Saint Andrew the First-Called, Protector of Romania

After the usual beginning, we say:

KONTAKIA and OIKOI:

Kontakion 1

The first-called disciple and follower of the Passion of Christ, Andrew the Apostle, the brother of Peter, let us the faithful praise, as him who turned the pagans from deceit to baptism. Therefore we sing to him: Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

Oikos 1

My soul, troubled by thoughts and evil words, cleanse it with thy divine grace, which dwelt in thee, herald of Christ Andrew, that being pure, it may pour forth a worthy hymn thus:

• Rejoice, thou who from a fisherman didst become an apostle;
• Rejoice, for first thou hadst Saint John the Baptist as teacher;
• Rejoice, for from the company of disciples thou wast first called by the Saviour to the apostolic gift;
• Rejoice, for thou didst become with great faith a disciple of Christ;
• Rejoice, for thou didst also bring thy brother Peter to Christ;
• Rejoice, for together with all the apostles thou didst follow the Lord;
• Rejoice, for thou art among the first apostles of Christ;
• Rejoice, for thou didst keep approved love toward the Lord;
• Rejoice, for for His love, through many lands thou didst preach Him, the life-giving God;
• Rejoice, for preaching among the pagans the faith in Jesus Christ, thou didst endure many sorrows;
• Rejoice, for thou wast beaten with clubs and with stones;
• Rejoice, for those savages did bite thee also with their teeth;
• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

Kontakion 2

With the word of the Gospel, O all-praised Andrew, from the depth of deceit thou didst fish the peoples, as thou didst promise the Lord Jesus Christ, who taught thee to catch men for His faith. Therefore we sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 2

Thou who art a citizen of the mystery, thyself the beholder, and orator of the ineffable knowledge of Christ, having received the Holy Spirit from on high, thou dost speak in tongues and distribute gifts. Therefore we praise the gift received and sing to thee these things:

• Rejoice, receiver of the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire;
• Rejoice, for through many lands thou didst go from place to place;
• Rejoice, for being torn by pagans, the Lord Jesus made thee whole;
• Rejoice, for many of the best Christians thou didst ordain bishops and priests;
• Rejoice, for through cities and villages walking and preaching, thou didst make many Christians;
• Rejoice, for after many years of preaching, at the end thou didst attain martyrdom;
• Rejoice, for the unbelieving pagans, tormenting thee, nailed thee on a cross head downwards;
• Rejoice, for thy divine soul went to heaven;
• Rejoice, for the Lord Christ placed a precious crown on thy head;
• Rejoice, for all the heavenly hosts for thy crowning sang most beautiful hymns;
• Rejoice, for the angels and the saints with joy in thy distinct palace placed thee;
• Rejoice, humble worshiper of the Most Holy Trinity;
• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

Kontakion 3

Thou didst run with thirst to the call of the Saviour, O Apostle Andrew, and willingly didst give thyself to the obedience of His teaching, like a hart to the springs of waters, and to all thou didst preach the true God; therefore we sing: Alleluia!

Oikos 3

The pearl of great price, hidden in the secret of thy heart, thou didst set before the world, O Apostle Andrew; the pagans receiving it with faith made it a treasure. Therefore we bring to thee these:

• Rejoice, praiser of the Most Holy Mother of God;
• Rejoice, thou who together with the angels and all the saints dost sing;
• Rejoice, our guardian;
• Rejoice, our intercessor before the most honored Mother of God;
• Rejoice, our suppliant to the Lord God;
• Rejoice, minister of the mysteries of Christ;
• Rejoice, most firm foundation of the confession of Christ;
• Rejoice, for thou didst preach the faith given by the Lord Jesus Christ;
• Rejoice, enlightener of heavenly knowledge;
• Rejoice, teacher of the right faith;
• Rejoice, through whom the Lord Christ dwells;
• Rejoice, through whom Satan is destroyed;
• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

Kontakion 4

Like a proclamation, taking the Gospel in thy hands, O most praised Andrew, thou didst enrich all the earth with divine preaching. Therefore we honor thy memory, together with thy sufferings, singing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 4

Turning pagan temples into churches of God, O most honored Apostle Andrew, thou didst sanctify in them the sons of baptism, whom grace renewed through water and the Spirit. Therefore we sing to thee these praises:

• Rejoice, hearer of angelic hymns;
• Rejoice, for thou didst crucify worldly things and in thee lives Jesus Christ;
• Rejoice, through whom darkness was scattered;
• Rejoice, through whom the world was enlightened;
• Rejoice, deified one united with God;
• Rejoice, heaven higher than heaven;
• Rejoice, for thou didst show thyself a partaker of the divine nature;
• Rejoice, for the sons of men thou didst bring to God;
• Rejoice, necessary benefactor of the Church;
• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

Kontakion 5

Thou didst know the ordinances of nature, O glorious Andrew, worthy of wonder, and thou didst receive thy brother Peter as a partaker, saying: "We have found the Desired One!" and thou didst show him the knowledge of the Spirit. Therefore we sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 5

With the net of the word, from the depth of deceit, thou didst catch rational fish, O blessed Apostle Andrew, and to the table of Christ, pure food thou didst bring, the enlightened; therefore we sing to thee:

• Rejoice, Andrew, sweetness of minds;
• Rejoice, divine delight of men;
• Rejoice, through whom faith was spread;
• Rejoice, through whom error was thwarted;
• Rejoice, for for Christ thou didst count all worldly things as dung;
• Rejoice, for to all thou didst become all things, that thou mightest save many;
• Rejoice, most capacious vessel of the wisdom of God;
• Rejoice, sweet thinker of Christ;
• Rejoice, divine ointment for the blind;
• Rejoice, wonderful medicine for the sick;
• Rejoice, depth of divinely inspired words;
• Rejoice, ocean of God-wise understandings;
• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

Kontakion 6

The divine bridge, the All-creating and light-radiant Spirit, dwelling in thee, O glorious Apostle Andrew, with divine majesty in the form of a tongue of fire, showed thee a herald of ineffable things. Therefore we sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 6

Casting away the fishing nets and taking up the cross, thou didst follow Christ, who called thee, and casting the net of the Spirit, instead of fish, thou didst catch men. Glory to the Spirit that was given to thee! Therefore we bring these praises:

• Rejoice, high interpreter of the divine incarnation;
• Rejoice, God-inscribed book, most profitable for the mind;
• Rejoice, divine treasure of heavenly treasures;
• Rejoice, thou who art the necessary teaching for teachers;
• Rejoice, thou who at the division of the labor of preachers didst choose the nations;
• Rejoice, for among the weak thou didst perform chosen miracles;
• Rejoice, destroyer of the shadow of the law;
• Rejoice, strengthening pillar of the truth;
• Rejoice, thou who wast enriched with most wise words;
• Rejoice, thou who didst save the faithful with patience;
• Rejoice, most honored house of the Holy Trinity;
• Rejoice, Church of spiritual sons;
• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

Kontakion 7

Thou didst obtain Him whom thou didst desire, O blessed Apostle Andrew. And now, dwelling with Him in the incorruptible dwellings, thou dost reap the sheaves of thy labors worthily; therefore with hymns we glorify God, saying: Alleluia!

Oikos 7

Thou didst love the Master and after Him didst walk in His footsteps, well guided in life and following His passions without deceit, O most honored Andrew, even unto death; therefore we sing to thee these:

• Rejoice, unapproachable height of divine speech;
• Rejoice, unknown depth of the economy of God;
• Rejoice, honored mouth of the Comforter;
• Rejoice, mouth girded with fire;
• Rejoice, overthrow of the wisdom of the wise;
• Rejoice, rejection of the understanding of the prudent;
• Rejoice, kingdom of heaven that receives joy;
• Rejoice, proclaimer of the mysteries of Christ;
• Rejoice, sweet-speaking nightingale of heaven;
• Rejoice, fire-breathing tongue that speaks divine things;
• Rejoice, sweetness of our ears;
• Rejoice, thou through whom Christ saves our souls;
• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

Kontakion 8

With the grace given to thee from God, O all-praised Andrew, demonic spirits are driven out by thy word, diseases flee, the multitude of soul passions is removed from the sick; therefore we sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 8

Thou who didst go forth from Bethsaida, dost call us to feast on thy festival, setting it before us today; with the valors of thy struggles and with the salt of Christ seasoning our mind, thy sweet foods have become for us, namely: teachings of heavenly counsels; therefore we sing to thee such things:

• Rejoice, light of those darkened by paganism;
• Rejoice, true way of the erring;
• Rejoice, seer and proclaimer of the lights of Christ;
• Rejoice, most chosen confessor of the passions of Christ;
• Rejoice, good worker of the wonders of the Lord;
• Rejoice, economy of the first-formed beauty;
• Rejoice, dominion of the dogmas of God;
• Rejoice, luminous revelation of the intelligible light;
• Rejoice, righteous showing of the torments that await sinners;
• Rejoice, mouth that proclaims Christ God;
• Rejoice, beholder of the spectacles of God;
• Rejoice, thou who dost hear what men have not heard;
• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

Kontakion 9

Being commanded to go up to the intelligible Mount Zion, O Apostle Andrew, and taking the cup of salvation, rejoicing thou didst drink it, passing through death to divine life, where Christ God is, singing: Alleluia!

Oikos 9

The fire of the Most Holy Spirit that descended from above upon thee, O all-praised Apostle Andrew of Christ, commanded thee with a new tongue, with which thou never didst speak, to proclaim to the ends of the world His glories. Therefore we bring to thee these praises:

• Rejoice, for thou didst preach the passions and resurrection of Christ;
• Rejoice, for thou alone dost explain the descent of demons into hell;
• Rejoice, thou who art full of the fruits of the Most Holy Spirit;
• Rejoice, abundant one of His Gifts;
• Rejoice, through whom the Holy Trinity was preached;
• Rejoice, through whom the Unity of the Trinity was glorified;
• Rejoice, most wonderful health distributed to the faithful;
• Rejoice, thou who art a much-lamented wound for demons;
• Rejoice, light brighter than the sun;
• Rejoice, guide and light of the blind;
• Rejoice, maker of light for all;
• Rejoice, strong vanquisher of enemies;
• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

Kontakion 10

Who taught thee to speak thus, O holy Apostle Andrew? Who enlightened thy mind that thou mightest clearly see the ray of the unapproachable glory, which shone the light of Truth in our hearts, except Jesus Christ God? Therefore we sing to Him: Alleluia!

Oikos 10

Every mind is amazed at thy preaching, which thou didst trumpet throughout all the earth, O initiator of Christ and beholder of things above, thou who art honored by the Lord among the twelve apostles; therefore we sing to thee:

• Rejoice, suppliant for us to the Lord;
• Rejoice, for through thy holy prayers the Lord sends us His rich mercies;
• Rejoice, for through thy help, the tyrant Satan is driven from us;
• Rejoice, for evil thoughts and diseases thou dost remove from us;
• Rejoice, luminous pearl of Christ;
• Rejoice, soul comfort of afflicted earthly ones;
• Rejoice, bodily health of sick men;
• Rejoice, most wonderful pilot of those who sail on waters;
• Rejoice, fellow traveler with those who journey on land;
• Rejoice, help of those who call on thee when flying in the air;
• Rejoice, nourisher of us who hunger for good deeds;
• Rejoice, thou who dost aid our prayers unto salvation;
• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

Kontakion 11

With the heavenly breath of the Spirit, God beforehand kindling thee with zeal of faith, showed thee a divinely-speaking orator, O glorious Apostle Andrew, who singest to thy Saviour: Alleluia!

Oikos 11

O light-bearing and joy-making one, O blessed Andrew, apostle of Christ, thy divine memory shines upon us a ray of healing, who sing to thee such things:

• Rejoice, star brighter than the sun;
• Rejoice, lampstand shining with a golden ray;
• Rejoice, giver of gifts to right-believing Christians;
• Rejoice, helper of sorrowful monastics in troubles;
• Rejoice, thou who art a terrible expeller of demons;
• Rejoice, most luminous beauty of the Church of Christ;
• Rejoice, most honored fragrant chamber of Christ;
• Rejoice, most honorable adornment of the apostles;
• Rejoice, most glorious enlightener of the martyrs;
• Rejoice, joy-making gladness of the venerable;
• Rejoice, blessed praise of all the saints;
• Rejoice, suppliant, intercessor and benefactor of all Orthodox;
• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

Kontakion 12

As a most chosen disciple of Him who was willingly nailed to the Cross, following thy Master unto death, thou didst ascend rejoicing to the height of the cross, making thy way to heaven, O thrice-blessed Apostle Andrew. Therefore we sing the angelic hymn to God, saying: Alleluia!

Oikos 12

We give thanks to thee, O glorious Apostle Andrew, we the nations enlightened by thee and from earth to heaven raised by thee, for from the service of the enemy having been taken away, we have become fellow dwellers with the holy angels and partakers of the glory of the Lord. Therefore we bring to thee worthily these:

• Rejoice, O Apostle Andrew, most precious and sweet name to us right-believers;
• Rejoice, expeller of all heresies;
• Rejoice, zealous guardian of virginity;
• Rejoice, most beautiful and fragrant flower of paradise;
• Rejoice, for thy prayers are like a ladder, raising us to heaven;
• Rejoice, unconquered weapon of the faithful people;
• Rejoice, thou who vanquishest in days of war the camp of adversaries;
• Rejoice, thou who givest us timely rains;
• Rejoice, thou who deliverest us from all kinds of distress;
• Rejoice, thou who protectest this holy place from burning fire;
• Rejoice, thou who deliverest us from the deceit of the enemy;
• Rejoice, thou who at the end of our life dost help us through repentance to be saved;
• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

Kontakion 13

O most wonderful holy and glorious Apostle Andrew, with lamentation we run to thy support, that thou mayest deliver us by thy prayers from eternal torment, O all-praised one, and make us worthy of the joy of paradise; that together with thee we may sing to God: Alleluia! (This kontakion is said three times)

Then again is said Oikos 1

My soul, troubled by thoughts and evil words, cleanse it with thy divine grace, which dwelt in thee, herald of Christ Andrew, that being pure, it may pour forth a worthy hymn thus:

• Rejoice, thou who from a fisherman didst become an apostle;
• Rejoice, for first thou hadst Saint John the Baptist as teacher;
• Rejoice, for from the company of disciples thou wast first called by the Saviour to the apostolic gift;
• Rejoice, for thou didst become with great faith a disciple of Christ;
• Rejoice, for thou didst also bring thy brother Peter to Christ;
• Rejoice, for together with all the apostles thou didst follow the Lord;
• Rejoice, for thou art among the first apostles of Christ;
• Rejoice, for thou didst keep approved love toward the Lord;
• Rejoice, for for His love, through many lands thou didst preach Him, the life-giving God;
• Rejoice, for preaching among the pagans the faith in Jesus Christ, thou didst endure many sorrows;
• Rejoice, for thou wast beaten with clubs and with stones;
• Rejoice, for those savages did bite thee also with their teeth;
• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

And Kontakion 1 The first-called disciple and follower of the Passion of Christ, Andrew the Apostle, the brother of Peter, let us the faithful praise, as him who turned the pagans from deceit to baptism. Therefore we sing to him:

• Rejoice, holy Andrew, O apostle!

After this is said this:

PRAYER

O Lord our God, Thou who didst speak and creation was made, turn not away Thy divine face from us sinners, lest come upon us the terrible and fearful wrath of pains, which is the fruit of our sins which every day with thoughtlessness we commit beyond number. We are sinners and passionate, unworthy and full of evil, but Thou art the source of life and of mercy; forsake us not, O Lord; pass not over the prayer of us sinners, nor repay us according to our iniquities, but because we are not worthy to gain through daily diligence Thy mercy, grant it to us Thyself, O Lord, as most merciful. For the prayers of Thy apostle Andrew, grant us health and a life free from all evil. For his memory today, strengthen us with Thy sovereign grace, that from the depth of our hearts, with joy we may praise his feast, and glorify Thy most holy Name, unto the ages of ages. Amen.