35 th Sunday after Pentecost Apodosis of the Theophany Commemoration of the Holy Equal of the Apostles Nina, Enlightener of Iberia

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1 1 VESPERS: Tone 2 35 th Sunday after Pentecost Apodosis of the Theophany Commemoration of the Holy Equal of the Apostles Nina, Enlightener of Iberia P. Regular Beginning C. Lord I have cried Come let us adore the Word of God,/ begotten of the Father before the world began,/ and incarnate of the Virgin Mary./ For of His own will He suffered the Cross and submitted to burial.// He also rose from the dead and saved me, an erring man. 2. Christ, our Saviour,/ blotted out the bond that pledged us to the decrees of the law/ by nailing it to the Cross,/ and He put down the dominion of death.// We worship His Resurrection on the third day. 3. In common with the Archangels/ let us praise the Resurrection of Christ./ He is the Deliverer and Saviour of our souls./ And He will come again in dread glory and great power,// to judge the world He fashioned. Stichera of the Feast (Tone 2) 4. The Forerunner, beholding our Enlightener,/ Who illumineth every man, coming to be baptized,/ rejoiceth in soul and trembleth./ He pointeth to Him with his hand and saith to the people:/ "This is He Who delivereth Israel,/ Who freeth us from corruption!// O sinless Christ our Go-d, glory be to Thee!" 5. When our Deliverer was baptized by His servant/ and borne witness to by the coming of the Holy Spirit,/ the angelic armies, looking on, were stricken with awe;/ and a voice was borne down from the Father in heaven:/ "He Whom the Forerunner baptized with his hand is My beloved Son,/ in Whom I have been well-pleased!"// O Christ our Go-d, glory be to Thee! 6. The currents of the Jordan received Thee, the Wellspring,/ and the Comforter descended upon Thee in the form of a dove./ Thou Who bowed down the heavens dost bow Thy head,/ and clay crieth out to the Potter:/ "What dost Thou command me to do, O Thou Who art greater than I?/ It is I who must needs be baptized of Thee!// O sinless Christ our Go-d, glory be to Thee!" 7. Desiring to save man who had become lost,/ Thou didst deign to clothe Thyself in the guise of a servant;/ for it was fitting that Thou, our Master and God, assume our form:/ for when Thou wast baptized in the flesh, O Deliverer,/ Thou didst vouchsafe remission unto us./ Wherefore, we cry out to Thee:// O Christ our Go-d, glory be to Thee! Stichera for St. Nina (Tone 4)

2 8. O blessed Nina, handmaid of Christ God, the Redeemer of all,/ O instructress of Iberia, mighty in faith, who sprang forth blamelessly,/ with gladness thou didst hasten after Him,/ didst preach the true God to the people,/ and didst instruct them to renounce their inanimate idols,// showing them the path of life. 9. Holding in her hand the sign of miracles,/ a precious cross fashioned of vine-branches,/ the blessed and holy Nina wrought many wonders/ by its power in the city of Mtskheta./ Wherefore, as many as accepted her preaching were healed of their sickness// and rendered glory unto God. (Tone 2) 10. Come, all ye faithful, let us praise the harp of the Holy Spirit,/ and let us bless the instructress of piety,/ the healer of our souls and bodies./ With wreaths of discourse let us crown the preacher and evangelist,/ the equal of the apostles, the radiant beacon of Iberia,/ the clarion of divine sound, the godly-minded Nina,/ the all-praised herald of the all-pure Mother of God;/ and let us cry out to her thus: Rejoice,/ unblemished turtle-dove and pure dove!/ Rejoice, instructress of the knowledge of God!/ Rejoice, fellow laborer with the Apostles Paul and Andrew!// Rejoice, enlightenment of Iberia and glory of all the world! Glory... of the Feast (Tone 2) Thou didst bow Thy head before the Forerunner,/ and didst crush the heads of the serpents;/ and, arriving at the streams, Thou didst illumine all things, O Savior,/ that they may glorify Thee,// the Enlightener of our souls. Both now & ever... Dogmatikon (Tone 2) At the coming of grace, the shadow that is the law passed away./ Just as the bush that burned was not consumed,/ so hast thou, Virgin, given birth and Virgin remained./ Gone was the Pillar of fire,/ and lo, in its stead the Sun of Righteousness shone forth.// Behold, instead of Moses, Christ, the salvation of our souls. P. Wisdom. Aright! C. O Joyful Light... P. Prokimenon. The Lord is King... P. Wisdom! The reading from the Epistle of John [1Jn. 3:21-4:6] Beloved: If our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. And he who keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in 2

3 the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. 3 The reading from the Epistle of John [1Jn. 4:11-16] Beloved: If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. The reading from the Epistle of John [1Jn. 4:20-5:5] Beloved: If a man saith: "I love God," and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he who loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God Whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him: that he who loveth God love his brother also. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one who loveth Him who begat loveth Him also who is begotten of Him. By this we know, that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith. Who is he who overcometh the world, but he who believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? P. Augmented Litany R. Vouchsafe... P. Litany of Fervent Supplication C. Litya (Tone 2) Seeing Thee coming to him at the River Jordan, John said:/ O Christ God, wherefore hast Thou come to Thy servant?/ O Lord, since Thou art free of defilement,/ in whose name shall I baptize Thee?/ The Father? But Thou bearest Him within Thee./ The Son? But Thou Thyself art Him incarnate./ The Holy Spirit? Thou knowest how to give Him to the mouths of the faithful.// O God Who hast made Thyself manifest, have mercy upon us! The waters saw Thee, O God, the waters saw Thee and were afraid;/ for the cherubim are unable to gaze upon Thy glory,/ and the seraphim cannot bear to look upon Thee;/ yet, standing before Thee in fear,/ the cherubim bear Thee up and the seraphim glorify Thy power./ With them, O Compassionate One, we declare Thy praise, saying:// O God Who hast revealed Thyself, have mercy upon us! Today the Creator of heaven and earth approacheth the Jordan in the flesh;/ the Sinless One asketh baptism,/ that He may cleanse the world of the falsehood of the enemy./ And the Master of all is baptized by a servant, and through water granteth cleansing unto the human race./ To Him let us cry out:// O our God Who hast appeared, glory be to Thee!

4 4 Glory... of St. Nina (Tone 6) Come, let us all hymn Nina,/ the equal of the apostles,/ the divinely wise enlightener of Iberia;/ for she dispelled the falsehood of idolatry,/ leading us out of the darkness into the light,/ and taught us to worship the consubstantial Trinity./ Wherefore, all ye faithful,/ let us celebrate her honoured memory with faith,// and glorify our Saviour. Both now and ever... of the Feast (Tone 8) Today creation is enlightened!/ Today all things are glad, those of heaven and those on earth!/ Angels and men mingle together!/ For where the King arriveth, there doth order prevail./ Wherefore, let us all hasten to the Jordan/ and see how John baptizeth the sinless head which no man fashioned./ And, chanting the cry of the angel,/ let us exclaim together:/ The grace of God hath appeared, saving all men,// illumining and granting mercy unto the faithful! P. Litya prayers in back of the Church APOSTICHA: (Tone 2) 1. Thy Resurrection, O Christ,/ has given light to all the earth/ and has called up Thy creature.// Therefore, glory to Thee, O Almighty God. V. The Lord is King,/ and hath put on glorious apparel. 2. Through Thy rood, O Saviour,/ Thou hast done away with the curse of the tree,/ and through Thy burial Thou hast put down the dominion of death,/ and Thou hast enlightened mankind by Thy Resurrection./ Therefore we cry to Thee:// Glory to Thee, O Christ, our God, the Giver of life. V. He hath made the world so sure/ that it cannot be moved. 3. Thou, O Christ, didst appear, nailed upon the Cross/ having changed the beauty of created things./ And in cruelty the soldiers pierced Thy side with a lance;/ while the Jews begged that Thy tomb might be sealed,/ for they both had no faith in Thy power./ But Thou, O Lord, for Thy mercy's sake hast submitted to the tomb/ and hast risen on the third day.// Therefore, unto Thee be glory. V. Holiness becometh Thine house/ O Lord, forever. 4. Of Thine own will Thou, O Christ, the Giver of life,/ for the sake of mortal man hast endured Thy passion/ and hast descended into hell, in mighty power,/ snatching as it were from the jaws of a great monster those who awaited Thee there,/ granting them an abode in paradise./ Therefore to us who give glory to Thy Rising on the third day,// grant cleansing of our sins and Thy great mercy. Glory... of St. Nina (Tone 8) In the church, O blessed Nina,/ thou didst richly mingle the cup of grace with the outpourings of the Holy Spirit;/ wherefore, thine

5 all-glorious evening festival calleth all the faithful/ whom the grace of the Spirit of God hath regenerated in the font of holy baptism./ For this cause let all who have put on Christ/ praise God with hymns and, celebrating today, let them magnify the divinely radiant Trinity,/ saying thus: O Almighty God Who hath wrought wonders,// preserve us who confess Thee! Both now and ever... of the Feast (Tone 6) The radiant lamp who came forth from a barren woman,/ beholding the Sun Who shone forth from the Virgin asking for baptism in the Jordan,/ cried out to Him in awe and joy:// "Do Thou sanctify me, O Master, by Thy divine epiphany!" C. St. Symeon's Prayer R. Trisagion C. Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos x2 Troparion of the Feast: (Tone 1) (see music) When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the River Jordan,/ worship of the Trinity was revealed,/ for the voice of the Father did come forth to testify/ and to name Thee His most beloved Son/ and the Spirit in the likeness of a dove/ confirmed the truth of the word./ Thou hast appeared and given light to the world,// O Lord, glory be to Thee. P. Blessing of the Loaves C. Blessed be the Name of the Lord... x3 Psalm 33:1-10 MATINS: Tone 2 P. Regular Beginning P. Great Ectenia C. God is the Lord... C. Sunday Troparia (Tone 2) x2 When Thou didst descend to death, O life immortal,/ Thou didst slay hell with the splendor of Thy Godhead/ and when from the depths Thou didst raise the dead/ all the powers of heaven cried out:/ O Giver of life, Christ our God,// Glory to Thee! Glory... Troparion for St. Nina (Tone 4) O holy Nina, equal of the apostles,/ minister of the word of God,/ who emulated the first-called Andrew and the other apostles in apostolic preaching,/ enlightener of Iberia and harp of the Holy Spirit:// Entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved! Both... Troparion of the Feast:(Tone 1) (see music) When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the River Jordan,/ worship of the Trinity was revealed,/ for the voice of the Father did come forth to testify/ and to name Thee His most beloved Son/ and the Spirit in the likeness of a dove/ confirmed the truth of the word./ Thou hast appeared and given light to the world,// O Lord, glory be to Thee. 5 Lord Have Mercy 3x

6 6 Glory... R. Now... R. Kathisma II P. Small Ectenia R. Sessional Hymns: The noble Joseph, taking Thine all-pure body down from the Tree and wrapping it in a clean winding-sheet, enclosed it in a new tomb with sweet spices; yet Thou didst arise on the third day, O Lord, granting great mercy to the world. V. Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; forget not Thy paupers to the end. Standing before the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb, the angel cried: "Myrrh is meet for the dead, yet Christ hath shown Himself to be a stranger to corruption! But cry aloud: The Lord hath risen, granting the world great mercy!" G/B... Thy mystery, O Mother of God, is most glorious and passeth all understanding, for stamped with the seal of purity and thy virginity inviolate, thou art acknowledged without doubt to be the Mother who indeed hast given birth to the true God. Do thou beseech Him to save our souls. R. Kathisma III P. Small Ectenia R. Sessional Hymns: Without hindering the Jews from sealing the stone of the tomb, in arising Thou didst bestow the rock of faith upon all. O Lord, glory be to Thee! V. I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders. With one accord the choir of Thy disciples rejoiceth with the myrrhbearing women; and with them we celebrate a common feast to the glory and honour of Thy resurrection. And through them we cry out to Thee, O Lord Who lovest mankind: Grant Thy people great mercy! G/B... All-blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos, for by Him Who became incarnate through thee hath hades been made captive, Adam restored, the curse annulled, Eve set free, death slain, and we have been given life. Wherefore, chanting, we cry aloud: Blessed is Christ God Who hath been thus well pleased! Glory be to Thee! C. Polyeleos P/C. Magnification for St. Nina We magnify thee,/ O holy Nina,/ equal of the apostles,/ who didst illumine the whole land of Iberia with the light of the Gospel// and didst lead it to Christ.

7 7 V. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands. C. We magnify thee,/ O holy Nina,/ equal of the apostles,/ who didst illumine the whole land of Iberia with the light of the Gospel// and didst lead it to Christ. V. The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord. C. We magnify thee,/ O holy Nina,/ equal of the apostles,/ who didst illumine the whole land of Iberia with the light of the Gospel// and didst lead it to Christ. (Do NOT sing G/B... Alleluia... Go directly to Evlogitaria) C. Evlogitaria (Blessed art Thou, O Lord...) P. Small Ectenia R. Ypakoe: After the Passion, when the women went to the tomb to anoint Thy Body, O Christ our God, they saw angels in the sepulcher and were affrighted, for they heard them say that the Lord was risen granting the world great mercy. R. Sessional Hymns With spiritual discourse thou didst bedew our whole land, O Nina, equal of the apostles, and thus didst render it fertile, that it might produce the seed of faith. And thou didst enlighten the ends of the world and uproot the tares of unbelief, baptizing the peoples of Iberia in the name of the Trinity. O holy city, adornment of the Church, rejoice and be glad, for today is celebrated the splendid festival of our mother Nina, the equal of the apostles, the preacher of the Gospel, who founded thee; and cry out with us: O Christ God, by her supplications establish Thy Faith! Glory... Having been chosen beforehand by the Mother of God, and received the rank of the apostles, thou didst illumine the land of Iberia with the light of the Gospel, with the angels hymning the Deliverer and praying unceasingly to Him for us, that Christ grant us grace and mercy. Both... Come, O ye faithful, let us see where Christ hath been baptized. Let us follow now to the River Jordan, to the voice of him who crieth in the wilderness, and let us behold there the Creator of Adam, Who in His ineffable compassion is touched by the hand of His servant; and let us cry aloud to Him: Thou hast come, Thou hast appeared in the Jordan, to sanctify the waters! Hymn of Degrees: (Antiphon One) I cast the eyes of my heart toward Thee in heaven, O Saviour. Save me by Thine overshadowing. Have mercy on us who offend Thee greatly every hour, O my Christ, and grant that we may offer Thee repentance before the end. G/B... It is fitting that the Holy Spirit reign, sanctify and move creation, for He is God, consubstantial with the Father and the Word.

8 Hymn of Degrees: (Antiphon Two) If the Lord Himself were not with us, who would be preserved whole from the enemy, the slayer of men? Give not Thy servant over to the teeth of mine enemies, O Saviour, for they move against me like lions. G/B... The Holy Spirit is the Source of life and worship, for by His power as God He preserveth all created things in the Father by the Son. Hymn of Degrees: (Antiphon Three) They who hope in the Lord are like a holy mountain: they are in nowise moved by the assaults of the enemy. Let those who live godly lives stretch not their hands forth to iniquities, for Christ will not withhold His staff from such in His portion. G/B... Through the Holy Spirit doth all wisdom flow: through Him have the prophets received vision, hath grace come upon the apostles, and have the martyrs been crowned with the endurance of suffering. P. Prokimenon: (Tone 2) Arouse Thyself, O Lord my God, in the commandment which Thou hast enjoined,/ and a congregation of peoples shall surround Thee. V. O Lord my God, in Thee have I put my hope: Save me. C. Let every breath praise the Lord. P. GOSPEL #2 C. Having Beheld the Resurrection of Christ... R. Psalm 50 C. Glory... Now... Have mercy on me... Jesus having risen... P. Save, O God, Thy People... Anointing. Canticle One 8 Irmos: Overwhelming power once laid low the whole army of Pharaoh in the deep,/ and the incarnate Word hath destroyed pernicious sin./ All-glorious is the Lord,// for gloriously hath He been glorified. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. The prince of this world, under whom we have enlisted, not having obeyed Thy commandment, was condemned by Thy Cross, O Good One; for the weak one attacked Thee as one mortal, recoiled from the might of Thine authority, and was exposed as weak. Thou camest into the world, the Deliverer of the human race and Author of life incorruptible; for by Thy resurrection Thou didst break asunder the bonds of death. This do we all glorify, for gloriously hast Thou been glorified. Theotokion Thou wast revealed as higher than all creation, visible and invisible, O pure Ever-virgin; for thou gavest birth to the Creator, in that He was

9 well pleased to become incarnate in thy womb. Entreat Him with boldness, to save our souls. The Lord, the King of the ages, restoreth corrupted Adam with the streams of the Jordan and crusheth the heads of the serpents who make their nest therein, for He hath been glorified. The Lord Who became incarnate of the Virgin, clothing material flesh in the immaterial fire of the Godhead, doth wrap Himself in the water of the Jordan, for He hath been glorified. He Who washeth away the defilement of men, cleanseth Himself for them in the Jordan, desiring to make Himself like unto them, yet remaining as He was before, the Lord Who enlighteneth those in darkness, for He hath been glorified. When the light of the radiant Dawn shone forth upon mortal men, coming forth from the wilderness to the waters of the Jordan, Thou, O King of the Sun, didst bow Thy neck before him, that Thou mightest ransom our forefather from the minions of darkness and cleanse creation of all defilement. O Word Who art without beginning, Thou hast buried man with Thyself in the stream, and Thou dost lead him forth new again, who had been corrupted by deception; and the mighty voice of the Father testifieth to Thee ineffably, saying: This is My beloved Son, the Child Who is equal to Me by nature. Holy Equal to the Apostles, Nina, pray to God for us! Open Thou my lips, O Christ God, that I may praise and hymn the virgin Nina, the equal of the apostles and preacher; and enlighten my mind, that, as is meet, I may adorn with flowers of discourse her who is worthy. Thou didst bring knowledge to tribes alien to thee, O all-praised Nina, and, made wise by the Holy Spirit, thou didst behold the Lord Himself, in a vision. Wherefore, O divinely wise virgin, in a barren land thou didst bring the people of Iberia to Christ. Glory... Like a dove who flew in from the West, by thy love thou didst turn to the Creator the hard-hearted barbarians who worshipped idols, and when they were renewed by grace, O immaculate bride of Christ, thou didst betroth them to thy Bridegroom. Both... The holy virgin was the vessel of thy beneficence, O all-pure Virgin Theotokos, and she enlightened the land which had fallen to thee by lot. Wherefore, we beseech thee: Take her with thee to make entreaty for those who cry out to thee: Have mercy upon thy portion! C. Katavasia (Tone 2) 9

10 The Lord mighty in battle/ uncovered the foundations of the deep/ and led His servants on dry ground:/ but He covered their adversaries with the waters,// for He has been glorified. Canticle Three 10 Irmos: The desert, the barren Church of the nations,/ blossomed like a lily at Thine advent, O Lord;// and therein hath my heart been established. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. During Thy suffering creation was altered, beholding Thee, Who founded all by Thy divine gesture, in pauper's form, mocked by the iniquitous. With Thy hand Thou didst fashion me out of dust, in Thine image; and having descended into hades, O Christ, with Thyself Thou didst raise me up who had again been broken down into the dust of death for my sins. Theotokion The ranks of the angels marveled, O most pure one, and the hearts of men have been filled with awe at thy birthgiving; wherefore, we honour thee, the Theotokos, with faith. O Church of Christ, who of old wast barren and grievously childless, be glad today; for by water and the Spirit children have been born unto thee, who cry out with faith: There is none as holy as our God! In the wilderness the Forerunner crieth out with a loud voice: "Prepare ye the ways of Christ and make straight the paths of our God, crying out with faith: There is none as holy as our God! He who once assumed the guise of a malignant serpent and planted death in the garden of creation, is now cast to darkness by Christ's coming in the flesh; and by assailing the Master, the Dawn which hath shone forth upon us, he crusheth his own loathsome head. The Master draweth to Himself the divinely crafted nature of man, which had been overthrown by the tyranny of greed; and He restoreth mortal men, granting them a new birth, and accomplishing thereby a mighty work; for He is come to cleanse our nature. Holy Equal to the Apostles, Nina, pray to God for us! Mercifully mindful of us in His loving-kindness, God made thee a zealous evangelist, who, though a woman, wast adorned with manly understanding; and He hath revealed thee to us as full of the Holy Spirit, and by thy preaching of Christ hath adopted us through faith in Him. The shell hath fallen away from our insensitive hearts, our deaf ears have been opened by the sound of thy preaching, and the darkness of our

11 mind hath been dispelled by the light of the Christian doctrine proclaimed by thee, O holy Nina, equal of the apostles, valiant disciple of Christ. Glory... Those who once worshipped graven images and abode in the darkness of ungodliness have been freed from the falsehood of idolatry by thy coming, O blessed Nina. Armazi trembled when thunder rolled, and the savagery of Zaden hath been brought to an end. Both... Through thee, O Virgin Theotokos, were we removed from the pit of ungodliness when it pleased thee to accomplish our enlightenment by a woman. And when we emerged from the holy font, through the blessed Nina we came to know thy Son and our God. C. Katavasia (Tone 2) The Lord, Who givest strength to our kings/ and exalts the horn of His anointed,/ is born of a Virgin and comes to baptism./ Therefore let us, the faithful, cry aloud:// None is holy as our God and none is righteous save Thee, O Lord. P. Small Ectenia C. Kontakion for St. Nina: (Tone 2) Come ye all, and let us hymn today the all-praised Nina,/ the preacher of the Word of God, the equal of the apostles, who was chosen by Christ,/ the wise evangelist who hath led the people of Kartli to the path of life and truth,/ the disciple of the Mother of God,// our fervent helper and tireless guardian. R. Ikos for St. Nina With spiritual harps let the all-lauded Nina be praised: the wise preacher, the enlightener of Iberia, who through the chosen priests sanctified in the font of baptism the people who had fallen to her by lot, the equal of the apostles, the beloved handmaid of Christ, who received ten commandments of God like Moses the God-seer. Come ye, therefore, and with hymns let us bless today our fervent helper and tireless guardian. R. Sessional Hymns Today Nina, our guide, the equal of the apostles and handmaid of Christ, emitteth sweet fragrance and shineth forth in our land like a never-waning sun, the herald of Christ God, the Sun of righteousness, the luminous star, the radiant beacon of the whole world, the priceless treasure of the land of Iberia. G/B... Hypakoe of the Feast When Thou didst illumine all things by Thine epiphany, then did the briny sea of unbelief flee, and Jordan, which floweth down, turned back, bearing us up to the heavens. Yet by the loftiness of Thy divine commandments, O Christ God, preserve Thou and save us through the prayers of the Theotokos. Canticle Four 11 Irmos: Thou didst come forth from the Virgin,/ neither a mediator nor an angel,/ but Thyself incarnate, O Lord,/ and hast saved

12 me, the whole man;// wherefore, I cry to thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. O God my Master, Thou standest before the judgment-seat as one condemned, without crying out, bringing forth judgment in behalf of the gentiles. Thereby Thou hast wrought salvation for the whole world through Thy suffering, O Christ. Through Thy suffering, O Christ, the weaponry of the enemy failed, and by Thy descent into hades the cities of the adversary were destroyed and the audacity of the tyrant set at naught. Theotokion O Theotokos and Mistress, all of us, the faithful, know thee to be the haven of salvation and an immovable rampart; for through thy supplications, thou dost deliver our souls from perils. "Who hath ever seen the sun cleansed, which is dazzling by nature?" the herald crieth out. "Am I then to wash with water Thee, the Effulgence of glory, the Image of the eternal Father? Am I, who am grass, to touch Thy divinity? For Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God!" "When he happened upon Thee, Moses showed the divine reverence he felt, for he understood that it was Thee Who spake out of the bush; and he straightway averted his face. How, then, can I gaze directly at Thee? How can I touch Thee with my hand? For Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God!" Wisely doing what is spiritual, and being honored with speech, yet stand I in awe before inanimate things. For if I baptize Thee, the mountain which smoked with fire, the sea which parted in twain and this Jordan which turned back will be mine accusers. For Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God. O most radiant Word, Who hast been sent forth by the Father, Thou comest to repel utterly the night of evil darkness and to uproot the sins of men, and by Thy baptism to draw forth children of light from the streams of the Jordan, O Good One. When he saw in very truth the Word Who had been foretold, the herald bore witness of Him to creation, and cried, plainly saying: "This is He Who was before me, yet cometh after. Though like us in form, He hath shone forth with divine power to take away our hateful sin!" That He might bring His own back to the life-giving pastures of paradise, the Word of God layeth siege to the lairs of the dragons, and destroying their manifold snares, he assaileth him who hath bruised all mankind, and, imprisoning him, delivereth creation. 12

13 13 Holy Equal to the Apostles, Nina, pray to God for us! As one greater than a fearless lion, thou didst mightily preach Christ God. Thou didst pursue the Parthians with the power of miracles and didst offer Galana and Rhipsimia to Christ as a gift through the contest of their valiant martyrdom, and He preserved thee, to enlighten the land of Iberia through thee. Like an eagle thou didst cast thine eyes over the land of Iberia, O all-glorious Nina, and, burning with holy zeal for God, thou didst illumine it with the light of the Gospel. Glory... Having authority to dispel the darkness, emulating the Emperor Constantine, the equal of the apostles, thou didst enlighten the wise king, O our instructress and sensible physician. Wherefore, we bless thy name, O virgin preacher of Christ, great Nina, equal of the apostles. Both... Delivered by thee from the falsehood of idolatry, O Theotokos, and enlightened with the glad tidings of our venerable mother Nina, the people of Iberia, whose lot fell to thee, cry out to thee: Save us, O Mother of Christ God, who art our deliverance! C. Katavasia (Tone 2) He whom Thou hast called, O Lord,/ 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness, / heard Thy voice when Thou hast thundered upon many waters,/ bearing witness to Thy Son./ Wholly filled with the Spirit that had come he cried aloud:// 'Thou art Christ, the wisdom and the power of God.' Canticle Five Irmos: Thou art a Mediator between God and man, O Christ God:/ For by Thee, O Master,/ are we led up out of the night of ignorance to Thy Father,// the Source of light. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. Thou didst break the audacity of the nations by Thy will, as if they were cedars, O Christ Master, for it was Thy will to be lifted up in the flesh upon the cypress, the pine and the cedar. When they laid Thee, dead and bereft of breath, in a deep pit, O Christ; yet, wounded, through thy wounds Thou didst raise up with Thyself the forgotten dead who slept in the graves. Theotokion Entreat thy Son and Lord, O pure Virgin, that He grant peace unto those who hope in thee and deliverance from the assaults of adversaries unto captives. When countless people went down to be baptized of John, Thou Thyself didst stand in their midst. And he announced to those present: "Who hath told you, O rebellious ones, to avoid the impending wrath? Bring forth fruits worthy of Christ; for He standeth before you, granting peace."

14 14 Standing in their midst, the Creator and Fashioner alone trieth the hearts of all; and taking his winnowing-fan in His hand, He most wisely doth separate the harvest of the whole world, letting the chaff fall away; and He granteth eternal life to the fruitful. Beholding him whom He had formed of dust bound by inescapable bonds in the darkness of sin, the Creator raised him up and laid him on His shoulders; and now, in the midst of abundant waters, He cleanseth him of the ancient shame of Adam's inclination toward sin. With piety let us eagerly hasten to the most pure wellsprings of the stream of salvation: and, gazing upon the Word Who is come forth from the incorrupt Virgin, let us drink the pure water which quencheth our holy thirst, gently healing the infirmity of the world. Holy Equal to the Apostles, Nina, pray to God for us! The idols were toppled in the land of Iberia, and temples of the Lord were erected by thee, O our mother; and we, the children of Sion, enlightened by thee, today glorify the Godhead in three Persons, venerate the precious Cross of Christ, and honor His healing tunic. The children of those who had been exiled in the days of the tower of Babylon because of their ungodliness, and knew not how to chant hymnody to the Lord, now issuing forth from the holy font, say: We have been clothed in Christ, having been baptized into Christ! Glory... When Pharaoh reigned over the Egyptians, those who sat in the darkness of Egypt were not able to worship the true God; but, delivered by Nina, let us, the children of Sion, joyfully chant unto the Lord today. Both... When the physician came unto me, O all-holy Theotokos, I arose from my bed of sickness, and I have been delivered by the venerable Nina from the falsehood of unclean idols. These things doth the generation of Iberia cry out, saying: I hymn thee, my hope, O Mother of God! C. Katavasia (Tone 2) Jesus, the Prince of Life,/ has come to set loose from condemnation Adam the first-formed man;/ and though as God He needs no cleansing,/ yet for the sake of fallen man He is cleansed in the Jordan./ In its streams He slew the enmity// and grants the peace that passes all understanding. Canticle Six Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin,/ I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy loving-kindness:// Lead me out up from corruption, O God. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. The Righteous One was condemned as a malefactor and nailed to the Tree with iniquitous men, through His blood granting remission to the guilty.

15 15 Through one man, the first Adam, did death enter the world of old, and through the one Son of God hath the resurrection been revealed. Theotokion Thou gavest birth without having known a man, O Virgin, and thou remainest a virgin eternally, revealing the images of the true divinity of thy Son and God. Christ, Who was begotten incorruptibly of God the Father, is incarnate of the Virgin without defilement. The Forerunner teacheth that it is not possible to loose the sandals, the bond between the Word and us, of Him Who delivereth mortals from deception. With the uttermost fire shall Christ baptize His enemies, who do not acknowledge Him as God; but He shall restore with the water of grace those who accept His divinity, delivering them from their transgressions. The prophet, mysteriously swallowed up for the space of three nights in the belly of the sea monster, emerged again, making manifest beforehand to all our regeneration in the last times, and our deliverance from the dragon that slayeth mankind. When the shining vaults of heaven were opened, he who knew the Scriptures beheld the Spirit, Who proceedeth from the Father and abideth in the all-pure Word, descending in ineffable manner in the form of a dove; and he commanded the multitudes to hasten to the Master. Holy Equal to the Apostles, Nina, pray to God for us! When the light is risen from the West, desist, O North, and blow thou, O South; for the sun ariseth to dispel the darkness, and a warm breeze draweth nigh, to melt the ice. Behold, the holy Nina, the preacher of Christ, cometh! Delivered by thee from the darkness of idolatry, O Nina equal of the apostles, all the people of Kartli hymn thee and cry out with compunction: Dispel wickedness and drive the devil and our adversaries far away from us! Glory... The holy font, prepared by thee near the life-creating pillar and the place where the tunic of the Lord was preserved, did not slay the children, but brought them to life, anointing them with holy oil. Wherefore, we cry out to thee: Rejoice, O virgin Nina, equal of the apostles! Both... O unashamed hope of those who trust in thee, who alone gavest birth in the flesh to Christ our God in manner transcending nature, with the blessed Nina beseech Him, that He grant to the land of Iberia confirmation and prosperity in the Faith, and to us correction of life before the end.

16 C. Katavasia (Tone 2) The Voice of the Word, the Candlestick of the Light,/ the Morning Star and Forerunner of the Sun,/ cried in the wilderness to all the peoples:/ Repent and be cleansed while there is yet time.// For lo, Christ is at hand, Who delivers the world from corruption. P. Small Ectenia C. Kontakion of the Feast: (Tone 4) Thou hast appeared to the universe,/ and Thy light, O Lord, hast shone on us,/ who with understanding praise Thee:/ Thou hast come and revealed Thyself,// O Light Unapproachable! R. Ikos Upon Galilee of the nations, upon the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, as the prophet said, a great Light hath shone, even Christ. A radiant Beam hath dawned upon those who sat in darkness, shining forth from Bethlehem. The Lord born of Mary, the Sun of righteousness, shineth forth with splendor upon the whole world. Come, therefore, all ye naked children of Adam, and let us clothe ourselves in Him, that we may be warmed; for He Who covereth the naked and enlighteneth those in darkness, hath come. He hath appeared, the Light unapproachable! R. Reading from the Prologue or Synaxarion Canticle Seven 16 Irmos: The command of the iniquitous tyrant, opposed to God,/ raised up a lofty flame;/ but Christ, Who is blessed and allglorious,// spread a spiritual dew upon the pious youths. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. In Thy loving-kindness, O Master, Thou couldst not bear to see man tormented by death; and, becoming man, Thou didst come and save him by Thy blood. Blessed and most glorious is the God of our fathers! Seeing Thee arrayed in the vesture of vengeance, O Christ, the gatekeepers of hades were affrighted; for Thou didst come to slay Thy servant, the mindless tyrant. Blessed and most glorious is the God of our fathers! Theotokion We understand thee to be holier than the Holy of holies, for thou alone gavest birth to the immutable God, O blameless Virgin, unwedded Mother; for thou hast poured forth incorruption upon all the faithful through thy divine birthgiving. As in heaven, with trembling and wonder the angelic hosts stood before Thee in the Jordan, witnessing the breadth of God's condescension; for the God of our fathers, Who holdeth the firmament of the waters above, stood, incarnate as man, in the waters.

17 The cloud and the sea of old prefigured the wonder of divine baptism, for the ancient people of the law were baptized therein when they fled Egypt. The sea was an image of the water, and the cloud was an image of the Spirit, whereby we are made perfect. And we cry out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever! O all ye faithful, in Him have we received perfection; and, theologizing continually with the angels we glorify the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. For, lo! the consubstantial Trinity of Hypostases is the One God. To Him do we chant: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever! The fierce Assyrian flame that prefigured Thee hast Thou quenched, transforming it into dew. And now, O Christ, Thou hast clothed Thyself in water as in flame, and Thou burnest up the baneful malice concealed in its depths, which calleth men to fall with faltering step. When the Jordan was parted of old, the people of Israel passed clean over on dry ground, prefiguring Thee, O most powerful Lord, Who now bearest up creation in the waters without touching it, leading it to a better and imperishable path. We know that in the beginning Thou didst, in Thy mercy, bring the waters of the flood upon the earth to destroy every living substance that Thou hadst made. And now, O Christ, Who workest wonders strange and most great, Thou hast drowned sin in the waters of Thy compassion, unto the salvation of mortal men. Holy Equal to the Apostles, Nina, pray to God for us! Thou didst spurn the chambers of the king and queen as a place of captivity and sojourning; yet by the grace of Christ thou didst lead them to Christ God out of uttermost captivity, O Nina equal of the apostles, preacher of the glad tidings of salvation. When thou didst erect thy holy pillar and lift up thy hands, the hosts of the devil were overcome with fear and trembling, and, fleeing, they groaned bitterly; but we cry aloud: Blessed art Thou, O Christ God, forever! Glory... When thy words rang forth, the people fell prostrate as though at the sound of royal trumpets, and dominions and rulers trembled, saying: O captive who art the liberation of captives, blessed be thine arrival! Both... O Mother of God who wast manifestly foretold by the prophets, O all-immaculate Virgin Mary, by thy sojourn in Egypt with Jesus Christ, the divine infant, thou didst break asunder the graven images of Egypt down to the foundation, and through Nina hast destroyed the idols of Kartli. Be thou blessed, O Ever-virgin! C. Katavasia (Tone 2) The breath of the wind heavy with dew/ and the descent of the angel of God/ preserved the Holy Children from all harm,/ as they walked in the 17

18 fiery furnace./ Refreshed with dew in the flames, they sang in thanksgiving:// Blessed art Thou and praised above all, O Lord God of our fathers. Canticle Eight 18 Irmos: Once, in Babylon,/ the fiery furnace divided its activity at the command of God,/ consuming the Chaldeans, but bedewing the faithful, who chant:// Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord! Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. Beholding the vesture of Thy flesh stained with Thy blood, O Christ, the ranks of the angels were filled with awe and trembling at Thy great longsuffering, cried aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord! By Thine arising, O Compassionate One, Thou hast clothed my mortality in immortality; wherefore, in gladness Thy chosen people thankfully hymn Thee, O Christ, crying out to Thee: Death is swallowed up in victory! Theotokion Without seed thou didst conceive Him Who is inseparable from the Father, and He dwelt in thy womb as God and man; and thou didst ineffably give birth unto Him O all-pure Theotokos. Wherefore, we acknowledge thee as the salvation of us all. "Put aside all fear," the Deliverer said to the Forerunner; "Obey Me, in that I am good, and touch Me, for tangible have I become by nature. Submit to My commands and baptize Me Who am come down." Him do the people bless and exalt supremely for all ages. When the Baptist heard the words of the Master, he stretched forth his hand with trembling, and as he touched the head of his Creator he cried out to Him Who was being baptized: "Sanctify me, for Thou art my God, Whom the people bless and exalt supremely for all ages!" The Trinity was revealed in the Jordan, for the Father, the all-divine Essence Himself, announced: "This One Who is baptized is My beloved Son!" And the Spirit came upon Him Who was like unto Him, Whom the people bless and exalt supremely for all ages. Sprinkled with dew in the midst of the fire, the three godly children plainly prefigured how the transcendent Nature, which is resplendent with most radiant rays of threefold holiness, doth, through human nature, mercifully consume all pernicious falsehood with the fire of dew. Let the whole of earthly creation be clothed in white, for this day it is raised up from its fall to heaven; and, washed and most splendidly cleansed in the flowing waters by the Word, by Whom all things are preserved, it hath escaped its former sins.

19 19 Holy Equal to the Apostles, Nina, pray to God for us! The memory of the holy Nina deserveth celebration. Come, therefore, ye who are faithful to Christ, let us glorify and thank our merciful God. Ye generations, tribes and children of Sion, hold festival with us in spiritual joy, saying: Glory to the preacher of Christ our God! Rejoice, O land of Kartli, crowned by Nina with the crown of Christ! Shine thou and adorn thyself; for the holy Nina, the equal of the apostles, doth summon us, illumining all with the light of the Lord! Let us bless Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the Lord! Thou hast commanded us to keep holy the Faith which thou didst teach to the newly-converted people, O equal of the apostles. Wherefore, visit thou and establish the vines which thou hast planted amid thy spiritual flock. Both... O Mother of Christ God, the Creator of all things that exist, preserve thou the generation of Kartli, which through thee hath been vouchsafed life everlasting, through the supplications of the blessed Nina. We praise, we bless, we worship the Lord, praising and supremely exalting Him unto all ages. C. Katavasia (Tone 2) The Babylonian furnace,/ as it poured forth dew,/ foreshadowed a marvelous mystery;/ how the Jordan should receive in its streams the immaterial fire,/ and should encompass the Creator, when He was baptized in the flesh.// Him do ye peoples bless and exalt above all for ever. P. Magnificat C. Song of the Most Holy Theotokos. Canticle Nine Irmos: God the Lord, the Son of the unoriginate Father,/ hath revealed Himself to us incarnate of the Virgin,/ to enlighten those in darkness and to gather the dispersed.// Wherefore, we magnify the all-hymned Theotokos. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. The thrice-rich tree of Thine all-pure Cross was planted on Golgotha as in paradise, O Saviour; and watered with the blood and divine water of Thy side, as by a divine spring, O Christ, it hath budded forth life for us. Crucified, O Omnipotent One, Thou didst cast down the mighty; and raising up human nature, which lay below in the stronghold of hades, Thou didst set it upon the throne of the Father. And worshipping Thee Who wilt come therewith, we magnify Thee. Triadicon Chanting, O ye faithful, in Orthodox manner let us glorify the threefold Unity, the consubstantial Trinity, the indivisible, all-divine

20 essence, the thrice-radiant, the only incorrupt and never-waning Effulgence, which hath shone forth light upon us. O David, come thou in spirit to the enlightened and chant, saying: "Approach God now with faith and be illumined! Lowly Adam cried out in his fall, and the Lord heard him, and, coming to the streams of the Jordan, He restored the corrupted one." Isaiah saith: "Change your ways and cleanse yourselves; leave off your wickedness in the face of the Lord! Ye who thirst, go to the living Water; for Christ sprinkleth with water those who have recourse to Him with faith, renewing them, and He baptizeth with the Spirit unto life which ageth not." By grace and the seal are we preserved, O ye faithful; for as of old the blood-smeared lintels allowed the Hebrews to escape the destroyer, so shall the laver of regeneration be for us a divine exodus. And henceforth we shall see the never-waning light of the Trinity. That which was revealed to Moses in the bush we see here fulfilled in wondrous manner; for as it bare fire, yet was not consumed, so hath the Virgin been preserved, who gave birth unto the Benefactor Who bringeth us light, and the streams of the Jordan suffered no harm when they received Him. O King Who is without beginning, through the communion of the Spirit dost Thou anoint and make perfect the nature of man, and cleansing it in the pure streams of baptism, putting the arrogant might of darkness to shame, Thou now dost raise it up to eternal life. Holy Equal to the Apostles, Nina, pray to God for us! For us thy memory is cherished, thy wonder-working is marvelous, thy life is holy. O chaste Nina, through thee are all things wrought for our benefit. The shrine of thy relics, which pour forth grace, is the confirmation of the land of Iberia. Wherefore, it crieth unto thee: O blessed Nina, preserve us by thine aid! Glory... O preacher and enlightener, look upon our compunctionate hymnody, and move thou the Lord to have mercy on us. Let not us, who love to sing thy praises, perish in our sins, but, standing before the throne of God, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved. Both... Hearken to our entreaties, O Mother of God, and with the help of the venerable Nina drive away from us all temptations. Grant thy mercy unto us, and victory over heresies to our Orthodox hierarchs. C. Katavasia (Tone 2) Every tongue is at a loss to praise thee as is due:/ even a spirit from the World above is filled with dizziness,/ when it seeks to sing thy 20

21 praises, O Theotokos./ But since Thou art good, accept our faith:/ Thou knowest well our love inspired by God,// for thou art the Protector of Christians and we magnify thee. P. Small Ectenia C. Holy is the Lord our God... R. Exapostilarion Two (Mark 16:1-8) The women bearing myrrh rejoiced at beholding the stone rolled away, for they saw a young man seated upon the tomb and he said to them: 'Lo, tell the disciples with Peter that Christ has risen. Press forward into the mountain of Galilee; there He will appear to you as He said to His friends.' Glory... Exapostilarion of St. Nina O equal of the apostles, preacher and evangelist of Christ, who deliverest us from the assaults of the enemy, even though thou art hidden in the earth, away from our sight, yet thou abidest alive at the throne of Christ our God. Be thou therefore the helper of those who fervently honor thee. Both... of the Feast The Saviour appeared, grace and truth, in the streams of the Jordan, and He illumined those sleeping in darkness and shadow, for He, the immutable Light, hath come and appeared. 21 C. Lauds: Tone 2 Stichera Let every breath praise the Lord/ Praise the Lord from the Heavens/ Praise Him in the highest/ To Thee is due a hymn, O God/ Praise Him, all ye His Angels;/ Praise Him, all ye His hosts.// To Thee is due a hymn, O God. R. (The following may be read or sung antiphonally) Praise Him, O sun and moon; praise Him, all ye stars and light. Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and thou water that art above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord; For He spake, and they came to be; He commanded, and they were created. He established them forever, yea, forever and ever; He hath set an ordinance, and it shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons and all ye abysses, Fire, hail, snow, ice, blast of tempest, which perform His word, The mountains and all the hills, fruitful trees, and all cedars, The beasts and all the cattle, creeping things and winged birds, Kings of the earth, and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, Young men and virgins, elders with the younger; let them praise the name of the Lord, for exalted is the name of Him alone. His praise is above the earth and heaven, and He shall exalt the horn of His people. This is the hymn for all His saints, for the sons of Israel, and for the people that draw nigh unto Him. Sing unto the Lord a new song; His praise is in the church of the saints.