Presanctified Liturgy: Friday in the 2nd Week
Hieromartyr Theodotus of Cyrenia
Tone 4:
Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. /
In the multitude of Thy mercy visit my soul, /
and release me from the burden of my transgressions, //
for Thou alone lovest mankind. Twice
Tone 4:
O martyrs of the Lord, living oblations, /
spiritual burnt-offerings, /
perfect victims sacrificed to God, /
sheep that know God and are known by Him, /
whose fold no wolf can enter: /
pray that we be led with you //
to feed beside the water of repose.
Precious is the death of Thy saints, O Lord. /
Slain by the sword, by fire or frost, /
they poured out their blood, putting all their trust in Thee /
and awaiting from Thy hand the reward of their labors. /
They endured to the end and from Thee, O Savior, //
they received great mercy.
Since, O saints, ye have boldness in the presence of the Savior, /
pray without ceasing for us sinners, /
asking that remission of offences and great mercy //
may be granted to our souls.
Thou art glorified in the memorials of Thy saints, O Christ our God: /
at their intercessions //
send down upon us Thy great mercy.
Tone 4 (Special Melody: “As valiant among the martyrs…”):
A most sacred priest, /
the foundation of the Church, /
a pillar unshakable wast thou shown to be, O most glorious one, /
and a wonderworker most true, /
bestowed of God, O glorious one, /
and thou wast a most radiant and sacred luminary /
and a garden of paradise, /
having acquired Jesus the Bestower of life as the Tree of life in thy midst, //
O hieromartyr Theodotus. (Twice)
Beaten with leathern thongs, /
and stretched out on a tree, /
and bitterly lacerated, O right wondrous one, /
imprisoned in a dungeon, /
thy feet cruelly pierced with nails, /
and laid upon a heated bed of iron, /
thou wast shown to be steadfast, /
glorifying Him Who strengthened thee amide all thy torments, //
O hieromartyr Theodotus.
Strangling the enemy /
with the cords of thy struggles, /
thou didst vanquish his power; /
and having been most splendidly courageous, /
thou dwellest as a crowned victor in the kingdom of heaven, /
having been accounted worthy of enlightenment /
and the comeliness of them that hold festivals; /
and thou prayest that they that honor thee be saved, //
O Theodotus, thou glory of the martyrs.
Glory… Tone 4:
With the spirits of the faithful departed /
give rest, O loving Savior, /
to the souls of Thy servants, //
and preserve them for the life of blessedness with Thee.
Both now… Tone 4:
The Prophet David, the forefather of God, /
for thy sake gave voice beforehand in psalmody concerning thee, /
unto Him Who in thee accomplished mighty works: /
the Queen stood at Thy right hand. /
For God Whose good pleasure it was to become incarnate of thee without father /
showed thee, His Mother, to be the mediatress of life, /
that He might renew His image which had become corrupt through the passions; /
and having found the sheep which had strayed among the mountains and become lost, /
He taketh it upon His shoulders and bringeth it to His Father; /
and Christ, Who is possessed of great and rich mercy, /
in accordance with His will, uniteth it with the hosts of heaven, //
and saveth the world, O Theotokos.
Tone 4: Let Thy mercy and Thy truth continually help me.
Stichos: With patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive unto me.
Lesson: Genesis 5:32 - 6:8
Tone 6: I said: O Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul.