Canon to St. Cyril of Jerusalem

To be chanted at Matins on the 18th of March

Canon of the holy hierarch, the acrostic whereof is:
"I hymn Cyril, the primate of Jerusalem,"
the composition of Theophanes the Branded, in Tone IV

Ode I

Irmos: O Thou Who was born of the Virgin, drown Thou, I pray Thee, the three parts of my soul in the depths of dispassion, as of old Thou didst drown the mounted captains of Pharaoh; that, in the mortality of my body, as on a timbrel, I may chant a hymn of victory.

Having adorned thy soul with ideal virtues, thou didst render it receptive to the grace of the Holy Spirit; hence thou hast let gush a torrent of wisdom which drieth up the depths of heresy, O Cyril.

Thou didst train thy mind to transcend material things, showing thyself to be a companion of the immaterial servants of God, and with the fire of thy words thou didst utterly consume the tinder of heresy, O Cyril, ever-vigilant beacon of the Church.

As the perfume of Christ, with the sweetly wafting fragrance of thy words, O most wise one, thou didst dispel the unbearable stench of all the heresies of Manes, the namesake of insanity, and as a pastor most true didst drive it far away.

Theotokion: From the mire of the passions, from the threefold waves of evil thoughts, from the darts of the wicked one, from every assault of the adversary, save the souls of those who hymn thine ineffable birthgiving, O pure and all-immaculate Theotokos.

ᾨδὴ α'

Ὁ Εἱρμὸς: «Τριστάτας κραταιούς, ὁ τεχθεὶς ἐκ Παρθένου, ἀπαθείας ἐν βυθῷ, ψυχῆς τὸ Τριμερές, καταπόντισον δέομαι, ὅπως σοι ὡς ἐν τυμπάνῳ, τῇνεκρώσει τοῦ σώματος, ἐπὶνίκιον ᾄσω μελῴδημα».

Κοσμήσας τὴν ψυχήν, ἀρετῶν ταῖς ἰδέαις, χαρισμάτων δεκτικήν, τοῦ Πνεύματος αὐτήν, τοῦ Ἁγίου τετέλεκας· ὅθεν ἄβυσσον σοφίας, ἐξηρεύξω Αἱρέσεων, τὰ πελάγη ξηραίνουσαν Κύριλλε.

Ὑπέρτερον τὸν νοῦν, τῶν ἐνύλων εἰργάσω, τῶν ἀΰλων λειτουργῶν, συνόμιλος δειχθείς, τῷ πυρὶ δὲ τῶν λόγων σου, πᾶσαν ἔφλεξας τὴν ὕλην,τῶν αἱρέσεων Κύριλλε, Ἐκκλησίας πυρσὸς ὁ ἀκοίμητος.

Ῥημάτων σου ὀδμαῖς, ἡδυπνόοις μανίας, τὸν ἐπώνυμον Σοφέ, αἱρέσεων πασῶν, τὸν ἀνύποιστον βόρβορον, ἤλασας μακρὰν ποιήσας, ὡς ποιμὴν ἀληθέστατος, ὡς Χριστοῦ εὐωδία γενόμενος.

Θεοτοκίον: Ἰλύος ἐκ παθῶν, λογισμῶν τρικυμίας, ἐκ βελῶν τοῦ πονηροῦ, ἐκ πάσης προσβολῆς, ἐναντίας διάσωσον, ἅπαντας τοὺς ἀνυμνοῦντας, σοῦπανάμωμε Δέσποινα, τὸν ἀνέκφραστον τόκον Πανάχραντε.

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. Let us cry out to our wondrous God: Holy art Thou, O Lord!

Radiant with the splendors of spiritual wisdom, to those on earth, O father, thou didst splendidly clarify the doctrine of the thrice-luminous Godhead of the Trinity, by Whom we have been delivered from the darkness of deception.

Thou wast shown to be a harp of the all-holy Spirit, O divinely wise one, playing a hymn of the manifestation of Christ; and thou didst proclaim Him to be in two natures, delighting our souls.

Thou didst show forth thy soul as a habitation of sanctity, wherein the Father, the Son and the life-creating Spirit supernaturally made their abode, to Whom we chant: Holy art Thou, O Lord!

Theotokion: Not even a heavenly intelligence can describe thy birthgiving which passeth understanding, O Maiden; for thou didst conceive in thy womb the Word, the primal Intelligence Who fashioned all things by His word.

ᾨδὴ γ' 

Ὁ Εἱρμὸς «Ὅτι στεῖρα ἔτεκεν ἡ ἐξ' Ἐθνῶν Ἐκκλησία, καὶ ἡ πολλὴ ἐν τέκνοις ἠσθένησε Συναγωγή, τῷ θαυμαστῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν βοήσωμεν· Ἅγιος εἶ Κύριε».

Λάμπων ταῖς φαιδρότησι Πνευματικῆς σοφίας, τὸ τριφεγγὲς τῆς θείας Τριάδος, Πάτερ τηλαυγῶς, τοῖς ἐπὶ γῆς ἐτράνωσας, δι' ἧς σκότους πλάνης ἐλυτρώθημεν.

Λύρα ὤφθης Πνεύματος τοῦ παναγίου θεόφρον, ἀναφωνοῦσα μέλος ἐπιφανείας τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃν ἐν δυσὶ ταῖς φύσεσιν ἐκήρυξας, θέλγων τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.

Οἶκος ἁγιάσματος σοῦ ἡ ψυχὴ ἀνεδείχθη, ἐν ᾧ Πατὴρ Υἱός τε καὶ Πνεῦμα τὸ ζωαρχικόν, ὑπερφυῶς κατῴκησεν, ᾧ ψάλλομεν· Ἅγιος εἶ Κύριε.

Θεοτοκίον: Νοῦς οὐδὲ οὐράνιος τὴν ὑπὲρ νοῦν σου λοχείαν, διερμηνεύει Κόρη· Νοῦ γὰρ τοῦ πρώτου ἐν γαστρί, Λόγον Ἁγνὴ συνέλαβες, τὸν τὰ πάντα λόγῳ συστησάμενον.

Sessional hymn in Plagal of Tone IV: Spec. Mel: "Of the Wisdom..." -

Enriched with the wisdom of discourse, thou didst pour forth living rivers of teaching, and didst water every thought of the pious therewith, and with the staff of God didst tend the flock on green pastures, and didst nurture it with divine understanding. Wherefore, as pastor, great teacher and helper of the faithful, we praise thee, O holy hierarch Cyril, crying aloud: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who with love honour thy holy memory!

Glory...Now & ever...

Theotokion: All of us, the generations of men, bless thee as the Virgin who alone among women gave birth in the flesh without sed unto God; for the fire of the Godhead made its abode within thee, and thou gavest suck unto the Creator and Lord as a babe. Wherefore, we, the race of angels and of men, glorify thine all-holy birthgiving as is meet, and together we cry out to thee: Entreat Christ God, that He grants remission of offences unto those who with faith worship thine all-holy Offspring!

Or this Stavrotheotokion: The ewe-lamb, beholding the Lamb, Shepherd and Deliverer upon the Cross, weeping, exclaimed and, bitterly lamenting, cried aloud: "The world rejoiceth, receiving deliverance through Thee, but my womb doth burn, beholding Thy crucifixion, which Thou endurest in the loving-kindness of Thy mercy, O long-suffering Lord, abyss and inexhaustible Wellspring of mercy, take pity, and grant remission of offenses unto those who with faith hymn Thy divine suffering!

Κάθισμα Ἦχος πλ. δ' - Τὴν σοφίαν

Τὴν σοφίαν τοῦ λόγου πεπλουτηκώς, ἐξηρεύξω δογμάτων ῥεῖθρα ζωῆς, καὶ πᾶσαν κατήρδευσας, εὐσεβούντων διάνοιαν, καὶ βακτηρίᾳ θείᾳποιμάνας τὸ ποίμνιον, ἐπὶ χλόην θείας, ἐξέθρεψας γνώσεως· ὅθεν ὡς Ποιμένα, καὶ διδάσκαλον μέγαν, καὶ πίστεως πρόμαχον, εὐφημοῦμέν σε Κυριλλε, Ἱεράρχα κραυγάζοντες· Πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, τῶν πταισμάτων ἄφεσιν δωρήσασθαι, τοῖς ἑορτάζουσι πόθῳ, τὴν ἁγίαν μνήμην σου.

Δόξα... Ἦχος α'

Τὸν Τάφον σου Σωτὴρ

Ἡ γλῶσσά σου Σοφέ, θεϊκαῖς ἐπιπνοίαις, ἐφώτισε λαούς, μίαν σέβειν Τριάδα, τῇ φύσει ἀμέριστον, μεριστὴν τοῖς προσώποις δέ· ὅθεν χαίροντες, τὴν παναγίαν σου μνήμην, ἑορτάζομεν, πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν πρεσβευτὴν σε, ἀεὶ προβαλλόμενοι.

Καὶ νῦν ... 

Θεοτοκίον: Μαρία τὸ σεπτόν, τοῦ Δεσπότου δοχεῖον, ἀνάστησον ἡμᾶς, πεπτωκότας εἰς χάος, δεινῆς ἀπογνώσεως, καὶ πταισμάτων καὶ θλίψεων, καὶ ἀνάγαγε, ἐκ ῥαθυμίας πταισμάτων, τοῦ δοξάζειν σε, Παντελεῆμον τὴν μόνην, ἐλπίδα τῶν δούλων σου.

Ἢ Σταυροθεοτοκίον: Ὁρῶσά σε Χριστέ, ἡ πανάμωμος Μήτηρ, νεκρὸν ἐπὶ Σταυροῦ, ἡπλωμένον ἐβόα· Υἱέ μου συνάναρχε, τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ Πνεύματι, τὶς ἡ ἄφατος,οἰκονομία σου αὕτη, δι' ἧς ἔσωσας, τὸ τῶν ἀχράντων χειρῶν σου, σοφὸν δημιούργημα;

Ode IV

Irmos: Thy virtue hath covered the heavens, and the earth hath been filled with Thy glory, O Christ. Wherefore, we cry out with faith: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Thy heart, which received an abyss of teaching which drowneth the minds of the ungodly, hath given rise unto a stream of heavenly wisdom, O venerable one.

Thou didst preach the Godhead of three Hypostases, one Power, one Essence, one Will, and didst dry up the torrent of the deception of polytheism, O Cyril.

Possessed of a mind instructed by God, O blessed one, thou didst openly denounce Manes' gross and most foolish mind.

Theotokion: As one more exalted than all other creatures, O pure one, thou didst conceive the Author of creation, giving birth supernaturally unto Him Who hath renewed our nature.

ᾨδὴ δ' 

Ὁ Εἱρμὸς: «Τοὺς οὐρανοὺς ἡ ἀρετή σου κατεκάλυψε, καὶ ἡ γῆ ἐπληρώθη τῆς δόξης σου Χριστέ· διὸ ἀπαύστως κράζομεν· Δόξα τῇ δυνάμει σου Κύριε».

Ὑπερκοσμίου τῆς σοφίας ῥεῖθρον Ὅσιε, σοῦ ἡ καρδία δεξαμένη, ἐξηρεύξατο διδασκαλίας ἄβυσσον, νόας ἀσεβούντων βυθίζουσαν.

Μίαν ἰσχὺν μίαν οὐσίαν καὶ βούλησιν, τρισυποστάτου Θεότητος ἐκήρυξας, καὶ πολυθέου Κύριλλε, πλάνης τὸν χειμάρρουν ἐξήρανας.

Νοῦν βορβορώδη καὶ παράφρονα τοῦ Μάνεντος, ὡς νουνεχὴς καὶ θεοδίδακτος Μακάριε, ταῖς ἀστραπαῖς τῶν λόγων σου, φλέξας ἐμφανῶςἐστηλίτευσας.

Θεοτοκίον: Ὡς ἀνωτέρα πάντων τῶν ποιημάτων Ἁγνή, τὸν Ποιητὴν τῆς κτίσεως συνέλαβες, καὶ ὑπὲρ φύσιν τέτοκας, φύσιν τὴν ἡμῶν ἀναπλάττοντα.

Ode V

Irmos: Thou hast come, O my Lord, as a light into the world: a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance those who hymn Thee with faith.

With the staff of thy precious wisdom, O blessed and holy hierarch, thou didst guide thy flock to the water of Orthodox worship.

Thy discourse, made radiant with the divine light, O Cyril, dispersed the gloom of the ignorance of those who were enlightened in Jerusalem.

Theotokion: The night of the passions and the gloom of evils covereth my soul. Enlighten me, I pray thee, O all-pure one who gavest birth unto the Bestower of light.

ᾨδὴ ε' 

Ὁ Εἱρμὸς: «Σὺ Κύριέ μου φῶς, εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἐλήλυθας, φῶς ἅγιον ἐπιστρέφον, ἐκ ζοφώδους ἀγνοίας, τοὺς πίστει ἀνυμνοῦντάς σε».

Τῇ ῥάβδῳ τῆς σεπτῆς, Ἱεράρχα σοφίας σου, ἐποίμανας ἐπὶ ὕδωρ, ὀρθοδόξου λατρείας, τὴν ποίμνην σου μακάριε.

Ὁ λόγος σου φωτί, θεϊκῷ ἀστραπτόμενος, ὦ Κύριλλε φωτισθέντων, ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις, ἀχλὺν ἀγνοίας ἔλυσε.

Θεοτοκίον: Νὺξ Πάναγνε παθῶν, καὶ κακῶν ἀμαυρότητες, καλύπτουσι τὴν ψυχήν μου, φωτοδότην τεκοῦσα, καταύγασόν με δέομαι.

Ode VI

Irmos: Prefiguring Thy three-day burial, the Prophet Jonah, praying within the sea monster, cried out: Deliver me from corruption, O Jesus, King of hosts!

A river full of the life-bearing waters of the Spirit, thou didst issue forth as from another Eden, O holy hierarch, and dost water the furrows of the Church.

With the radiance of thy words thou dost save men as from the tempest of the sea of impiety, O most sacred one, beckoning them to the calm haven of Orthodoxy.

Theotokion: Thou hast made man's earthly nature heavenly, O all immaculate Maiden, and hast fashioned anew that which was corrupted. Wherefore, we glorify thee with unceasing cries.

ᾨδὴ ς' 

Ὁ Εἱρμὸς: «Ἐβόησε, προτυπῶν τὴν ταφὴν τὴν τριήμερον, ὁ Προφήτης, Ἰωνᾶς ἐν τῷ κήτει δεόμενος, ἐκ φθορᾶς με ῥῦσαι, Ἰησοῦ Βασιλεῦ τῶν δυνάμεων».

Ποταμὸς σύ, ὡς ἐξ ἄλλης Ἐδὲμ ἐκπεπόρευσαι, ζωηρύτων, πεπλησμένος ναμάτων τοῦ Πνεύματος, καὶ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας, Ἱεράρχα μεθύσκεις τὰς αὔλακας.

Ῥημάτων σου, τῷ πυρσῷ θαλαττίου ἐκ κλύδωνος, ἀσεβείας διασῴζεις λαὸν ἱερώτατε, γαληνὸν πρὸς ὅρμον, ὀρθοδόξως αὐτὸν ἐκκαλούμενος.

Θεοτοκίον: Οὐράνωσας, γεωθεῖσαν τὴν φύσιν Πανάμωμε, τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ φθαρεῖσαν αὐτὴν ἐκαινούργησας· διὰ τοῦτο Κόρη, ἀσιγήτοις φωναῖς σε γεραίρομεν.

Kontakion in Tone I: 

With thy tongue and by divine inspirations thou didst enlighten thy people to honour the One Trinity indivisible in Essence and distinguished as to Persons. Wherefore, rejoicing, we celebrate thine all-holy memory, presenting thee to God as an intercessor.

Ode VII

Irmos: The three youths in Bablyon, having put to mockery the tyrant's command, cried out amid the flames: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

Having the fire of the fear of God within thy mind, O father, thou didst reduce the tinder of pleasures to ashes, chanting: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

Having quenched the flame of the passions with tears, O blessed one, thou didst maintain the luster of thy soul undimmed, crying out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

Possessing a living stream in thy soul through the grace of the Spirit, O divinely wise father, thou hast poured forth rivers of doctrine, which give drink unto the Church, which piously honoureth thee.

Theotokion: Our holy Lord, the living God Who dwelleth in the saints and took flesh for Himself of thy flesh, O Theotokos, hath wholly sanctified thee.

ᾨδὴ ζ' 

Ὁ Εἱρμὸς: «Νέοι τρεῖς ἐν Βαβυλῶνι, πρόσταγμα τυραννικόν, εἰς φλήναφον θέμενοι, ἐν μέσῳ φλογὸς ἀνεβόων· Εὐλογητὸς εἶ Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρωνἡμῶν».

Ἔχων πῦρ ἐν διανοίᾳ, φόβου Πάτερ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὕλην ἀπετέφρωσας, τὴν τῶν ἡδονῶν ἀναμέλπων· Εὐλογητὸς εἶ Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς ὁ τῶν Πατέρωνἡμῶν.

Δάκρυσι παθῶν τὴν φλόγα, σβέσας Μάκαρ τὸν πυρσόν, ἐτήρησας ἄσβεστον, σοῦ τὸν τῆς ψυχῆς ἀνακράζων· Εὐλογητὸς εἶ Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς ὁτῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν.

Ῥεῖθρον ζῶν ἔχων τὴν χάριν, Πνεύματος ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ θεόφρον ἀνέβλυσας, Πάτερ ποταμοὺς διδαγμάτων, τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν ἄρδοντας, εὐσεβῶς σε γεραίρουσαν.

Θεοτοκίον: Ὅλην σε καθαγιάζει, Ἅγιος ὁ ἐκ τῆς σῆς, σαρκὸς δανεισάμενος, σάρκα ἑαυτῷ Θεοτόκε, ὁ ἐν Ἁγίοις Κύριος, κατοικῶν ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν.

Ode VIII

Irmos: O Almighty Deliverer of all, descending into the midst of the flame Thou didst bedew the pious youths and didst teach them to chant: Bless and hymn the Lord, all ye works!

Having chased the slumber of indifference from the eyelids of thy soul, O blessed one, thou hast now fallen into the sleep which befitteth the righteous, and hast passed on to that day of never-waning light.

With the lightning flashes of thy words thou hast utterly consumed the tinder of heresy, O ever-memorable one, and hast enlightened the faithful to worship the One Trinity of Persons which is one in nature.

Having sanctified thyself with fasts, thou didst offer up the unbloody sacrifice unto Him Who became mortal for thy sake, O Cyril, as a godly hierarch and minister of the ineffable mysteries.

Theotokion: Delivered from the curse of our foremother by thee, O pure Mother of God, blessed Mistress, we bless thine all-holy birth-giving, O most glorious and all-pure Virgin.

ᾨδὴ η' 

Ὁ Εἱρμὸς: «Λυτρωτὰ τοῦ παντὸς Παντοδύναμε, τοὺς ἐν μέσῳ φλογὸς εὐσεβήσαντας, συγκαταβὰς ἐδρόσισας, καὶ ἐδίδαξας μέλπειν· Πάντα τὰ ἔργα,εὐλογεῖτε τὸν Κύριον».

Νυσταγμὸν ἀμελείας Μακάριε, ἐκ βλεφάρων ψυχῆς ἀπωσάμενος, τὸν τοῖς δικαίοις πρέποντα, νῦν κεκοίμησαι ὕπνον, καὶ πρὸς ἡμέραν, ἀνεσπέρου φωτὸς μεταβέβηκας.

Ἀστραπαῖς σου τὸν λόγον κατέφλεξας, φρυγανώδεις αἱρέσεις Ἀοίδιμε, καὶ τοὺς πιστοὺς ἐφώτισας, μίαν σέβειν Τριάδα, τοῖς χαρακτῆρσιν, ἐν Μονάδι ὑπάρχουσαν φύσεως.

Ἱερεύσας σαυτὸν ταῖς ἀσκήσεσι, τὸν νεκρὸν διὰ σὲ χρηματίσαντα, σὺ ἀναιμάκτως τέθυκας, Ἱεράρχης ὡς θεῖος, ὡς Μυστηρίων, ἀπορρήτων διάκονος Κύριλλε.

Θεοτοκίον: Λυτρωθέντες ἀρᾶς τῆς Προμήτορος, διὰ σοῦ τῆς ἁγνῆς Θεομήτορος, εὐλογημένη Δέσποινα, εὐλογοῦμεν Παρθένε δεδοξασμένη, τὸν πανάγιον τόκον σου σέβοντες.

Ode IX

Irmos: Eve, through weakness, abode under the curse of disobedience; but thou, O Virgin Theotokos, hast put forth blessing for the world through the Offspring of thy child-bearing. Wherefore, we all magnify thee.

Desirous of beholding the ineffable glory of Christ, O holy hierarch, thou didst endeavour to slay the soul-destroying passions, and to make of thy heart a receptacle of the greater and higher wisdom. Wherefore, with faith we call the blessed.

In the firmament of the Church hath Christ the Sun set thee as a most radiant star, O Cyril, illumining the hearts of those who keep thy splendid memory with faith, O venerable one.

Thou art one who hath conversed and ministered with angels; for, having lived on earth like an incorporeal being, O father, thou wast shown to be a companion of the venerable and a peer of the holy hierarchs. And as thou joinest them in chorus, be thou mindful of us.

Theotokion: O all-pure Virgin Theotokos, who wast born of a barren woman at the behest of Him Who by His will transformeth all things, show forth my heart, which is barren of godly virtues, to be fruitful, that I may hymn thee, O all-hymned one.

ᾨδὴ θ' 

Ὁ Εἱρμὸς: «Εὔα μὲν τῷ τῆς παρακοῆς νοσήμάτι, τὴν κατάραν εἰσῳκίσατο, σὺ δὲ Παρθένε Θεοτόκε, τῷ τῆς κυοφορίας βλαστήματι, τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν εὐλογίανἐξήνθησας· ὅθεν σε πάντες μεγαλύνομεν».

Ἰδεῖν ἐφιέμενος Χριστοῦ τὴν ἄρρητον, Ἱεράρχα δόξαν ἔσπευσας, πάθη νεκρῶσαι ψυχοφθόρα, καρδίαν τε δοχεῖον ποιήσασθαι, σοφίας τῆςἀμείνω καὶ κρείττονος· ὅθεν σε πίστει μακαρίζομεν.

Ἀστέρα πολύφωτον Χριστὸς ὁ Ἥλιος, Ἐκκλησίας ἐν τῷ ὕψει σε, ἔθετο Κύριλλε ἀκτῖσι, δογμάτων ἱερῶν καταυγάζοντα, καρδίας τῶν πιστῶςἐκτελούντων σου, τὴν φωτοφόρον, μνήμην Ὅσιε.

Συνόμιλος καὶ συλλειτουργὸς γεγένησαι, τῶν Ἀγγέλων· ὡς γὰρ ἄσαρκος, Πάτερ ἐν γῇ ἐπολιτεύσω, Ὁσίων ἀνεδείχθης συμμέτοχος, καὶ τῶνἹεραρχῶν ἰσοστάσιος, οἷς συγχορεύων ἡμῶν μέμνησο.

Θεοτοκίον: Στειρεύουσαν θείων ἀρετῶν Πανάχραντε, Θεοτόκε τὴν καρδίαν μου, δεῖξον Παρθένε καρποφόρον, ἐκ στείρας ἡ τεχθεῖσα βουλήματι, τὰ πάντα τοῦ ποιοῦντος τῷ νεύματι, ἵνα ὑμνῶ σε τὴν Πανύμνητον.