Thursday, July 9, 2020

Selected hymns from the Service to St. Sophrony of Essex

Sts. Silouan the Athonite and Sophrony of Essex (source)
  
Selected hymns from the Service to St. Sophrony of Essex,
Written by Fr. Athanasios of Simonopetra, the Hymnographer of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone. O You Who were lifted up upon the Cross.
You were shown to be a most-fervent son of our Venerable Father Silouan the Athonite, O Sophrony, bearing the mind of Christ and one who studied divine things, through your wise words, you illumined the West, and through your godly life, you led towards the Light, lifting them up towards God the Father, Whom may we ever behold, through your prayers.


Kontakion in the Third Tone. Today the Virgin.
Having been set ablaze by the Spirit, Whom you sought with fervor, by partaking of Him you became all flame, and you beheld the Light of Christ as much as is possible for man, and were filled with many graces, through which you illumined the whole Church, O all-blessed Sophrony.


Oikos
As a wise man, God revealed mysteries to you which only few have been entrusted with by the Father, as Moses beheld in the Bush on Mount Sinai. His Name "I am" was revealed then with gravity, but lately theology through the power of the Spirit. Through keeping you nous in hell with good hope, as you were taught, through this you drew forth the streams which are treasured in your books, which quenched the thirsting of our souls. Therefore, we all honor you out of thanksgiving, O all-blessed Sophrony.


Synaxarion
On this day (July 11), the Memory of our Venerable and God-bearing Father Sophrony the Athonite, the Founder and Builder of the Holy and Stavropegial Monastery of the Precious and glorious Forerunner and Baptist John in Essex, England, where he reposed venerably in the Lord in 1993.
  

Verses
Sophrony shown forth greatly in his life,
Surpassingly radiant he now stands in the choir of the Angels.
On the eleventh, the spirit of Sophrony departed to God.
  

St. Sophrony of Essex, holding the icon of his spiritual father, St. Silouan 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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