto me a God to defend me and a house of refuge to save me.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader: In the 1^st Tone: The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord, and Thy truth

in the congregation of saints.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Gospel [Matthew 19:16-26 (§79); Matthew 21:33:42 (§87)]

Communion Verse: Praise the Lord in the heavens, praise Him in the highest! Their

sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!