Menaion

August 22

Postfestive day of the Dormition.

The holy martyr Agathonicus and his companions. Agathonicus was a citizen of Nicomedia and a Christian. He preached against idolatry and instructed many in the Faith. Under the emperor Maximian, Agathonicus and his companions were crucified.

Transferred from August 23:
The holy martyr Lupus was a servant of St. Demetrius of Salonica. When his master was beheaded by the emperor Maximian, Lupus dipped the hem of his garment and his ring into his master’s blood. Through these relics he worked many miracles, even though he was not yet baptized. Having miraculously received the Holy Mystery, he was beheaded. (306)

At Vespers

music (samohlasen)

There are six stichera at "O Lord, I have cried": three for Agathonicus, and three for Lupus.

Tone 4, special melody Dal jesi znamenie. Seeking to regain the original beauty * and the splendor that surpasses all understanding, * you went joyously to the noble combat, O Agathonicus. * Having fought the enemy, you bravely crushed him into the ground. * You wove a brilliant crown of victory. * Entreat the Lover of us all for those who honor you.

Adorned with the wisdom of God, * you abounded with words which pour out life; * you refuted the foolish ones, reproved the torturer, and calmed the storm of idolatry. * You strengthened the faithful to persevere in God's grace. * For this you were cruelly burned alive, * but as a crown-bearer you entered the kingdom of heaven.

Bathed in the blood of your passion, O martyr, * you stood before the Master as a fragrant and pleasing sacrifice, * a pure and favorable gift, * a sacred offering and a spotless victim. * O Agathonicus, martyr of the Lord, * by your prayers watch over the whole Church in peace.

Tone 4, special melody Dal jesi znamenie. O blessed Lupus, when you were beheaded by the sword, * you melted the thick ice of paganism * with the warmth of the Divine Spirit. * You overflowed with streams of healings * and kindly sprinkled the souls of the despised with dew. * As the friends of martyrs, * let us devoutly honor him as an excellent intercessor * and a fervent defender of the faithful.

O blessed one, you consigned the pagan idols to the depths of the sea. * You amazed the pagans * who witnessed the miracles performed by your faith. * Having received the divine baptism from on high, * you stood in the midst of the angels and were exalted by God * as one who suffered martyrdom. * Purified as a jewel, you endured all courageously.

As your enemies strove to behead you, * they struck one another. * They wounded each other with arrows. * O martyr Lupus, they were confused and thought you dead. * O blessed one, they hung you on a tree; * but the Lord protected you * because you suffered for his sake, * O intercessor for our souls and companion of the angels.

Glory – Tone 1.  O long-suffering Agathonicus, * your name is synonymous with a good victory, * and you were covered with wounds because of your love for God. * Having rejected the error of idols and torturers, * you gloriously entered eternal life. * Because of the grace you have with God, * on this day of your illustrious memory, * entreat Him to save our souls.

Now and ever – in the same tone.  Because the disciples had been both the eye-witnesses and servants of the Word, * it was also fitting that they should witness the final mystery, * the Dormition of his Mother according to the flesh. * They not only saw the ascension of the Savior from earth to heaven, * but they also were witnesses of the translation of the Mother who bore Him. * They came to Zion to escort the Virgin, who surpasses the Cherubim, * as she hastened in her journey to heaven. * With them let us also bow low * before the One who intercedes for our souls.

The aposticha are for the post-feast:

Tone 8, special melody O preslavnoho čudese.  O glorious marvel! * A virgin gave birth to God in the flesh, * remained a virgin, and now passes from life. * Leaving an earthly life, she passes over to everlasting life. For this reason, the disciples and apostles of Christ * gathered together for her burial

Go up, Lord, to your rest, you and your holy ark.

Let us in harmony with the angels * joyfully glorify the feast today, * the precious Dormition of the Theotokos. * Her holy and life-bearing soul has been placed into the hands of her Son. * She is now united with him in the everlasting life, * spiritually entreating in our behalf.

The Lord swore a true oath to David; he will not go back on his word.

Let us go to the glorious Gethsemane in spirit * and to the holy home of the glorious body of the Theotokos. * Filled with heavenly fragrance, * let us sing hymns with the apostles and the angels * because there is joy in her Dormition * for those on earth and in heaven.

Glory – Tone 8 samohlasen.  You were called an excellent treasure, O martyr Agathonicus, * and you became a temple and consecrated yourself to the King of all. * O seed of martyrs, you routed the power of the enemy * and grasped the reward of victory. * Now you stand before God on high as a crown-bearer. * Do not cease to entreat him * in behalf of those who honor you.

Now and ever – in the same tone.  O Theotokos, Christ your Son and our God * confirmed his two natures because He died as a man and rose as God. * O Mother of God, he also consented that you die * according to the law of nature * so that unbelievers might not question the workings of Providence. * O heavenly Bride, you were taken from earth * as though from the bridal chamber and entered heaven. * The atmosphere was sanctified by your passage through it, * just as earth was illumined by your giving birth. * The apostles assembled, and the angels carried you aloft. * After having buried your most pure body and having sung hymns, * they gazed in awe and fearfully said: * This is the ransom of the right hand of God * because He is within you, and He will not be moved. * O most honored Mother, do not forsake us who look upon you. * We are your people and the sheep of your fold. * We invoke your name and ask for salvation and great mercy.

Troparion of the martyrs,  Tone 4. Your holy martyrs, O Lord our God, * in their struggles, received an incorruptible crown from you. * With your strength, they brought down the tyrants * and broke the cowardly valor of demons. * Through their prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Glory, now and ever – Troparion of the feast,  Tone 1.  O Theotokos, in giving birth you preserved virginity; * and in your falling asleep you did not forsake the world. * You are the Mother of Life and have been transferred to life, * and through your prayers * you deliver our souls from death.

At the Divine Liturgy

music - see the August Menaion

Troparion of the feast,  Tone 1.  O Theotokos, in giving birth you preserved virginity; * and in your falling asleep you did not forsake the world. * You are the Mother of Life and have been transferred to life, * and through your prayers * you deliver our souls from death.

Troparion of the martyrs,  Tone 4. Your holy martyrs, O Lord our God, * in their struggles, received an incorruptible crown from you. * With your strength, they brought down the tyrants * and broke the cowardly valor of demons. * Through their prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Glory – Kontakion of Agathonicus, Tone 1.  O holy martyr, you have gained a good name for yourself; * you put an end to the worship of the evil ones * without fearing the suffering that you would bear. * Therefore, you have inherited the eternal gifts, O Agathonicus, * and together with your companions, * you were worthy to obtain the crowns of heaven.

Or:

Glory – Kontakion of Lupus, Tone 1.  You have become a brilliant star to guide the earth, heralding the dawn of Christ. * You have wiped out guile and you give us light, * O long-suffering Lupus. * Pray unceasingly for all of us.

Now and ever – Kontakion of the feast, Tone 2.   The grave and death did not detain the Theotokos. * She intercedes without rest and is our unfailing hope of protection; * for he who dwelt in the womb of the Ever-Virgin, * transferred to life the Mother of Life.

Prokeimenon of the feast, Tone 3 (Luke 1:46-48). My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
V. For he has looked with favor upon the humility of his servant; from this day forward, all generations will call me blessed.

Prokeimenon of the martyrs, Tone 4 (Ps. 15:3,8). To all the saints in his land, * the Lord has shown all the wonders of his will.
V. I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

Epistle:  (of the day)

Alleluia of the feast, Tone 8 (Ps. 44:11,13). Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
V. Go up, Lord, to your rest, you and your holy ark.
V. The Lord swore a true oath to David; he will not go back on his word.

Alleluia of the martyrs,Tone 4 (Ps. 33:18,20). Alleuia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
V. The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and rescued them from all their distress.
V. Many are the trials of the just, but from them all the Lord will rescue them.

Gospel: (of the day)

Magnification. The angels were struck with amazement, * beholding the dormition of the Most Pure, * seeing how the Virgin was taken up from earth to heaven.

Irmos, Tone 1. The limits of nature * are overcome in you, O pure Virgin, * for birth-giving remains virginal, * and death is the prelude to life: * a virgin after childbearing and alive after death! * You ever save your inheritance, O Theotokos.

Communion Hymn of the feast (Ps. 115:4). I shall take the chalice of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Communion Hymn of the martyrs (Ps. 32:1). Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones; praise from the upright is fitting. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!