Troparia and kontakia for May 4

Bright Saturday

Troparion — Tone 4

Christ is risen from the dead, / trampling down death by death, / and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

Troparion — Tone 8

(Hypakoe)
Before the dawn Mary and the women came / and found the stone rolled away from the tomb. / They heard the angelic voice: “Why do you seek among the dead as a Man / the One Who is everlasting Light? / Behold the clothes in the grave; go and proclaim to the world: / ‘The Lord is risen; He has slain death, / as He is the Son of God, saving the race of man.’”

Kontakion — Tone 8

You descended into the tomb, O Immortal, / You destroyed the power of death. / In victory You arose, O Christ God, / proclaiming: “Rejoice!” to the Myrrhbearing Women, / granting peace to Your Apostles, and bestowing Resurrection on the fallen.

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!