Wednesday May 20, 2026 / May 7, 2026
The image of Thy Cross hath now shone forth more brightly than the sun,/ and Thou hast extended it from the holy mountain to the place of the skull,/ and therein hast revealed Thy might, O Savior./ Strengthening all faithful Orthodox Christians thereby, O Christ God,// save them ever in peace, and by the supplications of the Theotokos do Thou also save us.
The all-pure Cross, which opened the heavens which were shut,/ hath shed upon the earth all-radiant heavenly beams;/ wherefore, receiving the effulgence of its activity/we are guided to the never-waning Light;// and amid battles we have it as a weapon of peace, and invincible trophy.
Having spurned the worldly life, O our venerable and God-bearing father Nilus, fleeing the tumult of life thou wast quick to gather the flowers of paradise from the writings of the fathers, and, having made thine abode in the wilderness, thou didst flourish like a lily of the field; wherefore, thou hast passed over to the mansions of heaven. Teach us who honor thee also to tread thy royal path, and pray thou for our souls.
Fleeing from the tumult of the world for the sake of Christ's love, with joyous soul thou didst make thine abode in the wilderness, and struggling well therein, O father Nilus, thou didst Live on earth like an angel; for thou didst lay waste to thy body through fasting and the keeping of vigils for the sake of everlasting life. And having been counted worthy thereof, standing with the saints before the all-holy Trinity in the light of ineffable joy, pray thou,— we, thy children, beseech thee, falling prostrate,— that we be preserved from every assault of enemies visible and invisible, and from evil circumstances, and that our souls be saved.