Troparia and kontakia for May 4

Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women with the Noble Joseph

Troparion — Tone 2

The comely Joseph, / when he had taken down Your most pure Body from the tree, / wrapped it in fine linen and anointed it with spices, / and placed it in a new tomb. / But You rose on the third day, O Lord, / granting the world great mercy.

Troparion — Tone 2

Appearing to the Myrrh-bearing Women at the tomb, the Angel exclaimed: / “Myrrh is meet for the dead; / but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption. / So proclaim: ‘The Lord is risen, granting the world great mercy.’”

Troparion — Tone 4

(Podoben: “You appeared to your flock as a rule of faith...”)
You visited Christ the Lord in the night, / and were born from above1 being received, as it were, as a secret Apostle. / With good courage you disputed with the Pharisees and Scribes2 / and followed the Savior. / Taking Him dead from the Cross, / you wrapped Him in cloths with myrrh and laid Him in the tomb, / O fervent3 Νikόdēmos.


1 John 3:3
2 John 7:50
3 or zealous

Kontakion — Tone 2

When You proclaimed “Rejoice” to the Myrrhbearers, / You caused the lamentation of the foremother Eve to cease by Your Resurrection; O Christ God; / commanding Your Apostles to proclaim: / “The Savior is risen from the tomb.”

Virgin Martyr Pelagia of Tarsus, in Asia Minor

Troparion — Tone 3

Through your knowledge of the Faith you abandoned the darkness of ignorance, / fairest virgin of Christ. / You were refreshed by dew and finished your contest by fire. / Glorious martyr Pelagia, / entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy!

Kontakion — Tone 2

Abandoning your mortal betrothed in order to wed the Immortal One, / as your dowry you offered chastity and your contest. / Therefore, we acclaim you, Pelagia.

Venerable Alphan, with his brothers, of Novgorod, founders of the Sokolnitzky Monastery

Troparion — Tone 8

By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father Alphan, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!

Holy Confessor Erasmus, Bishop of Formia in Campania

Troparion — Tone 8

Champion of Orthodoxy, teacher of purity and of true worship, / the enlightener of the universe and the adornment of hierarchs: / all-wise father Erasmus, your teachings have gleamed with light upon all things. / Intercede before Christ God to save our souls.

Hieromartyr Albian, Bishop of Anaea in Asia Minor

Troparion — Tone 4

By sharing in the ways of the Apostles, / you became a successor to their throne. / Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O inspired one of God; / by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, / even to the shedding of your blood. / Hieromartyr Albian, entreat Christ God to save our souls.

Hieromartyr Silvanus, Bishop of Gaza, and 40 Martyrs with him

Troparion — Tone 4

Your holy martyrs O Lord, / through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. / For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through their intercessions, save our souls!

Venerable Nikēphóros of Mount Athos

Troparion — Tone 8

By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father Nicephorus, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!