Saint Alexis, the Man of God

After the usual beginning, the following are said:

KONTAKIA AND OIKOI:

Kontakion 1

To the most venerable and greatly struggling one of Christ, Alexios, let us now offer from our souls a tribute of praises and with longing let us cry out to him: Rejoice, Most Venerable Father Alexios!

Oikos 1

The angels in heaven marvelled seeing your struggles and your great patience, and receiving your spirit in the most high dwellings, were filled with joy, urging us also to say to you:

Rejoice, for you left your parents for Christ;
Rejoice, for He crowned you beautifully;
Rejoice, for through prayer you gave yourself to your parents;
Rejoice, for they greatly rejoiced in you;
Rejoice, for they offered great thanksgiving to God;
Rejoice, for the Lord accepted their prayer;
Rejoice, for the whole city rejoiced at your birth;
Rejoice, for your parents were greatly comforted;
Rejoice, for because of this they praised Christ;
Rejoice, for you are the fruit of prayer;
Rejoice, Most Venerable Father Alexios!

Kontakion 2

Seeing your beauty of soul and body, your parents thought to unite you in marriage according to the law of nature, but you, burning in soul towards Christ, said: Alleluia!

Oikos 2

Having been betrothed according to your parents’ desire, you entered the bridal chamber, yet, being more ardent in love towards God, you gave your betrothed the belt and ring, and secretly leaving the chamber you set out on your journey, praying unceasingly; and we say to you:

Rejoice, for the Lord was your guide on the way;
Rejoice, for you journeyed towards Laodicea;
Rejoice, for you found the longed-for Lord;
Rejoice, for you were estranged from all worldly life;
Rejoice, for you sought the image of the Saviour;
Rejoice, for you found Him in the city of Mesopotamia;
Rejoice, for that image greatly comforted you;
Rejoice, for you gave all your wealth to the poor;
Rejoice, for because of this you received reward from God;
Rejoice, Most Venerable Father Alexios!

Kontakion 3

When you began to live in the Church of the Most Holy Mother of God, always fasting and sharing your food with the poor, the world marvelled at your patience, saying: Alleluia!

Oikos 3

Living in the city of Edessa, all the people, beholding you as an angel, began to praise you, saying:

Rejoice, for you spent 17 years in Edessa in fasting and prayers;
Rejoice, for you lived angelically in the Church of the Mother of God;
Rejoice, for your good life amazed everyone;
Rejoice, for you secretly departed from their honour;
Rejoice, for fleeing, you journeyed to Cilicia;
Rejoice, for the hand of God directed you towards Rome;
Rejoice, for leaving the ship you gave yourself into God’s care;
Rejoice, for you entered your father’s house unknown to anyone;
Rejoice, for your heart was comforted by this;
Rejoice, Most Venerable Father Alexios!

Kontakion 4

When your father returned from the imperial court surrounded by many servants, and you saw him in such glory, and he, not recognising you, had mercy on you as a poor man, you, O Venerable One, gave thanks to God with all your heart, singing: Alleluia!

Oikos 4

Beginning to live in the small hut before your father’s palace, O Venerable One, no one knowing who you were, you often prayed for the city and the people; but we, marvelling at your patience, say:

Rejoice, for that small hut was for you a heavenly dwelling;
Rejoice, for your servants mocked you;
Rejoice, for being in so many evils you did not complain;
Rejoice, for you gave thanks to God for everything;
Rejoice, for hearing the lament of your betrothed you did not grieve her;
Rejoice, for hearing their sorrow you did not have compassion;
Rejoice, for many profited from your patience;
Rejoice, for you bestowed on them the grace of God;
Rejoice, for because of this you inherited paradise;
Rejoice, Most Venerable Father Alexios!

Kontakion 5

Seeing your impulse towards good deeds, the devil urged the servants to mock you, to strike you on the cheek and to pour slops over you; but you, O valiant struggler, armed yourself against him with prayer, singing to God who strengthened you: Alleluia!

Oikos 5

Your God-wise betrothed, not knowing where you were and not wishing to be separated from her mother-in-law, but like another Ruth, shutting herself in the bridal chamber, often wept; and you, hearing these things through the window, endured, offering prayers; for which marvelling, we cry out:

Rejoice, diamond of patience;
Rejoice, unshaken tower of temptations;
Rejoice, patient sufferer of torments;
Rejoice, unconquered soldier;
Rejoice, stone unbroken by your parents’ tears;
Rejoice, treasure unplundered by demonic assaults;
Rejoice, gold refined through patience;
Rejoice, for you have become a refuge for us;
Rejoice, for through you we profit;
Rejoice, Most Venerable Father Alexios!

Kontakion 6

Being a son and heir of your father’s house, you received food from the hands of your servants, but sharing it with other poor people you nourished yourself with bread and water, singing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 6

When God willed to take you from things temporal, He revealed to you the day of your departure; and being joyful at this, you asked for paper to write your life; and we cry out to you:

Rejoice, for you struggled greatly;
Rejoice, for you conquered the enemy;
Rejoice, for your life profited everyone;
Rejoice, for you counted all things here as nothing;
Rejoice, for you obtained heavenly things;
Rejoice, for for 17 years no one knew you;
Rejoice, for you spent your whole life in torments;
Rejoice, for you attained the height of paradise;
Rejoice, unwearying intercessor;
Rejoice, Most Venerable Father Alexios!

Kontakion 7

As your blessed end drew near and you were writing all your life, you added also this: that your parents should forgive you for the troubles you caused them by your absence; holding the paper in your right hand, you fell asleep, singing: Alleluia!

Oikos 7

Pope Innocent, serving in the Church of the Holy Apostles, heard a voice from heaven saying, in the hearing of all, that you had fallen asleep in the Lord; and not knowing where to find you for prayer, he turned, saying:

Rejoice, man of God;
Rejoice, His great and pure friend;
Rejoice, for from childhood you served Him;
Rejoice, for for His sake you despised everything;
Rejoice, for your way of life was wonderful;
Rejoice, for we were all terrified by it;
Rejoice, for you are an example of patience for us;
Rejoice, for you brought us to great wonder;
Rejoice, for from hence we set out to seek you;
Rejoice, Most Venerable Father Alexios!

Kontakion 8

Emperor Honorius and all the people, gathered in the church and hearing the Divine Voice calling you from above and urging the Pope to seek you, filled with trembling, fell with their faces to the ground, crying out to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 8

Serving a second time, the Pope with many people again heard a commanding voice saying to him that in the house of Euphemian is the man of God; and all were terrified and did not understand; but we say these things to you:

Rejoice, for the Pope set out to seek you;
Rejoice, for Emperor Honorius came to your father’s house;
Rejoice, for through their prayer you were revealed;
Rejoice, for the whole city rejoiced at this;
Rejoice, for the devil seeing this was troubled;
Rejoice, for the angels greatly rejoiced;
Rejoice, for through you the city was saved;
Rejoice, for they called you defender of the city;
Rejoice, swift helper;
Rejoice, Most Venerable Father Alexios!

Kontakion 9

Euphemian, not knowing that you, the priceless treasure, dwelt in his house, said to the emperor: “As God lives, I know no one (in my house) with good deeds” who knows how to sing: Alleluia!

Oikos 9

The emperor and the pope set out to come to your house, together with all the clergy; but your father arrived beforehand, preparing a place for them; and the people, impatient to see you, began to cry out:

Rejoice, our swift help;
Rejoice, strength of our city;
Rejoice, our deliverer from troubles;
Rejoice, most fervent intercessor for our souls;
Rejoice, ambassador to God;
Rejoice, most good father;
Rejoice, chosen one of God;
Rejoice, His pure vessel;
Rejoice, undefiled mirror;
Rejoice, Most Venerable Father Alexios!

Kontakion 10

Those gathered in your father’s house were in sorrow, not knowing where to find you; behold, that servant who was appointed to take care of you said in the hearing of all that the poor man in the hut had fallen asleep, not knowing that you are the one who sang: Alleluia!

Oikos 10

Hearing that the poor man had fallen asleep, your father came into your little hut, full of the Holy Spirit; and seeing you fallen asleep and holding the paper in your hand, and not wishing to give it to them, he said with compunction:

Rejoice, hidden treasure;
Rejoice, for you were a pillar of fire;
Rejoice, for we were terrified of your life;
Rejoice, for the heavenly Father accepted your patience;
Rejoice, for you were an angel in the flesh;
Rejoice, for the devil was mocked;
Rejoice, for through you many people were saved;
Rejoice, for many lepers were cleansed;
Rejoice, for we rejoiced at this;
Rejoice, Most Venerable Father Alexios!

Kontakion 11

All the people, kneeling at your holy relics, with great humility and many prayers raising up to God, you had mercy on them; and giving them the written paper, they understood from it that you are the man of God, and all cried out: Alleluia!

Oikos 11

The great multitude of people, seeing your mother and betrothed in the courtyard, O Saint Alexios, did not understand; and realising that that poor man is you, the lost son and husband, they tore their hair and ran with lamentation to your hut, wishing most quickly to cry out to you:

Rejoice, most beloved;
Rejoice, longed-for one of your mother;
Rejoice, precious treasure;
Rejoice, comforter of your parents;
Rejoice, counsellor of your betrothed;
Rejoice, keeper of the law of God;
Rejoice, not remembering the evil of your servants;
Rejoice, receiver of troubles;
Rejoice, our comforter;
Rejoice, Most Venerable Father Alexios!

Kontakion 12

Aglaida, your dear mother, not knowing what to do at your discovery, whether to rejoice or to grieve, ran with lamentation to see her most beloved son; and pushing aside the people, she cried out with weeping: Alleluia!

Oikos 12

Taking your venerable relics from the poor hut, they placed them in a precious reliquary, giving fitting honour as to a great struggler; and beholding your angelic face, they cried out to you such things as these:

Rejoice, for you struggled manfully;
Rejoice, for now you rejoice with the angels;
Rejoice, for you conquered the devil;
Rejoice, for you pray for us to the Lord;
Rejoice, for you drive away evil spirits;
Rejoice, for the lame have their walking through you;
Rejoice, for lepers are cleansed through you;
Rejoice, for now you stand near the Holy Trinity;
Rejoice, for there you see the Lord Christ, longed for by you;
Rejoice, for for His sake you received a blessed end;
Rejoice, Most Venerable Father Alexios!

Kontakion 13

O most good Father Alexios, who left your father’s house for Christ, do not forsake us, who are encompassed by many temptations, but pray for us and fulfil our requests for salvation, that together with you we may sing to God: Alleluia! (This kontakion is said three times)

Then again Oikos 1 is said