What is a troparion
In Orthodoxy there are many different genres of church liturgical chants, prayers and troparions. As we know historically, troparia first appeared in Byzantium. This is a church chant, in which part of the stories and life of the saint is necessarily mentioned. Of course, along with some changes in civilization, the texts of the troparia themselves changed.
Modern liturgical chants can be dedicated not only to the history of a particular saint, but also to holidays. In ancient times, chants were narrated only for the purpose of honoring the memory of one or another saint. They were written in prose. A little later they were presented in the form of a rhyme. After some time, the texts began to be accompanied by music.
The troparia differ from the psalms in that they do not have a permanently established text. They have their own authors and composers. Their texts are flexible, but the essence and meaning always remains the same.
Varieties
Like all other areas in life, troparia also developed. Along with the development of hymnography, troparia began to be divided into several types. Namely, they are divided by topic:
- holidays;
- lean.
But in addition to the above types, there are also “dismissal” troparia. They are read most often at Divine Liturgies. As a rule, they point to a specific saint or point to a church holiday.
Prayers to Spyridon of Trimifuntsky
Kontakion 1:
Glorified by the Lord to Saint and miracle worker Spyridon! Now we celebrate your all-honorable memory, as we are able to greatly help us in Christ who glorified you, we cry out to you touchingly: deliver us from all troubles and evils, and with thanksgiving we call to you: Rejoice, Spyridon, wonderful miracle worker!
Ikos 1:
From youth, adorned with all the virtues, imitating the Angel in your life, you, Saint Spyridon, truly appeared to be a friend of Christ; We, seeing you, a heavenly man and an earthly angel, with reverence and touching cry to you:
Rejoice, O mind, contemplating the mysteries of the Holy Trinity; Rejoice, being enriched by the Spirit with the most radiant illumination. Rejoice, many-bright lamp; Rejoice, your mind is enlightened by dispassion. Rejoice, having loved true simplicity and silence from childhood; Rejoice, ornament of chastity. Rejoice, inexhaustible stream of love; Rejoice, for you imitated Abraham’s love of homosexuality. Rejoice, for you lovingly opened the entrances of your house to everyone; Rejoice, representative of the poor. Rejoice, people revere him; Rejoice, for you are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, Spiridon, wonderful miracle worker!
Kontakion 2:
Seeing the island of Cyprus and all the Christian countries, your incorruptible relics, O saint, abundant healing flows from them, rejoicing; and we, honoring you as an abundant source of grace sent down to us from Above, cry out to the Supreme Giver of Heavenly and earthly blessings: Alleluia.
Ikos 2:
Having the Divine Mind, even if you are a shepherd of the wordless sheep, you were chosen by the will of the Chief Shepherd Christ to be the shepherd of the verbal sheep. The faithful one, understanding you as a good shepherd, vigilantly caring for your flock, sang:
Rejoice, bishop of the Most High God, who at your consecration abundantly received Divine grace; Rejoice, many-bright lamp, burn and shine. Rejoice, faithful worker in the city of Christ; Rejoice, shepherd, who raised his flock in the pasture of faith and piety. Rejoice, enlightening the world with the radiance of your virtues; Rejoice, you who offer the Divine Sacrifice to the Throne of Christ. Rejoice, hierarch, adorned with the understanding of Orthodoxy; Rejoice, filled with the apostolic teaching, infusing the faithful with streams of saving teaching. Rejoice, for you have illuminated the wise too; Rejoice, for you have renewed even the simple hearts. Rejoice, glory to the Orthodox and to the Church, unshakable affirmation; Rejoice, adornment of the fathers, glory and praise of the reverent priests. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 3:
By the power of the Most High, which overshadowed you, you appeared to Saint Spyridon to be God-wise, and, squeezing the clay in your hands, you clearly understood the trinity of Persons to everyone: even so, the false wisdom of the philosophers who gathered at the Council were horrified, but glorified God with the faith of the incomprehensible, who made you wise for salvation, crying out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 3:
Having you in their thoughts, all the fathers of the Council are simple, unskilled in book teaching, praying to you, Father Spyridon, not to quarrel with the ancients, who imagine themselves to be wise. But you, O saint, inflamed with zeal for God, believing that the preaching of Christ is not in the transcendental wisdom of human words, but in the manifestation of the spirit and power, you have exposed him with wisdom, enlightened him and guided him on the true path. Everyone who saw this miracle cried out:
Rejoice, light of Orthodox wisdom; Rejoice, for you have put to shame those who were said to be wise interrogators. Rejoice, source of abundant grace; Rejoice, unshakable pillar, firmly supporting those who are in the faith. Rejoice, darkening the all-pernicious heresy; Rejoice, madness has been trampled under foot. Rejoice, for the dust of the earth has left the Holy Trinity in your hands; Rejoice, for you brought forth fire and water from clay to confirm the dogma of the Holy Trinity. Rejoice, for you have enlightened people to glorify the Word, truly consubstantial with the Eternal Father; Rejoice, for you have defeated the serpentine head of the destructive Aryan heresies. Rejoice, for you have sacrificed malice; Rejoice, thou who converted the unfaithful sage and interrogator to the true faith. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 4:
Living your life in squalor and poverty, you were a nourisher and helper to the poor and poor, and, for the sake of love for the poor, you turned the serpent into gold and gave it to those who needed your help. Marveling at this miracle, we cry out to God in gratitude: Alleluia.
Ikos 4:
It was heard by everyone and everywhere that Saint Spyridon is truly the dwelling place of the Holy Trinity: for God the Father, God the Word and God the Holy Spirit dwell in him. For this reason, you preached in words and deeds the incarnate true God to all Christians, crying:
Rejoice, more mysterious are the words of God; Rejoice, having understood the economy of God for the salvation of the world. Rejoice, for you taught us not to test what is beyond human reason and wisdom; Rejoice, you who have revealed the incomprehensible power of God operating in you. Rejoice, for God Himself has spoken through your lips; Rejoice, for I will listen to you all for sweetness. Rejoice, you who have dispersed the darkness of idolatry; Rejoice, for you have led many to the true faith. Rejoice, for you have struck down the heads of the invisible serpents; Rejoice, for through you the Christian faith is glorified. Rejoice, for you illuminate with light all those who please you; Rejoice, champion of the Christian faith and Orthodoxy. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 5:
You were filled with the Divine Spirit, Saint Spyridon, for the sake of your virtuous life; You were meek, merciful, pure in heart, patient, unforgettable, a lover of strangers: for this reason the Creator showed you in miracles. We, glorifying God, who glorified you, cry out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 5:
We see the equal angel of Spyridon, the great wonderworker. The country once suffered greatly from lack of rain and drought: there was famine and plague, and many people died, but through the prayers of the saint rain came down from heaven to earth; The people, having been delivered from the disaster, cried out in gratitude:
Rejoice, you have become like the great prophet Elijah; Rejoice, for the rain, which takes away hunger and illness, brought down good times. Rejoice, having once again closed heaven with your prayers; Rejoice, for you punished the unmerciful merchant with deprivation of his property. Rejoice, for you have abundantly given food to those who need it; Rejoice, for you strive for the love of God towards people. Rejoice, take away the infirmities of the weak; Rejoice, God-gracious helper of man. Rejoice, give health to the sick; Rejoice, for whom the demons tremble. Rejoice, source of countless miracles. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 6:
The veil of the Old Testament tabernacle covered the Holy of Holies with the ark, manna and tablets. And your temple, to Saint Spyridon, has your reliquary, like an ark, your holy relics, like manna, your heart, like the tablets of Divine grace, on which we see the song inscribed: Alleluia.
Ikos 6:
The people of Cyprus were once punished by the Lord with the barrenness of the land for the increase of lawlessness, when a well-known farmer came to Saint Spyridon, asking for help, and gave him holy gold; Having passed the disaster, that farmer returned the gold again, And - about a miracle - the serpent became gold. Glorifying God, who is wonderful in His saints, we cry:
Rejoice, for you imitated Moses, who miraculously transferred the rod into the serpent; Rejoice, O loving shepherd, delivering the verbal sheep of your flock from troubles. Rejoice, richly enriching everyone with all blessings; Rejoice, as Elijah, who nourished the poor. Rejoice, turn the unmerciful to mercy; Rejoice, venerable example of love for people living in the world. Rejoice, consolation for the faithful and the unfaithful in troubles; Rejoice, hay-leaved tree, overshadowing the city and the country. Rejoice, glory and praise to the Corcyraeans; Rejoice, you have dominion over moisture and dryness, heat and cold, by the grace of God. Rejoice, changing the rules of the earth through prayer; Rejoice, you who are to come, as if you are the present, you who have foreseen. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 7:
You appeared as an intercessor before the Lord for everyone, Saint Spyridon. For this reason, we also come running under your roof, seeking salvation, for we are all imams who help you in all your needs, during times of famine, deadly plagues and in all times of troubles and temptations. For this reason, we cry out to God with gratitude: Alleluia.
Ikos 7:
We see a new miracle and it is magnificent; When you, father, were marching to deliver an innocent man condemned to death, a stormy stream blocked your path; You, in the name of Almighty God, commanded him to stand and you and your companions walked across the river, as if on dry land. The glory of this miracle spread everywhere, and everyone glorified God, crying out to you:
Rejoice, for sometimes Joshua walked across the Jordan river on dry ground; Rejoice, river aspiration taming with your voice. Rejoice, for you have undertaken a difficult path, driven by mercy; Rejoice, for you have destroyed slander and delivered the innocent from the bonds of prison and vain death. Rejoice, hastening life according to God; Rejoice, protector of the innocently oppressed. Rejoice, changer of the statutes of the watery nature; Rejoice, for you taught the judge and saved him from murder. Rejoice, true correction of souls; Rejoice, wondrous power, holding back the streams. Rejoice, you who delight the hearts of people who come to you; Rejoice, imitator of Abraham's love for mankind. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 8:
You were a wanderer and a stranger on earth, like other people. Moreover, from the womb of the mother, the Omniscient One showed you the great saint and wonderworker, Saint Spyridon: you cast out demons, you healed every disease and ulcer, you saw the thoughts of people, and thus you appeared marvelous among the saints. We, sending up prayer to God, the Benefactor of all, cry out to him: Alleluia.
Ikos 8:
The whole world will tremble with horror when it hears how death, at your voice, returns its dead from their graves, and cry out:
Rejoice, your deceased daughter, may she reveal the treasure entrusted to her, calling to life; Rejoice, sorrowful widow, who gave gold to save her, comforting. Rejoice, you who raised the dead from the dead; Rejoice, like his mother, who suddenly died of joy, has come to life. Rejoice, for you have become like Elijah, who restored life to the son of Sarepta’s wife through prayers; Rejoice, for you also imitated Elisha, who aroused the youth from death. Rejoice, shepherd, who sincerely loves people; Rejoice, harlot wife, who washed your nose with tears, and forgave your sins in the name of God. Rejoice, you who have acquired the holy zeal of the Supreme Apostle; Rejoice, as an unrepentant sinner, according to your verb, you will die in serious illness. Rejoice, having obtained fruitfulness from the earth through your prayers; Rejoice, immutable assurance of the resurrection of men. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 9:
You were illuminated by the Divine Spirit, Saint Spyridon, you had the spirit of wisdom, as you filled the fools with wise words and among the fathers you established the faith, the spirit of reason, as you illuminated the darkened minds; the spirit of the fear of God, because by making you pleasing to God you have purified your soul. Moreover, having presented yourself to the Throne of the Most High, you sing to Him with a host of Angels: Alleluia.
Ikos 9:
Receiving the rod of the shepherd of verbal sheep from the Chief Shepherd of the Lord Jesus, Saint Spyridon did not change his life: non-covetous, meek, enduring everything for the sake of love, not being ashamed to care for the flock of wordless sheep. All this excites us to glorify God and cry out to you:
Rejoice, you who despise the glory of this world as if it were vain; Rejoice, thou who hast gained much in Heaven. Rejoice, red one of this world, imputed to the minds; Rejoice, vessel of heavenly blessings. Rejoice, most holy pasture of the Cypriots; Rejoice, for for your sake God is the predator of your sheep with invisible bonds. Rejoice, having taught fatherly admonition; Rejoice, by your mercy you gave them the night of the ram spent without sleep. Rejoice, by the disobedience of a goat, as if the mind of a possessor, a merchant who hid his price, denounced; Rejoice, having brought the one who hid your silver coins to repentance. Rejoice, for with your admonition you healed the passions of greed. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 10:
Saving the souls of the flock, entrusted to you by God, you, Saint Spyridon, by the will of God, were called to show your glory, especially the glory of the true God, and to other countries, so that everywhere they glorify the name of God, crying out: Alleluia.
Ikos 10:
A quick helper and intercessor in all needs and sorrows, Saint Spyridon, at the command of the Tsar, like other shepherds, came to the city of Antioch, where Tsar Constantine was overcome by illness; Saint I will touch his head and make him healthy. Marveling at this miracle, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, whose angel in a dream vision appeared to the king like a healer; Rejoice, Divine Ones who, for the sake of love, have accepted the difficult path in old age. Rejoice, the king's servant, who struck you on the cheek, according to the commandment of the Savior, substituted another; Rejoice, pillar of humility. Rejoice, having granted health to the Tsar through your prayers; Rejoice, for through your humiliation you taught the servant and changed his unmerciful disposition. Rejoice, for you taught the king piety and mercy; Rejoice, for you hated earthly treasures, you rejected the king’s gold. Rejoice, for you turned your disciple Trifillia away from addiction to earthly goods and made him a vessel of God’s grace; Rejoice, for I have come to you in Alexandria with the idols of the fallen. Rejoice, even demons obey him; Rejoice, for you have turned many away from idolatry. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 11:
There was an angelic singing when you offered Thy evening prayers to St. Spyridon in the temple, and those who served with you were not mad. The inhabitants of the city, having heard the wondrous singing, entered the temple and, seeing no one, sang with the powers of the Mountains: Alleluia.
Ikos 11:
The luminous sun of the world, you were the interlocutor of the Angels on earth, Saint Spyridon; Having betrayed your spirit into the hand of God, you moved into a mountain village, praying for peace before the Throne of the Lord. But we who live on earth cry out to you:
Rejoice, for I am still alive, co-servant of the Angel; Rejoice, hearing the psalmody of the Archangels. Rejoice, visible image of our transfiguration; Rejoice, for if I lacked oil in the temple, God for your sake fill the lamp with abundance. Rejoice, lamp of Divine radiance; Rejoice, vessel of God's grace, richly like the oil that fills your soul. Rejoice, inexhaustible source, ever flowing currents of grace to everyone; Rejoice, the Angels are amazed at him. Rejoice, you punished the deacon's audition in the temple; Rejoice, you who were vainglorious with your voice and lost your voice and tongue. Rejoice, for during the heat, dew suddenly descended from above, your sacred head of coolness; Rejoice, in this sign you foresaw the nearness of your repose. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 12:
The cover and refuge of all the faithful who came to you even in your life, you, O saint, did not leave us orphans even after your dormition; God, conqueror of the order of nature, keep your holy relics incorruptible to strengthen the Orthodox faith and piety, as a sign of immortality, glorifying Him, we cry: Alleluia.
Ikos 12:
We sing praises to you, O saint of God, for you have surprised the world with miracles flowing from your holy relics. All who come with faith and kiss them receive all the good things they ask for. And we, who gave you strength, who crowned you with the crown of incorruption and who through you glorifies God, cry out to you:
Rejoice, you who appeared as a shipbuilder during a famine and ordered food to be delivered; Rejoice, you who have given sight to the blind, who have flown with faith to your holy relics. Rejoice, you who healed the youth from the incurable illness; Rejoice, you who cast out the demon from your wife and created health. Rejoice, chosen governor of Kerkyra; Rejoice, for you drove out the hordes of the evil Hagarians and sank their ships into the abyss. Rejoice, for you saw him surrounded by a host of Angels, holding a sword in his right hand and causing his enemies to tremble; Rejoice, build yourself a temple in which to celebrate the Liturgy on unleavened bread, forbidden by the governor. Rejoice, having struck down the Latin governor with cruel death; Rejoice, you who burned his image in a house in Venice with lightning. Rejoice, you who have put to shame the apostasy and false wisdom of the West; Rejoice, having established the one Orthodox faith to be true and saving for people. Rejoice, Spiridon, wonderful miracle worker!
Kontakion 13:
O most wonderful saint of Christ, Father Spyridon! Our current prayer is accepted, deliver us from all troubles and misfortunes, strengthen our country against our enemies, grant us forgiveness of sins and deliver from eternal death all those who cry to God for you: Alleluia! (This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)
