Contents

PAGE

Preface to First Edition

13

Preface to Second Edition

19

Preface to Third Edition

21

Introduction

25

S. Anatolius—(d. 458) 55

Stichera for a Sunday of the First Tone

57

Evening Hymn

59

Stichera at Vespers, S. Stephen's Day

62

Stichera for Christmas-tide

64

S. Andrew of Crete—(A.D. 660–732)

71

Stichera for Great Thursday

73

Troparia for Palm Sunday

76

The Great Canon

78

Stichera for the Second Week of the Great Fast

82

S. Germanus—(A.D. 634–734)

85

A Sunday in the Week of the First Tone

87

S. John Damascene—(circ. A.D. 780)

90

Canon for Easter Day, called the "Queen of Canons"—

92

Ode I.—"’Tis the Day of Resurrection"

95

p. 8

PAGE

S. John Damascene—Continued.

Ode III. Come and let us drink of that New River"

97

Ode IV.—"Stand on thy watch-tower, Habakkuk the Seer"

98

Ode V.—"Let us rise in early morning"

100

Ode VI.—"Into the dim earth's lowest parts descending"

102

Ode VII.—"Who from the fiery furnace saved the Three"

103

Ode VIII.—"Thou hallowed chosen morn of praise"

105

Ode IX. Thou New Jerusalem, arise and shine"

107

The Stichera of the Last Kiss

108

Idiomela for All Saints

115

Canon for S. Thomas’ Sunday:—

Ode I. Come, ye faithful, raise the strain"

118

Ode III.—"On the rock of Thy Commandments"

121

Ode IV.—"Christ, we turn our eyes to Thee"

123

Ode V.—Thee, O Christ, we, very early rising"

125

p. 9

PAGE

S. Cosmas, surnamed The Melodist—(A.D. 760)

127

Canon for Christmas Day:

Ode I.—" Christ is born! Tell forth His fame"

130

Ode 11I.—"Him, of the Father's very Essence"

133

Ode IV.—"Rod of the Root of Jesse"

136

Ode V.—"Father of Peace, and God of Consolation"

139

Ode VI.—"As Jonah, issuing from his three days’ tomb"

141

Ode VII.—"The Holy Children boldly stand"

143

Ode VIII.—"The dewy freshness that the furnace flings"

145

Ode IX.—"O wond’rous mystery, full of passing grace!"

148

Cento on the Transfiguration

150

S. Tarasius—(A.D. 806)

154

S. Theophanes—(A.D. 759–818)

156

Idiomela on Friday of Tyrophagus

160

Stichera at the First Vespers of Cheese Sunday (Quinquagesima):—"Adam's Complaint"

164

p. 10

PAGE

S. Theodore of the Studium—(A.D. 826)

168

Canon for Apocreos (Sexagesima)

191

Ode I.—"That fearful day, that day of speechless dread"

174

Ode III.—"God comes, and who shall stand before His fear?"

176

Ode IV.—"The day is near, the Judgment is at hand"

178

Ode IX.—"The Lord draws nigh, the righteous Throne's Assessor"

181

Orthodoxy Sunday (1st Sunday in Lent)

184

S. Methodius I.—(A.D. 836)

192

Idiomela for a Sunday of the Fourth Tone

193

S. Joseph of the Studium—(A.D. 830)

195

Canon at Lauds for Sunday of the Prodigal Son (Septuagesima)

198

Cento from the Canon of SS. Timothy and Maura:

"Let our Choir new Anthems raise"

201

p. 11

PAGE

S. Joseph of the Studium—continued.

Cento from the Canon for the Monday of the First Tone; in the Paracletice: "And wilt Thou pardon, Lord?"

204

Cento from the Canon of the Bodiless Ones (Tuesday in the Week of the Fourth Tone): "Stars of the Morning"

206

Canon for Ascension Day:—

Ode I.—"After three days Thou didst rise"

209

Ode III.—"Exalt, exalt, the Heavenly Gates"

212

Ode IV.—"Jesus, Lord of Life Eternal"

214

Ode V.—"Now that Death by death hath found its ending"

216

Ode VI.—"Rain down, ye heav’ns, eternal bliss"

218

Ode VII.—"Wafting Him up on high"

221

Ode VIII.—"Of twofold natures, Christ, the Giver"

223

Ode IX.—"Holy gift, surpassing comprehension"

226

S. Theoctistus of the Studium—(circ. A.D. 890)

229

Cento from the "Suppliant Canon to Jesus"

229

p. 12

PAGE

Metrophanes of Smyrna—(circ. A.D. 910)

233

From the Canon for Sunday of the Second Tone:—

"O Unity of Threefold Light"

234

Euthymius—(A.D. 910)

236

Leo VI.—(A.D. 917)

237

John Mauropus—(A.D. 1060)

238

APPENDIX.

S. Stephen the Sabaite—(A.D. 725–794)

240

Idiomela in the Week of the First Oblique Tone

242

S. Joseph of the Studium (A.D. 830):

"The Pilgrims of Jesus"

245

"The Return Home"

248