ON THE 25TH OF THE SAME MONTH

Commemoration of our Father among the Saints Gregory, Archbishop of Constantinople, the Theologian.

AT GREAT VESPERS

Father Gregorios, your lips the tomb, host to oblivion, did not hide; for you have been revealed as the mouth of Theology, and now you utter doctrines of true religion to the inhabited world; and so implore that there may given to our souls peace and great mercy.

Father Gregorios, wisely you shunned the hostility and treachery of the flesh, and mounted on a four-horse chariot of the virtues that rides the heavens, you flew up to the ineffable beauty, filled with which, you grant us the prize of peace and great mercy.

Father Gregorios, you have become a faithful mediator between God and humans; and flow making Christ most merciful by prayers, uttered with boldness, do not cease, Venerable Father, to intercede with the Lord that there may be given to our souls peace and great mercy.

Come, with sacred songs let us praise one inspired by God; the watchful eye of grace and all-wise mouth of the Spirit; the radiant beacon of the inhabited world, the mighty resonance of the Church; the all-wondrous glory of orthodoxy; the fount of Theology; the ever-flowing river of doctrines; the spring gushing with divine streams of immortality.

With spiritual longing let us to-day sing the praise of the High Priest, the mirror of the Apostles and champion of true religion; the flood of divine words, the sweetest breeze of teaching; the sureness of exalted words; the lips of heavenly thunder; the tongue breathing fire; the treasure of wisdom,; the herald of the Word; the adornment of the faithful.

With fitting hymns let us all celebrate the Theologian; the guardian of Christ’s flock, all-wise hunter of wolves; driver out of noisome weeds; all-wondrous sower of right doctrines, most powerful pursuer of heretics; one who by godly watchfulness truly, as was right, increased Christ’s talents and enlightened the world with the godlike splendours of his teachings.

Your watchful tongue. echoing in the ears of hearts for their instruction, rouses the souls of the slothful; and with words inspired by God a ladder is found leading those from earth up to heaven. And so Theologian Gregory, do not cease to intercede with Christ God that our souls may saved from dangers.

The King of heaven through love for mankind appeared on earth and lived among men; for taking flesh from a pure Virgin and coming forth from her with the addition, He is one Son, double in nature, but not in person; therefore proclaiming Him as truly perfect God and perfect man, we confess Christ our God; implore Him, Mother without bridegroom, to have mercy on our souls.

The memory of the just is praised and the Lord’s blessing is upon his head. Blessed is one who has found Wisdom; a mortal who knows understanding. To import her is better that treasures of gold and silver. She is more valuable than precious stones; nothing of value equals her worth. Justice proceeds from her mouth; she carries law and mercy on its tongue. Therefore, my children, listen to me; for I speak weighty things; and blest the one who keeps my ways. For my goings out are the goings out of life, and favour is prepared from the Lord. Therefore I exhort you, and utter my voice to the children of men. Because I, Wisdom, have prepared counsel, I have called upon knowledge and understanding. Mine are counsel and sureness; mine is prudence, mine is strength. I love those who are my friends, while those who seek me will find grace. You innocent, understand cunning; you untaught, take it to heart. Listen to me, for I will speak weighty things, and I will open right things from my lips. Because my throat will meditate truth; lying lips are abominable before me. All the words of my mouth are with justice, there is nothing crooked in them nor twisted. They are all straight for those who understand, and right for those who find knowledge. For I teach you what is true, that your hope may be in the Lord, and that you may be filled with spirit.

A just man, even if he die early, will be at rest; for an honoured old age is not so for length of time, nor is it measured by the number of years. Understanding is men’s true grey hairs, and a ripe old age is a spotless life. Being pleasing to God, he was loved; and while living among sinners, he was taken away. He was snatched away lest wickedness alter his understanding, or trickery deceive his soul. For the witchery of evil dims the good, and the waywardness of desire undermines an innocent mind. Perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years; for his soul was pleasing to the Lord; therefore he hurried him from the midst of evil. But the peoples having seen and not understood, nor do they lay such a thing to heart, that grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his presence with his chosen ones.

The mouth of a just man distils wisdom; the lips of men know graces. The mouth of the wise meditates wisdom; Justice delivers them from death. When a just man dies hope is not lost; for a just son is born for life, and among his good things he will pluck the fruit of justice. There is light at all times for the just, and they will find grace and glory from the Lord. The tongue of the wise knows what is good, and wisdom will takes its rest in their hearts. The Lord loves holy hearts; while all who are blameless in the way are acceptable to him. The wisdom of the Lord will enlighten the face of the understanding; for she anticipates those who desire her before they know it, and is easily contemplated by those who love her. one who rises for her at dawn will not toil, and one who keeps vigil because of her will be without care. For she goes about seeking those who are worthy of her, and shows itself favourably to those in the ways. Wickedness will never prevail against wisdom. Because of this I too became a lover of her beauty and became her friend, and I sought her out from my youth, and I sought to take her as my bride; because the Master of all things loved her. For she is an initiate of the knowledge of God one who chooses his works. Her toils are virtues; she teaches sobriety and prudence; justice and courage, than which nothing is more useful in human life. If anyone longs for much experience. she knows how to compare things of old and things that are to come. she knows the twists of words and the explanations of riddles; she foresees signs and wonders and the outcomes of seasons and times. And to all she is a good counsellor. Because immortality is in her, and fame in the fellowship of her words. Therefore I appealed to the Lord and besought him and said from my whole heart: God of my Fathers and Lord of mercy, who made all things by your word, and established humanity by your wisdom to be master over the creatures that had come into being by you, and to order the world in holiness and justice; give me Wisdom who sits by your throne, and do not reject me from among your children, for I am your servant and the son of your maid servant. Send her out from your holy dwelling and from the throne of your glory, that she may be present and teach me what is pleasing before you. And let her guide me with knowledge and guard me with her glory. For all the thoughts of mortals are wretched and their ideas are unstable.

At the Liti, Idiomel Stichera. Tone 1 By Anatolios.

Purifying your body with your soul like a professional by inspired actions, you approached the mountain of theology as you were initiated into the things of Goal, Gregory, revealer of God; and entering the inner darkness, you received the law code engraved by God and inscribed: consubstantial Trinity; which, as we worship it through, we praise and say: Unity known in Trinity, have mercy on us.

The same.

Opening your mouth to the word of God, you drew in the Spirit of wisdom; and filled with grace you thundered out divine doctrines, thrice-blest Gregory; and initiated with the angelic Powers, you proclaimed the triple and undivided Light; and so, enlightened by your discourses of God, we worship a Trinity, known in one Godhead, for the salvation of our souls.

The same.

With your fiery tongue, Gregory inspired by God, you burnt up the prattling against God of the heretics; you were revealed as truly a mouth which spoke in the Spirit the wonderful works of God and depicted in letters the Essence of identical power of the Trinity, the hidden mystery; and you made the triple-sunned light shine on the whole world, and you intercede unceasingly on behalf of our souls.

Purifying your body with your soul like a professional by inspired actions, you approached the mountain of theology as you were initiated into the things of God, Gregory, revealer of God; and entering the inner darkness, you received the law code engraved by God and inscribed: consubstantial Trinity; which! as we worship it through, we praise and say: Unity known in Trinity, have mercy on us.

All-holy Virgin, accept the supplications of sinners, do not despise the sighing of the afflicted, but intercede with him who came from your womb that we may be saved.

Hail source of theology, and dwelling place of high contemplation; you searched the high depth, Father, with devout reasoning and made clear to all that in three Suns there is one mingling of light, united by the identity of Godhead, but made triple by the holy persons; by purity of life and Splendour of words you teach all to honour the all-holy Trinity, from whom, O God-inspired, implore that there may be sent forth to our souls great mercy.

With the beam of your theology you dispelled the dark madness of heresies; for by your devout and inspired reasoning, O Theologian, you reached the source of radiance and became familiar with the rays which flood from there; for you made you mind as clear as a mirror and so, Father, you received the triple light of the Godhead and its undivided splendour, and richly contained its single ray; whom now implore that there may be given to our souls great mercy.

Hail river of God, ever full of the waters of grace, who make glad the whole city of Christ the King with inspired words and teachings; torrent of delight, inexhaustible sea; keen, lawful guardian of doctrines; most fervent champion of the Trinity; instrument of the Spirit; watchful mind; fair-sounding tongue, searching the depth of the Scriptures; now implore Christ. that to our souls may be given his great mercy.

Cultivating the hearts of the faithful, Gregory, with your tongue, you made unfading fruits of true religion blossom in them for God, cutting out thorny heresies by the root, and adorning thoughts with purity. And so, as you receive our praises, godly lyre, watchful eye, shepherd of Shepherds hunter of wolves, intercede insistently with the Word, O Theologian, on behalf of our souls.

Pure Virgin. Sovereign Lady, assistance of all, send down upon me, driven in confusion from the darkness of dangers and ever drowning in the stormy waves of life, a drop of your mercy, and grant me your hand of help; and make me worthy of the portion of the chosen and the just, for you gave birth to the abyss of mercy.

Then the Apolytikion. Tone 1.

The shepherd’s pipe of your theology has overcome the trumpets of the orators; for as one who searches out the depths of the Spirit beauty of utterance was added to you. But, Father Gregory, intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Theotokion.

When Gabriel addressed you, O Virgin, with his ‘Hail’, as he spoke the Master of all things became incarnate in you, the holy Ark, as the just David sang; you were proclaimed wider than the heavens, for you Carried your Creator. Glory to him who dwelt in you; glory to him who came forth from you; glory to him who has freed us through your bearing child!