Sunday June 21, 2026 / June 8, 2026
The new martyrs, who with unremitting battle have cast down the ancient deception, have exalted the Faith of the Orthodox; for, having abolished the worship of the iniquitous and professed Christ boldly, they now unceasÂingly entreat Him as perfect God, that He grant us great mercy.
Rejoice mystically, O Church of Christ, beholding thy children, the new martyrs, standing round about thy table in their relics, like newly planted olive shoots; and cry aloud to the Creator of all: Thou art the confirmation of the martyrs, O Christ!
When Thou didst descend to death, O Life immortal, / Thou didst slay hell with the splendor of Thy Godhead! / And when from the depths Thou didst raise the dead, / all the powers of heaven cried out: / O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to Thee!
All beyond thought, all most glorious, / are your mysteries, O Theotokos. / Sealed in purity, preserved in virginity, / you were revealed to be the true Mother who gave birth to the true God. / Entreat Him to save our souls.
Hell became afraid, O Almighty Savior, / seeing the miracle of Thy Resurrection from the tomb! / The dead arose! Creation, with Adam, beheld this and rejoiced with Thee! / And the world, O my Savior, praises Thee forever.
Through true recruitment/ didst thou become a most comely general of the heavenly King,/ O passion-bearer Theodore;/ for with the weaponry of faith thou didst wisely array thyself,/ didst vanquish legions of demons and didst show thyself forth as a victorious athlete.// Wherefore, with faith do we ever bless thee.
Arrayed in faith with manliness of soul,/ and taking in hand the word of God as a spear,/ thou didst conquer the enemy, O Theodore,/ great among the marÂtyrs.// With them cease thou never to entreat Christ God in behalf of us all.