The Royal Martyrs
Beatitude Verses: Martyrs 4 from Ode 3; 4 from Ode 6.
1 & 2. At
God’s behest, the guardian angel was taken away from the land of Russia, her enemies
assumed the rule over it, and they that despise her prosper, because of the multitudes
of the impieties of what before was a pious land; and her princes languish among
alien peoples. Spurn not utterly thy
suffering people, O Lord, but turn Thou and establish them on the rock of Thy
commandments.
3. How long,
O Lord, will the way of the wicked prosper?
How long will the land weep because of the evil of those who dwell
therein? Hierarchs, priests, princes and
faithful people have been cast down and slain.
How long, O Lord, O true and holy Master, wilt Thou refrain from
condemning Thine enemies for their blood?
Have mercy and deliver us all from Thine enemies, and save our souls.
4. Bereft of deliverance, the land which before was
called Christian hath been filled with tribulation and groaning, saying amid
its suffering: We have sinned and transgressed, falling away from Thee, O Lord,
and have not obeyed Thy commandments, nor kept them. Turn us to repentance, O God, and establish
us upon the immovable rock of Thy commandments.
5. The Lord hath granted consolation, for the mercy
of the Lord hath not forsaken us and His compassion hath not ended; for they
are renewed with each passing day.
Wherefore, let us trust in God; the Lord is our portion, let us hope in
Him Who is able to deliver us from all misfortunes, as He did Jonah from the
sea monster.
6. It is a good thing to seek God, for the Lord is
good to those who trust in Him, and good it is for the soul which awaiteth in
patience the salvation of God, who giveth his face to the smiter and accepteth
abuse, that the Lord not utterly reject it, but deliver from destruction the
souls of the humble who trust in Him.
7. The Lord hath sent woe upon a sinful people, but
He hath mercy according to His great goodness and love in His care, for He hath
smitten and rendered bitter the lot of the children of men not out of the
volition of His heart, but when they trampled upon His commandments; for from
the Most High come punishment and prosperity alike. Let not every mortal complain concerning his
chastisement, but let his face be downcast because of his sins and let him
lament until he sinketh down in death and beholdeth the Lord from heaven.
8. Now do I flee unto thee, O all-pure one. Save me by thy supplications, and preserve me;
for what thou wishest, thou canst do, as thou art the Mother of the Almighty.
Troparia
& Kontakia
Tone 5:
Meekly didst thou endure bonds and diverse sufferings, /
and the loss of an earthly
kingdom, /
and didst bear witness for
Christ even unto death /
at the hands of those that
fight against God, /
O great passion-bearer,
divinely-crowned Tsar Nicholas; /
therefore, Christ God hath
crowned thee in the heavens with a martyr’s crown, /
together with thy queen,
thy children, and thy servants. /
Him do thou entreat //
to have mercy on the
Russian land and save our souls.
Tone 4: Causing meekness, humility and love to dwell in thy soul,
/
thou didst
earnestly serve the suffering, O holy passion-bearer Princess Elizabeth; /
wherefore,
with faith thou didst endure sufferings and death for Christ, /
with the
martyr Barbara. //
With her pray
for all who honor thee with love.
Tone 6:
Hope made strong the Tsar-martyr /
with his queen and children and servants, /
and incited them ardently toward Thy love, /
thereby foreshadowing for them the future rest; /
through their intercessions, //
O Lord, have mercy on us.
Glory… Tone 4:
Taking up the Cross of Christ, /
thou didst pass from royal
glory to the glory of heaven, /
praying for thine enemies,
O holy martyred Princess Elizabeth; /
and with the martyr
Barbara thou didst find everlasting joy.
//
Therefore, pray ye in
behalf of our souls.
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 7th Tone: For Thy sake, O Lord, we are slain all the day
long.
Choir: For Thy sake,
O Lord, we are slain all the day long.
Reader: We are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
Choir: For
Thy sake, O Lord, we are slain all the day long.
Reader: For Thy sake, O Lord.
Choir: We are slain all the day long.
Reader: The
[Romans 8:28-39
(§99)]
Reader: Alleluia in the 1st Tone.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: Our God is
refuge and strength, a helper in afflictions which mightily befall us.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: O
Lord, save the king, and hearken unto us in the day when we call upon Thee.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel [John 15:17-16:2 (§52)]
Communion Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise
is meet for the upright. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!