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Kontakion 1
With hymns and psalms let us honor the holy King David, who of all the sons of Israel was chosen by God to reign over His elect, and, through his seed, gave rise in the flesh to the Messiah, our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ; and let us say unto him: As thou wast delivered from hades by our Redeemer at His glorious resurrection, and standest now with boldness before the throne of His divine majesty, teach us to sing to Him a new song, that we may cry unto thee:
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Ikos 1
When Saul, the King of Israel, disobeyed the command of God, and the Lord rejected him from being king, He sent His high priest, the holy Prophet Samuel, to Bethlehem of Jud?a, where he took David, the least among the sons of Jesse, from among the flocks of the fields, and anointed him king with a horn of oil, so that the Spirit of the Lord came upon the holy youth. Wherefore, mindful of his humility and favor before the Lord, we cry unto him:
Rejoice, for thou didst not walk in the counsel of the ungodly;
Rejoice, for thou didst not stand in the way of sinners!
Rejoice, for thy will was in the law of the Lord;
Rejoice, for in His law thou didst meditate day and night!
Rejoice, for thou wast established as king by God;
Rejoice, for thou didst proclaim His commandments!
Rejoice, for thou didst serve the Lord with fear;
Rejoice, for thou didst rejoice in Him with trembling!
Rejoice, for the Lord was thy Helper and glory;
Rejoice, for when thou didst cry unto Him, He heard thee!
Rejoice, for God smote all who without cause were thine enemies;
Rejoice, for His blessing was ever upon thee, who put thy trust in Him!
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Kontakion 2
When the Spirit of God departed from King Saul, the Lord permitted an evil spirit to trouble him. Then the servants of the king counselled him to seek a skillful harp player, that whenever the demon would assail him, the sweet music of the harp would stave it off. Wherefore, Saul dispatched a messenger unto Jesse in Bethlehem, saying: "Send me David, thy son, who is with the sheep." And whensoever the evil spirit vexed the king, David would take his harp and play; and Saul was refreshed, and the demon departed from him, so that he cried:
Alleluia!
Ikos 2
In those days, the idolatrous Philistines, the enemies of God's people, gathered their armies together to smite Israel, and chief among their hosts was Goliath of Gath, a giant in stature, who challenged the mighty warriors of Saul's army to single combat; but in their sore fear at the sight of him they fled from before his face. Yet though he was but a youth, David went forth to meet the foe, taking up five smooth stones and his shepherd's sling, and smote the ungodly warrior a blow to the forehead, so that he fell dead upon the earth. Wherefore, we cry unto him:
Rejoice, for thou didst go forth against the enemy in the name of the Lord of hosts;
Rejoice, for thou didst bring him low in the name of the God of the armies of Israel, Whom he had defied!
Rejoice, for the Lord delivered him into thy hand;
Rejoice, for thou didst smite him as he blasphemed the living God!
Rejoice, through thee all the people knew that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear;
Rejoice, for the battle was the Lord's, and He gave it into thy hands!
Rejoice, for, seeing their champion fallen, the enemies of God's people did flee;
Rejoice, for the Philistines were driven out of Judah and Israel!
Rejoice, for thou didst break asunder the bonds of the foe!
Rejoice, for thou didst cast away their yoke from the people of the Lord!
Rejoice, for the righteous wrath of God was kindled against His enemies;
Rejoice, for the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel!
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Kontakion 3
When the holy David returned from slaying the enemy of the Lord, the women of Israel came forth and joyfully sang his praises with timbrels and instruments of music; then Saul the king was moved to envy and jealousy, and sought occasion to slay him. But Jonathan, the son of the king, full of godly love, made covenant with David, to be his brother forever; and so great was their friendship and loyalty one to another that, pondering it, we are all moved to cry:
Alleluia!
Ikos 3
David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of the king, and his name grew in the esteem of the people; but the hatred which Saul the king nurtured against him increased, and he sought to slay him with a javelin. Then fled the righteous youth from the king's presence and went to the holy Prophet Samuel, the high priest of the Lord; and though the king sent many to arrest him, and at length came himself to take him, yet the Spirit of the Lord rendered all of them unable to act. Wherefore, perceiving God's mercy toward those who set their trust on Him, we cry:
Rejoice, for when thou didst call upon the Lord, He hearkened unto thee;
Rejoice, for in thine affliction He enlarged thee!
Rejoice, for God had compassion upon thee and heard thy prayer;
Rejoice, for He made wondrous His holy one!
Rejoice, for the light of the countenance of the Most High was signed upon thee;
Rejoice, for He gave gladness to thy heart!
Rejoice, for the Lord alone made thee to dwell in hope;
Rejoice, for in peace didst thou lay thyself down and sleep!
Rejoice, for when thou didst awake, He helped thee;
Rejoice, for thou didst sacrifice a sacrifice of righteousness, and hoped in the Lord!
Rejoice, for the King of heaven attended to the voice of thy supplications;
Rejoice, for thou didst worship in His holy tabernacle, in the fear of Him!
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Kontakion 4
When David fled from Saul the king, who unjustly desired his death, he went to the tabernacle of the Lord, to the priest Ahimelech, and asked him for bread for himself and his companions in flight; and the pious priest, seeing his need, gave him all that he had-the hallowed loaves of showbread, which had been sanctified and offered in sacrifice unto the Most High-and they did eat. This deed did our Savior Jesus Christ in latter times recount, rebuking the hypocritical Pharisees, who had accused Him and His disciples of violating the law of God; for, blinded by their malice, they were incapable of singing:
Alleluia!
Ikos 4
As David hid from Saul, many joined him in the wilderness to share his privations; but when the king learned that Ahimelech the priest and those with him had given David food and a sword, he accused them of treason and commanded his henchman to slay them all, eighty-five in number. But when he heard of this crime, David lamented the slaughter of the innocent ministers of God, and took the son of Ahimelech under his protection to safeguard him. Wherefore, mindful of his reverence for the priests of God and his compassion for the bereaved, we cry:
Rejoice, thou who in thy filial love didst hide thy parents from the wrath of Saul;
Rejoice, thou who didst straightway obey the divine command which the Prophet Gad delivered unto thee!
Rejoice, thou who didst lament the death of the priests slain by Saul on thine account;
Rejoice, thou who gavest refuge to Abiathar, who survived the slaughter!
Rejoice, for the Lord guided thee in the ways of His righteousness;
Rejoice, for, because of thine enemies, He made straight thy way before Him!
Rejoice, for He saved thee from those who persecuted thee, and delivered thee;
Rejoice, for righteous was thy help from God, Who saveth all who are upright of heart!
Rejoice, for thou gavest praise unto the Lord according to His righteousness;
Rejoice, for thou didst ever chant unto the name of the Lord Most High!
Rejoice, for thou didst confess the Lord with thy whole heart;
Rejoice, for thou didst tell of all His wonders!
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Kontakion 5
Learning that David was in the wilderness of En-gedi, Saul took an army and went forth in pursuit of him. But David and his followers hid themselves from the wrath of the king in a certain cave. Now when Saul entered this very cave, to use it as a privy, the men of David sought to persuade him to slay the king; yet David would not lift his hand against the Lord's anointed, but instead stealthily cut off the back part of Saul's robe, and later, displaying the cloth as proof, declared from afar his innocence of the treason of which the king thought him guilty. Wherefore, marvelling at his patience and forbearance, we cry:
Alleluia!
Ikos 5
Another time, Saul again set out with his army to take David and his men, and they encamped in the wilderness of Ziph. But David, who saw them from afar, waited until all were asleep, and penetrated the guard, and came upon the king asleep, with his spear planted in the ground next to his head. Then David's companion urged him to slay the sleeping king, but David said: "Who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?"; and he took instead Saul's spear and cruse of water, and afterwards cried out from afar that he was guiltless of all enmity toward the king, displaying the spear and cruse as proof. Wherefore, honoring his piety, we cry aloud such things as these:
Rejoice, thou who wast glad and
Rejoiced in the Lord;
Rejoice, thou who chanted unto the name of the Most High!
Rejoice, for thou didst declare all the praises of God in the gates of the daughter of Sion;
Rejoice, for thou didst walk blameless and work righteousness, speaking truth in thy heart!
Rejoice, for thou didst say unto the Lord: Thou art my Lord;
Rejoice, for the Lord was the portion of thine inheritance and of thy cup!
Rejoice, for in thee and all the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wondrous;
Rejoice, for He hath wrought all His desires in thee!
Rejoice, for thou didst bless the Lord Who gave thee understanding;
Rejoice, for thou didst behold the Lord ever before thee!
Rejoice, for God was at thy right hand, that thou mightest never be shaken;
Rejoice, for thus was thy heart filled with joy and thy tongue with gladness!
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Kontakion 6
In those days, the Philistines again rose up against Israel, and prevailed in battle; and Jonathan, the friend of David, was slain; and Saul the king, filled with despair, fell upon his sword. And the godless infidels conquered and inhabited the cities of Israel. But when David heard of the slaughter from one who escaped, he mourned and wept, and rent his garments, and fasted for Saul and Jonathan, and all the fallen. But the Lord God commanded David to go unto the city of Hebron, whither the men of Judah came, and anointed David king. And all cried out to the Almighty:
Alleluia!
Ikos 6
As David found favor with the Most High, his wisdom and skill increased; but the house of Saul waned in power. Wherefore, David became king over all Jud?a and Israel, and established Jerusalem, even Sion, as his city, and thither did he bring the ark of the covenant. And so great was his joy and zeal, that he danced in ecstasy before the ark, clad only in a linen cloth, with jubilation and the sound of the trumpet, and offered sacrifice unto the Lord in thanksgiving. Wherefore, mindful of his surpassing love for the God of Israel, we cry to him such things as these:
Rejoice, thou who blessed thy people in the name of God;
Rejoice, thou who offered up burnt offerings before the Lord!
Rejoice, thou who didst long to build a temple for the Most High;
Rejoice, thou whose throne the Almighty vowed to establish forever!
Rejoice, thou who didst conquer all the nations which threatened the people of God;
Rejoice, thou who didst smite Moab and the Syrians of Damascus!
Rejoice, thou who didst subdue Edom and the Ammonites;
Rejoice, for the Lord preserved thee whithersoever thou didst go!
Rejoice, thou who didst exercise justice and righteousness unto all thy people;
Rejoice, thou who didst love the Lord with all thy strength!
Rejoice, for the Lord was thy foundation, thy refuge and thy deliverer;
Rejoice, for He led thee forth into a spacious place!
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Kontakion 7
After David established his rule throughout Israel, he inquired: "Is there yet any who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" And one who had served in Saul's household said unto King David: "Jonathan hath yet a son, Mephibosheth, who is lame in his feet." Then, full of joy, the king sent and fetched to his court the son of his sworn brother, and gave over to him all that had belonged to Saul and his house, and provided him with sustenance daily at the royal table, as though he were one of his own sons. And marvelling at his generosity and loving-kindness, we cry out to God:
Alleluia!
Ikos 7
Overcome by lust, David sinned with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of his warriors, and she conceived his child; then, to cover his sin, he had the man sent into the forefront of the battle against the Ammonites, where he was slain by the foe; and David took the widow to wife. But Nathan, the prophet of the Most High, rebuked the king by a parable, and, mindful of the magnitude of the evil he had wrought in the sight of God, David said: "I have sinned against the Lord", and he repented his iniquity. Wherefore, in thanksgiving for the words of penitence which he hath bequeathed to us, we cry:
Rejoice, for God had mercy on thee, according to His great mercy;
Rejoice, for according to the multitude of His compassions He blotted out thy transgression!
Rejoice, for He washed thee thoroughly from thine iniquity;
Rejoice, for He cleansed thee from thy sin!
Rejoice, for the hidden and secret things of the Lord's wisdom did He make manifest unto thee;
Rejoice, for He sprinkled thee with hyssop, and thou wast made clean!
Rejoice, for the Most High washed thee, and thou wast made whiter than snow;
Rejoice, for the Almighty made thee to hear joy and gladness!
Rejoice, for He turned His face away from thy sins;
Rejoice, for He blotted out all thine iniquities!
Rejoice, for God created in thee a clean heart, and renewed a right spirit within thee;
Rejoice, for He did not cast thee away from His presence, nor did He take His Holy Spirit from thee!
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Kontakion 8
When Nathan the prophet denounced David for his sin, he declared unto him the sentence of the Lord, saying: "I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and the sword shall never depart from thee." And the words of the Lord were fulfilled in David's sons, Absalom and Amnon; for the one slew the other, and fled, and rose up against his father, to usurp his throne; and David in sadness was compelled to abandon Jerusalem his city. Yet was his trust in the Lord his God, and he did not cease to chant continually:
Alleluia!
Ikos 8
David departed from Jerusalem, and Absalom, his son, entered the city and the king's palace, and set himself up to rule in his stead; and he dishonored his father's house. And this unworthy son dared also to assemble a mighty army to pursue his father, and there was a great battle, and Joab the general slew the hapless rebel; but David, when he heard this, covered his face, and wept bitterly, saying: "O Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" Wherefore, marvelling at thy paternal love, we cry to thee:
Rejoice, for thou didst acknowledge the evil which thou hadst done before God;
Rejoice, for He restored unto thee the joy of His salvation!
Rejoice, for with His governing Spirit did He establish thee;
Rejoice, for thou didst teach transgressors the ways of the Lord!
Rejoice, for through thy zeal did the ungodly turn back unto Him;
Rejoice, for the Most High delivered thee from thy blood-guiltiness!
Rejoice, for thy tongue rejoiceth in His righteousness;
Rejoice, for He opened thy lips, and thy mouth declared His praise!
Rejoice, for thy broken spirit was a sacrifice unto God;
Rejoice, for thy contrite and humbled heart did He not despise!
Rejoice, for in His good pleasure the Lord did good unto Sion;
Rejoice, for He was pleased with thy sacrifice of righteousness, with thine oblation and whole-burnt offerings!
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Kontakion 9
When David was full of years, the Philistines again rose up against Israel, and foremost among them were the sons of the giant Goliath, whom the king had slain in his youth. But the armies of the people of God prevailed in battle, and David extolled the Lord of hosts, crying melodiously:
Alleluia!
Ikos 9
Lifting up his voice in thanksgiving unto the Most High, David the king chanted in sweet psalmody, saying: "I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, among the nations, and I will sing praises unto Thy name!" And his lips were filled with gratitude for the God of Jacob, Who was for him a tower of salvation, and showed mercy to His anointed, unto David and to his seed. Wherefore, grateful also for the psalms he hath bequeathed us, we cry to him:
Rejoice, for the Lord delivered thee out of the hand of all thine enemies;
Rejoice, for He is thy rock and thy fortress, and thy deliverer!
Rejoice, for He is thy shield and the horn of thy salvation;
Rejoice, for He is thy high tower, thy refuge and savior!
Rejoice, for when thine enemies came upon thee in the day of calamity, the Lord was thy stay;
Rejoice, for He delivered thee, because He delighted in thee!
Rejoice, for He hath rewarded thee according to thy righteousness;
Rejoice, for He hath recompensed thee according to the cleanness of thy hands!
Rejoice, for thou didst keep the ways of the Lord;
Rejoice, for thou didst not depart from thy God!
Rejoice, for thou wast upright before the Most High;
Rejoice, for thou didst keep thyself from thine iniquity!
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Kontakion 10
The spirit of the prophecy came upon David the king, the anointed of the Most High, and he gave utterance concerning his kingship, saying: "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue. The God of Israel hath said: 'He who ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.' Although my house is not so with God, yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure; for this is all my salvation, and all my desire." And with sweet hymnody he chanted unto the Almighty:
Alleluia!
Ikos 10
When David was an old man, Satan stood against Israel, and enticed the king to reckon the number of the people of God. But the Lord was sore displeased with this census, and sent unto the king the Prophet Gad, requiring David to choose between three years of famine, destruction at the hand of his enemies within three months, or three days of pestilence throughout the land. And as the pestilence descended upon Israel, David cried unto God, saying: "Is it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? Even I it is who hath sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these, what have they done? Let Thy hand, I pray Thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house, but not on Thy people, that they should be plagued!" And the Lord withdrew the angel of His wrath; wherefore, mindful of His forbearance, we cry to His saint:
Rejoice, for thou wast a fruitful olive tree in the house of the Lord;
Rejoice, for thou didst hope in the mercy of God forever!
Rejoice, for thou didst give praise unto Him forever, for what He had done;
Rejoice, for thou didst wait upon His name, for it is good before His saints!
Rejoice, for God helped thee, and the Lord was the protector of thy soul;
Rejoice, for He brought evils upon thine enemies, and utterly destroyed them by His truth!
Rejoice, for thou didst willingly sacrifice unto the Most High;
Rejoice, for thou didst confess His name, for it is good!
Rejoice, for He delivered thee out of every affliction;
Rejoice, for thine eye looked down upon the enemies of His people!
Rejoice, for thou waited for God, Who saved thee from faintheartedness and from tempest;
Rejoice, for evening, morning and noonday didst thou tell of the mercy of the Lord, and He heard thy voice!
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Kontakion 11
In his distress, David besought the Lord's mercy for his people, the Lord commanded him to build an altar on Mount Sion, on the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite; and when David had purchased this place, and built the altar, and set his offerings upon it, the Lord sent fire from heaven to consume them utterly, in token of His forgiveness. Then did David begin to assemble that which was necessary to build in that very place a temple for the Lord of hosts, wherein all the faithful might cry:
Alleluia!
Ikos 11
Then David summoned Solomon his heir, and all the princes of Jud?a and Israel, and said: "The word of the Lord came to me, saying: 'Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars; thou shalt not build a house unto My name. Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of peace: he shall build a house for My name.'" And he said to the princes of Israel: "Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord." Wherefore, marvelling at his love and zeal for the Most High, we cry unto him:
Rejoice, for in God didst thou commend thy words, in God didst thou set thy hope;
Rejoice, for thy life didst thou declare unto Him!
Rejoice, for thou didst keep watch for the Lord, thy helper;
Rejoice, for He made His mercy manifest unto thee among thine enemies!
Rejoice, for thou shalt dwell in His tabernacle unto the ages;
Rejoice, for thou shalt be sheltered in the shelter of His wings!
Rejoice, for thou shalt abide before the face of God in the age to come;
Rejoice, for thou shalt chant eternally unto His name unto the ages!
Rejoice, for thou didst appear before Him in His sanctuary, to see His power and His glory;
Rejoice, for thou didst remember the Lord upon thy bed, and at the dawn thou didst meditate upon Him!
Rejoice, for thy soul cleaved after the Most High;
Rejoice, for His right hand was quick to help thee.
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Kontakion 12
Taking up his psaltery, David the king received inspiration from the All-holy Spirit, and chanted prophetically concerning the coming of the Messiah, Who is his descendent according to the flesh, His baptism, His suffering on the Cross and death, His resurrection and ascension. Wherefore, obedient to his command, we chant with understanding unto the Lord Who filled his mouth with praise:
Alleluia!
Ikos 12
Casting ahead the gaze of his prophetic eyes, the prophet king declared unto God: "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast Thou perfected praise", foreseeing the Lord's triumphal entry into Sion; and perceiving from afar the hatred of the scribes and Sadducees for Him, he said: "The rulers were assembled together, against the Lord." And truly beholding His voluntary sufferings, he prophesied the very words Christ uttered upon the Cross, saying: "My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? They have parted My garments amongst themselves, and for My vesture have they cast lots. They have pierced My hands and My feet. They gave Me gall for My food, and for My thirst they gave Me vinegar." Wherefore, full of awe at the divine grace imparted unto him, we say:
Rejoice, for thou didst cry: "Let God arise!";
Rejoice, for thou didst say: "Let His enemies be scattered!"
Rejoice, for thou didst exclaim: "Thou leddest captivity captive";
Rejoice, for thou didst declare: "Now I will arise, saith the Lord!"
Rejoice, for thou didst shout: "God is gone up in jubilation!";
Rejoice, for thou hast said: "The Lord ascendeth with the voice of the trumpet!"
Rejoice, for thou didst cry unto the heavens: "Lift up your gates, and the King of glory shall enter in!";
Rejoice, for thou didst declare unto the angels: "The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory!"
Rejoice, for thou didst bless the name of the glory of God forever;
Rejoice, for thou didst confess Him among the peoples, with instruments of psalmody!
Rejoice, for the Lord Almighty hath comforted thee;
Rejoice, for out of the depths of the earth did He bring thee up.
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Kontakion 13 [3 times]
Blessed art thou, O holy king and prophet David, for the All-holy Spirit, abiding within thee, filled thy mouth with the praises of the Most High, and by thine inspired words doth teach us how rightly to worship the consubstantial Trinity! For evening, morning and at noontide, seven times a day, our divine glorification beginneth, proceedeth and concludeth with thy wondrous psalms. Wherefore, following thy marvellous works, we all cry out unto God:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Ikos 1 Repeated
When Saul, the King of Israel, disobeyed the command of God, and the Lord rejected him from being king, He sent His high priest, the holy Prophet Samuel, to Bethlehem of Jud?a, where he took David, the least among the sons of Jesse, from among the flocks of the fields, and anointed him king with a horn of oil, so that the Spirit of the Lord came upon the holy youth. Wherefore, mindful of his humility and favor before the Lord, we cry unto him:
Rejoice, for thou didst not walk in the counsel of the ungodly;
Rejoice, for thou didst not stand in the way of sinners!
Rejoice, for thy will was in the law of the Lord;
Rejoice, for in His law thou didst meditate day and night!
Rejoice, for thou wast established as king by God;
Rejoice, for thou didst proclaim His commandments!
Rejoice, for thou didst serve the Lord with fear;
Rejoice, for thou didst rejoice in Him with trembling!
Rejoice, for the Lord was thy Helper and glory;
Rejoice, for when thou didst cry unto Him, He heard thee!
Rejoice, for God smote all who without cause were thine enemies;
Rejoice, for His blessing was ever upon thee, who put thy trust in Him!
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Kontakion 1 Repeated
With hymns and psalms let us honor the holy King David, who of all the sons of Israel was chosen by God to reign over His elect, and, through his seed, gave rise in the flesh to the Messiah, our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ; and let us say unto him: As thou wast delivered from hades by our Redeemer at His glorious resurrection, and standest now with boldness before the throne of His divine majesty, teach us to sing to Him a new song, that we may cry unto thee:
Rejoice, O holy king and prophet David, thou ancestor of God and singer of His praises!
Prayer to the holy prophet king David
O holy king and prophet David, who according to the flesh art the ancestor of Christ Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer Who hath delivered us from sin and death! When thou wast a youth, tending the sheep of thy father in the fields of Bethlehem of Jud?a, thou wast chosen by the Lord, the Good Shepherd, to tend the reason-endowed sheep, His elect, the people of Israel; wherefore, the Spirit of the Most High descended upon thee and endowed thee with His peerless gifts: to rule with justice and prudence; to return good for the evils done thee; to set at nought the wiles and machinations of the enemies of the Almighty; to make music of such exceeding great beauty that the wicked demons took to flight at their sound, which the Holy Church useth in worshiping our all-merciful God; and to offer unto Him a ready penitence for the sins thou didst commit, which serveth as a model of Christian repentance for us all. For this cause, marvelling at thy piety and glorifying the one God in Trinity, Who hath glorified thee and all the saints of ages past, we beseech thee: As thou standest now in the heavens before the dread throne of Christ Jesus the Messiah, the Scion of thy royal lineage, having been raised up by Him, at the time of His resurrection, from the nethermost parts of hades, where thou didst await His all-glorious coming, earnestly entreat Him in behalf of us, thine unworthy servants, who honor thy holy memory and sing praises unto Him with the words of thine inspired hymnody, that He take pity on us, forgive us our iniquities, and count us worthy to stand with thee at the right hand of His divine majesty when He shall come to judge the living and the dead. For unto Him is due all glory, honor and worship, with His unoriginate Father and His all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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