Great and Holy Saturday
Troparion — Tone 2
The Noble 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.
Troparion — Tone 2
When You descended to death, O Life Immortal, / You slayed hell with the splendor of Your Godhead, / and when from the depths You raised the dead, / all the Powers of Heaven cried out, / O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory to You!
Troparion — Tone 2
The Angel came to the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb and said: / “Myrrh is fitting for the dead, / but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption.”
Kontakion — Tone 6
He who shut in the depths is beheld dead, / wrapped in fine linen and spices. / The Immortal One is laid in a tomb as a mortal man. / The women have come to anoint Him with myrrh, / weeping bitterly and crying: / “This is the most blessed Sabbath / on which Christ has fallen asleep to rise on the third day!”
Great Martyr Irene
Troparion — Tone 1
(Podoben: “When the stone had been sealed...”)
Christ called you Irene, because you grant peace to those hastening to your holy temple with hymns and spiritual songs, / for you intercede for all, standing before the Three-Sunned Divinity, / Let everyone celebrate her memory joyously, magnifying Christ, Who glorified her.
Kontakion — Tone 3
(Podoben: “Today the Virgin...”)
Adorned with the beauty of virginity, / you became most beautiful in your brave contest, O Irene; / you were reddened by the blood which you shed, / and you overthrew ungodly error; / therefore, you received the prize of victory from the hand of your Creator.
Uncovering of the relics of Venerable James, Abbot of Zhelezny Bor
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 James, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
New Martyr Ephraim
Troparion — Tone 1
(Podoben: “O citizen of the desert...”)
You shone forth like the sun on Mount Amómon, O God-bearer, / and through martyrdom you departed unto God. / You endured the invasion of the barbarians, O Ephraim, Great Martyr of Christ. / Therefore, you gush forth grace forever to those who devoutly call upon you. / Glory to Him Who gave you strength. / Glory to Him Who magnified you. / Glory to Him Who, through you, grants healing to all.
Kontakion — Tone 3
(Podoben: “Today the Virgin gives birth...”)
You contested on Mount Amómon, O godly-minded one, / and in this you followed the path of martyrdom. / Therefore, the Giver of Life has appropriately crowned you with double crowns.1 / O Hieromartyr Ephraim, / we entreat you earnestly to have mercy upon those who honor you.
1 That of a priest, and that of a Great Martyr.
Inexhastible Chalice Icon of the Mother of God
Troparion — Tone 4
O believers, let us turn today to the Divine and wonderworking Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, / who fills the hearts of the faithful with her mercy from the heavenly Ineffable Chalice, and shows them miracles; / seeing and hearing about these, / we celebrate spiritually and fervently exclaim: / “Most merciful Sovereign Lady, / heal our illnesses and passions, / entreating your Son Christ God to save our souls.”
Kontakion — Tone 4
Your womb was a Holy Throne, containing Christ God, the Heavenly Bread,1 / whoever eats it will not die;2 as the Nourisher of all, / the Theotokos, has said.
1 John 6:35.
2 John 6:54.
Venerable Barlaam of Serpukhov
Troparion — Tone 3
Taught to please God by Metropolitan Alexei, / you adorned your soul with virtues, and therefore you were the chosen one of the Mother of God, / and you founded a monastery dedicated to the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple, / for the salvation of many human souls. / As a good instructor of monastics, and a fervent intercessor with God for us, / O Venerable Barlaam, our Father, / pray for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 8
O Venerable Father Barlaam, although your revered relics are kept hidden, / they pour forth bright rays of miracles and healings / for all who turn to you with faith and pray zealously to you; / for you appeared as a true God-pleaser, / ever interceding for all who lovingly honor your holy memory.