Troparia and kontakia for September 15

Afterfeast of the Elevation of the Cross

Troparion — Tone 1

O Lord, save Your people, / and bless Your inheritance. / Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians / over their adversaries. / And by virtue of Your Cross, / preserve Your habitation.

Kontakion — Tone 4

As You were voluntarily raised upon the cross for our sake, / grant mercy to those who are called by Your Name, O Christ God; / make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power, / granting them victories over their adversaries, / by bestowing on them the Invincible trophy, Your weapon of Peace.

Greatmartyr Niketas the Goth

Troparion — Tone 4

You took up the Cross of Christ bravely, as though taking up arms, / and hastening to battle against the enemies, / you suffered for Christ, after which you gave your sacred soul to the Lord; / therefore, you were worthy to receive from Him the gift of healing, / O Great Martyr Nikḗtas. / Pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.

Kontakion — Tone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”)
You defeated the might of delusion by your firm resolve, / and receiving a crown of victory through your suffering, / O Nikḗtas, namesake of victory,1 you rejoice with the Angels; / and with them, pray unceasingly to Christ God for us all.


1 In Greek, the name Nikḗtas signifies victory.

Uncovering of the relics Saint Acacius, Bishop of Melitene

Troparion — Tone 4

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, / an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; / your humility exalted you; / your poverty enriched you. / Hierarch Father Acacius, / entreat Christ our God / that our souls may be saved.

Martyrs Theodotus, Asclepiodotus, and Maximus, of Adrianopolis

Troparion — Tone 4

Your holy martyrs Theodotus, Asclepiodotus, and Maximus, 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!

Martyr Porphyrius the Actor

Troparion — Tone 3

Your holy martyr Porphyrius, O Lord, / through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. / For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through his intercessions, save our souls!

Kontakion — Tone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”)
You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance, / which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Porphyrius; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.

Uncovering of the relics of the Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen

Troparion — Tone 4

Your relics have risen from the depths of the earth, / like a treasury for the immortal life of all of creation. / The Church, rejoicing in the grace that she receives from them, / duteously honors you, Protomartyr Stephen. / Preserve us from error and heresy by your intercession!

Kontakion — Tone 6

You were the first to be sown on the earth by the Heavenly Husbandman, O all-praised one. / You were the first to shed your blood on the earth for Christ, O blessed one. / You were the first to receive the crown of victory from Him in heaven, / Stephen, first of the suffering God-crowned martyrs.

Saint Philotheus the Presbyter in Asia Minor

Troparion — Tone 1

O pure and holy Philotheus, you were a lover of God, / and now glorified by the Holy Spirit, / you work miracles to save from harm all who cry to you: / Glory to him who has glorified you! / Glory to him who has made you wonderful! / Glory to him who through you works healings for all!

Kontakion — Tone 2

You ended your life in righteousness / and were a lover of God. / O holy Philotheus, having received power to work wonders, / pray unceasingly for us all!

Venerable Joseph, Abbot of Alaverdi, Georgia

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 Joseph, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!

Saint Joseph the New of Partos, Metropolitan of Timishoara (Romania)

Troparion — Tone 8

From your youth you obeyed the Lord in all things, by your prayers, labors, and fasting. / Therefore, seeing your struggles, God appointed you as a Hierarch and Shepherd of His Church; / and after death, you dwell in the abodes of the Saints. / O Holy Father Joseph, entreat Christ God to grant the forgiveness of sins to us who faithfully and lovingly honor your holy memory.

Saint Bessarion, Archbishop of Larissa

Troparion — Tone 4

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, / an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; / your humility exalted you; / your poverty enriched you. / Hierarch Father Bessarion, / entreat Christ our God / that our souls may be saved.

Saint Gerasimus

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 Gerasimus, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!

New Martyr John of Crete

Troparion — Tone 3

Your holy martyr John, O Lord, / through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. / For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through his intercessions, save our souls!

Kontakion — Tone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”)
You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance, / which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr John; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.