Kontakion of St. Romanos: "On Adam's Lament"

The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise (source)

 
The Guide of wisdom, Leader of prudence, Chastener of the senseless, and the Defender of the poor: fortify, grant understanding to my heart, O Master. Give me a word, O Word of the Father, for behold, I do not hold back my lips from crying out to You: O Merciful, have mercy on the fallen.

Adam sat and wept across from the delight of Paradise, and beating his eyes with his hands, he said: "O Merciful, have mercy on the fallen."

When Adam beheld the Angel turning him back, and closing the gate of the divine garden, he groaned greatly, and said: "O Merciful, have mercy on the fallen."

O Paradise, bear pain together with your master, who has been impoverished of you, and through the sound of your leaves, entreat the Fashioner to not close you. "O Merciful, have mercy on the fallen."

O Paradise full of virtue, all-holy, all-joyous, which was planted for Adam and was shut from Eve, entreat God for the fallen. "O Merciful, have mercy on the fallen."
-Excerpt from the Kontakion of St. Romanos: "On Adam's Lament", read on Forgiveness Sunday (source)
 
For the remainder of this beautiful Kontakion of St. Romanos, see here.
 

Forgive me, and may God grant us all forgiveness, repentance, and a blessed Lent!

 

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

Paraklesis to St. Tryphon the Great Martyr and Unmercenary

St. Tryphon the Great Martyr and Unmercenary (source)

  
Paraklesis (Supplication Service) to the Glorious Martyr and Unmercenary Healer Tryphon

After the "Blessed is our God", the "Lord, hear my prayer...", followed by:

God is the Lord and He revealed Himself to us, blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord (x4, with verses)

Troparion in the Fourth Tone. O You Who were lifted on the Cross.

To him who appeared as a trophy-bearer amidst struggles, and who is the namesake of godly nourishment, Tryphon the glorious Martyr of Christ, let us hymn and cry out to him: Deliver your entreaters from abject dangers, those who call upon your wondrous name with fervor, O Unmercenary.

Glory. Both now.

O Theotokos, we shall never be silent...

Then, Psalm 50, followed by the Canon in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone.

Ode I. Crossing the water as on dry land.

O Saint of God, intercede on our behalf.
As you are nourished with godly nourishment in the Heavens, O Martyr Tryphon, as an all-perfect Champion, through your intercessions, deliver my soul from bitter food.

O Saint of God, intercede on our behalf.
You hearkened to the divine words, and put them into practice, O Blessed Tryphon, and you loved them practically in your holy life, therefore make be worthy to live in holiness.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
You became a shepherd of your soul, O Tryphon, with wisdom in your thoughts. Make me ever worthy to be shepherded through your compassion, O Martyr, with divine wisdom.

Both now and forever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion.

Illumine me with the noetic Light [Christ], Whom you bore, the radiance of the glory of the Father, O all-spotless Lady, and disperse the darkness of my sin.

Ode III. You are the foundation.

O Saint of God...
You cast down the might of the evil one, O glorious Tryphon, through the power of God. Therefore, deliver us from his schemes.

You trampled upon the fleshly serpent, O Tryphon, and put to end the enemy. Therefore, ever put to death his wiles, through your divine intercessions.

With your presence alone, O Tryphon, you truly made the evil spirits flee, through the power of the Spirit.

Theotokion.

Having you as my help, O All-Spotless one, I will not be overcome by any dangers in my life, with you as my protector, who saves me from afflictions.
  

St. Tryphon the Great Martyr and Unmercenary (source)

  

Ode IV. I have hearkened and heard, O Lord.

O God-bearer and Unmercenary, surround all those who honor you, and speedily grant them healing through your intercessions to the Savior.

 

As one nourished with eternal glory and rejoicing, O glorious Tryphon, intercede that those who hymn you might be delivered from every trial.

 

As one estranged from the love of God through the guile of the serpent, O glorious one, and through your intercessions, call me back, and deliver me from his hands.

 

Theotokion.

I have placed all my hopes in you, O Ever-Virgin, and I cry out to you: deliver me from every danger through your intercessions.

 

Ode V. Illumine us.

That I might hymn you as my protector, O glorious Tryphon, ever deliver your entreater from every danger through your prayers.

 

Grant me, the wretched one, victory against the enemy, O ever-memorable Tryphon, through your prayers, that, having been saved, I might ever glorify you.

 

Grant eternal life to your servant, O Martyr Tryphon, as a physician of souls and bodies, for I know you as a free healer of afflictions.

 

Theotokion.

O Spotless Pure One, the name that is sweetest to me, through your mighty protection, save me, who have hastened to take refuge in you.

 

Ode VI. Have mercy on my, O Savior.

Wither the atrocious ashes and miasmas and mania of the idols, O glorious one, and water our plants with the waters of piety, for all those who praise you with gracious hymns, O Tryphon.

 

Your eternal and martyric blood, O Champion, ever pours forth fragrance like myrrh, pouring forth healings, and the dust of your body sanctifies the souls of those who approach you in faith.

 

Having seen you as a worker of healings, O glorious Tryphon, make the passions to wither, as we ever draw from you as from an unemptying spring, a river of healings and gifts of salvation.

 

Theotokion.

As the true Mother of Christ, the Creator of all creation, I entreat you fervently, O All-Spotless Lady, to grant me forgiveness of my many offenses, and to deliver me from dangers.

 

Deliver us from dangers and afflictions, O Tryphon, through your intercessions to Christ, O Unmercenary, for those who praise you with fervor and faith.

 

Spotless One, who by a word did bring to us the Word eternal...

 

Then, the Priest says the entreaty, followed by the Kontakion in the Second Tone.

O Unmercenary, as one partaking of godly nourishment in the Heavens, through your ceaseless intercessions to God, grant deliverance from every passion of the souls of your entreaters, for you are an invincible Champion, O ever-memorable Tryphon.

 

Then, the Prokeimenon in Tone Four.

God is wondrous among His Saints, the God of Israel, He will give strength and support to His people, Blessed is God. (2)

Verse: In Churches, bless God, the Lord from the wellsprings of Israel.

God is wondrous among His Saints, the God of Israel, He will give strength and support to His people, Blessed is God.

  

St. Tryphon the Great Martyr and Unmercenary (source)

The Gospel according to St. Luke (10:19-21).

Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will.

 

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Through the intercessions of the Unmercenary, O Lord of mercy, wash away my many personal offenses.

Both now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Lord of mercy, wash away my many personal offenses.

Verse: Have mercy on me, O God...
Then the Prosomoion in the Plagal of the Second Tone. No one is turned away from you.
No one is turned away from your protection and is sent away without help against the passions and dangers, O Tryphon, Martyr of the Lord, but one asks for the grace of healings, and he receives salvation and healing through your prayers to God.

Then, the Priest says the "Save, O God, Your people, and bless Your inheritance...

St. Tryphon the Great Martyr and Unmercenary (source)

Then, the Canon resumes. Ode VII. Once from out of Judea.

You rejoice, dancing together with the choirs of the Martyrs as one bearing a crown, O Tryphon, and they honor you, and hymn you in faith, as an Unmercenary who grants healing of afflictions and passions through your prayers.

The Master of all and God has placed a heavenly crown upon your head, and you have come to ever dwell in His heavenly mansions. Make us worthy of them, O Saint Tryphon, as you entreat for us.

Dry the streams of my tears, O Unmercenary Tryphon, for my heart is granted a spring welling forth healings from your Icon. Fill me with compunction, that I might be cleansed from the filth of the passions, O Thrice-blessed one.

Theotokion.

You bore the God before the ages in your sacred arms, O All-Spotless one. Do not cease to entreat Him that your servants be granted deliverance from fire, earthquake, famine, and incurable afflictions.

Ode VIII. The King of Heaven.

As one tempted by a multitude of illnesses, O Blessed one, I hasten to you, asking for salvation, for you, O Tryphon, are a deliverance of those ailing.

As one nourished and rejoicing with the Angels in the heavenly mansions, intercede with the Lord on behalf of those who hymn you.

O Saint Tryphon, become a physician of the illnesses of your entreater, and of burdensome passions, and cut off their frenzy, through your divine intercessions.

Theotokion.

Grant my a stream of tears, O Lady, that I might cleanse the filth of the passions from my soul, and guide me on the ways of salvation.

Ode IX. Saved through you, O Theotokos.

Entreat for us to the God of all, for nourishment with heavenly food, O glorious Tryphon, that we might be granted forgiveness of offenses.

Shining from the light of the first Light [Christ], O Tryphon, and having been set aflame with His divine radiance, through your intercessions, make us to partake of Him as well.

As one partaking of godly nourishment and joy together with the Angels, intercede with the Creator, O Blessed one, on behalf of your servants.

Theotokion.

Grant deliverance, O Theotokos, for those ailing and from every danger, for your entreators, for they ever take refuge, praying to you. 

St. Tryphon the Great Martyr and Unmercenary (source)

 

Then, "It is truly right to call you blessed...", followed by the Megalynaria.

The wondrous Martyr of the Lord, and most-ready helper from Lampsakos, a protector and deliverer for those who call upon him, let us all honor the divine Tryphon.

Come, O faithful, let us venerate the holy Icon of the divine Tryphon, who drives away from us the stench of the passions, and grants healing and deliverance to all.

All the ranks of Angels...

Then, the Trisagion, followed by the Troparion in the First Tone. A Heavenly Place.

You manfully endured the pains of tortures, and truly inherited the life without pain, O ever-memorable Tryphon, the foundation of Champions. Therefore, today, the Church of Christ celebrates your all-holy memory, and rejoices in a godly manner.

Then the Priest says the entreaty, followed by the Dismissal, after which the people venerate the Icon while the hymn is chanted:

Prosomoion in the Second Tone. When from the Tree.

You received from God, O Tryphon, the grace to grant healings for those who have taken refuge in your protection in faith, and who hasten to you, amidst many incurable afflictions, healing the passions through the grace of the All-Holy Spirit, O wise one. Therefore, we also entreat you: pray to the Lord of all to deliver those who honor you from dangers.

Lady do you receive...

My numerous hopes are placed...

Through the prayers...
(source)
   

St. Tryphon the Great Martyr and Unmercenary (source)

  
Additional Prayer to St. Tryphon
O holy martyr of Christ Tryphon, swift helper of all that seek refuge in thee, and quick to intercede for those that pray before thy holy image! Hearken now and at every hour unto the prayer of us thine unworthy servants, who venerate thy holy memory (in this all-holy temple erected to the praise of thy name, and in every place).  For Thou, O Saint of Christ, thyself hast promised before thy departure from this corrupt life, to pray to the Lord for us, and hast asked of Him this gift: if anyone in their any need or sorrow shall begin to invoke thy holy name, they shall be delivered from every instigation of the evil one. And as thou didst once heal the ruler's daughter in Rome, who was tormented by the devil, so also preserve us from his cruel snares all the days of our life, moreover be thou our intercessor in the dread day of our last breath, when the dark visions of wicked spirits begin to surround and terrify us: be then our helper and swift banisher of evil spirits, and our guide to the Kingdom of Heaven, where thou now standest with the choirs of Saints before the Throne of God;
pray the Lord, that He grant us also to be partakers of everlasting joy and gladness, that we may be found worthy together with thee to glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, for all ages. Amen.
(source)
  
Also see a previous post for the famed Prayers of St. Tryphon said at the Holy Water Blessing in prayer for health and deliverance of Gardens and Farms from pests.
  

St. Tryphon the Great Martyr and Unmercenary (source)

  

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

" Let all the trees of the forest rejoice..."

Christ planting the trees in the Creation of the world (source)

   

Let all the trees of the forest rejoice, for Christ, Who planted them in the beginning, has sanctified their nature by being stretched out upon the tree, which we now see exalted, we worship Him and you we magnify.

-From the 9th Ode of the Canon for the Exaltation of the Precious Cross

   

(source)

   

Christ the Tree of Life (source)

  

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

St. John of Kronstadt on Divine Providence

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior, the open Gospel says: "I am the way, the truth and the life..." (source)

   
St. John of Kronstadt on Divine Providence (Excerpts compiled from: My Life in Christ)

If God does not leave a blade of grass, a flower, or a small leaf of a tree without His good providence, will He leave us? O, let every man be convinced with his whole heart that God is true to Himself in His providence for even the least of His creatures. Let him understand that the Creator invisibly dwells in all His creatures. In the words of our Saviour, God clothes the grass of the field, feeds the fowls of the air.[52]

We must trust in God in all temptations, in all desolate conditions of the soul. The Lord will deliver.

Give yourself up entirely to God's providence, to the Lord's Will, and do not grieve at losing anything material, nor in general at the loss of visible things; do not rejoice at gain, but let your only and constant joy be to win the Lord Himself. Trust entirely in Him: He knows how to lead you safely through this present life, and to bring you to Himself — into His eternal Kingdom. From want of trust in God's providence many and great afflictions proceed: despondency, murmurings, envy, avarice, love of money or the passion for amassing money and property in general, so that it may last for many years, in order to eat, drink, sleep and enjoy; from want of trust in God's providence proceed in particular afflictions such as arise, for instance: from some loss of income through our own oversight, from the loss of objects, specially valuable and necessary, as well as immoderate joy at recovering some objects, or at receiving some large income or gain, or some profitable place or employment. We, as Christians, as "fellow citizens with the Saints and of the household of God,"[574] ought to commit all our life, together with all its sorrows, sicknesses, griefs, joys, scarcities and abundance unto Christ our God.

Bear with humble submission to the will of God every sorrow, every sickness and infirmity, every labour, every offence and disappointment, saying: "Thy Will be done,"[1360] knowing that God's mercy orders everything for your good, and that the Lord can easily change every disappointment into happiness and joy.

"That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us."[522] What separates us from God and each other? Money, food, and drink — this dust, this dross, this corruption. Why? Because we have not living Christian trust and faith in God. We do not know, or we forget, that man's true life is love for God and his neighbour. Setting our life upon dust and trusting in it, we do not render to the Heavenly Father the glory that is due to Him, by putting our whole trust in Him, by casting all our care upon Him, as His faithful children in Christ should do. "If then I be a Father, where is Mine honour? [523] Where is your trust in Me? Where is your love for Me? Where is your detachment from earthly, corrupt things, and your hearty desire for the heavenly, spiritual, and eternal ones?

When you are disturbed and depressed by the wickedness of men, remember how boundlessly you are beloved by the Almighty and All-righteous God, Who suffers the evil until the time comes, and then will justly punish it. You cannot master yourself, your tongue, or one single member of your body. Judge by this what He must be, Who governs the whole world, Who keeps it in such wonderful order, Who governs the whole of mankind, evil, perverted as we are, ever ready as we are to destroy each other, and yet meanwhile more prosperous than needy under His sovereignty. How almighty and wise must He be to govern such heterogeneous multitudes! Trust in Him entirely.

"Thy will be done." For instance, when you wish and by every means endeavour to be well and healthy, and yet remain ill, then say: "Thy will be done." When you undertake something and your undertaking does not succeed, Say: "Thy will be done." When you do good to others, and they repay you by evil, say: "Thy will be done." Or when you would like to sleep and are overtaken by sleeplessness, Say: "Thy will be done." In general, do not become irritated when anything is not done in accordance with your will, but learn to submit in everything to the Will of the Heavenly Father. You would like not to experience any temptations, and yet the enemy daily harasses you by them; provokes and annoys you by every means. Do not become irritated and angered, but say: "Thy will be done."

It is never so difficult to say from the heart, "Thy Will be done, Father," as when we are in sore affliction or grievous sickness, and especially when we are subjected to the injustice of men, or the assaults and wiles of the enemy. It is also difficult to say from the heart "Thy Will be done" when we ourselves were the cause of some misfortune, for then we think that it is not God's Will, but our own will, that has placed us in such a position, although nothing can happen without the Will of God. In general, it is difficult to sincerely believe that it is the Will of God that we should suffer, when the heart knows both by faith and experience that God is our blessedness; and therefore it is difficult to say in misfortune, "Thy Will be done." We think, "Is it possible that this is the Will of God? Why does God torment us? Why are others quiet and happy? What have we done? Will there be an end to our torments?" And so on. But when it is difficult for our corrupt nature to acknowledge the Will of God over us, that Will of God without which nothing happens, and to humbly submit to it, then is the very time for us to humbly submit to this Will, and to offer to the Lord our most precious sacrifice — that is, heartfelt devotion to Him, not only in the time of ease and happiness, but also in suffering and misfortune; it is then that we must submit our vain erring wisdom to the perfect Wisdom of God, for our thoughts are as far from the thoughts of God "as the heavens are higher than the earth."[317]

"For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory," not ours. We ourselves should like to reign with our passions — that is, to order everything as we like, to trust to our own power, and not to Thine, to seek our own glory, and not Thine; but this is the Devil's wish in us. We ought to submit everything to Thy will, seek in all matters Thy power, and do everything for Thy glory. "Do all to the glory of God."[756]

"Let it be as I will, and not as thou wilt." Such is the mighty voice of God, which our soul ever hears when it has fallen into sin and desires to emerge from a state of spiritual, sinful affliction. "Let it be as I will: either repent from the depths of your heart in proportion to the sin, and return to the road that leads to life, shown by Me; either bear the punishment, corresponding to the sin and determined by My justice, or your sin will torment you as a deviation from My laws." And only then will our soul enjoy peace when we truly repent from the depths of our heart in proportion to the sin, or bear the punishment due from God. O! Almighty and most just power of our God, invisibly governing our invisible souls, all glory to Thee, glory to Thee, God our Saviour! Thy will be done in us!

Breathe by faith (by certitude in God's truth), by trust in God, and by love for God and your neighbour. And how can you help yourself in this? By unbelief in the durability of everything earthly; by not putting your trust in earthly blessings, such as food, drink, money, riches, and earthly ties; by not caring for, by being indifferent to everything earthly and perishable. Do not let your heart cling to anything, do not attach yourself to anything. "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."[1295]

To trust in God means to confide to Him our life, our fate, all our future, and to wait with confidence for the fulfilment of His promises. Hope proceeds from faith, as the plant from the seed, or the stream from the source. We believe that the Lord is good and merciful, that He loves us as a Father, and therefore that He desires every good and true happiness for us. He is most wise and omniscient, and consequently He knows better than we ourselves what is really needful and useful for us. He is almighty; and thus He is always able to bestow upon us that which He pleases, to fulfil that which He has promised. He is holy and righteous, and therefore all His words are truth. His promises are unchangeable. The highest proof of God's love to man is shown in the fact that He did not spare His Only begotten Son, but delivered Him for our sakes unto sufferings and death. Having strengthened our soul by the thought of the boundless mercy, wisdom, omnipotence, and holiness of our Creator and Provider, we can pass through the course of our earthly life without fear and without disturbance, like a child in its mother's arms, like a ship with trusty anchors. And therefore "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is."[1166] "The Lord is my deliverer, in Whom I will trust."[1167] "I will not be afraid for ten thousand of the people."[1168] However, while having trust, we must not ourselves be careless and idle. The essence of Christian hope is a lively, active, and constant aspiration after the Highest Blessing and the Source of all blessings, God, with an insatiable longing to come near or to Him and to receive from Him and in Him the kingdom of heaven, prepared before the creation of the world. "Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks, so longeth my soul after Thee, O God. My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God. When shall I come to appear before the presence of God?"[1169]

Thy name, Lord, is Almighty, because Thou holdest not only heaven and earth, but also all mankind, the life of every man, the hearts of all in Thy Hand; and not only the life of every man, but also of every beast, bird, fish, insect, worm, reptile, and of every infusoria invisible to the eye. Glory to Thine infinite Omnipotence, Lord! Glory to Thine All-merciful, Most-wise, and All-powerful Providence! Lord of heaven and earth! Almighty Sovereign! Thou likewise holdest in Thy Hand all hell, with Satan and his innumerable hordes; and it is only by Thy permission, for our instruction and punishment, that Satan and his angels can lay their snares for us. As soon as we pray to Thee our Saviour, as soon as we unfeignedly repent before Thee of our sins, Thou, having taught us, sendest away our enemies from us, saying: "You have done enough evil to My servants; they belong to Me again." Thus, Lord, if Thine unceasing benefits and mercies to us do not teach us, what remains to be done? It only remains for Thee to teach us by chastisement, by bitterness, by oppression, by fire, and by our own wickedness — we sensual men, who love space, freedom, vain carnal freshness; who are slothful, negligent, and evil by nature.

How must we look upon the gifts of intellect, feeling and freedom? With the intellect we must learn to know God in the works of His creation, revelation, providence, and in the destinies of men; with the heart we must feel God's love, His most heavenly peace, the sweetness of His love, we must love our neighbour, sympathise with him in joy and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, in poverty and in wealth, in distinction and in low estate (humiliation); we must use freedom, as a means, as an instrument for doing as much good as possible, and for perfecting ourselves in every virtue, so as to render unto God fruits a hundredfold.

Concerning praise. The soul involuntarily longs to praise when we gaze upon the starry sky; but still more when, in looking upon the sky and the stars, we represent to ourselves God's providence towards men, how infinitely He loves men, cares for their eternal beatitude, not having even spared His only-begotten Son for our salvation and our repose in the Heavenly Kingdom! It is impossible not to praise God when you remember that you were created from nothing, that you were predestined from the foundation of the world for eternal blessedness, quite without cause, not in accordance with your merits — when you remember what grace God has bestowed upon you for your salvation during all your life-time, what an innumerable multitude of sins are forgiven you, and this not once or twice but an incalculable number of times, what a multitude of natural gifts are bestowed upon you, beginning with health down to the current of air, down to the drop of water. We are involuntarily incited to praise when we see with wonder the infinite variety of things created on the earth, in the animal kingdom, in the vegetable kingdom, and in the mineral kingdom. What wise order in all, both in great and small! We involuntarily praise and exclaim: "O Lord! how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made them all: Glory to Thee, Lord, Who hath created everything!"[219]

Until now I have not become impoverished by being merciful to others, and shall not become impoverished to the last, for "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day."[696] It is not said without reason: "He that giveth to the poor shall not lack." Indeed, up till now the Lord has only increased my temporal blessings, and has not taken them away. I praise the bountifulness of the Lord, His rich Providence.

Maladies in our eyes only appear painful, unpleasant, and terrible. It is seldom that any one of us during the time of sickness represents to himself the profit which his illness brings to his soul; but in God's all wise and most merciful Providence, not a single malady remains without some profit to our soul. Sicknesses in the hands of Providence are the same as bitter medicines for our soul, curing its passions, its bad habits and inclinations. Not a single malady sent to us shall return void. Therefore, we must keep in view the utility of sicknesses, in order that we may bear them more easily and more calmly. "He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin,"[848] says the Holy Scripture.

Let heaven and earth, created by the Lord, and existing, acting, and moving through Him, teach me — I, who am one spirit with the Lord! What is there for me to grieve at, when I am, and can ever be, one spirit with the Lord? I will cast all my care upon Him. Heaven and earth exist for thousands of years through the Lord, through His power and laws, though they are soulless, inert, inactive, and powerless matter. And the grass, the flowers of the field, the birds, fishes, and so forth. How all these teach us to entirely trust in God's providence!

In the matter of God's providence for men, and in accordance with the requirements of reason, there must be mediators between men and God from the spiritual world (as men occupy the medium between the spiritual and material worlds), who may guide us to the heavenly kingdom — namely, the angels. There is an astonishing gradation and order with the Lord in all His works. Everywhere in His kingdom the lower are guided by the higher; hence the necessity of guardian-angels for Christians redeemed by the blood of the Lord. Besides this, the angels themselves are full of love for us, and rejoice over the conversion of one sinner; but love is active, and the Lord has given perfect freedom to their noble and useful activity, as we see from the Holy Scripture. Guardian-angels are indispensable for men, owing to the craftiness of the evil spirits. Men themselves do not see them, for men are very infirm in the spiritual life. Therefore, besides the grace of God, we require a person, or persons, full of this grace, wise, firm by their nature: and such are the angels. Besides this, after man departs this life, there must be witnesses of his deeds against the demons.

A visible proof of the omnipresence and of the providence of God is presented to us by vegetation. Where is it not to be found upon the terrestrial globe? It covers the plains, it climbs up the inaccessible heights of rocky mountains, it grows in the deserts, spreads its roots in the waters and amongst the waters, upon desert islands. And who is it that gives it growth and adorns it with beautiful varieties of shapes, colours, and flowers? The Lord God. "God so clothes it." But if God so carefully clothes the grass, then shall He forsake and forget man, even for a minute? "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"[1241] If God at every instant vivifies the grass, and His life does not forsake it, then shall He cease to give life to me? No; if He clothes and gives life to the grass, then in me He dwells continually, as in His temple, if I do not voluntarily drive Him away by my sins. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"[1242] In reference to the temple, we may remark that the Apostle calls a Christian the temple, because the Spirit of God dwells in him. This signifies that God dwells continually in Christian temples. Hence the holiness of the temple; hence the reverence due to it. And the action of God dwelling in the temple is very perceptible upon the hearts of those who turn to Him in prayer.

May my soul understand that as everything proceeded from God and exists in God, therefore the Lord God in the most perfect manner knows at every moment of the existence and of the nature of every being, and that He supports its existence, at every moment, by the laws of nature given by Him. If we, ourselves, having written a book, know all about its disposition and contents, about all the ideas to be found in it, so that when other people explain us the idea, and especially the plan of our book, we say that it is our plan, our idea; then why should we take from the Lord His omniscience of all worlds, of all creatures, of all things contained in the world, with all their qualities and conditions? Are they not, so to say, the book of God? And thus, my soul, reverence thy Creator every moment of thy life, and know that at every moment He knows thee wholly, that He supports and gives thee life and everything necessary for thy existence and welfare. "How could anything have endured if it had not been Thy will?"[1131]

Concerning trust in God's providence. "Can a woman" (a mother) " forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee,"[1367] says the Lord. And who could be more tender and careful than a mother of her children? What woman will forget to feed the children of her womb? But let us even admit that mothers who forsake their children may be found; "But I," says the Lord, "am not like such carnal mothers, and will not forget nor forsake you." What trust, what hope, the Lord Himself inspires in us by these words, in His Providence con- tinually caring for us and never forsaking any one of us! You are sometimes anxious about what you shall eat and drink, and how you shall be clothed; you greatly afflict your heart if you part grudgingly, sorrowfully with your money, when it is necessary to give to another, although you have plenty left, and you thus show that you put your trust and hope in earthly dross. But why are you anxious? Why do you cling to dross? Cling to the heavenly Father; He will not forget you, and will not forsake you. Let the dross forsake you; you will only feel easier without it; for the more money you have, the greater the quantity of this dross that adheres to your heart, the more will your heart which is not earthly be afflicted. There is a saying amongst men that money is no hindrance, however much of it we may have. This is untrue. It greatly hinders our soul from rising upwards, or from meditating upon our heavenly country, and the more we have of it the more it drags our soul down to earth, inciting us to occupy ourselves with various earthly devices, such as buildings, rich furniture in our houses, rich clothes, luxurious viands and drinks, and thus depriving our soul of holy zeal and precious time, during which it ought to be earning future bliss for itself.

If you wish to be humble, consider yourself worthy of all malice and hatred on the part of others, and of every calumny. Do not grow irritated, and do not nourish malice against those who bear malice against you, slander you, or falsely blame you. Say: "Holy Father, Thy will be done! "Remember the words of the Lord: "The servant is not greater than his Lord; if the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you."[1396] If the world hated Him, the Most-righteous, the Most-merciful, then why should it be wonderful if other people hate you, a sinful and evil man?

My God! to what have we come? In what are we better than heathens in our mode of life? Where is our faith, our trust in God, our love for our neighbour? O, pride of Satan! O, what shame is ours! Heavenly Father! Thou who knowest what things we have need of, and givest them to us before we ask Thee, [468] have mercy upon us unfaithful, ungrateful, and evil-natured ones. Lord, we hear Thy merciful words: "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee;"[469] but being daily tempted by earthly blessings, we do not heed them, and transgress Thy will.
  
Footnotes
 [219] Psalm civ. 24.
[317] Isaiah lv. 8, 9.
[468] St. Matthew vi. 8.
[469] Hebrews xiii. 5.
[522] St. John xvii. 21.
[523] Malachi i. 6.
[574] Ephesians ii. 19.
[696] Hebrews xiii. 8.
[756] 1 Corinthians x. 31.[848] 1 Peter iv. 1.
[1131] Wisdom xi. 25.[1166] Jeremiah xvii. 7; Psalm ii. 12; Proverbs xvi. 20.
[1167] Psalm xviii. 1.
[1168] Psalm iii. 6.
[1169] Psalm xlii. 2, 3.
[1241] St. Matthew vi. 30; St. Luke xii. 28.
[1242] 1 Corinthians iii. 16.
[1295] Colossians iii. 2.
[1360] St. Matthew vi. 10; St. Luke xi. 2.[1367] Isaiah xlix. 15.
[1396] St. John xiii. 16; xv. 18.
Excerpts compiled from: My Life in Christ or Moments of Spiritual Serenity and Contemplation, of Reverent Feeling, of Earnest Self-Amendment, and of Peace in God, St. John of Kronstadt. (source)

   

 St. John of Kronstadt, the Wonderworker (source)

  

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

The Prayers to St. Tryphon for the Deliverance of Gardens

St. Tryphon the Great Martyr and Unmercenary (Source)

  
St. Tryphon the Great Martyr in greatly loved by the Orthodox people. To the Greeks he is especially prayed to for deliverance from the many different pests and plagues that can affect farms. The following prayers are found in the Great Euchologion, and are read by the Priest at fields or gardens being afflicted. We might forget that such seemingly innocuous insects or blights did and continue to ravage the lands and lives of simple farmers. Many faithful Christians take refuge in prayer to God before pesticides, fertilizers, etc., and are delivered through their faith and devotion (see: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2010/01/st-tryphon-great-martyr-and-monastery.html, http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/08/selected-miracles-from-holy-zoni-of.html).

The first prayer below is included in the Great Synaxaristes compiled by St. Nikodemos. This is the one that I have translated below. Below this is the full service to St. Tryphon for the Deliverance from Pests (in Greek) from the edition of the Great Euchologion published in Venice in 1850 (taken from a full service of the Saint here: http://analogion.com/forum/showthread.php?p=100450#post100450).

This includes an interesting prayer which is like an "Exorcism" of St. Tryphon, in which the author, speaking as the Saint, banishes the various pests. This is similar to prayers to St. Modestos and St. Mamas for healing and protection of animals and flocks. I do remember reading somewhere that Elder Paisios mentioned that "much has been added to the prayers of St. Tryphon" over the years. It is hard to know what exactly he is referring to, however, these prayers vividly show both the plight that people close to the land can face, and also the great devotion of the faithful to Christ, and to the Great Martyr and Healer, St. Tryphon. May he intercede for us all and help us!
  

St. Tryphon the Great Martyr and Unmercenary - Commemorated on February 1st (source)

Eυχή ικετήριος προς τον Άγιον Tρύφωνα, εάν συμβή βλάπτεσθαι τα χωράφια και κήπους και αμπελώνας υπό ερπετών και ακρίδων και ζωυφίων.

Πρώτον γενέσθω η τάξις η διοριζομένη εν τω Eυχολογίω, και λεγέσθω υπό του Iερέως η εκεί γεγραμμένη Eυχή. Eίτα λεγέσθω υπ´ αυτού και η προς τον Άγιον Tρύφωνα Δέησις αύτη, μετά ευλαβείας πίστεώς τε και κατανύξεως.

"Πανένδοξε Mάρτυς του Xριστού, και στρατιώτα του επουρανίου Bασιλέως Tρύφων παμμακάριστε, της ακηράτου τρυφής ο επώνυμος· ο γενναίως τον Xριστόν επί της γης ομολογήσας, και διά τούτο νυν εν Oυρανοίς, της αϊδίου απολαύων μακαριότητος, και μετά παρρησίας τω θρόνω της τρισηλίου Θεότητος παριστάμενος. Σου τη μαρτυρική μεγαλειότητι προστρέχομεν μετά Θεόν, πάντες ημείς οι αμαρτωλοί και ανάξιοι δούλοι σου· και ικετεύομεν την συμπαθεστάτην και χριστομίμητόν σου φιλανθρωπίαν, ίνα, σπλαγχνισθείς εφ’ ημάς τους εν ανάγκη όντας και περιστάσει, αποδιώξης μακράν των χωραφίων, και κήπων, και αμπελώνων ημών, πάντα τα ερπετά, και ακρίδας, και κάμπας, και πολυειδή ζωύφια και θηρία, τα βλάπτοντα τους καρπούς, και φύλλα, και ρίζας των δένδρων, και πάντων των λαχάνων τε και γεννημάτων και οσπρίων ημών. Συ γαρ εξαίρετον και ιδιαιτέραν είληφας την χάριν ταύτην πολύαθλε, παρά του Σωτήρος ημών Iησού Xριστού. Oυ μόνον πρώην έτι ζων, διά την θεάρεστον πολιτείαν σου, αλλά πολλώ μάλλον νυν μετά θάνατον, διά το μαρτυρικόν και δι’ αίματος τέλος, ό υπέρ της αυτού ομολογίας και πίστεως υπέμεινας.

Nαι ομολογούμεν, ότι διά τας αμαρτίας ημών, ταύταις ταις συμφοραίς παρεδόθημεν, και τη του Θεού οργή υπεπέσαμεν, αλλά συ γενναίε Aθλητά, ει μόνον θελήσης τη μαρτυρική σου παρρησία χρήσασθαι, πιστεύομεν ότι ραδίως κατασβέσεις την καθ’ ημών εξαφθείσαν ταύτην του Θεού αγανάκτησιν, και την αθυμίαν ημών, εις ευθυμίαν μεταποιήσεις. Όθεν επειδή διά το πλήθος των αμαρτιών ημών, ουκ έχομεν παρρησίαν στήναι ενώπιον της αθλοφορικής σου δόξης, και αμέσως την ικεσίαν ποιήσασθαι· διά τούτο μεσίτην αντί ημών σοι προβαλλόμεθα, αυτό σου το αίμα, ό υπέρ Xριστού εξέχεας πανεύφημε, και αυτά τα μαρτυρικά αγωνίσματα, άπερ υπήνεγκας εν τω αθλητικωτάτω σου σώματι.

Έπιδε τοίνυν, ευσπλαγχνικώτατε Mάρτυς, επ’ αυτά, δι’ ων τον Xριστόν ωμολόγησας, και τον αμαράντινον του μαρτυρίου έλαβες στέφανον, και επάκουσον της δεήσεως ημών των ταπεινών οικετών σου, και της ενεστώσης ανάγκης των ερπετών και ακρίδων και θηρίων και πολυειδών ζωυφίων, των λυμαινομένων τους καρπούς των χωραφίων και αμπελώνων και κήπων ημών, απολύτρωσαι· ότι κινδυνεύομεν υπ’ αυτών λιμώ και θανάτω και παντελεί παραδοθήναι αφανισμώ, ημείς τε, και πάσα η ύπαρξις ημών, εάν μη οι οικτιρμοί σου ταχέως ημάς προκαταλάβωσιν· ίνα διά της σης οξείας προστασίας, του επικειμένου κινδύνου απαλλαγέντες, ακαταπαύστως και χρεωστικώς το σον μεγαλύνομεν όνομα, σωτήρα ημών και ευεργέτην και αντιλήπτορα μετά Θεόν σε επιγραφόμενοι· και διά σου δοξάζωμεν τον κοινόν Δεσπότην, τον Kύριον ημών Iησούν Xριστόν, τον εν γη και Oυρανώ σε δοξάσαντα. Ω πρέπει πάσα δόξα, τιμή, και προσκύνησις, συν τω Πατρί και τω Aγίω Πνεύματι, εις τους αιώνας. Aμήν."
(http://www.snhell.gr/references/synaxaristis/hymn.asp?id=205)
  

St. Tryphon the Great Martyr and Unmercenary (source)

  

Prayers to be read at a field or a vineyard or a garden, if they are struck by pests or for other needs

If needed, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated, then Holy Oil is taken from the vigil lamp of St. Tryphon, or St. Julian or St. Eustathios, or another Saint. And after the Divine Liturgy, the Priest takes the Oil, and the Censer, and a Candle, and Holy Water from Theophany, and sprinkles the field cross-wise, saying the following prayers.

  

A Prayer for Gardens

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: O Lord our God, Who at the beginning of Your creation, fashioned Heaven and earth. Heaven, You adorned with the great lights, that they might shine upon the earth, and that, seeing them, we might wonder at the only Creator and Master of creation. The earth, You adorned with greenery and grass and all kinds of plants bearing seed according to their kind, and You formed the flowers to give forth fragrance, and blessed them. Do You Yourself, now, O Master, look down from Your holy dwelling place upon this field (or garden or vineyard), and bless it, and protect it from every poison, and wrath, and from every evil, and sinful curiosity, and evil workings of evil men, and from locusts, and insects, and blight, infection, frost, worms and all the rest, and grant it to bear fruit according at the proper season filled with Your blessing, and drive off from it every beast, reptile, and wrath and affliction that attacks it in danger. For blessed and glorified is Your all-precious and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

  

Christ creating the plants of the earth (source)

  

Another prayer of St. Tryphon

Lampsakos, being my true home...(not translated at this time)

   

Another prayer

Priest: Peace be to all.
People: And to your spirit.
Priest: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
People: To You, O Lord.
Priest: O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who in Your incarnate economy blessed Bethlehem, and Gethsemane, and the former house of Jacob, which, having been blessed, was renamed Israel. You also blessed the house of David. Do also bless this field, and with Your blessing, make it to bear fruit, through the intercessions of our All-Spotless Lady, the Theotokos, and Ever-Virgin Mary, the power of the Precious and Life-giving Cross, the protections of the precious, heavenly and Bodiless Angelic Powers, the precious, glorious, Prophet and Baptist John, of the holy glorious and all-praised Apostles, of the holy, glorious and victorious Martyrs, of the holy, glorious great Martyrs Panteleimon, Tryphon, Julian, and Saint (additional names of Saints may be inserted as desired), and all Your Saints. For You are He Who blesses and sanctifies all things, Christ our God, and to You we offer up glory, together with Your unoriginated Father, and Your life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  
  

St. Tryphon the Great Martyr, with scenes from his life and martyrdom (source)

  

 Another Prayer of supplication towards St. Tryphon, if the fields and gardens and vineyards are afflicted by reptiles and locusts and vermin
by St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain

First the taxis of the Euchologion is performed, then the Priest says the prayer written here. This Supplication is said by him towards St. Tryphon, with reverence, faith and compunction.
  
Priest: Most-glorious Martyr of Christ, and soldier of the heavenly King, Tryphon most-blessed, namesake of the eternal sustenance, who bravely confessed Christ upon the earth, and for this ever receives unfading blessedness in the Heavens, and with boldness stands before the throne of the three-sun Godhead. Your martyrical greatness we take refuge in after God, all of us sinners and your unworthy servants, and we entreat your sympathetic and Christ-imitating philanthropy, that, having compassion upon us who are in danger and trouble, you may drive far from our fields and gardens and vineyards, all reptiles, and locusts, and caterpillars, and various species of insects and beasts, the diseases of fruit and leaves and roots of trees, and all vegetables and seeds and legumes of ours. For to you was granted this special and unique grace, O great champion, by our Savior Jesus Christ. Not only while still living, through your God-pleasing life, but more so now after your death through martyrdom and through blood, confessed Him and persevered for the faith. Yes, we confess that through our sins, we have been delivered up to these such sorrows, and we have fallen under God’s anger, but you O brave Champion, only desiring your martyrical boldness is needed; we believe that easily you extinguish the ban against us by God, and transform our faintheartedness into good-heartedness. Therefore, because of our sins, we have no boldness to stand before your champion-like glory, and immediately have you make intercession, therefore we place your blood, which you O all-famed one shed for Christ as our intercessor instead, and the martyrical struggles which you endured in your most-suffering body. Look down, therefore, O most-compassionate Martyr, upon these, for you confessed Christ and received the unfading crown of martyrdom, and hearken to the prayer from your humble supplicants, and deliver from the present dangers of reptiles and locusts and beasts and various vermin, of those that ruin the fruits of our fields and vineyards and gardens. For we are in danger by them of starvation and death and being left utterly desolate, if it were not for your compassions speedily granted to all of us, that through your ready protection, driving away the coming danger, we may ceaselessly and necessarily magnify your name, our savior and benefactor and helper whom we ascribe after God, and through you we glorify the common Master, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is glorified on earth and in Heaven. To Whom belongs all glory, honor and worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, unto the ages. Amen.

St. Tryphon the Great Martyr and Unmercenary (source)

  

For the life of St. Tryphon, see: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2010/01/st-tryphon-great-martyr-and-unmercenary.html.

Troparion of St Tryphon Tone 3

In the Holy Spirit thou didst pour forth abundant grace on the Church like an unfailing fountain; thou dost refresh our souls with the delight of thy gifts. O glorious Tryphon, entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

(http://www.stnectarios.org/menologion/feb.pdf)

  

Sts. Tryphon and Mamas the Great Martyrs (source)

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