Saint Phanourios the Great Martyr

After the usual beginning, are said:

KONTAKIA and OIKOI:

Kontakion 1

To the defender of the Orthodox faith, the great Martyr Phanourios, let us all bring from the heart confessions of thanksgiving, who through his wise teachings have been enlightened with faith, and let us sing to him: Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

Oikos 1

The faithful people, knowing the multitude of your wonders, through which you put to shame the reckless attack of the heretics against our faith, with humility cry out to you thus:

• Rejoice, great Martyr of the Saviour Christ;
• Rejoice, refuge of those who run to you;
• Rejoice, guide of the faith;
• Rejoice, helper of the afflicted;
• Rejoice, you who darken the mind of the pagans;
• Rejoice, you who wrought the radiance of the faith;
• Rejoice, you who drove away the adversaries;
• Rejoice, you who showed yourself victorious;
• Rejoice, you who enlighten those within sins;
• Rejoice, you who with gentleness receive the erring;
• Rejoice, teacher of the Christian law;
• Rejoice, you who enlighten the simple;
• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 2

Though we have not enough worthiness and understanding to be able to praise your wonders, from a pure soul and a humble heart we beseech you to receive these confessions from us, who sing with you: Alleluia!

Oikos 2

None of us sinners can boast that his prayer will be worthily received by you, for you know the weakness of our nature; therefore we pray you, for our afflictions, to receive this hymn:

• Rejoice, you who were chosen by God from the womb;
• Rejoice, you who without philosophical learning vanquished the philosophers;
• Rejoice, the most precious treasure of our law;
• Rejoice, guide of the laws and of the learned lawgivers;
• Rejoice, praise of fathers and teachers;
• Rejoice, adornment of the Church of Christ;
• Rejoice, reprover of heretics;
• Rejoice, you who were wise from childhood;
• Rejoice, great and wise teacher;
• Rejoice, champion for the law;
• Rejoice, you who even today help us, the faithful;
• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 3

Being weighed down by many sins and harmful temptations, we have no other hope apart from you, the consolation of the afflicted; therefore we beseech you to be an intercessor for our souls, that we may sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 3

The grace of the Holy Spirit being with you from youth, you showed yourself a defender and wonderworker; therefore we sing to you thus:

• Rejoice, great Martyr of Christ;
• Rejoice, praise of the faithful people;
• Rejoice, healing of the sick;
• Rejoice, you who pray to God for all;
• Rejoice, you who deliver from dangers those who run to you;
• Rejoice, deliverer from passions of soul and body;
• Rejoice, healer of old wounds;
• Rejoice, swift helper of those who call upon you;
• Rejoice, physician without fee;
• Rejoice, hope of the afflicted;
• Rejoice, shelter and refuge of all;
• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 4

Most merciful Martyr, receive our prayer, of sinners, and intercede with the Creator to grant healing and health to His servants, who call upon you for help and sing with you to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 4

Standing before your holy icon, we sinners consider ourselves to be before you; and confessing your wonders, we pray you, hear this little prayer and stretch out your right hand for our help, that we may sing to you thus:

• Rejoice, you who are a fellow servant with the angels;
• Rejoice, you who dwelt among men;
• Rejoice, you who work great wonders;
• Rejoice, praise of the land of Egypt;
• Rejoice, you who are renowned throughout all the world;
• Rejoice, you who labour to do good;
• Rejoice, helper of the afflicted;
• Rejoice, unshakeable pillar of Christianity;
• Rejoice, praise of men and angels;
• Rejoice, overshadowing of the seraphim;
• Rejoice, most glorious servant of Christians;
• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 5

Just as in Egypt you visit and heal the infirmities of the devout people who await your help, have mercy and deliver us from the afflictions that have encompassed us, that we may sing with you to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 5

Always you show your great mercy upon the human race and become a refuge for those who are tossed about on the sea of this life; therefore we cry out to you thus:

• Rejoice, steersman of ships engulfed in waves;
• Rejoice, refuge of despairing swimmers;
• Rejoice, calming of tumultuous waves;
• Rejoice, you who with your prayers disperse the storm;
• Rejoice, for through your intercession you lighten the darkness of the clouds;
• Rejoice, help of those terrified by thunder;
• Rejoice, deliverer of those frightened by lightning;
• Rejoice, you who help us in dangers, interceding with the Saviour;
• Rejoice, our hope and refuge;
• Rejoice, for in all dangers we flee to you;
• Rejoice, for you help with your prayers all who run to you;
• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 6

Venerable of God, Phanourios, hear this our prayer at this hour and through your holy prayers save us from afflictions and troubles, as you delivered those who were engulfed on the sea when they called upon your help; so that we also, like them, may offer the hymn: Alleluia!

Oikos 6

Martyr of Christ, honoured servant of grace, grant us sinners your rich intercessions with the Master, that we may be deemed worthy to partake of the good things promised to the faithful and to sing to you thus:

• Rejoice, great Martyr of Christ;
• Rejoice, honoured servant of grace;
• Rejoice, healer of diseases;
• Rejoice, myrrh that disperses pain;
• Rejoice, dew that cools passions;
• Rejoice, you who strengthen the weak with your other prayers;
• Rejoice, help of those in dangers;
• Rejoice, you who pray to the Lord for those on the bed of pain;
• Rejoice, you who help us sinners also;
• Rejoice, soothing of all pains;
• Rejoice, the great comfort of those who suffer in pains;
• Rejoice, supporter of the infirm;
• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 7

O most merciful and compassionate Lord! Do not overlook the tears of Your servants, but help them and have mercy on them according to Your great mercy; delivering them from the oppressions and afflictions that have beset them for the multitude of their sins; and as You raised up Peter’s mother-in-law from the bed of pain, so raise us also from the danger in which we find ourselves, by the prayers of the holy Martyr Phanourios, that together with him we may sing to You: Alleluia!

Oikos 7

All the heavenly powers, praising your firm faith towards God, together with you serve the unoriginate Creator; and we bring you these words of praise thus:

• Rejoice, for through wonders you made the faith shine;
• Rejoice, you who through faith worked great wonders;
• Rejoice, for your prayers were always heard;
• Rejoice, wise intercessor with God;
• Rejoice, incense well-received before God;
• Rejoice, you who saved many afflicted souls with your prayers;
• Rejoice, you who destroy the powerful and lawless;
• Rejoice, strong helper of devout Christians;
• Rejoice, strength of Christian lands;
• Rejoice, you who shatter the walls of pagan cities;
• Rejoice, you through whom tyrants are vanquished;
• Rejoice, foundation and glory of our faith;
• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 8

All Orthodox Christians on earth, having their hope in you, will not be put to shame in any circumstance, Martyr Phanourios, for you are a great benefactor of Christianity. Therefore do not overlook our prayers also and help us, delivering us from all dangers, that we may sing with you to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 8

Having the power of grace from God, you turned drought into rains and with your holy prayers stopped the excessive, superfluous multitude of rains, saving the people from the famine that threatened them, scattering the barns of the grain-hoarders; at which we, marvelling, sing to you thus:

• Rejoice, refuge of the people from famine;
• Rejoice, you who turned drought, like a second Elijah, into beneficial rains;
• Rejoice, you who through prayer stopped the excessive rains;
• Rejoice, the great hope of the tiller of the soil;
• Rejoice, thanksgiving of those who sow with faith;
• Rejoice, the abundant harvest of the reapers;
• Rejoice, the rich treasure of the poor;
• Rejoice, our help in time of drought;
• Rejoice, our helper and provider always;
• Rejoice, comfort of those in need;
• Rejoice, praise of venerable monks and good Christians;
• Rejoice, fruitful garden;
• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 9

Wonderworker, holy Phanourios, as in the time of your life on earth you delivered the faithful people from dangers and famine through your holy prayers, so also now send your mercy upon us, granting us a fruitful and abundant time for the growth and help of nursing infants and the poor, with whom we will sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 9

When the poor asked for help from you in their afflictions, you did not drive them away with sorrowful words, but helped them in every way, giving them your blessing and what they needed, delivering them from needs; therefore we bring you this praise thus:

• Rejoice, fulfillment of the needs of the poor;
• Rejoice, provider of all the destitute;
• Rejoice, you who change afflictions into good things;
• Rejoice, you who tame wild beasts;
• Rejoice, you who cast away deceitful things;
• Rejoice, deliverer of all those in need;
• Rejoice, you who punish greedy merchants;
• Rejoice, you who through your prayers work most wonderful things;
• Rejoice, treasurer of the gifts of Christ the Saviour;
• Rejoice, you who renounced wealth and shared it with the poor;
• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 10

Grant us also your help, as to those poor, that we may escape the assault of poisonous serpents and especially of the terrifying dragon and the crafty deceiver who fights against us unceasingly to destroy our souls; we, however, through your prayers, hope to obtain what is profitable in this life and in the future; that we may sing together with you to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 10

Do not depart from us, holy Phanourios, and from all who call upon your holy name, for we all acknowledge our grievous sins; and we pray you and ask with faith for your help, singing to you these words thus:

• Rejoice, salvation of those who purely confess their sins;
• Rejoice, reprover of those who hide their sins;
• Rejoice, you who do not tolerate the lawless;
• Rejoice, great benefactor of those who have repented;
• Rejoice, great helper of those who live in humility;
• Rejoice, seeing the return to the Master of stolen things;
• Rejoice, revelation of many unknown secrets;
• Rejoice, you who brought many to Christ through your wonders;
• Rejoice, most wonderful Martyr, for you do not forsake us either;
• Rejoice, you who intercede with God for the forgiveness of our sins;
• Rejoice, you who comfort all with your great wonders;
• Rejoice, for through you the monastic race also obtains salvation;
• Rejoice, for all the clergy of the Church are saved through you;
• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 11

The pearl of great price of God, which being hidden in the dust, now shines in Rhodes as a treasure of great worth and enriches, delights, enlightens and gladdens all who come to it with faith and love; with you together we sing to the Provider of all and our God: Alleluia!

Oikos 11

There has shone forth today the feast full of gladness and the radiant festival of the holy Martyr Phanourios, the much-suffering and victory-bearer; for God has deemed him worthy of the heavenly crown of those well-pleasing to Him and has placed him together with the angels. Therefore, praising the Lord who has made His will wonderful among His saints, let us say to the holy Phanourios:

• Rejoice, for you stood before the idols;
• Rejoice, for you despised their lie;
• Rejoice, for you were burned with live coals;
• Rejoice, for you extinguished faith in idols;
• Rejoice, for the demons saw you and wept;
• Rejoice, for the angels gathered around you;
• Rejoice, for deep hell was shaken;
• Rejoice, valiant man of the Church;
• Rejoice, pure seal of the faith;
• Rejoice, you who are a radiant example for us;
• Rejoice, unconquered soldier of Christ;
• Rejoice, our most glorious Martyr;
• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 12

To those who kiss your holy icon with faith, Martyr, and praise your holy life, most glorious Phanourios, through your prayers show us heirs of the heavenly and eternal kingdom, and partakers of the glory on high; that together with you we may sing to God, praised in Trinity: Alleluia!

Oikos 12

Strange and beyond understanding wonders has God always worked among His saints; together with whom, in these latter times, He has shown, like another sun shining with wonders, the wonderful Phanourios, the praise of Rhodes and of the Church. To him also we, inflamed with love and zeal, say from the soul:

• Rejoice, for you were thrown into the fiery furnace;
• Rejoice, for even there you rejoiced;
• Rejoice, for you prayed for those who tormented you;
• Rejoice, you who are an intercessor for all;
• Rejoice, you who cease not to pray to Christ for us;
• Rejoice, precious offering of the faithful;
• Rejoice, for you humbled those who were proud;
• Rejoice, for you exalted the humble;
• Rejoice, our intercessor with Christ;
• Rejoice, strength of the devout;
• Rejoice, merciful one to the faithful;
• Rejoice, you who pray for the forgiveness of sinners;
• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 13

O most wonderful Phanourios, with fervent tears running to your protection, we pray you: deliver us, through your prayers well-pleasing to God, from all need and affliction; remove from us all pain and suffering and deem us worthy, even in eternal life, to be partakers of the eternal kingdom and together with you to bring a hymn to God: Alleluia! (this kontakion is said three times)

Then again is said the first Oikos

The faithful people, knowing the multitude of your wonders, through which you put to shame the reckless attack of the heretics against our faith, with humility cry out to you thus:

• Rejoice, great Martyr of the Saviour Christ;
• Rejoice, refuge of those who run to you;
• Rejoice, guide of the faith;
• Rejoice, helper of the afflicted;
• Rejoice, you who darken the mind of the pagans;
• Rejoice, you who wrought the radiance of the faith;
• Rejoice, you who drove away the adversaries;
• Rejoice, you who showed yourself victorious;
• Rejoice, you who enlighten those within sins;
• Rejoice, you who with gentleness receive the erring;
• Rejoice, teacher of the Christian law;
• Rejoice, you who enlighten the simple;
• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

And the first Kontakion

To the defender of the Orthodox faith, the great Martyr Phanourios, let us all bring from the heart confessions of thanksgiving, who through his wise teachings have been enlightened with faith, and let us sing to him:

• Rejoice, holy Phanourios, great wonderworker!

After this is said this:

PRAYER

To you, holy Martyr Phanourios, raising our thoughts, we sinners with humility and fervour pray you: look down from the most glorious height of the heavens, where, through your holy life and your martyrdom for Christ, you have obtained an eternal dwelling, and have mercy on our sufferings, pains, passions, afflictions, bitterness and distress. And pray, with the boldness you have acquired, to your heavenly Master and our God, that He forgive us the sins which, knowingly and unknowingly, we always, as unworthy servants, commit, and that He be not angry with us to the end, for the littleness of our love towards Him and towards our neighbour; but that He be always full of mercy towards us and remove from us all suffering and pain, all passions and afflictions, all bitterness and distress, building in us a pure mind, that we may break with our life of sin up to now, and looking to the heavens, be inflamed with the desire to become also well-pleasing to God. So, holy Martyr Phanourios, be our guide and director on the unknown paths of life, that following the example of your faith and love for Christ, we may be deemed worthy of your gifts, for the love of mankind and blessing of our Great God; and passing from this earthly life, we may rejoice, together with you and with all those well-pleasing to the Lord from ages, in the unending kingdom of the heavens and the portion of the righteous, that together with all and surrounded by the heavenly angels, we may bring glory, honour and worship to God glorified in Trinity, unto ages of ages. Amen!