Hieromartyr Ignatius of
Beatitudes on 12: From the Canon of the Forefeast: 4, from Ode 3; Hieromartyr: 4, from Ode 3; From the canon of the Saint: 4 from Ode 6.
1. The same
stone which the builders rejected, is become the chief cornerstone; this is the
stone whereon Christ hath established the Church which He redeemed from among
the nations.
2. Let all
creation sing the hymns of the forefeast unto Him who was begotten of the Father
before the morning-star, and hath now shone forth ineffably from the Virgin,
and in the flesh is born in Bethlehem, in His surpassing loving-kindness.
3. A star
hath shone forth from the tribe of
4. Perceiving
the incarnation of Christ, Isaiah manifestly prophesieth in the Holy Spirit, saying:
“The Lord is born of the Virgin as a babe, for our regeneration! His government is upon His shoulders!”
5. O father, thou hast been shown forth as a model
of sacred suffering, a tower of endurance, a rule of courage, a pillar of the
Church, the confirmation of the Faith, a sign of virtue: having been crowned
with honored sufferings in Christ.
6. Truly wast
thou called the God-bearer, O father; for, held in the arms of the Lord while
yet a babe, thou wast presented by Him Who saith to us: “Be ye for Me like unto
this child!”
7. I am the
pure wheat of God,” thou didst cry, O father; “and I hasten to be ground by the
wild beasts, that my body may be crushed, that my members may be devoured, that
I may become food for the beast, that I may be shown to be pure bread for God!”
8. Thou didst
complete the strange contest of martyrdom with endurance, and didst show forth
wondrous courage surpassing all who suffered before thee, consumed with love of
unremitting zeal which, like fire, set thy soul aflame.
9. Thou wast
a fruitful olive tree in the house of thy Lord, O divinely manifest John, for the
Lord imparted divine knowledge unto thee and strengthened thee in thine
apostolic work.
10. Ye are
the members of the body of Christ! Thus,
with the Apostle Paul didst thou preach, and didst teach thy flock to love
Christ alone, that all may be one.
11. Thy life
is holy, thy discourse, O divinely wise one, was filled with the grace of God, and
thy heart became a vessel of grace-filled prayer. Wherefore with faith and love we honor thee.
12. The
angelic nature marveled at the ineffable wonder which took place within thee, O
all-holy Virgin; how He Who is incorporeal and sustaineth all things took flesh
of thee.
Troparia
Tone
4: Make ready, O Bethlehem, /
Eden hath been opened unto
all. /
Prepare, O Ephratha, /
for the Tree of life hath
blossomed in the cave from the Virgin. /
For her womb proved to be
a spiritual paradise /
wherefrom there came the
Divine Plant, /
whereof eating we shall
live and not die like Adam. /
Christ is born //
to raise the image that
fell of old.
Tone 4: As thou didst share in the ways of the apostles /
and didst occupy their
throne, /
thou didst find thine
activity to be a passage to divine vision, /
O divinely inspired one. /
Wherefore, ordering the word
of truth, /
thou didst suffer for the
Faith even to the shedding of thy blood, /
O hieromartyr Ignatius.. /
Entreat Christ God, //
that our souls be saved.
Glory… Tone 4: O wonderworker, who livest in Christ /
forever, take pity in thy
love upon people in misfortunes; /
hearken unto thy children
who with faith call upon thee, /
expecting compassionate
aid from thee, //
O John of Kronstadt, our
beloved pastor.
Both now… Tone
4: Make ready, O Bethlehem, /
Eden hath been opened unto
all. /
Prepare, O Ephratha, /
for the Tree of life hath
blossomed in the cave from the Virgin. /
For her womb proved to be
a spiritual paradise /
wherefrom there came the
Divine Plant, /
whereof eating we shall
live and not die like Adam. /
Christ is born //
to raise the image that
fell of old.
The Epistle
Reader: The Prokimenon in the 8th Tone:
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous.
Choir: Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous.
Reader: Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are
covered.
Choir: Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye
righteous.
Reader: In the 7th Tone: The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him.
Choir: The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him.
Reader: The
[Galatians 3:8-12 (§205); Ephesians 5:1-8
(§228); 1 John 4:7-11 (§73))]
Reader: Alleluia in the 4th Tone: The righteous cried, and
the Lord heard them, and he delivered them out of all their tribulations.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia!
Reader: Many
are the tribulations of the righteous, and the Lord delivered them out of them
all.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia!
Reader: His heart is ready to hope in the Lord.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel [Luke 13:18-29 (§72); Luke 14:1-11 (§74); Luke 6:31-36
(§26)
Kontakia
Tone 3:
The luminous day of thy radiant struggles /
proclaimeth beforehand to all Him Who hath been born in the cave; /
for thirsting to delight in His love, /
thou didst hasten to be devoured by the wild beasts. /
Wherefore, thou hast been called the God-bearer, //
O most wise Ignatius.
Glory… Tone 4: O father John, namesake of grace, /
who wast chosen by God from childhood, / who in thy youth miraculously received from Him the gift of learning, / and in a dream wast most gloriously called to be a priest: // Entreat Christ God, that we may all be with thee in the kingdom of heaven.
Both now… Tone 3: Today the
Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth ineffably /
to the Word Who was before
the ages. /
Dance, O earth, at the
message! /
Give glory with the angels
and shepherds /
unto Him Who was willing to
be gazed upon as a young child //
and is pre-eternal God.