Menaion

March 9

PolyeleosThe forty holy martyrs of Sebaste in Armenia. They were comrades, not in blood, but in faith and obedience to the will of their heavenly Father. At the time of the emperor Licinius, after binding and savage tortures, they were ordered to pass the night naked at the coldest time of winter in a swamp in the open air. They consummated their martyrdom by the breaking of their legs at crucifixion. (320)

At Vespers

music (samohlasen)

At "O Lord, I have cried", we sing the stichera from the Triodion, then the following stichera for the holy martyrs:

Tone 2 samohlasen. Bravely enduring the present happenings * and rejoicing in things hoped for, * the holy martyrs said to each other: * We have not stripped ourselves of a garment, * but we have put off the old person. * The winter is bitter but Paradise is sweet. * Although the chill is painful, it becomes sweet enjoyment. * Let us not bow down, O captains. * We suffer a little at present * that we may receive the crowns of victory from Christ, * since he is God and the Savior of our souls.

Throwing off their garments * and going into the lake without trembling, * the holy martyrs said to each other: * Since we have lost Paradise, * let us not care for a corruptible garment today. * Having once been clothed in corruption through the serpent, * let us now beseech resurrection for all. * Let us despise the icy destroying cold and scorn the flesh, * that we may receive the crowns of victory from Christ * for he is God and the Savior of our souls.  (twice)

Looking upon the tortures as pleasures * and hastening towards the icy lake as towards the heat, * the holy martyrs said to each other: * Let us stand fearless in the winter season * that we may escape the dreadful fire of Hades. * Let a foot be burnt that it may rejoice forever; * let a hand be lost that it may be lifted towards the Lord; * let us not spare the dying nature. * Let us now accept death * that we may receive crowns of victory from Christ, * for he is God and the Savior of our souls.

Glory – Tone 2. Bravely enduring the present happenings * and rejoicing in things hoped for, * the holy martyrs said to each other: * We have not stripped ourselves of a garment, * but we have put off the old person. * The winter is bitter but Paradise is sweet. * Although the chill is painful, it becomes sweet enjoyment. * Let us not bow down, O captains. * We suffer a little at present * that we may receive the crowns of victory from Christ, * since he is God and the Savior of our souls.

Glory, now and ever – the dogmatikon of Saturday evening, in the same tone, or (on Friday night or Saturday night) in the Tone of the week

Entrance with censer, and prokeimenon of the day.  Then three readings:

A reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 43:9-14).

A reading from the Wisdom of Solomon (Wisdom 3:1-9).

A reading from the Wisdom of Solomon (Wisdom 5:15 — 6:3).

and the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

But if the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is not served, then at the aposticha we sing the stichera of the Triodion, followed by:

Glory – Tone 2.   O faithful, let us praise the forty holy martyrs, " and let us joyfully sing to them: ` Rejoice, all you martyrs of Christ. " We earnestly ask you to intercede with him * that he may save all those * who celebrate your holy memory with faith.

Now and ever – the aposticha theotokion of Saturday evening, in the same tone

Troparion, Tone 1.  O forty soldiers of Christ and honorable martyrs, * you went through fire and water, O mighty warriors, * and have come to live with the angels. * Join them in praying to Christ for those who praise you. * Glory to him who strengthened you! * Glory to him who crowned you! * Glory to him who heals us through you!

At the Divine Liturgy

music

Troparion, Tone 1.  O forty soldiers of Christ and honorable martyrs, * you went through fire and water, O mighty warriors, * and have come to live with the angels. * Join them in praying to Christ for those who praise you. * Glory to him who strengthened you! * Glory to him who crowned you! * Glory to him who heals us through you!

Glory – Kontakion, Tone 6.  You left the crowds of this world * and joined the Master in heaven, O forty martyrs. * Passing through fire and water, * you reaped glory and honor in heaven, O blessed saints.

Prokeimenon, Tone 5 (Ps. 11:8,2). You, O Lord, will keep us and preserve us forever from this generation.
V. Save me, O Lord, for the righteous have vanished.

Epistle:  Hebrews 12:1-10

Alleluia, Tone 4 (Ps. 65:1-2,10). Alleuia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
V. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; sing praise to his name, give to him glorious praise.
V. For you, O God, have tested us, you have tried us as silver is tried.

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

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

On the evening of the feast, at Vespers

music

At "O Lord, I have cried", we sing the stichera from the Triodion, then the following stichera for the holy martyrs:

Tone 1. The choir of the Forty passes through the flames; * the divinely-chosen assembly shines * with the radiance of their sacred sufferings, * making the Fast resplendent * by sanctifying and enlightening our souls.  (twice)

Tone 2. The martyrs considered the lake to be as a paradise, * and winter to be as the heat of day, O Christ God. * Thoughts of the tyrants' threats did not frighten them. * Valiant, they feared not the increase of tortures, * having acquired the weapon of the Cross; * and with it, as mighty, they vanquished the foe, * for which they have received crowns of grace.

Who does not remember in hymns * the choir of Forty Martyrs? * They boldly went into the waters of the lake. * Held fast by the ice, they sang to the Lord: * Receive us in the rivers, O Lover of us all! * We have borne the burden of the winter and the bitterness of the cold: * our feet are dyed with our own blood! * O God, lead us to your eternal mansions * to be warmed in the bosom of Abraham the Patriarch!

Glory – Tone 2. David cried out prophetically in psalms: We went through dire and water, and you have led us to a place of refreshment. In fulfillment of the prophecy, you martyrs of Christ have willingly passed through fire and water and have entered into the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, O forty martyrs, intercede for us that we may be given great mercy.

Now and ever – in the same tone. In you, O Mother of God, I place all my trust. * Shelter me beneath your mantle.