The Venerable-Martyr Stephen the New; The Holy Martyr Irenarchus.

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: O blessed Stephen, your ascetical life on the mountain and the power of the cross* made you capable of routing your spiritual enemies.* By your courage in battle and your strong faith, you defeated Copronymus.* for both these reasons, God has crowned you with immortal life.* O martyr among the saints,* you are worthy of all praise.

Troparion, Tone 4: O Lord our God, your holy martyr Irenarchus* has deserved the crown of immortality* on account of his good fight.* Armed with your strength, he has vanquished his persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through his supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 8: Come, O you faithful who love to celebrate;* let us praise by song the holy Stephen,* the faithful servant of the Holy Trinity,* for he has honoured the icon of the Lord and his blessed Mother.* Let us all sing together:* Joy to you, O father worthy of all praise.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 1: May you have an abundance of peace, O Irenarchus,* for you laid hold of the enemy.* You defeated that army of lies by the power of divine grace.* You endured the most terrible sufferings* Now we beseech you to deliver form all evils* those who hold fast to your memory, O martyr.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The venerable ones will exult in glory* and they shall by joyful in their beds.

verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; let His praise be in the assembly of the venerable ones. (Psalm 149:5,1)

Epistle

Galatians 5:22-6:2

Brothers and Sisters, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Alleluia, Tone 6

verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.

verse: His seed shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)

Gospel

Luke 10:19-21

The Lord said to his disciples, “See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”

Communion Hymn

The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)