St. Herman of Alaska

Beatitudes on 8: From the canon of the Saint: 4 from Ode 3; and 4 from Ode 6.

1 & 2. The divinely wise Nazarius, having come to Valaam from Sarov, planted there love for interior spiritual activity; wherefore, partaking of this grace, O venerable one, with spiritual enlightenment thou didst prepare thy soul for the struggle of evangelism.

3. As fruitful branches of the vine of Christ, O Sergius and Herman of Valaam, who nourished the new Herman with the grapes of the virtues, fill ye our hearts with the wine of divine gladness.

4. With prayer and activity thou didst prepare thy soul for a new task; wherefore, thou didst reach a far-away country with thy brother evangelists, leading the inhabitants of Alaska to Jesus most sweet.

5. To proclaim the glad tidings of the Gospel thou didst travel to the ends of the world, to a new place, Spruce Island, which thou didst call New Valaam, showing thy love for the Valaam of thy homeland; and therein thou didst acquire new brethren, the newly-enlightened people, through the discourse of thy preaching and thy works of piety.

6. The Lord glorified thy brethren, O venerable one, for their works were truly like unto the struggles of the apostles: Juvenal chanteth in the choir of the martyrs, Joasaph and Innocent, and those with them, sing in the ranks of hierarchs, and together we chant unto God: Glory to Thee Who hast shown us the light!

7. Thy works and those of thy fellow evangelists have received their sanctification and crowning through the confession and martyr’s blood of Peter the Aleut, at whose mighty faith and endurance thou didst marvel. Wherefore, following thee, we cry aloud: O holy new-martyr Peter, pray to God for us!

8. Come, ye people, that we may see how the stormy waters which were about to engulf the island submitted to the meek Herman. Before the icon of the Mother of God they humble themselves and turn back to the ocean’s depths. And let us, who are bestormed by the waves of life, cry out with the chosen of the Mother of God: O all-holy Theotokos, save us!

Troparia

Tone 4: O venerable Herman, /

ascetic of the northern wilderness and gracious advocate for the world, /

teacher of the Orthodox Faith and good instructor of piety, /

adornment of Alaska and joy of all America: //

entreat Christ God, that He save our souls.

Glory… Both now… Tone 4: The mystery hidden from before the ages /

and unknown even to the angels, /

through thee, O Theotokos, hath been revealed to those on earth: /

God incarnate in unconfused union, /

Who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake /

and thereby raising up the first-formed man, //

hath saved our souls from death.

The Epistle

Reader: The Prokimenon in the 7th Tone: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Choir: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Reader: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?

Choir: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Reader: Precious in the sight of the Lord.

Choir: Is the death of His saints.

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

[Gal. 5:22-6:2 (§213)]

Reader: Alleluia in the 6th Tone.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; in His commandments shall he greatly delight.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader: His seed shall be mighty upon the earth.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Gospel [Luke 6:17-23a (§24)]

Kontakia:

Tone 8: O beloved of the Mother of God, who received the tonsure at Valaam, /

new zealot of the struggles of the desert-dwellers of old: /

wielding prayer as a spear and shield, /

thou didst show thyself to be terrible to demons and pagan darkness. /

Wherefore, we cry out to thee: //

O venerable Herman, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved!

Glory… 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.