Saturday, July 4, 2015

Selected hymns to St. Paisios the Athonite

St. Paisios of the Holy Mountain (+1994) - Commemorated July 12th (Source)
  
Recently, two services to St. Paisios of Mount Athos have been approved, one written by Metropolitan Joel of Edessa, and one written by the nuns of the Monastery of Souroti. The hymns below are my amateur translation of selected hymns from the service to the Saint by Metropolitan Joel.

I include these for two reasons. First, I offer these for those who wish to celebrate St. Paisios the New, whose first feast is next Sunday July 12th (also note that there is an akathist to St. Paisios the Athonite as well). This is truly a great event, which can be seen by the fact that the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is going to be present himself at the Monastery of Souroti for the feast. However, I also pray that this great Saint of the 20th century might bless, protect and guide the people of Greece as a whole. For those unaware, Greece is currently going through one of its most difficult periods in decades. There have been incredible financial, social, and political upheavals in the last several days, and many Greeks have great insecurity regarding which way to go forward, and what will happen in their future. Please pray for the people of Greece, and may St. Paisios guide all Greeks towards true love and philotimo for Christ and for their homeland, and may he help all those who suffer throughout the entire world!
  
St. Paisios the Athonite (source)
  
Doxastikon of the Stichera in the Plagal of the Second Tone
You traveled the path of the ascetics well, towards the working of virtues, O God-bearer Paisios, and you drove out the man of the flesh from your heart, while your nous meditated on unceasing prayer, and theoria of the Uncreated Light. Therefore, having partaken of the gifts of your graces, we hymn you, O Venerable One, and we say with joy: Rejoice, the offspring of Farasa, the pride of Athos, the pillar of Konitsa, the teacher of Monastics, the dweller of Sinai. Rejoice, you who were adorned with the garment of dispassion, and therefore became a guide to the youth, the lifting-up of the fallen, and the return of the deluded. Rejoice, O example for Monastics, the type for laymen, and the rest and refreshment for the faithful Orthodox. And now, O Godly-adorned Elder, ceaselessly entreat Christ God on behalf of us, who celebrate your sacred memory.
  
Idiomelon from the Litia in the Third Tone
O venerable Father, every day, a multitude of men surrounded your hut, like as to an ark of salvation, seeking salvation of soul, while others the healing of sicknesses, and others the setting aright of their thoughts, or the solution for their problems in life. Therefore, now to your grave, the faithful similarly hasten, seeking these, O Elder Paisios. Therefore pray for these, that they and we might be granted what is sought for, O ever-blessed one.
  
Doxastikon of the Aposticha in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
You lived ascetically, and overcame the pleasures of life, the desires of the flesh, and every passion, O Elder Paisios, and you received a multitude of visitations of divine grace. For in your cell by day, you beheld the Great Martyr Euphemia, and spoke with her as a friend to a friend regarding her martyrdom. In chaste manner, do not cease praying with her on behalf of our souls.
  
Apolytikion in the First Tone
The offspring of Farasa, and the adornment of Athos, and the imitator of the former righteous, equal in honor, O Paisios let us honor O faithful, the vessel full of graces, who hastens speedily to those who cry out: glory to Him Who gave you strength, glory to Him Who crowned you, glory to Him Who grants through you healings for all.
  
St. Paisios depicted in prayer (source)
      
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
The most-famed ascetic of the Holy Mountain, and the newly-enlightened light of the Church, let us praise him with hymns with all our heart, for he leads the faithful towards a perfect life, filling them with rivers of gifts, therefore we cry out: Rejoice, O Father Paisios.
  
Oikos
You appeared as another angel on Athos in these latter days, O Paisios, and you venerably lived on earth, appearing equal to the ancient ascetics to those near you, who cry out these things fervently:
Rejoice, the divine offspring of the people of Farasa,
Rejoice, the great joy of Athos.
Rejoice, the divine boast of Konitsa,
Rejoice, the adornment of the Convent of Souroti.
Rejoice, many-headed spring of gifts surpassing nature,
Rejoice, incomparable saving ray of healings.
Rejoice, for you adorned the Monastery of Esphigmenou,
Rejoice, for you dwelt on Mount Sinai.
Rejoice, the leader of humble mortals,
Rejoice, you who possessed many graces.
Rejoice, the deliverer of those who suffer greatly,
Rejoice, the guide of laymen and monastics.
Rejoice, O Father Paisios.
  
Synaxarion
On the this day (July 12th), the memory of our venerable Father Paisios the New, of the Holy Mountain, who reposed in peace in the year 1994.
  
Verses
Paisios, the tree of Mount Athos,
You were shown to be full of fruit, O Most-venerable one.
On the twelfth, Paisios reposed.
  
Megalynarion
Rejoice the communicant with the Venerable, the pride of Athos, the adornment of Monastics, Rejoice the new teacher of the Church, O godly-minded Paisios, our boast.
  
Doxastikon of the Praises in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone.
O Venerable Father Paisios, throughout the whole land of Greece, and the whole World, has gone forth the word of your deeds, for as a bodily angel from Athos, your life-bestowing teachings of the Gospel have been preached throughout the whole world, and thus, through your life and your deeds, you have become the type for monastics, the teacher of laymen, the guide for the youth, the counsel of the chaste, and the friend of all. Therefore, we humbly pray to you, O Holy One: do not cease to entreat the Lord on behalf of our souls.
  
St. Paisios the Athonite (source)
  
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

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