Full of Grace and Truth: Selected hymns to St. Mamas the Great Martyr

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Selected hymns to St. Mamas the Great Martyr

St. Mamas the Great Martyr - Commemorated September 2 (http://www.bozar.be/dbfiles/activity/201208/org_11617_img1.jpg)

Stichera in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

First thou didst put to flight the wild beasts of the passions, renowned champion; then by divine entreaty thou didst stop the gaping mouths of lions and the assaults of wild beasts in the arena! Thou wast unharmed by them! Thou didst not cower in fear before the fire nor the wrath of the judge, for, blessed one, thou didst prefer nothing to the love of Christ!

In a young body, glorious one, thou didst put the ancient deceiver to flight! Thou didst receive the marks of Christ in thy flesh, blessed one! Now thou doest wear a victor's crown, all-blessed Mamas. And are ever illumined by the splendor of the triune sun! Thou didst behold the highest things thou didst desire with a most pure mind, as thou art joined to the choir of the martyrs!

Following, victorious one, the life-bearing feet of our incarnate God, who cast down the tyrant by the passion of the cross, thou didst go rejoicing to the stadium of martyrdom! Thou wert tortured by torments; thou didst cast the boastful one to earth, destroyed by the passion which killed your flesh, martyr!

Doxastikon of the Stichera in the Second Tone

As the son of those who traveled the way of the Lord, thou becamest a new shoot of the olive tree at the table of the Lord! For the Lord blessed thee through martyrdom and thou didst behold the good things of Zion on high! Thou didst ever delight in divine joy with thy parents, marvelous Mamas! By thy prayers make us partakers of this joy with them!

Doxastikon of the Aposticha in the Fourth Tone

Come, faithful! Let us celebrate with harmony the memory of Mamas the martyr! He has been revealed to us as a new Abel, for as Abel became a shepherd of sheep, bringing his first lamb to sacrifice and so acquiring the victor's crown, so the honored martyr was eminent among shepherds of livestock; through martyrdom, he offered himself to Christ as an acceptable sacrifice! Since he has boldness before Christ, he asks peace for the world and great mercy for our souls!

(http://www.antiochian.org/sites/antiochian.org/files/sept_02-12_-_complete_13th_after_pentecost.pdf)

Apolytikion of the Saint in the Third Tone (amateur translation)

Divine offspring of martyrs, whose godly teachings you in truth followed with incomparable longing, and you preached the name of the Savior, and were shown wondrous, O wise one, through your struggle. O glorious Mamas, entreat Christ God to grant us great mercy.

(http://synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/524/sxsaintinfo.aspx)

Kontakion in the Third Tone

With the staff bestowed on thee by God, O holy Great Martyr, shepherd us thy people now in green and life-giving pastures; swiftly crush with godly power unseen and wild beasts underneath the feet of them that praise thee with longing; for in dangers we all have thee, O Mamas, as our fervent protector and help.

(taken from: http://goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=190)

Oikos (amateur translation)

The Martyr who is famed throughout the world, and dances in the heavens with the Angels, Mamas let us praise, for he who formerly milked deer in the wilderness, now and ever shepherds the property of the people of the Lord with the rod of power, surrounding as a good shepherd, and leading to green pastures, in which dwells truly the food of Paradise. Therefore all those in danger have thee, O Mamas, as our fervent protector and help.

(http://analogion.gr/glt/texts/Sep/02.uni.htm)