It is God who helps us in all life’s issues and difficulties. People turn to Him when they are looking for consolation in sorrows, when a loved one is sick, when they need protection when traveling and with many other problems. Many Saints also help people in resolving certain issues, if the person’s intentions are pure and noble. In the article we will tell you about a prayer to John the Theologian, with which you can turn to this Saint.
Memorial Days:
- May 21st
- July 13 – Council of the glorious and all-praised 12 apostles
- October 9 – Repose
Orthodox and church holidays and fasts
Today is an Orthodox church holiday: * Great Martyr Euphemia the All-Praised (memory of the miracle by which Orthodoxy was established, 451). * Equal to the Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia, in holy baptism Helena (969) and other saints whose names we remember on this day... Tomorrow:
* Martyrs Proclus and Hilary (c. 98-117).
* St. Michael Malein (962) and other saints whose names we remember on this day... Holidays are expected: 07/26/2021
- * Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel.
* St. Stephen Savvait (794) and other saints whose names we remember on this day... 07.27.2021
- * Apostle Aquila of the 70 (I) and other saints whose names we remember on this day...
07.28.2021
- * Martyrs of Kirik and Julitta, his mother (c. 305). *** Equal to the Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, in holy baptism Vasily, Baptist of Rus' (1015) and other saints whose names we remember on this day...
All Orthodox and church holidays and fasts...
^ Saint Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow
(February 12/25, as well as May 20/June 2 and October 5/18)
Troparion, tone 8
As an apostle with the altar, and a kind doctor, and a favored minister, flowing more honestly to your race, St. Alexis, the God-wise miracle worker, came together with love in your memory, a bright holiday Well, in songs and songs we rejoice and glorify Christ, such grace as He granted to you and your city great affirmation.
Translation: To the one who shares the throne with the apostles, and the wonderful healer, and the servant pleasing to God, we come to your revered shrine, Saint Alexius the God-wise, wonderworker, having gathered with love on the day of your memory, we brightly celebrate, rejoicing in psalmody and spiritual hymns and glorifying Christ, who gave such grace of healing to you and great power to your city.
Kontakion, voice the same
Let us bless the divine and honorable saint of Christ, the new wonderworker Alexis, who sings with love, as if he were a great shepherd, a servant and teacher of the wisdom of the land of Russia sta. Today, coming to his memory, let us joyfully cry out a hymn to the God-bearing One: for having boldness towards God, deliver us from manifold circumstances, so that we call to you: Rejoice, strengthening of our city.
Translation: Let us glorify the divine and especially revered saint of Christ, the new wonderworker Alexy, with faith and love, as the great shepherd, servant and wise teacher of the Russian land. Today, having gathered on the day of his memory, let us joyfully sing a hymn to the God-bearing One: as one who has boldness towards God, deliver us from manifold disasters, so that we cry to you: “Rejoice, strength of our city.”
* * *
Orthodox Saints of God
The holy saints of God show special love and mercy to those who honor their holy memory.
It seems to many that the saints are far from us. But they are far from those who have withdrawn themselves, and very close to those who keep the commandments of Christ and have the grace of the Holy Spirit.
The holy saints in their earthly life turned to God for help in healing their ailments, sorrows and deliverance from temptations, asking God that even after death He would honor them with the gift of helping people in various cases of life.
The saints have reached the Heavenly Kingdom and there they see the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ; but by the Holy Spirit they also see the suffering of people on earth. Many holy saints of God received special grace from God, and He deigned them to be intercessors before Him for deliverance from our sorrows and bodily ailments, in which they themselves were tempted.
The saints rejoice at our repentance and mourn when people leave God and become like foolish cattle. They feel sorry that people live on earth, not knowing that if they loved each other, then there would be freedom from sin on earth: and where there is no sin, there is joy and gladness from the Holy Spirit, so that, wherever you look, everything sweet, and the soul wonders why it feels so good, and praises God. The saints hear our prayers and have the power from God to help us. The entire Christian race knows about this. We must remember: in order for a prayer to be heard, one should pray to the holy saints of God with faith in the power of their intercession before God, in words coming from the heart.
In our prayers we turn to the Lord God, to His Most Pure Mother - our Intercessor and Helper, to the holy Angels and holy people - the saints of God, because for their sake the Lord God is more likely to hear us sinners, our prayers. The Saints have different names: prophets, apostles, martyrs, saints, saints, unmercenaries, blessed, righteous, confessors. more>>
The Lord says: “When you light a candle, you do not put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it gives light to everyone in the house. So let your light shine before people, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:15-16). Saints are bright stars that show us the way to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Let us treasure the closeness of the holy saints of God to God and turn to them for help, remembering that they love us and care about our salvation. It is good to pray to the holy saints of God on those days when the Church celebrates their memory.
«Holy Saints of God, pray to God for us!»
Saints: life, memory, suffering...
^ Saints of Moscow: Peter, Alexy, Jonah, Philip and Hermogenes
(5/18 October)
Troparion, tone 4
The Mother Sees of Russia, the true guardians of the apostolic traditions, the pillars of steadfastness, the teachers of Orthodoxy, Petra, Alexia, Jono, Philippe and Hermogene, pray to the Master of all, the gift of universal peace Great mercy to you and our souls.
Translation: Russian High Hierarchs, true guardians of the apostolic traditions, unshakable pillars, teachers of Orthodoxy, Peter, Alexei, Jonah, Philip and Hermogenes, pray to the Master of all to grant peace to the universe and great mercy to our souls.
Kontakion, tone 3
Live piously among the saints, and guide people to the wisdom of God, and please God well. For this reason, from Him you are glorified by incorruptibility and miracles, as disciples of God’s grace.
Translation: You lived piously as saints and guided people to the knowledge of God and served God well, therefore you were glorified by Him for incorruption and working miracles, taught by God’s grace.
* * *
Orthodox prayers and icons of the Mother of God and saints
The word “icon” comes from the Greek language and means “image”, “image”. The image of the icon is consecrated with holy water and special prayers, through this consecration the grace of the Holy Spirit is imparted to the icon, and the icon is already revered by us as holy. According to the Orthodox dogma of icon veneration, approved by the VII Ecumenical Council, “the honor given to an icon relates to its prototype, and the one who worships the icon worships the hypostasis of the person depicted on it.” The Council especially emphasizes that we give veneration to icons, and not the worship that is due to God alone. “The icon mysteriously contains within itself the presence of the one whom it depicts, and this presence is the closer, more grace-filled and stronger, the more the icon corresponds to the church canon.”
All Icons of the Mother of God and Saints
^ Cathedral of Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom
(January 30/February 12)
Troparion, tone 4
As the apostles of oneness and the universal teacher, pray to the Lord of all to grant universal peace and great mercy to our souls.
Translation: To the apostles, like-minded and universal teachers, pray to the Lord of all the world of the universe to grant great mercy to our souls.
Kontakion, tone 2
Holy and divine preachers, the top of teachers, Lord, you accepted for the enjoyment of your good things and peace: for you accepted labor and death more than any all-fruitfulness, glorifying the One Thy holy one.
Translation: Holy and God-honored preachers, the highest of teachers, O Lord, You have accepted into the enjoyment of Your blessings and peace; for You have recognized their labors and deeds as superior to all sacrifice, O One Who Glorifies Your saints.
Greatness
We magnify you, Saints Basil, Gregory and John, and honor your holy memory, for you pray for us to Christ our God.
* * *
Prayer in the Christian life. What is prayer? About prayer
Prayer is the most important part of the spiritual life of every believer. Through prayer, a person turns to God, asks him and asks for forgiveness from him. In other words, prayer is nothing more than a person’s way of talking with God. About prayer...
The basis of the life of an Orthodox Christian is fasting and prayer. Prayer, said Saint Philaret of Moscow, “is a conversation between the soul and God.” And just as in a conversation it is impossible to listen to one side all the time, so in prayer it is useful to sometimes stop and listen to the Lord’s answer to our prayer.
Prayer does not require a specific time, place, circumstance or form. It can be verbose - long, and laconic - short. The prayer can be said at any time of the day or night, and anywhere. A person can pray under all circumstances of his life: when he is sick or healthy, when he is happy or sad, when he succeeds or fails, when he is in the company of his enemies or in the circle of his friends, when he is abandoned by everyone, or when he in the midst of your beloved family. But God’s temple serves as a special place of prayer. On Sundays, as well as on weekdays, if time permits, we should go to church to pray, where our brothers and sisters in Christ - Christians - gather to pray together, all together. This kind of prayer is called church prayer.
Every Orthodox Christian must pray daily, morning and evening, before and after eating food, before starting and at the end of any task (for example: before teaching and after teaching, etc.).
In the morning we pray to thank God for preserving us last night, to ask for His Fatherly blessing and help for the day that has begun.
In the evening, before going to bed, we also thank the Lord for a successful day and ask him to keep us during the night.
Before and after meals we pray to thank God for His gifts and ask Him to bless and sanctify the food.
In order for the work to be done successfully and safely, we must also, first of all, ask God for blessings and help for the upcoming work, and upon completion, thank God.
Unfortunately, many people forget about the necessity and importance of prayer, and resort to it only in cases of feeling hopeless. However, even in these cases, as practice shows, God does not forget about the person and gives him his love and support. But not a single prayer will bring anything good to a person if he simply reads it without thinking about what is said. Therefore, it is extremely important, when turning to the Creator in prayer, to truly feel every word.
God is the best of interlocutors; he will always hear a person and help him. You should not be embarrassed to talk to God even about the most secret things that are in your soul. The main thing is to do it with true faith in God.
“True prayer does not consist in words and saying them, but true prayer consists “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). When we pray to God, we must stand before Him not only in body, but also in spirit; and say prayer not only with your lips, but also with your mind and heart; and not only bow our heads and knees, but also our hearts before Him; and raise our intelligent eyes to Him with humility. For all prayer must come from the heart; and what the tongue says, the mind and heart must say.” Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.
And no matter what happens during the day, everything happens according to the will of God; all, without exception, are circumstances in which the Lord wished to place you, so that you could be His presence, His love, His compassion. His creative mind, His courage... And, besides, whenever you encounter this or that situation, you are the one whom God put there to carry out the ministry of a Christian, to be a part of the Body of Christ and the action of God. If you do this, you will easily see that sometimes you will have to turn to God and say: “Lord, enlighten my mind, strengthen and direct my will, give me a fiery heart, help me!” At other times you will be able to say, “Oh my God, thank you!”
In the Christian catechism, that is, in the instruction on the Christian faith, it is said about prayer this way: “Prayer is the offering of the mind and heart to God and is a person’s reverent word to God.” Prayer has extraordinary power. “Prayer not only defeats the laws of nature, not only is it an insurmountable shield against visible and invisible enemies, but it even holds back the hand of the Almighty God Himself, raised to defeat sinners,” writes Saint Demetrius of Rostov.
In the New Testament, prayer is a living connection between the children of God and their infinitely good Father, with His Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Kingdom is “the unity of the entire Holy Trinity with the entire spirit.” Thus, prayer life is a constant and natural presence in the presence of the Trisagion of God and in communion with Him. Such vital communion is always possible because through baptism our being has become one with Christ. Prayer is Christian because it is communion with Christ and grows in the Church, which is His Body. Its dimensions are the dimensions of Christ's love.
“Prayer is not telling God our needs. Prayer is the condition under which Divine power can contact our spirit and act in us. God is omniscient and knows us better than we know ourselves.” Archimandrite Rafail (Karelin) (XX century).
^ Venerable Seraphim, Sarov Wonderworker
(January 2/15 and July 19/August 1)
Troparion, tone 4
From your youth you loved Christ, O blessed one, and you ardently longed for that one work, with unceasing prayer and labor in the desert you labored, with a tender heart the love of Christ having acquired, the chosen one, beloved of God, appeared to the Mother. For this reason we cry out to you: save us with your prayers, Seraphim, our reverend Father.
Translation: From your youth you loved Christ, O blessed one, and having ardently desired to serve Him alone, you labored in the desert with unceasing prayer and labor, and having acquired the love of Christ with a tender heart, you appeared as the chosen beloved of the Mother of God. Therefore we cry to you: “Save us with your prayers, Seraphim, our reverend father!”
Kontakion, tone 2
Having left the beauty of the world and the corruption in it, O Reverend, you moved into the Sarov monastery, and there, having lived like an angel, you were the path to salvation for many. For this reason, glorify Christ to you, Father Seraphim, and enrich you with the gift of healings and miracles. Moreover, we cry to you: Rejoice, Seraphim, like our Father.
Translation: The beauty of the world and everything that is corruptible in it, leaving, reverend, you moved into the Sarov monastery and, having lived there like an angel, became for many the path to salvation. That is why Christ, Father Seraphim, glorified you and enriched you with the gift of healings and miracles. Therefore we cry to you: “Rejoice, Seraphim, our reverend father!”
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Holy Fathers on Prayer
“Prayer is a great weapon, an unfailing treasure, wealth that never runs out, a serene haven, a foundation of peace; prayer is the root, source and mother of countless blessings and is more powerful than royal power.” St. John Chrysostom.
“Prayer in its rank is higher than alms.” St. Isaac the Syrian.
“Prayer is the emergence in our hearts of one after another reverent feelings towards God.” St. Feofan, the Recluse of Vyshensky.
“During prayer, let our speech and supplication be combined with decorum, calmness and modesty. Let us think about the fact that we stand before the face of God and that we must please the eyes of God both by the position of the body and the sound of the voice.” Sschmch. Cyprian of Carthage.
“You must abstain from marital affairs in order to engage in prayer; to abstain from worries about wealth, from the desire for earthly glory, from the enjoyment of pleasures, from envy and every evil deed against our neighbor, so that when our soul is in silence and not disturbed by any passion, in it, as in a mirror, God’s purity and uncloudedness will be insight." St. Basil the Great.
“When starting a prayer, leave yourself, your wife, your children, part with the earth, pass through heaven, leave every creature visible and invisible, and begin by praising Him who created everything, and when you praise Him, do not wander your mind here and there, do not talk about fabulous things. pagan, but choose words from the Holy Scriptures.” St. Basil the Great.
“Every place and every time is convenient for us to pray.” St. John Chrysostom.
Orthodox prayers to the holy saints. Holy saints of God.
Orthodox prayers for those in need for various needs and infirmities.
^ Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, wonderworker
(December 6/19 and May 9/22)
Troparion, tone 4
The rule of faith and the image of meekness and self-control of the teacher will be revealed to your flock, even the truth of things; For this reason, you have acquired high humility, rich in poverty, Father Nicholas, pray to Christ God to save our souls.
Translation: The immutable Truth was revealed to your flock by the rule of faith and the image of meekness and self-control. Therefore, through humility you have acquired high things, and through poverty you have acquired riches. Father, Saint Nicholas, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion, tone 3
In Mireh, the holy one, the priest appeared to you: O Lord of Christ, having fulfilled the Gospel, you laid down your soul for your people, and saved the innocent from death; For this reason you were sanctified, as the great hidden place of God’s grace.
Translation: In the Worlds, Saint, you appeared as a performer of sacred service, for having fulfilled the Gospel of Christ, Reverend, you laid down your soul for your people and saved the innocent from death, and therefore you were sanctified as a great minister of the Mysteries of God’s grace.
Greatness
We magnify you, Holy Hierarch Father Nicholas, and honor your holy memory, for you pray for us, Christ our God.
* * *
What a Christian Should Remember
There are words of Holy Scripture and prayers that it is advisable to know by heart.
1. The Lord's Prayer “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4). 2. The main commandments of the Old Testament (Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18). 3. The main gospel commandments (Matt. 5, 3-12; Matt. 5, 21-48; Matt. 6, 1; Matt. 6, 3; Matt. 6, 6; Matt. 6, 14-21; Matt. 6, 24-25; Matthew 7, 1-5; Matthew 23, 8-12; John 13, 34). 4.Symbol of Faith. 5. Morning prayers and evening prayers according to a short prayer book. 6. The number and meaning of the sacraments.
The sacraments must not be mixed with rituals. A ritual is any outward sign of reverence that expresses our faith. A sacrament is a sacred act during which the Church calls on the Holy Spirit, and His grace descends on the believers. There are seven such sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Communion (Eucharist), Repentance (Confession), Marriage (Wedding), Blessing of Anointing (Unction), Priesthood (Ordination) ...
^ St. John Chrysostom
(November 13/26, January 27/February 9 and September 14/27)
Troparion, tone 8
Your lips, like the brightness of a fire, shining forth, enlighten the universe with grace; not to gain the treasures of the world through the love of money, but to show us the height of humility of mind. But chastising your words, Father John Chrysostom, pray to the Word of Christ God to save our souls.
Translation: The grace that shone like a fiery torch from your lips enlightened the universe; You have collected a treasure of non-possession for the world, you have shown us the height of humility. But, instructing us with your words, Father John Chrysostom, pray to the Word, Christ God, for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion, tone 6
You have received Divine grace from Heaven and through your lips you have taught us all to worship the One God in the Trinity, John Chrysostom, most blessed saint, we deserve to praise you: you are a mentor , like a Divine manifestation.
Translation: You have received Divine grace from heaven and through your lips you teach everyone to worship the one God in the Trinity, John Chrysostom, all-blessed, reverend, we duly praise you: for you are our mentor, expounding the Divine.
* * *
^ Equal to the Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir
(July 15/28)
Troparion, tone 4
You are like a merchant looking for good beads, gloriously powerful Vladimir, at the height of the table sits the mother of cities, God-saved Kiev; testing and sending to the Royal City to bring back the Orthodox faith, you found priceless pearls, Christ, who chose you like the second Paul, and shook off blindness in the holy font of the soul together with the physical one. At the same time, we celebrate your success, your people: pray for the salvation of your Russian ruler and the multitude of those who rule.
Translation: You have become like a merchant looking for good pearls, glorious ruler Vladimir, sitting on the high throne of the mother of cities, God-saved Kiev: for by testing and sending to Constantinople to learn about the Orthodox faith, you have found priceless pearls - Christ, who chose you as the second Paul; and, like him, you shook off blindness in the holy font, both mental and physical. Therefore, we, your people, celebrate your dormition; pray for the salvation of the rulers and many of its citizens in your Russian state.
Kontakion, tone 8
Having resembled the great Apostle Paul, in his gray hairs, the all-glorious Vladimir, all, like a child’s wisdom, even leaving care for idols, like a perfect man, you were adorned with Divine Baptism purple; and now stand before the Savior Christ in joy, pray that the ruler of the Russian powers and the multitude of those who rule will be saved.
Translation: Like the great Apostle Paul, in your mature years, the all-glorious Vladimir, leaving all wisdom and zeal for idols as a child’s play, you, like a perfect man, were adorned with the purple of Divine baptism. And now, standing before the Savior Christ in joy, pray for the salvation of the rulers and many of its citizens in the Russian state.
Greatness
We magnify you, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, and honor your holy memory, who trampled idols and enlightened the entire Russian land with holy baptism.
* * *
^ Beheading of the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John
(August 29/September 11)
Troparion, tone 2
The memory of the righteous with praise, but the testimony of the Lord, the Forerunner, suffices you: for you have shown that you are truly more honorable than the prophets, as even in the streams of baptism you were considered worthy of the One who preached. Moreover, having suffered for the truth, rejoicing, you preached the good news to those in hell of God, who appears in the flesh, who takes away the sin of the world and gives us great mercy.
Translation: The memory of the righteous is honored with praise, but the testimony of the Lord is enough for you, Forerunner, for you truly appeared to be the most glorious of the prophets, for you were worthy to baptize the Preached One in the streams. Therefore, having suffered for the truth with joy, you preached the gospel to those in hell of God, who appeared in the flesh, lifting up the sin of the world and giving us great mercy.
Kontakion, tone 5
The Forerunner's glorious beheading saw the coming of a certain Divine, and the coming of the Savior was preached to those in hell. Let Herodia weep, having asked for lawless murder: for thou hast not loved the law of God, nor the living age, but the feigned, temporal one.
Translation: The glorious beheading of the Forerunner occurred according to some Divine plan, so that he would announce the coming of the Savior to those in hell. Let Herodias weep, who asked for lawless murder: after all, she did not love God’s law, not eternal life, but deceptive and temporary life.
^ Equal to the Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia
(July 11/24)
Troparion, tone 1
Having fixed your mind with the wings of God-mind, you flew above visible creatures, seeking God and the Creator of all things, and having found Him, you received the birth of baptism; enjoying the living tree, incorruptible forever, Olgo, ever-glorious.
Translation: Having covered your mind with the wings of the knowledge of God, you soared above the visible creation, seeking God and the Creator of all and, having found Him, received a new birth in Baptism, enjoying the Tree of Life, you remain incorruptible forever, Olga is always glorified.
Kontakion, tone 4
Let us sing today to God, the Benefactor of all, who glorified the God-wise Olga in Russia, and through her prayers will grant remission of sins to our souls.
Translation: Today let us sing the praises of God, the Benefactor of all, who glorified Olga the God-Wise in Russia, and through her prayers may grant forgiveness of sins to our souls.
Greatness
We magnify you, holy blessed princess Olgo of Russia, and honor your holy memory, for you pray for us to Christ, our God.
* * *
^ Nativity of the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John
(June 24/July 7)
Troparion, tone 4
Prophet and Forerunner of the coming of Christ, we are worthy to praise you, we are perplexed, we who honor you with love: the infertility of your birth and the Father’s voicelessness were resolved by your glorious and honest Christmas, and the incarnation of You The world of God is preached.
Translation: Prophet and Forerunner of the coming of Christ, we cannot adequately praise you, lovingly honoring you; for the barrenness of the one who gave birth and the dumbness of the father ended with your glorious and sacred birth, and the incarnation of the Son of God is proclaimed to the world.
Kontakion, tone 3
Before the barrenness of the day, Christ gives birth to the Forerunner, and that is the fulfillment of every prophecy: Whom the prophets preached, upon Him in the Jordan laying His hand, the Word of God appeared as a prophet, a preacher, a taster ne and Forerunner.
Translation: On this day the formerly barren woman gives birth to the Forerunner, and he is the fulfillment of every prophecy. For on Him whom the prophets foretold, he, laying his hand in the Jordan, appeared as the Word of God as a prophet, herald and at the same time - the Forerunner.
Greatness
We magnify you, the Forerunner of the Savior, John, and honor your glorious birth even from the barren one.
* * *
^ Prophet Elijah
(July 20/August 2)
Troparion, tone 4
In the flesh, an Angel, the foundation of the prophets, the second forerunner of the coming of Christ, the glorious Elijah, who sent Elisse the grace to drive away illnesses and cleanse lepers, and also bring healing to those who worship him.
Translation: An Angel in the flesh, the foundation of the prophets, the second Forerunner of the coming of Christ, the glorious Elijah, who from above sent Elisha the grace to drive away illnesses and cleanse lepers, and therefore exudes healing to those who worship him.
Kontakion, tone 2
Prophet and seer of the great deeds of our God, O great Elijah, who filled the watercourse clouds with your message, pray for us to the One Lover of Mankind.
Translation: Prophet and seer of the great works of our God, Elijah, whose name is glorious! With your word, holding back the raining clouds, pray for us to the One Lover of Mankind.
Greatness
We magnify you, holy prophet of God Elijah, and honor your glorious ascension on the chariot of fire.
* * *
^ Great Martyr George the Victorious
(April 23/May 6)
Troparion, tone 4
As a liberator of captives and a defender of the poor, a doctor of the infirm, a champion of the Orthodox, Victorious Great Martyr George, pray to Christ God to save our souls.
Translation: Liberator of captives and patron of the poor, physician of the weak, protector of Christians, great martyr and victorious George, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion, voice the same
You appeared to be cultivated by God, a most honest worker of piety, having gathered for yourself the handles of virtues; Having sowed in tears, reaped with joy, and suffered through blood, you received Christ, and with your prayers, holy ones, you granted forgiveness to everyone for their sins.
Translation: Cultivated by God, you have appeared as a farmer most worthy of piety, having gathered sheaves of virtues for yourself; for having sowed with tears, you reap with joy, but having fought until blood flows, you have gained Christ; and through your intercessions, holy one, you grant forgiveness of sins to everyone.
* * *
^ Glorious and all-validated chief apostles Peter and Paul
(June 29/July 12)
Troparion, tone 4
The Mother Apostles and the universal teachers, pray to the Lord of all to grant universal peace and great mercy to our souls.
Translation: First of the Apostles and universal teachers, pray to the Lord of all the world of the universe to grant great mercy to our souls.
Kontakion, tone 2
Firm and divinely preached preachers, the top of Your apostles, O Lord, You have received for the enjoyment of Your good things and peace; For you have accepted illness and death more than any fruitfulness, the only one who knows the heart.
Translation: The unshakable and God-honored preachers, the highest of Your disciples, O Lord, You accepted into the enjoyment of Your blessings and peace; for You recognized their labors and death as higher than any sacrifice, You alone know what is in the hearts.
Greatness
We magnify you, Christ’s apostles Peter and Paul, who enlightened the whole world with your teachings and brought everything to Christ.
* * *
^ Equal to the Apostles Methodius and Cyril, Slovenian teachers
(11/24 May)
Troparion, tone 4
As the apostle of uniformity and the Slovenian countries, the teacher, Cyril and Methodius of God, pray to the Lord of all, to establish all Slovenian languages in Orthodoxy and unanimity, to pacify the world and save our souls.
Translation: To the like-minded apostles and teachers of the Slavic countries, Cyril and Methodius, God-wise, pray to the Lord of all, all Slavic peoples to establish Orthodoxy and unanimity, to protect the world with peace and to save our souls.
Kontakion, tone 3
We honor the sacred duo of our enlighteners, the Divine Scriptures, by translating the source of knowledge of God, who exuded to us, from which we draw endlessly even to this day, we please you, Cyril and Methodius, to the Throne of the Most High those who are coming and warmly praying for our souls.
Translation: We honor the sacred duo of our enlighteners, who through the translation of the Divine Scriptures have poured forth the source of knowledge of God for us, from which even to this day we draw abundantly, we glorify you, Cyril and Methodius, who stand before the Throne of the Most High and earnestly pray for our souls.
Greatness
We magnify you, Saints Methodius and Cyril, equal to the apostles, who enlightened the entire Slovenian country with your teachings and brought them to Christ.
* * *
