Canon to the Holy Hieromartyr and Confessor Pavel, Bishop of Kolomna #

Tropar, Tone 8: O Hierarch Pavel, confessor and bishop of Kolomna, who didst denounce delusion and wast slain by the savage Nikon: thou art a firm hope unto the oppressed. Do thou deliver and save us who faithfully celebrate thy radiant memory. (Twice)

Glory, both now and ever. Bogorodichen: O Thou who for our sake wast born of a Virgin and didst endure the Cross, O Good One, who by Thy death didst overthrow death and as God didst manifest the resurrection: despise not the work of Thine own hands, but in Thy mercy, receive her who gave birth unto Thee—the God-bearer—who prayeth for us, and save, O our Saviour, Thy people who have sinned.

Canon, Tone 2

Ode I. Irmos: In the deep of old was drowned the whole host of Pharaoh, wielding their arms; but the Word, incarnate, hath utterly destroyed the sin that warreth against us. Gloriously hath the Lord been glorified!

Refrain with bow: O holy hieromartyr and confessor Pavel, pray unto God for us.

Strengthen, O Christ, the power of my mind, and grant me a word of divine wisdom, that I may hymn Thine ever-faithful servant and pleaser, the hierarch Pavel.

Refrain. Zealous for the Church of God, thou didst dare to expose the treachery of apostates at their assembly, who then cast thee into exile; but thou didst sing unto the Lord: Gloriously hath He been glorified!

Glory: On that day wherein Christ accomplished the bloodless sacrifice, on Great and Holy Thursday, thou, O confessor, wast consumed in fire like a sacrifice well-pleasing unto God.

Both now: More glorious than the cherubim and beyond compare more honourable than the seraphim, art thou shown to be, O Ever-Virgin, who gavest birth unto God the Word, beyond all mind and speech. Wherefore all the faithful do magnify thee.

Katavasia: Deliver from tribulations Thy servants, O holy hieromartyr and confessor Pavel; for after God do we all flee unto thee, for thou dost intercede for us before Christ our God. (Bow)

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice, with bows)

Ode III. Irmos: The wilderness hath blossomed as the lily, O Lord, the Gentile barren one hath become the Church, through Thy coming, wherein is established my heart.

Refrain: O holy hieromartyr and confessor Pavel, pray unto God for us.

Adorned with the rank of the episcopate, living a life well-pleasing unto God, and lawfully suffering for the truth, thou didst appear as an invincible bulwark of the Church, wherein was established thy heart.

Refrain. Observing the divine Gospel, thou didst not fear them that slay the body; and after thy fiery end, thou didst ascend into the heavens, to join chorus with the saints.

Glory. Shining with noble character, thou wast filled with wisdom and spiritual strength; and now thou dost shine with the glory of thy sufferings, for which thou hast received a hundredfold reward.

Both now. The Lord hath reigned over the nations, having clothed Himself in flesh from thee, O Most Pure One, delivering them from the bondage of the enemy and enlightening them with the wisdom of the Gospel.

Katavasia.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice, with bows)

Sessional Hymn (Sedalen), Tone 7: Celebrating thy radiant memory, O wondrous hierarch of Christ Pavel, we entreat thee, as a great intercessor and comforter: beseech Christ God to grant unity of mind unto His Church, salvation unto us Christians, and great mercy.

Glory, both now and ever. Bogorodichen: He who is incomprehensibly begotten of the Father did not depart from His bosom, but became incarnate of thee, O Virgin Mary, for the salvation of the world; and even after birth, He did preserve thee as a Virgin. O God-bearer, entreat Him to deliver us from the arrows of sin and to save those who glorify thee in faith.

Ode IV. Irmos: Not a mediator nor an angel, but Thou Thyself, O Lord, didst come forth from the Virgin and wast incarnate, and didst save the whole of me, man; to Thee I cry: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Refrain. Thou didst proclaim the Unity of the Pre-Eternal Trinity, which thou didst serve in faith and love, O hieromartyr; and now do thou pray that worldly tumults may be stilled, and that those who hymn thee may be saved.

Refrain. Worthy of praise is the memory of the righteous; for thou didst live righteously and wast slain by the unrighteous, and hast received thy reward from the Righteous Judge.

Glory. Thou didst emulate the zeal of Elias, O hierarch, reproving delusion and teaching all not to depart from the right faith of Christ, which is more precious than all things.

Both now. Daniel beheld thee as the mountain unhewn, O God-bearer, for from thee was cut without hands the Stone, Christ, who hath shattered the deception of the demons and filled the whole earth with the knowledge of God in truth.

Katavasia.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice, with bows)

Ode V. Irmos: Thou wast made the Mediator between God and men, O Christ our God; for through Thee, O Master, we have found a path to the Father, the Origin of Light, having been led from the night of ignorance.

Refrain. Brighter than the sun hath thy memory shone forth, O confessor; and keeping feast thereon, we glorify thy struggles, asking Christ to grant us, through thee, forgiveness of sins.

Refrain. Who would not marvel at thy humility and courage, O glorious one? For thou alone didst dare to expose wicked schemes at the council, fearing neither torments nor death.

Glory. Thou didst purify thy soul through abstinence, prayer, and grace; cleanse our souls, we pray thee, of sinful passions and every stumbling-block, by thy prayers, O holy hieromartyr.

Both now. We confess thee alone to be the God-bearer, for thou alone didst give birth to the one Christ God. Entreat Him in behalf of all who call upon thee in faith and love.

Katavasia.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice, with bows)

Ode VI. Irmos: Held fast in the abyss of sin, I cry unto the unfathomable abyss of Thy mercy, O God: lead me up from corruption.

Refrain. Thou didst endure bitter exile, unlawfully cast down from the episcopal throne; yet thou wast found worthy to stand before the throne of the glory of God, with hierarchs and martyrs.

Refrain. Following after Christ in apostolic manner, thou didst confess His Gospel teaching before the tormentor, O hierarch Pavel, fearing neither fetters, nor prison, nor death.

Glory. Thou didst liken thyself unto the true Shepherd, Christ, laying down thy life for thy sheep, confirming them in piety both by word and by deed, and leading them not away from the pasture of righteousness.

Both now. Let all the race of man rejoice, O Most Pure One, and let assemblies of the faithful chant thy praises; for thou hast borne Christ the Savior, the Deliverer of our souls.

Katavasia.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice, without bows)

Glory… Both now…

Kontakion, Tone 3: Like a northern star unmoved, thou shinest upon the firmament of the Church, revealing the rule of faith, for the sake of which thou didst suffer, O hieromartyr Pavel. Wherefore Christ hath given thee unto His Church as a guide and teacher, and as a boast and confirmation unto all the faithful.

Ikos: Desiring ever to behold Christ, the Light eternal and unwaning, thou didst meekly endure suffering like a lamb, at the hands of a spiritual wolf clothed in the vesture of a shepherd. Unable to bear thy zeal for the holy Faith, he tore at thee in the midst of the council, stripping from thee thy holy omophorion, and casting thee into exile, where thou didst suffer and die as a martyr, O hierarch. Wherefore we honor thee with love as a teacher of the Church, and a boast and confirmation unto all the faithful.

Ode VII. Irmos: The ungodly command of the lawless tyrant once raised the flame on high against God, but Christ stretched forth a spiritual dew unto the pious children, for He is blessed and exceedingly glorified.

Refrain. Thou wast not terrified by threats of torment and death, but didst boldly withstand the distortion of the apostolic tradition, crying aloud unto God: Blessed art Thou and exceedingly glorified.

Refrain. A steadfast pillar of the Church wast thou revealed to be, for neither beatings, nor wounds, nor even the threat of death could shake thee, as thou didst cry unto Christ: Blessed art Thou and exceedingly glorified.

Glory. Thy zeal, O hieromartyr, became a two-edged sword against the enemies of God, striking them down not with carnal might, but by the power of Christ our God, who is blessed and exceedingly glorified.

Both now. O Christ, who dost cast down the proud and exalt the humble, still the enemies who rise up against us, and save our souls through the prayers of Her who gave Thee birth.

Katavasia.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice, with bows)

Ode VIII. Irmos: The fiery furnace in Babylon once divided its operation by God’s command: for it consumed the Chaldeans, but refreshed the faithful, who sang: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Refrain. Thy blood, dripping upon the earth, became spiritual seed, from which sprang forth hosts of martyrs, multitudes of the faithful, and ranks of priests and bishops crying aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Refrain. O all ye faithful, come, let us worship Christ (bow), giving thanks, for in these latter days He hath revealed such an intercessor and advocate—Pavel the hieromartyr—crying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Glory. To us who honor thee with love, O hierarch, grant remission of sins by thy prayers unto the All-Holy Trinity, whom we glorify in one essence, singing: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Both now. Having thee as our Protectress and mighty Helper, O God-bearer, we pray thee: deliver us from every evil circumstance, as we cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Katavasia.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice, with bows)

Ode IX. Irmos: The Son of the Father without beginning, God and Lord, became incarnate of the Virgin, appearing unto us to enlighten those in darkness and to gather the dispersed. Therefore, we magnify the all-praised God-bearer.

Refrain (with a bow). Thou wast named after the Chief Apostle, and didst emulate him, with steadfast faith and sufferings for the word of God; with him now pray thou also on our behalf.

Refrain. He who unjustly cast thee from the episcopal throne fled of his own accord from his own see, driven by no man, but only by the providence of God; and rightly was he stripped of rank and honor, but thee hath the Lord glorified as a hieromartyr.

Glory. Thou wast revealed to be a great intercessor for us sinners, having finished thy life as a true hierarch and dying as a martyr and confessor; and now thou dost rejoice with the saints in triumph.

Both now. Thou hast been exalted above all the ranks of the heavenly powers, O God-bearer, for thou didst bear the Son who before the morning star shone forth from God the Father. To Him do we bow in worship (bow), and thee, the all-praised God-bearer, do we magnify.

Katavasia:

Dismissal: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thine all-pure Mother, and of the holy hieromartyr and confessor Pavel, bishop of Kolomna, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind. Amen.