Month of June
THE
22nd DAY
Commemoration of the Holy Alban of Verulamium,
Protomartyr of Britain
Composed by Reader Isaac Lambertson
At Vespers
On "Lord, I have cried ...", 6 stichera: in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: "O most lauded martyrs ..." -
Arise, ye Christian peoples of Albion, leap for joy and join chorus, lifting your voices in sacred hymnody, and let us praise Alban the most laudable, who in accordance with his name was washed whiter than snow by the blood of his martyrdom; for, confessing Christ before the ungodly tyrant, he received a heavenly crown from his Master on high.
O Verulamium, once armed with pagan might, beyond thy ruins rose a new and Christian city, in the place where the holy Alban suffered, and where the shrine of his precious relics was established, to which the faithful have recourse, even in our times; for the grace divine which emboldened him to lay down his life for his Lord doth constantly shine forth upon us who venerate his glorious martyrdom.
O heathen worshipers of false deities, who in your madness venerate the elemental forces of nature as divine, ye are confounded and put to shame by the courageous witness of Alban most wise, who, brought before the pitiless tyrant, steadfastly refused to offer sacrifice to inanimate things, bravely proclaiming with the Psalmist that the gods of the pagans are demons. Wherefore, having witnessed to Christ on earth, he hath inherited His kingdom in the heavens.
And
3 stichera, in Tone IV. Spec. Mel.: "As one valiant among the martyrs
..." -
As one valiant among the martyrs, thou wast undaunted by the tyrant's
threats, O most glorious martyr Alban, and didst answer him, saying with
boldness: "I worship and serve the living God, the Author and Creator
of all things! Your deities are utterly impotent; and whoso offereth sacrifice
to them heapeth up for himself fuel for the fires of Gehenna!"
Though reared a pagan from thy birth, yet, like Cornelius the centurion,
thou wast devout and full of the saving fear of God; wherefore, in His
great love for mankind, the Saviour sent thee a Christian priest to instruct
thee in the one true Faith and to inspire thee to die for the Lord. O
the loving-kindness of the Master of all, for Whose sake thou didst willingly
lay down thy life, O Alban, martyr of Christ!
When the Roman guards savagely hunted the Christian priest, thou gavest
refuge to him in thine own home, O glorious Alban; and, converted by him
to the Christian Faith, putting off the old man and clothing thyself in
Christ, thou didst disguise thyself in his cloak, permitting him to escape
those who pursued him, and allowing thyself to be brought before the ungodly
tribunal in his stead, to confess the one God with boldness.
Glory ... , in Tone II -
Come, ye right-believing people of the one true Church, and clapping our
hands in gladness, let us chant with sweet-sounding hymnody, praising
the godly witness of the martyr Alban: for, casting away the heathen superstitions
of his fathers, with a pure soul he embraced the teachings of the Christian
Faith; and, beheaded by the tyrant's sword, he standeth before the throne
of the Most High with the countless martyrs, who hold palms in their hands
and are clothed in brilliant robes, which they have made white in the
blood of the Lamb of God.
Now & ever ...: Theotokion, or this Stavrotheotokion:
Spec. Mel.: "When from the Tree ..." -
Beholding Thee nailed to the Tree of the Cross, O Jesus, she who tasted
not of wedlock said, weeping: "O my sweet Child, wherefore hast Thou
abandoned me who alone gave Thee birth? O unapproachable Light of the
all-unoriginate Father, haste Thou and be glorified, that they who glorify
Thy divine sufferings may receive divine glory!"
Aposticha from the Octoechos,; and Glory ...
: Idiomelon, in Tone VI -
In that thou didst lawfully contend for Christ, the Judge of the contest,
thou hast been admitted to the ranks of His warriors, O Alban; and hearkening
there to the entreaties of those who cry to thee with faith, thou givest
them strength to fight the good fight for the God of all, to do battle
with the hordes of evil demons, and to prevail over them utterly, that
by steadfastly confessing the Lord they may enlist with thee in the bright
armies of the King of kings.
Now & ever...: Theotokion, or this Stavrotheotokion:
"On the third day ..." -
Seeing Thee crucified, O Christ, she who gave Thee birth cried out: "What
is this strange mystery which I behold, O my Son? How is it that Thou
diest, suspended in the flesh upon the Tree, O Bestower of life?"
Troparion, in Tone III -
With faith, piety and devotion let us hasten to the sacred shrine of the
wondrous martyr Alban, the first in Britain to shed his blood for Christ
the Lord, for Whom he willingly laid down his life; and let us pray that
through his supplications our souls may find mercy and salvation.
At Matins
At "God is the Lord ...", the troparion
of the martyr, twice; Glory ... , Now & ever ... : Theotokion, or
Stavrotheotokion.
Both canons from the Octoechos, without the martyrica; and this canon
for the martyr, with 6 troparia, the acrostic whereof is "Save Albion
by thy prayers, O godly Alban", in Tone VIII -
Ode
I
Irmos: O Lord Who didst fashion an all-glorious
path for the people in the sea, make Thou the journey to heaven passable
for us, that we may sing a new song unto Thee.
Send me grace from on high to purify my sinful mind, O Christ, that with
boldness and without condemnation I may hymn Thy great martyr Alban, the
invincible.
A great and undaunted witness to Thy truth was Alban, O God; for though
he had not received holy baptism, yet so great was his zeal for the Faith
that he gladly shed his blood for Thee.
Verulamium and the parts thereof were sanctified b y thy martyrdom, O
Alban; for within its walls thou didst confess the true God and wast sentenced
to death; and beyond it thou wast beheaded.
Theotokion: Even after giving birth thou
hast remained ever-virgin, O all-pure and most immaculate Theotokos; wherefore,
thou prayest in purity for thy sinful servants.
Ode III
Irmos:
The bow of the mighty is become weak, and the strengthless have girded
themselves with power; wherefore, my heart hath been established in the
Lord.
All-joyously didst thou endure scourging for the sake of Christ, when
thou didst spurn the worship of graven images, defying the unjust demand
of the tyrant, O holy one.
Like Moses, who parted the Red Sea, so didst thou divide the rushing River
Ver, which impeded thy path to martyrdom, O Alban, filling the people
with amazement.
Bowing thy head before the executioner's sword, thou didst surrender thy
pure soul into the hands of Christ Jesus, Who hath caused it to dwell
in paradise.
Theotokion: In psalms, hymns and spiritual
songs we lift up our voices in praise of thee, who alone among women gavest
birth unto the Unapproachable One, O Virgin Theotokos.
Sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: "Awed
by the beauty of thy virginity ...
Awed by the mighty works wrought through thee by the Almighty, O Alban,
we sinners earnestly entreat thine aid: Look down from on high, O holy
martyr, and deliver us from those who would destroy us, body and soul.
Beseech the Master of all, that He take pity on us and save us, in that
He loveth mankind. Twice
Glory ... , Now & ever ... : Theotokion -
Past understanding and beyond the mind of man is the awesome mystery of
God wrought within thee, O divinely joyous Mistress; for, having conceived
the Infinite One, thou gayest birth to Him, wrapped in flesh through thine
all-pure blood. Him do thou ever beseech as Thy Son, O pure one, that
our souls be saved.
Stavrotheotokion -
Thy pure Mother who knew not wedlock, O Christ, beholding thee hanging,
dead, upon the Cross, said, weeping maternally: "How hath the iniquitous
and thankless council of the Jews, who enjoyed Thy many and great gifts,
rewarded Thee, O my Son? I hymn Thy divine condescension!"
Ode IV
Irmos: What criest thou, O Prophet Habbakuk?
What hast thou seen which filleth thee with awe? Beholding God come forth
from Thæman, I was afraid!
O thy steadfastness of soul, which withstood the threats of the tyrant,
O martyr, and gave thee the strength to confess the one true God in the
face of the idolaters!
Never cease to offer supplications before the all-holy Trinity, O wondrous
one, that our manifold offences may be mercifully remitted and our grievous
sins forgiven.
Before the dread throne, amid the ranks of the angels and saints, dost
thou stand, mediating with Christ for the people of thy native land and
all Christians.
Theotokion: Ye six-winged seraphim and many-eyed cherubim, stand in awe
of the Maiden who is full of grace, for she is higher than you in honour.
Ode V
Irmos: O Lord Who by divine knowledge didst
bring the ends of the earth into the light out of the night of ignorance,
enlighten me with the dawning of Thy love for mankind.
Though a man of substance and property, yet through martyrdom thou didst
exchange all earthly things for the pearl of great price, the holy Christian
Faith, O Alban.
Holmhurst Hill, whereon thou didst seal thy witness, was drenched with
thy blood when, beheaded by the sword, thou gayest thy pure soul into
the hands of Christ, O martyr.
Yea, thy glory hath truly shone forth, undimmed, through all the ages,
O blessed Alban; and, guided by thy light, we hasten to the mansions of
heaven, where thou dwellest in splendour.
Theotokion: Pure and all-immaculate art thou,
O Maiden, and replete with the grace of God; wherefore, thou standest
with honour at the right hand of thy Son and our God.
Ode VI
Irmos: Mine iniquities have gone over my
head, weighing down upon me like a heavy burden, and they drag me down
into the depths of despondency; but before I sink, save me, O Lord!
Ravaged and destroyed were thy sacred relics and their shrine, O Alban,
when ungodly blasphemers descended upon thy church like wolves upon a
sheepfold; yet despite their predations thy grace hath never ceased to
shine forth.
Against the vile heresy of Pelagius did the holy hierarch Germanus do
battle in Britain, and therein he found thee a mighty ally; for which
cause he took with him to Gaul a portion of thy precious and holy relics.
"Yesterday, in my ignorance of the true God, I was as one sitting
in darkness and the shadow of death; but today, when I lay down my life
for Him, I shall dwell in paradise, filled with His effulgent glory!"
Alban cried out.
"Everlasting life is the portion of those who cleave unto the God
of the Christians; wherefore, put away thine unbelief from thee and believe
on Him, that it may go well with thee in the life to come," the martyr
exclaimed to the tyrant.
Theotokion: Retribution from God awaiteth
the accursed Nestorius, O all-pure Mistress, and all who revile thee and
teach others to hold thee in contempt; for thou, O all-blessed one, dost
bid all generations to call thee blessed.
Kontakion, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: "Seeking
the highest ..." -
Imbued with courage and bravery from on high, the glorious martyr Alban
stood undaunted before the tyrant and boldly confessed Christ as the only
God of all; and he utterly refused to offer sacrifice to false deities.
Wherefore, having laid down his life for the Lord, he maketh earnest entreaty
in behalf of our souls.
Ikos: Heeding well the words of the Saviour
to His disciples, thou didst not fear him who could slay thy body, for
he was unable to kill thy soul. For this cause, what was taught thee in
the darkness by the Christian priest, whose life thou didst save, thou
didst proclaim in the light; and what thine ear took in of his pure teaching,
thou didst declare openly before the tribunal. Wherefore, having laid
down thy life for the Lord, thou makest earnest entreaty in behalf of
our souls.
Ode VII
Irmos: O Lord, make us emulators of Thy three
children, opposing sin and trampling the fire of the passions underfoot,
and chanting: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!
Succour and aid do thou send down upon us from on high, O blessed martyr,
for we know thee to be a fervent advocate for those who chant: Blessed
art Thou, O God of our fathers!
On Holmhurst Hill thou didst pause, athirst; and when thou didst pray
to God a spring of water gushed forth at His behest, for which thou didst
cry: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!
Gildas the pious and the venerable Bede have reverently related thy life
and martyrdom, O Alban, that, giving thanks for thee, we may chant: Blessed
art Thou, O God of our fathers!
Theotokion: O how manifold are thy mighty
works, O Virgin Theotokos! What tongue can fittingly describe their magnitude?
And who can number them? Yea, they transcend all understanding!
Ode VIII
Irmos: Becoming vanquishers of the tyrant
and the flame by Thy grace, taking exceeding care to keep Thy commandments,
the children cried out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
Divine grace shineth forth with radiance from thy precious relics and
sacred shrine, O wondrous martyr, whereby we all are illumined who cry:
Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
Let every Christian soul give thanks unto God, Who is wondrous in His
saints, for He hath given Alban to us as an earnest suppliant for all
who cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
Yielding pacifieth great offences, saith Solomon the wise; wherefore,
thou didst reject the madness of idolatry. crying out with the faithful:
Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
Theotokion: A stranger wast thou to the pangs
of parturition, O most immaculate Mother, for, passing forth from thy
womb, Christ kept thee from all pain and preserved thy virginity intact.
Ode IX
Irmos:
Let the assemblies of the heretics fall silent, for they do not confess
thee to be the true Theotokos; but the prophets proclaimed thee from on
high to be the Mother of God and the mediatress of our race. Wherefore,
we magnify thee, O Virgin.
Light from on high shineth forth upon us through thee, O most pious Alban,
dispelling the darkness of polytheism and the gloom of heresy, that we
may tread the path of righteousness without faltering and attain the heavenly
Sion.
Britain rejoiceth greatly in thy memory, O invincible martyr Alban, and
bendeth its knee in gratitude for the many benefactions thou hast wrought
for it, setting at nought the evil machinations of the devil and his minions.
All Christendom is glad and danceth for joy, reverently celebrating thy
memorial with prayers, hymns and godly feasts, O martyr of Christ; for,
having thee as a champion and mediator, it magnifieth thee exceedingly.
Theotokion: Now and always do we proclaim
thee our peerless intercessor, who pleadeth earnestly with thy Son, the
Lord of hosts, that He take pity and deal mercifully with us. Wherefore,
we magnify thee, O most blessed Virgin.
Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: "The heaven
with stars ..." -
As
the sky is bedight with myriads of brilliant luminaries, so is the firmament
of the Church in Britain adorned with its countless saints as with innumerable
stars, among whom Alban shineth with surpassing radiance. By his supplications
may the Lord of all creation mercifully save our souls.
Theotokion -
O All-holy Maiden and Virgin, joy of the ranks of heaven and boast of
mankind, glory of the angels and surcease of sorrow: With the holy martyr
Alban help thou and deliver us from all misfortune, peril and grief.
Aposticha from the Octoechos; and Glory ... :
Idiomelon, in Tone VIII -
Assembling together in the church of the Lord, in congregations let us
praise our Saviour and Redeemer, Who in His compassion and loving-kindness
giveth us His saints to be our companions and friends, ever ready to offer
entreaty in our behalf, to ward off the assaults of the incorporeal foe,
to stave off the attacks of those who hate us, to cure all our infirmities
of body and soul, to assuage our griefs and ease our anguish, to console
us amid misfortunes, and to impart strength of resolve to us amid trials
and tribulations. Such a one hath He given us in the holy martyr Alban
of Verulamium, whose sacred memory we keep with splendour this day: for
without ceasing he entreateth the Lord that our souls be saved.
Now & ever ... : Theotokion, or this Stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.:
"O all-glorious wonder ..." -
"What is this sight which mine eyes behold, O Master? Lifted up upon
the Tree, Thou diest, granting life unto all, O Thou Who sustainest all
creation!" Thus the Theotokos said, weeping, when she beheld suspended
on the Cross the God and man Who had shone forth from her ineffably.
At Liturgy
On the Beatitudes, 8 troparia: 4 from the Octoechos, and 4 from Ode III of the canon of the martyr.
Prokimenon, in Tone VII -
The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him.
Stichos: Hearken, O God, unto my prayer, when I make supplication unto Thee.
Epistle
to Timothy, § 292
(II Tim. 2: 1-10)
Timothy
my child: Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things
that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou
to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore
endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man who warreth
entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him
who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries,
yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman who laboureth
must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord
give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the
seed of David was raised from the dead, according to my Gospel: wherein
I suffer trouble, as an evildoer, even unto bonds; but the word of God
is not bound. Therefore, I endure all things for the elect's sake, that
they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal
glory.
Alleluia, in Tone IV -
Stichos: The righteous man shall flourish
like a palm tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied.
Stichos: They that are planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts
of our God shall they blossom forth.
Gospel According to John, §52
(Jn. 15:17-16:2).
The Lord said to His disciples: "These things I command you, that
ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before
it hated you. If ye were of t h e world, the world would love its own;
but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the
world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto
you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted
Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will
keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name's
sake, because they know not Him Who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken
unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloak for their
sin. He who hateth Me hateth My Father also. If I had not done among them
the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have
they both seen and hated both Me and My Father. But this cometh to pass,
that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated
Me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto
you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, Who proceedeth from the
Father, He shall testify of Me: and ye also shall bear witness, because
ye have been with Me from the beginning. These things have I spoken unto
you, that ye should not b e offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues:
yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth
God service."
Communion Verse -
In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid
of evil tidings.
