Month of October
THE
10TH DAY
Commemoration of the Holy Bishop Paulinus,
Bishop of York
Composed by Reader Isaac Lambertson
At Vespers
At Lord, I have cried, these stichera, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: O all-praised martyrs
O all-praised bishop Paulinus, having toiled in the vineyard of the Church through the heat of the day, thou hast now received fit recompense, entering the gates of paradise to dwell in the light of the thy Master's countenance with all who have pleased Him.
O godly servant of Christ, full of love for thy Saviour thou didst willingly leave thy native land to bear the light of the Faith unto a rude and barbarous people, whose souls thou didst enlighten with grace divine, leading them forth from demonic darkness.
Like the Apostle of the Gentiles, O God-bearing Paulinus, with purity of soul and love unfeigned thou didst bear many afflictions for the sake of Christ amid the tumults, necessities and distresses of thy life; wherefore, having died in the Lord, thou livest forever with Him.
Glory: Idiomelon, in Tone II
As a true servant of the Saviour, O Paulinus most wise, thou didst faithfully labour over the care of His Church, journeying far and wide to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation, suffering weariness and pain, hunger and thirst, freezing cold and the burning of the sun, driven from thy flock by murderous infidels and false brethren; yet, strengthened in thy weakness by the Spirit, thou didst ever glory in the grace of the Most High, which through thee ever shineth forth upon those who honour thy holy memory with faith and love.
Now & ever: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion, in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: When from the Tree
O pure one, when thou didst behold the mature Vine, Whom thou didst bear in thy womb without being cultivated by man, suspended upon the Tree, thou didst exclaim, lamenting: O my Child and Benefactor, as Thou art compassionate, with Thy divine consolations pour forth the sweetness which taketh away the drunkenness of the passions, for the sake of me who gave birth unto Thee!
Aposticha stichera from the Octoechos; and, Glory: Idiomelon, in Tone IV
Like as the Lord sent His Apostles forth to preach the kingdom of God, giving them the power to cast out demons and to heal the sick, so wast thou sent forth, O Paulinus, in the sacred company of Mellitus, Justus, Rufinian, and many others, to establish the Church of Christ among the English land. Wherefore, in obedience and joy thou didst journey far and wide in those parts, preaching the Gospel and healing everywhere, that the eyes of many might be opened to the Truth of God.
Now & ever: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion, in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: As one valiant among the martyrs
Beholding Christ, Who loveth mankind, crucified, His side pierced by a spear, the all-pure one, cried out, lamenting: 'What is this, O my Son? How have these thankless people rewarded Thee for the good things Thou hast done for them? Dost Thou hasten to leave me childless, O most Beloved? I marvel, O Compassionate One, at Thy voluntary crucifixion!
Troparion, in Tone V
Holding the example of the holy Paul ever before his eyes, Paulinus betook himself to a far distant land, and there, emulating the glorious Apostle to the nations, he preached the words of life unto those who lay in darkness and the shadow of death. And having pleased his Master by his godly zeal and tireless struggles, he dwelleth now in the mansions of paradise, where he offereth entreaty continually on behalf of our souls.
At Matins
At God is the Lord, the troparion of the saint, twice; Glory, Now & ever: Theotokion, or stavrotheotokion.
Canon of the saint, with 4 troparia, the acrostic whereof is Take pity on us sinners, O righteous one, in Tone IV
Ode I
Irmos: Crossing the sea as though it were dry land under the guidance of the cloud of light and the pillar of fire, traversing it as though in a desert, Thy chosen Israel sang unto Thee a hymn of victory, O Christ our Lord.
Take pity on my sinfulness, O Christ my Lord, and of Thy goodness fill Thou my darkened soul with the light of Thy grace, that, rendering praise to Paulinus, Thy chosen one, I may sing to Thee a hymn of victory.
Thou wast a peer of the holy apostles, O wondrous Paulinus, who wast sent by the great Dialogist, the successor of the preëminent apostle, to the distant land of the English, to bear thereto the all-radiant light of grace.
Knowing that the harvest was great, but the labourers few, the holy bishop Augustine besought the glorious Gregory of Rome to send men of piety and proven Orthodoxy to aid him in the godly task of the salvation of souls.
Theotokion: Even I, the most iniquitous of sinners, make bold to call upon thee for help, O pure and sinless Virgin, for I know that, in His boundless love for our fallen race, thy Son entrusted me to thy tender compassion.
Ode III
Irmos: Like a barren woman hath the Church of the nations given birth, and she could scarce bear the great assembly of children come forth from her. Let us cry out to our wondrous God: Holy art Thou, O Lord!
Proclaimers of the Truth of Christ were Paulinus and his holy Companions Mellitus, Justus, Rufinian, and the rest who, crossing the turbulent sea, brought with them all things needful to convert the heathen.
In the lands of the Saxons, O holy one, thou didst preach the Christian Faith to the nations, and by the grace which filled thy mouth didst bring a great assembly of benighted souls into the light of Christ our God.
The pagan king of Northumbria sought the hand of a Christian princess in marriage, promising to allow the Holy Church to take root in his realm; wherefore, Paulinus was made a bishop to oversee the planting of the Faith therein.
Theotokion: Ye Christians, with hymns of praise let us hymn the offspring of a barren woman, the all-holy Theotokos, who gave birth in the flesh to our Redeemer; and let us cry out to her: Holy art thou among women!
Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: Go thou quickly before
O the piety of the holy bishop Paulinus! For throughout the lands of Northumbria he erected crosses of stone, and by these signs of our Saviour's redemptive sacrifice he would preach the words of life to those who knew not the God of love; wherefore, let us praise him.
Glory, Now & ever: Theotokion, in the same tone & melody
O most immaculate Virgin who gavest birth to the transcendent God: with the bodiless ones unceasingly entreat Him, that, before the end, He grant remission of transgression and correction of life to us who with faith and love hymn thee as is meet, O thou who alone art most praised.
Stavrotheotokion
O all-immaculate Virgin, Mother of Christ God, a sword passed through thine all-holy soul when thou didst behold thy Son and God crucified of His own will. Cease not to entreat Him, O blessed one, that He grant us forgiveness of transgressions.
Ode IV
Irmos: This is our God, Who became incarnate of the Virgin and hath deified our nature! And, hymning Him, we cry aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
O thy godly patience, O saint! For though the heathen resisted thy preaching, yet didst thou persevere in prayer, ever crying: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
Never ceasing his spiritual warfare, the holy bishop valiantly contended against the prince of evil, crying in defiance: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
Unrelenting in his pursuit of men¹s souls, Paulinus won the victory for Christ and brought the light of His Gospel to those who sat in darkness.
Theotokion: Save us, O Lady, in whose immaculate womb the Word of God deigned to make His abode, that we may cry to Him: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
Ode V
Irmos: The ungodly perceive not Thy glory, O Christ; but, waking at dawn out of the night, we hymn Thee, O Only-begotten One Who lovest mankind, Thou effulgence of the glory of the Father's divinity.
Saved from treachery and murder by thy prayers, O holy one, the king awoke from the night of heathen darkness to the dawn of faith in Christ, and ceased to worship the graven images of false gods.
In the waters which flowed through York was Edwin the king baptised, with his children, and many of the nobles and the people, for Paulinus had set in their hearts the effulgence of Christ's glory.
Never ceasing his instruction, the holy bishop taught the people continually, for many days and nights, to prepare them for the enlightenment they would receive in the waters of regeneration.
Theotokion: Now let the ungodly fall back, confounded in their blasphemies and repelled by the ineffable glory of the Mother of God, who for us bore the only-begotten Son and Effulgence of the Father's divinity.
Ode VI
Irmos: When I was troubled, I cried unto the Lord, and the God of my salvation hearkened unto me. Ever flow the rivers of the north, aflood with the grace of God which Paulinus poured forth upon them.
Raising up a church to God in Lincoln, there did the saint consecrate as bishop the holy Honorius.
Sanctified and cleansed by thee, O glorious one, the people of Northumbria exulted in the Lord our God.
Theotokion: Of thee, O all-pure Mistress, do we cry out in thanksgiving unto the God of our salvation.
Kontakion, in Tone III: Spec. Mel: Of divine faith
Resplendent with the grace of divine dogmas, as a pastor and teacher of the mysteries of Christ thou didst enlighten souls which languished in heathen gloom, O most blessed one. And working wonders through the power of the Spirit, thou didst manifestly heal infirmities of soul and body. O holy bishop Paulinus, entreat Christ God, that He save our souls.
Ikos: The souls of the Angles and Saxons were hungry and athirst for righteousness; wherefore, offering up fervent prayer for their salvation, thou didst set before them the banquet of Christ's sublime teachings, O holy bishop Paulinus, whereof they ate and drank their fill, receiving enlightenment of mind with the knowledge of God and the healing of every disease and malady, and they cried out to thee with compunction: Entreat Christ God, that He save our souls!
Ode VII
Irmos: Deliver us not up utterly, for Thy holy name's sake, neither disannul Thou Thy covenant, and cause not Thy mercy to depart from us, O Lord God of our fathers, Who art supremely hymned forever.
Rising up with malice, the pagan king made war upon the flock in thy charge, O Paulinus, slaughtering the pious Edwin and those who cried: O Lord God of our fathers, Thou art supremely hymned forever.
In haste, lest all hope for the Christian realm die, Paulinus took charge of the queen and the royal children, and escorted them to safety in lands where the Lord God of our fathers was supremely hymned.
God did not permit thee to remain idle, O Paulinus, when there was much work to do in His sacred fold; wherefore, in accordance with thy zeal, thou wast entrusted with the care of the flock of Rochester.
Theotokion: Hearken to our entreaties, O Queen of all creation, and beseech thy Son, our Master, that He deliver us not up utterly to destruction, nor cause His mercy to depart from us, though our sins have gone over our heads.
Ode VIII
Irmos: O Christ Who bearest all things by Thine unapproachable power, Thou didst bedew Thy venerable children who cried out amid the flame: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
Thou didst bear all burdens and hardships, O glorious one, tending the reason-endowed sheep of thy Master Christ, the Chief Shepherd, crying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
Even when the swords and flames of the heathens wrought destruction upon all that thou hadst accomplished, O saint, thou didst not despair, but didst cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
Of thee do Christians boast, O wondrous Paulinus, for they are bedewed by the grace which God ever poureth forth through thee upon all who sing: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
Theotokion: Unto thee, O sovereign lady, do we make supplication, for thou dost ever stand before the throne of the Most High, interceding for those us who cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
Ode IX
Irmos: Christ our God, to Whom thou gavest birth without seed, O pure Theotokos, do we magnify with unceasing hymns.
Sowing the seed of the Faith among the Saxon peoples, O saint, thou didst teach them the true worship of the Holy Trinity.
O how great is the glory of the city of Rochester, wherein the holy Paulinus surrendered his soul into the hands of Christ God!
Now dwellest thou in heaven, O husbandman of the vineyard of Christ, whither thou hast borne the glorious fruits of thy labours.
Theotokion: Evening, morning and at noonday do we praise thee, O wondrous Virgin, magnifying thee in unceasing hymnody.
Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: With the disciples
With ardent prayers, as with lighted torches, let us illumine the feast of the holy Paulinus, the beacon of Northumbria, the lamp of Rochester, the radiant star shining with splendour in the firmament of the Church. And with fitting psalmody and spiritual songs let us chant hymns unto him, who ever prayeth on behalf of our souls.
Theotokion
Daniel described thee beforehand as the unquarried mountain from whence, without the aid of men's hands, the all-precious Stone was cut Who crushed all the deception of idolatry. And in thy train the choirs of the martyrs have been led into the fragrance of thy peace. With them pray thou for us, O all-pure Mary, Virgin Mother.
Aposticha stichera from the Octoechos; and Glory: Idiomelon, in Tone VI
Come, ye Christians of these latter days, and, imitating the example of Paulinus, let us shake off our slothfulness and with firm intent begin anew the sacred work of the Lord, to spread among the nations the light of the Christian Faith, that, beholding our efforts, all may glorify the Holy Trinity, our God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit that together we may join chorus with the saints and angels before the throne of the Godhead.
Now & ever: Theotokion, or this stavrotheotokion, in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: On the third day
Thy pure Virgin Mother, beholding the most iniquitous people who unjustly nailed Thee to the Tree, was wounded within, as Symeon foretold.
At the Liturgy
Prokimenon of the holy bishop, in Tone I
My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
Stichos: Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world.
Epistle to the Hebrews, §318 (Heb. 7: 26-8: 2)
Brethren: Such a High Priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself.. For the law maketh men high priests who have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, Who is consecrated for evermore. Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such a High Priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a Minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Alleluia of the holy bishop, in Tone II
Stichos: The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak of judgement.
Stichos: The law of God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be tripped.
Gospel according to John, § 36 (Jn. 10: 9-16)
The Lord said to the Jews who came to Him: I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he who is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Communion verse of the holy bishop
In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be, he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.
