Paraklesis to St. Argyre the New Martyr, Protector of Marriage

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

St. Argyre the New Martyr of Bursa, Protector of Marriage - Commemorated April 5th and April 30th (source)

   

Paraklesis (Supplication Service) to St. Argyre the New Martyr, Protector of Marriage
Written by Fr. Athanasios of Simonopetra

The Priest says the "Blessed is our God...", followed by the Psalm "Lord hear my prayer..." If it is during the Paschal period, "Christ is risen..." is chanted thrice before the Psalm.

Tone Four.

God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us, blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. (x 4, with verses)

Tone Four. You Who were lifted up upon the Cross.

You were arrayed in the robe of self-control, and trampled upon the serpent of debauchery, and taunted the delusion of Hagar steadfastly, therefore, you were martyred through many forms of torture, and glorified Christ, Whom we pray that you entreat, on behalf of those who honor you, O divine Argyre, that they be granted self-control, and a life of purity.

Glory. Both now.

O Theotokos, we shall never be silent...

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

Ode I. Crossing the waters as on dry land.

Ceaselessly entreat the Trinity on behalf of those who hymn you with fervor, O Argyre, asking for self-control in life, and steadfast purity of hearts.

You greatly loved Jesus, the divine Teacher of purity, O Argyre, entreat Him, as you have great boldness before Him, that He might ever keep us in purity.

You were victorious over the guileful serpent, O Martyr, who desired to separate you from Jesus, dissolve his soul-corrupting schemes against us, through your prayers.

Theotokion.

You are the true Mother of the sweetest Jesus, and the Mother of the faithful by grace, do not cease to intercede that we be granted purity, O All-Pure Lady.

Ode III. Of the vault of the Heavens.

As a surpassingly beautiful bride of Christ, you denied to take upon your shoulders a barbarous life, O namesake of silver, therefore grant me grace to deny the tyrannical life with which the body tempts me, to deny Christ.

With a most-joyous heart, you stood before judges, and confessed the divinity of Christ, O Martyr, make us worthy to worship Him as is proper, that we might reach Heaven where He is praised.

O Argyre, you were shown to be a brave rhetor through your divine words against the Hagarenes, who were sitting in darkness, therefore, make us who honor your ever-memorable memory, worthy to go forth with the light of Christ.

Theotokion.

You were shown to be a spiritual Heaven, O Lady, for you bore Christ the Sun within your womb in purity, through His rays, enlighten us, and show the souls of the faithful to be another heaven through your intercessions.

Deliver, O Argyre, those who honor you with fervor, and drive away every dangerous temptation of the enemy, and grant us our requests through your prayers.

Look down on me, in your good favor...

St. Argyre the New Martyr (source)

Then the Priest says the Entreaty, followed by the Kathisma.

Second Tone. A fervent prayer.

As a bride of Christ and a Martyr steadfast in soul, ever entreat Him, O Argyre, that all of us who honor your divine memory might be protected, and grant purity of souls through the grace of your intercessions.

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

You kept your marriage spotless from the corruption of the enemy that wars against us, therefore, O Martyr, ever preserve married couples in reverence and purity.

You submitted everything meaningful in your life to the Lord, and endured tortures, O Argyre, therefore entreat Him that we might be granted patience.

O all-precious one, you endured until victory over the enemy that hates purity, and who greatly assaulted you, therefore, grant to us purity in all things, O Argyre, for those who pray to you.

Theotokion.

You have freed the race of man, O Spotless One, from the bonds of the serpent, and cleanse me from his venom, which has polluted my heart.

Ode V. Lord, enlighten us.

Heal the illnesses of soul and body, O Argyre, for those who hymn you, as you entreat Jesus the Physician, on Whose behalf you suffered.

Censure the darkness and delusion of Hagar, O all-praised one, and grant the light of the Holy Spirit to the souls of those hymning you.

Deliver us from the enemy, O thrice-blessed Argyre, we who are caught within his traps and in danger, and free us from his soul-wounding schemes.

Theotokion.

Grant true knowledge of the Lord, O All-Spotless One, to those who hymn your spotless birth giving, and who magnify your divine glory.

Ode VI. My supplication.

You endured the tortures of godless barbarians for years, O Argyre, and in prison you received the crown of martyrdom for your brave dedication, therefore grant us patience amidst the dangers of this life, O Martyr.

We have known you to higher than rhetors through your victory through silence, O Martyr, and through your passion lasting many years, you proclaim without words to those bearing the name of Christ how to live amidst temptations, O new-martyr Argyre, and Champion of Christ.

The grace of the Holy Spirit, with Which the Savior strengthened you, allowed you to endure in afflicted flesh all things manly like brass, O Argyre, intercede that His Grace will strengthen us as well in life's trials.

Theotokion

Your bore the Teacher of virginity, O Virgin Mary Theotokios, you who were followed by Argyre, desiring your purity, disdaining the fleeting pleasure of life. We entreat that you deliver your servents from this bitterness.

Deliver, O Argyre, those who honor you with fervor, and drive away every dangerous temptation of the enemy, and grant us our requests through your prayers.

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

St. Argyre the New Martyr (source)

Then the Priest says the Entreaty, followed by the Kontakion.

 

Second Tone. O Protection of Christians.

You have appeared to be a defender of marriage, and a canon of purity through your struggle, O dove of the Lord Argyre, therefore, preserve us well from the schemes of the enemy, that your servants might live their married lives with self-control, and that they might be made worthy of the reward with which you were granted by the Teacher of purity [Christ].

 

Prokeimenon

God is wondrous among His Saints. (2)

Verse: With patience, waited upon the Lord, and He heard me.

God is wondrous among His Saints.

 

The Gospel according to St. Matthew (25:1-13)

Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.  But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’  Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut.  Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’  But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Glory.

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

Both now.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos...

Verse: Have mercy on me, O God...

Plagal of the Second Tone. Having placed all their hopes in Heaven.

You were shown to be a vessel of purity and self-control, O all-glorious Argyre, and through tortures you received your reward, therefore we entreat you, incline your ear and hearken to your servants, and grant them that grace of purity of soul, and preserve their precious marriages from the attacks of the enemy, for you struggled in Martyrdom for the love of Christ, and through your prayers, may we all be granted Paradise.

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

St. Argyre the New Martyr, depicted in the prison where she remained for 17 years for Christ and to preserve the purity of her marriage (source)

  

Ode VII. Once from out of Judea.

You did not give way at all to the slavery of the body, O Martyr of Christ, but you stoked the fire of your love and increased it, O godly-minded Argyre, which we entreat might be granted to those who celebrate your memory in faith.

You were shown to be steadfast, as you were truly a tower founded upon the rock amidst tortures, O thrice-blessed one, and out of eros for the Master, having this has your foundation, may we also have this in our souls, O Argyre, through your prayers.

Your manly soul, was offered up like a whole-burnt lamb to the Master, and through your love surpassing nature, you endured tortures and trials, O Argyre, therefore, help us, who are storm-tossed with trials.

Theotokion

Remain with us, O Mother, at the time when the arrows of the enemy are launched against us your children, and our lamp of patience is not at all shining, but the darkness of faithless terror surrounds us. Dissolve them all by your light.

Ode VIII. The King of the Heavens.

Behold, our day of need has come, O New Martyr Argyre, hasten, give your helping hand to your servants, out of your sympathy.

 

Grant peace to my scattered nous, and to the thoughts that war against me from the hater of purity, O Martyr, and grant to it the memory of the Lord.

 

O Argyre, through your prayers, speedily dissolve the terrible and shameless bonds of sin that are drowning the souls of your entreaters.

 

Theotokion.

As the One who surpassed all self-control of all generations of women, O Pure Virgin, grant self-control to those who hymn you with fervor.

 

Ode IX. Saved through you, Theotokos.

O Argyre, you overlooked the ways of the world, and you now ever behold that which the eyes of men cannot behold, grant all of those who hymn you to be made worthy of this as well.

 

You trampled upon the serpent through your struggles, O Argyre, and you received the face of your Bridegroom [Christ], pray for us as well, O Martyr, that we might some day behold Him.

 

Show forth to be temples of self-control and purity, all young people and those who honor you with fervor, O Argyre, and deliver us all from the traps of the enemy.

 

Theotokion.

O undefiled Virgin, strengthen those who are living in self-control and purity, entreating the Master together with Argyre.
  

St. Argyre the New Martyr, holding the Marriage Crowns as a great Protector of Marriage (as she had requested her icon be painted, through divine revelation) (source)

Then, the "Truly it is right to call you blessed...", followed by the Megalynaria.

O all-famed Martyr of the Lord, thrice-blessed Argyre, preserve those who venerate your body with faith and fervor, from all dangers and passions and trials.

You dawned like a radiant star from Bithynia, as a greatly-suffering Martyr of Christ, and you enlighten the whole multitude of the faithful, O Argyre, you praise you with fervor.

Rejoice, radiant lamp of self-control, and dwelling-place of purity on behalf of Jesus, and grant every gift to those you praise you, O godly-minded Argyre, the boast of women.

Preserve married couples well, O Martyr of Christ, who lived with self-control and purity and kept your faith, help them to keep their marriages as you did, O sacrifice of purity.

Those who approach your temple on Lesvos full of reverence, make worthy, O Argyre, to live this life with purity in Christ, and make them to be partakers of the divine Kingdom.

All the ranks of Angels, God's messangers...

Then the Trisagion, followed by the Apolytikion of the Saint.

Apolytikion of St. Argyre in the Fourth Tone

You put to shame tyrants through your tortures, O pure one, you were shown forth, O much-suffering one, as strong as a diamond, O glorious martyr of Christ. You shown forth in struggles with love and zeal and unquenchable longing, for Christ the Savior, Who worthily glorified you, O Argyre.

  

St Argyre the New Martyr (source)

   
Then the Priest says the Entreaty, commemorating the desired names, followed by the Apolysis, then the final hymns.

Prosomoion in the Second Tone. When from the Tree.

Rejoice, O New Martyr Argyre, rejoice and hearken to those who entreat you, grant self-control for those in the yoke of marriage, and purity to those unmarried, and health to those afflicted in body and soul through your prayers, for you have been shown to all to be a golden and fragrant vessel of Jesus, crowned by Christ.

As you were beheld in the sacred vision, bearing the Marriage Crowns, and sought for your icon to be thus depicted, O Argyre, send down crowns from on high upon those who are married, and keep their precious marriages well, that, having been victorious over temptations, and every sin of the flesh, they might be crowned by God like Martyrs.

Lady, do you receive...

My numerous hopes are placed...
(source)

   

St. Argyre the New Martyr (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!

Selected hymns to St. Argyre the New Martyr

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

St. Argyre the New Martyr of Prousa - Commemorated on April 5th (her repose) and April 30th (the uncovering of her relics) (source)

  

Selected hymns to St. Argyre the New Martyr (amateur translations below from source text)

  

Doxastikon of the Aposticha in the Second Tone

O all-glorious Argyre, you were just joined in marriage, as the pride of Prousa and the boast of Byzantium, when the prideful serpent, through the terrible tyrant tried to convince you to soil the virginity of your marriage. But you conquered him, ascending to the heavens with glory, where you now entreat the Risen God, to preserve the multitudes of the Orthodox in peace, and for us who in faith honor your grace-flowing body, grant forgiveness and great mercy.

 

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

You put to shame tyrants through enduring tortures, O pure one, you were shown forth, O much-suffering one, as strong as a diamond, o glorious martyr of Christ, you showed forth in struggles for Christ the Savior, love and zeal and unquenchable longing, Who worthily glorified you, O Argyre.
  

Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

As an all-bright moon, you have shown upon the world, illumining with your pains like precious stones, O Argyre, and healing illnesses for those who cry out: Rejoice, the pride and boast of the Martyrs.
  

Icon of St. Argyre the New Martyr, with scenes from her life. She appeared to the iconographer (Fr. Theologos Sakale), telling him to depict her holding the Orthodox marriage crowns, as she struggled her whole life to preserve her crown undefiled, and as she is a "protector of Marriage, and pious youth" (source)

  

Oikos

Let us in faith gather for this most sacred and divine festival, which shines greater than silver and gold, of the all-honored Champion, Argyre the New Martyr, all the faithful who love the Martyrs, celebrating your all-radiant and glorious feast, harmoniously praising your super-human struggles, your deeds and pains, which you endured to preserve your marriage in virginity spotlessly, and the true faith of the Heavenly King, Christ God, entreating that we be granted, through your sacred and fervent intercessions to Him, [to partake] of that heavenly blessedness, in which the choirs joyously cry out: Rejoice, the pride and boast of the Martyrs.
  

Synaxarion

On this day (April 5^th or 30^th), the memory of the holy, glorious New Martyr Argyre.
  

Verses

Argyre, through tortures in prison

Shines upon us greater than silver*.
  
*Note: "Argyre" in Greek means silver.
  

Doxastikon in the Plagal of the First Tone

Come, all you who love the Martyrs, let us gather to praise the virgin martyr Argyre, for today she receives from Him the Crown of Struggles, having struggled lawfully. She rent asunder the prideful serpent, with the power of the Cross. She bore the Orthodox faith in her steadfast mind, and shines greater than the sun. Therefore, rejoice together, O ranks of Angels and bands of Martyrs, together with those upon the earth, and celebrate and glorify her, whose greatly-struggled body was granted to the earth as a healing place of passions of the soul, and dangerous trials.
  

Megalynarion

As a radiant star, the much-suffering Martyr of Christ has dawned from Bithynia, enlightening all the multitudes of the faithful; let us magnify the glorious Argyre.

  

St. Argyre the New Martyr (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. Argyre the New Martyr

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

The tomb of St. Argyre the Neomartyr in the garden of the church of St. Paraskevi, Chaskioi (or Haskoy) (taken from: http://www.pigizois.net/agiologio/ag_argiri/tafos_ag_argiris.jpg)
  

The following life of the Saint is taken from: http://www.trueorthodoxy.info/los_stargyre_prusa.shtml.
  

"On the 30th of April, we commemorate the holy New-martyr Argyre of Prusa

ARGYRE, the golden Martyr of Christ, was from Prusa, and the daughter of pious parents. She possessed both a beautiful face and the fear of God. In time the blessed maiden wed. But, the newlywed caught the covetous eyes of a certain Turk in the neighborhood who fell in love with her. He schemed to bring her over to fulfill his wicked intention. Since he was unable to persuade her he slandered her to the judge of Prusa, pretending that she declared a willingness to become a Moslem. The judge immediately imprisoned the Saint. Argyre’s husband considered it more favorable to have the case transferred to the court at Constantinople. However the Saint’s accuser also appeared there and falsely charged her, maintaining the same allegations against the Martyr. Argyre affirmed that she had no knowledge of ever uttering a word denying the Faith, and stated she was a Christian and a Christian she would die. Consequently, by the judge’s order, they beat the Saint and afterwards confined her to prison. Eventually they conducted a second examination, and again they smote, punished, and jailed Argyre. These events occurred repeatedly throughout the next seventeen years. O, her courageousness!

The marble plaque on the tomb of St. Argyre, with the inscription to the right (in Greek) (taken from: http://www.pigizois.net/agiologio/ag_argiri/tafos_ag_argiris2.jpg)

  

Even inside the prison the Saint met with constant troubles and insults from the Turkish women inmates who were in detention because of their criminal actions. The devil incited them to harass Argyre through excessive affliction and torments. Nevertheless, the ever-memorable one withstood everything magnanimously, by the love and yearning she possessed for her Bridegroom Christ.

The interior of the church of St. Paraskevi, Haskoy (taken from: http://www.ec-patr.org/afieroma/churches/show.php?lang=en&id=27)
  

Perhaps you wonder whether this was all? But in addition to this, she herself subjected her body to fasting, bore every trial and underwent hardships just as the other multitudes of Christian women who were also prisoners with the Saint in that very jail. The heart of blessed Argyre was filled with exceeding joy and such thankfulness, since she was imprisoned for Christ that she thought discomforts were conveniences. Such was the case that when the pious Christian, Manolis, the maker of fishing nets, succeeded in having the charge against her withdrawn so she could be at liberty, Argyre did not assent to the reprieve but regarded the prison to be the king’s palace, Thus, incarcerated and in bonds for Christ, she ended her life receiving the imperishable crown of martyrdom in the year 1725.
  

Procession with the holy relics of St. Argyre, April 30th in Chaskioi (taken from: http://www.pigizois.net/agiologio/ag_argiri/licanothiki_ag_argiris02.jpg)
  

Then the Christians took possession of her holy relics and buried her in a place called Haskoy. At the uncovering of her relics after three years her sacred body was discovered whole and intact, emitting an unspeakable fragrance. O, the wonder! The priests and Christians received it with great devotion and placed her within the Church of Saint Paraskevi by permission of the then most holy Patriarch Paisios. To this day, her hallowed relics exist and are venerated by patriarchs, archbishops, notable people, and all Orthodox Christians, to the glory of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen."

The new chapel of St. Argyre the New Martyr in Panagiouda, Lesvos (taken from: http://www.pigizois.net/agiologio/ag_argiri/naos01.jpg)

  

Though April 5th is considered the day she surrendered her soul to God, April 30th, as the date of the removal of her holy relics, is more widely celebrated. Because she refused to defile her sacred marriage, and because she was martyred so young, she is a patron saint and protector of both marriage, and the youth.

  

The holy icon of St. Argyre the Neomartyr with scenes from her life. According to the author of the source site (http://www.pigizois.net/agiologio/ag_argiri/ag_argiri.htm), when the people of Panagiouda were in the process of building the above chapel of the Saint, St. Argyre appeared in a dream to the priest, Fr. Theologos Sakales, and told him: "When you make my icon for my chapel, don't make it like this one here, but depict me holding the two stefana (crowns) of marriage." True to her guidance, the icon above depicts St. Argyre holding both the Holy Cross of a martyr and the marriage crowns as a defender and patron saint of marriage.

Apolytikion of St. Argyre in the Fourth Tone (amateur translation)

You put to shame tyrants in tortures, O pure one, you were shown forth, O much-suffering one, as strong as a diamond, o glorious martyr of Christ, you showed forth in struggles for Christ the Savior, love and zeal and unquenchable longing, Who worthily glorified you, O Argyre.

For the full account of the life, the service and the paraklesis to the Saint (in Greek), see: http://www.pigizois.net/agiologio/ag_argiri/vios_ag_argiris_prostatis_gamou.pdf, http://www.pigizois.net/agiologio/ag_argiri/akolouthia_ag_argiris.pdf, and http://www.pigizois.net/agiologio/ag_argiri/paraklitikos_kanos_ag_argiris.pdf, respectively.
   

St. Argyre the New Martyr (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

  

St. Argyre the New Martyr, the Protector of Marriage (source)  
Christ is Risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, bestowing life!
Truly the Lord is risen!