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Month of August THE
10TH DAY Composed by Reader Isaac Lambertson At Vespers At Lord, I have cried, 6 stichera: 3 for the Transfiguration, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: Thou hast granted a sign. On Mount Tabor Thou hast shone forth today like the radiant sun in manifest splendour, O Saviour, Thou Word of the Father, showing Thy friends that Thou art He Who in His loving-kindness assumed human nature, O Christ. Wherefore, we glorify Thy loving dispensation, O almighty Jesus, Saviour of our souls. Today the angels of heaven rejoice with men, celebrating Thy glorious effulgence, O Christ, and Thine appearance upon Mount Tabor, where Thou didst stand in the presence of Moses and Elijah, and Peter, James and John, who hymned Thee, O Christ Who lovest mankind, almighty Jesus, Saviour of our souls. Let all the worldly and supernatural orders now be moved to praise Christ our God, Who hath dominion over both the living and the dead; for, divinely transfigured, He stood on Tabor in the presence of the first heralds of the law and grace, as He, the Saviour of our souls, was well pleased to do. And 3 stichera of the venerable one, in the same tone & melody When, in search of food in the forest, O righteous Bertram, thou didst leave thy wife and child behind, they were set upon by savage wolves and cruelly ravaged and slain; wherefore, overcome with grief at thy great loss, thou didst dedicate thy life to Christ, Who as the Chief Shepherd driveth away from us the spiritual wolf. Giving thyself wholly over to ascetic feats, thou didst dwell as a hermit by Ilam's river, O Bertram, and like the tree planted by the streams of water thou didst bring forth spiritual fruit; wherefore, all thy struggles truly prospered, and Christ, Who loveth mankind, hath transplanted thee to His garden in paradise. Forty days before His crucifixion Christ our Redeemer was transfigured in glory on Mount Tabor; and Bertram, His chosen servant, was laid to rest, as is meet, in the Church of the Holy Cross of Christ, where his sacred shrine shineth with the uncreated light of the divine grace of Jesus, the Saviour of our souls. Glory, of the venerable one: Idiomelon, in Tone II O village of Ilam, not least among the habitations of England art thou, for thy bosom long sheltered the sacred relics of the holy Bertram, who with boldness offereth entreaties for us before the throne of God Most High. And amid the darkness of our age his shrine shineth forth spiritually, like a lamp full of the oil of loving-kindness, guiding the faithful along the path of righteousness, that they may reach the kingdom on high, avoiding the snares of the enemy. Now & ever: Idiomelon of the Transfiguration, in Tone IV When Thou wast transfigured, O Lord, and the Father bore witness to Thee before Thy crucifixion, and the mountain became like unto the heavens, Thou wast covered with a cloud as with a tent. In that place were Peter, James and John, for they were to be with Thee also at the time of Thy betrayal, that, beholding Thy wonders, they might not fear Thy sufferings. Grant that we also may worship them in peace, for the sake of Thy great mercy. Aposticha stichera of the Transfiguration, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: O house of Ephratha Ineffably hath the Lord shown forth the glory of His divinity on Mount Tabor unto those disciples whom He wished. Stichos: Thine are the heavens, and Thine is the earth. Come ye, let us make haste with the disciples to the heights of the virtues, that with them we too may be counted worthy of grace. Stichos: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Thy name. O all ye born of earth, let us cleanse our hearts, that straightway there may come to us the glory of the grace of the threefold Sun. Glory: Idiomelon of the venerable one, in Tone VI Rejoice with humble Ilam, O city of Stafford, for the sacred relics of the wondrous Bertram were transferred unto thee and placed in thy midst, like as a precious stone is set in a jewel shining with beauty and lustre, to delight the eyes of those who behold it. And let all England likewise exult, for the prayers of the saint are ever made in its behalf, to deliver it from all tribulation and affliction, and from the malice of its every foe. Wherefore, let all Christians be glad, for by the grace of the Lord we truly find safe shelter beneath the wings of his holy supplications. Now & ever: Idiomelon of the Transfiguration, in Tone IV Taking Thy disciples up to a lofty mountain before Thy crucifixion, O Lord, Thou wast transfigured before them, desiring in Thy lovingkindness and authority to show forth the splendor of the resurrection, which do Thou also grant us in peace, O God, as Thou art merciful and lovest mankind. Troparion of the saint, in Tone VIII Like newborn lambs are we lacking in any defense, unable to withstand the onslaughts of the spiritual wolves who seek ever devour us; but do thou, O righteous Bertram, come unto our aid, and with the staff of God's grace which abideth in thee drive far from us the savage minions of Satan, that by thine entreaties we may find safety and rest in the fold of Christ in paradise. Glory, Now & ever: Troparion of the feast, in Tone VII Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God, Who didst show Thy glory unto Thy disciples as far as they could bear it. May Thine ever-existing light shine forth also upon us sinners through the prayers of the Theotokos. O Bestower of light, glory be to Thee! At Matins At God is the Lord, the troparion of the feast, twice; Glory, that of the saint; Now & ever, that of the feast, once. After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: Joseph marvelled Transfigured on Mount Tabor, O Christ our Saviour, Thou didst show Thy glory to Thy foremost disciples, and didst cause Thine immutable divinity to shine forth. And having called down a radiant cloud, Thou didst converse with Moses and Elijah. Wherefore, Peter said: 'O Compassionate One, it is good to be here with Thee!' O Thou Who didst shine forth Thy light upon them, illumine our souls! Glory, Now & ever: The foregoing is repeated. After the second reading of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in the same tone & melody. Transfigured in the unapproachable glory of Thy divine light, O Christ, Thou didst illumine Thy godly disciples John, Peter and James, and didst move them to awe by Thy divine grace. And they heard the voice of the Father bearing witness unto Thee as His beloved Son, and beheld the glory of Thy countenance, O Saviour. O Word Who desirest to save all men, enlighten Thou our souls! Glory, Now & ever: The foregoing is repeated. Ode I Canon of the feast, with 8 troparia, including the irmos, the composition of John the Monk, in Tone VIII Irmos: Having traversed the water as though it were dry land, and escaped the evil of Egypt, the Israelite cried out: Let us sing to our Deliverer and God! Moses of old, prophetically beholding the glory of the Lord upon the sea in the cloud and the pillar of fire, cried out: Let us sing unto our Deliverer and God! His body shielded as by a stone, Moses the beholder of God, seeing Him Who is invisible in His divinity, cried aloud: Let us sing unto our Deliverer and God! Of old Thou wast seen by Moses in darkness on the mount of the law, but now Thou art beheld in the unapproachable light of the Godhead on Tabor. And this canon of righteous one, with 4 troparia, the acrostic whereof is Save us from the noetic wolves, O Bertram, in Tone III Irmos: To God, Who alone saved His people in the sea and engulfed the adversaries, let us sing, for He hath been glorified. Spiritual songs and hymns let us offer unto Bertram; for, glorified by God, he saveth His people from all perils. Assailed by afflictions and tribulations, we are engulfed by the sea of our sins; but save us, O Bertram, saint of God. Vainglory and all the passions didst thou overcome, O holy one, chanting continually unto God, Whom thou didst glorify. Theotokion: Eternal is the love of God for those He hath created, O all-holy Theotokos; wherefore, He saveth us by thine intercessions. Ode III Canon of the Transfiguration Irmos: O Lord, Creator of the vault of heaven and Fashioner of the Church: establish me in Thy love, O Summit of desires, Confirmation of the faithful, Who alone lovest mankind. The overshadowing glory in the tabernacle of old, when Thou didst converse with Moses, Thy favored one, was a figure of Thy transfiguration, which shone forth ineffably on Tabor, O Master. Thou didst summon the foremost of the apostles to Thee on Mount Tabor, O only-begotten Word; and Moses and Elijah stood before Thee, as servants of God, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind. Though God the Word, Thou becamest wholly earthly, uniting humanity to Thy whole divinity in Thy person, which Moses and Elijah beheld on Mount Tabor in two natures. Canon of the Saint Irmos: Be thou established in the Lord God, O my soul, and cry aloud in praise: There is none holy save Thee, O Lord! Utterly bereft of family, the righteous Bertram set his hope on God alone, crying: There is none holy save Thee, O Lord! Sorrow and grief befell the saint, but Bertram did not despair, crying: There is none holy save Thee, O Lord! Fleeing this vain world, Bertram, Prince of Mercia put his trust in God, crying: There is none holy save Thee, O Lord! Theotokion: Rescued from Satan's hordes by thine entreaties, O Lady, we cry to God in praise: There is none holy save Thee, O Lord! Kontakion of the saint, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: Seeking the highest When wolves slew thy wife and child, O righteous Bertram, thou didst withdraw from the fellowship of men for piety's sake dwelling in forest glades and by rushing torrents; wherefore, for thy feats thou hast received a crown from thy Lord. Ikos: Fleeing the tumults of the world and the tempest of life, abiding in solitude Bertram soared aloft to the heights of heaven like an eagle; and as for many years he hid himself from the sight of men, dwelling in the caves and forests of Ilam, he ever looked to the Saviour and fulfilled His sacred precepts: wherefore, he hath received abundant grace from Him, and shineth forth in splendour, for his feats having received a crown from his Lord. Sessional hymn of the saint, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: Thy tomb, O Saviour Striving toward thy Lord, O godly Bertram, by mortification of the flesh thou didst bury the rebellions of the passions; and after death hast received never-ending life from God. Wherefore, the Church of Christ doth celebrate thy most honored memorial today, O adornment of the righteous. Glory, Now & ever: Sessional hymn of the feast, Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: That which was commanded On the holy mountain thou didst reveal the lightning of the divine majesty hidden under the flesh of Thy nature, O Christ our Benefactor, shining forth upon the disciples who were with Thee. And comprehending Thine unbearable glory, they cried out: Holy art Thou! For though unapproachable, Thou wast seen by the world in the flesh, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind. Ode IV Canon of the Feast Irmos: Rays of divinity issued forth from Thy flesh upon the prophets and the apostles. Wherefore, chanting, the leaders cried out: Glory to Thy power, O Lord! O Master Who didst preserve intact the bush which had been touched by the fire, Thou didst show Thy divinely radiant flesh unto Moses, who chanted: Glory to Thy power, O Lord! The material sun was eclipsed by the radiance of the Godhead, seeing Thee transfigured on Mount Tabor, O my Jesus. Glory to Thy power, O Lord! When Thou didst reveal Thyself to Moses, Elijah and the apostles, O Master, Thou wast seen to be an immaterial fire which consumeth not the matter of the body, being One in two essences, in two perfect natures. Canon of the Saint Irmos: Thou hast shown us constant love, O Lord, for Thou didst give Thine only-begotten Son over to death for us. Wherefore, in thanksgiving we cry to Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord! Overcoming all the passions by thine ascetic struggles, O Bertram, thou wast filled with constant love for the Lord, crying out to Him without ceasing: Glory to Thy power, O Lord! Mediator, advocate and intercessor art thou for us who honor thee, O righteous one; and delivered by thee from evils, in thanksgiving we cry unto God: Glory to Thy power, O Lord! Thou didst lay waste to thy body, O saint of God, mortifying all the carnal passions, that, purified and hallowed, thou mightest cry unto Him with gladness: Glory to Thy power, O Lord! Theotokion: Holy art thou, O all-pure Virgin, for in His constant love thine only-begotten Son gave Himself over to death for our salvation. Wherefore, we cry out to Him: Glory to Thy power, O Lord! Ode V Canon of the Feast Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned me from Thy countenance, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But convert me, and guide me to the light of Thy commandments, I pray. The tongue of the orator is unable to proclaim Thy greatness; for Thou, Who hast control over life and dominion over death, didst stand forth on Mount Tabor before Moses and Elijah, who bore witness to Thy divinity. O Christ Who with invisible hands fashioned man according to Thine image, Thou hast shown forth Thine original beauty in Thy creation; for Thou wast both God and man, not in image, but as Thou Thyself art in essence. United without confusion, on Mount Tabor Thou didst show us the burning ember of divinity, which burneth up sins and enlighteneth souls; and Thou didst strike Moses, Elijah and the foremost disciples with awe. Canon of the Saint Irmos: Having dispelled the gloom of my soul with Thy light, O Christ Who alone art full of loving-kindness, receive me. Out of the night I cry unto Thee: Illumine my thoughts! Ever dispelling from his soul the darkness of the passions by grace divine, the glorious Bertram, shaking off the gloom of despondency, entered into the uncreated light. Now the light which once shone forth from thy holy relics, O saint, shineth forth from thine empty sepulcher, driving gloom from our souls and illumining our thoughts. O Christ Who art full of loving-kindness, accept the intercessions of the holy Bertram: Stave off the passions from us, and mercifully illumine our minds. Theotokion: Eden was an image of thee, O Theotokos, for it had within it the Tree of Life, just as thou didst contain in thy virgin womb the Source of life and immortality. Ode VI Canon of the Feast Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the depths of evils, I pray; for unto Thee have I cried, and Thou dost hearken unto me, O God of my salvation. How great and awesome was the vision beheld this day! From the sky the material sun shone forth, while from the earth the spiritual Sun of righteousness, beyond compare, shone forth on Mount Tabor. The shadow of the law, grown weak, hath passed away, and Christ the Truth is manifestly come! cried Moses on Tabor, beholding Thy divinity. The pillar of fire and the cloud most manifestly prefigured the transfigured Christ and the grace of the Spirit which overshadowed Him on Tabor. Canon of the Saint Irmos: With unceasing groans I cried unto our compassionate God, and He hearkened unto me from the uttermost depths of hades, and hath raised up my life from corruption. The pain of guilt and despair would have brought thee down into the uttermost depths, O Bertram, but our compassionate God raised up thy life from corruption. In penitent sighs and groanings the righteous Bertram cried unto the Lord, Who with great compassion hearkened to his lamentations, and raised him up unto life. Compassion and mercy did the righteous Bertram seek from the all-holy Spirit, Who heard his ardent pleas, and sent His consolation upon his troubled soul. Theotokion: When the wicked oppress us, when misfortunes befall us, when sickness layeth waste to our health, come then to us, O compassionate Lady, and ease thou our dire plight. Kontakion of the feast, in Tone VII On the mountain wast Thou transfigured, and Thy disciples beheld Thy glory as they could bear it, O Christ God; that when they would see Thee crucified, they would comprehend that Thy suffering was voluntary, and proclaim to the world that Thou art of a truth the Effulgence of the Father. Ikos: Arise, ye slothful thoughts of my soul, which have ever been dragged down to the earth! Be ye upborne and rise up to the summit of divine ascent! Let us make haste to Peter and the sons of Zebedee, and with them let us go to Mount Tabor, that with them we may see the glory of our God, and may hear the voice which they heard from on high; for they preached the Effulgence of the Father. Ode VII Canon of the Feast Irmos: Boldly did the Hebrew children trample upon the flame in the furnace and transform the fire into dew, crying out: Blessed art Thou forever, O Lord God! Now have invisible things become visible to the apostles: the Divinity which shone forth in the flesh on Mount Tabor upon those who cry: Blessed art Thou forever, O Lord God! The apostles were overawed with fear on Mount Tabor, marveling at the majesty of the kingship of God, and crying out: Blessed art Thou forever, O Lord God! Now have things never before heard become audible; for the Son, Who was born of the Virgin without father, is borne witness gloriously by the voice of the Father, in that He is God and man, the same forever. Being from the beginning the beloved Son by nature, Thou wast not such through adoption by the Most High, and Thou hast drawn nigh unto us without changing. Blessed art Thou forever, O Lord God! Canon of the Saint Irmos: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers, Who cooled the flame of the furnace and preserved the Virgin Theotokos who gave Thee birth! O the ascetic feats undertaken by the blessed one! For by his struggles he cooled the furnace of carnal passions and preserved his soul from their fire. Love for God and neighbor filled thy soul, O Bertram, wherefore, thou makest bold entreaty to the Lord, that He spare us from fiery torment. Valiantly did the holy Bertram do battle against the adverse foe, prevailing mightily over the demonic hordes, and cooling their fiery darts with prayer. Theotokion: Exalt ye the pure Virgin Theotokos, O ye Christians, and magnify her above all creatures, for she gave birth in the flesh to the blessed God of our fathers. Ode VIII Canon of the Feast Irmos: Madly did the Chaldæan tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but beholding them saved by a higher power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people exalt Him supremely for all ages! Thy disciples, O Master, having heard Thee borne witness to by the Father, and unable to bear the sight of the splendor of Thy countenance, though it was a most firm human visage, fell face down upon the ground, crying out in fear: Ye priests, bless; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages! Thou art the all-comely King of kings, the mighty Lord of all, Who ruleth in every place, the Blessed One Who dwelleth in light unapproachable. And marvelling at Thee, the disciples, Moses, and Elijah cried out: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages! The apostles, from among those on earth, and Elijah the Tishbite and Moses, from among the dead, stood before Thee, O Christ, as before the Master of heaven, the Lord of earth, the One Who hath dominion over the nethermost depths; and they chanted together: Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages! When they followed Thee to the exalting of the divine life from the earth, Thy chosen apostles left behind on earth the griefs which give rise to despondency, O Thou Who lovest mankind. Wherefore, having received Thy divine manifestation according as they were worthy, they sang: Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages! Canon of the Saint Irmos: O ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord, Who appeared in the guise of an Angel and cooled the children in the midst of the burning furnace. Sing ye praises unto the favorite of God, Bertram most rich, who, doing the works of the Lord, cooled the burning furnace of the carnal passions. O ye servants of the Lord, sing ye to the righteous Bertram, who in the midst of the earth led an angelic life, and hath passed over unto God. Bless ye the saint of God, O ye children of the Church, for like an angel he cooleth the burning furnace of all our temptations by his supplications. Triadicon: Ever let us worship the all-holy Trinity the unoriginate Father, His only-begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit Who reigneth eternally over all creation. Theotokion: Rejoice!, the angel cried to thee, O Maiden, for thou wouldst bear Him Who descended in angelic form to the Hebrew children in the fiery furnace. Ode IX Canon of the Feast Irmos: Every ear is stricken with awe on hearing of the ineffable condescension of God: how the Most High, of His own will, came down and took flesh upon Himself, becoming man through the Virgin's womb. Wherefore, O ye faithful, let us magnify the all-pure Theotokos! That Thou mayest clearly show forth Thine ineffable Second Coming, that Thou mayest reveal Thyself as the Most High God, standing in the midst of gods, on Tabor Thou didst ineffably illumine the apostles, Moses, and Elijah. Wherefore, all glorify Thee, O Christ. Come and submit yourselves to Me, O ye peoples! And ascending the holy mountain which is above the heavens, let us stand immaterially in the city of the living God, and noetically behold the immaterial Godhead of the Father and the Spirit which shineth forth in the only-begotten Son. Thou hast drawn me to Thyself with love, O Savior, and hast transformed me by Thy divine desire; but burn up my sins with immaterial fire, and count me worthy to partake of Thy food, that, rejoicing in both, I may magnify Thy mighty works, O Good One. Canon of the Saint Irmos: O ye faithful, in oneness of mind let us magnify with hymns the Mother of the Light, the haven of salvation for our souls, who remained a Virgin after giving birth. Truly the tomb of the holy and righteous Bertram is a sure haven of salvation for our souls; wherefore, in oneness of mind let us magnify the favorite of God with hymns. Remembering the ascetic feats wherewith the godly Bertram trampled the passions underfoot and put the demons to flight, let us honour his sacred memory with hymns. All our sorrows let us set before the man of God, laying them upon his stone-wrought sepulcher, that he may lift from our shoulders the burden of our griefs. Theotokion: Mother and Virgin art thou, O Theotokos, all-immaculate Bride of God; and as thou art a haven of salvation for our souls, we dare to magnify thee with hymns of praise. Exapostilarion of the saint: Spec. Mel.: He hath visited us The shrine of thy holy tomb is for us like a heavenly banquet-table, O righteous Bertram, richly set with spiritual food for us who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Glory, Now & ever: Exapostilarion of the feast O Word, Thou immutable Light of the light of the unbegotten Father: today on Mount Tabor we have seen in Thy manifest light the light of the Father and the light of the Spirit Who guideth all creation with light. Aposticha stichera of the feast, in Tone VI: Spec. Mel.; O ye angelic Hosts Shining forth past understanding from the all-holy Virgin, O Word of God, and clothing Thyself wholly in Adam, with the divine transformation of Thy countenance, when Thou wast transfigured on Mount Tabor before Thine honoured crucifixion, O Master, Thou didst illumine our whole nature which of old had become darkened, O Christ our God. Stichos: Thine are the heavens, and Thine is the earth. Behold, the mountain which before was gloomy and enshrouded with smoke, is now honored and holy. Christ Who of old guided Israel, as it is written, with a pillar of fire and cloud, today hath shone forth ineffably thereon more brightly than the sun, illumining all things, in that He is God. Stichos: Tabor and Hermon rejoice in His name. Now as he was conversing with the Master as a servant, Cephas beheld two men on Tabor, and he cried out: It is good to be here! Let us fashion three tabernacles, if Thou desirest: one for Thee, O my Christ, and others for Moses and Elijah, Thy servants! But he knew not what he said, being held fast by wonder. Glory: Idiomelon of the saint, in Tone VIII Come, ye Christians of these latter days, and let us lift up our voices in hymnody, giving utterance to goodly laudation, praising our righteous father Bertram. For, bereft of his family by the inscrutable providence of God, he cast aside his princely rank and wealth, and amid great privation and voluntary poverty, withdrew into the wilderness, and there struggled against the weakness of his nature, prevailing over the delusions of the demons. Wherefore, in heaven he hath received the wreath of victory from the hand Christ his Master, and there prayeth with boldness in behalf of those who honor his holy memory with love. Now & ever, of the feast, in Tone VI O pure and all-holy Mistress and Theotokos, deliver those who trust in thee from misfortunes, and from all harm save those who, day and night, now and always, pray to thee; and entreat thy Son, Who shone forth ineffably on Tabor, to deliver us from the impending judgment. At the Liturgy At the Beatitudes, 6 troparia from Ode V of both canons for the feast of the Transfiguration, including the irmos. Prokimenon of the feast; and this prokimenon of the saint, in Tone VII The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him. Epistle to the Galatians, §213 [Gal. 5: 22-6: 2] Brethren: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Alleluia of the feast; and this Alleluia of the saint, in Tone VI Stichos: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; in His commandments shall he great delight. Gospel according to Matthew, §43 [Mt. 11: 27-30] The Lord said to His disciples: All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him. Come unto Me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. Communion Verse of the feast, and this one of the saint In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.
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