HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING

TO

En tes imeres anastasa de Mariam taftes

ST LUKE 1 : 39 49 & 56

In those days Mary arose and went

in haste to the hill country, to a city
of Judah, and she entered the house
of Zachariah and greeted Elizabeth.

PRIEST

eporevthi is tin orinin meta spoudis is

polin Iouda, k isilthen is ton ikon
Zahariou ke ispasato in Elisavet.
egeneto os ikousen i Elisavet tou
aspasmon tis Marias, eskirtise to
vrefos enti kilia aftis. Ke eplisthi
Pnevmatos Agiou i Elisavet ke
anefonise foni megali ke ipen:
Evlogimeni
Si
en
ginexi
ke
Evlogimenos O Karpos tis Kilias Sou.

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

of Mary, the babe leapt in her womb;

and Elizabeth was filled with the
Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a
loud cry: Blessed art Thou among
women, and Blessed is the Fruit of
Thy Womb!

Festal Matins & Divine Liturgy Hymns

Ke pothen mi touto ina elthi i Mitir tou

And why is this granted to me, that

Ke

Kyriou mou pros me?

the Mother of my Lord should come

to me?

Idou

gar os egeneto i foni tou

aspasmou Sou is ta ota mou,
eskirtisen en agalliasi to vrefos en ti
kilia mou.

For

behold, when the sound of Thy

greeting came to my ears, the babe in
my womb leaped for Joy.

Ke Makaris i pistevsasa oti este teliosis And

Blessed is she who believed, for

there would be a Fulfilment of what
was spoken to her from the Lord.

tis lelalimenis afti para Kyriou.

Ke

And

Idou

For

Emine de Mariam sin afti osi minas tris

And Mary remained with her about

ipe Mariam: Megalini i psihi mou

ton Kyrion ke igaliase to pnevma
mou epi to Theo to Sotiri mou, oti
epevlepsen epi tin tapinosin tis doulis
Aftou.
gar apo tou nin Makariousi me
pase e genee. Oti epiise mi Megalia O
dinatos ke Agionto Onoma Aftou!

Mary said: My soul magnifies the

Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God
my Saviour, for He has regarded the
lowly estate of His handmaiden!

USED IN C

ONJUNCTION

2 July 2016
The Placing of the Robe of our Lady Theotokos
at Blachernae, Constantinople
Also the Feast of St Photios of Kiev & All Russia St Juvenal of Jerusalem St Stephen
the Great of Moldavia St John Maximovitch of Shanghai & San Francisco

behold: henceforth all generations

will call me Blessed; for He Who is
Mighty has done great things for me,
and Holy is His Name!

ke ipestrepsen is ton ikon aftis.

three months, and returned to her

home.

KATAVASIAS

By the Grace of God

OF THE

ROBE

OF

THEOTOKOS

AT

BLACHERNAE 2 JULY

OUR LADY THEOTOKOS

NOT FOR MATERIAL PROFIT!!

marguerite.paizis@gmail.com
RE-EDITED & RE-PUBLISHED - 17 JUNE 2016

PLACING

OF

Our Eternal Gratitude to Pater Seraphim Dedes & all the contributing Translators
elsewhere for the original Greek & English texts and for making our Worship a little
easier to understand, to participate and to appreciate.
Glory to God for His Great Mercy!
www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs

COMPILED, ADAPTED, EDITED & PRINTED BY MARGUERITE PAIZIS

ARCHONDISSA & TEACHER BY DIVINE GRACE
GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE OF ALEXANDRIA & ALL AFRICA
ARCHDIOCESE OF GOOD HOPE-HOLY CHURCH OF THE DORMITION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
PO BOX 28348-SUNRIDGE PARK-6008-REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

12.

WITH SERVICE BOOKS

2015

THE PLACING

OF

OUR LADY THEOTOKOS ROBE

AT

BLACHERNAE

During the reign of the Byzantine Emperor, Leo the Great (457-474), two brothers
Galbios and Candidos, set out on a Pilgrimage from Constantinople to Palestine,
intending to visit all the Holy Sites.
In a small settlement near Nazareth they lodged at the home of an old Jewish
woman, where they noticed a room lit by many lamps. Incense filled the air
and many sick people had gathered there. When they questioned the old lady
concerning the unusual circumstances, she seemed reluctant to answer them.
Finally, seeing their persistence, she told them that she possessed a Most Precious
Holy Garment - the Robe of the Mother of God, whereby many Divine Miracles
and Healings occurrred.
Before Her Dormition the Most Holy Virgin Theotokos had bequeathed one of her
garments to a pious Jewish maiden - an ancestor of the old woman - instructing
her to pass it on to another Virgin after her death. Thus, the Robe of the Mother
of God was preserved in that Jewish family from generation to generation.
The jewelled casket containing the Sacred Robe, was eventually transferred to
Constantinople, after St Gennadios, Patriarch of Constantinople and Emperor
Leo - having been informed of the Most Holy Relic and being convinced of its
incorrupt state - certified its authenticity.
At Blachernae, near the coast, a new church in honour of our All Holy Lady
Theotokos was constructed and on 2 June 458 St Gennadios carried the Sacred
Robe into the Blachernae Church with appropriate solemnity, and reverently
placed it within a new Reliquary.
Afterwards, Her Maphorion (i.e., the outer robe), and part of Her Belt were also
placed in the Reliquary.
Orthodox Iconography of the Feast subsequently
combined the two Events of the Placing of the Robe, and the Placing of the Belt
of the Mother of God in the Reliquary in the Blachernae church.
A Russian pilgrim, Stephen of Novgorod, visited Constantinople circa 1350: We
arrived at Blachernae, where the Robe lies upon an Altar in a sealed
Reliquary.
During several enemy invasions and attacks, the Most Holy Theotokos saved
Constantinople, where Her Holy Robe and Belt was preserved the siege by the
Avars in 626, by the Persians in 677, and by the Arabs in 717.
On 18 June 860 the Russian fleet of Prince Askold - comprising more than 200 ships laid waste the coastal regions of the Black Sea and the Bosphoros, before
entering the Golden Horn and threatening Constantinople.
The Russian ships sailed within sight of the city, setting ashore troops who
...proceeded before the city, stretching forth their swords.
Emperor Michael III (842-867), interrupted his campaign against the Arabs and
returned to the capital, where he prayed all night, prostrated upon the stone
tiles of the Church of the Mother of God at Blachernae. Patriarch Photios
addressed his Flock, calling for Tears of Repentance to wash away sins, and to
seek the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos with Fervent Prayer.
The danger increased with each passing hour. The city was barely able to stand
against a spear... said Patriarch Photios in another of his Homilies. Under these
conditions the decision was made to save the Churchs Most Sacred Objects,
especially the Holy Robe of the Mother of God, which was kept in the Blachernae
Church, not far from the shore.
After serving an All-Night Vigil, the the Holy Robe was removed from the Reliquary
in the Blachernae Church, and carried in a procession around the city walls,
dipping its hem into the waters of the Bosphoros, wherever possible, before
carrying it into the Church of Hagia Sophia in the centre of Constantinople.
As they had prayed and hoped, our All Holy Theotokos protected the great city and
even quelled the fury of the Russian warriors, making it possible for an

2.

PLACING

OF THE

ROBE

OF

THEOTOKOS

AT

BLACHERNAE 2 JULY

2015

FESTAL KONTAKION THEOTOKOS ROBE TONE 4

Perivolin

Thou hast bestowed Thy Sacred Garment,

pasi
Pistis
aftharsias,
Theoharitote Agni edoriso, tin
Ieran Esthita Sou, meth is to Ieron,
soma Sou eskepasas, Skepi Thia
anthropon. Isper tin katathesin,
Eortazomen potho, ke ekvoontes
krazomen Pistos. Here, Parthene,
Hristianon to Kavhima!

O Lady, to be a Robe of Incorruption, O

Pure One, for all Faithful, O Divine
Protection of mankind; for with it
Thou hast arrayed Thy Most Pure
Sacred Body. Now, with longing, we
observe the Feast of its Placing, and in
a loud voice we cry out with Faith:
Rejoice, O Virgin, the Boast of
Christians everywhere!

PROKEIMENON THEOTOKOS MAGNIFICAT TONE 3

Megalini

Magnify,

Oti

For

i psihi mou ton Kyrion, ke

Igalliase to pnevma mou epi to Theo
to Sotiri mou.

O my soul, the Lord, and

Rejoice, O my spirit, in God my
Saviour.

evlepsen epi tin tapinosin tis doulis

Aftou.
Idou gar, apo tou nin
Makariousi me pase e genee.
THE EPISTLE

OF

ST PAUL

He has regarded the low estate of

His
Handmaiden.
Behold:
henceforth all generations will call
me Blessed.

TO THE

HEBREWS 9 : 1 7

Adelphi:

Brethren:

Skini gar kateskevasthi -

A Tabernacle was prepared the outer

ihen i proti Skini Dikeomata

Latrias to te Agion Kosmikon.

i proti en i ite
lihnia ke i Trapeze ke i prosthesis ton
Arton i tis legete Agia.

the First Covenant had

Regulations for worship and an
earthly Sanctuary.

one, in which were the Lampstand

and the Table and the Bread of the
Presence called the Holy Place.

Meta de to Defteron katapetasma skini i Behind the

the Second Curtain stood a

Tabernacle the Holy of Holies
having the Golden Altar of Incense
and the Ark of the Covenant covered
on all sides with Gold, which
contained a golden Urn holding the
Manna, Aarons Rod that budded,
and the Tablets of the Covenant.

legomeni Agia Agion - hrisoun

ehousa thimiatirion ke tin kivoton tis
diathikis
perikekalimmenin
pantothen hrisio, en i stamnos hrisi
ehousa to Manna ke Ravdos Aaron i
Vlastisasa ke e places tis diathikis.

Iperano

de aftis Herouvim
Kataskiazonta to ilastrion.

Doxis

Above

it were the Cherubim of Glory,

overshadowing the Mercy Seat.

Peri on ouk esti nin legin kata meros.

Of these things we cannot now speak in

Touton

These

detail.
de outo kateskevsasmenon is
men tin protin skinin dia pantos
isiasin i ieris tas latrias epitelountes,
is de tin defteran apax tou eniaftou
monos O Arhierefs, ou horis ematos,
O prosferi iper eaftou ke ton tou laou
agnoimaton.

PLACING

OF THE

ROBE

OF

THEOTOKOS

preparations having thus been

made, the Priests went continually
into
the
Outer
Tabernacle,
performing their Ritual duties, but
into the Second Tabernacle only the
High Priest goes, and he but once a
year, and not without taking blood,
which he offers for himself and for
the errors of the people.

AT

BLACHERNAE 2 JULY

2015

11.

Pnevmatos.

of Cures and Healings, and a River

that teams with all the Gifts of the
Spirit of God.

Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati,

Glory

Amin

Amen

ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton

eonon.

to the Father, and to the

Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now
and forever, and to the Ages of
ages.

THEOTOKOS ROBE

Frena

katharnates ke noun, Sin tis

Angelis ke imis panigyrisomen,
fedros
exarhontes,
davitikin
melodian, ti neanidi nimfi tou
Vasileos Hristou tou Theou imon.
Anastithi, Kyrie, legontes is tin
anapafsin Sou, Si ke i kivots tou
Agiasmatos Sou. Os gar palation
terpnon, taftin katekosmisas, ke
kateklirosas aftin ti poli Sou Despota,
peripiisthe ke skepin, ek polemion
varvaron, ti kratea dinami Sou, tes
ikesies aftis.

TONE 2

Cleansed in heart and mind, let us keep

the Feast together with the Angels,
joyfully addressing the Song of
David to the Maiden Bride of Christ
our God, the King of all! Let us say:
Arise, O Lord, into Thy Resting Place,
Thou, and the Ark of Thy Holiness,
for Thou hast adorned Her as a
Palace of Delight. Thou hast granted
Her, O Master, as an Inheritance to
Thy People, to Preserve and Shelter
them by Thy Mighty Power from
their
enemies
through
Her
Supplications!

THE GREAT DOXOLOGY

FESTAL APOLYTIKION THEOTOKOS ROBE - TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

Theotoke

Aiparthene, ton anthropon i

Skepi, Esthita ke Zonin tou ahrantou
Sou somatos, kratean ti pli Sou
pervolin edoriso, to asporo took Sou
aftharta diaminanta. Epi Si gar ke
fisis kenotomite ke hronos.
Dio
disopoumen Se, Irinin ti ikoumeni
dorisasthe, ke tes psihes imon to
Mega Eleos.

Ever

Virgin Theotokos, the Shelter of

mankind, Thou hast granted to Thy
City as a Protective Wall the clothing
and garment that Thy wore on Thine
Immaculate Body. By Thy Seedless
Childbirth, they have remained
incorrupt. For in Thee both nature
and
time
are
made
unique.
Therefore we implore Thee: grant
Peace to Thy Commonwealth, and to
our souls Great Mercy.

FESTAL DIVINE LITURGY HYMNS

HYMNS

OF THE

MIKRA

ISODOS

AND

READINGS

SMALL ENTRANCE

FESTAL APOLYTIKION THEOTOKOS ROBE - TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

Theotoke

Aiparthene, ton anthropon i

Skepi, Esthita ke Zonin tou ahrantou
Sou somatos, kratean ti pli Sou
pervolin edoriso, to asporo took Sou
aftharta diaminanta. Epi Si gar ke
fisis kenotomite ke hronos.
Dio
disopoumen Se, Irinin ti ikoumeni
dorisasthe, ke tes psihes imon to
Mega Eleos.

10.

PLACING

OF THE

ROBE

OF

Ever

THEOTOKOS

Virgin Theotokos, the Shelter of

mankind, Thou hast granted to Thy
City as a Protective Wall the clothing
and garment that Thy wore on Thine
Immaculate Body. By Thy Seedless
Childbirth, they have remained
incorrupt. For in Thee both nature
and
time
are
made
unique.
Therefore we implore Thee: grant
Peace to Thy Commonwealth, and to
our souls Great Mercy.
AT

BLACHERNAE 2 JULY

2015

honorable truce to be concluded which compelled Prince Askold to lift the

siege of Constantinople.
On 25 June 860 the Russian Army began to leave, taking with them a large tribute
payment. A week later, on 2 July, the Wonderworking Robe of the Mother of
God was solemnly and reverently returned to its resting place in the Reliquary at
the Blachernae Church.
In remembrance of these Events an annual Feastday of the Placing of the Robe of
the Mother of God was established on 2 July by St Photios, the Patriarch of
Constantinople.
In October-November 860, a Russian delegation arrived in Constantinople to
conclude a Treaty ...in Love and Peace. Some of the conditions of the Peace
Treaty included Articles concerning the Baptism of Kievan Rus, the payment of
an Annual Tribute by the Byzantines to the Russians, permission for them to serve
with the Byzantine Army, an Agreement to Trade in the territory of the Empire
(primarily in Constantinople), and to send a Diplomatic Mission to Byzantium.
The most important Article concerned the Holy Baptism of Rus. The Continuator of
the Byzantine Theophanes Chronicles related: ...their Delegation arrived in
Constantinople with a request for them to receive Holy Baptism, which also
was fulfilled.
An Orthodox Mission was sent to Kiev to fulfill this mutual wish of the Russians and
the Greeks. Not very long before this (in 855) St Cyril the Philosopher had created
a Slavonic alphabet and translated the Holy Gospel.
St Cyril was sent with his brother, St Methodios on a mission to Kiev with books
translated into Slavonic. This was at the initiative of St Photios, who was the
Spiritual Father and Teacher of St Cyril.
The brothers spent the winter of 860/861 at Cherson, and in the spring of 861 they
were at the River Dniepr, with Prince Askold, who was confronted by a most
difficult choice just like that which Prince Vladimir had faced before him.
The Jews and the Moslems had wanted him to accept their Faiths, but through the
True Teachings and Eternal, Inspired Wisdom of St Cyril, Prince Askold chose
Orthodox Christianity.
At the end of 861, St Cyril and St Methodios returned to Constantinople and carried
letters with them from Prince Askold to Emperor Michael III, thanking him for
sending ...such men, who showed by both Word and by Example, that the
Christian Faith is Holy... Persuaded that this is the True Faith, we bid them to
Baptize in the hope that we may also attain Sanctity. We are all Friends of
the Kingdom and prepared to be of Service to you, as requested.
Prince Askold accepted Holy Baptism with the name Nicholas, and many of his
retinue were also Baptized.
Directly from Constantinople, the capital of Orthodoxy, through the efforts of the
Holy Apostles to the Slavs both the Slavonic Divine Services and the Slavonic
written language had arrived in Rus. (Russia)
St Photios had appointed Metropolitan Michael to Kiev, and the Russian
Metropolitan District was entered into the lists of Dioceses of the Patriarchate of
Constantinople.
Patriarch Photios in an Encyclical of 867 referred to the Baptism of the Bulgarians
and the Russians as among the chief accomplishments of his Archpastoral
Service: The Russians, who lifted their hand against the Roman might have
now replaced the impious teaching, which they held to formerly, with the
pure and genuine Christian Faith, and with Love having established
themselves in the array of our friends and subjects. (The Byzantines counted
as subjects all who accepted Holy Baptism from Constantinople and entered
into Military Alliance with the Empire.)
The desire and Zeal of Faith has flared up within them to such an extent, that
they have accepted Bishops and Pastors, and they embrace Christian Sanctity
with great Zeal and Fervor...
PLACING

OF THE

ROBE

OF

THEOTOKOS

AT

BLACHERNAE 2 JULY

2015

3.

The Feast of the Placing of the Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos in Blachernae also
marks the Canonical Establishment of the Russian Orthodox Metropolitanate in
Kiev.
By the Blessing of our All Holy Theotokos and by the Miracle from Her Holy Robe not
only was the Deliverence of Constantinople from the most terrible siege in all its
history accomplished, but also the Liberation of the Russians from the darkness
of pagan superstition to Life Eternal.
The year 860 also brought the recognition of Byzantium (Constantinople) to Kievan
Rus signifying the emergence of the young Russian Realm into the Arena of
history.
Prince Askolds endeavours to renew and restore the original Christian
Evangelization of St Andrew the First-Called Holy Apostles of Christ, were
intended as a religious and state Reform. However, adherents of the old
paganism were too strong, and the princely power was too weak.
Finally, during the clash of Prince Askold with the pagan Oleg in 882, the Kievans
betrayed him by luring him into their camp with promises of reconciliation,
where he received a martyrs death at the hands of bribed murderers.
Nevertheless, the Good Deeds of Blessed Prince Askold were not extinguished in the
Russian Church, even though Oleg the Sage, who had killed Prince Askold,
occupied the Kiev Principality after him, and named Kiev the Mother of Russian
Cities.
The most important achievement of Prince Askold was the Slavonic Gospel and
Slavonic Services that were translated by St Cyril and St Methodios whose
Apostolic Activity among the Slavs began in Kiev at the court of Prince Askold in
861, and continued afterwards in Moravia and Bulgaria. As stated in the ancient
Alphabetic Prayers ...the Slavonic Tribe now soars in flight, all striving toward
Baptism.
Several outstanding Works of Byzantine Church Hymnology and Homiletics are
connected with the Miracle of the Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos at
Blachernae.
There are two Homilies of St Photios, one of which he preached within days of the
Siege of Constantinople, and the other soon after the departure of the Russian
Forces - as well as a remarkable Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, which
forms an integral part of the Holy Services of Praise to the Most Holy Theotokos
(i.e., the Saturday of the Akathist, the Fifth Saturday of Great Lent).
St Nestor the Chronicler, stressing the significance of the Russian Campaign against
Constantinople, notes that from this time ...(Rus) was begun to be called the
Russian Land.
The Veneration of the Feast inspired St Andrew Bogoliubsky to built a church in
honour of this feastday in the city of Vladimir at the Golden Gates. At the end of
the fourteenth century, part of the Robe of the Mother of God was transferred
from Constantinople to Rus by St Dionysios, Archbishop of Suzdal.
The Holy Robe of the Mother of God, which previously saved Constantinople, later
saved Moscow from hostilities in the summer of 1451.
St Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow, with constant Prayer and Holy Services,
encouraged the defenders of the capital. On the night of 2 July, there great
confusion and utter fear in the Tatar camp, caused them to suddenly abandon
their plundered goods and speedily retreat in complete disarray!
In memory of the Miraculous Deliverance of Moscow, St Jonah built the Church of
the Placing of the Robe, in the Kremlin, making it his primary church, until it was
destroyed by fire. In 1484-1486 a new church was constructed on the site, also
dedicated to the Feast and served as the primary church of Russian
Metropolitans and Patriarchs until the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles was built
under Patriarch Nikon.

4.

PLACING

OF THE

ROBE

OF

THEOTOKOS

AT

BLACHERNAE 2 JULY

2015

LAUDS - FESTAL STIHERA PLACING

OF THE

ROBE

Enite

Afton epi tes Dinasties Afton.

Enite Afton kata to plithos tis
Megalosinis Aftou.

Praise

soros i katehousa, tin Esthita Sou

Ahrante, kivotos tis doulis Sou
agiasmatos, ke Ieron peritihisma, ke
doxa ke kavhima, ke iaseon pigi,
kath
ekastin
gnorizete,
entha
simeron,
Ieros
athristhentes,
animnoumen, tap olla Sou Megalia,
ke ton thavmaton to pelagos.

The

The

Enite Afton en timpano ke horo.

Enite

TONE

casket that contains Thy Robe, O

Immaculate Lady Pure, is for us, Thy
servants, an Ark of Holiness, a
Sacred Wall that surrounds us all,
our Glory and Pride and Joy, and the
Source of many Cures. Every day we
acknowledge this; and thus today we
have solemnly gathered to extol
Thee, and Thy Great Deeds, which
are many and inexhaustible Miracles.

Praise

soros i katehousa, tin Esthita Sou

Ahrante, kivotos tis doulis Sou
agiasmatos, ke Ieron peritihisma, ke
doxa ke kavhima, ke iaseon pigi,
kath
ekastin
gnorizete,
entha
simeron,
Ieros
athristhentes,
animnoumen, tap olla Sou Megalia,
ke ton thavmaton to pelagos.

THEOTOKOS

Him for His Mighty Acts;

praise Him according to the
greatness of His Majesty.

Enite

Afton en iho salpingos. Enite

Afton en psaltirio ke kithara.

OF

Him with the sound of the

trumpet; praise Him with lute and
harp.
casket that contains Thy Robe, O
Immaculate Lady Pure, is for us, Thy
servants, an Ark of Holiness, a
Sacred Wall that surrounds us all,
our Glory and Pride and Joy, and the
Source of many Cures. Every day we
acknowledge this; and thus today we
have solemnly gathered to extol
Thee, and Thy Great Deeds, which
are many and inexhaustible Miracles.

Praise

Him with timbrel and dance;

praise Him with strings and pipe

Afton en hordes ke organo.

Ide topos eridoxos! Ide ikos aifotos, en O Behold

the place that is Glorious!

Behold the House ever Luminous, in
which is the Graced Treasure of the
honoured
Robe,
which
once
belonged to the Maiden of God. O
people, approach today and draw
from it for yourselves Limination
and Clemency, and cry out to Her
with a heart full of Gratitude: We
Bless Thee, O All Holy Virgin Lady!
For we were Saved by the Son Thou
bore.

tethisavriste is Theopedos, Esthis

Timia ti Hariti. Proselthete anthropi,
Fotismon ke Ilasmon, ex aftis
aparisasthe, ke voisate, evharisto
kardia, Panagia, Evlogoumen Se
Parthe, i sesosmeni to Toko Sou.

Enite

Praise

Tin

Agian katathesin, tis Esthitos Sou

Despina,
Eortin
kektimetha,
evfrenomeni, oti ti Poli Sou simeron,
dothine ixiosas, Ieran Pervolin,
Filaktirion Asilon, Doron Timion,
anafereton plouton iamaton Potamon
pepliromenon, ton Harismaton tou

With

PLACING

AT

Afton en kimvalis evihis. Enite

Afton en kimvalis alalagmou. Pasa
pnoi inesato ton Kyrion.

OF THE

ROBE

OF

THEOTOKOS

Him with tuneful cymbals;

praise Him with loud cymbals. Let
everything that has breath praise
the Lord

Great Joy we Commemorate the

Bestowal of Thine august Robe in
Thy City, O Lady, with a Feast. For
Thou hast counted it worthy of
receiving it on this day as a Wall of
Defence, as Protection inviolate, as a
Precious Gift, as Immovable Wealth

BLACHERNAE 2 JULY

2015

9.

6 Tin Thian Taftin ke Pantimon

Telountes Eortin i Theofrones tis
Theomitoros,
defte
tas
hiras
krotisomen, ton ex aftis
tehthenta
Theon Doxazontes.

As we celebrate this Sacred and

Solemn Feast of the Theotokos, let
us come, clapping our hands,
O
people of the Lord, and Glorifying
God Who was Born of her.

ODE 6

ODI

7 The Holy Children bravely

trampled upon the threatening fire,
preferring not to worship created
things rather than the Creator, and
they sang in Joy: Blessed art Thou
and praised above all: O Lord God of
our Fathers!

7 Ouk
elatrefsan ti ktisi i
Theoforones para ton Ktisanta. Alla
piros
apilin
andrios
patisantes,
herontes epsallon. Iperimnite, O ton
Pateron Kyrios ke Theos, Evlogitos i.

ODE

ODI

Enoumen,

Evlogoumen
Proskinoumen ton Kyrios.

ODI

We Praise, we Bless and we

Worship the Lord!

ke

ODE 8

The Offspring of the Theotokos saved

Pedas

evagis en ti kamino O Tokos tis

Theotokou
diesosato,
tote
men
tipoumenos, nin de energoumenos tin
ikoumenin apasan agiri psallousan.
Ton Kyrion imnite ta Erga ke
iperipsoute is pantas tous eonas.

MAGNIFICAT

KATAVASIA

OF THE

Kindly use the Matins Service Book up to this point

then carefully follow the instructions concerning these
following hymns and readings.

the Holy Children in the furnace.

He Who was then prefigured has
since been born on earth, and He
gathers together all Creation to sing:
O ye Works of the Lord: Bless ye the
Lord and exalt Him above all
forever!

EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS -

Apas

9TH ODE

Let

gigenis skiratato to pnevmati

lampadouhoumenos. Panigirizeto de
ailon noon fisis, gererousa TA IERA
THAVMASIA tis Theomitoros ke voato.
Heris, Pammakariste Theotoke Agni,
Aiparthene.

every mortaL born on earth,

carrying his lamp, in spirit leap for
Joy; and let the Orders of Angelic
Powers celebrate and honour THE
HOLY FEAST of the Theotokos, and
let them cry: Hail, All Blessed
Theotokos, Pure and Ever Virgin!

PSALM 117 /118

PRAISE

TO

GOD

FOR

HIS EVERLASTING MERCY

*Theos

Kyrios ke Epefanen imin.

Evlogimenos O erhomenos en
Onomati Kyriou!
STIHO S
1 : Exomologisthe to Kyrio, oti
Agathos, oti is ton eona to Eleos
Aftou!*
S T I H O S 2 : Panta ta Ethni ekiklosan me,
ke to Onomati Kyriou inamin aftous.*
3 : Para Kyriou egeneto afti, ke
esti Thavmasti en ofthalmis imon.*

STIHO S

*The

Lord is God, and has Appeared

to us. Blessed is He Who comes in
the Name of the Lord!
VE RSE 1 :
Confess the Lord, for He is
Good;
for His Mercy endures
forever!*
VE RSE
2 : All the Nations surrounded
me, but in the Name of the Lord I
drove them back.*
V E R S E 3 : This is the Lords doing, and
it is Marvellous in our eyes.*

FESTAL APOLYTIKION THEOTOKOS ROBE - TONE (8) PLAGAL 4

Theotoke

Aiparthene, ton anthropon i

Skepi, Esthita ke Zonin tou ahrantou
Sou somatos, kratean ti pli Sou
pervolin edoriso, to asporo took Sou
aftharta diaminanta. Epi Si gar ke
fisis kenotomite ke hronos.
Dio
disopoumen Se, Irinin ti ikoumeni
dorisasthe, ke tes psihes imon to
Mega Eleos.

Ever

Virgin Theotokos, the Shelter of

mankind, Thou hast granted to Thy
City as a Protective Wall the clothing
and garment that Thy wore on Thine
Immaculate Body. By Thy Seedless
Childbirth, they have remained
incorrupt. For in Thee both nature
and
time
are
made
unique.
Therefore we implore Thee: grant
Peace to Thy Commonwealth, and to
our souls Great Mercy.

THE SMALL LITANY & PRAISES TO THE LORD

FESTAL EXAPOSTEILARION THEOTOKOS ROBE -

Moni

ke fisin ke hronou, ekenisas

Theomitor.
Afthoros gar Sou O
Tokos, athartos ke i Esthis, di is tin
polin Sou skepis, i k eta skiptra, tis
evsevias kratinis. (2)

LAUDS: THE PRAISES

TONE 4

Only

Thee, O Theotokos, made unique

both time and nature.
Thy
Childbirth had no corruption, and
Thy Robe is incorrupt. With it Thou
Shelter Thy City;
with it Thou
Strengthen the Sceptres of Pious
Rulers. (2)

TO

GOD

PSALM 148

ALL CREATION PRAISES THE LORD OUR GOD

Pasa

Let

Enite

Praise Him, all His Angels; praise Him,

pnoi enesato ton Kyrion. Enite

ton Kyrion ek ton Ouranon. Enite
Afton en tis Ipsistis. Si prepi imnos
to Theo.
Afton, pantes i Angelli Aftou.
Enite Afton, pase e Dinamis Aftou.
Si prepi imnos to Theo.

8.

PLACING

OF THE

ROBE

OF

everything that has breath praise

the Lord. Praise the Lord from the
Heavens; praise Him in the Highest.
To Thee praise is due, O God.

THEOTOKOS

Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati,

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

Amin
Theotoke

Amen
Ever Virgin

ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton

eonon.
Aiparthene, ton anthropon i
Skepi, Esthita ke Zonin tou ahrantou
Sou somatos, kratean ti pli Sou
pervolin edoriso, to asporo took Sou
aftharta diaminanta. Epi Si gar ke
fisis kenotomite ke hronos.
Dio
disopoumen Se, Irinin ti ikoumeni
dorisasthe, ke tes psihes imon to
Mega Eleos.

and to the Holy Spirit, now and

forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Theotokos, the Shelter of
mankind, Thou hast granted to Thy
City as a Protective Wall the clothing
and garment that Thy wore on Thine
Immaculate Body. By Thy Seedless
Childbirth, they have remained
incorrupt. For in Thee both nature
and
time
are
made
unique.
Therefore we implore Thee: grant
Peace to Thy Commonwealth, and to
our souls Great Mercy.

SMALL LITANY

all His Powers. To Thee praise is

due, O God.

AT

BLACHERNAE 2 JULY

2015

PLACING

OF THE

ROBE

OF

THEOTOKOS

AT

BLACHERNAE 2 JULY

2015

5.

FIRST FESTAL KATHISMA THEOTOKOS ROBE

- TONE 4

Tis

On

Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati,

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

septis Esthitos Sou, ti katathesi,

Eortazi simeron O Sos Panimnite
laos, ke ektenos anakrazi Si: Here,
Parthene, Hristianon to kavhima!

ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton

eonon.

Amin
Tis septis

Esthitos Sou, ti katathesi,

Eortazi simeron O Sos Panimnite
laos, ke ektenos anakrazi Si: Here,
Parthene, Hristianon to kavhima!

and to the Holy Spirit, now and

forever, and to the Ages of ages.

day, All-lauded One, Thy

Faithful people gaily celebrate the
Feast of the Bestowal of Thy Robe,
and we intently cry out to Thee:
Rejoice, O Virgin, the Boast of
Christians everywhere!

simeron, i ikoumeni, tin septin

katathesin, tis Sis Esthitos O Semni,
ke meta pothou kravgazi Si: Here,
Parthene, Piston i Voithia!

Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati,

ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton

eonon.

Amin
Eortazi

simeron, i ikoumeni, tin septin

katathesin, tis Sis Esthitos O Semni,
ke meta pothou kravgazi Si: Here,
Parthene, Piston i Voithia!

The

entire world today is celebrating

the Placing of Thy Robe, O Lady,
Modest and All Pure, and it cries out
to Thee longingly: Rejoice, O Virgin,
the Help of all Faithful!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, now and

forever, and to the Ages of ages.

Amen
The entire

world today is celebrating

the Placing of Thy Robe, O Lady,
Modest and All Pure, and it cries out
to Thee longingly: Rejoice, O Virgin,
the Help of all Faithful!

PSALM 50/51

FESTAL KONTAKION THEOTOKOS ROBE TONE 4

Perivolin

pasi
Pistis
aftharsias,
Theoharitote Agni edoriso, tin
Ieran Esthita Sou, meth is to Ieron,
soma Sou eskepasas, Skepi Thia
anthropon. Isper tin katathesin,
Eortazomen potho, ke ekvoontes
krazomen Pistos. Here, Parthene,
Hristianon to Kavhima!

Thou hast bestowed Thy Sacred Garment,

O Lady, to be a Robe of Incorruption, O
Pure One, for all Faithful, O Divine
Protection of mankind; for with it
Thou hast arrayed Thy Most Pure
Sacred Body. Now, with longing, we
observe the Feast of its Placing, and in
a loud voice we cry out with Faith:
Rejoice, O Virgin, the Boast of
Christians everywhere!

FESTAL IKOS THEOTOKOS ROBE

Tin katharan ke alithi skinin tou Theou The

Logou, tin empsihon nefelin, ke
stamnon
tin
tou
Manna,
tin
Theotokon
Mariam,
pantes
i
sothentes dia tou Tokou aftis en Pisti
Makarisomen, ke tin septin, Esthita

6.

PLACING

OF THE

ROBE

OF

THEOTOKOS

Pure and True Tabernacle of God

the Logos, the animate cloud, and
the Jar of Manna, Mary the
Theotokos:
let us all who were
Saved by Her Child in Faith call Her
Blessed; and let us caress Her august

AT

BLACHERNAE 2 JULY

2015

Robe in which She wrapped the

Master and held Him as an Infant,
when He had put on Flesh. Through
Her, our human nature was uplifted
to Supernal Life and Kingdom.
Therefore, in a loud voice we cry out
to Her with Joy: Rejoice, O Virgin,
the Boast of Christians, everywhere!

SYNAXARION 2 JULY

Ti

B tou Aftou minos, Mnimin

pioumetha tis en ti Agia Sofo
katatheseos tis Timias Esthitos tis
iperagias Theotokou, en Vlahernes,
epi Leontos tou Megalou, ke Virinis tis
aftou gynekos.

On

Ti

afti imera, Mnimi tis Athliseos tou

Martyros Kointou, ke mnimi tou en
Agiis Patros imon Iouvenaliou,
Arhiepiskopou Ierosolimon.

On

Amen
On this

SECOND FESTAL KATHISMA THEOTOKOS ROBE - TONE 4

Eortazi

prosptixometha, iper ton Despotin

perishousa,
os
vrefos
evastase
foresanta sarka, di isper ton vroton i
fisis epirthi pros metarsion Zoin ke
Vasilian.
Othen
genithotes,
kravgazomen Megalofonos:
Here,
Parthene: Hristianon to kavhima!

this day, All-lauded One, Thy

Faithful people gaily celebrate the
Feast of the Bestowal of Thy Robe,
and we intently cry out to Thee:
Rejoice, O Virgin, the Boast of
Christians everywhere!

this 2nd day of the month, we

Commemorate the Placing of the
Precious Robe of the Most Holy
Theotokos at Her Holy Shrine at
Blachernae, during the reign of
Emperor Leo the Great and Berina,
his wife.

this day, we Commemorate the

Contest of the Holy Martyr, St
Quintos, and we Commemorate our
Father among the Saints, St Juvenal,
Archbishop of Jerusalem.

Tes

By their Holy Intercessions, O God, have

Amin.

Amen

afton Agies presvies, O Theos,

Eleison imas.
KATAVASIA

OF THE

Mercy on us.

EVER BLESSED THEOTOKOS - TONE 4

1 Anixo
to stoma mou ke
plirothisete Pnevmatos ke logon
erevxome ti Vasilidi Mitri.
Ke
ofthisome fedros Panigirizon ke aso
gnothomenos TAFTIS TA THAVMATA.

ODI

I shall open my mouth and the

Spirit will inspire it, and I shall utter
the words of my song to the Queen
and Mother:
I shall be seen
radiantly
keeping
Feast
and

ODE 1

JOYFULLY PRAISING HER MIRACLES

Tous Sous Imnologous, Theotoke,

izosa ke Afthonos Pigi, Thiason
Sigkrotisantas
Pnevmatikon,
stereoson. Ke en ti Thia Doxi Sou
Stefanon Doxis Axioson.

ODI 3

3 O Mother of God, Thou living

and plentiful Fount, grant strength
to those united in Spiritual
Fellowship, who sing Hymns of
Praise to Thee: and in Thy Divine
Glory grant them Crowns of Glory.

ODE

4 Perceiving the Unsearchable

Purpose of God concerning Thine
Incarnation from a Virgin, O Most
High, the Prophet Habakkuk cried:
Glory to Thy Power, O Lord!

4 Tin anexihniaston Thian Voulin

tis ek tis Parthenou Sarkoseos Sou to
Ipsistou
O
Profitis
Abbakoum
katanoon ekravgaxe. Doxa ti Dinami
Sou, Kyrie.

ODE

5 Exesti ta simpanta epi ti Thia

Doxi Sou.
Si gar, apirogame
Parthene, eshes en Mitra ton epi
Panton Theon ke tetokas ahronon
Iion, pasi tis imnousi Se Sotirian
vravevousa.

ODE

PLACING

AT

ODI

ODI

OF THE

ROBE

OF

THEOTOKOS

5 The whole world was amazed

at Thy Divine Glory: for Thou, O
Virgin, Who has not known wedlock,
has been Translated from earth to
the Eternal Mansions to the Life
without end, bestowing Salvation
upon all who sing Thy praises.

BLACHERNAE 2 JULY

2015

7.