Selected hymns from the Service to St. Matrona of Moscow

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

St. Matrona of Moscow (source)

  
Selected hymns from the Service to St. Matrona of Moscow,
Translations of the Greek text written by Dr. Charalampos Bousias, Hymnographer of the Patriarchate of Alexandria
  
Prosomoia of the Stichera from Great Vespers in the Fourth Tone. As the brave one among martyrs.
Come, all you who love feasts, let us place a crown of our hymns upon the head of the sacred Matrona, the Spirit-bearer, the inspired treasury of Russia and new adornment of the Church of Christ, who was born blind according to the judgments of God, that the radiance of her wisdom might shine forth to the multitudes of people bearing the name of Christ.

Full of desire, let us now honor the godly Matrona, who was blind from her mother's womb, and from infancy tasted poverty and scorn from those her age, along with taunting and terrible abandonment, as we cry out to her: Rejoice, newly-shining star of Russia, whose virtuous life has illumined all.

O adornment from God and spiritual beauty, with humility and discernment, who beautified the multitudes of the faithful through your reverence, your surpassing life and God-given grace and chastity, O God-bearer Matrona, do not cease to entreat the Creator on behalf of those who honor you.
   

Sts. Xenia of St. Petersburg and Matrona of Moscow (source)

   

Doxastikon of the Stichera in the Plagal of the Second Tone.
The Lady Theotokos, who is the salvation of sinners, you prayed to ceaselessly, and you glorified her Son every day, O Matrona, as you lived your earthly life like an Angel. For you had the eyes of your soul turned towards the Lord, though your bodily eyes were closed from birth, and you thus were shown to be higher than the things of this earth. And you entered into the joy of your Lord, and partake of His beauty. Do not cease to intercede on behalf of us who honor your ever-memorable memory.

Idiomelon of the Litia in the First Tone.
Rejoice, today, all those who love the ranks of the Venerable Saints, honoring the newly-shining memory of Matrona, and straightaway let us cry out to her with rejoicing: O newly-planed shoot of Russia, and newly-founded support of the Church, who lived a life of asceticism in the world in these latter days, and who shown forth with great feats, ceaselessly entreat the Lord on behalf of our souls.

Doxastikon of the Aposticha in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone.
O spotless lamb of Christ the Chief Shepherd, the all-praised Matrona, let us hymn in contrition, for she dispersed the darkness of her bodily eyes through the unapproachable light of grace and illumined with the lightning of her virtue all of those bearing the ethos of Christ. And now, in the unspeakable beauty of her desired Bridegroom [Christ], she beholds with wide-open eyes in the heavenly bridal chamber, and she ceaselessly intercedes on behalf of our souls.
  

St. Matrona of Moscow, depicted (as is most correct iconographically) as she is in Paradise, with her eyes open (source)

  
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone
Unassailable eighth pillar of Russia, who was blind from birth, we reverently praise Matrona the ever-memorable, as a treasury of divine gifts and fervent love towards all those in danger, crying out scatter the darkness of our passions with the light of Your grace.

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone. O Champion General.
O most-radiant vessel of the uncreated Light, and most-straight canon of foreknowledge, let us now hymn Matrona the Blind, offering up mellifluous encomiums as rays of light at her endurance, humility and divine grace, crying out: Rejoice, O all-praised Mother.

Oikos
You appeared lately to us as a light-bearing Angel, O blind Matrona, the boast of Russia, for with humility and patience along with endurance of many pains and trials of life, you pleased the Lord, and you incite the faithful to cry out to you:
Rejoice, the flower of endurance,
Rejoice, the crown of incorruption.
Rejoice, driver away of dangerous atheism,
Rejoice, light-bearer of the graces of the Spirit.
Rejoice, lighthouse of foreknowledge and prayer of the heart,
Rejoice, lamp of humility and the godly life.
Rejoice, greatly-shining ray of the wisdom of God,
Rejoice, torch of consolation for those in trials.
Rejoice, shield of wisdom and nepsis,
Rejoice, fruit of the love of Christ.
Rejoice, blind nightingale of Russia,
Rejoice, nourishment of those far of and those close.
Rejoice, O all-praised Mother.

Synaxarion

On this day (May 2nd), the memory of our Venerable and God-bearing Mother Matrona, the Blind and Wonderworker, who lived in our days as an ascetic in the world.
 

Verses

Though you were blind, you foresaw everything

Beforehand, O ascetic of Russia, Matrona.

 

Exaposteilarion in the Second Tone. O Women hearken.

Your blessing, was heard before the rule of the godless in Russia by the city of those who love Christ, and in those terrible days, they took refuge in your grace, O Matrona, for you became the consolation of those in pains, O sweetness of all people of Russia.

Prosomoia of the Praises in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone.

O new adornment of Russia, Matrona, who lived your life unseen upon the earth, as something that is passing, and you reached the height of dispassion and perfection in Lord Pantocrator, O you who appeared as one called by God, intercede on behalf of us who celebrate your all-spotless memory.

O true Mother illumined by God, in these latter days, you surpassed the bodily blindness of your eyes, and reached the wisdom of God and came to dwell with Him, having been made worthy to behold the Pantocrator with incorrupt eyes, in the divine mansions. Ever entreat Him on behalf of us, O chaste one, that His spotless grace and great mercy may be sent down upon us.

The God-bearing multitudes of Russia now rejoice at your divine memory, O glorious and chaste ascetic, who lately shown forth with the rays of wisdom and foreknowledge, along with the ethos of Christ and humility. Therefore, she is now roused to honor your holy memory, and glorify the Lord, Who glorified you.

Doxastikon of the Praises in the Plagal of the First Tone.

With an astonishing heart, you endured martyrdom of blindness and paralysis upon the earth, which we, blind and paralyzed, have brought upon us by our sin, O Matrona, the adornment of venerable mothers. For you received the reward of glory on high and the fruit reaped from your spotless life by the Savior of all, Whom you entreat on behalf of those who honor your ever-memorable memory.

Megalynarion

You who were deprived of the light of your eyes from birth, O Matrona, let us praise you with reverence, as a Spirit-bearing ascetic of Russia, and new pride and vessel of grace.
(source)
  

St. Matrona of Moscow (source)

  

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!

Truly, the Lord is risen!

Venerating the Relics of St. Matrona of Moscow

Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!

This is a short video showing Metropolitan of Neophytos of Morphou (Cyprus), on a recent pilgrimage to Russia (November 5th, 2012). In Moscow, he is shown visiting the famed Monastery that houses the wonderworking Relics of St. Matrona the Blind, and he enters, venerating with reverence, and reads a prayer in Greek. From this we can see the great crowds of pilgrims that come to venerate St. Matrona on a daily basis, the great beauty of her Monastery, and the devotion of the faithful from around the world and from many different cultures for one of the great Saints of the 20th Century and a beloved child of God. May we have her intercessions! (source)

   

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!

Truly, the Lord is risen!

St. Matrona of Moscow healing family troubles

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

St. Matrona of Moscow the Wonderworker (source)

 

Evgenia’s parents were communists, sincerely believing in the “bright Communist future,” and her family had a rule: never to be satisfied with what has been achieved, but to always push forward. Evgenia studied for many years, first at the Moscow Aviation Institute, and then at the Institute of Radiotechnology and Electronics. After graduating, she worked as an engineer on secret state projects. She ended her career with forty years of work experience, and was honored as a veteran of labour. She had always been an atheist and was completely self-reliant. Her own strength and abilities seemed boundless. When she was still young, she had done all she wanted, except having children. But that too, she accomplished. Her son Oleg was born when she was 36. She raised him alone, without a husband, but with her blind love she turned her dear boy into a heartless, selfish man.

Now she was retired, but her son was like a stranger to her. He married suddenly and brought his wife, Tatiana, home and things went from bad to worse. About to graduate from college, Oleg unexpectedly stopped his studies, and neither of the young people worked. They just lived in the flat eating and drinking whatever the mother gave them, with barely a word to her. She seemed to live in a silent sepulcher, but no, not even that: how could one call it silent with music thundering from their room from morning until night. Once, when her son was away, she argued with his wife, “I won’t have you here, I’ll drive you out! You are idle yourself and you allow him to sponge on his mother who is a pensioner. He doesn’t even study.” Tatiana replied rudely: “I’m not living with you, but with my husband. It was you who brought him up like this.” They hurled abuse and curses at each other, and that night her son said, “If you scold Tanya again, know that you no longer have a son.” Evgenia was bitter.

A friend suggested that she visit Blessed Matrona’s grave. For a very long time she didn’t go, but  finally, in desperation, she set out. It took half a day to get there: at first she was on the wrong tram, and when she found the right one, it broke down. At the cemetery, people showed her the path to Matrona, but she followed it to the end without finding the grave. A second path led to another dead end, and she wondered if Blessed Matrona wasn’t allowing her to come to her grave: she knew she wasn’t properly dressed – she was wearing pants, lipstick, her fingernails were brightly painted, and she wasn’t wearing a cross. But when she finally approached the grave, she felt enfolded in an otherworldly warmth. She was drawn to the grave as if by a magnet. There was a lump in her throat; tears stood in her eyes… And then, as if she knew all about her, the woman who cared for the grave gave her a little cross saying: “Wear it. Never take it off.” Evgenia went home as if on wings.

But at home things did not improve; they became even worse. Finally, she went to Blessed Matrona’s grave again, simply because she had nowhere else to go and begged with tears: “Matronushka, pray for me, ask God to change something, it cannot stay as it is!” When she returned home, she found a lab report on her son’s desk, confirming that her daughter-in-law was pregnant. She thought bitterly, “There have been two parasites living off me and now there will be a third, their child!”

A few days passed, and one afternoon, to her great surprise, the young people cooked dinner and, for the first time, invited her to eat with them. They said: “We have lived for such a long time at your expense, please forgive us and be patient for just a little longer.” They told her about the baby, and that her son had re-entered his college, passed the graduation exams, and only needed to write his final paper. After this he would find a job. “Forgive us, we do love you and we are grateful for your endurance and patience with us.”

Oleg found a job and Tanya gave birth to a healthy boy. The young family went to live with Tanya’s relatives, but Oleg called his mother each evening after work to ask how she was and if she needed anything. Every Sunday they gathered at Evgenia’s flat for dinner.

And so life went on. Only one thing was lacking: Oleg wanted to enter the university for post-graduate training, but after three years of being out of school, he was no longer able to pass the highly competitive entrance exams. Again Evgenia went to Blessed Matrona begging her to pray that God would help. Oleg passed the exams and entered the university, as Evgenia believes, through the prayers of Blessed Matrona.

(source)

   

Icon of St. Matrona of Moscow from Sretensky Monastery (source)

   

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life!

Truly the Lord is risen!

Akathist to St. Matrona of Moscow

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

St. Matrona of Moscow (source)

   

Akathist to St. Matrona of Moscow, the Venerable Wonderworker
Translated from the Church Slavonic by Mr. Andreas Moran here.

Kontakion 1

Chosen by the Holy Spirit of God from thy swaddling clothes, blessed eldress Matrona, thou didst receive bodily infirmity and blindness from God for thy spiritual cleansing. Thou wast enriched with the gift of foresight and wonderworking, and hast been adorned with an incorruptible crown from the Lord. Wherefore in gratitude we on earth offer unto thee crowns wrought from praises, crying out:

Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God.
   
Ikos 1

As an angel in the flesh didst thou appear on earth, blessed Matrona, fulfilling the will of God. Though born in bodily blindness, yet the Lord, Who maketh wise the blind and loveth the righteous, enlightened thy spiritual eyes, that thou mightest serve His people, and the works of God be made manifest through thee. Wherefore with love we cry unto thee such things as these:

Rejoice, chosen by God from infancy;
Rejoice, thou that wast covered by the grace of the Holy Spirit from thy cradle;
Rejoice, thou that from childhood wast enriched with the gift of miracles;
Rejoice, thou that wast filled with wisdom from God on high;
Rejoice, thou that didst foresee the will of God through spiritual eyes;
Rejoice, thou that puttest to shame the wise of this age that are blinded in mind;
Rejoice, thou that leadest deluded souls unto God;
Rejoice, thou that relievest from grief and from sorrow;
Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God.
   
Kontakion 2
When thou wast baptised, blessed one, the people and the priest beheld a wonderful pillar like smoke above thy head, and smelled a strong fragrance. Astonished, they wondered what this maid was destined to be, whilst singing unto God: Alleluia.

Ikos 2
Being enlightened in mind, the priest of God Vasily, discerned her whom he baptised to be a vessel of the grace of God, and called thee, righteous Matrona, a holy maiden. In our zeal we bring praises such as these:
Rejoice, thou that wast made fragrant in the holy font by the grace of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, for the sign of the cross was imprinted on thy chest;
Rejoice, thou prayerful one given to the people by God;
Rejoice, ever-burning candle, shining before the Lord;
Rejoice, thou that by the gift of miracles from God wast famed upon earth;
Rejoice, thou that by thine unfading crown art crowned by the Lord in heaven;
Rejoice, herald to sinners of the mercies of God;
Rejoice, thou that from the source of living water dost refresh the thirsty;
Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God.
   
Kontakion 3
Thou didst feel the Power of God's grace whilst yet in infancy, blessed Matrona, stretching forth to the holy icons, and with a pure heart and infant lips proclaimed praise unto God: Alleluia.

Ikos 3
Having from God the gift of foresight from infancy, blessed mother, thou knewest the most hidden things in the hearts of them coming to thee, telling the future like the present, and by this set many people on the path of righteousness. Whereby thou didst glorify God, making wise the blind, and we cry out to thee thus:
Rejoice, wondrous seer;
Rejoice, denouncer of hidden sins;
Rejoice, brightest teacher of darkened souls;
Rejoice, merciful guide of them that had gone astray;
Rejoice, star pointing the way to the faithful;
Rejoice, candle giving light in the darkness of this age;
Rejoice, thou that didst serve the one God;
Rejoice, for by the grace of the Holy Spirit thou didst trample down the wiles of the devil;
Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God.
   

St. Matrona of Moscow (source)

   

Kontakion 4
A storm of bewilderment and confusion in the people concerning thy miracles was dispelled, and them that were made wise by God, Who is wondrous in His saints, glorified and praised thee, and with thanksgiving sang unto God: Alleluia.

Ikos 4
Hearing how thou givest help in sicknesses of spirit and body, mother Matrona, people came to thee with hope, and, receiving favourable counsel and healing, gave thanks to God and sang unto thee:
Rejoice, for thou receivest them of a diseased and suffering soul;
Rejoice, for thou bestowest peace upon grieving souls;
Rejoice, enlightener of them that were in delusions;
Rejoice, teacher of piety;
Rejoice, reliever of our sorrows;
Rejoice, consoler in griefs;
Rejoice, blessed unmercenary;
Rejoice, benevolent healer of divers ailments;
Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God.
   
Kontakion 5
As a divinely moving star, blessed mother Matrona, thou didst shine forth in evil times in the land of Russia as a new confessor, and didst bear the yoke of Christ boldly and fearlessly throughout thy life; and strengthened by the grace of God, thou gavest enlightenment to the bewildered, relief to the suffering, and healing to the sick, who thankfully cried unto God: Alleluia.

Ikos 5
Seeing miracles and healings given by thee through the grace of God - the lame walking, the paralytic and bedridden healed, evil spirits cast out of the possessed - many Russian people rushed to thee, mother, as to a source inexhaustible and drank from it profusely, and with tender heart cried out to thee thus:
Rejoice, called to the right path from infancy;
Rejoice, righteous one, bestowed upon us by God;
Rejoice, healer of our ailments;
Rejoice, speedy helper in our needs;
Rejoice, thou that enlightenest us through thine inspired advice;
Rejoice, quick resolver of our bewilderment;
Rejoice, thou that drivest away unclean spirits from the people;
Rejoice, thou that protectest from every evil by thy prayer;
Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God.
   
Kontakion 6
Herald of the holiness and righteousness of thy life, blessed mother, the holy and righteous Father John of Kronstadt appeared to be when he saw thee in the church, and he called thee his heir and eighth pillar of Russia. And all that heard this glorified the Lord, proclaiming to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 6
Through thy prayers, mother Matrona, the light of God's grace shone in hearts of them having no knowledge of God and burdened by many sins which angered Him. And seeing the miracles performed by thee, they turned to the Lord, crying to thee in gratitude thus:
Rejoice, thou whose feats glorify God;
Rejoice, revealer to us of the glory of God;
Rejoice, guide of the faithless to the right path;
Rejoice, thou that cleansest by thy prayers those defiled by sins;
Rejoice, thou that callest us to repentance;
Rejoice, thou that dost admonish us to thank the Lord for all things;
Rejoice, thou who dost teach us to love the divine Church;
Rejoice, gatherer of the scattered sheep within the walls of the Church;
Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God.
   
Kontakion 7
Wishing worthily to glorify the Most Holy Lady Theotokos, mother Matrona, thou didst order the people to have her depicted in the most honourable icon called "Seeker of the Perishing" and place it in God’s church in thy village, that all who look upon the bright face of the most pure one, might tenderly praise her, and to the Lord also cry out: Alleluia!
   
Ikos 7
The Lord gave thee as a new protectress, prayerful mediator, and intercessor with God, to the Russian people in the hard times when many forsook the holy Church; and thou, mother, by word and deed, didst set on the right path the fainthearted and deceived, revealing the wonderful miracles of God. Wherefore we hymn thee thus:
Rejoice, thou that dost feel ceaseless compassion for the country of Russia;
Rejoice, intercessor for our salvation;
Rejoice, thou that movest to compassion God the righteous Judge;
Rejoice, protectress of the diseased and wronged;
Rejoice, helper of the weak and desperate;
Rejoice, ceaseless warrior against the spirits of malice;
Rejoice, for at thee the demon chiefs do tremble;
Rejoice, for at thee angels and people rejoice;
Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God.
   
Kontakion 8
Strange it was for the weak in faith and the unwise that, though born blind, thou couldest see and know not only the present, but also the future, for they knew not that the power of God is fulfilled in human weakness. And we, blessed mother, seeing the wisdom of God manifested in thee, cry out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8
Many vexations and offences, exiles and reproaches didst thou bear, blessed mother, not complaining of these, but in all things thanking God. For these things and for teaching us each with patience to carry his cross, we praise thee thus:
Rejoice, thou that prayed without ceasing;
Rejoice, thou that drove away spiritual wickedness by fasting and prayer;
Rejoice, thou that hast gained graceful peace;
Rejoice, for by thy love many about thee were saved;
Rejoice, for thy life of service to many;
Rejoice, for after thy repose people are ever helped by thee;
Rejoice, for now thou fervently heedest our petitions;
Rejoice, thou that leavest not them that put their trust in thy care;
Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God.
   

 St. Matrona of Moscow (source)

   Kontakion 9
All manner of sorrows and diseases thou didst bear, mother Matrona, ever leading the struggle with the forces of darkness, denouncing their machinations and guile, and expelling demons from the possessed; and up to the end of thy days thou didst help them in sufferings, illnesses and grievings, ever singing unto God: Alleluia.

Ikos 9
Eloquent orators are not able worthily to glorify thy holy life, nor the miracles wrought by thee through the power of God, most marvellous eldress. And we, wishing by hymns to praise God in His saints, and with heartfelt love inspired, dare to sing to thee thus:
Rejoice, thou that didst choose the narrow path and strait gates;
Rejoice, thou that shone by many virtues;
Rejoice, thou that didst reject all in life that is passing;
Rejoice, thou adorned with the precious crown of humility;
Rejoice, thou bird of heaven, that didst live the Gospel on earth;
Rejoice, thou that followed the Son of God Who had not where to lay His head;
Rejoice, thou rejoicing now in the mansions of paradise;
Rejoice, thou whose mercy is never failing to us sinners who pray to thee;
Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God.
   
Kontakion 10
Wishing to save many people from bodily sufferings and spiritual sicknesses, thou didst stay all night in prayer, O righteous one of God, beseeching for them help and strengthening of our Lord Jesus Christ, singing to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 10
A rampart and protection wert thou in the days of thy life, blessed mother, to all who resorted to thee, and after death thou ceaselessly intercedest before God for the people who in faith run toward to thy tomb. Wherefore, hearken now unto us sinners, by sorrows, sickness and many griefs consumed, and hasten to help by thy prayers all that cry unto thee:
Rejoice, speedy intercessor for the distressed;
Rejoice, comforter of them bearing hardships;
Rejoice, guardian of worthy marriage;
Rejoice, pacifier of all that persist in strife;
Rejoice, defender of them brought unjustly to trial;
Rejoice, merciful advocate before God for those guilty before an earthly judgment;
Rejoice, refuge of them deprived of shelter;
Rejoice, protectress of all that call upon thee;
Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God.
    
Kontakion 11
Thou didst hear angelic singing, worthy mother Matrona, whilst yet living on earth. And teach us, the unworthy, how we should glorify God in the Trinity worshipping Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to Whom also the heavenly host unceasingly sing with a great voice: Alleluia.

Ikos 11
Thy life shineth with luminous light, blessed Matrona, enlightening the darkness of this too-busy world, and thou dost draw unto thee our souls. Wherefore we, by the ray of the grace of God, will be enlightened, and our mournful way in this temporal life shall pass in a manner pleasing to God, and thus attain unto the kingdom of God, where thou, mother, now takest up thine abode, hearing our voice calling to thee:
Rejoice, ever-burning candle of God;
Rejoice, precious pearl, illuminating us by the light of thy holiness;
Rejoice, sweet-smelling flower that by the Holy Spirit coverest us with fragrance;
Rejoice, rock of faith, stablishing the fainthearted in piety;
Rejoice, brightest star pointing out to us the right way;
Rejoice, good warrior of Christ, by the sword of prayer frightening demonic hosts;
Rejoice, for throughout thy life thou wast holy and undefiled;
Rejoice, for thy death is precious in the sight of the Lord;
Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God.
  
Kontakion 12
The grace of God, already richly perceived even from the cradle, O blessed mother, will be with thee all the days of thy life. We believe without doubt, that also after thy repose this grace is with thee abundantly. Wherefore, falling down before thee, we pray: deprive not us still wandering on earth of thy help and intercession, beseeching the Lord to have mercy on all who sing unto Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 12
Singing of thy many and marvellous wonders, mother Matrona, we glorify God Who gave thee to the city of Moscow and to the Russian land in the days of atheism and persecution as a staunch pillar of piety and faith. Now, blessed mother, with grateful heart we hymn thee thus:
Rejoice, for thou hast attained the peace of Christ in thy soul;
Rejoice, for many people about thee thou didst lead to God;
Rejoice, for in thy feeble body, the power of God's grace was shown;
Rejoice, for in the finding of thine honourable relics, God’s mercy to us is revealed;
Rejoice, thou that dost bloom in the assembly of the saints of Moscow;
Rejoice, glorious adornment of the city of Moscow;
Rejoice, constant intercessor for the Russian land before God;
Rejoice, thou that callest all to repentance and prayer for the Russian land;
Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God.
   Kontakion 13
O blessed mother, hear now our hymns of praise which we sing to thee, and ask for us of the Lord Jesus Christ, the remission of sins, a Christian death, and peaceful repose, and a good answer at His dread judgment, and that we shall be blessed with thee in the dwellings of Paradise to glorify the Holy Trinity, crying: Alleluia.

Repeat Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1

 St. Matrona of Moscow (source)

   Prayer
Blessed mother Matrona, thy soul in heaven standeth before the throne of God, thy body resteth upon earth, and thou bestowest divers miracles through grace given thee from on High. Look down with thy merciful eye upon us sinners who pass our days in sorrows, sicknesses and sinful temptations. Console us who are in despair. Heal our grievous ailments which God allowed because of our sins. Deliver us from many misfortunes and attacks of evil spirits. Beseech our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us all our trespasses, transgressions and falls, and our sins committed from our youth up to the present day and hour. And by thy prayers obtain for us grace and great mercy, that we may glorify the Trinity, one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Troparion, Tone 2
Let us the faithful today praise blessed eldress Matrona made wise by God; flower of the land of Tula and glorious adornment of the city of Moscow, for whom daylight was unknown but who wast enlightened by the light of Christ and enriched by the gifts of insight and healing: Thou wast a sojourner and wanderer upon earth, but now in the heavenly chambers thou standest before the throne of God and intercedest for our souls.

Kontakion, Tone 7
Thou wast chosen from thy mother’s womb for service to Christ, righteous Matrona, treading a path of sorrows and griefs, but showing firm faith and piety which were pleasing to God. Wherefore, we venerate thy memory, and we beseech thee, blessed eldress: help us to dwell in God’s love.

Magnification
We magnify thee, O holy righteous blessed Matrona, and honour thy holy memory, thou that dost pray for us to Christ our God. 
   

 Sts. Xenia of St. Petersburg and Matrona of Moscow, two great ascetics and wonderworkers of Russia, who help many throughout the world (source)

   
Christ is risen from the dead, by dead, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life! Truly the Lord is risen!

The Holy Monastery of St. Panteleimon, Kokkinara, and St. Matrona of Moscow

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

 The Holy Monastery of St. Panteleimon, Kokkinara, Penteli (source)

   

The Holy Monastery of St. Panteleimon, Kokkinara, Penteli (amateur translations below)

The Holy Monastery of the glorious Great Martyr and Healer St. Panteleimon is found on the north limit of a property of the founding and historic Holy Monastery of the Bodiless Powers, named "Petraki", which is in the area of Kokkinara of Mount Penteli, a short distance below the peak of St. Panteleimon (870 meters).

This property (6,000 stremata then), as it appears in the Great Codex of the Kyriarchou of the Holy Monastery, on March 29th 1837, was purchased (as also its whole property and not from gifts) from those who were then living there in asceticism for their benefit and relief, because after the armed and glorious revolution of [Greece] in 1821, the Holy Monastery was stripped of many of its properties, which it gave to the then newly-organized State, for the creation of a series of common works.

Within the scope of the Monastery were built the Hospital Artetaion, Evangelismos, N.I.M.T.S., The Children's Hospital, etc. the Academy, the National Library, Alse Sygrou, and Pangratiou, City Schools and Parks, the Workhouse of the Merciful for the Poor, the Marasleios, the Gennadeios, and other important buildings of the capital.

 Mosaic of St. Panteleimon outside the Katholikon of the Monastery (source)

 
In the property of Kokkinara, therefore, there was a church in the name of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, along with some cells, which were used at times by some Fathers visiting the Holy Metochion (Dependency).

It should be noted that the area was inhabited from before then. The Abbot of the Monastery of Penteli, Kyrillos Degleres, in his Apomnemoneumata mentions that "he (the founder of the Monastery of Penteli, St. Timothy, before 1578) went from end to end of the Penteli mountain, finding there various learned clerics inhabiting it, wherever on the mountain there was water and a church, including St. George Kokkinara, St. John, St. Panteleimon, St. Luke, St. Chrysostom, St. Nicholas in the Cave, the Taxiarchs in Kamari, the Frankish church at Boyiate, and St. Peter. All of these places were on Penteli Mountain, and those who dwelt on it were marked with gardens, for in all these areas there was water." (V. D. Kampouroglou, History of Athens) These learned monks, with their meager belongings and their small synodeies, descended from their cells to the Monastery which was founded by St. Timothy for Liturgy, and eventually joined the Monastery of Penteli.

 The Monastery of St. Panteleimon, Kokkinara, Penteli (source)

 
This property was noted in the codex of Petraki Monastery as "a marble-bearing area". Truly, the whole Mount of Penteli was known since antiquity as the most ancient marble mine, of an exceptional amount, the white marble of with which was used to construct many ancient and newer monuments of Athens, such as the Parthenon, the Erectheion, the Propylaia, the Theseion, the Temple of the Olympian Dios, the Academy of Athens, the Palace of Otto (today the Greek Parliment), etc. Three were the most significant mines that functioned on Mount Penteli: "Raikou", "Maltezou", and "Kokkinara".

With the State law (669/77), however, the uses of the southwest mountain for mining marble were  stopped. Because of this, however, Mount Penteli was then proclaimed a "place of special natural beauty". The recent fires and the former mining of marble had destroyed much of its natural beauty, despite the activities to fill the area with material from the construction of the Attica highway.

Elder Simon Arvanitis (+1989) (source)

 
In 1965, the ever-memorable Elder Simon Arvanitis, the then Priest of the parish Church of St. Barbara Lykovrysi of the Metropolis of Attica, requested and received the Dependency of St. Panteleimon with the desire to render it a workshop for souls. And this granting of rest through the Mystery of Repentance on the one hand was through the asceticism of the Fathers that had come to dwell with him, and on the other hand, for the many multitudes of pilgrims and spiritual children of his. He built a new Church, cells, supporting areas and reception spaces for the many pilgrims, who began to flood the Dependency.

In the place of the ailing Elder Simon (+1988) was placed in 1984 Archimandrite Joseph Manettas, and in 2007, at the decision of the Abbot's Council of the Monastery, the Metochiares (Head of the Dependency) was made Archimandrite Onouphrios Kostopoulos.

 Bishop and Abbot of Petraki Monastery Iakovos (right) and Elder Onouphrios (left), with many pilgrims, at a recent feast of St. Panteleimon at the Dependency (source)

   
Today, at the Holy Dependency of St. Panteleimon, there are nine monks and hieromonks living under Elder Onouphrios, taking up the struggle to remodel and beautify it. Besides the former Fathers of the Dependency, since 2007 six new Fathers have been tonsured by [now Bishop] Iakovos Mpizaourte, taking up the "good fight".

Outside of the Katholikon of the Dependency are Chapels dedicated to St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain, the Transfiguration of the Savior, the Holy Apostles (where are preserved many holy relics of various Saints), of St. Nektarios, and of the Akathist hymn.
(source)
 

 Wondrous icon of St. Matrona of Moscow, treasured by the Monastery of St. Panteleimon, Kokkinara, Penteli, with many offerings and flowers given out of love and thanks to the Saint (source)

 
In the Holy Dependency is preserved a portion of the Precious Relic, and also the Holy and Honored Icon of the Wonderworking St. Matrona of Russia, the Blind, through which countless miracles have taken place, and which have become a wonderworking spring of healings for all those who hasten to venerate the Saint with reverence. Witnesses to the incomparable miracles that are worked are the countless offerings placed upon the icon by the faithful, along with the many fragrant flowers which they offer in her honor, as she had great love for them during her earthly life.

Her memory is honored with a festal holy Vigil from May 1st - 2nd every year, during which a multitude of the Faithful approach this place to honor this great and wonderworking Saint of our Church.
(source)
 

 The Holy Relic of St. Matrona of Moscow, treasured by the Monastery of St. Panteleimon, Kokkinara, Penteli (source)

 
The Holy Dependency of St. Panteleimon, Kokkinara, Penteli,
in the Holy Archdiocese of Athens,
under the Holy Monastery of the Bodiless Powers, Petraki

Visiting Hours
The Holy Dependency receives pious pilgrims daily according to the following schedule:
-Tuesday to Friday - 9AM-1PM, and 4PM until the end of the service.
-Saturday - 9AM-1PM, and 4-6:30PM (winter hours) vs. 5-7:30PM (summer hours)
-Sunday - 7AM-1PM, and 4-6:30PM (winter hours) vs. 5-7:30PM (summer hours)
-Every Monday the Dependency is closed to pilgrims.
(source)

 The icon of St. Panteleimon the Great Martyr in the monastery that bears his name, Kokkinara (source)

   
Schedule of Services
Daily services (Vespers, Orthros and Divine Liturgy) are celebrated in the evening (beginning at 8:30PM).

The morning of the following day there is no Divine Liturgy, and the gate of the Monastery opens at 9AM.

Saturday and Sunday Vespers are celebrated at 6PM, and the Sunday Divine Liturgy is at 7AM. And the rest confirms the canonical program of the Holy Dependency.
(source)
 

 The Holy Monastery of St. Panteleimon, Kokkinara, Penteli (source)

 

Christ is risen from the dead, by dead, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life! Truly the Lord is risen!

Two Saints on the Death and Resurrection of Orthodox Russia

Znamensky Cathedral, Moscow (source)

   

In 1925 they asked St. Matrona of Moscow:
"Why did God allow them to close and raze so many Churches in Russia?"

And she answered with the following words:
"This was the will of God. The people are hypnotized, and a terrible demonic power has been put into action. It is in the air, and penetrates everything.

In olden times, this demonic power dwelt in the marshes and the dense forest, because people would go to church regularly, and wore and honored the Cross. Their homes were protected by holy icons, the vigil lamps that were burning, the holy water services which they did...

The demons were sent far away and feared to approach...

Today, however, these homes and these very people have become dwelling places of demons because of their faithlessness and by their distancing themselves from Christ."
(amateur translation from: http://apantaortodoxias.blogspot.com/2013/10/1925.html)
 

St. John Maximovitch wrote: "Shake off the slumber of despondency and sloth, O sons of Russia! Behold the glory of her sufferings and cleanse yourselves; wash away your sins! Be strengthened in the Orthodox faith, to be worthy to dwell in the house of the Lord and to settle on His holy mountain! Leap up, leap up, rise up! O Russia, you who from the Lord’s hands have drunk of the cup of His wrath! When your sufferings are over, your righteousness shall go with you and the glory of the Lord shall accompany you. The peoples shall come to your light, and kings to the radiance which shall rise on you. Then lift up your eyes and see: behold, your children come to you from the West and the North and the Sea and the East, blessing Christ in you for ever. Amen’ (The Orthodox Word, 1973, No. 50, pp. 94).

 

Three Great Hierarchs and Wonderworkers of the 20th Century: Sts. Luke of Crimea, Nektarios of Pentapolis, and John Maximovitch (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Selected miracles of St. Matrona of Moscow

St. Matrona of Moscow the Wonderworker (source)

   
Selected miracles of St. Matrona of Moscow (amateur translation)

Healing of strabismus

It was Sunday morning. I was sitting very worried on the veranda of my house, and was praying to St. Matrona the Blind of Russia, whom I had visited several weeks before at the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, Perissos, where a portion of her Holy Relics and her wonderworking icon is. I had heard of numerous miracles which the Saint worked, and with contrition and tears in my eyes I asked her to grant healing to a problem of my daughter, Angeliki. She was suffering from strabismus of her right eye, and we were trying in every way to have the child avoid an operation.

I had taken some Holy Oil from the vigil lamp of the Saint, and I anointed her little eye, and prayed day and night with tears in my eyes that she be healed.

The Saint, who greatly loves people in pain, and especially young children, did not hesitate to grant healing to my child, and she did not need medical intervention.

I thank the Saint for her great miracle. May her holy name be blessed unto the ages.

With faith,

Maria Apostolopoulos

Healing of physical and mental anguish

I am a sinner, who was made worthy to see a great miracle of God and St. Matrona the Russian. I knew that every Monday evening, the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Perissos serves Paraklesis to the Saint, and I also came to entreat her help for a great problem of mine. A short time before I had an accident. Nothing could be done to improve my situation. The unbearable pains on the one hand, and my terrible psychological state on the other, had made my life a martyrdom. But God, however, Who heals every sickness and every infirmity of men, through the intercessions of St. Matrona, worked a miracle for me that evening. The Paraklesis service had not even finished, when I began to sense the weight of pain and my bad psychological state disappear, and I felt as when I healthy. Great is my joy, but also my thanks towards the Saint, because from that instant, I the pain and my terrible psychological state ceased, like a threat was cut.

Konstantinos Kostopoulos

Healing of cancer

My honored Elder Athenagora, bless.

Before long I wanted to inform you regarding the goodness and healing which I received from St. Matrona the Russian, the protector of Christians and the refuge of those who suffer and are sick. Burdened by a malignant tumor and terrible pains in my abdominal area, I walked my road thinking that the end was approaching. Within me, however, something told me that nothing is finished. With this thought, and also with the faith which I have had since childhood (a gift of my mother) I began to seek the help of God and the intercessions of the wonderworking St. Matrona. Many times I proceeded to the imposing icon stand of the Saint, crying, entreating; I took holy oil from her vigil lamp and daily crossed and anointed the place on my body where the tumor was. After a time, my doctor ordered a CAT scan, and—O the paradoxical wonder!--the tumor had regressed. The pains had abandoned me, and I returned to my home full of joy and more healthy. Ten months have passed since then, and with the grace of God and the intercessions of St. Matrona, I am blessed with perfect health! Thank you, my Saint, for your general blessing to me, the sinner, which I believed that I received unworthily.

Your entreator,

Spyros Tantaros

St. Matrona of Moscow (source)

    

Granting a baby boy

We visited the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, when my husband and I were invited to a wedding of one of our friends. Before the mystery began, we were walking through this beautiful church of our Panagia, and at one place, I discerned an large veneration stand with a large icon covered with gold, and I went to venerate.

After a short prayer, a spiritual priest with a large beard approached me, and full of humility, asked me: “Do you know who that Saint is?”

I responded that I didn't know. He, with great goodness, informed me of the life of the Venerable Matrona. He spoke of her miracles.

I had great pain within me, because after a long period of marriage, I had not yet given birth to a child. I cried and I told him that I prayed for myself and for my husband that the Saint entreat us to the Lord to grant us a child. The blessed priest nobly told me: “You and your husband pray daily, and I will light a candle to the Saint every day for you.” After three months, after much prayer, I became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy, whom we baptized in that church, glorifying God and St. Matrona for their great gift to our unworthiness. I also thank you, O Elder Athenagoras, for your prayers and your love.

Margarita – Alexandros

Healing an ear abscess

The priest of the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Perissos had a problem with the outside of his ear. He was diagnosed with an acute infection, which caused him great pain and other problems. Many times he entreated the Lord and the Theotokos, whom he served for many years, to heal his problem. One day, having found himself in a desperate state, he went to the veneration stand of St. Matrona, which, besides the the wonderworking icon, protects the Holy Relic of the Saint, and with tears he prayed and called upon her to heal him, saying: “My Saint, Fr. Athenagoras speaks to the whole world and to me so many times regarding your uncountable miracle. Work your miracle for me, too.”

Crying and anointing himself with the holy oil from the vigil lamp of the Saint, he went to the church office, troubled. After a short time, having anointed the area of the infection with the sign of cross, the abscess opened and began to pour forth pus, thus healing the problem that afflicted this aforementioned priest. I furthermore wish to mention that the year before, he faced the same problem with his left ear, but unfortunately, he had to have a procedure for his healing in the past.

Thankful,

Demetrios Dounes, Priest

Healing dyslexia

My Saint Matrona, I thank you for your help and the healing that you offered to my child Nicholas, who had a great problem with dyslexia. Special researchers had informed me that he had a serious problem. They tried therapy to help him, without giving us confirmation that it would be successful. However, as I knew of your miracles, I took my child and, holding flowers in my hands which you love so, I entered the church which treasured your relic and your icon, and with tears in my eyes, I entreated for my child. I believed that you herd me, that you hearkened to the cry of a pained mother. I took holy oil from your vigil lamp and every day for forty days, I anointed the mouth of my child.

The miracle did not delay. My child after some time, and through the help of specialists became well. Receive again our thanksgiving and gratitude.

With our all faith,

Mavra and Nicholas Sideris

Three wonders

I received wondrous help in time of need three time:

Once, my son Gregory had a serious problem with his health, which manifested itself as a problem with his heart. Later after fervent and earnest supplication, St. Matrona worked her wonder and the problem turned for the better, and he had a positive outcome and effective treatment.

A second time, for a serious problem of my wife Ioannas' health, she had a positive resolution through the help of St. Matrona, to whom I had taken refuge again, with faith and fervent supplication for help.

A third time, my father in law Christo had a very serious problem, and through the presence of St. Matrona, he had the best intervention that he could have in everyone's view, with unbelievable and results so far.

They did not have any doubt of the immediate help of our Saint, and when I asked of her, as when anyone with faith asks for the intercessions towards the Lord from some Saint, then he is sure that he will have it.

For our Lord Jesus Christ said Himself: “Ask and it will be given to you...”

Paul Venieres

Source: Archimandrite Athenagoras Kolyva, The Venerable St. Matrona the Russian the Blind and Wonderworking Citizen of Heaven, Athens 2011.
  

Sts. Matrona of Moscow and Xenia of St. Petersburg, two great Russian female ascetics and wonderworkers, and helpers of untold numbers of people (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!